Can someone come pick us up @ MK w/o paying parking?

[seashoreCM]

In the past they've at the MK toll plaza asked for a reservation # before they let us through.

Psst! Where would they (he) send you if you could not produce reservation papers?

Probably the bear right after the toll booths and you are heading and facing exactly where you wanted to go in the first place.

OT: By the way a suitable and safe U-turn outta' there is the first available left at a light after making that bear right. Pass the drop off area and the Polynesian. End of that road and take another left to get back on World Drive headed the other way.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

As I mentioned before- when we were there in August with a car service bringing us to the Poly, the guy at MK parking booth asked for our reservation #. He would not let us go until I found the paperwork to show him. And there were cars lined up behind us.

This is strange.

Not only have I not had to produce paperwork when I've been checking in, but my sister, who lives in the Orlando area, has come to hang out with me and been able to get to the CR's parking lot without any hassle from the MK parking booths.

Could be that you were being specific and the CM was seeing if you were 'bluffing'.....like if you'd simply said you were on the way to the Poly to have a meal at Captain Cook's (a counter service location), you'd have been waved through. But since you said you were checking in, he asked for more information. Or was just bored and felt like hassling someone.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

This is strange.

Not only have I not had to produce paperwork when I've been checking in, but my sister, who lives in the Orlando area, has come to hang out with me and been able to get to the CR's parking lot without any hassle from the MK parking booths.

Could be that you were being specific and the CM was seeing if you were 'bluffing'.....like if you'd simply said you were on the way to the Poly to have a meal at Captain Cook's (a counter service location), you'd have been waved through. But since you said you were checking in, he asked for more information. Or was just bored and felt like hassling someone.

That was probably it!! I'll probably never have that happen again. I don't remember that ever happening before either that's why I was blown away.

 

[seashoreCM]

There is also a chicken exit if you took the main bear left after the MK toll plaza, however if you were at one of the rightmost booths, it is much safer to take the bear right.

OT: Issues at the toll booth should not be handled there but rather downstream for example at the side of a strip where the road is wide and others can pass. A contemporary (lowercase c) business term is "take it off line". Toll booth attendants should not be in the business of checking restaurant reservations and guest lists. If a discussion does not seem to be going anywhere I would be tempted to just drive away quietly rather than keep people waiting behind.

 

[grahamfam3]

Or take 535 to Reams Road, turn left onto Center Drive, left onto North World Drive, which will take your ride right to the Contemporary without going through the booths. And before anyone starts (I know, haters gotta hate), I read the thread about this stretch of road and there are no signs that say you can't go this direction, just ones that imply not to backtrack it. Much like Hotel California, you can check in, but you can never leave .... At the end of the ride may be a conviently placed giftshop!

 

[cranbiz]

Or take 535 to Reams Road, turn left onto Center Drive, left onto North World Drive, which will take your ride right to the Contemporary without going through the booths. And before anyone starts (I know, haters gotta hate), I read the thread about this stretch of road and there are no signs that say you can't go this direction, just ones that imply not to backtrack it. Much like Hotel California, you can check in, but you can never leave .... At the end of the ride may be a conviently placed giftshop!

That route is backstage. Posted that it is for authorized vehicles and cast members. While a guest that exhibited knowledge of the area would not be questioned by security, a clearly lost guest would (and would probably pointed in the right direction) It is also a very out of the way for normal guests. When I would head out there to get to cast connection or property control, it was always shorter to go through the toll booth to there than go around to Reams Rd.

Now, if you want a legal way to bypass the toll booth at MK, take Buena Vista Dr to Bonnet Creek Parkway (past POR/ POFQ) to Vista Way and turn left to FW, go past FW and you will end up on the road to the CR/ WL/Poly.

You can also get off of Epcot Center Dr to Bonnet Creek Parkway (by OKW) and continue as above.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That route is backstage. Posted that it is for authorized vehicles and cast members. While a guest that exhibited knowledge of the area would not be questioned by security, a clearly lost guest would (and would probably pointed in the right direction) It is also a very out of the way for normal guests. When I would head out there to get to cast connection or property control, it was always shorter to go through the toll booth to there than go around to Reams Rd.

Well when you come back from Reams Road into WDW that sign over there which says it's for Authorized Vehicles and Cast Members, it also lists Walt Disney World Resort Guests who stay onsite as being allowed to enter from that side. I only know that because my family and I use Reams Road when going to the Winter Garden Shopping Village.

 

[Rabscuttle]

I have NEVER in 30 years been denied access to the Magic Kingdom resort area by the toll booth. You tell them where you are going; The Poly, GF, SoG whatever. In fact, we went to the Poly for breakfast, parked and left. I would tell them that I am going to one of the resorts. Not a lie. Drop the guests off, turn around at the resort of choice and leave.

 

[Rabscuttle]

Today it was raining and we wanted to visit the Yacht Club gift shop and perhaps have lunch. We told the gatekeeper that we were coming for lunch. He asked for a reservation number because the lots were "full" for the Food and Wine Festival. I told him I didn't have one, it was just lunch and we would be leaving, not going to Epcot and didn't feel like walking from the Dolphin in the rain. We showed a picture id which is so ridiculous and meaningless, he let us into the half empty lot and that was that. Yes we did leave after visiting the gift shops. There is no longer the parking pass placed on the window for short term visits; not at the Poly, not at the Yacht Club. We will find out tonight at AkL.