Can you visit Resort shops without staying there?

[BingandNelsonFan]

We're planning a Florida trip at the end of March/beginning of April. My sister and I went several years ago to the Polynesian for an afternoon and enjoyed the shops there. Does anyone know if we would be able to do that this year? We wouldn't be staying there, but we'd like to park and shop at a couple of the resorts during the vacation. Thanks!

 

[JodyK]

The parking is the problem with visiting resorts these days, particularly at monorail resorts because people were parking there for free and visiting the theme parks. They may send you to park at the TTC and then monorail over to the Poly. You could also park at Disney Springs and bus over if you didn't want to have to pay for parking and don't have free parking for some other reason.

 

[BingandNelsonFan]

Thanks! Would we be allowed in to park at Poly (or anywhere else) if we're willing to pay the parking fee, do you know?

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks! Would we be allowed in to park at Poly (or anywhere else) if we're willing to pay the parking fee, do you know?

No. It's not the parking fee -- which is gone now, BTW. It is to make sure there is adequate parking for the guests who stay at that resort. If you make an ADR you can park. Maybe plan your shopping to coincide with a meal.

 

[Mle8308]

Thanks! Would we be allowed in to park at Poly (or anywhere else) if we're willing to pay the parking fee, do you know?

No, but if you have a dining reservation they will allow you to park. They will verify your reservation at the security booth and it is generally for 3 hours. You can park at the TTC for $25 or as previously suggested, park at Disney Springs (lots of shopping and dining there) and then take a bus to the Poly.

 

[BingandNelsonFan]

Thanks for all the info!
We weren't planning on making a dining reservation, because we've got dietary restrictions. We really just would like to visit the shops.
If TTC or Disney Springs is an option for Polynesian, is there a similar option for Animal Kingdom Lodge -- or would we possibly be able to park there?

 

[Aimeedyan]

Thanks for all the info!
We weren't planning on making a dining reservation, because we've got dietary restrictions. We really just would like to visit the shops.
If TTC or Disney Springs is an option for Polynesian, is there a similar option for Animal Kingdom Lodge -- or would we possibly be able to park there?

You'll run into the same issue at all hotels - limited parking availability for resort guests so most everyone without a dining reservation/hotel reservation are turned away.

If you don't mind forking out the money, you could spring for valet. You pay one valet cost and it covers all the hotels - you just need to tip each time, of course. You tell the guard you're just valeting and they let you in. Valet lot is separate from others so space is not as big of a concern. Valet is only available at deluxe hotels. My mom does this anytime she wants to wander the resorts and it's worth the $ for her to avoid the transportation circus of resort to resort travel.

You can access any hotel via bus from the parks or Disney Springs (in most cases). Just takes time getting from one to the other.

 

[BingandNelsonFan]

Thanks! I'll talk to my sister about all this. We want to take our Mom with us, but gets super car sick . . . which is why we've never tried the bus service from Disney Springs. We'll start figuring out just where we'd like to go and see what she thinks. I really appreciate all the help here! Sis and I are really hoping to be able to make it to the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[Anthony1971]

I would suggest maybe shopping at Disney Springs first as there are just very few unique things at resort shops any more and some that were nice are just plain bad. AKL and POLY always had things that were appropriate for the resort in the years prior to Covid... Those days seem to be gone. The experience is however much nicer then World of Disney.

 

[RoseGold]

You can sign up for a DVC tour at GF and they'll let you park. It's pretty chill, it's OK to say whatever excuse you already have ready. Might I suggest you need to convince your husband still.

 

[BingandNelsonFan]

Great info.
The trip will just be my Sis and me . . . and our Mom! No husbands to convince or anything. We haven't been down to Disney Springs since right before the COVID shut-down.

We've been sitting here looking and are wondering if we'd be able to take the boat transport from Disney Springs to Old Key West and Port Orleans. Will they let you do that without reservations?

 

[Mle8308]

Great info.
The trip will just be my Sis and me . . . and our Mom! No husbands to convince or anything. We haven't been down to Disney Springs since right before the COVID shut-down.

We've been sitting here looking and are wondering if we'd be able to take the boat transport from Disney Springs to Old Key West and Port Orleans. Will they let you do that without reservations?

Yes! However it’s usually 2 separate boats. I don’t remember the PO boat stopping at any other resort, just Riverside and French Quarter.

 

[BingandNelsonFan]

Yes! However it’s usually 2 separate boats. I don’t remember the PO boat stopping at any other resort, just Riverside and French Quarter.

Thanks so much! That sounds like a great option.

 

[Mle8308]

Thanks so much! That sounds like a great option.

It's a really nice boat ride, definitely take advantage of it! Scenic and relaxing. Have a great trip!

 

[Her Dotness]

You can go to any resort by means of Disney transportation, no reservations needed.

Just depends on how much time you want to spend waiting for the next bus/boat/train.

 

[Pyxie]

Great info.
The trip will just be my Sis and me . . . and our Mom! No husbands to convince or anything. We haven't been down to Disney Springs since right before the COVID shut-down.

I think what the poster was saying is that if you reserve a DVC tour in order to park at GF, just tell the person that you still need to "talk to your husband" as your excuse for not buying DVC.

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

Are you staying onsite or offsite?

 

[Best Aunt]

Thanks! I'll talk to my sister about all this. We want to take our Mom with us, but gets super car sick . . . which is why we've never tried the bus service from Disney Springs. We'll start figuring out just where we'd like to go and see what she thinks. I really appreciate all the help here! Sis and I are really hoping to be able to make it to the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

If Mom gets super car sick, that's a big consideration if planning for Disney Springs. The bus from Disney Springs to Poly might make her car sick.

I've taken the bus from Beach Club to Disney Springs and I get car sick every time. I feel so awful, I always swear I'm never going to do it again. I'm okay taking the bus from Beach Club to Animal Kingdom and to Magic Kingdom. There's something about that ride to Disney Springs, though...

Is Disney Springs itself a priority? If not, be kind to your mother and don't park there planning to take a bus to Poly.

 

[DVCjj]

planning a Florida trip at the end of March/beginning of April. My sister and I went several years ago to the Polynesian for an afternoon and enjoyed the shops there. Does anyone know if we would be able to do that this year? We wouldn't be staying there, but we'd like to park and shop at a couple of the resorts during the vacation. Thanks!

If you take Disney transportation, definitely can visit any resort and shop/eat there at QS. We did it 2 days ago during a 12 night trip.

Even driving, we have never been turned away at any resort if we honestly tell guard we're staying at "BCV" (true) and want to buy something at Poly Boutiki. (true. We visited at least 4 resorts via car and 5 resorts via Disney transportation to basically check out the gift shops and/or eat at their quick service (no online ordering unless you stay there as per several resorts). Yet we easily did a Contempo QS walkup at BLT even though we checked out for Grand Flo earlier in the day (we did a 4 way split on a 12 night trip.