offsite with early entry?

[sdlovesdisney]

Can someone tell me which offsite hotels offer early entry or enite access? Thanks.

 

[shopgirl72]

I think this is a perk offered only to onsite guests! You need your resort room key for either one! Swan and Dolphin, are included, and possibly DTD hotels.

Shopgirl

 

[SnackyStacky]

Besides all of the Disney hotels, only the Swan, Dolphin, and Hilton in Downtown Disney offer early entry.

For E-Nights, ALL of the Downtown Disney hotels, and the Swan and Dolphin participate.

There are no other non-Disney hotels that offer these perks.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I have to say this and probably alot of all the time onsiters are going to get mad, but I have got into early entry twice while staying offsite, both times the same way and both times at Mk. The first time we just kinda stumbled onto it.
My family got there early, I'm talking 7-7:30ish. We got onto the monorail and it rode around to the Poly then to the GF and then to the front gates. We got off, stood in line and when the time came, put our tickets in and went through. We were never asked for resort ID or nothing. They have rarely asked for it when doing EE when I am staying onsite. I think most people have it out and ready and showing that is why.

 

[Bojangles]

They checked everyone's resort ID at MGM last summer on EE days. I am not sure if they did at the other parks.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I have also had my room ID checked at MK, EPCOT, AK, and MGM....like you said you just lucked-out.The monorail is where you should have been stoped only registered guest are to ride Resort Monorails. Unless you told them you had a breakfast reservation.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Nope, just hopped right on both times. I don't remember the first time, but the 2nd time there were 2 cm's standing at the gates chatting and my family and probably 3 more just went and got on, no problem.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Then that is lucky....

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I thought so too, and it happened twice!

 

[freediverdude]

The CMs never ever try to make the resort monorail for resort guests only. And I think this is for several reasons really:

1. There's just not time to check everyone's resort card prior to entering the monorail- there would be too much of a hold up, and place a lot of responsibility on individual cast members to try to discern what was a valid card and what wasn't, and try to ask certain people to leave, etc.

2. There are lots of reasons why someone who isn't a registered guest at a monorail resort would want to be on the monorail- just to visit the resort, contemplating a future stay while on their way out of the Magic Kingdom- restaurant ressies- DVC member pool hopping- official scavenger hunts for pins, the list goes on and on.

3. It's my belief, and I know it's just my opinion, that Disney does want people to explore and see these resorts and make use of some of the paid amenities at these resorts which don't require being a resort guest, such as the Grand Floridian Spa, the racquet club and the water sports center at the Contemporary, all the restaurants, all the gift shops, etc. etc., as well as seeing the places and wanting to make a reservation in the future. It's my opinion that Disney both a. wants people to see and make use of these resorts, and b. knows that trying to make that monorail "resort guests only" would take much more human resources, time, and cost than it's probably worth.

As for the early entry, if offsite guests really are getting off either of the monorails during early entry and just going right through the turnstyles, then that is an issue, and they should be checking every single resort card at the turnstyles for that.

 

[LvsTnk]

Had all our I.D.'s checked for the first time at AK on our trip in Sept. Took me by surprise.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

freediverdude

I refered to The Resort Monorail was usually limited to Resort Guest on EMH not resticted at any other time. I know that they hold General public at Monorail Station or The Large Ferry at TTC on most EMH because I have waited. Only other access is by Resort bus or ferry from resort. or walking.... I have also had my Resort ID checked at Monorail Station. Maybe different CM's do thing's differently on different days....

 

[sdlovesdisney]

Which hotels are considered DTD hotels?

 

[justhat]

We too have had our resort IDs checked not only for EE at all the park entrances (thought that doesn't seem to be standard as many times we have had our room keys out and not been asked to see them and we have APs so we have separate tickets) but also at the TTC monorails. We were meeting friends staying at the Poly while we were staying at the GF and we walked to the TTC to board the monorail for MK EE since their room was closer to that then the GCH and when we arrived there were many CMS all yelling out "resort guests only--please have your resort IDs out". All they did was glance at the keys, in fact they probably could have been expired, but if you didn't show them a key, you were asked to step aside and wait in the offsite guests line for the express monorail to open up. Of course, this was right after NYE so I guess they had to keep the EE crowds down as best as possible. There were still huge offsite guest lines at the MK gates, but I imagine if they let all those people at the monorail wait at the gates, there's no way onsite guests could have gotten through. I really wish, however, that they always checked resort IDs for EE, since they didn't do it on President's Weekend at MK and EE was so mobbed that you couldn't get anything done.

 

[SnackyStacky]

The Downtown Disney hotels are on the Disney property, but are operated by other companies. They are on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, directly across the street from the east most end of the Marketplace. They are:

The Hilton
The Courtyard by Marriott
The Hotel Royal Plaza
The Doubletree
The Best Western (sometimes referred to as the Lake Buena Vista Resort)
The Grosvenor
The Wyndham Palace

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Originally posted by LvsTnk
Had all our I.D.'s checked for the first time at AK on our trip in Sept. Took me by surprise.

This happened to us too in august. The cm very loudly said have your resort id out etc. We even got there late and it was only like still 15 more minutes left of ee but they still checked everyone and there was a massive crowd being held back at the gate. I actually felt sorry for them waiting in the hot sun, even at the early am.

 

[Hawk]

This question is for momof3disneyholics. Why did you do this twice? Are you not satisfied with taking advantage of the system and all of us who pay for this privilage once? You know it is wrong - why do you keep on? What other things do you do that is against public policy? Boy, the nerve of some people! I understand the concept of "let he who has not sinned cast the first stone", but to continue on is more than unreasonable and unfair. I hope you feel good about yourself? It appears you expected this response, well now you have it!

Hawk.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I say to anybody that can get in early to do it. Early entry should be for anybody. Whether or not you stay onsite or off, we all pay good money to go, so why not? There will still be thousands of people who won't get there till 10 or later. Have fun. There are many other perks that you can get do staying off site that I haven't even mentioned, but if you want to know ask me. Oh, and yes, I feel "good" about myself. I feel good everytime I go.

 

[nluvwithdisney]

Please explain why Early Entry should be for everyone.

Wouldn't that defeat it's purpose?

 

[justhat]

If it were for everyone then it wouldn't be 'early entry', it would be 'park operating hours'. Yes, offsite guests pay good money to enter the parks, but so do onsite guests and we're also paying for specific lodging just to get certain perks like that. When the parks are crowded, it's nice that Disney wants to allow their resort guests some park time without the hoards of offsite visitors coming in too.