Car parked at WDW resort during cruise?

[justme0729]

We're staying at WDW before a cruise and want to keep our car parked at our Disney resort during the cruise and use DCL transfers instead of driving to port. Has anyone had issues with Disney resorts allowing you to keep your car there during a Disney cruise?

 

[lanejudy]

WDW won't give confirmation that it's allowed until after you arrive. That said, I'm not sure I've heard of anyone denied though some have been told to move their vehicle to the back of the parking lot. It may depend on your resort as well.

 

[anricat]

According to planDisney (which is considered an official source) it's a no because the parking is for resort guests only and once you check out you aren't a resort guest any longer.

https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...wdw-resort-day-cruise-port-carnaveral-546905/

 

[happycamper47]

We're staying at WDW before a cruise and want to keep our car parked at our Disney resort during the cruise and use DCL transfers instead of driving to port. Has anyone had issues with Disney resorts allowing you to keep your car there during a Disney cruise?

That usually only works if you're returning to the Resort after the cruise. You need a Resort reservation for the return trip.

 

[dcassetta]

That usually only works if you're returning to the Resort after the cruise. You need a Resort reservation for the return trip.

You don't. You may book a transfer reservation without having an an upcoming resort reservation.

 

[Mle8308]

I don't think anyone is going to know. The last 5 trips I've taken to WDW we've had a car and no one ever asked for plate information or gave us any type of parking permit (I do remember years ago they would give you a print out for your dash). I was at the Poly in the fall and mentioned we had a car, they didn't care, no vehicle information taken, they only thing they told us was where to park. The security guard never recorded the plate, either. Just scanned our MB and let us in. I watched to see if they were writing down the plate number after, they did not - it was too busy! I know there are cameras but I really don't think they are enforcing anything. If you are staying at a resort without direct park access (All Stars/POR/OKW/SSR/CS/even CBR) I don't think they care. There really isn't any way for them to know you aren't staying aside from running plates for every car and cross referencing them with a resort guest list - and they are NOT doing that. And if it's a rental car, running a plate won't get them much! I wouldn't worry about it and park your car in a less busy location. Security is used to seeing cars parked in the same spot for a week or more at a time. If they even actually notice. But, parking at the Port may be around the same cost as taking Disney transportation to and from the Port, for convenience sake (especially if you aren't staying at Disney after your cruise), I'd drive myself and park in the garage there. It's an easy drive.

 

[Dug720]

even CBR)

I wouldn't bet on that with CBR being the Skyliner hub. (That would also take out AoA, Pop, and Riviera)

 

[BarlowFamily]

I don't think anyone is going to know. The last 5 trips I've taken to WDW we've had a car and no one ever asked for plate information or gave us any type of parking permit (I do remember years ago they would give you a print out for your dash). I was at the Poly in the fall and mentioned we had a car, they didn't care, no vehicle information taken, they only thing they told us was where to park. The security guard never recorded the plate, either. Just scanned our MB and let us in. I watched to see if they were writing down the plate number after, they did not - it was too busy! I know there are cameras but I really don't think they are enforcing anything. If you are staying at a resort without direct park access (All Stars/POR/OKW/SSR/CS/even CBR) I don't think they care. There really isn't any way for them to know you aren't staying aside from running plates for every car and cross referencing them with a resort guest list - and they are NOT doing that. And if it's a rental car, running a plate won't get them much! I wouldn't worry about it and park your car in a less busy location. Security is used to seeing cars parked in the same spot for a week or more at a time. If they even actually notice. But, parking at the Port may be around the same cost as taking Disney transportation to and from the Port, for convenience sake (especially if you aren't staying at Disney after your cruise), I'd drive myself and park in the garage there. It's an easy drive.

That's interesting. We were told checking in at the gate at Grand Floridian that our plates were captured by cameras and linked as the guard scanned our magic band. To ensure dining guests aren't parking all day etc. I'm not sure if it's true. Sometimes Disney's IT amazes me...for either being so far behind the times or for being really productive. Disney technology really spans a wide range.

 

[FreeTime]

That's interesting. We were told checking in at the gate at Grand Floridian that our plates were captured by cameras and linked as the guard scanned our magic band. To ensure dining guests aren't parking all day etc. I'm not sure if it's true. Sometimes Disney's IT amazes me...for either being so far behind the times or for being really productive. Disney technology really spans a wide range.

We were also told this as The Boardwalk. The security guard asked us to creep up a bit so it would capture the photo and told us it would make his life easier and ours as the gate would open next time as we were pull up.

 

[Mle8308]

We were also told this as The Boardwalk. The security guard asked us to creep up a bit so it would capture the photo and told us it would make his life easier and ours as the gate would open next time as we were pull up.

Yes, it does record your plate, not sure how tech it is because a lot of people don't have MB's at arrival, not sure why they do it. I do know that security is not driving around the parking lots checking on all the plates on each and every car, especially not at the larger resorts where the lots are so spread out and plenty of parking is available. We've pulled up to the gates in different cars than the one we arrived in and went to the "unmonitored" gate and used our MB's to open it. At check in the guard asked for a license and my brother gave his, and he was not staying and has a different last name then mine. No issues. A gate won't automatically open without a MB or a room key, so not sure why the guard said it would make his and your life easier. Two of my family members live in Orlando and the FD issued them keys, even though they weren't staying, and they used many different cars to get in the WL during our stay to visit us & go to the parks. They left us one car for 10 days to use, we didn't use it and it stayed in the same spot for the entire time. No one ever said anything. And it was not the car we were dropped off in. Same at the Poly, though we did have to go to the guard there, but had zero questions by anyone and the car sat in the same spot for nearly a week. I really don't think the OP will have issues unless they leave the car in one of the spots in the check in area (of the resorts that have those lots), especially if it's a short cruise.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I agree with @Mle8308 . I’ve see plenty of cars parked in the resort lots that don’t move for days. Many people drive to WDW then utilize their transportation. There’s nothing unusual about it.

Security isn’t running license plates, and even if they did and it showed you checked out a few days earlier, they’re not going to tow you — maybe you extended the reservation, maybe you’re staying on a new reservation under somebody else’s name, etc. Plus, there could be errors with the linking.

Now, if you were parked there for an extended time period I could understand concern. But for a few days? Don’t sweat it.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Also, while they may take your license plate, I doubt it’s linked to your account. I don’t use MB and have to show my room key to get in. My brother’s family does use MB and if they go to another resort for dining, they have to manually look up their reservation. If MB we’re truly linked, they’d have that info without asking.

 

[Boopuff]

All I'd pitch in to say is, if you're at a monorail resort, please be kind to those still staying and really need a parking spot, move your vehicle to the overflow lot!

 

[Mle8308]

All I'd pitch in to say is, if you're at a monorail resort, please be kind to those still staying and really need a parking spot, move your vehicle to the overflow lot!

I do agree with this!