Getting through gate at resorts without being guest or having ADR

[crazymomof4]

A friend wants to know and I don't have an updated answer to give her. Have searched these forums but only finding older answers.

Can ride share drivers (or people driving themselves in) get past resort gate to drop off riders even if the riders are not guests of that resort and have no dining reservations?
For example: taking ride share to Boardwalk to be able to get into WS at Epcot via International Gateway OR ride share into to AoA to take skyliner to IG.

Again, this is honestly for a friend. Don't flame me. I told her that, esp. since Remy opened, more have been doing this, so Disney may be tightening the loophole on this method.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

There are reports that confirmed ride services seem to be having mixed results dropping off passengers, and many are refused. As for a 'regular' driver dropping you off, I'd say those chances are very slim. A person driving themselves will very likely be denied and turned around, due to parking restrictions being for resort or dining guests. Most of the resorts have a sign at the entrance reminding people of that.

But there are alternatives - like taking a ride share/driving-parking at HS and then walking, boating, or Skylining to IG.

It's a reasonable question - not sure why anyone would flame you for asking a question on an information board for people asking questions!

 

[HashberryOTG]

The best advice I've seen for this is to take a rude share to swan and dolphin, then walk or take the boat.

 

[crazymomof4]

It's a reasonable question - not sure why anyone would flame you for asking a question on an information board for people asking questions!

Thank you for your reply!
Some people who pay to be guests along transportation lines that add convenience, can get upset that others, who may be paying significantly less at budget, off-site hotels, are using this hack and causing long lines for these transportation options, especially at park opening times.
So I tread lightly posting a question like this.
I have no visit planned in the near future, but I *do* have people who are new to WDW ask me for tips and advice for their trips and this question was presented to me recently.

 

[SteveH]

All of the Disney hotels around MK & Epcot have had some issues with this, over the course of a few years Disney really clamped down hard on the ability to drop off riders. During Covid times it was pretty much a hard no even for resorts like Wilderness Lodge - it remains that way for the MK/Epcot areas. You'll hear the occaional person that gets through but far more people that get turned away if they don't have a reservation or an ADR. As @HashberryOTG shared, I've yet to hear anyone being turned away from the Swan/Dolphin resorts.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Thank you for your reply!
Some people who pay to be guests along transportation lines that add convenience, can get upset that others, who may be paying significantly less at budget, off-site hotels, are using this hack and causing long lines for these transportation options, especially at park opening times.
So I tread lightly posting a question like this.
I have no visit planned in the near future, but I *do* have people who are new to WDW ask me for tips and advice for their trips and this question was presented to me recently.

Well, in reality, WDW resort, dining, and park guests are entitled to use the Disney transportation system. Using Skyliner while not staying at Riviera (for example) is not a hack. If you're heading to a Disney park or resort, you're entitled to use the buses, boats, monorail, Skyliner, etc.

 

[bluezy]

When we stayed at AoA in June, our son (who was staying at AKL) drove over to AoA twice and had no issues being allowed to come in to the parking lot. All he ever said was that his family was staying at the resort and he was at the resort to have dinner with us. He wasn't ever asked our name or room number. YMMV.

In the past (when it was impossible to get in to the parking lot at BWI without a reservation, I remember people saying they would take a ride share to the Speedway gas station/convenience store across the street from BWI. I even remember watching a video on YouTube showing the entire walk and how quick it was.

 

[CarolynFH]

I agree with above - for Epcot IG entrance, drop off at Swan or Dolphin is easy and safe - there's no guard or gate at the entrance to the resort. The parking lots themselves are gated, but they're off to the side, and it's easy to drive up to the front of the resort and drop someone off at the door. BTW, let your friends know that the IG is now the routine entrance for not just the Epcot area resorts but now also the Skyliner resorts (RIV, CBR, AoA and Pop), so thousands of resort guests now use that entrance and are entitled to enter 30 minutes before offsite guests can enter. IOW, the IG is not the easy entrance it used to be, although it is the closer one to Remy.

For DHS and AK, the rideshare drop off is very convenient to the park entrance and at least as close if not closer than Disney bus drop off. For MK, drop off is at the TTC, then they just need to choose between the monorail or the ferry to get to the MK entrance itself. The MK area resorts are probably the most locked down and restrictive, especially at park opening time.

 

[CarolynFH]

In the past (when it was impossible to get in to the parking lot at BWI without a reservation, I remember people saying they would take a ride share to the Speedway gas station/convenience store across the street from BWI. I even remember watching a video on YouTube showing the entire walk and how quick it was.

Yes, that was back in the day when guests had to be inside the DHS gates to try for Rise of the Resistance boarding groups, and rideshare vehicles had to enter through the main parking lot gates with regular guests. Now rideshare vehicles enter DHS via the bus entrance, not the paid parking lot entrance, so there's no benefit to being dropped off at the Speedway to get to DHS.

And for access to the IG, drop off at the Swan/Dolphin is easy and uncomplicated and probably a shorter walk. It's also safer, because from the Speedway you have to cross Epcot Resorts Blvd., where there's no sidewalk and no crosswalk. No such issues at Swolphin.

 

[crazymomof4]

Well, in reality, WDW resort, dining, and park guests are entitled to use the Disney transportation system. Using Skyliner while not staying at Riviera (for example) is not a hack. If you're heading to a Disney park or resort, you're entitled to use the buses, boats, monorail, Skyliner, etc.

Yes, I understand what you are saying, BUT..... I've been on these forums long enough (20yrs now) to know that some people, with certain strong opinions, can get their feathers ruffled easily. I've seen the what seems to be a very innocuous post turn into a battle ground thread quickly. So I'm a little gun-shy.

 

[xipotec]

Without an ADR its risky.
Solution. get an ADR at the resort, for breakfast, Valet park…..