Can you check out other resorts??

[disneyvoice]

We are going to WDW in October for the third year in a row. We have always stayed at the ASMo for budget reasons. Since we have decided to buy APs this year since WDW will now be annual trip for us, we have decided that we are going to splurge on a more expensive resort next year since we won't have to buy passes (we're getting our passes this year in late October so next year we will visit in early or mid October).

The last time we visited it wasn't long after 9/11 so the security was really tight when you would drive into your resort. Do you know if they will allow you to go to a resort just to check it out. We want to walk around and get a look at the pools, food courts, etc. to see which resort we think will be the best for us. We are having dinner at Boma this time around so we can get a good look at AKL then.

Has anyone done this before?

 

[Kermit]

Yes, you can. If you drive, you can always get in if you have a PS at one of the resort's restaurants. Even if you don't have a PS, they'll usually let you in and give you a 3-hour parking permit if you tell them you want to look around.

We use WDW transportation to look at other resorts (even though we do have our car there), and it works quite nicely. Most of the other resorts you usually want to go to are on the monorail loop or within walking distance from Epcot and MGM, so we go to them on our MK, Epcot, and MGM days. When we're done, we either go back to the park to return to our home resort, or we'll hop to another park.

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

I second the idea of using resort transportation. We stay at Ft. Wilderness and on our non-park days will take the resort transportation to visit other hotels and check-out the shops, see what the pool area looks like, etc.

Because of the theming of the moderates/deluxes, you can almost have as much fun as you would going into the parks without the cost!!!

This is one of the reasons we love staying on-site so much -- there is always something to do without getting in the car and driving.

 

[DMRick]

I would use my car...especially if you are staying at another resort. You have that slip of paper they give you for your car, and you easily get into other resorts. Dis Transport would take up your whole day going back and for the Downtown Disney to go to the next resort (there are no resort to resort buses). The only place they gave us 3 hour passes, was when we told them we were checking out the Poly and Contemp for future stays. They do that, so you don't park and them go to MK. For Fort Wilderness, if you are checking that out, I would park at FW Hotel, and take the boat over. That's the easiest.
We visit many of the resorts when we are there..we find that as much fun as going to the park. We go a few times a year, and always visit the resorts.

 

[ScottJoy]

It's pretty easy to explore most Epcot area resorts (Yacht and Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Swan, Dolphin) and monorail resorts (Polynesian, Contemporary) as an extension of your Epcot and Magic Kingdom theme park visits. Just take a midday break and go for a short walk or ride by boat or monorail.

Seeing some of the others takes a little more effort. Check out Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge while having meals in their restaurants! Wilderness Lodge is just a boat launch away from the Magic Kingdom, but it's easiest to drive to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. With Boma and Jiko restaurants available, it's well worth the trip.

 

[rpink58]

On my second visit my wife and I did the resort hopping. We checked out almost every resort, except the AKL(becuase it wasn't built). So on our last trip we decided we had better check it out so once again we hopped on over to the AKL , we ended up staying there for dinner.

 

[speedway66]

Using the WDW transport system is the way to go. Remember, you are not tied to Downtown Disney for your transportation. Any main theme park, the TTC, plus Downtown Disney can serve as a transfer point. From your own resort starting point, just climb on the first bus going to MK, Epcot, MGM, AK, or Marketplace. When you get there, simply walk over to the appropriate bus for the next resort you want to visit. True, it takes longer than driving yourself, but you don't have to worry about directions, parking, or traffic. And I agree: check out the restaurants and food courts while you are there. There's some mighty fine eating opportunities out there.

It is very possible to spend a day or two exploring the resorts, but this is not a bad thing- it's a good time to get away from crowds.