Animal Kingdom Lodge question

[Miramar]

A few years ago, I think I remember reading something to the effect that if you are not a registered guest at AKL or don't have PS to eat there you are not allowed on the property? Is this still true? It seems odd, since you can access the other Diseny resorts. I'm not sure if I want to stay there or not, but I'd love to go and walk around the property and look at it. Will this be possible- has anyone else who was not a guest or eating there gone to see it? Thanks!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

We've gone there just to look around and no one said anything to us. We were there about an hour and a half.

 

[msteddom]

I went just to look around and was given no hassle whatsoever. You might have a problem if you are not a reort guest/PS holder if you try to park your car in their lot. I took the bus over there though an had no problem. Any AKL vets care to shed some light here?


Melissa

 

[CheshireVal]

I remember hearing about this back when the resort first opened, but I don't think it's ever really been enforced (if, indeed, it is a rule). I think maybe originally they thought the resort would be so popular for animal watching that it would be swamped with outsiders coming in to see the savannas.

But now they have a hard time getting people to even STAY here (because of its remote location).

I've stayed a few times (it's my favorite WDW resort!) and have never been asked to show resort ID when getting on the buses or whatever.

 

[Candice30]

it is still true. i believe the main reason is that the pool is off limits to anyone not staying at the resort as is stormalong bay at YC/BC. the difference is that they don't require wrist bands at the pool at AKL. the resort is beautiful and i was there this past august and didn't feel isolated at all. we were never asked to show resort ID at the pool. on entrance, i have heard of some cars being stopped (they don't stop shuttles or buses) and asked for resort ID or name for PS. i don't know how much they do this but if you are just there to look around and they ask you, tell them you just want to check the resort out and they will give you a guest pass. (sorry i can't remember how long it is good for). probably an hour or two.

alternative: take the disney bus from your resort to your closest park and then catch the AKL bus. they don't ask for resort ID upon boarding and then no-one will bother you.

 

[Lorien]

When we were there last June they did have the barrier at the guard house down. If you had a room key card you could get thru the gate yourself. If you had a resort parking pass displayed they usually waved you thru but they did check our name on a reservations list when we first arrived and I did see them checking other people while we were coming and going over the next week. Maybe they've loosened up some since then. The buses go in on their own road and no one checks them. They only person I've ever seen removed from the resort was the drunk who jumped over the fence onto the savannah so he could pet the giraffe. He was escorted off the premises by several large, very stern looking men.

 

[dreaminofdisney]

It was true at first because of not wanting to disturb the animals to much. Now all you have to do is say you would like to see the resort to the gaurd and they will let you in. (So I've read her on the DIS)