Touring other resorts

[NewEnglandCamper]

My wife and I have been staying at Disney for quite sometime but have only been to a small handful # of the resorts.

Can you visit the other resorts for touring ? Can you drive there and will they let you "tour" especially if you are staying "off property". Its good to see pictures but if we are going to be in the area might as well check it out!

 

[LilyWDW]

My wife and I have been staying at Disney for quite sometime but have only been to a small handful # of the resorts.

Can you visit the other resorts for touring ? Can you drive there and will they let you "tour" especially if you are staying "off property". Its good to see pictures but if we are going to be in the area might as well check it out!

Yes, you can visit resorts to get an idea of how you like it. The only thing you can not do is swim in their pools.

Depending on the time of year though, it might be a bit harder. You may be given a 3 hour parking pass OR possibly denied parking. This usually happens during the busy times of year (Christmas, New Years, and 4th of July) at the resorts with easy access to the parks (Contemporary for MK or Boardwalk for Epcot for example). However, we did run into security turning people away at the Boardwalk entrance if they did not have a reservation or were staying there one evening in mid October.

 

[figment_jii]

As LilyWDW said, you most certainly can tour the resorts. They want people to shop and eat and (ideally) decide to stay there the next time!

All of the resorts have a guard gate at the entrance to the parking lot. The guard will ask you your purpose for the visit (touring is allowable), and they may ask to see your drivers license.

Parking at the resorts with easy access to a park (mainly the Deluxes near MK and Epcot) will have the strictest rules. They do this so folks won't abuse the system and park at the resort (to avoid paying the parking fees) and then go into a park. I would lump the MK resorts and Epcot resorts together on days when you're at MK and Epcot, respectively.

GF, CR, and Poly: On your MK day, park at the TTC and then take the monorail to these three resorts

BC/YC, BW, S/D: On your Epcot day, exit Epcot via International Gateway and make the loop.

AKL and WL are bit harder (not really hard). You can take a boat launch from MK to WL (it's a nice ride). About 20 minutes each way. AKL is good on an AK day, but I find this one is easiest to drive to. Plus I like to have breakfast at Boma.

It's easiest to drive to the Moderates and Values.

 

[Ilivetogo]

Touring the other resorts is an especially wonderful thing to do during the Christmas holidays!! So beautiful to see all the decorations. Especially the monorail resorts. So much to see!

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[ThroughLookingGlass]

My wife and I have been staying at Disney for quite sometime but have only been to a small handful # of the resorts.

Can you visit the other resorts for touring ? Can you drive there and will they let you "tour" especially if you are staying "off property". Its good to see pictures but if we are going to be in the area might as well check it out!

Yeah, if you use the bus system just walk on in. Take a stroll. I love going to the resorts. Usually we go to resorts to eat at their food court when we don't have reservations. Polynesian is probably my favorite. I'd suggest going to a park and then maybe taking a break and cooling off by resort hopping.

 

[Dizzytime]

We love taking time out from the parks to see other resorts. All of Disney World is so beautiful and fascinating, and we look forward to seeing resorts, especially those that we haven't seen before, almost as much as going to the parks!

Have a great time!

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

Thanks for the advice. We have been at the Poly and Contemporary and the Floridian for character meals (although i don't think we have seen everything).

It would be nice to see an actual room. Do you know if they do that at all?