Dining-only pass?

[JennC]

Eons ago I remember reading about a free pass that guests could get to into Magic Kingdom to shop or to dine. They didn't have to pay for admission and the pass was only good for two hours if you had a reservation or one hour if you needed to pick up something in the stores. My husband used it once on our last morning at Disney one year to buy my girls a present.

Is something like that still available? If so, does it apply to EPCOT too? I'm hoping I can take the kids to a restaurant in the World Showcase on our first evening in FL but I'm not willing to use one of our days to do so.

 

[txloopnlil]

I don't know if this is what you were thinking of, but I had to return to the park the morning we were going to leave (with no more days on the ticket) to pick something up at a store and at package pickup. We had planned on returning after dinner the night before, but we were seated late, and then just missed the returning boat, etc, etc, and by the time we got back to the park it was after 10pm and couldn't get in. The next morning the CM at guest relations told me I would have to buy a one day addition to my ticket to enter the park, but if I returned within the hour then they would refund the money.

After making some calls, she then walked me to package pick-up and retrieved the package, before the pick-up officially opened. Then she told me not to worry about getting the extra day - she said "you're not going to have any fun in the park anyway - just go get our items at the store". She was right -I had to trot across the park and pick-up our items being personalized and almost run back in order to make our scheduled ME bus that morning.

 

[catne]

no longer available...when you book restaurants in the parks now they always make sure to tell you that you must have valid park entry ticket to dine at that restaurant.

I think with the opening of Downtown Disney for shopping they pretty much decided there were shopping options there with no park tickets for those who just want to shop.

If you're driving, take them to one of the Epcot resort restaurants on the Boardwalk...or one of the monorail resort restaurants. Or you can take Disney transportation to the Transportation & Ticket Center & then hop the monorail from there to the Polynesian ('Ohana or the Kona Cafe) or Grand Floridian (Grand Floridian Cafe) or the Contemporary (Chef Mickey's or The Wave.) The kids would probably enjoy the monorail "tour" too.

 

[septbaby]

How many days are you tickets good for? It often is less than $10 and many times $5 or less to add a day to your ticket. You can add that day at anytime while the ticket if still valid, so if its a 4 Day ticket and you want to add a 5th day after you've already used the 4th it would cost an adult $3 (as long as day 1 use was within 14 days of the final use of the ticket).

 

[JennC]

Thanks for the fast replies!

We have "free" tickets - just three days' worth. These are leftovers from previous visits when I wisely purchased the kind that don't expire.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The only restaurant located among the parks where you don't need to enter them is the Rainforest Cafe at the Animal Kingdom, because they have an entrance to their restaurant that is located next to the gates.

 

[septbaby]

Thanks for the fast replies!

We have "free" tickets - just three days' worth. These are leftovers from previous visits when I wisely purchased the kind that don't expire.

I'd call to see what it would cost to add a day. Not knowing your base # of days or whether they were 10 day tickets to start with.

 

[crisi]

I'd call to see what it would cost to add a day. Not knowing your base # of days or whether they were 10 day tickets to start with.

You can only upgrade tickets for 14 days after first use.

 

[scanmom]

on our 1st on site trip with the kids. we were staying at Ft wilderness cabins, and drove from Oklahoma. I wanted to do something fun on arrival day to get us in the disney mood, and we did not have a ticket to go into the park that day. It would have been a waste anyway, since we didn't even get to the fort until about 4 pm. then we checked in, unpacked and rested /freshened up, and I had made ressies at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It was such a great time! We loved it, the food was good, and the kids had such fun with all the antics. That was about 7 or 8 years ago, and they still talk and laugh about it! And we got to bed early that night so we were rested for our 1st park day! I would plan on a resort meal. An added bonus is that you can check out a resort that you may have never seen before. We went down around the waterfall/pool area while we waited for our table to be ready. Wilderness Lodge is beautiful.

 

[LadyZolt]

I agree with those who have posted about the wonderful restaurants outside of the parks. You can even do a dinner with Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort if you want, and let the kids enjoy riding the monorail. There are many fine choices outside of the parks, so just choose one of them and I'm sure you and your family will have a great time.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[crisi]

Another idea would be Spoodles or one of the other Epcot area restaurants - you can watch the entertainment on the Boardwalk after dinner.

If you want Epcot for the international flair of dining, AKL has Boma or Saana.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You could always get in for 45-min to 1-hr to buy SPECIFIC items.
. . . this can be done at any park
. . . the items must be specified when you request entry
. . . the stores must be specified when you request entry
. . . they take a full one-day pass charge on a credit card
. . . if you miss your time or do not get all the SPECIFIED items, you are charged
. . . if you return on-time with the specified items, the charge slip is torn up
2) There has never been a free entry for dining.

NOTE: For Florida residents, there is an annual pass for Epcot dining after 4:00pm.

 

[septbaby]

You can only upgrade tickets for 14 days after first use.

Even for a non expiring ticket?

 

[Doctor P]

Even for a non expiring ticket?

Yes. I have first hand experience with not being able to add days to a non-expiring ticket because it was more than 14 days after first use.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even for a non expiring ticket?

Yes. There is an extensive Ticket FAQ 'sticky' on the Theme Parks Advice & Strategies board (that, come to think of it, probably addresses the OP's question as well as the 'upgrade only within 14 days of first use' one).