Dining (& parking) at a different resort?

[amlc]

We are staying at BC in a few weeks but DH wants to go check out WL as a future option (he's a big fan of the Californian at DL). I have a dinner ADR for Artist's Point one night - can we drive over, park, eat dinner, then take the boat to MK for a few hours and then come back to WL to get the car and drive back "home" to BC? It would be nice to not have waste time driving back to BC and then bus to MK or drive to the transportation hub and then tram to MK. I don't want to do anything "illegal" and I couldn't find the answer in the boards so figured I would ask. Thanks!

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Yes

 

[Polydweller]

Actually, the answer is NO. Parking is for the ADR not theme park access. The parking lots are not large enough to accommodate both the resort's own guests and those who would like to do what you are suggesting. By going to MK you are potentially taking the space of a guest staying there who had no other option but to park there. People visiting the resort for an ADR do have the option of moving their car to the TTC after dinner.

 

[amlc]

Actually, the answer is NO. Parking is for the ADR not theme park access. The parking lots are not large enough to accommodate both the resort's own guests and those who would like to do what you are suggesting. By going to MK you are potentially taking the space of a guest staying there who had no other option but to park there. People visiting the resort for an ADR do have the option of moving their car to the TTC after dinner.

Thank you! I was wondering about that. I could see how people could eat at BC or BW and then take that as an easy in to Epcot and then clog up the parking lots for BC. Do you know how long we could wander around WL before/after our adr and still be ok?

 

[5kidsmommy]

Thank you! I was wondering about that. I could see how people could eat at BC or BW and then take that as an easy in to Epcot and then clog up the parking lots for BC. Do you know how long we could wander around WL before/after our adr and still be ok?

I think you have up to 3 hours on a parking pass.

 

[Minniesgal]

Valet park the car and you can visit the park if you wish.

 

[Uncleromulus]

And then pay whatever the valet fee is plus tip!!

 

[TDC Nala]

You may have issues being allowed to park at YC/BC or Boardwalk on holidays or during food & wine festival if you intend to do more than just eat a meal (like visit Epcot for several hours).

 

[IndyRnRfan]

I don't know how accurate this is. Contemporary routinely refuses parking to people who do not have dining reservations at one of their dining locations in the busy times of year. Locals who just walk around Epcot for an evening stroll have annual passes--annual passholders get free parking at the parks. There's no need for them to take up parking at a resort.

Oh, I didn't mean to come across as everyone doing this. I know that is how I wrote it. I am referring to our friends that just moved down there a few years ago. They live about 10 minutes from BC and that is apparently closer than driving in through Epcot for them and all their neighborhood friends. I'm just going off what they have told us which they picked up from them when they moved in. I do know they eat at the boardwalk area quite a bit but not always too.

 

[Lucius Best]

I have a dinner ADR for Artist's Point one night - can we drive over, park, eat dinner, then take the boat to MK for a few hours and then come back to WL to get the car and drive back "home" to BC?

We've done this exact thing. Park at WL for dinner then boat to MK for a couple of hours. Or park at WL and walk the trail over to FW for dinner at Trails End, then boat back to WL. Or park at GF/Poly for dinner then monorail to check out other resorts. We go during slower periods, when there's always plenty of parking, never had a problem. Would never do this at Contemporary/BeachClub, and would never leave my car in a resort's lot all day.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There's an official answer and an unofficial reality to this question.

 

[Hopefully]

Many people do this all the time. There is plenty of parking for the guest and people who are thinking like you. We have friends who park at BC weekly and go into Epcot and walk around for an evening stroll. This is how the locals get into the parks without paying for parking if they are staying for just a couple of hours. If you are going to the park for a couple of hours and be back before it closes, no big deal. Think of how many guests are driving and staying until the park closes. You will be gone before they get back.

I beg to disagree. There is NOT plenty of parking for hotel guests, locals and anyone else who feels like parking at the BC. These lots are not designed for, nor do they have the capacity to be theme park parking lots. I can tell you how frustrating it is to be paying lots of money to stay in a deluxe hotel and be unable to park my car because the lot is full. Not only is it frustrating, it is unfair.

 

[wdwrich]

Oh, I didn't mean to come across as everyone doing this. I know that is how I wrote it. I am referring to our friends that just moved down there a few years ago. They live about 10 minutes from BC and that is apparently closer than driving in through Epcot for them and all their neighborhood friends. I'm just going off what they have told us which they picked up from them when they moved in. I do know they eat at the boardwalk area quite a bit but not always too.

Did your friends mention that the resort lots have signs posted that state that parking for theme park access is prohibited?

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Did your friends mention that the resort lots have signs posted that state that parking for theme park access is prohibited?

Yes, I am sure they have seen the signs. Most of the time they are there to eat then go for a stroll, come back and leave. I don't have an issue with it and apparently it isn't done by thousands of people. I believe as an AP holder there are black out dates and those are during busy times so they wouldn't have access to the park anyway. As I understand it, this is done mostly during the non peak times according to my friends.

