Not Allowed to Go to Resorts Anymore If You Aren't Staying There?

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I admit I don't have any sort of statistics to back up how many people travel to WDW by car. But if they sometimes limit how many cars of non-guests are allowed to park at hotels to visit, then it must be a problem at least at times, so why not think about solutions? Indeed, they'd probably cite the amount of cars as a reason they started charging for parking (versus "we'd really like you to not have a car so you'll spend all of your vacation on our property").

And speaking from experience, it takes far less effort to visit other resorts when you have a car, which is why some people opt to have cars on their vacations.

Oh don’t misunderstand me...I’m not disputing what you’re saying at all. And I don’t want a policy crackdown...I just can see why they’d do it with little hesitation. At the end of the day - it’s not a lot of lost revenue if they ban the non sit down customers. Very little merchandise can not be had at springs and quickserve is pretty universal.

But the problem is that the internet lead to some easy loophole exploitation. Contemporary is an obvious one. The other is “hi, we’re going to beaches and cream” or “espn” at 3 pm...easy walk in, easy walk out...no fee and no added business.

 

[OneofThree]

At the end of the day - it’s not a lot of lost revenue if they ban the non sit down customers.

It's definitely a balancing act for them. As someone within driving distance, we spent just a day there last week -and spent $500. The lion's share of that was in fact at a TS, but some merch and some qs desert were also part of the equation. Tough spot because as another poster pointed out, some people seem to go out of their way to abuse the system.

 

[slappy magoo]

Oh don’t misunderstand me...I’m not disputing what you’re saying at all. And I don’t want a policy crackdown...I just can see why they’d do it with little hesitation. At the end of the day - it’s not a lot of lost revenue if they ban the non sit down customers. Very little merchandise can not be had at springs and quickserve is pretty universal.

But as I wrote above, one of the reasons they want people able to walk around and just check out the deluxe resorts is it's a bit of the ol' "the first taste is free kid, but the next is gonna cost ya." They want people to visit the resorts because it might hook them into staying there the next time. I'm sure if we did an informal poll just on this board, at least 20% of us originally stayed at a value or mod or FW or offsite, and it was a goal or dream to one day stay at a deluxe.

I'm sure you'll also have some people who aspired to a deluxe, tried it, decided "meh, not worth it, and went back to mods or values or FW or offsite, but it doesn't change the fact that they tried it.

Which begs the question what made them want to try it? I'd also feel fairly confident that for a lot of people it was either going for a meal, or checking out decorations during the holidays, maybe jumping in the pool before the crackdowns...getting a taste of the experience.
And some of that taste goes away if you make it harder to access the resorts.
Which is why I think, for the OP, the problem wasn't a new all-the-time procedure, it was just that there was an unusually high percentage of guests with cars and they had to keep spaces available for them.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But as I wrote above, one of the reasons they want people able to walk around and just check out the deluxe resorts is it's a bit of the ol' "the first taste is free kid, but the next is gonna cost ya." They want people to visit the resorts because it might hook them into staying there the next time. I'm sure if we did an informal poll just on this board, at least 20% of us originally stayed at a value or mod or FW or offsite, and it was a goal or dream to one day stay at a deluxe.

I'm sure you'll also have some people who aspired to a deluxe, tried it, decided "meh, not worth it, and went back to mods or values or FW or offsite, but it doesn't change the fact that they tried it.

Which begs the question what made them want to try it? I'd also feel fairly confident that for a lot of people it was either going for a meal, or checking out decorations during the holidays, maybe jumping in the pool before the crackdowns...getting a taste of the experience.
And some of that taste goes away if you make it harder to access the resorts.
Which is why I think, for the OP, the problem wasn't a new all-the-time procedure, it was just that there was an unusually high percentage of guests with cars and they had to keep spaces available for them.

Certainly possible.

But I think you’re speaking to more eisnerian Disney (when I was tasked at looking at resort operations/revenues/resort sales)...that type of incentivizing was very prevalent.

Now? I feel like it has reduced. Except DVC...which is the only loyal customer program they push. In the Internet age...I think it’s tough to entice people or more likely - have them not know what they’re getting. That makes this kind of upsale potential much smaller than it once was.

If you want to sign a contract? Absolutely they want you sampling. If you’re just looking to upgrade on a package once every 3 years?? The return is much more diminished and could make it statistically moot. They know you’re coming whether you park at contemporary or not...and if you don’t for that week...there are others typically in line.

