Fireworks viewing at hotels?

[Daydreamer64]

Hi All!

Hope someone can answer my question. We are going to be staying at the Coronado Springs Resort for 2 days at the end of our vacation after Universal this summer ( June 26-28th ). While the kids have been to WDW many times we usually stay at a value resort.

My question is - since we are WDW property guests can we go to another resort ( hotel ) and view the fireworks from their beach or shore line- we will not be able to visit the parks this trip but the kids were asking if there was anywhere that we could go and watch the fireworks at the end of the day- like the Poly or the Contempory or such??. One time we accidently saw them from FW beach as we were catching a boat back to the MK.

I wish I could afford to take them to all parks in the orlando area but we have to pick and choose-

I guess I'm curious as to weither we have to have any kind of hotel specific ID cards- ( would the CS) guest ID allow us to enter the beach area at Poly?? Again- not to swim but view the fireworks?

I know about the outside viewing deck at the Contemporary but am wondering if it will be full or closed at time of the fireworks-

Thanks in Advance- TIA for any and all info!

 

[madalex]

Portions of the Epcot fireworks are visible from the bridge between the Boardwalk and the Beach Club. This is actually a fairly popular place for such viewing. Go over to the Boardwalk at 8:00 - 8:30 for ice cream and stay until 9:00 to catch the fireworks.

 

[ducklite]

There are signs on the beach at the Polynesian stating that the beach areas are for the exclusive use of guests of the Polynesian.

Anne

 

[got2lovedisney]

I think the Exclusivity sign probably pertains to actually beach/sunning usage just like there is no pool hopping allowed. I've seen quiet a few sites mentioning watching the fireworks and/or the Water Pageant from the shores of the Poly & GF. I don't think you'll have a problem but if you want confirmation you can ask at the resort.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

At the marina in GF is a wonderful place to view the fireworks. That's where Gasparilla's is located too so you could get some ice cream or drinks and sit at the table and watch them. I don't remember any signs at GF marina stating for hotel guests. We stayed at GF last summer and the kids loved getting ice cream and watching the fireworks!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by got2lovedisney
I think the Exclusivity sign probably pertains to actually beach/sunning usage just like there is no pool hopping allowed. I've seen quiet a few sites mentioning watching the fireworks and/or the Water Pageant from the shores of the Poly & GF. I don't think you'll have a problem but if you want confirmation you can ask at the resort.

Actually the problem is the hoardes and masses that get on the beach at the Polynesian at certain times of the year to watch fireworks, making it impossible for guests staying there to view them with any type of enjoyment. I don't think that viewing them there when it's not peak season is a problem, but crowding in on a holiday or during a peak time is inconsiderate of those staying there who then can't enjoy the amenities they are paying premium prices for.

I want to think that last year on July 4th securty was asking non-Polynesian guests to leave due to the problems they had the year before.

My point is that you should plan on watching them from someplace which is not posted as off-limits to non-resort guests to avoid disappointment and embarrassment.

Anne

 

[jamif]

I am hoping this is not the case....we are going this 4th of July and the AKL concierge suggested we eat at Ohana's then stroll out to the beach for the fireworks....that is the plan we had based on that recommendation, so I am hoping that is okay.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by jamif
I am hoping this is not the case....we are going this 4th of July and the AKL concierge suggested we eat at Ohana's then stroll out to the beach for the fireworks....that is the plan we had based on that recommendation, so I am hoping that is okay.

I would make a back-up plan. The thing I'd suggest is instead of the Polynesian beach, walk towards the GF Wedding Chapel. There's a TON of viewing space along the paved pathway between the PR and GF. No one will ask you to move from there, as it doesn't "belong" to either resort. Same idea as the bridge between the BW and BC, it's open for anyone

Anne

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by jamif
I am hoping this is not the case....we are going this 4th of July and the AKL concierge suggested we eat at Ohana's then stroll out to the beach for the fireworks....that is the plan we had based on that recommendation, so I am hoping that is okay.

The last couple of years the Poly has had a HUGE problem with non guests vs guests trying to watch the fireworks from the Poly Beach, during peak times (4th of July being the biggest). 2002 was such a disaster, that in 2003 Poly security CM's were "carding" people on the beach and if you were not a Poly guest, you were asked to leave the beach area. It is entirely possible that if the Poly beach gets too crowded that security will again begin removing non-Poly guests from the beach, which would mean as a non-Poly guest yourself, you could be asked to leave.

Edited to add: Anne has given you a wonderful back-up plan. The area just past the Poly on the way to the Wedding Chapel will give you a WONDERFUL view, without all the crowds and possible problems with security.

 

[Tikiman]

Ducklite is correct. The official policy is that non-Polynesian guests are not to be at the beach area. The 4th of July has tighter security and since it has become such a problem they have been working on ideas to improve security and check resort ID’s. Many suggest going to ‘Ohana to view the fireworks from the restaurant or the lounge area but the other resorts are not supposed to be telling them to go to the beach.

This is just the official response.

