Staying out,can we go to the resorts?

[minniemosa]

I love to see the christmas decoration at Disney Resorts, but this year will stay out of Disney property.Can we go to the resorts?Which monorriel can we use?We also will rent a car.Thanks

 

[cleo]

You are welcome to tour the resorts either via monorail or your hire car. Any monorail will take you to the monorail resorts.

You will be asked why you are parking at the resort, then you will be given a pass for a short-duration stay. This helps avoid 'parking abuse'. Be ready to show a valid picture ID at the resort entry gate.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Yes, anybody can visit any one of the resorts. They are really beautiful with all the Xmas decorations up. Like cleo said, you'll need a photo ID and a reason for parking at the resort. And any other transportation, like buses and monorails, work too.

 

[minniemosa]

Is it ok to say we are going to see the decorations?Thanks for your answers

 

[makinorlando]

I love to see the christmas decoration at Disney Resorts, but this year will stay out of Disney property.Can we go to the resorts?Which monorriel can we use?We also will rent a car.Thanks

Resort hopping is a very fun way to spend a few hours. My DD and I spent two days during winter break doing this, as we did not want to go in the parks with the crowds. This was the first year we did this (this was our 3rd XMAS living in Orlando), and I am going to make it a tradition.

For the monorail resorts (Poly, GF and Contemporary) you can visit via the Resort monorail from the TTC at Magic Kingdom, (the ramp is to the left of the MK monorail) or drive and park at one resort, and then take the monorail to others, or for another option, you can take the boats to GF, and Poly as well as Wilderness Lodge. This is fun, but can be a chilly option if the weather is cool!

You can also drive to the individual resort
You are normally given a 3 hour parking pass at the resort. You can choose valet parking or ($7) and once you've paid it at one resort for the day, you don't pay at the next.

We did the MK resorts one day, (GF, Poly, Contemporary and WL) and on another day we did the EPCOT resorts - Boardwalk and Beach Club (we did not get over to the Yacht Club), as well as Animal Kingdom Lodge, where we enjoyed watching the animals outside very much!!

The Holiday decorations are amazing - the Gingerbread House and tree at Grand Floridian are not to be missed. The Chocolate and Gingerbread carousel at Beach Club was another favorite.

I have the Holidays at WDW special with Raven from the Food Network, saved to my DVR, and watch is occasionally. You see the behind the scenes of the decorating process!

 

[disnut8]

Yes, it's perfectly OK to say you are going to see the decorations because that's what you are doing. We've done this all over the Disney area. The gate guards are usually very nice about everything. Like someone said, always have your photo ID out and ready, though. They might write that and your license plate number down. For the monorail resorts, I'd suggest you park at the Polynesian to get things started. The Grand Floridian self guest parking is very small and far away. The Contemporary is within walking distance of Magic Kingdom and they are a bit more strict about things. You can easily do a monorail tour of the resorts in the three hour parking limit (if you get that restriction).

Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge are easy. The guards there seem to love hearing you are there to check out the resort. For the Epcot resort areas, the Boardwalk would be the best place to park there. You might have to go over to overflow but there are plenty of spaces and no time limit.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

This is kind of off topic, but does any one know if they change the Christmas decorations at the resorts. We have gone several times at Christmas and they seem pretty much the same each year.