california grill parking

hickorysss

Earning My Ears
Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Messages
62
I know that if you have a reservation at California grill they will let you self park for free at contemporary. but what about in the case where you want to go up at 4:45/5ish but you don't have a reservation (and do not have TIW as well). do they charge for parking in this case? if not, do you just have to explain to the booth worker that you want to go to California grill bar/lounge to eat. I know they can be a little skeptical sometimes due to the fact that people try to take advantage of parking there for MK, and it makes for an uncomfortable interaction even if your intentions are to go there strictly to eat. any info on this?
 
It all depends on the guard at the entrance and how full the parking lot is. The guard might just let you in, s/he issue you a three hour parking pass for self parking, or s/he may ask you to go to the TTC to park.
 

so I assume if you go to TTC you will have to pay?

Yes, but if you are a guest of another Disney resort, you do not have to pay for parking at the TTC. Annual passholders also get free parking. It sounds like you're staying at the Beach Club Villas, so you should get a parking pass when you check-in.

If you are not an on-site guest or an AP holder, parking is $17 at the TTC or $20 per day for valet.
 
I know that if you have a reservation at California grill they will let you self park for free at contemporary. but what about in the case where you want to go up at 4:45/5ish but you don't have a reservation (and do not have TIW as well). do they charge for parking in this case? if not, do you just have to explain to the booth worker that you want to go to California grill bar/lounge to eat. I know they can be a little skeptical sometimes due to the fact that people try to take advantage of parking there for MK, and it makes for an uncomfortable interaction even if your intentions are to go there strictly to eat. any info on this?

We always have one meal at California Grill each time we go to WDW and every time they have allowed us to park in the auxiliary lot to the right of the Contemporary and will allow us to park there even when we go the MK after our dinner. There has never been a problem.
 
We always have one meal at California Grill each time we go to WDW and every time they have allowed us to park in the auxiliary lot to the right of the Contemporary and will allow us to park there even when we go the MK after our dinner. There has never been a problem.

Same with us--several times we've parked at the Vacation Club (Bay Lake Towers) area right next to the Contemporary--its NEVER full.
 
Not the same exact issue but last month when we cabbed to Contemp we had to let the guard scan one of our magic bands to prove we had an ADR before they let the cab in.
 
Totally depends on when you are going.

During peak times, MK events (holiday weeks/weekends, MNSSHP/MVMCP nights, etc.) and sometimes even when it's just convention business, you will not be allowed past the guard shack unless they can verify you have an ADR. The will check your ID against their list for the night.

Otherwise you should be fine. Just be prepared to have to go back & park at the TTC & monorail over if directed to do so.
 
or if you really wanted to save the money for parking if they don't let you in I think you could just go to downtown Disney and take a bus to contemporary
 
or if you really wanted to save the money for parking if they don't let you in I think you could just go to downtown Disney and take a bus to contemporary

Parking at DTD is horrible now due to construction of Disney Springs and new parking garages.

Last time DH & I tried to park at CR because we wanted to eat there without reservations we were turned away. We weren't the only ones turned away either. Since we were staying on property & are AP holders we just parked at TTC & went over.
 












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