Can I park at Downtown Dis and use the buses?

[ilovediznee]

I am a DVC member, but this trip we are staying somewhere else off property. I want to utilize the Disney bus system so I thought I would park at Downtown Disney and take the buses from there to the parks.

My understanding, unless it has changed is that the Downtown opens at 9:30 am which is perfect for us.

Has anyone done this?

Please advise.

Thanks - Diane

 

[nowellsl]

If you have a park hopper pass or annual pass you can ride all the Disney buses. Keep in mind that the buses at Downtown Disney do not run to the theme parks. You would have to ride to a resort and then transfer to whichever park you wanted to visit. It is time consuming!

 

[jk1]

DVC members staying off-site don't get any more transpotation privileges than the non-DVC guest staying off-site.

To quote Chip 'n Dale Express who is a Disney Transport Bus Driver when he answered a similiar question:

Theme park and TTC buses to/from Downtown Disney were discontinued for this specific reason. Too many people were clogging our buses instead of using the ones provided (for DTD hotel guests). This made it difficult for our resort guests (the ones who paid for the bus) to get to Downtown Disney.

It should be noted that although we do not check ID's, Downtown Disney buses are technically only for Disney Resort guests. Park Hopper tickets only allow for park hopping transportation.

 

[slp87]

Park Hopper tickets only allow for park hopping transportation.

I don't believe the language is that specific on park hopper tickets. I believe it says that it includes unlimited use of WDW transportation.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by slp87
I don't believe the language is that specific on park hopper tickets. I believe it says that it includes unlimited use of WDW transportation.

The back of the park hopper I just purchased says NOTHING about transportation.

DD parking is for people shopping at DD.

Resort busses which run from the parks to the resorts are for resort guests.

Transportation that runs between the parks are for park guests.

They stopped the busses from DD to the parks because of this "shortcut" people were taking to avoid paying the parking fee.

Most DVC members buy an annual pass, which gives you free parking anyway. Just show the pass.

 

[angey77]

Just my opinion, but I think people who stay off-grounds and don't pay for parking by taking the DTD busses are stepping on toes of those paying extra to stay on the grounds. Plus, after all the time it takes to go from a resort to a park, my time is worth more than $7 for at least an hour of bus riding and waiting.
Nothing personal, but I think if people have enough money to be members of DVC, they should have no problem forking over a couple of bucks for parking

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

ITA!!! And, I am a DVC member.

 

[slp87]

The following is from the WDW website

Your 5-Day Park Hopper® PLUS Ticket entitles you to 5 days* of admission to the following Theme Parks, with the freedom to visit multiple Parks on the same day:
• Magic Kingdom® Park
• Epcot®
• Disney-MGM Studios
• Disney''s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
*Unused days never expire.

With each Park Hopper PLUS, you also receive:
• The flexibility to go from Theme Park to Theme Park on the same day
• Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation -- monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches

PLUS, a choice of TWO one-day admissions** to the following:
• Disney''s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney''s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island
• Disney''s Wide World of Sports® complex (days of operation depend on event schedule)
**Unused visits never expire. The PLUS admissions do not include Park Hopper privileges.

While I agree that you should not park at DTD to go to the parks, all tickets (except the 1-day) allow guests to use WDW transportation.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by slp87
The following is from the WDW website...

With each Park Hopper PLUS, you also receive:
• The flexibility to go from Theme Park to Theme Park on the same day
• Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation -- monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches ...

While I agree that you should not park at DTD to go to the parks, all tickets (except the 1-day) allow guests to use WDW transportation.

But notice that it does not say "unlimited" nor does it say "all".

Under normal circumstances there is no problem. But at especially busy times like MK closing on July 4 or Christmas week/NYE, there have been times when things like the resort monorail and the boats to WL/FW were checking for resort ID's. Anyone without them was sent to the express monorail or the ferryboat. Your PHP would not get you onto those modes of transportation.

I am sure there have been other times on other modes of transportation that Tyler could tell you about where resort IDs were allowed and PHPs weren't.

It has been this way for quite a while.

