Can someone clarify something for me please

[Robo]

I've had at least 3 onsite trips with avg 8 table service meals per trip and don't recall ever being asked what resort I'm in. Do you know why they would ever ask this question?

I have a feeling it has to do with being able to more easily locate guests who accidentally leave items in the restaurant.

 

[Luckybee]

You will get an answer from "Disney."
It may or may not have any bearing on the ACTUAL answer to your question.

No, I am not kidding.

I'll be happy with just an answer. Last time I wrote...nada...Weird thing is yesterday MDE wouldn't let me book the later res because of our earlier one, which is why I called. Then later I was able to book, so now Im sitting on 2 ressies waiting for the answer. The annoying thing is though that when I first considered this I knew I had to chg fp's around and I could have but now some aren't avail so this may have been for naught

I'll revive the thread when I get a response...least then everyone will know what they say.

Thanks all

 

[wisblue]

If you can make the reservation, you won't be turned away.

I agree with this.

Closing times at all of the parks are kind of loose anyway. EPCOT technically closes at 9 but Illuminations doesn't start until then and they don't herd people out of the park right after Illuminations either.

EMH are based on attractions not on physically being in the park. In the morning they may not let you in, but in the evening they don't kick you out. In our limited experience with PM EMH they just check at attraction entrances. Before MB they used wristbands or checked room keys to enforce that. It isn't like a hard ticket event like a Christmas party where they do direct people without party wristbands toward the exits and eventually out of the park.

I can see an official answer being that EMH are for resort guests only, but I would be very surprised if a restaurant would turn away someone with a valid reservation. If it were me and I really wanted to be seated for dinner at 9:30 (which I don't see me doing ever) I would just make the reservation and show up. If they make an issue of it I would just point out politely that they shouldn't have let me make the reservation if I wasn't going to be allowed to use it. I definitely would object if they refused to seat me AND tried to charge a no show fee. I really doubt that would happen.

 

[itchin2go]

Don't get me wrong -- it's a given that Disney will let you stay in the parks and spend money even if you're not a resort guest... but I'm just wondering if there's a psychological price that goes along with that.

This is never going to be a dilemma for me because I'm an early morning person, not a late nighter. Just managing to hang in there for Illuminations is a struggle for me.

That said, if OP's plan did fit my lifestyle/schedule, I wouldn't feel guilty about it, if that's what you're asking. It's pretty well known that you can hang around to shop/dine during evening EMH. I don't think any rules are being broken (which is precisely what OP is trying to ascertain).

I might have some anxiety that I'd be turned away from the ADR (like OP), but that would be the only "psychological price".

 

[HCinKC]

I have absolutely no idea about any of this, but two things come to mind...

1) If you make the ressie for 9:15, it is gone from the system, filled. While anything is possible, it seems like they would let you in rather than lose the money.
2) ADRs say that they require valid park admission for that day which you have.

Like I said, zero idea, but I just thought I'd throw out my two thoughts in case they help any lol.

 

[magicbob]

Does anyone who stays in the park during EMH but isn't staying on property feel the least bit guilty about it?

I'd guess that many people don't even know any better. We all know that many guests at WDW are oblivious to policies concerning FP, EMH, etc. I guess your question could be relevant for those who DO know about EMH and decide to stay anyway. But if I'm the average non-planning guest who is ignorant of 99% of Disney's complexities, all I know is that the park still appears to be open.

 

[Luckybee]

I have absolutely no idea about any of this, but two things come to mind...

1) If you make the ressie for 9:15, it is gone from the system, filled. While anything is possible, it seems like they would let you in rather than lose the money.
2) ADRs say that they require valid park admission for that day which you have.

Like I said, zero idea, but I just thought I'd throw out my two thoughts in case they help any lol.

Actually I think your point has merit but that said....


For us as I said it really wasn't a big deal either way. Because of what I had read on here on many occasions I had always thought it was within Disney's "rules" and acceptable to dine/shop just not rides. That said apparently it isn't based on both my email and their response.

As follows:

Our email :

Could you clarify something for us pls. We have read(on the disboards) that we can do a later dinner at Epcot during emh even though we are not staying on property. Your agent on the phone has told me we cannot. Which is correct?

Response :


Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort. We are pleased to learn that you are planning to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort!


We appreciate your interest, the Extra Magic Hour schedule allows Guests staying at Walt Disney World® owned and operated Resorts, Walt Disney World® Swan, Walt Disney World® Dolphin, Shades of Green, and The Hilton in the Walt Disney World® Resort, time in our Theme Parks in both the early morning and evening to enjoy select attractions.


If you are not a guest staying at the resort you can not take advantage of the evening Extra Magic Hour and make later dining arrangements. We are sorry this is not the answer you anticipated and appreciate your understanding.


If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.


It is an answer. Funny that he thought it "wasn't the answer I was anticipating". Not sure I had any anticipation at all. Perhaps he had read the thread where most seemed to think it was ok. We're not going to do the late dinner since Im not willing to take the chance on being turned away since we really are looking forward to this dinner and Im not prepared to take a chance that we become sol.
On another note though. What if one makes reservations for 8:55pm? We're not doing that since we want to see Illuminations. Thinking out loud I guess that would be acceptable but 9:05pm wouldn't be . Maybe they should have on their website a list of FAQ's for emh given some of the confusion that seems to arise surrounding it.

 

[Planogirl]

If you succeed in making an ADR during EMH then how would they even be able to check to see if you are an onsite guest? I'm not saying that it's right to do this but the restaurants wouldn't seem to have the capacity to know or would they?

 

[itchin2go]

Actually I think your point has merit but that said....


For us as I said it really wasn't a big deal either way. Because of what I had read on here on many occasions I had always thought it was within Disney's "rules" and acceptable to dine/shop just not rides. That said apparently it isn't based on both my email and their response.

