Theme Park tickets required for all Dining???

[Hunclemarco]

Hello
I have some friends that will be going to Disney in March. They might not choose the Park hopper option.
Are there any restaurants that will allow you to enter the theme park just to dine? If so, which are they, and how is that done? I'm guessing most of the restaurants they may want to go to would be at Epcot.
Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[n2mm]

Sorry, theme park admission required for all dining in a theme park. Actually when you make the dining reservation, you will be told this. Your best bet is to recommend some of the wonderful dining at the resorts.

 

[toystorymom]

We were just there a few weeks ago and didn't have the park hopper option and with some planning managed quite well. There were a couple of days that we knew for sure which park we would be in - on those days we planned a sit down lunch in the park, 50s PTC, Garden Grill, and Crystal Palace. The other days, we weren't sure or thought we may go to a water park. We planned dinners in the resorts, Whispering Canyon, 1900 Park Fare, and Kona, (and breakfast at Ohana's). It was a nice break from the parks and since they were open late we could always go back after dinner. It was also a great chance to visit and check out the Deluxe resorts.

As the pp stated, any park restaurant is going to require admission to the park. We had to go to guest services one day outside of MK and there was a woman there, very upset and arguing with the CM - her family was trying to get in for dinner but didn't have admission, she kept saying "they should have told us that..." It is definitely part of the speech you get when you make an ADR, make sure your friends are aware of it.

 

[bicker]

I've never made ADRs at a theme park restaurant without having been told that admission is required. Despite that, they don't need to tell folks that, AFAIC. If you think you're going to get into an area, where other people pay just to go in, just because you made restaurant reservations, then you deserve to be shocked and embarassed when you're turned away.

 

[wdhinn89]

I believe the Rainforest Cafe at AK does not need admission. There is a restraunt entrance before the turnstyles.

 

[bicker]

You are correct.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I believe the Rainforest Cafe at AK does not need admission. There is a restaurant entrance before the turnstiles.

Yes. However, Rainforest Cafe is completely outside of AK. There are two entrances to that RFC, one faces the parking lot but the other faces the park and there is a set of turnstiles between the RFC entrance and the Park entrance.

 

[Hunclemarco]

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate it.
I thought that park admission was necessary, but i thought i saw on another thread where something like this may have been possible....
Actually, i may be thinking of the parking that was free for a few hrs or something; which wouldn't matter since they will be taking Disney transportation anyway.

Also, I agree that the price of admission is necessary to get in...I was in no way implying that anyone should get a "free ride" in. But being shocked and ashamed, embarrassed....that's something i was trying to avoid in asking this question now.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Actually, i may be thinking of the parking that was free for a few hrs or something; which wouldn't matter since they will be taking Disney transportation anyway . . .

1) If you stay on-site, parking at the parks is free - dinner or not.
2) If you stay off-site, you pay for parking at the park - dinner or not.
3) On-site or off, eating at a resort gets you a 3-hr parking pass - unless valet.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I believe some people have their TA's make their dining reservations. Who knows if a TA did not do a very good job of explainng to their customer the rules of the road so to speak

 

[bicker]

that's something i was trying to avoid in asking this question now.

This is always the best approach: Ask, in advance, what to expect.

I believe some people have their TA's make their dining reservations. Who knows if a TA did not do a very good job of explainng to their customer the rules of the road so to speak

A good reason to be wary of using TAs, IMHO. You really should get a very strong endorsement for a TA, from someone you know (rather than a stranger).

 

[Hunclemarco]

3) On-site or off, eating at a resort gets you a 3-hr parking pass - unless valet.

This is what i must have been thinking of..
Thanks again everyone for your help!