Hi Joseph,
It's great to hear from a fellow Floridian and a fellow passholder. Don't you love the convenience of being able to visit Walt Disney World frequently? It is one of the best benefits of living in the Sunshine State.
You absolutely are welcome to visit the resorts, and I would encourage you to do so. Just last night, my family and I drove over from our home in the Tampa Bay area to meet friends at
Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner. We relaxed in the beautiful lobby, enjoyed a drink at
Victoria Falls and then ate bountiful amounts of African-inspired food at
Boma.
All you need to do to access complimentary self-parking is show your ID at the security gate and let them know you are stopping by for a dining reservation, a snack, some shopping or just to look around. Most of the time, there's ample parking.
The only time you may have an issue accessing parking without a resort or dining reservation is during special events or at peak seasons, such as during the holidays. The monorail resorts -- the Contemporary, Polynesian Village and Grand Floridian -- usually have the most restrictions on parking for non-resort guests because of their popularity and proximity to
Magic Kingdom. And the Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts typically limit access during the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
Otherwise, feel free to wander through the resorts. Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge are two of our favorites to visit for a stroll through the grounds and a bite to eat. But there's something interesting to see and do at every resort. I love to spend a day resort-hopping during the Christmas season to see all the gorgeous trees and gingerbread creations.
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Joseph. Please check back if you have other questions or would like recommendations about the best quick bites in the resorts. Have fun exploring!
Wilma