 

[Geoff_M]

That doesn't say "all" WDW transportation and it doesn't contradict what Chip 'n Dale Express said:

• Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation -- monorails (TTC to MK), ferryboats (TTC to MK), and motor coaches (park-to-park)

But like he said, they don't check ID's on the buses so in practice it's a moot point.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by slp87
The following is from the WDW website

Your 5-Day Park Hopper® PLUS Ticket entitles you to 5 days* of admission to the following Theme Parks, with the freedom to visit multiple Parks on the same day:
• Magic Kingdom® Park
• Epcot®
• Disney-MGM Studios
• Disney''s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
*Unused days never expire.

With each Park Hopper PLUS, you also receive:
• The flexibility to go from Theme Park to Theme Park on the same day
• Convenient Walt Disney World® transportation -- monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches

PLUS, a choice of TWO one-day admissions** to the following:
• Disney''s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney''s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island
• Disney''s Wide World of Sports® complex (days of operation depend on event schedule)
**Unused visits never expire. The PLUS admissions do not include Park Hopper privileges.

While I agree that you should not park at DTD to go to the parks, all tickets (except the 1-day) allow guests to use WDW transportation.

Not to debate you, but, unless it is on the back of the ticket, I won't believe it. Not that I am doubting you because I have read the same information, but, if it ain't on the ticket, you could say it does not exist.

 

[peachgirl]

An interesting thing happened while we were at OKW last month. We were at Typhoon Lagoon and we were on the bus returning back to OKW. There was a young couple sitting next to us and they were clearly confused as to how to get where they wanted to go.

They asked me if the TL bus went to DD, because that's where they were really wanting to go...not OKW. Actually, after the bus leaves OKW, it does go to DD and that's what I told him. I just assumed they were resort guests who were a bit lost. Nope, they were just going to the water parks for the day and had no passes at all other than that. Apparently the OKW bus is a pretty popular bus for those wanting to get to DTD, at least from Typhoon Lagoon.




It's up to WDW whether or not they choose to curb this, and apparently they don't care too. It does irk me though that the one thing they do to limit it is to punish the resort guests by discontinuing bus routes.

 

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by slp87

While I agree that you should not park at DTD to go to the parks, all tickets (except the 1-day) allow guests to use WDW transportation.

That's not correct. All tickets do not allow guests to use the resort transportation. You really can't argue with Tyler, he's the resident expert on WDW transportation and he knows his stuff.

As was pointed out, it's a moot point. No one will check you, except during the very busiest of times perhaps, at least not on the busses. We were stopped both during our Christmas trip and this trip just last month when we were going to the resort monorail from the MK. For some reason, they do monitor that a bit more.

 

[TreeOfLife]

People ruffling their feathers over this topic cracks me up.

The truth is, you can park in several WDW resorts without being a guest. Then even walk up to the bus stop, where you can catch the bus for the free ride just like a paying guest.
I have seen it happen at the All Stars, especially, and the POR.
Do I encourage it? Not really, but it is about time that Disney deals with the free riders. Until then, be aware that you can hop into any of their buses without a pass, even. The drivers don't even bother checking passes or room keys.

So, as some stand firmly deciding what is "legal or not", several are in air-conditioned free rides at this moment. Blame it on nobody else but Disney's transportation system.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
People ruffling their feathers over this topic cracks me up.

The truth is, you can park in several WDW resorts without being a guest. Then even walk up to the bus stop, where you can catch the bus for the free ride just like a paying guest.
I have seen it happen at the All Stars, especially, and the POR.
Do I encourage it? Not really, but it is about time that Disney deals with the free riders. Until then, be aware that you can hop into any of their buses without a pass, even. The drivers don't even bother checking passes or room keys.

So, as some stand firmly deciding what is "legal or not", several are in air-conditioned free rides at this moment. Blame it on nobody else but Disney's transportation system.

Excellent point, and obviously Disney did deal with the "free rides" from DD.

 

[philaround]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
People ruffling their feathers over this topic cracks me up.

The truth is, you can park in several WDW resorts without being a guest. Then even walk up to the bus stop, where you can catch the bus for the free ride just like a paying guest.
I have seen it happen at the All Stars, especially, and the POR.
Do I encourage it? Not really, but it is about time that Disney deals with the free riders. Until then, be aware that you can hop into any of their buses without a pass, even. The drivers don't even bother checking passes or room keys.

