Can we park at other Disney Resorts? Guard at Contemporary says no

[oogieboogie]

I believe it's written on the sheet you are asked to sign at check-in. The one that's the CM tears the parking pass from. I'm not sure, but I recall seeing it in writing and thought to myself... "Huh... It really is in writing!"

 

[inkkognito]

I would complain at the Guest Services desk at the resort. They would either be able to help you or to route the complaint to the proper person.
We like to eat at the Contemporary, and even on busy days when they are handing out the three-hour passes, we have never had a problem finding a place to park. The Poly seems to be either feast or famine; plenty of spots or nothing. We're never driven to GF, but Wilderness Lodge (where we also love to dine) is usually a real pain with parking. Sort of the like Poly...either nothing at all, or else tons of space (that's typically in the off season).
By the way, the other day at Boardwalk, they were not letting day visitors park in any of the lots to go to the restaurants. You had to park across the street, and the signs directing you there were not good. It looked like you should turn the wrong way...both myself and another person who came up behind me were fooled and had to take our life into our hands to back out.
Barb

 

[DebbieB]

When we stayed at the BW earlier this month, it was late afternoon and I used the gate with the room key, there was a long line at the guard shack. I heard the guard telling the person to go in and turn around, come back out and park across the street. I wish they would do it sooner because I had to really hunt for a space in self parking. I think they should cut it off when the lot is 75% full and only allow hotel guests after that.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We were at WDW from 12/19-12/26. We were bascially waved through at GF, Contemporary, and WL with our parking pass from the AKL. The only guard who gave us a 3-hour pass was a woman at the Poly. She made sure to tell us to drive slowly as we pulled away so that she could write down our license plate number. I think it depends on who you get and perhaps what kind of mood they're in.

 

[WillCAD]

I, too, am glad they are enforcing the 3-hour rule at the monorail resorts, but this guard was more than just rude, he was abusive, and I think he ought to be disciplined. Write an email to guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com and include the exact time and date of your encounter so they will be able to check the work schedules and find the particular guard.

There is no excuse for being so rude and abusive toward Guests.

 

[dgaston]

I parked at the Contemporary twice in October -- once for a MK Wishes cruise, and again for a Chef Mickey's dinner. When I told the guard why I was there I was waved in. I did notice many people who were headed to their cars after the Wishes cruise. OK maybe they were all going to DTD and really were CR guests, but I think the 3 hour passes help protect parking for the hotel guests.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You should have been allowed in PS or not. You can tour the resort or do whatever you wish.

We had something similar happen at AKL--b/c we wanted to see the new hotel. The guard let me know several times that it was not to be used for parking for AK. I didn't have park tickets so that wasn't a problem.

I would definitely complain though. The guard was rude!

 

[kylara]

I agree with those who say to complain. There was not reason for the guard to be rude, specially since you had a PS at Chef Mickey's and he could easily look that up. Write to the email addie that Willcad has given and let them know that the guard is being rude.

As for the 3 hour parking pass, having just stayed at the BW in December, I can say it is a good thing. Usually the self parking lot was full by mid-afternoon. Anytime I wanted to take my car, I did early in the morning and came back before noon so I knew I would get a spot. I did notice that the guard was directing those who where there to visit the boardwalk to the lot across the street.

I have rec'd parking passes at the CR and Poly before but never by a rude guard. The guards have been nice and explained that the 3 hours was to keep people from parking all day to visit the parks. I also got a full day pass once from CR when I was visiting friends who were staying there.

 

[Doctor P]

Sorry, but I'm with the minority on this one. There is generally NO reason to PARK at a monorail resort unless you are a guest there. I think that they should perhaps make this the policy and alleviate any issue. I'm sorry you were treated rudely, but this has been such a problem that I understand the snippiness and lack of patience. Too many people do try to game the system, so the honest people lose out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I kind of agree with you, Doctor P.

Maybe the OP was about the tenth or thirtieth guest who tried to park at the CR and he was getting tired of all of it. He didn't have to be rude, but we weren't there to hear it all. Especially since the OP stated that he thought he was entitled to park at any Disney Resort.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Sorry, but I'm with the minority on this one. There is generally NO reason to PARK at a monorail resort unless you are a guest there. I think that they should perhaps make this the policy and alleviate any issue. I'm sorry you were treated rudely, but this has been such a problem that I understand the snippiness and lack of patience. Too many people do try to game the system, so the honest people lose out.

Actually, I think having meal reservations is ample reason to park at a resort. If they don't want to supply parking places, don't give ressies to folks not staying there. I am spending an ample amount of money to eat at the CG or Chef Mickeys (There are six of us) and to not allow parking is ridiculous. If there isn't enough parking, they need to re-look at that situation.

 

[Doctor P]

I think you overreacted to what my statement said. Since the monorail stops at the door of every one of these resorts, and, during park hours, these resorts are tied by monorail to the MK, there is absolutely no reason to have to park AT the RESORT to be able to get to your PS. That is basically not the case at any other resort at WDW. The resorts can be accessed directly by WDW transportation from any theme park(like any other resort), can be accessed by taking transportation to the MK, and can be accessed by parking at the Ticket and Transportation center. Given these options, I stand by the statement that they could fairly eliminate any non-resort-guest parking at the monorail resorts and not be out of line. Feeling that you are entitled to park at these resorts for a PS suggests an unwillingness to be inconvenienced in the least way, or being too cheap to pay for parking (if an off-site guest).

