Using resort facilities as non resident

[dgutte]

My girls will be doing the Pirate Adventure Cruise. Whilst on it my wife and I want to do something locally and were wondering whether we can use the pool/beach etc... at the Grand Floridian, even though we are staying off property?

 

[luvdisney24]

OMG...hot topic here. No, you cannot use the pool at any of the Disney Resorts. The pools of the Resorts can only be used by the guests of that resort. You are welcome to hang in the lobby, bar, restaurants, etc. Just not the pool.

 

[ancestry]

Yep - you are not permitted to use the pool at a resort where you are not staying. You however are welcome to tour the resort -- i.e. you can walk around the grounds of the Grand Floridian or have a meal/snack in one of its many restaurants.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm afraid the use of the pool at any Disney resort is strictly for guests of that resort only. But there are some great restaurants at the Grand Floridian. Maybe you and your wife could have a nice, relaxing meal while waiting for your kiddies to take their cruise?

 

[dgutte]

Thanks for the replies. It's fair enough I suppose, after all people are paying a lot of money to stay there.

We will probably have a nice brunch then maybe rent a boat for 30 mins.

What about lounging on the beach, would that be ok?

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks for the replies. It's fair enough I suppose, after all people are paying a lot of money to stay there.

We will probably have a nice brunch then maybe rent a boat for 30 mins.

What about lounging on the beach, would that be ok?

Yep, that is totally fine. I'm not sure about the Grand Floridian, but the Poly has some nice hammocks for relaxing in.

 

[disnut8]

Thanks for the replies. It's fair enough I suppose, after all people are paying a lot of money to stay there.

We will probably have a nice brunch then maybe rent a boat for 30 mins.

What about lounging on the beach, would that be ok?

My daughter-in-law and I took a very nice monorail trip around while my granddaughter did the pirates cruise. We got out briefly at the Contemporary, then again at the Polynesian but walked back to the Grand Floridian. We had enough time to sit for about a half hour at a table near the beach at the Grand Floridian. It's a nice walk between the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian as it allows you to see the Wedding Pavilion upclose and personal. My daugther-in-law and I jokingly planned my granddaughter's wedding!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Lounging on the beach is fine - just, NO SWIMMING. Not because you're at a resort where you're not registered, but because it's just not healthy.

 

[dgutte]

oooo.... the hammocks sound great, as does having a peek at the wedding pavilion. My wife would always have a good stare as we passed on the monorail.

 

[pezaddict231]

As long as there isn't a wedding going on (there will be a sign outside with all the events that day) you can even go inside and have a really good look!

It's a nice walk over to the Poly from the GF and you can even get a dole whip at Captain Cooks, and I like the shops at the Poly.

At the GF, brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe would be really nice and I love shopping at Basin White, it's a bath store, and they have the best bath bombs!

You can also rent little boats at the Marina, that was fun one day and we got to go past the old Discovery Island and Water Country.

 

[robert@dvcstore]

All the previous posters are correct, you must be staying at a resort to use the pool. But, members of the Disney Vacation Club do have the privilege of "pool hopping". They must be staying at a DVC resort using their membership. During their stay, by showing their DVC membership card, they can use the facilities at other Disney resorts.

There are some black out dates during the year and DVC members can not pool hop to the Yacht and Beach Club pool, the Animal Kingdom pools or the pool at Bay Lake Tower.

Robert

 

[dgutte]

As long as there isn't a wedding going on (there will be a sign outside with all the events that day) you can even go inside and have a really good look!

Oh that would be lovely. I will keep that a little secret from the wife till we get there!

 

[zeroed]

Just out of curiosity, how do they know you're not staying there unless they ask? I've never seen anyone carded at a Disney pool.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

WDW has been known to ask to see your room key plus a room key for everyone in your party. This has caused some issues for folks because not everyone in their party takes their room key to the pool area. I witnessed this one day at the VWL and the Dad of a group of kids was steaming mad about having to show proof for everyone in his group who was at the pool..
SAB requires the use of your room key to enter the pool area.
So beware.

 

[Sue M]

Just out of curiosity, how do they know you're not staying there unless they ask? I've never seen anyone carded at a Disney pool.

I've seen people asked too.

 

[Sue M]

We've rented the SeaRaycers and they are so much fun. I'd rent one for each of you, they go much faster with only 1 person!
Love the idea of a meal at GF, or one of the monorail resorts. You can eat at one of their CS, or if you are looking for a restaurant meal, be sure to make a reservation.
You can also take the monorail to the Contemporary, then the boat to WL or Ft. Wilderness.