As follows:

Our email :

Could you clarify something for us pls. We have read(on the disboards) that we can do a later dinner at Epcot during emh even though we are not staying on property. Your agent on the phone has told me we cannot. Which is correct?

Response :


Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort. We are pleased to learn that you are planning to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort!


We appreciate your interest, the Extra Magic Hour schedule allows Guests staying at Walt Disney World® owned and operated Resorts, Walt Disney World® Swan, Walt Disney World® Dolphin, Shades of Green, and The Hilton in the Walt Disney World® Resort, time in our Theme Parks in both the early morning and evening to enjoy select attractions.


If you are not a guest staying at the resort you can not take advantage of the evening Extra Magic Hour and make later dining arrangements. We are sorry this is not the answer you anticipated and appreciate your understanding.


If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.


It is an answer. Funny that he thought it "wasn't the answer I was anticipating". Not sure I had any anticipation at all. Perhaps he had read the thread where most seemed to think it was ok. We're not going to do the late dinner since Im not willing to take the chance on being turned away since we really are looking forward to this dinner and Im not prepared to take a chance that we become sol.
On another note though. What if one makes reservations for 8:55pm? We're not doing that since we want to see Illuminations. Thinking out loud I guess that would be acceptable but 9:05pm wouldn't be . Maybe they should have on their website a list of FAQ's for emh given some of the confusion that seems to arise surrounding it.

I kind of think this is a situation where it's not technically "allowed", but people get away with it. In other words, they really don't want non-resort guests taking part in EMH at all, but they are simply not going to police the shopping/dining situation.

If that's the case, then the question is whether you can "get away with it", which it sounds like is not really something you even want to do. I think you probably could get away with it, but I think the "official line" is going to be "no".

 

[Planogirl]

It's a gray area because off-site visitors have been encouraged to stay past closing time to shop ever since I can remember. That always meant the gift shops in Future World but there was never a doubt that it was allowed.

 

[Luckybee]

I am not a chronic "rule" person by any stretch I had always thought that shopping/dining during emh was within the "rules". For us it isn't worth the risk since we can easily do the dining within the allotted time. Now where Disney may lose out is we were going to shop in the pavilions after Illuminations, and I expect we will still do this. If they say no, then dh will be happy and the shops will lose out esp if im in a shopping mode...lol

 

[Luckybee]

If you succeed in making an ADR during EMH then how would they even be able to check to see if you are an onsite guest? I'm not saying that it's right to do this but the restaurants wouldn't seem to have the capacity to know or would they?

Magic Bands can be scanned by the restaurants ? Or can they not ?

 

[Planogirl]

Magic Bands can be scanned by the restaurants ? Or can they not ?

Does that indicate to the restaurant where they are staying?

 

[wisblue]

I think this goes under the category of asking for forgiveness rather than seeking permission.

I would still bet that if you chose to just show up with your reservation you would be seated no questions asked. And if they did question you, I would just have said that you didn't realize it was like that and that now you know. But, you sure would like to have your reservation honored this time. I simply can't believe they would turn you away.

Plus, I wouldn't feel guilty about it at all. I guess it's hard to know where to draw the line on these things, but I wouldn't put this in the same category as something like a throwaway room that someone has no intention of using, and then canceling, or using magic bands and multiple MDE accounts to get more FPs than one guest is supposed to get.

But, if you're concerned about it at all, the decision to stay with the earlier reservation makes sense.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's a thought.....playing devil's advocate. So...exactly what 'attractions' are there in WS? The ride in Mexico, a couple of countries with movies. Pretty much it. So...basically, WS is open for shopping and dining. There just aren't all that many attractions to be denied entrance to.
If it's not a big deal to book an earlier time, then why not just book an earlier time?
And yes, your MB does state whether or not you're an on-site guest or not...how the heck do you think they know to allow you in for EMHs to begin with, or to check at a pool, or whatever?
I'm one of those people that wishes EMHs were closed to everyone without on-site resort MBs. Especially in Epcot's WS. It makes for crowded areas, that get clogged. But, I don't get to make the rules. It does tend to water down a perk that someone gets when others are allowed to get it in any form whatsoever.

 

[magicbob]

On another note though. What if one makes reservations for 8:55pm? We're not doing that since we want to see Illuminations. Thinking out loud I guess that would be acceptable but 9:05pm wouldn't be . Maybe they should have on their website a list of FAQ's for emh given some of the confusion that seems to arise surrounding it.

On a non-EMH night, you can make a reservation for just before closing and have your meal after the park has officially closed (just as you can get into a line before close and continue to wait/ride after the official closing time). So, I think this would be a similar situation. The off-site guest's meal would begin before EMH, so they obviously would not be asked to leave in mid-bite because EMH had started.

 

[Luckybee]

If it's not a big deal to book an earlier time, then why not just book an earlier time?

We had booked an earlier time (6pm), and then because of our plans realized a later time(9:15pm) would work a little better. I always thought that one could shop/eat during emh but because of the other thread on emh said to myself "check it out to be sure"....lol. Went to the website....nada....Came on the boards and searched to find out if it was allowed being offsite and found most answers saying that shopping/dining was open to all during emh. Then I went to book the later time, and it wouldn't let me book and kept saying I had another re (you know the little pop up that usually only comes up when you have something else booked within 60 minutes).
So that's when I called. Then I posted. For us its just a matter of doing a few Pavilions or more Pavilions before dinner. Our only real purpose for going to Epcot this trip was for dinner at Monsieur Pauls and to see some of the flower displays . We just wont do the same level of shopping that we might otherwise have done and what we usually do since we wont get to Epcot until about 5ish. Unless we shop after Illuminations and if we cant Im sure I'll survive (and spend less )