Avoiding parking fees

[sympatico]

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.

We visited the Boardwalk area also and was directed across the street to that parking lot ( if you didn't want valet parking).

 

[michellev]

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.

We ate at Ohana a couple of weeks ago and were asked for names and ID. We were definitely checked off of a dining list. Maybe it depends on the guard who is working, but they definitely do this.

 

[DisneyLover83]

I think it depends on how busy they are; we parked at the Boardwalk last time we stayed off site to eat at Flying Fish and visit Jellyrolls. Our name was checked off a list and we were given a 3 hour parking pass, there was a democratic party meeting at the hotel that weekend and they were actively towing people... the place was packed! Same trip we also dined at Narcoossee's and no one was checking a list and no pass was given.

I personally wouldn't risk it especially after seeing them towing at the Boardwalk, it's only $14.

 

[Beccabunny]

What if you just want to go to the Poly for drinks and to watch the fireworks? You can't really make a reservation for that. We were planning on doing this on a non-park day. Would we be able to park at the Poly? Would we be charged for parking?

 

[Uncleromulus]

Most likely (if the lot isn't full) they'll give you a 3-hour pass for that.

 

[kleldridge]

What if I am park hopping? If I pay $14 at one park, can I hop to another and use the same pass?

 

[leebee]

Yes, parking passes are good for the day. Pay the $14 once and keep the pass on your dashboard- it's good all day, all parks!

 

[shocker]

Just add up the number of days you plan to pay to park and multiply that by $14. Then take 1 ticket from your party and upgrade it to an AP (to get free parking, and it can be a child's ticket). See which comes up the better deal and go for that.

 

[kittycat9]

Spring break, last year. We were checked at WL before we were allowed to enter. They did allow us to park our car, eat dinner, ride the boat to MK for the evening, and come back to retrieve it though. I think were gone 4-5 hours counting dinner. Though we were staying on site.

 

[shocker]

Though we were staying on site.

And this is the difference. On site guests do not have to pay to park at the parks so in theory they would not be parking at a resort to "try to avoid parking fees" and thereby taking up spaces of paying guests/diners. They have parking privileges at any other resort and are given a parking pass to keep on the dash to do so. This way you can easily resort hop. The assumption is the OP has ruled out an onsite stay but other readers may find adding $14/day to their off site hotel price and a rental car (if applicable) may come out a better deal in the end to stay onsite. Ya' just gotta do the math and decide for yourself.

 

[VillageMama]

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 ???

This is exactly what happened to us twice in February, although we didn't even have dinner reservations.

We drove to the Contemporary and told the guard that we would like to check out the hotel. He didn't ask our names, check a list, give us a pass or tell us any time restrictions. He just glanced at hubby's driver's license and told us where to park.

We were there less than three hours because all we were doing was checking out the hotel and enjoying a brief spin on the monorail. It sure was tempting to take this approach when it was time for our day in the MK but we decided $14 was a small price to pay for peace of mind!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

Why would you want to spend your whole vacation worried about getting towed, or embarrassed by being told to turn around and not park instead of paying the $14 fee? This is Disney people! If you can't afford to go and play by the rules, you shouldn't be going. People going to such great lengths to avoid parking fees are probbaly also the same ones who pool hop and line jump. Some people just don't think rules apply to them! And to those who think it doesn't take time to go through teh buses monarail ect, you are kidding yourself. Was there over Spring Break, We paid to park. Dh ran out to the car to get DD's Tinkerbell costume the night we ate at CRT and it was over an hour by the time he caught the monarail and tram both ways and that was from the actual MK parking lot.

 

[Zip-a-dee-dude-da]

Original Poster, you and I know you can get away with just about anything when you set your heart to it. The only hassle really is The 60 bucks or so you'll spend in a week at the parks. If you came here looking for Hardcore Disneyphiles to tell you that its ok to Cheap out on paying parking fees your just not gonna get it on this board.

 

[Disneylvr]

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 ???

2 weeks ago we parked at the Poly 3 times and the Contemporary once during one of the busiest spring break weeks of the year. Although we did have a legitimate reason (dining reservations) to be at the resort they only asked to see a photo ID or our resort ID. We showed our resort ID (we were staying at CBR). They did not check ANY list at all or really seem to care why we were there nor were we give a parking pass or a time limit. They simply guided us on where to self or valet park. Now without a resort ID, I am not sure what they would have done. If they suspect you are trying to avoid a parking fee, they might not be so accomodating.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Original Poster, you and I know you can get away with just about anything when you set your heart to it. The only hassle really is The 60 bucks or so you'll spend in a week at the parks. If you came here looking for Hardcore Disneyphiles to tell you that its ok to Cheap out on paying parking fees your just not gonna get it on this board.

Perfectly said & totally agree

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Just add up the number of days you plan to pay to park and multiply that by $14. Then take 1 ticket from your party and upgrade it to an AP (to get free parking, and it can be a child's ticket). See which comes up the better deal and go for that.

are you sure it can be a child's ticket? I thought they were going to crack down on that since they know a child under the age of 11 doesn't drive. I am not saying they stopped this, just saying there was talk about it.
Your thoughts of upgrading makes sense.

 

[Brian Noble]

Child APs might be okay for parking. They are no longer eligible for resort room discounts.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We just drink water instead of flavored drinks in the parks, or just bring our own bottles of pop in and get ice in a cup. Both of the above more than offsets the $14 per day parking cost.

 

[DonnaL]

We have parked at BWV, Poly, and POR w/o having reservations and being checked off a list. We frequently go to the Poly beach to get a drink from the pool bar and watch Wishes, and will park at BWV when going to ESPN or maybe even to Beaches and Cream for some ice cream on a nice evening when we feel like walking. And, we visit POR to see Bob Jackson at the River Roost Lounge on every trip....all of the above w/o reservations. However, we also do stay onsite every trip and therefore, do have our DVC placard on the dash AND we also are AP holders. Even with the above I would not chance parking in a resort where I was not a guest for more than three or four hours......I would never consider parking there for an entire park day. I say this because sometimes when we ARE staying at a certain resort it's extremely frustrating to drive around the lot looking for a spot ......knowing that a percentage of the vehicles parked there are NOT staying there and yes, I have also seen cars being towed from resort parking lots. I have heard they are cracking down more on this, especially at the problem areas like BW and BC. I read somewhere that unless you are staying at the BWI or BWV they are not allowing you to park in the close lots, but, rather directing you to the satellite lot across the street (behind the Hess station).

 

[curseofcurves]

Does Disney offer free or discounted parking if you arrive just a few hours before close?

For instance: If MK is open til 11pm and Wishes is at 10pm, can we park at MK around 9pm and avoid the parking fee? We're getting in town that evening and I don't really want to pay $14 to park just to see Wishes, but I would like to see it.