Selling hotels isn’t the game it once was. And if they don’t sell? It’s due to egregious pricing that they have shown hit somewhat of a wall - on the deluxe end at least. A taste of contempo cafe and an ugly sweatshirt doesn’t cure that symptom.

 

[NelleBelle]

We were on vacation earlier this month and wanted to check out Ample Hills at Boardwalk. We drove over and told the guard that we were staying at SSR and wanted to check out Ample Hills and the resort. He scanned my magic band and in we went to park. He told us we could either self-park (and told us where) or valet. Sounds as if parking-gods looked favorably on us and we were allowed in. The lot wasn't overly crowded, so that may have had something to do with things?

 

[yoda_5729]

Couldn't Disney just use MyMagic+ to help enforce the people who walk from Contemporary to MK? I mean if they take your ID information when you park there, then if an hour later someone is entering MK with that magic band, they'd know. My understanding was MyMagic+ had some form of GPS? Even if it didn't though, I would think knowing the persons name, and then seeing that they entered the park would catch them, especially if someone checked the lot while the person was in the park for their vehicle. Then as a policy they could just not allow those individuals from parking there. More complicated would be the ones who park at Contemporary and visit GF or Poly, though those would not be as great a number as those trying to visit MK. When visiting one, I often do visit the others, especially in the case of Contemporary/GF/Poly, and Beach/Yacht/Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin.

 

[The Mighty Tim]

Forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question, but in September, my brother and I will be staying at CS whilst my folks will be at POFQ. My folks will also be renting a car.

Does this policy mean that they may not be allowed to visit our resort or drop us off or pick us up?

 

[Tuvalu]

Forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question, but in September, my brother and I will be staying at CS whilst my folks will be at POFQ. My folks will also be renting a car.

Does this policy mean that they may not be allowed to visit our resort or drop us off or pick us up?

Do not worry! CS is a large resort with lots of parking and....most importantly....is not within walking distance of a theme park. Your parents merely need to tell the guard at the gate that they are visiting/picking you up.

 

[The Mighty Tim]

Do not worry! CS is a large resort with lots of parking and....most importantly....is not within walking distance of a theme park. Your parents merely need to tell the guard at the gate that they are visiting/picking you up.

Super, thanks for that. I'll pass the info along.

 

[YankeeMouse]

We've been turned away sometimes for Breakfast at Poly, just quick service Capt Cook's....gotta have the tonga toast. Always honest, just say we are coming for Tonga Toast. Sometimes we are turned away, sometimes not. Beignets at POFQ though, we are always able to park there...location.

 

[Tuvalu]

Relax, @M&M fan you are overreacting. Preventing guests from visiting or dining at resorts where they are not staying would not only be horrible PR for Disney but also a huge monetary loss. Resort restaurants and stores could not sustain themselves if only same- resort guests were allowed to patronize them.

 

[OneofThree]

I'm adding to my earlier posting because I feel I may have come across as confusing so I'm going to give two examples of what I was trying to say earlier:

1) A local person from Orlando wants to go check out the Christmas decorations over at GF. They know they aren't getting in the parking lot so they go to the TTC and park, then use the monorail to get in GF. They get off the monorail and there's a CM standing there asking anyone (who looks to be heading towards GF) "Are you a guest of GF, do you have a reservation at one of their restaurants, etc.", and you say no and they turn you around. You're not getting in because you aren't a guest of that resort or have a reservation.

2) A tourist is staying at GF. They want to go get a drink at Trader Sam's. They use that short walkway that's in between the two resorts and once they get to the main house at Poly, there's a CM standing there, checking Magic Bands and asking are you a guest of Polynesian, have a reservation, etc. And when you say no, they turn you around because you don't fit the bill.

You see what I'm talking about? They aren't letting anybody in that isn't staying at that particular hotel or have a reservation. In other words, a real reason to be there. Doesn't matter if you are a tourist that's staying at another Disney property and just want to explore another hotel.

I have fears that they will eventually start doing this and they technically could. Do you think it's possible or am I overreaching here? Like I said, it does bother me because I love to visit the resorts when I'm staying on property and not necessarily because I have a reservation at one of the restaurants. What are your thoughts?

