Why would they not let someone into the resort? Is this true? You could easily have been meeting other guests who WERE staying at the resort. Do they really ever ask people for ID before entering one of the monorail resorts? I just don't really understand why.
The issue tends to be people who are looking to beat paying for parking in a theme park parking lot by going to the parking lot of a nearby hotel, saying "we're eating at (insert restaurant name here)," parking for free and then, whether they eat at that restaurant or not, go to the theme park from there instead.
This is especially true at the monorail hotels, where parking is not only free but often closer to the parks than paying to park at the TTC, especially if you're getting there a few hours after park opening.
They don't tend to hassle you about it if you're staying in a WDW resort, since it would be free for you to park in a theme park's lot anyway. They're supposedly less lenient if a: you're staying offsite or b: it's an exceptionally busy time of year where parking spots for guests of that hotel are scarce enough without people trying to game the system.
Sometimes the guards will say you're allowed to park for three hours, figuring that's enough time to eat and look around. They do have the right to tow your vehicle if you're not supposed to be parked there. Will they? I'm sure you'll find plenty of people on the boards here who will tell you to not worry about it, but it would certainly stink if you become "That Guy." The example that proves they're willing to do it.
The other option I suppose would be to valet park at a deluxe resort. It's only a buck more than a theme park's lot (plus tips unless you're a yutz), it's good for 24 hours AND it's good for 24 hours in ANY deluxe resort's lot. Breakfast at Poly's Ohanas and dinner at AKL's Boma? You don't have to pay for valet twice, just show them the receipt from Poly.
