Haven't been to WDW since '76. Taking my family next spring. Been told by family and friends that if you stay at a resort you can use the facilities of all resorts (e.g. pools, restaurants). Probably staying at a value resort. Going for 8 days, have two families with six kids age 2-7. Want to take every other day off and stay at the pool. Anyone ever done this? How easy is it to travel from resort to resort to use the pools or restaurants? Which resorts have the best pools for young kids?
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Staying on Disney & using facilities of all resorts
- Thread starter jlfab
- Start date
Restaurants are very easy to visit at other resorts, no problems there.
Pool hopping isnt really acceptable to most though, as the pools are sized for the number of guests at that resort, and are not built to accomodate non-resort guests using it as well. Best bet if you want a big pool is to visit a water park. hope that helps!
Pool hopping isnt really acceptable to most though, as the pools are sized for the number of guests at that resort, and are not built to accomodate non-resort guests using it as well. Best bet if you want a big pool is to visit a water park. hope that helps!
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Hmmmm....I know some people are able to use all the pools, but I want to say it's the DVC members only who can do that? Maybe I'm wrong.
However, they don't exactly check IDs whenever you get off the bus, so how would they know what resort you are staying at.
I am 100% sure though, that you can go to the restaurants at any of the resorts.
Are you planning to drive or use the bus? If you use the bus you can't really "resort hop". You'd have to take the bus to a park and then from the park take a different bus to the resort of your choice. It would be much easier to drive between them all.
However, they don't exactly check IDs whenever you get off the bus, so how would they know what resort you are staying at.
I am 100% sure though, that you can go to the restaurants at any of the resorts.
Are you planning to drive or use the bus? If you use the bus you can't really "resort hop". You'd have to take the bus to a park and then from the park take a different bus to the resort of your choice. It would be much easier to drive between them all.
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DVC members can use the pools at all the other DVC resorts (except, I think, Stormalong Bay at YC/BC, because that gets so crowded).
They don't check IDs when you get off the bus, but they do check IDs at many of the Deluxe resort pools (especially Stormalong Bay) to make sure that only resort guests are using the pool.
Restaurants are definitely open to all WDW visitors.
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swimmom
Well-Known Member
The zero entry pools are nice for kids in your age group, however they are at deluxe resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge & Polynesian. You could watch for savings on accomodations as your trip gets closer. Ploynesian also makes transportation to a few resorts a little easier by monorail and just a walk to TTC.
Also on one of your days away from the parks you could spend some time just riding the monorail.
Also on one of your days away from the parks you could spend some time just riding the monorail.
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tigsmom
Well-Known Member
I know they check to see if you are staying at the WL at the pool. We have been asked for our room key and I've also seen them send a family back to Fort Wilderness who came over to use the pool & hot tub.
You can't use StormalongBay unless you are staying at the YC & BC Resorts. There was a time when pool hopping was accecptable, but with the advent of Value Resorts that has stopped. If you hit the water parks get there early as its hard to explain to your kids you can't go in because its full (speaking from experience). If you don't want to go to the parks everyday how about some mini golf...its alot of fun.
You can use restaurants, snackbars & arcades at any resort.
If you are staying on site then you have access to all transportation. Hope we didn't rain on your parade too much. :wave:
You can't use StormalongBay unless you are staying at the YC & BC Resorts. There was a time when pool hopping was accecptable, but with the advent of Value Resorts that has stopped. If you hit the water parks get there early as its hard to explain to your kids you can't go in because its full (speaking from experience). If you don't want to go to the parks everyday how about some mini golf...its alot of fun.
You can use restaurants, snackbars & arcades at any resort.
If you are staying on site then you have access to all transportation. Hope we didn't rain on your parade too much. :wave:
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Disney Hog
New Member
Keep in mind that if you book a resort package you will be charged park admission for your "days off". You might want to consider doing a room only reservation with a Park Hopper Ticket. This way you won't be charged for the parks when you don't use them. It could save you some major money, especially if you plan on taking 2-4 days off.
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PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
One thing to also keep in mind is that at all the value resorts all they have is counter service. This might be ok for you, but if you really wanted to stay at the resort and have sit down service dinner, you would have to jump up to at least a moderate. Coronado springs has a great pool for kids. It has a giant Pyramid with a water slide and the dig site which is a playground. My 4 year old daughter loved it.
