Another "Is This Ok?" question

[may12th]

I know it is in bad form to park at a hotel you are not staying at and use Disney Transportation, but does this fit into that category?

My plan for Dec 11 is to go to AK in the morning and head back to CSR for an afternoon rest. That night we will go to the Poly to eat at O'hana. We do want to spend a little time at MK before we go to our ressie at 7:00. Can I drive to the Poly early and park there, take the monorail to MK for a while and then come back for supper? We want to watch Holiday Wishes from the beach but thought driving back would be easier on our little ones then all the transfers needed with using Disney Transportation getting back to CSR at such a late hour.

Maybe this is a bad plan anyway

Please stop me if I'm about to do something that is illogical or a big No-No!

Thanks!!!

 

[figment_jii]

I know it is in bad form to park at a hotel you are not staying at and use Disney Transportation, but does this fit into that category? ... Can I drive to the Poly early and park there, take the monorail to MK for a while and then come back for supper?

Yes, your plan would fall into that category. You're planning to park at a hotel you're not staying at (the Poly), then use Disney Transportation (the monorail) to go to the MK. To fit within the guidelines, you would need to take your car from CSR to TTC, go to the MK and then either go to the Poly for dinner and fireworks OR go back to the TTC and drive to the Poly for dinner and fireworks.

If you really wanted to leave your car at the Poly before going to the MK, you can have it valeted. It's $12 per day, plus tip.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Yeah I would recommend the Valet as well..

 

[wdwgrannyb]

I'm not sure, but, unless you are staying at a resort I don't think you can just park there. I think you need to use the TTC. just sayin'

 

[sazzlynn]

I know it is in bad form to park at a hotel you are not staying at and use Disney Transportation, but does this fit into that category?

My plan for Dec 11 is to go to AK in the morning and head back to CSR for an afternoon rest. That night we will go to the Poly to eat at O'hana. We do want to spend a little time at MK before we go to our ressie at 7:00. Can I drive to the Poly early and park there, take the monorail to MK for a while and then come back for supper? We want to watch Holiday Wishes from the beach but thought driving back would be easier on our little ones then all the transfers needed with using Disney Transportation getting back to CSR at such a late hour.

Maybe this is a bad plan anyway

Please stop me if I'm about to do something that is illogical or a big No-No!

Thanks!!!

I think your plan sounds fine since you have dinner ressie @ the Poly that night, you ABSOLUTELY have a right to park at the hotel. Disney won't care if you park there for a few extra hours. It's not like they have a restriction on how early you can arrive for your dinner reservations.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The TTC is actually quite close to the Poly.

Take a look at post #2 in this thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2368603

That is how close they are.

Park at the TTC, Take the mono or boat to the MK. After MK, take the mono or boat to the Poly. After you're done at the Poly, you can take the mono back to the TTC or walk.

 

[Ted C]

It's absolutely fine to park at the Poly and do this, not a problem whatsoever in this scenario...

 

[mickeyonasticky]

The TTC is actually quite close to the Poly.

Take a look at post #2 in this thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2368603

That is how close they are.

Park at the TTC, Take the mono or boat to the MK. After MK, take the mono or boat to the Poly. After you're done at the Poly, you can take the mono back to the TTC or walk.

Yeah, the TTC itself is right next door to the Poly. However, the parking lots are still a bit of a walk.

To the OP, since you do have dinner reservations at the Poly that night, it should be perfectly fine to park there. For free. No need to pay $12 for valet parking that you don't really need.

 

[BareNakedLadies]

We were staying at CSR and had a reservation at 1900 Park Fare before the MNSSHP. We were going to take a bus to MK and then catch monorail over to GF, but time was very tight, and bus wasn't there when we needed it. We drove to GF, self-parked there, ate dinner, took monorail to MK and back to GF later. Wasn't a problem at all.

Another night, we drove from CSR to WL where some friends were staying, parked there and took boat with them to Ft. Wilderness for HDDR. Told the guard at gatehouse what we were doing and he directed us where to park...again, no problem.

 

[deegack]

Your are allowed to park at hotels for up to three hours while eating at restaurants. The hotel parking lots are small and the people who pay to stay at the hotel have to park there.
Bad form. Park at the ttc to see wishes

 

[harding0010]

The TTC is within walking distance to the poly. There are signs at the TTC pointing to the walking path to poly. I would park at the TTC. Only way to park at the hotels is during your dinner reservations and there a two hour limit.

 

[emma'smom]

OP- You can park at the Poly, no problem! You are a "guest" there for the evening by virtue of having a dining reservation, spending your $$ on your meal, etc.

Now, if you were thinking 1/2 day....that would push it. But a few hours before a meal and walking around the resort beach afterwards. No problem---with the wait at Ohana...you may find yourself still eating during Wishes.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think your plan sounds fine since you have dinner ressie @ the Poly that night, you ABSOLUTELY have a right to park at the hotel. Disney won't care if you park there for a few extra hours. It's not like they have a restriction on how early you can arrive for your dinner reservations.