Preventing guests from visiting or dining at resorts where they are not staying would not only be horrible PR

PR? Not sure that has any bearing but: Disney views this as any other firm would -dollars and cents. For them, it's all about capacity (not to be confused with room capacity). As of now, they need the traffic provided by locals and between WDW resorts in order to drive revenue and meet or beat analyst expectations. I wouldn't expect any changes save for closing off resort parking as some, including myself, have experienced. Even if they were to act, it is almost certain that they would never prohibit resort guests from visiting other resorts. If anything (and I don't see it happening), they would return to the old policy (1980's) where resort transportation required a resort ID, and non-guests needed an ADR to gain access to a resort property.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

So you're saying that I've just been getting lucky then? Because I've never been turned down before.

Try going to one of the Epcot resorts during Food and Wine. You'll be turned down every time.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Which is why I think, for the OP, the problem wasn't a new all-the-time procedure, it was just that there was an unusually high percentage of guests with cars and they had to keep spaces available for them.

They also do it if there's a convention or wedding or some such thing going on.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I don't mean to sound crazy but that has always been one of my fears. I love going to the other hotels and exploring, checking out what they have in the gift shops and quick service and hanging out at the different lounges.

A "fear," seriously?

 

[OneofThree]

I don't mean to sound crazy but that has always been one of my fears. I love going to the other hotels and exploring, checking out what they have in the gift shops and quick service and hanging out at the different lounges.

. . . and Disney loves your wallet you all the more for it.

 

[21stamps]

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but this makes me glad I am not a local just visiting the parks and resorts because when you stay there as a guest--you're guaranteed to get in obviously and you won't be turned away anywhere because you've got the different types of Disney transportation to get you to where you want to go--especially when wanting to visit or eat at another resort. Now my fear is going to be when they start saying that you can't get in even then, unless you are a guest of that particular hotel or have a reservation. That's when I'm gonna have the problem then because that defeats the whole point of visiting and exploring these places and to get people to want to stay there on a future trip. Do you think they'll start doing that eventually? I hope not.

I could just see it now--you're staying at Beach Club and decide to walk over to Boardwalk to hang out at Bellevue Lounge or to eat at Big River Grill (which is walk-ups only) and they got a CM standing there at certain entrances checking Magic Bands and asking if you're a guest of Boardwalk or have a reservation--and if you don't fit any of that--you're not allowed to wander around. Same if you're staying at Pop Century and take the bus to get to Animal Kingdom Lodge just to explore but you get off the bus and yet there's a CM there, standing around and asking every single person getting off (this would be at the monorails/boats too) are you a guest, reservation, etc., and if you aren't--you aren't getting in. Does anybody here think it will ever come to that? I shudder at the thought because exploring the hotels is just as fun as going to the parks. I mean they've cut down on pool hopping, which I can understand, so do you think they'd have a problem with people just visiting just because--whether they are a guest at another Disney hotel or not?

That's why it does suck for the locals because obviously it has to do with the amount of parking at some of the places--and they just don't have a lot of it--so I can understand why they're doing this and cracking down now. But what I'm concerned about is when you are a guest staying at a different resort or you're a local that goes to the TTC and uses Disney transportation and still you get turned away just because you're not staying there or have a reservation? What are the odds of that ever happening? It scares me to think about...

I don’t think locals should be hanging out at the resorts. Table service is different, but the resorts are crowded enough with Disney guests, the wording is “As a guest of the Walt Disney World Resort...”. Not “anyone who lives in the general area should park and hang out at resorts”.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I don’t think locals should be hanging out at the resorts. Table service is different, but the resorts are crowded enough with Disney guests, the wording is “As a guest of the Walt Disney World Resort...”. Not “anyone who lives in the general area should park and hang out at resorts”.

There's my girl. Welcome back to the dark side.

Pst... Leggings are the official uniform of locals visiting resorts just to hang out.

 

[21stamps]

There's my girl. Welcome back to the dark side.

Ha ha ha. That’s not the dark side!!! All I did was state how Disney words the amenities/restaurants in their vacation literature.

 

[OneofThree]

I don’t think locals should be hanging out at the resorts. Table service is different, but the resorts are crowded enough with Disney guests, the wording is “As a guest of the Walt Disney World Resort...”. Not “anyone who lives in the general area should park and hang out at resorts”.

I agree with you to a degree. At the same time, I spent $500 over the course of several hours there last week and I think they were pretty happy with me. It wouldn't break my heart though if they did return to the old policy, but it's not going happen -not since their model shifted toward such a heavy reliance on the sale of food and Chinese-made trinkets.