So, as some stand firmly deciding what is "legal or not", several are in air-conditioned free rides at this moment. Blame it on nobody else but Disney's transportation system.

Are you sure about this? When we were there 2 months ago for 2 weeks, 1week Poly & 1 week ASMU, we were issued dated resort parking pass [8-1/2"x11" sheet] color coded for the resort we were staying in. This sheet was on our dash board and was looked at everytime we went thru a toll gate. Also at the AS area the right hand gate was key coded. If you were registered at one of the AS resorts you could get in by swipping your key card thru the reader. This was the same gate the WDW busses used.

 

[peachgirl]

People ruffling their feathers over this topic cracks me up.
So, as some stand firmly deciding what is "legal or not", several are in air-conditioned free rides at this moment. Blame it on nobody else but Disney's transportation system.

Wait till the feathers get ruffled before you get too cracked up. I pride myself on trying not to pass moral judgement. My complaint lies with the overcrowded bus system and WDW's lack of interest in fixing it. I don't concern myself too much with the people that are causing the problem, I just would like to see it fixed. More busses, more restrictions...whatever it takes.

I blame no one for the abuses of the WDW transportation system except WDW. When they decide to stop it ( and they did for DTD), they will. Rest assured, until they do people will continue to take advantage. As of right now, those who aren't entitled to use WDW resort busses can so do and feel relatively certain they won't get caught.

The truth is, you can park in several WDW resorts without being a guest. Then even walk up to the bus stop, where you can catch the bus for the free ride just like a paying guest.

This one I wouldn't be too sure about. I'd hate telling people they could do this and then have them get their cars towed away. They do issue parking passes that you're supposed to put within sight. I've seen security checking, or at least I did at OKW. In some resorts, you have a tough time even getting through the gate if you're not on the list. At some resorts, you have to get a parking permit with a time limit in order to park there just to eat at the restaurant at that particular resort.

Then again, I'm not very savvy as far as how to get away with that sort of stuff and there are probably ways to get around it if you're creative enough. At any rate, maybe you can get away with it, but in this case the repercussions if you get caught are a little more serious than hopping a bus.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Am I sure about it? Would any of the bus drivers dare deny that it happens often?

I am this sure about it: It is infuriating to pay to stay onsite, get up early to stand in the bus stop and see people lining up who walk from the parking lot, rather than the hotel's lobby. The All-Stars parking lot is a free-for-all. I know of several guests who stay offsite near Downtown Disney and then hop to the parks for free, cool as cucumbers in Disney buses.

Again, Disney only has its drivers to blame.

 

[ilovediznee]

It appears I hit a nerve with some people regarding my parking question. I did not mean to do that. I can afford to park at each park everyday since I won't be staying on Disney property this time. I was just asking.

For future reference, I called DVC and they told me, along with someone else that if I show my DVC membership card, I can park free at any resort in valet parking AND I can use the transportation system wherever and whenever.

Thanks!

Diane

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ilovediznee
It appears I hit a nerve with some people regarding my parking question. I did not mean to do that. I can afford to park at each park everyday since I won't be staying on Disney property this time. I was just asking.

For future reference, I called DVC and they told me, along with someone else that if I show my DVC membership card, I can park free at any resort in valet parking AND I can use the transportation system wherever and whenever.

Thanks!

Diane

You were aparently misinformed or you heard incorrectly.

No, you will not get free valet parking at any resort, only at DVC resorts with valet parking. At any non DVC resort you will have to pay the 6.00 per day valet fee (plus tips are appreciated). You have access, as a member, to the DVC member website. It lists, in detail, our benefits.

From the members' website:

Valet Parking at the Walt Disney World® Resort
Disney Vacation Club Members are not charged for valet parking at Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Resort or Disney's Wilderness Lodge, regardless of where you're staying. You must present your Disney Vacation Club Member card or Walt Disney World Resort ID with your "DVC Member" designation on it when leaving your vehicle to be parked.
Members will be charged the daily fee of $6.00 for this service at any other valet parking operation at the Walt Disney World Resort. Once you've paid for the valet service, you'll receive unlimited valet parking for the remainder of the day. Whether or not you are charged to valet park, gratuities are still appropriate. There will be no charge for guests with disabilities who have the proper permits.