Dining Reservations, Parks and Parking

[Skye23]

It's been 5 years since we did Disney so I can't remember how this works, plus its probably changed since I was there anyway.

We're doing Deluxe Dining as an upgrade to the Free Dining. I've booked all my ADR's, I'm in the processing of renting a car to make things easier for us.

I know I can park for free at any Disney Park because we're staying at a Disney Resort. I know I need a parking pass to enter another resort, but once the guard at the gate is informed that I have an ADR for a restaurant on the resort property he will give me one where I can also park for free.

My question is, is there a limit to the time I can park? I have a couple of dinner ADR's (7:30-9pm) at resorts other then where I'm staying. Is it possible to drive to the resort earlier in the day, park there, then take that resorts bus to the amusement park of my choice and then take it back to the resort for my dinner and then drive home? It would make it so much easier on a few of the days but I seem to remember there's a limit to the time you can park.

 

[minnie mum]

If you want to pay extra for valet parking at the resort you want to eat at, then I believe you can stay all day. Otherwise there is a time limit.

Drive to the resort then take a bus to and from the park, then drive to the home resort.

OR

Drive to the park. Bus to and from the resort. Drive to the home resort.

Doesn't look to me like there's much of an advantage one way or another.

 

[tinka-belle]

Usually a three hour time limit for ADRs. Please don't park there all day and take spaces intended for resort guests. You would certainly not like to find your home resort lot full (or need to park in the boondocks) because the lot spaces are filled with people who have gone to a park after their meal.

During busy weeks we have seen the tow trucks. Your milage may vary....

Valet parking permits an all day stay, but instead of having to slog back to the resort lot at the end of the day parking in the theme park lots to begin with makes for a quicker return trip at the end of a tiring day.

 

[joanne312]

We will take bus to/from park and our resort, go back to the room and freshen up for 30-45 mins then drive to the different resort for our ADRs. This works well for us. Especially if you are on DxDP and possibly eating at signatures, you might want to change clothes and freshen up from what you wore to the park all day.

 

[Skye23]

Bummer - oh well. There were just a few times when the resort I was going to eat dinner at was so much closer to the park I was going to be at then my resort. Like Valentine's day - we're in Coronado Springs, we're going to the Magic Kingdom, dinner is at the Contemporary. By the time dinner is over there will probably not be bus service or monorail service back to the Magic Kingdom. Its february so I wasn't that concerned with being hot and sweaty and needing to change post-park etc. I guess we'll just drive to MK then drive to the Contemporary then drive back to our room. Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

Drive to MK (which is the TTC), monorail to the Contemporary for dinner, monorail to the TTC lot after dinner using the resort monorail. You shouldn't need to move the car.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why take the monarail from MK to CR when you can walk directly to CR from MK. The walk would be faster than walking up hill to the monarail station & waiting for the monarail to arrive. Walk from MK to CR is about 10 minutes and very easy.

 

[vicki_c]

Why take the monarail from MK to CR when you can walk directly to CR from MK. The walk would be faster than walking up hill to the monarail station & waiting for the monarail to arrive. Walk from MK to CR is about 10 minutes and very easy.

Yes good point. So amend my answer to add this!

 

[goofy4tink]

Remember, self parking for park access is not permitted at a resort you are not staying at. So..if you are planning on parking at the CR, heading to the MK and then over to the CR for dinner, you may want to just pay to valet park there for the day. That is permissible.

 

[Skye23]

I have some mobility issues so the walking options are often not a good idea for me. I do ok in the mornings, get worse as the day goes on and by dinner I'm often in a pretty bad way. What might take you 10 minutes would probably take me 30 because of how often I have to stop and rest. Then again some days I do alright, its impossible to predict what will happen in advance.

And yes, I know I can get the motorized thingy, but at this point in my disease I'd prefer not to, even if that means going slower and missing out on some things. Its likely in my future but I'm not quite ready yet. Personal quirk... I appreciate everyone who was about to post that I could get one, you're all quite sweet to want to let me know.

How much would valet parking cost? Since this is a replacement vacation for one that got cancelled by the group that was arranging it and we're under the original budget I've been splurging and getting a few things we normally would not pay for due to our normally frugal nature. Something about getting round trip airfare for both of us for less then it was going to cost for one of us has loosened the purse strings (lol).

Looking over the ADR's and the transportation there's really only 2 days when I'm not sure what the best approach is.

Third day we've got the MK to Contemporary Resort then back to our home resort of Coronado Springs to contend with. This one was the one that I worried about most because of the long walk/ride from the parking lot at MK. Valet parking at the Contemporary might be the right choice.

Fifth day is Polynesian for Breakfast, then Epcot for day (including Lunch), and then over to Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge for dinner. Thats going to be a driving day I think although I might be able to leave the car at Epcot, take the bus from there to Wilderness lodge and then back again but I'm worried bus service will end before dinner is over (7:55pm ADR). So probably drive...


I tried to keep the dinners close to the parks but I couldn't resist the California Grill for fireworks dinner on Valentine's day.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think valet is right around $15 now...give or take. At CR, if you don't want to walk, you can take the monorail....but it will be about 20 mins on it before getting to MK...but CR is the first stop after getting on at MK.

For the Polynesian to Epcot trip...that one is tougher. Valet at the Polynesian, monorail back to TTC, about 20 mins total ride time, transfer to Epcot line. Monorail back to TTC and transfer to resort line to get back to the Polynesian and then drive to WL. OR.....eat at Polynesian, just self park for the breakfast time, then move the car to WL..take their bus to Epcot, stay the day, bus back to WL and eat, drive back to your resort.
Or, drive to Polynesian, self park for a few hours to eat, back to the car, drive to Epcot, park, stay the day, drive to WL for dinner. That would be the fastest method.

 

[Skye23]

Thanks so much. On the plus side it will be mid February so the parking lots shouldn't be quite so full. Valet parking might be the right option the one day and we'll have to consider the options for the other day.