Hi there Stephanie, I'd like to wish you a very Royal welcome to planDisney!
As a fellow
Annual Passholder, I'm glad to be able to shed some light on this for you! My husband and I always do our best to take advantage of the
various perks, discounts and exclusive experiences available to us - especially during V.I.PASSHOLDER Days!
While I've personally heard conflicting answers to this question from various sources and personally had inconsistent experiences with this, I spoke with a friendly Cast Member who was able to provide me some further insight as to what you can currently experience when attempting to drive or park at a Disney Resort Hotel without a dining reservation. They let me know that while the official
Walt Disney World Resort Parking policy does state that "Standard self-parking is complimentary for day Guests while they enjoy select dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels", this is subject to availability and may change without prior notice at the discretion of the Parking and Security Cast Members and their leadership. Sadly, being an Annual Passholder currently does not allow any special access beyond this.
So while some guests may have been fortunate to be allowed past when it was neither busy nor as crowded, in our experience they have become increasingly strict about ensuring that anyone entering is either a registered guest or has
a valid dining reservation. Sadly, while some folks have been able to convince the Parking and Security team at the gate to allow them access by showing a
Mobile Food & Beverage Order confirmation, this can never be guaranteed and the Cast Member let me know that the safest way to avoid any awkward confrontations or disappointment is to take advantage of the
parking at Disney Springs and
use a complimentary Walt Disney World Resort Bus Service to the Resort Hotel of your choice!
While it's wonderful to be able to
stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel as a guest, a lot of folks and Disney fans like to go resort-hopping to try out the different eats and experiences available at each location. Some of my favorite places to visit are
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and
Disney's Wilderness Lodge for the sheer sense of escape and immersion whenever we head there to enjoy the dining options and recreation activities, but I also have a soft spot for nighttime strolls around
Disney's BoardWalk and
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for the sheer gorgeous-yet-cozy atmosphere that really makes us feel at home every time.
I hope this helps Stephanie, and that you encounter friendly and welcoming Cast Members who'll allow you to experience the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels and everything that they have to offer!
Wishing you all the best on your Resort-Hopping quest in the future!
Prince