Christmas Day with no park reservation

[princesslover]

Looking for some advice from those who have traveled to Disney during Christmas. We purposely chose Christmas Day as a “break” day to sleep in a bit, do a small gift exchange in the room, and have a late breakfast. We are staying at our DVC home resort at Copper Creek. We have an ADR at Ale & Compass for 11:25. My thought had been to explore some of the other resorts in the boardwalk area but my understanding is that is not allowed. We have a reservation at Sanaa at 5:00 and we are hoping that will allow us to see AKL but I’m not even sure about that (maybe someone can answer that?). Without a park reservation and no resort hopping I’m thinking we will end up back at our resort for the day, which isn’t the end of the world but wondering if there are other ideas I hadn’t thought of. Thanks!

 

[subtchr]

Resort hopping is only restricted to registered guests and those with dining reservations when you are trying to drive yourself or enter a resort gate in a rideshare or taxi. And even that policy is inconsistently enforced. If you use Disney transportation, you can visit any resorts you'd like, with or without a reservation.

Since you have an Ale & Compass reservation, you would be able to park at Yacht Club, if you wanted to drive yourselves, and then explore the Boardwalk resorts after you dine.

 

[soniam]

You could also walk to the other resorts from Yacht Club.

 

[DL1WDW2]

And jump on SkyLiner to visit the Riviera Resort

 

[GoingSince1990]

Looking for some advice from those who have traveled to Disney during Christmas. We purposely chose Christmas Day as a “break” day to sleep in a bit, do a small gift exchange in the room, and have a late breakfast. We are staying at our DVC home resort at Copper Creek. We have an ADR at Ale & Compass for 11:25. My thought had been to explore some of the other resorts in the boardwalk area but my understanding is that is not allowed. We have a reservation at Sanaa at 5:00 and we are hoping that will allow us to see AKL but I’m not even sure about that (maybe someone can answer that?). Without a park reservation and no resort hopping I’m thinking we will end up back at our resort for the day, which isn’t the end of the world but wondering if there are other ideas I hadn’t thought of. Thanks!

There's a viewing area literally right outside Sanaa with a deck and binoculars to see the animals where people go while waiting for their reservations. And there are plenty of big windows in Kidani to look out over the Savannah. I would get to Kidani nice and early and stroll around viewing the animals. Combined with wandering around the Boardwalk earlier you will have a nice, low-key, fun and relaxing day.

 

[GoingSince1990]

deleted

 

[princesslover]

Thanks everyone! I guess I thought resort hopping was not allowed unless you had a dining reservation or mobile food order. We are not driving. We are staying 10 days and using Disney transportation while there. Will the other Epcot area resorts (near Yacht club) be ok with us just walking over? That had been our plan... and maybe get ice cream at B&C walk up window. Then head over to Sanaa later and explore AKL Since we are staying near the MK resort area, we can see those another day.

 

[princesslover]

There's a viewing area literally right outside Sanaa with a deck and binoculars to see the animals where people go while waiting for their reservations. And there are plenty of big windows in Kidani to look out over the Savannah. I would get to Kidani nice and early and stroll around viewing the animals. Combined with wandering around the Boardwalk earlier you will have a nice, low-key, fun and relaxing day.

Thank you for this! I really appreciate the advice. Yes, that was our plan for this day..nice and relaxed...then when I saw that resort hopping wasn’t allowed I worried I made the wrong decision. We will be sure to get to Kidani early. Thanks again!

 

[soniam]

Thanks everyone! I guess I thought resort hopping was not allowed unless you had a dining reservation or mobile food order. We are not driving. We are staying 10 days and using Disney transportation while there. Will the other Epcot area resorts (near Yacht club) be ok with us just walking over? That had been our plan... and maybe get ice cream at B&C walk up window. Then head over to Sanaa later and explore AKL Since we are staying near the MK resort area, we can see those another day.

