No, you can do character dining if you're not staying at the resort. The Lilo and Stitch breakfast is at the PPH, and Goofy's Kitchen is at the DLH. If you want to eat at Ariel's Grotto or Minnie's breakfast at the Plaza Inn, you have to have a ticket to get into the park. The ones at the hotel I go to many times without staying at the hotels, or even going into the parks.