Another Disney resort policy is changing.
Walt Disney World Resort has spent the past several weeks tightening access to its hotels, introducing new rules that limit who can use transportation, mobile ordering, and certain resort amenities.
The changes have largely focused on giving priority to Disney Resort hotel guests. Last week, Disney stopped allowing guests to use buses and boats from Disney Springs unless they were staying at a Disney Resort hotel or had a dining or Enchanting Extras reservation within the next two hours.
Guests have also reported geofencing at several resort restaurants, including Gasparilla Island Grill, Contempo Cafe, Steakhouse 71 To Go, Capt. Cook's, Kona Cafe To Go, Roaring Fork, and Geyser Point Bar & Grill To Go, preventing mobile orders unless users are nearby.
The restrictions may not end there. Wording on Walt Disney World's website for this year's holiday entertainment suggests some offerings are reserved for resort guests and those with dining reservations, while fans have also speculated that Disney could eventually tighten access to the Resort Monorail loop.
Disney Adds Wristbands at Polynesian Resort
Another restriction has now arrived for the Fourth of July weekend.
Guests report that Disney is issuing wristbands to those staying at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, with the bands required to access both the Lava Pool and the resort beach.
The policy prevents non-resort guests from using the Polynesian beach to watch Magic Kingdom's Fourth of July fireworks, one of the most popular free viewing locations outside the park.
The wristbands are reportedly required from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4.
Earlier this week, cast members also erected barricades along the Polynesian beach to stop anyone without a wristband from entering the area.
Similar restrictions are also in place at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where only registered guests can attend the annual Fourth of July golf cart parade.
Disney Continues Limiting Resort Access
The beach restriction itself isn't new. Disney has implemented similar Fourth of July policies at the Polynesian in previous years to manage holiday crowds.
However, the wristbands arrive as Disney continues introducing new restrictions across Walt Disney World Resort, with transportation rules, mobile ordering limits, and holiday access policies all increasingly favoring guests staying at Disney Resort hotels.
Whether those measures remain limited to busy holidays or expand further remains to be seen, but Disney has made its direction increasingly clear over the past few weeks.
What do you think of Disney's resort crackdown?
