Question about others visiting your resort

Login to post comments
8 posts / 0 new
Christine's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/09/2014
Posts: 11
Question about others visiting your resort

My husband and I will be getting to WDW a few days before my sister and her husband will be arriving. They're staying in a different resort nearby and arriving very early in the morning (around 4am). They obviously won't be able to check into their hotel room that early, so they'd like to just come to our room to hang out until the parks open (we're staying at AKL). My questions are: 1. Can they get through the gate at that hour without issue, and 2. Is there visitor parking, or are we going to have to try to get them a parking pass (or give them ours)? I couldn't find any information online about "visitor" parking.

alicemouse's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/22/2013
Posts: 2832

I don't have an absolute answer, but here are some thoughts and observations: We have parked at other resorts as a guest, but after we were checked in at our own resort, so we showed our parking pass to get in. Of course when you first arrive, you have to stop at the gate and tell them you're checking in because you have no pass at that point. It would be legitimate to have dining reservations or be visiting the gift shop, but at 4am, that might not be a very believable reason for being on property.

__________________

Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

Find me on Facebook

Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

MrHub's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/29/2009
Posts: 9502

Hello Christine and welcome. At that hour in the morning, they may be calling you in your room to verify they are meeting you. There should be plenty of parking at that time unless the resort is booked solid, no matter where you are staying, except for the Poly. The Poly has a severe shortage of parking at the moment due to the construction and they are only allowing resort guests and guests with meal reservations to park there. What resort are you staying at?

You could notify the front desk when you check in that your friends will be arriving at a very early hour in the morning also.

Christine's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/09/2014
Posts: 11

Thanks for the information. We'll be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I don't mind if the person at the gate calls us to verify. I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't be denied access and end up sitting in their car for several hours, unable to get to us. Not a particularly magical way to start a Disney vacation Smile

starwarsgirl95's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/17/2013
Posts: 179

Christine wrote:
Thanks for the information. We'll be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I don't mind if the person at the gate calls us to verify. I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't be denied access and end up sitting in their car for several hours, unable to get to us. Not a particularly magical way to start a Disney vacation Smile

You may also want to go to the front desk the night before and let them know that you're going to have someone joining you. That way, they can notify security. As far as parking goes, they'll be directed where to park

__________________

I'm in the Virtual Honor Choir at Disney's California Adventure! One of 700 singers selected from 1500 submissions and one of 200 sopranos from 550 submissions! Click on the link to see it! http://youtu.be/04a199tjhKk
magicalkingdoms.com Ticker Free Disney Tickers
magicalkingdoms.com Ticker Free Disney Tickers

crazycatperson's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/19/2011
Posts: 3718

In addition to alerting the front desk/concierge of the expected early-morning arrival of your guests, give the relatives room info to pass on to the security guard at the front gate. Example:

Provide photo ID and say, "We're visiting Don and Donna Smith, who are staying in Room 9999. They're expecting us."

My experiences with gate guards at private communities and resorts are that if you alert the gatehouse/front desk of an expected visitor, and if your visitor knows your name and location (address, room number, whatever), the process will be a lot smoother.

Christine's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/09/2014
Posts: 11

Thank you all for the tips! I'll be sure to report back how accommodating the resort is to early-morning visitors Smile

Mandy's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/18/2013
Posts: 2485

They can check in that early if they are staying at a Disney resort. The room may not be ready at that time.