They actually will care. Typically you are given a 3 hour pass to park at a resort other than your own. The lots at the monorail resorts are small, and not of a size to handle non-resort guests parking for an extended period of time. Disney frowns on it, and it is in bad form to do.

 

[Indio]

We've never been given a pass to park at the Poly or other resorts. We just told the gate guard we were there for a meal or sometimes just to check out the resort. They've always just waved us thru and said Have a great visit! No piece of paper or parking pass. You can resort hop and just check out the resorts without a meal ressie - we've done it lots of times. I wouldn't park there for a long visit at the parks, but a few hours is fine.

 

[Hopefully]

They actually will care. Typically you are given a 3 hour pass to park at a resort other than your own. The lots at the monorail resorts are small, and not of a size to handle non-resort guests parking for an extended period of time. Disney frowns on it, and it is in bad form to do.

I agree completely. They ABSOLUTELY do care, as do the guests of the Poly who are looking for places to park at their hotel. It falls into the category you raised (why would you think it didn't? How is it different than having a breakfast ADR and heading to the park for the day?) and it is bad form.
Most of the posters who have posted that it is okay to do are very new to the DIS. This topic is discussed often. Parking at the hotels is for guests of those hotels. Folks wanting to dine/shop at the resort are welcomed and they are given a 3 hour parking pass.
Good Luck

 

[supernova]

I think your plan sounds fine since you have dinner ressie @ the Poly that night, you ABSOLUTELY have a right to park at the hotel. Disney won't care if you park there for a few extra hours. It's not like they have a restriction on how early you can arrive for your dinner reservations.

Right. Plus, it's only "illegal" after you get caught. Tell them you're there for a reservation (sometimes the guards check, most times they don't). Then leave your car and you're on your way. No one does a car-by-car check up.

The TTC is actually quite close to the Poly.

That is how close they are.

Park at the TTC, Take the mono or boat to the MK. After MK, take the mono or boat to the Poly. After you're done at the Poly, you can take the mono back to the TTC or walk.

I have walked from the Poly over to the TTC before. Easy walk. Then again, I've walked from Wilderness Lodge to the TTC, too, so...

 

[goofy4tink]

Parking at resorts is not intended for park access...period. At busier times of year, they put up signage to that effect. BUT...if you really need/want to park at a resort you are not staying at, and then head off for the day, then pay to valet park. Then, you are free to do anything you want. But self-parking at a resort you are not staying at, for time that you are not actively at that resort?? Not supposed to happen.
But..can you get away with it? Most likely. But that doesn't make it right. The MK resorts have the absolute worst track record of people parking at the resorts and then heading to MK for the day. At Epcot, it's the Epcot resorts that get the brunt of that behaviour. And I have to say that it's frustrating to drive back to your resort and not be able to find a decent parking spot...but as soon as the nightly fireworks show is over, that parking lot empties!!!

I would recommend parking at the TTC. No need to pay anything since you're a WDW resort guest. Then, you can just walk over to the Polynesian...very nice walk through the resort..takes less than 10 mins.

 

[goofy4tink]

Right. Plus, it's only "illegal" after you get caught. Tell them you're there for a reservation (sometimes the guards check, most times they don't). Then leave your car and you're on your way. No one does a car-by-car check up.

I have walked from the Poly over to the TTC before. Easy walk. Then again, I've walked from Wilderness Lodge to the TTC, too, so...

Wow...seriously?? You are not supposed to be walking from WL to the TTC. That's kind of nutty, not to mention dangerous.
I guess there are a lot of things that are only 'illegal' if you get caught...stealing, speeding, murder. But, that opens up a whole different can of worms.
Interesting post for a new person......

 

[mattsdragon]

I tend to avoid this conversation like the plague. But it seems to me that everytime this topic comes up, it is one of the worst ones for fighting, gnashing of teeth, pulling of hair, accusations of being a "Disney Cop" or "rule Gestapo", and at one point in one thread, I'm fairly certian I saw someone hurl a '62 Oldsmobile Cutlass.

I would love someone (and by someone, I mean someone else. . .I'm too lazy) to post the ACTUAL park policy regarding parking at resorts other than your own.

From that point, the OP can just make their own decision based on their interpretation and conscience.

 

[dzorn]

I know it is in bad form to park at a hotel you are not staying at and use Disney Transportation, but does this fit into that category?

My plan for Dec 11 is to go to AK in the morning and head back to CSR for an afternoon rest. That night we will go to the Poly to eat at O'hana. We do want to spend a little time at MK before we go to our ressie at 7:00. Can I drive to the Poly early and park there, take the monorail to MK for a while and then come back for supper? We want to watch Holiday Wishes from the beach but thought driving back would be easier on our little ones then all the transfers needed with using Disney Transportation getting back to CSR at such a late hour.

Maybe this is a bad plan anyway

Please stop me if I'm about to do something that is illogical or a big No-No!

Thanks!!!

How is that not the same thing? If you are staying at the poly then go ahead otherwise, move your vehicle as needed to where you are. Including not leaving it at the Poly unless you are at the poly.

Denise in MI