If you're not staying at one of the resorts...

[hkkatie]

If you're not staying at one of the resorts, can you still experience the activities at the resorts?

We'll most likely be staying off site, so for example, if we want to go to the Hoop De Doo Revue for dinner one night, can we stay and participate in the campfire and movie afterwards? Or are they strict on only allowing resort guests to do that? Fort Wilderness also has archery, which I know my kids would love, but is that for resort guests only?

What other resort activities are open to visitors not staying at the resorts? (Any resorts, not just Fort Wilderness).

Thanks for any help! Planning our first trip for August 2018!

 

[tiggergal15]

I'm not sure about the campfire but others will answer that I'm sure will know.
You have to pay for Hoop De Doo and archery so yes anyone can do those. You can wander around any resort you like and check them out but will have to pay for parking. There are lots of things to see but some require a fee and some will be unavaiable- like swimming in the resort pools. Those are for resort quests only.

 

[minnie mum]

but will have to pay for parking.

I am not aware of any resort that charges for parking, unless you choose to valet park.

Anyone can join the campfire at Ft W. The marshmallow roasting is a paid extra.

Most resorts will have a campfire and an open air movie each night (weather permitting). Anyone can attend.

AKL (Jambo House) has storytelling at the fire pit, as well as CMs with night vision goggles to view the animals from the Savannah viewpoint each evening.

POR has Yee Haw Bob entertaining in the River Roist Lounge most evenings.

Check out the recreational activities at the resorts you are interested in. Some offer carriage rides (POR, Ft W), Surrey bikes, boats for rent. These are all paid activities.

Pools are only for the use of registered guests.

 

[happymommy]

I'm not sure about the campfire but others will answer that I'm sure will know.
You have to pay for Hoop De Doo and archery so yes anyone can do those. You can wander around any resort you like and check them out but will have to pay for parking. There are lots of things to see but some require a fee and some will be unavaiable- like swimming in the resort pools. Those are for resort quests only.

There is no parking fee unless you valet park.

True - swimming isn't allowed, and they have gates now. Other than that, you can enjoy a lot of activities at resorts.

I sometimes found it fun to visit a resort, have a drink or snack and just check them out. It's fun!

 

[hkkatie]

Great information! Thank you so much!

 

[brooke789]

Thanks for the question. We're going earlier than our planned trip and going to be staying off site for the extra 3 days. We want to do the Campfire with Chip & Dale one night, but we thought it was for resort guests only. Maybe we'll do that one of our first (off-site) nights then!

 

[Tara1988]

The campfire is definitely open to non guests. Bring your own marshmallows and smores kit to avoid the ridiculous cost of buying them there. The parking fee is new and in a testing phase as far as I can tell from other posts and other sites. So you may or may not have to pay that when you go. But I enjoyed taking the ferry from mk to fort wilderness, so if you visit the parks that day, you can park at mk without paying an extra fee. You don't need park admission to ride the ferry, so it's ok to go to another park without park hopper

 

[kashzan]

The campfire is definitely open to non guests. Bring your own marshmallows and smores kit to avoid the ridiculous cost of buying them there. The parking fee is new and in a testing phase as far as I can tell from other posts and other sites. So you may or may not have to pay that when you go. But I enjoyed taking the ferry from mk to fort wilderness, so if you visit the parks that day, you can park at mk without paying an extra fee. You don't need park admission to ride the ferry, so it's ok to go to another park without park hopper

Sorry, but you CAN NOT ENTER another park on the same day without a hopper.

 

[Tara1988]

Sorry, but you CAN NOT ENTER another park on the same day without a hopper.

I didn't say you could. I said you can ride the ferry from mk. That is not inside the park, it's before you enter the park which is why I said you don't need admission to mk to do that.

 

[JJZMgailey]

This conversation is about activities going on at Resort hotels which do not require Park admission. Using transportation from the Magic Kingdom to a Resort does not require a Guest to enter the Park or to use a Park ticket. There was no mention of entering 2 Parks in one day here.

Quite a few posts were removed from this thread. Let's keep it friendly and stop the arguing, please.

 

[brinkley07]

We were just at the World and did participate in activities at various resorts. The only problem we have had was getting accurate information for the times of the campfire and sing a long at FW. It was easier to contact the hotel we wanted to go to ourselves to get the time information for the movies or campfires. Have a great time.

 

[hkkatie]

OP here... looks like I missed some drama. I still appreciate the feedback!