 

[Debbie]

While you are correct in saying that a monorail resort has easy access to TTC, when we make our PS ressies, I'd better be told that I need to allow extra time to park at the TTC since parking at the resort is not allowed. And if I am an offsite guest, and I am popping in for dinner, I don't think that I should have to pay to park. Since that isn't done, parking for dinner IS allowed. We always check out the resort shops while we are there, so often park on the property. We do not, however, go during the busiest times of the year.

 

[elfbo]

Feeling that you are entitled to park at these resorts for a PS suggests an unwillingness to be inconvenienced in the least way, or being too cheap to pay for parking (if an off-site guest).

Thats why alot of people take cars to Disney. So they dont have to be inconvienced by the timing of disney transportation. I know I perfer to go some place that I have reservations at directly, rather than having to make two or more stops and take different modes of transportation on the way. Its a Time and Convience thing.

I havent taken a car to disney yet, but until I read this thread I thought we could park at any resort if we were staying on property. So Im not going to look down upon anybody who thinks the same thing, because the information is certainly not out there and easy to find.

 

[eelvira]

Dr. P is talking like the WHOLE world reads the DIS Forums. Sorry to bring you to reality but I'm sure that 99%+ of the people that go to WDW do NOT read this board. Therefore, they have no idea that you can park here or there and take, this or another mode of transportation to get somewhere. Overall if you come from Italy, Japan or anywhere and this is your first time. How would they know that there is a parking problem at the CR and they have to park at TTC to take the monorail to get there??? They would start saying what is TTC? What is CR? f you have reservations to eat a certain place the logical thing is to go to that place. If you have a car than includes driving there.

In the papers I got says that to make a Character Breakfast through Disney Transportation in the mornings can take up to 90 minutes. When I asked at my hotel the BEST way to get to PS at other resorts they said it was to DRIVE there. So by doing what the CMs tell me I'm doing something wrong????????

You may want to think that things are the way you describe, but right now it does not work that way. Continuing your line of thought then no restaurant should allow their guests to park there. We should all have to take taxis or limos to move around. Most of us cannot afford that.

Disney is a company that wants to make money. Going to visit their resorts generates extra income from purchasing gifts at their store, eat at their restaurants, having people see their resorts and making them decide to take their next vacation at that resort, etc. It is not in their best economic interest to become the "Police Gestapo" as someone called it earlier and not allow guests to park at their resorts. Pure economics.

Eric

 

[inkkognito]

Amen, Eric!
We eat at various WDW resort restaurants all the time and pay big bucks to do so. I have absolutely no problem with time limits, but I would have a BIG problem with being told I have to park in Boofoo Egypt to give them my business and my money. I could understand if the parking lot is full, of course, but not if they are just playing Parking Gestapo. There are times when we park downtown and use Disney's transportation, but that is my choice. When I want a quick and convenient dinner, I should be allowed to park by the restaurant. Happily, this has never been a problem, but if they ever change their policy, I will take my dinner business elsewhere.
Barb

 

[Deb & Bill]

Maybe the CR should set up a portion of their parking lot (the farthest parking from the hotel) for PS parking for CG, CM, etc. Tie your parking there to your dining experience. Within 30 minutes of completing your meal, you would be required to move your car. Then all the diners could still drive to dinner, but no one could park there for MK entrance unless they were staying there.

The BW has a separate parking lot opposite the guarded parking area where they try to direct most of the non-BW guests to keep people from parking there in lieu of paying parking fees at Epcot or Disney Studios. It's a pretty good hike from that parking lot to the International Gateway - and no shuttle service.

They used to have buses the went to the parks from DTD until they realized that a lot of off site people were parking there and taking the bus to the park to avoid paying parking.

 

[inkkognito]

Too bad they can't still have the buses and hotel passes or something like I've seen them check tickets on the resort monorails. We have APs, so when we park at DTD to go eat somewhere or go to a park, it's usually because we haven't decided what we want to do that day...we just have a spontaneous day and decide after walking around the stores for a while. APs can park free anytime, so it's not to escape any fees.
Barb

 

[Doctor P]

Listen...I'm not advocating cutting off parking at the monorail resorts, I'm just pointing out that it would not be unreasonable OR instituting a parking fee for non-resort guests to use the lot EVEN for a PS. Now, before people jump on me, think about it. It is often the case that hotel guests get their parking for free, while those who are just coming for dinner have to pay a parking fee. Furthermore, I don't think Disney owes me the right to park at any resort free of charge just because I stay on site (nor have I found any place that Disney says that they give you this right--people I think generally assume it). Remember, this all started with abuse of the resort parking privileges. Until someone comes up with a sure fire way to ELIMINATE the abuse of parking privileges, I would expect to always be treated with great skepticism at the monorail and BW area resorts. PLUS, I would be might ticked if I was a guest at a resort and couldn't park there because the spaces were taken up by interlopers, even those with PS's. I agree with the recommendation of another lot, but space is tight at the Contemporary (haven't parked at the other resorts; we generally use the Disney transportation--in fact in over 25 nights with a car at Disney over the past 4 years, we have only ONCE on ONE night used our car for transportation, even resort to resort [and we are still here to tell about it, LOL]). That's why I said use the TTC lots. Or, for those that insist on convenience, you can pay $12.00 up front to valet park at a monorail resort (that wouldl probably eliminate much of the abuse).

 

[inkkognito]

Actually, it's often the opposite...if you come for the day and eat dinner at many resorts in Orlando that charge a parking fee, they will validate your parking and waive that fee. If any hotel (Disney or otherwise) wants to attract outside revenue, then they need to cater to outside guests, not make it harder to spend your money there. Believe me, there are too many other options in Orlando/Kissimmee for resorts to make a practice of ticking off day guests.
Barb