4th of July question (Poly beach related)

[GEM]

We are staying off-site in a villa for three weeks in late June and early July. We aren't doing much Disney on this trip - mostly beaches, state parks, outlet malls, etc. I don't really enjoy the parks with the summer heat and crowds.

However, we are thinking about making a ps for dinner at O'hana on July 4th and then watching the fireworks from the Poly beach. Would we be able to do that? I know that you can do that normally, but I wasn't sure if beach access would be restricted to guests on the 4th or anything like that. Has anybody done this before? Is it nice? A complete zoo?

Also, is July 4th one of those holidays that you have to give a credit card for when you make a ps?

I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks!

 

[Tikiman]

Officially The Polynesian beach is off limits to non-Polynesian resort guests always. I use to go every 4th of July and a few times they tried to tighten up security and check for resort Ids. It started getting bad and I was told they were going to do more to prevent non-Polynesian guests from going to the beach but I don’t know how successful they have been the last few years.

When it is not the 4th of July the beach is not very crowded so no one is screaming to have security do anything about those breaking the rules but as this photo that ducklite posted shows the beach is always supposed to be off limits to non-Polynesian guests.

 

[lovmy2girls]

We were there July 4, 2004, and we checked in around 5:00 pm and it was crowded everywhere at the Poly, the pool, the GCH, and the beach. We came back from the MK and got a seat on the grass part close the TTC and it was packed !! No one asked for our ID and I did not see anyone asking, but that doesn't mean no one was checking, it was just that crowded. I do know why a lot of people like to watch from there, it had a great view.

 

[Magic2000]

We were at Disney for the week of July 4 last year - when we had dinner at Ohanas on July 2, our waiter suggested that we go and relax on the beach to see the fireworks. We did go down to the beach and it was nice. (We left before the fireworks started though, just because we were so tired - it was our first night there). It wasn't that crowded on the beach. I did not see the sign re: beaches.

Also, in Oct 2003, we had dinner at Ohanas and again, our waitress suggested that we watch the fireworks from the beach. We did, and it was a great spot.

We were at Epcot on July 4th last year, and we did not have to leave a CC for our PSs. By the way, Epcot has a breathtaking fireworks show after Illuminations!!!!!

Enjoy your stay!!!!

 

[arubalisa]

Is there anywhere on the WL property where any of the fireworks can be viewed?