Avoiding parking fees

[IndyClown]

We are staying at the Sheraton Vistana for upcoming trip and Disney parking is $14/day I think and really kind of a hassle to deal with.

Can you park at a Disney resort adjacent to the park, go in for breakfast and then leave your car there for the day while you go to the park?

Several years ago, we liked to check out all the different Disney resorts, so we would just tell the guard at the gate that we were there for dinner, no problems. Anyone done this recently?

 

[Purseval]

You either save $14 or get your car towed. Whether or not you think it's worth the risk is up to you. Did you check and see how much a shuttle from the resort would cost?

 

[dhdozier]

Does your hotel offer a shuttle? I know the guards are pretty strict now about parking at Disney resorts with so many others who have the same idea as you in trying to avoid parking fee.

 

[IndyClown]

No shuttle available to us and no it is not worth a towing that is why I posed the question in advance.

 

[Missytara]

We are staying at the Sheraton Vistana for upcoming trip and Disney parking is $14/day I think and really kind of a hassle to deal with.

Can you park at a Disney resort adjacent to the park, go in for breakfast and then leave your car there for the day while you go to the park?

Several years ago, we liked to check out all the different Disney resorts, so we would just tell the guard at the gate that we were there for dinner, no problems. Anyone done this recently?

You can park at a resort up to three hours if you are eating at the restaurant, that is probably what you are remembering - all day - NOPE.....

 

[Missytara]

We are staying at the Sheraton Vistana for upcoming trip and Disney parking is $14/day I think and really kind of a hassle to deal with.

Can you park at a Disney resort adjacent to the park, go in for breakfast and then leave your car there for the day while you go to the park?

Several years ago, we liked to check out all the different Disney resorts, so we would just tell the guard at the gate that we were there for dinner, no problems. Anyone done this recently?

If you are having dinner at the resort, you are allowed to park there for three hours - that is probably what you are remembering.

I go the week after Thanksgiving and the guards are extra diligent about checking cars and passes at that time of year, because so many people are resort hopping to see all the decorations.

 

[IndyClown]

10-4.....that's what I needed to know. Thanks!

 

[tsa]

Not sure if you could do this or not. Somebody help if I am wrong. Could you park at downtown disney and ride the shuttle from there????

For us the $14 is well worth the conveinice. We waterpark and park hop our way thru the World.

BTW I am LOVING the smileys

 

[Sammy]

Not sure if you could do this or not. Somebody help if I am wrong. Could you park at downtown disney and ride the shuttle from there????

For us the $14 is well worth the conveinice. We waterpark and park hop our way thru the World.

BTW I am LOVING the smileys

There are no Disney busses from DTD to any of the theme parks......you would have to park at DTD, take a bus to a resort, then transfer to another bus to get to a theme park. Depending on how quickly all of those busses come, it could take quite a while to get where you want to go!

 

[bellebride116]

Not sure if you could do this or not. Somebody help if I am wrong. Could you park at downtown disney and ride the shuttle from there????

For us the $14 is well worth the conveinice. We waterpark and park hop our way thru the World.

BTW I am LOVING the smileys

Yup! You could park at DTD, take the shuttle to the GF and then hop on the monorail to the park It doesn't usually take that long at all. Parking at either of the Disney water parks is free.

 

[Brian Noble]

Officially, you can't park at any resort or DTD in order to visit the theme parks. Unofficially, there may or may not be consequences of doing so. But, you can save money, or you can save time. Given the amount of money you are spending on vacation, it is probably worth it to just pay the $14 to avoid the extra 30-45 minutes waiting for buses, transferring, etc.

 

[spiceycat]

Several years ago, we liked to check out all the different Disney resorts, so we would just tell the guard at the gate that we were there for dinner, no problems. Anyone done this recently?

now the guards have list. if your name is not on it -you don't get in - unless you can come with a disney dinning reservation number.

of course it depends upon how busy the resort is at the time. if the resort is full - forget it. even if the parking lots are empty - you still don't get in.

if the resorts are close to empty you may. but now you get a 3 hours pass(sometimes longer). it says on the pass that if you have not left by that time your car can be towed.

the CR and Polyn have done it.

there was a time when certain groups got free valet parking at the resorts. Disney has done away with this policy and the parking lots are fuller than they have been in years.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Officially, you can't park at any resort or DTD in order to visit the theme parks. Unofficially, there may or may not be consequences of doing so. But, you can save money, or you can save time. Given the amount of money you are spending on vacation, it is probably worth it to just pay the $14 to avoid the extra 30-45 minutes waiting for buses, transferring, etc.

