transportation in WDW ID requirements

[sueliz]

My 2013 Birnbaum guide says, "Guests who wish to use the Disney transportation system may be asked for proof of riding privileges. Accepted IDs afford different degrees of access. WDW resort ID cards, Magic your way with park hopper and Annual passess let guests use all disney buses, monorails, and boars. Valid theme park tickets permit guests to use monorails and ferries running between the TTC and Magic Kingdom, but do not allow use of buses."
Does this mean if I am staying offsite and don't have park hopper I may not be able to use WDW transportation to visit other resorts? I am going during holidays so thinking possibly ferry to WL and FW to see christmas lights, riding internal bus at FW, and then monorail to GF.

 

[dawnhaze]

I've never been asked to show anything to ride any form of Disney resort or park transportation.

 

[mickeynut1]

My 2013 Birnbaum guide says, "Guests who wish to use the Disney transportation system may be asked for proof of riding privileges. Accepted IDs afford different degrees of access. WDW resort ID cards, Magic your way with park hopper and Annual passess let guests use all disney buses, monorails, and boars. Valid theme park tickets permit guests to use monorails and ferries running between the TTC and Magic Kingdom, but do not allow use of buses."
Does this mean if I am staying offsite and don't have park hopper I may not be able to use WDW transportation to visit other resorts? I am going during holidays so thinking possibly ferry to WL and FW to see christmas lights, riding internal bus at FW, and then monorail to GF.

You won't have any trouble using Disney transportation. Anyone is allowed to use the buses, monorail, and boat, regardless of where they are staying; and you also don't need park tickets to use Disney transportation.

 

[bumbershoot]

Birnbaum has lots of weird and wrong things in their guidebook. That is one of them.

 

[sotoalf]

That curious sentence is probably one of the few unrevised bits left from the eighties editions.

 

[msjprincess]

I think years and years ago you had to be staying onsite or have a park hopper.


I remember one time we ate breakfast at CR and were planning on going to Discovery Island. I realized I forgot my KTTW and when I went to go on the resort monorail there was a CM at the bottom of the escalator asking to see room keys. Of course the one time I didn't have it was the only time I was asked. I think that was in 1993.

 

[sueliz]

makes sense because I haven't heard any talk about it and everyone recommends that you visit the resorts at Christmas time. wondering if change to magic bands would make it more visible who is and who isn't a resort guest- although I think I can buy one if I wanted.

 

[sotoalf]

Out of curiosity, when did the policy change? I want to say the early nineties.

By the way, didn't the resort monorail stations have separate queue areas for day guests with transportation passes vs guests? I remember my parents getting asked for some kind of ID or hand stamp to visit the Polynesian from teh MK in 1985.

 

[SueM in MN]

That curious sentence is probably one of the few unrevised bits left from the eighties editions.

Yes - I remember having to show our room key to use the transportation.
That was a long time ago, though.

 

[Polydweller]

Yes - I remember having to show our room key to use the transportation.
That was a long time ago, though.

I remember those days as well and I think they ended in the early 1990's. As well, at one point you had to buy separate tickets to ride the monorail which ended in the early 1980's.

 

[seashoreCM]

Nowadays there are guest ID checks at bus stations etc. during selected hours for such purposes as security (late evening) and crowd control outside parks during extra magic hours (early morning).

Often, day guests are held back at the parking lot concourse (Transportation & Ticket Center) on Magic Kingdom EMH mornings with ID checks for the resort monorail. Sometimes the first express monorail and ferry runs are timed to arrive at MK about 15 minutes before public opening.

According to Corey Sandler, author of some of the Econoguide tour books, Disney back in the 1980's or so sold a "transportation only" ticket for guests without park hoppers or resort stays.

Hand stamps to re-enter theme parks were in effect up through ca. 2005 when finger scans were extended to cover all adult tickets including those sold years ago (but not used yet).

 

[Lisa71]

I have never had an ID check for transportation.

 

[Lisa71]

Btw this includes riding the bus to a resort to eat or tour

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

Yes - I remember having to show our room key to use the transportation.
That was a long time ago, though.

I remember those days. I also remember when the TTC was actually the transportation and ticket center and that was the hub of all transportation. You were asked for your room key at the monorail ramp entrances.

Oh and the resort monorail always opened across the platform from the monorail to Epcot so you didn't have to go down the ramp and back up to get from your hotel to Epcot! I miss that.

 

[DOOM1001]

If you are doing anything at Disney which includes,park hopping,going to visit the resorts even if you're staying at the Motel 6 in Kissimmee,want to eat at a restaurant in a resort,etc...Basically if you're in Disney property doing something you're a Disney guest and transportation to anywhere on property is there for you to use.