Disney Resort Hotels - Visitors Allowed?

[LALA8971]

We are planning another Halloween trip for October 2016 and my hubby gave me the OK to book one of the Disney Resorts (finally!). We will most likely end up at the GC. One of my friends and her family are coming on this trip (Mom, Dad and 3 little princesses under 6 yrs), but will be at the Tropicana across from the park ($$$ is a little tight for them). My question is, for day 3 of the trip, we were planning to take the day off from the parks (3-day hoppers) and hang out at the pool/hotel. Will they be able to join us or do you have to be a hotel guest?

 

[Amommy21]

Each guest needs a room key card. CM's check more often during busy times.

 

[ludari]

I have had two friends join me at the pool several times and your friends should be allowed to join you but they will not be given a KTTW unless they are on your reservation.

 

[MommyJKM]

I dislike when people are so picky about this. Have your friends join you and have a great time. You can have 5 people in the room so add the 2 adults names to your reservation so they can have a key. We have never seen a CM kick anyone out of GCH pool for not having a key when the rest of the party does.

We stay at GCH and having a lovely pool day with your friends who are staying offsite wouldn't bother me.
Enjoy!

 

[Congo Queen]

I have done it lots of times. My mom who lives in Orange County comes to visit us during our summer stay at DLH and we just have her walk into the pool area with us. No one has ever questioned her or us.

 

[LALA8971]

Thanks for all the responses!
Our plans aren't solid yet (I'm actually hoping we may be able to help them out financially, so they can stay there too). I don't want to break the rules, but if they are at another hotel, i'd love for them to be able to experience the Grand Californian.
Another question, would they be able to go to our room for a nap in the afternoon while we stay in the parks? I guess adding them to my reservation would fix that!

 

[DisneyJewel]

We are planning another Halloween trip for October 2016 and my hubby gave me the OK to book one of the Disney Resorts (finally!). We will most likely end up at the GC. One of my friends and her family are coming on this trip (Mom, Dad and 3 little princesses under 6 yrs), but will be at the Tropicana across from the park ($$$ is a little tight for them). My question is, for day 3 of the trip, we were planning to take the day off from the parks (3-day hoppers) and hang out at the pool/hotel. Will they be able to join us or do you have to be a hotel guest?

I'm sure there are official rules on this, but we've had friends stop by with no problems. In fact, when we stayed DLH concierge, I actually asked if our friends who weren't hotel guests could join us there for a drink and a snack and they said "absolutely!" They were really nice about it. I meant, I'm sure they wouldn't want to have someone bring in a party of 10 or something, but a few well-behaved adults or kids -- fine.