Disney World has announced new restrictions for Guests not staying at two Disney Resort Hotels, and the limitations could impact vacation plans made by certain Guests.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa/Credit: Disney Parks
No matter what time of year Guests visit the Walt Disney World Resort, staying at a Resort Hotel on Disney’s property is always a good idea because of the amenities afforded to Guests of the hotels. Visitors who stay in a Disney Resort Hotel enjoy Disney transportation, early theme park entry, and the benefits of staying close to the parks. In addition to these perks, each Disney World hotel is uniquely themed and decorated, and each hotel offers different dining options to Guests, as well as other amenities unique to that individual hotel.
Types of Disney World Resort Hotels
There are more than two dozen resort hotels from which to choose, and each one falls into a category that denotes the type of resort hotel option. The categories include Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, Deluxe Resorts, and Deluxe Villas. For a complete list of Walt Disney World Resort Hotel categories and the resorts that fall into those categories, visit Disney World’s official website by clicking here.
Lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge/Credit: Disney Parks
RELATED: Disney World Deluxe Resorts vs. Disney World Moderate Resorts: Here’s What You Need to Know
Each category of Resort Hotels at Disney World features a variety of options designed to fit each Guest’s price points. From Value Resorts like Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to Deluxe Resorts like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, there’s a resort hotel option for every Guest’s tastes and budget.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge/Credit: Disney Parks
New Restrictions for Some Guests
Guests staying at one resort hotel are welcome to “hop” over to another resort hotel on property to have dinner, go shopping, and enjoy certain other amenities as well, regardless of the fact that they’re staying at another hotel. But from time to time, Disney World does put restrictions in place related to this freedom to hop from one hotel to another. During the July 4th holiday, such restrictions have been put into place–restrictions that could impact Guests’ plans while at the parks.
Disney World is very popular year-round, and throughout the year, many Guests enjoy taking in the nighttime fireworks spectaculars presented in the theme parks from outside the parks along what’s known as the Resort Monorail loop. Usually, this amazing view of the fireworks is not limited to Resort Hotel Guests only. But as the Independence Day holiday approaches, Disney World is restricting Guests who are not staying in a Resort Hotel from enjoying the undoubtedly amazing view of the fireworks shows.
Credit: Becky Burkett
One of the most popular times of the year at Disney World has historically been the Independence Day holiday week. This year looks to be no different, and as the Fourth of July approaches, Disney World has announced new restrictions for Guests staying at two Disney Resort Hotels. On Monday, July 3 and Tuesday July 4, Magic Kingdom will replace the nightly “Happily Every After” nighttime spectacular with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.”
“Disney’s Celebrate America!” Fireworks Spectacular/Credit: Disney Parks
As has been the case in the past, only Guests staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will be allowed to view the fireworks by accessing the beach at their respective resort hotels. At both locations, wristbands will be required for Guests who want beach access on July 4, and only Guests staying at one of these resort hotels will be eligible to receive wristbands, which will be handed out to Guests at various locations at both resorts.
Guests who are not staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will not be eligible to receive wristbands, and will, therefore, not be permitted beach access on July 3rd and 4th. As such, those Guests will need to make alternate plans if they still wish to view the special Independence Day fireworks spectaculars.
Guests staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will only be able to enjoy the special fireworks viewings on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. For more information, visit Disney World’s website by clicking here.