I agree also even if you want to park at DTD and do the bus to resort deal it's really not fair to legitimate DTD visitors..its very difficult to find a space alot of the time anyway

 

[3floridarays]

We are staying at the Sheraton Vistana for upcoming trip and Disney parking is $14/day I think and really kind of a hassle to deal with. Can you park at a Disney resort adjacent to the park, go in for breakfast and then leave your car there for the day while you go to the park?

Several years ago, we liked to check out all the different Disney resorts, so we would just tell the guard at the gate that we were there for dinner, no problems. Anyone done this recently?

Guess I'm not really understanding why it's such a hassle.

We drive our car and park at the parks. We have AP's and just show our passes to the CM, but even the people who have to pay zip right up, hand over their money, and off they go. And from resort to parking lot takes us about 15 minutes vs. 30-90 min for a bus. Not much of a hassle, IMHO.

So is it really an issue of inconvenience, or is it about trying to get around paying $14/day?

 

[zulemara]

I've never been asked for a reservation number or checked for a list. They check your ID and tell you to move along. Most of the time they don't even ask why you're there. Yesterday I parked at the contemporary and went into MK because I needed to leave MK very quickly after the fireworks.

Having said that, I show a CM ID so parking fees are not an issue, but using the resorts to park at to go into the park is still not technically "allowed"

I'd take the chance and do it. Besides, if they ask for a reservation, which I doubt they would, say you are trying to get in on a walk up.

edit: the boardwalk is always a good choice because there are several places to eat and there is boat/walking ability to epcot and from there you could even monorail to MK

 

[sympatico]

now the guards have list. if your name is not on it -you don't get in - unless you can come with a disney dinning reservation number.

of course it depends upon how busy the resort is at the time. if the resort is full - forget it. even if the parking lots are empty - you still don't get in.

if the resorts are close to empty you may. but now you get a 3 hours pass(sometimes longer). it says on the pass that if you have not left by that time your car can be towed.

the CR and Polyn have done it.

there was a time when certain groups got free valet parking at the resorts. Disney has done away with this policy and the parking lots are fuller than they have been in years.

We had dinner reservations at the GF a few weeks ago and the guard didn't ask our names, didn't have any list to check us in on and didn't give us a parking pass. He did take a glance at DHs drivers license. He just directed us to park in the self parking lot. Didn't say how long ???

 

[kaytieeldr]

edit: the boardwalk is always a good choice because there are several places to eat and there is boat/walking ability to epcot and from there you could even monorail to MK

And there is general public parking across the street from The Boardwalk Resort for, well, the general public. Parking AT the resorts is for Guests of those resorts and for people with temporary business (shopping, dining, etc.) AT those resorts. It's NOT for park parking. This is according to signs at these resorts.

 

[zulemara]

And there is general public parking across the street from The Boardwalk Resort for, well, the general public. Parking AT the resorts is for Guests of those resorts and for people with temporary business (shopping, dining, etc.) AT those resorts. It's NOT for park parking. This is according to signs at these resorts.

based on my extensive experience working at MK, people do not ever read, nor do they follow, signs.

 

[spiceycat]

And there is general public parking across the street from The Boardwalk Resort for, well, the general public. Parking AT the resorts is for Guests of those resorts and for people with temporary business (shopping, dining, etc.) AT those resorts. It's NOT for park parking. This is according to signs at these resorts.

when staying at BWV earlier this month - not sure. it looks like a new gate and stuff over there. then again that is where the guards were sending people when they turned their cars around and refused to allow them to park in BW parking lots.

 

[3floridarays]

when staying at BWV earlier this month - not sure. it looks like a new gate and stuff over there. then again that is where the guards were sending people when they turned their cars around and refused to allow them to park in BW parking lots.

WL had a closed gate when we were there earlier this month and they were stopping cars and making them turn around as well. Maybe they are cracking down on people parking at resorts who aren't supposed to be.