Visiting other resorts?

[pacman9a]

Hi

I've just been reading about free stuff to do in WDW on mousesavers.com and one of the tips there was visiting other resorts for a nose around (I like this idea a lot ) they said just ask the gate keeper who will provide you with a three hour pass. Is this correct??

I had assumed that if I had a dining reservation in the resort that I would be allowed in but not just bowling up because I'm incredibly nosy

We will have a car so getting to the resorts will not be a problem but I would rather avoid the embarressment of being turned away at the gate

Thank you in advance

 

[wilma-bride]

Yes, just tell the person on the gate you would like to have a look around the resort and you will be given a parking pass. Not sure that we've ever been limited to 3 hours any time we've done it but it shouldn't take longer than that to have a nose around anyway

 

[All Star Paul]

Certainly if you have a dining reservation there will be no problem. On other occcasions we have just explained that we are interested in scoping out the resort as a potential place to stay on a future trip and never had an issue. I think they are more sensistive at the MK resorts in case you are trying to bypass the TTC. If you are staying at another WDW resort and have the pass in your windscreen I that helps but is not essential. Hope that helps.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If you are going to do this you MUST have ID preferably with a photo, such as passport and driving license.

It is something we have done a few times, but earlier this month at the Boardwalk if we hadn't been able to present ID I am sure they wouldn't have let us in.
To a degree it depends on the person on the gate at the time.

If you are visiting Magic Kingdom - you can easily have a look around the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian by getting off at the monorail stops.
And if you are at EPCOT you can walk through the International Gateway to view Boardwalk, Beach Club, Swan and Dolphin resorts.

 

[wayneg]

At Xmas we drove around about 7 or 8 resorts to see the Xmas decs. Just showed ID at each gate, no passes issued just waved thru. I expected issues at Grand Floridian as they had a sign up saying restricted parking thru holiday period but no problems at all. Also took monorail to Contemp and Poly.
They actually encourage you to visit resorts, bars, shops, eateries etc, with ID you won't(shouldn't) be refused entry. Just don't park car there and goto a park and don't use the pools and you will have no problems.

 

[pacman9a]

Brilliant info as always! I'll look forward to investigating lots of other resorts in August.

 

[Dimplenose]

If you use Disney transport you can get to any resort without ID. We parked at Epcot and got the bus to a resort, had lunch, and then bussed back for the afternoon at Epcot and Illuminations. (we were staying off-site at the time.)

(But you won't be turned away if you prefer to drive.)