Visiting resorts

[Ocean Angel]

Has anyone ever taken a day, or part of a day to just use Disney Transportation and go around visiting the different resorts? Thinking that it might be a nice idea to be able to see the resorts we haven't stayed in yet. Wondering if there's ever a chance of gettig to see rooms at the different resorts. I think it would be nice to just walk around the properties and see the sites. Any comments? Thanks.

 

[tiger4me2]

Yes you can visit other resorts & ask the front desk if you can see one of the rooms if they can. I went over to the WL one year & ask to see a deluxe room & they had one that no one was in so we got to see it. It a luck of the draw You may look , eat at any of the resorts just no pool hopping Not a popular subject on here I know you said just looking but wanted to throw in about using the pools

 

[iheartdolewhips]

Yes, it's a lot of fun to go around and see the different resorts. Be sure to sample some of the food they have available while you're going around.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to take a map of the property so you know the general location of each hotel. There aren't buses that go from resort to resort, so you're going to have to transfer at a theme park, water park, or DTD. Try to order your visits so that you're not wasting time driving all over the property - for example, it would waste a lot of time to visit the Polynesian, then go to AKL, then head back to Wilderness Lodge. Also use the knowledge of where the resorts are to decide which park to transfer at. Last month, we were staying at Caribbean Beach and were heading to the Animal Kingdom. As we started our ride, the family near us started talking about how they were going to visit other hotels and that they were heading to the Swan. Both Caribbean Beach and Swan are RIGHT there at Epcot. We could see the top of the Epcot ball when we would pull out of Caribbean Beach. And the Swan is right there on the Epcot Boardwalk. They probably wasted an hour by the time they waited for buses and rode back and forth to Animal Kingdom, rather than waiting a few minutes more to catch an Epcot bus and walking to the Swan or catching a bus to Hollywood Studios (also right there) and transfering.

As far as the rooms, they might let you see them if they're not busy and have clean, empty rooms available. Don't ask when there's a lot of people checking in, but if they're not busy you can ask politely.

 

[ebird08]

Yes! We make it a point to visit several other resorts during out trips. I love to see the deluxe resorts in all their glory. We eat dinner, take pics, explore the grounds - it's great. During our last trip I asked at both the WL and Poly to see a room and the CM's handed me a photobook. It wasn't anything I couldn't have seen online. Ah well...maybe next time. Can't hurt to ask!

 

[KatMark]

Has anyone ever taken a day, or part of a day to just use Disney Transportation and go around visiting the different resorts? Thinking that it might be a nice idea to be able to see the resorts we haven't stayed in yet. Wondering if there's ever a chance of gettig to see rooms at the different resorts. I think it would be nice to just walk around the properties and see the sites. Any comments? Thanks.

We have done this on numerous trips. And every single time we've asked to see a room, we've been enthusiastically shown one EXCEPT for at the Wilderness Lodge. The snitty CM said to us: "Disney does not allow the resorts to do that." For that reason, among others, we will not stay at the WL (I do not put up with being lied to). We've been shown rooms at the Contemporary (the new rooms since we were there), the Beach Club, POR-Riverside, POFQ and the AKL.

 

[Missytara]

I spend one whole day eating and wondering the resorts, since I go the week after Thanksgiving.

Go to MK and take the monorail over to GF. Have breakfast and then do the monorail loop to Poly and CR.

Hop a boat over to WL and do the loop to FW; there are some great campsites where people stay through the holidays. Go to WL and stop in the lounge for drinks and snacks.

Go back to MK and then hop on the bus over to DHS. Take the ferry over on the loop to BC/YC/BW/Swan/Dolphin. End at BW and have dinner at Kouzzina's.

I take the bus from BW to DTD, walk over and get a sundae at Ghiradelli's and then take the water taxi back to my resort at POR.

 

[DisneyJBL]

I do this every trip!! I love going to the resorts to think about where I am going to stay next... And great picture opportunities!

 

[mickeynut1]

We love visiting the different resorts . Just ask at the front desk about seeing a room......if it's not a busy time and there is a room available, they will gladly show it to you .

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Every trip!!

 

[aggiegirl1234]

I think it's fun! We visited the GF and ate at the GF cafe on our last Christmas trip. They also have some nice gift shops. Next month we're staying at the CR but I've got ADRs for breakfast at Ohana's at the Poly and dinner at Narcoosee's at GF. I don't have any reservations for WL restaurants but I might go over just to visit too. I say it's your vacation, so have fun exploring!

 

[disneymomma1978]

I spend one whole day eating and wondering the resorts, since I go the week after Thanksgiving.

Go to MK and take the monorail over to GF. Have breakfast and then do the monorail loop to Poly and CR.

Hop a boat over to WL and do the loop to FW; there are some great campsites where people stay through the holidays. Go to WL and stop in the lounge for drinks and snacks.

Go back to MK and then hop on the bus over to DHS. Take the ferry over on the loop to BC/YC/BW/Swan/Dolphin. End at BW and have dinner at Kouzzina's.

I take the bus from BW to DTD, walk over and get a sundae at Ghiradelli's and then take the water taxi back to my resort at POR.

thanks for sharing this plan!

 

[fleurbie]

Yes it's a great thing to do, we went back to POR on our last trip, we wanted to bring back memories, as we got married while staying there

We also did the loop of GF, WL and the poly on the boat.

This time i'd like to see YC and OKW resorts. Although i'm glad i have not seen CBR yet as will be good to be able to explore the resort while staying there.

 

[luvpalmtrees]

We visit the resorts every trip we take to Disney. I think we have seen them all except for a couple. We visit the gift shops and see the pools. We've had dinner at Whispering Canyon at WL and then we walk around the resort. We also love walking around at the monorail resorts. This year we are eating at Poly and then we will stay and look around. We love love doing this!

 

[gillenkl]

We always take a day or a few afternoons to visit other resorts - we love the gift shops and usually treat ourselves to an afternoon snack at a counter service restaurant.

 

[spot28]

We did this on one trip, but more to see the wonderful Christmas decorations themed to the resort in the lobby, etc. I usually try to plan one meal at another resort from where I am staying so I can see it. Never asked to see a room though. I just trust the photos from others...