Can I park at other resorts just to check them out?

[Ashlotte]

Thank you for your responses. Sounds like my best bet is to drive from our room at OKW to the TTC and then do a loop around the monorail to check those resorts out? Those are the ones I'm most interested in seeing, other than AKL, having stayed previously at BWV (and being ineligible to stay at RIV with my account). We have two non-park days scheduled, one with dinner at California Grill and one with the early show of Hoop Dee Do. I don't know that everyone in my party wants to see the other resorts, so I'll have to do this earlier in the day. Thanks!

 

[Lumpy1106]

We had friends meet us at BWV and they had no problem parking there. They did have a backup plan, "we are delivering a pizza". They did bring a pizza so technically not wrong...

 

[tjkraz]

It seems like this could be solved with some designated short term parking spots for people with dining reservations or who wish to shop.

Then you get in the business of monitoring availability of the parking spaces. Have to stop letting people in if they're all filled. Someone has to make sure people aren't overstaying the posted time limit. And have processes in place to tow vehicles if people do overstay. (Plus Disney towing cars isn't exactly "magical.")

All of this would likely fall under security since they're controlling entrance. Or a group assigned to work with security. It's added overhead for 20+ Disney resorts, to effectively get to the same place as people taking existing Disney transport from their resort or parking at a theme park.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Then you get in the business of monitoring availability of the parking spaces. Have to stop letting people in if they're all filled. Someone has to make sure people aren't overstaying the posted time limit. And have processes in place to tow vehicles if people do overstay. (Plus Disney towing cars isn't exactly "magical.")

All of this would likely fall under security since they're controlling entrance. Or a group assigned to work with security. It's added overhead for 20+ Disney resorts, to effectively get to the same place as people taking existing Disney transport from their resort or parking at a theme park.

I imagine the thought has to be that it's much better to control parking by turning non-reservation guests away than it would be to have local towing companies coming in and removing cars and explaining to the guests where they took their car. You're very right - not very magical!!

We've been going to Disney and parking for decades now. I'm not sure I recall ever seeing someone getting towed, unless they had maintenance issues and needed assistance.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thank you for your responses. Sounds like my best bet is to drive from our room at OKW to the TTC and then do a loop around the monorail to check those resorts out? Those are the ones I'm most interested in seeing, other than AKL, having stayed previously at BWV (and being ineligible to stay at RIV with my account). We have two non-park days scheduled, one with dinner at California Grill and one with the early show of Hoop Dee Do. I don't know that everyone in my party wants to see the other resorts, so I'll have to do this earlier in the day. Thanks!

Sounds like a good plan! Wish we'd thought of that when we were at OKW last year, and wanted to go to other resorts' QS to eat (Goods to Go gets pretty old when you're there for 9 days). Could have enjoyed some Coconut Meatballs at Captain Cooks.

 

[DisTravels]

Thank you for your responses. Sounds like my best bet is to drive from our room at OKW to the TTC and then do a loop around the monorail to check those resorts out? Those are the ones I'm most interested in seeing, other than AKL, having stayed previously at BWV (and being ineligible to stay at RIV with my account). We have two non-park days scheduled, one with dinner at California Grill and one with the early show of Hoop Dee Do. I don't know that everyone in my party wants to see the other resorts, so I'll have to do this earlier in the day. Thanks!

Sounds like you have a good plan, hopefully some of your party joins you!!

 

[muppets3d]

There is nothing to be lost by simply driving up to the gate and telling them your plans. If you get turned away, then just drive over to Disney Springs and hop on a resort bus. The resorts that are the biggest sticklers for "only with a room reservation or ADR" are the monorail and Crescent Lake resorts, plus Riviera.