MK resort beaches closed to Non-resort Guests for July 3-4 Fireworks

[k5jm]

Good for the Resort Guests, bad for everyone else...

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Tuesday, July 03, 2012
July 3 fireworks at MK Resorts denied to non-hotel guests
Heads up: don't go to the Polynesian Resort beach for fireworks this year!

The Magic Kingdom offers fireworks "in the round" not only on July 4 each year, but also July 3 (a trick they also duplicate on the night before New Year's Eve).

A popular spot from which to watch the fireworks has been the beach at the Polynesian resort. It's far less crowded than the theme park, restaurants and bathrooms are nearby, and they pipe in the music. Getting back to your car (at the TTC hopefully--you aren't supposed to park at the Poly as a non-visitor) was a snap.

This year, we've received last-second news that they are issuing wristbands to all guests staying at the Poly (and the Grand Floridian, and the Contemporary hotel). If you have no wristband, you can't park here. And--this is new--you also can't be here on the beach. Security will ask you to leave, and we've been told (third-hand) that Security does plan to patrol the beach, looking for wristbands.

A dinner reservation apparently changes nothing. If you aren't a hotel guest with a room key, you get no wristband, and no access beyond the pool during fireworks.

If all this is true, the Poly beach will be far less crowded. If you're a local with no reservation at the Poly, it might be best to head elsewhere for fireworks this year.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Wow, this is interesting. I guess it's only fair to the resort guests though. The beaches are a perk to their staying at those hotels so it should be available to them. I am sure many locals will BR disappointed by the news though.

Nikki
DIS Unplugged Forum Moderator & Blogger - Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App.

 

[zulemara]

Wow, this is interesting. I guess it's only fair to the resort guests though. The beaches are a perk to their staying at those hotels so it should be available to them. I am sure many locals will BR disappointed by the news though.

Nikki
DIS Unplugged Forum Moderator & Blogger - Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App.

Park at ttc early, walk to poly, chill, go back to ttc, watch fireworks, walk to car, and leave. Haha they can't keep ME away! Ttc is just as good as poly to watch fireworks yet u can wal to poly to entertain with drinks until round 830

 

[jcb]

Is it me, or am I the only one who thinks "Costaguadamexirico" whenever July 4 and the MK are mentioned in the same sentence.

 

[myweegirls]

Glad our Ohana ADR is at 8! We should be safely ensconced in the restaurant when the fireworks go off...

XO
Liz

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[safetymom]

I think that is fair that it is for resort guests only.

 

[freesone]

Glad our Ohana ADR is at 8! We should be safely ensconced in the restaurant when the fireworks go off...

XO
Liz

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Have fun Liz.
Trying out the Disboards app.

Sent from my DROIDX using DISBoards

 

[mickeys4]

Good for the Resort Guests, bad for everyone else...

Agreed.

 

[wdwscout]

Is it me, or am I the only one who thinks "Costaguadamexirico" whenever July 4 and the MK are mentioned in the same sentence.

You are not alone...

 

[zulemara]

I ended up at the boat dock at the poly. No security to be seen. The beach was busy dldk despite the rain and 70 min delay, however I saw no wristbands on anyone nor were there any distribution stations. I think Disney was playing a PR game to reduce the number of guests on the beach

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Ha. Now that's interesting. I wonder if that is the case?

Nikki
DIS Unplugged Forum Moderator & Blogger - Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App.

 

[kaligal]

Every year we hear the rumors that they are keeping people off the beaches.

Every year multiple DISers report having been on the beaches.

However, multiple DISers also reported that the WoL rides were done for good and a few commented that they'd seen the ride with no vehicles...one even reported seeing them carried out...and then they re-opened WoL and I rode the ride and saw the attraction.

I never know the truth.

 

[Joshua_me]

Glad our Ohana ADR is at 8! We should be safely ensconced in the restaurant when the fireworks go off...

XO
Liz

I'm sorry, but that won't help.

All non-resort guests dining during the fireworks display will be seated at special tables with their chairs glued to the floor, facing away from the windows.

