Family coming to visit us during visit to BC...need info.

[andijean]

We have family in Florida who is coming to visit us for the day during our Disney trip. We are staying at the BC and had a couple of questions for those of you who might have encountered a similar situation. They are only coming up for the day and are not sure if they want to go to a park or not. Are they able to get into the parking lot at BC w/out a reservation and will they have to pay for parking? They would be parking their car there for the whole day. Also, if they decide not to do a park does anyone know if we can get a one day pass for Stormalong Bay? If you all do not have the answers to my questions, who do you think I should talk to that would have the answers? Or I am looking for other input on what to do with the family. Money is tight and they have very young kids and aren't sure if they want to do a park. Gotta love family!! Thanks for the input.

 

[jel0511]

First off, they can't park in BC's parking all day if they'll be going to a park, they'll need to park at a park. As for a day pass to SAB, those are dealt with on an individual basis, you can ask at the front desk, but most likely be told that it's only for resort guest use. They check EVERYONE'S room cards as you enter the pool complex. SAB is usually VERY crowded, as it is VERY popular. I wouldn't count on being to spend the day at SAB, with unregisted guest an option.

 

[safetymom]

If the OP doesn't have a car they could get a parking pass and let this family use it for one day.

I would ask when you get there if this family could use Stormalong Bay as your guests. The signs do say for resort guests only so I would be prepared with a back up plan. If they want to go swimming you could always go to a water park.

 

[andijean]

We are using magical express, so we do not have a car. So, they could say at the gate they are guests there and then I can go to the front desk and get the parking pass for my room for them? Is that what you mean? I want to do things the right way, but just wanted to know what that would be. I don't know if they are going to just hang with us for the day or go to a park. If we do go to a park. I am sure they will meet us there and park there. But if they just want to hang, I am trying to figure out what to do with them. I know SAB checks resort IDs, so that is why I didn't know if we could pay for a guest pass or if there were any other ideas or options people had. Thanks for the ideas and input.

 

[ducklite]

And if the temperature is going to be anything like today, I doubt they'll want to swim--it's going to hit a high of a balmy 71. It's supposed to warm up again by the weekend, but the winter months in Florida are always a crap shoot--the temperature can actually be lower at 3:00 pm then it was at 6:00 am!

I wouldn't plan on being able to swim, not only due to the SAB rules, but also the temperatures, and would ahve a back up plan.

If they don't want to spend the money to go to the parks, how about resort hopping to see the decorations, or spending a day at DTD?

 

[shellybaxter]

Talk to the hotel staff when you arrive. They are the only ones that can tell you what will be allowed. We've had guests join us at a hotel and be allowed to park and visit the theme parks in both regular parking and valet parking (which was comped for whatever reason). Disney wants you to be happy. They will not put up barriers to visiting with your friends that they don't have to.

 

[madalex]

We are using magical express, so we do not have a car. So, they could say at the gate they are guests there and then I can go to the front desk and get the parking pass for my room for them? Is that what you mean? I want to do things the right way, but just wanted to know what that would be. I don't know if they are going to just hang with us for the day or go to a park. If we do go to a park. I am sure they will meet us there and park there. But if they just want to hang, I am trying to figure out what to do with them. I know SAB checks resort IDs, so that is why I didn't know if we could pay for a guest pass or if there were any other ideas or options people had. Thanks for the ideas and input.

They can't say at the gate that they are guests at BC - the security guard will have a list and they won't be on it. Even if they use your name, the security guard may ask for id and they will be busted. They can say that they are visiting a guest (you) and they will likely be given a temporary (3 hour) parking pass as a result. I am not sure how crowded the BC parking lot gets, so with that temporary pass, they may be able to stay longer than the 3 hour allotment.

You can't pay for a guest pass for SAB, but you can ask at the front desk if you can have your family join you at the pool for the day. If the answer is "no" or if the weather is not appropriate for swimming (and if you don't go to a park), you could spend the day (or a good chunk of it) visiting the other Epcot resorts (YC/BW/Swan/Dolphin), go play miniature golf (Fantasia mini-golf is walkable from the BC), rent a surrey bike at the BW, head over to the monorail resorts and ride the monorail around the MK loop and to Epcot and back or go visit some of the other resorts (such as AKL or GF).

 

[safetymom]

They can say they are there to pick someone up. Then meet up with OP and give them the parking pass.

 

[npmommie]

We had family join us during out poly stay. when i asked at the desk they said they only had to say they were visiting us and give our name and they would be given a temp parking pass. they did ask if they were going to be parking there all day, but it was only an evening visit for dinner. they said it really wasn't acceptable to park there at the resort all day to visit the parks. they didn't say they couldn't she just mentioned the resort frowns on it.
but that wasn't the case for us anyway, they came for dinner, then we hung out at the pool area to watch the boat parade and fireworks, no one said anything to us at the pool, they didn't swim though, just the kids. ( ours, they didn't have any).

 

[SmallWorld71]

I agree to check with the front desk. I was surprised when we were able to have friends visit us at POR without any problem. (Although I know they are often less strict at values and mods.) Anyway, we explored the resort for a while then went to Downtown Disney together.
If they have very young kids, they might get some enjoyment out of the Disney Transportation. You could always ride the monorail around the MK resorts. There will be beautiful decorations to check out and likely crafts for the kids to do in the lobby.
Or matbe you could try some activites closer to your resort like the family bikes at the Boardwalk. Or maybe a meal together.

 

[andijean]

Thanks for all your inputs. Is there anyone out there who has asked at the front desk of the BC for this type of request and gotten a positive outcome. I know this isn't a normal situation and we are willing to pay if that is what we end up doing. I am kind of at the mercy of indecisive inlaws.

 

[newharmony]

I made plans last year when I thought my mother (age 77) and her gentleman friend were going to visit us while we were staying at SSR. (They didn't come!) We were going to meet them at DTD, take a bus to the WL, have lunch at WCC, go to the CR by boat, ride the MK monorail and stop at each resort, then take the bus from MK to POR, take the boat back to DTD. We thought that they would see lots of Disney property that way, see the gorgeous resorts, and have a chance to shop. Maybe this isn't the best "route" for children but it could be modified.

 

[kylara]

I visited friends at the BC (it was about 4 year ago though). It was the first day of their visit. They were not using LOS passes and so their first day wasn't going to be a park day. When they checked in, they told the front desk that I would be there about 2pm and would be staying until sometime into the late evening or later. That was conveyed to the security gate and a parking pass was waiting for me when I got there. We didn't ask the pool because 1) it was January and 2) I don't go in pool since I am allergic to chlorine. We did have plenty to do....walking around to the other resorts, mini golf (it is a bit of a walk but not bad), and just hanging out...but there were no kids to keep amused, just ourselves.

I also did the same thing with other friends at the Contemporary. Another one where I met them on a day they were not going to the parks and just hung out. Again, they let the front desk know when I was coming and a parking pass was issued for the day.

Neither time were the friends asked if we planned on going to the parks...which we weren't...but it wasn't even brought up by the CMs.