No free entry just to shop, right?

[MinnieSweetheart]

Everything that is available in the parks is not available online (in fact thousands of items are not).

As far as I know (and despite all the answers here assuring you that it doesn't exist), you can still get a shopper's pass at WDW. If it has gone away, it is just in the last few months.

I wasn't assuming it wasn't, just wanted to warn it was possible that things had changed in the past year. I didn't realize there was so much you could NOT get on the app. I'm glad it worked for you and hope it would work similarly for OP's friend.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Didn't WDW have a shoppers pass at one time in years past? This is where you leave a deposit for the amount of a one day ticket on a CC at guest services. If you return within one hour your card is not charged

Epcot had that.

 

[AJA]

I will have to keep the one hour shopping pass filed away in my brain. Just incase I want to purchase something I forgot on check out day! That is great to know.

 

[finnster77]

I stand corrected. A quick google search reveals that its well documented, but not necessarily well publicized.
You learn something every day!
(I wonder if Robo knew about this?? )

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I remember using this option. I want to say it was 15 or more years ago. Definitely a very long time ago.

DH did it in 2004.

 

[tlmadden73]

The Disney Store at Disney Springs is pretty amazing to go to without park entry.

I have done that when I wanted a taste of Disney but was on a Universal trip.

 

[PSUGuy]

Friends asked me today if they could get in for free if all they want to do is visit gift shops and buy food. I told them that I had never heard of this. Am I correct or is this possible?

Tell your friends to never use the words 'free' and 'Disney' in the same sentence.

Bill From PA

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

One hour seems like just enough time to dash and get something that you already know you want.

It doesn't sound like enough time to "visit shops and buy food."

 

[lovethattink]

Learn something new every day!

 

[AngieInOH]

I will have to keep the one hour shopping pass filed away in my brain. Just incase I want to purchase something I forgot on check out day! That is great to know.

This is good to know!!

 

[VACamm]

I had never heard of this.

However, I would tell your friend that its a much better choice to go to Disney Springs and shop all day and eat at a ton of really cool restaurants instead. A lot of the same merchandise is offered in Disney Springs.

 

[wilkeliza]

The shopping pass does exist but is not highly publicized. I believe it can only be "bought" from the outside guest relations and is a hard 1 hour. If you don't get back in that hour they charge for a full day non-discounted price. As a pp said it is really only for people who know exactly what they want and where it is. If your friends want to browse, shop, and eat then the shoppers pass is not going to work as just the emporium along can take 30-45 minutes if you know what you want with lines and crowds etc. If you need to browse and then get in line to pay you could use your whole hour just in the emporium. I believe you have to be back to GR in the hour so you even have to consider those lines as well.

 

[bryanb]

Disney Springs is free to get in unless you care to valet park (but knowing Disney I feel they may break their promise to locals and instate metered parking in the next few years)

So many people talk like this on these boards. Every time I see one of these posts, I just hear the "sad trombone" sound effect in the background. I guess Disney disappoints people so much that many people just expect it and associate Disney with disappointment.

 

[lucky978]

I just did it about a year ago. I had to pay a fulls days ticket and show my id. They said I had one hour.

I'm confused. You had to pay a full day admission ticket?

 

[brooke789]

I'm confused. You had to pay a full day admission ticket?

Yes, and it is refunded when you return within the 1 hour limit.

 

[lucky978]

Yes, and it is refunded when you return within the 1 hour limit.

OH that makes sense. Sorry, I missed that part and was wondering why on earth anyone would do that! Haha!

 

[kydisneyfans]

I was told no at DHS last fall. I had gone to DT Disney and could not find an item I saw at the Star Wars shop(autographed item). They did allow me to upgrade my 5 day ticket for another day(it was around $6) to enter though. I had not been to another park that day as we build in 2 down days each trip.

 

[Lehuaann]

I stand corrected. A quick google search reveals that its well documented, but not necessarily well publicized.
You learn something every day!
(I wonder if Robo knew about this?? )

I'm glad things like this are not well publicized. People are always looking for ways to exploit the system for which it was not intended.

 

[Accident]

I'm glad things like this are not well publicized. People are always looking for ways to exploit the system for which it was not intended.

I'm curious on how someone could exploit 1 hour to get back and get your money refunded. To be honest, I can say disney has lost money from me not saying I could do this. There is trips we skipped buying merchandise because we needed to buy a ticket..

 

[loves to dive]

I've never heard of this and like loveatink it is now something filed away in the back of my mind. There are many times, usually just before we are leaving that I know there was something and what shop it was in that I wanted and forgot to pick up. I have an AP but my son always has just regular park hoppers and sometimes we buy for length of stay and sometimes not, so this would come in handy. Good to know. I'm assuming they have some sort of time stamp something to prove when you went in.