Aloha

Steve

 

[z28wiz]

ditto the above person

 

[Daydreamer64]

Gosh- don't want to step on anyones toe's about standing on "their Beach" -I asked where could we watch the fireworks?- I didn't know it was a problem for WDW resort guests with hotel ID's to visit other resorts. As far as them paying to have the viewing space- don't they get park views from their rooms? We just got back from PORS and the check-in person said we could park and visit any of the resorts that we wanted to as long as we had our resort ID's. I don't want to upset people that have the money to be able to stay at the more expensive resorts by incringing on their space. I could understand non-WDW resort/off site guests being asked to leave but on site guests are banned too? I didn't only mention the Poly- I said "like the Poly or such" as an example- Thanks to the people that gave an alternate viewing area-

 

[jillwdw]

It sounds like you got the info you asked for and then some. I enjoy these boards for that reason. I didn't know this about the Poly but it does make sense. The space is limited compared to the number of people who may want to view from the beach. If there is a history of problems then in order to solve them you would have to limit the numbers somehow. It seems only fair to give the paying customers first dibs, especially when there are alternatives for other disney resort customers. I might be frustrated if I was staying at the Poly and had to scramble at the last minute to find an alternate viewing area because the beach was accomodating guests from other resorts, especially if I couldn't view from my room. Thanks for the info.

 

[Laklia]

Could you see the fireworks from Wilderness Lodge? We're thinking of that or Animal Kingdom for next April

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Daydreamer64
Gosh- don't want to step on anyones toe's about standing on "their Beach" -I asked where could we watch the fireworks?- I didn't know it was a problem for WDW resort guests with hotel ID's to visit other resorts. As far as them paying to have the viewing space- don't they get park views from their rooms? We just got back from PORS and the check-in person said we could park and visit any of the resorts that we wanted to as long as we had our resort ID's. I don't want to upset people that have the money to be able to stay at the more expensive resorts by incringing on their space. I could understand non-WDW resort/off site guests being asked to leave but on site guests are banned too? I didn't only mention the Poly- I said "like the Poly or such" as an example- Thanks to the people that gave an alternate viewing area-

MOST rooms at the Polynesian do not have a "park view". Those people need to come down to the beach area for viewing the fireworks. You may visit other resorts, but certain parts of those resorts are off-limits to all but guests of that resort. The pools, and in some cases the beach. Look at it this way. There are 30,000 rooms "on-site". There is a little sliver of beach at the Polynesian suitable for viewing fireworks. There are about 850 rooms at the Polynesian, *maybe* 100 of them have a fireworks view. So that leaves 750 rooms without one, people who are paying to stay at that resort and will want to see the view from the beach. The beach can barely comfortably accomodate the people from those 750 rooms, it can not possibly accomodate people from ~22,150 rooms from elsewhere on WDW property.

What it comes down to is equitability. Someone paying $450+ per night to stay at the Polynesian should rightfully expect to be able to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks. If you want to use the beach to watch the fireworks, you always have the option of staying at the Polynesian for the one night and doing so.

We've got a lagoon view room at the Polynesian on the 4th, but we've booked the Grand One for that night. If we are on the first floor, I'll be bringing my patio furniture inside the room before we leave for dinner though, that way I know it will be there when I get back that night, rather than down on the beach someplace because someone not even staying at the resort decided to help themselves.

Anne

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by jel0511
2002 was such a disaster, that in 2003 Poly security CM's were "carding" people on the beach and if you were not a Poly guest, you were asked to leave the beach area.

We stayed at the Polynesian on the 4th last year. The beach was packed. I didn't see anyone carded or asked to leave, though. I don't think it would be a problem so long as you don't try to park there.

 

[Daydreamer64]

Thanks Bojangles and everyone else who read the question and answered appropriately without assumptions-

I asked to make sure that I wasn't in the wrong area- I didn't ask to get lectured about who pays for what and how many people stay on disney property-

All of this is irrelevant, I only inquired as to where we might catch some of the fireworks on property.

- I asked to be sure of where we could go for the very reason that of course, the people who paid to stay there should have first rights.

At times, people can have such strong feelings about past situations that have occured to them. They can jump the gun in assuming that everyone will be as inconsiderate as the last person presumably was to them in reguard to any particular situation.

I have spent enough time on this concern- it was a simple innocent question- it saddens me that even in the most wonderful place on earth social class differentiation still exsists loud and clear.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Daydreamer64
I have spent enough time on this concern- it was a simple innocent question- it saddens me that even in the most wonderful place on earth social class differentiation still exsists loud and clear.

I answered your original question, and gave you advice on an alternate viewing area.

Then YOU decided to say "We just got back from PORS and the check-in person said we could park and visit any of the resorts that we wanted to as long as we had our resort ID's. I don't want to upset people that have the money to be able to stay at the more expensive resorts by incringing on their space. I could understand non-WDW resort/off site guests being asked to leave but on site guests are banned too?"

So YOU brought in so-called "class distinction." And the check-in person gave you inaccurate information about a resort they don't work at.

Anne

 

[DisneyMomx7]

If I were you I'd forget the Poly and go for GF. Grab an ice cream from Gasparilla's and watch the fireworks from the marina or the tables at GF. I've never seen anyone asked to leave GF. So much for GF being the "stuffy one". Have a great time wherever you end up.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by ducklite
I answered your original question, and gave you advice on an alternate viewing area.

I really don't think they will be turned away at the Polynesian. Even though it gets crowded, I have never seen anyone turned away or asked to leave.

I would advise against parking there on the 4th. The parking lots were full last year.