With the amount of people you will have going for 8 days, you might also want to look into getting at least one Annual Pass. The discounts on the rooms alone would more than pay for the pass.
Since you haven't been there in almost 30 years you will be surprised in the amount to do in the parks. You could spend all day in the parks for the 8 days you are there and still not do everything there is to do, so really think about your plans for park passes before buying them.
Go through the WDW web page and learn as much about WDW you can before going.
Good luck on your planning!
With the amount of people you will have going for 8 days, you might also want to look into getting at least one Annual Pass. The discounts on the rooms alone would more than pay for the pass.
Since you haven't been there in almost 30 years you will be surprised in the amount to do in the parks. You could spend all day in the parks for the 8 days you are there and still not do everything there is to do, so really think about your plans for park passes before buying them.
Go through the WDW web page and learn as much about WDW you can before going.
Good luck on your planning!
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The Yacht and Beach Club definately has the best pool and the strictest ID checks. If you are watching your money, I'd say either one of the Port Orleans Resorts.
With a group that large, you may want to check out a Villa at the Beach Club since you are still able to use the pool.
I can help you find a good Resort with everything you need if you want the help.
Pam
With a group that large, you may want to check out a Villa at the Beach Club since you are still able to use the pool.
I can help you find a good Resort with everything you need if you want the help.
Pam
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Calamar
New Member
When I visited Walt Disney World earlier this week (3 days), I faced this problem as well. I was unable to reserve a room at my first choice among resorts, so I was interested in using the facilities of the other resorts. The cast members at the resorts informed me that it was possible for guests to use the gym facilities of any Disney resort -- while I did stop by the Contemporary for its gym, I had forgotten about the associated fee ($15 per day), and so I never actually used it.
Regarding the pools, as someone else noted, they were designed for a particular number of guests -- if you find that they're crowded, perhaps you should do the right thing and find another pool. Otherwise, I doubt you'd have any problem using the pools of Yacht and Beach Club, Grand Floridian, etc. Most pools are lacking access controls of any kind, and those that do have them enforce them poorly.
How does one actually visit the resorts? Well, you could go via bus, but this would require at least two trips. If you have a car, you may park at the resorts -- but some Deluxe resorts have restricted parking. You can obtain a temporary three-hour pass at the Polynesian and Contemporary, while the parking at the Grand Floridian is unlimited for resort guests (at least when I visited). Unfortunately, this parking lot fills up rapidly, as one might expect. I don't know about the policies at the other Deluxe resorts.
Regarding the pools, as someone else noted, they were designed for a particular number of guests -- if you find that they're crowded, perhaps you should do the right thing and find another pool. Otherwise, I doubt you'd have any problem using the pools of Yacht and Beach Club, Grand Floridian, etc. Most pools are lacking access controls of any kind, and those that do have them enforce them poorly.
How does one actually visit the resorts? Well, you could go via bus, but this would require at least two trips. If you have a car, you may park at the resorts -- but some Deluxe resorts have restricted parking. You can obtain a temporary three-hour pass at the Polynesian and Contemporary, while the parking at the Grand Floridian is unlimited for resort guests (at least when I visited). Unfortunately, this parking lot fills up rapidly, as one might expect. I don't know about the policies at the other Deluxe resorts.
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DDuckFan130
Well-Known Member
Sorry to get off-topic but I have a question about those trundle beds...
I read in a few places different things about who can sleep in those beds. Now, my question is: There are 5 of us in my immediate family. If my little sister is 5' tall exactly (maybe 1" more but I doubt it), will she fit in the trundle bed? We want to go for Thanksgiving and want to save money on rooms. If we can't all fit in one room at POR, we'll just invite someone else to split the second room with at ASMusic :lol:
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debbiedoo
New Member
As said the restaurants are no problem. I am a dvc member and we are told that no pool hopping is along to beach club and AKL. There are blackout dates for pool hopping, and I would ask them at customer service. These days are usually when the peak times are. A lot in the spring/summer.
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The trundle beds are big enough to comfortably fit an average 8-10 year old. The bed itself is about 1' total smalled in length than an average bed since they do store them under the double beds that are in the room. I am not sure of the total length of the bed, but someone 5' tall should be able to fit on there.
Pam
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