I don't see it being a problem. We walked freely amongst those resorts in July. They are not checking at the hotel entrances to ensure that you are a guest. They only seem to be checking at the driveway gate where the guard is when you drive in.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Thanks everyone! I guess I thought resort hopping was not allowed unless you had a dining reservation or mobile food order. We are not driving. We are staying 10 days and using Disney transportation while there. Will the other Epcot area resorts (near Yacht club) be ok with us just walking over? That had been our plan... and maybe get ice cream at B&C walk up window. Then head over to Sanaa later and explore AKL Since we are staying near the MK resort area, we can see those another day.

Resorts are just like normal - people come in/out freely via Skyliner, boat, feet, Uber, bus, etc. Matter of fact, resort parking is just like normal too. It's always been difficult to park at a resort without a dining reservation and that is the case now as well.

If you want to wander to Jambo (the tree is up!) while you're at Sanaa, you can take the shuttle or walk.

They do not have door monitors and no one has any idea who is staying at that hotel or not when you wander in and out. Definitely spend the day touring and checking out the decor!

 

[hereforthechurros]

Resort hopping is allowed via WDW transportation

Just wanted to say good choice to make Christmas day your chill day! Take everything at a leisurely pace and the day will fill up in no time.

 

[princesslover]

Resorts are just like normal - people come in/out freely via Skyliner, boat, feet, Uber, bus, etc. Matter of fact, resort parking is just like normal too. It's always been difficult to park at a resort without a dining reservation and that is the case now as well.

If you want to wander to Jambo (the tree is up!) while you're at Sanaa, you can take the shuttle or walk.

They do not have door monitors and no one has any idea who is staying at that hotel or not when you wander in and out. Definitely spend the day touring and checking out the decor!

Thank you!! I haven’t been at the AKL for many years. Really excited to explore there this year especially with the holiday decorations. I appreciate the input here very much. It has made me feel much better about our plan for Christmas Day.

 

[princesslover]

Resort hopping is allowed via WDW transportation

Just wanted to say good choice to make Christmas day your chill day! Take everything at a leisurely pace and the day will fill up in no time.

Thank you. It was not an easy decision because it is only our 2nd full day (we arrive on 12/23) and I don’t normally take a break day so soon. But the more we thought about it, the more we liked the idea. I have two teenaged daughters and didn’t want to be pressuring them to get moving on Christmas Day. I want us all to move at a relaxed pace.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Best part of being a Beach/Yacht club is you can access 5 resorts and see decoration just walking around. Plus you have the Skyliner to get to Riviera and Caribbean Beach. Not sure how involved the decorations will be this year (i.e. will they be doing the ginger bread houses) but they are all so different and unique it is a great walk to take.

 

[DMLAINI]

Can you use Uber & be dropped off at a resort for a mobile order at a qs?

 

[subtchr]

Can you use Uber & be dropped off at a resort for a mobile order at a qs?

This seems to be inconsistent. For a while, it was always permitted with a mobile order, but enough people have been trying it that I have heard of some people being turned away. No personal experience, just anecdotes.

 

[Wdwfan2016]

Can you use Uber & be dropped off at a resort for a mobile order at a qs?

It really depends on the security guard. Personally I have found that most of the time you will be turned away.

 

[hereforthechurros]

It really depends on the security guard. Personally I have found that most of the time you will be turned away.

What do they do about the fact that you’ve already paid for a meal there? Not condoning abusing the loophole just curious.

We've been twice since they reopening and hopped to few resorts. We found security guards at every resort required a reservation, resort or dining, before letting us in. We didn't try to go to a resort without a reservation so not sure what happens in that case.

 

[Aimeedyan]

It really depends on the security guard. Personally I have found that most of the time you will be turned away.

Wow really? Which resorts have you been turned away from? I have not heard talked to anyone I know IRL turned away (semi-local - we are on property a lot as are many of our friends). What time of day were you trying to stop by?

We had no issues as recent as 2 weeks ago - was it recent?

ETA: we even drive and park and have had no issues so I'm really surprised they are now turning away Ubers that aren't even parking!