If you or any member of your party are caught standing up, looking over your shoulder or trying to catch a glimpse of the display in your teaspoon's reflection will be escorted, blindfolded, into the nearest linen closet until said display has reached it's conclusion.

You have been warned.

 

[disneyholic family]

i think it's very fair - those resort guests pay a very large fortune to stay at those hotels.......
i'm not willing to pay those prices anymore (we stayed at pop last trip), but if i did, i certainly would be upset to be crowded out of the great viewing spots at those resorts..

 

[k5jm]

From everything I read, there were no wristbands last night. Not sure if it will happen tonight.

 

[Sammie]

From everything I read, there were no wristbands last night. Not sure if it will happen tonight.

Obviously this was another situation of Disney not knowing what the heck they are doing.

They sent out a memo saying they would issue wristbands which is why the info above was shared.

Then yesterday, management decided not to do them, as to why no one is saying.

 

[myweegirls]

We are staying at AKL and had dinner reservations at Ohana tonight at 8. We went over early (5ish) with our car. They checked our name against the reservation list and waved us in. When we sat down to dinner, we were given wristbands in the event we wanted to go out to the beach area. We saw the fireworks from our seats at dinner; we wore our wristbands but didn't need them by the time we took a post-dinner stroll to the beach. Everything seemed smooth and well managed, but wow it was busy at the Poly tonight! Go figure...

XO
Liz

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[*NikkiBell*]

We are staying at AKL and had dinner reservations at Ohana tonight at 8. We went over early (5ish) with our car. They checked our name against the reservation list and waved us in. When we sat down to dinner, we were given wristbands in the event we wanted to go out to the beach area. We saw the fireworks from our seats at dinner; we wore our wristbands but didn't need them by the time we took a post-dinner stroll to the beach. Everything seemed smooth and well managed, but wow it was busy at the Poly tonight! Go figure...

XO
Liz

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thanks for sharing this! I guess it did happen then.

Nikki
DIS Unplugged Forum Moderator & Blogger - Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App.

 

[zulemara]

so they did it on the actual holiday, which I suspected they would. It was only the memo indicating they would do it on the 3rd that surprised me a bit. It could be they backed out of it with the anticipation of the storm and a possible delay, although I don't think that's the case. hhhmmmm

Personally I think it was a memo sent out for CMs to spread and the internet to catch on to to try and scare away those who know about this "trick" of seeing from the Poly beach the night before the actual holiday. It'll be interesting to see what happens on December 30th this year.

 

[Robo]

so they did it on the actual holiday, which I suspected they would. It was only the memo indicating they would do it on the 3rd that surprised me a bit. It could be they backed out of it with the anticipation of the storm and a possible delay, although I don't think that's the case. hhhmmmm

They did not close the beach at all on July 4, either.
In fact, as usual, they offered special kiosks to serve outside guests who were there to see the fireworks.
The Poly was lending out (free) towels to anyone there who wanted to sit on the sand.

And, I'd like to hear from more diners at Ohana, Kona, etc. who were issued a wristband.
The web reports were that only guests STAYING at the Poly would be issued beach wristbands.
The above spells out a case where bands were issued to guests only at the Poly to dine.

You know how busy the Poly restaurants are 365 days a year, not to mention on holidays...
where are the other wristband reports?

Personally I think it was a memo sent out for CMs to spread and the internet to catch on to to try and scare away those who know about this "trick" of seeing from the Poly beach the night before the actual holiday. It'll be interesting to see what happens on December 30th this year.

They have never closed the Poly beach on NYE, either.
Similar rumors of "closure" get posted every year.

What we DO have at our disposal are dozens of first-hand reports from (many are locals)
who go to the Poly beach on these holidays. (Some go year-after-year.)
The actual reports are by a multiplicity of people who report something completely opposite
of the "released info" appearing sporadically on the web.
They report that the beach is open to all, no security patrols, nobody checking wristbands.

Why am I being so specific and detailed about this?

I've been keeping track of the "warnings" of the Poly beach being "closed" on or about
Independence Day, Christmas and New Years... year-after-year.
It never has been.

You can bet that THIS year's info will be going into the files for posting
when next year's "memos" start getting posted anew.


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