 

[wdwrich]

Yes, I am sure they have seen the signs. Most of the time they are there to eat then go for a stroll, come back and leave. I don't have an issue with it and apparently it isn't done by thousands of people. I believe as an AP holder there are black out dates and those are during busy times so they wouldn't have access to the park anyway. As I understand it, this is done mostly during the non peak times according to my friends.

Well, I guess if you don't have an issue with it, then it must be okay.
Allow me to give you the perspective of one who has stayed at a WDW deluxe resort. Twice we stayed at the Contemporary with a rental car. Many times during our stay, we returned to CR from another park in the afternoon and found the self parking lot to be at or near capacity. We had to cruise up and down the lanes for a good period of time trying to find a parking spot. Later in the evenings just after MK closed, the lot would miraculously empty out and end up less than half full. When paying up to stay at a deluxe resort, I expect I shouldn't have to compete for parking spaces with folks using the lot to avoid the parking fee for theme park access. It's been over 8 years since we've stayed at CR or YC, but I see posts on these boards that indicate Disney has become much more attentive to this problem at the MK resorts. I'm hoping they are doing so at the EPCOT resorts as well.

 

[shburks]

I believe as an AP holder there are black out dates and those are during busy times so they wouldn't have access to the park anyway. As I understand it, this is done mostly during the non peak times according to my friends.

There aren't blackout dates for AP holders unless they are FL Residents and chose the Seasonal Pass or one of the other limited access passes. Regular AP holders and the regular FL Resident AP holders don't have blackouts!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Always a few who will bend or break rules when they feel they can get away with it-----

Unfortunately, from what I've heard or read on many prior threads regarding this exact topic, there appear to be few (or no) consequences for using hotel lots as theme park parking. If there were (such as towing) the practice would end posthaste.

A 3 hour pass for folks eating at a resort--or just there to look around a bit--is plenty of time.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Well, I guess if you don't have an issue with it, then it must be okay.
Allow me to give you the perspective of one who has stayed at a WDW deluxe resort. Twice we stayed at the Contemporary with a rental car. Many times during our stay, we returned to CR from another park in the afternoon and found the self parking lot to be at or near capacity. We had to cruise up and down the lanes for a good period of time trying to find a parking spot. Later in the evenings just after MK closed, the lot would miraculously empty out and end up less than half full. When paying up to stay at a deluxe resort, I expect I shouldn't have to compete for parking spaces with folks using the lot to avoid the parking fee for theme park access. It's been over 8 years since we've stayed at CR or YC, but I see posts on these boards that indicate Disney has become much more attentive to this problem at the MK resorts. I'm hoping they are doing so at the EPCOT resorts as well.

I can see your POV and would be upset if I were in your shoes. Would I park there and stay until the park closes, no. If I were going to dinner and then wanted to stroll through the park for an hour or so, yes, which is what the OP was asking. It doesn't sound like they will eat dinner at 8 and then stay well until the park closes to decide and come back so for them to do it shouldn't be an issue.

If I were staying at a resort and this was a problem which there is no real solution at this time I'd just park the car and take the bus. That doesn't justify what others are doing nor offer a solution but it would keep my BP from going through the roof trying to find a spot to park. I really can't see a fix for this unless the resort escorts every dinner guest back to their car and see that they leave. Maybe there should be a visitor parking and a guest parking that is only accessible via a card or magic band.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm not surprised this one has gone off the tracks...

Now lets take a deep breath...

In the past - many of these can no longer be done due to magic bands and hard reservations...some would go to beach, boadwalk, grand, etc to park and use the easy access to those two parks...

I wouldn't condone it... But honestly - if they were eating at the hotel I wouldn't (and didnt when I was in a position to do just that at yacht club) make a fuss over it. Typically the lots are not full...but that is not true in busy times/days.

Do you know that not that long ago that Disney encouraged not only the customers - but also the employees to visit the hotels during their off days? They felt it wound foster repeat business and improve guest service. True story.

But now the levels are higher...no matter what the cost - 20 million in mk is 25% more than it was 10 years ago...the mine train ain't gonna put a dent in that.

Now I would never suggest using contempoary or boardwalk - even in the slow seasons - in that matter because the lots can't handle the normal traffic of the hotel/ convention center...

Beach club was rarely full due to a larger lot being added with a small DVC add on...

But lets just tone it back with the stone throwing...

Officially: people are welcome to travel to/park at hotels to patronize their restaurants... Hence proven by the fact they'll validate your valet with reservations in some
Situations.

But they are requested to move their vehicle to a park lot afterword officially.
You have decide yourself if somebody goes into the UK pavilion from beaches and cream on a Wednesday in May If thats worth starting holy war...up to you.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well--you can patronize, visit, eat at a WDW hotel w/o leaving your car there and then going to a Theme Park.

Hence the 3 hour pass.

Don't see any stone throwing or holy wars--just a simple recounting of the WDW policy--- which is Theme Park parking lots are for hotel guests or those visiting/eating at those hotels.