Disney trasportation clarification needed

[majumom]

In one of the Disney brochures in indicates that you may not use disney transportation if you do not have the Park hopper option on your ticket.
What does this actually mean? Can we not use the monorail to go to dtd or a Disney resort for dinner? Must we return to the car & drive to the lot for the resort or dtd? is our parking fee good for this addtional parking? Can we get into a lot for a resort if we are not staying on site?
Also if we were to park in the am for a park visit and then leave in afternoon, but want to return to that same park in pm do we need to pay to park again or is the parking good for the entire day? It has been along time since dh & I have been to wdw and first time for kids- we want to be sure we have everything planned out. Your feedback would be helpful- thanks!

 

[Nuchi15697]

I thought that Disney Transportation was for onsite guests only.

 

[majumom]

We haven't been to wdw for about 10 years, but we have never stayed on site and have in the past used the monorail to view the disney property and to get to other places within their resorts...but that was long before the various ticket options that are available now that's why I'm asking. WDW has grown by leaps and bounds and there are many new attractions, resorts and policies....Is disney transportation only available to onsite guests? I can't find where I read that at the moment, but I made a mental note when trying to determine which tickets would be best/most economical for us, that disney transportation can not be used. If that is the case are we allowed to park in resort parking & is there going to be a new parking fee?

 

[ophie]

In one of the Disney brochures in indicates that you may not use disney transportation if you do not have the Park hopper option on your ticket.

This I'm not sure about. I've never heard this before.

Can we not use the monorail to go to dtd or a Disney resort for dinner?

The monorail does not go to DTD and only goes to 3 resorts. Also, there is no bus directly to DTD from the parks. Parking at DTD is free.

Can we get into a lot for a resort if we are not staying on site?

I would assume that people with PSs can park at resorts. Resorts don't charge for parking.

Also if we were to park in the am for a park visit and then leave in afternoon, but want to return to that same park in pm do we need to pay to park again or is the parking good for the entire day?

Parking passes are good all day long at the same park and different parks.

Links:
http://allearsnet.com/pl/parking.htm
http://allearsnet.com/pl/transp.htm

 

[msr709]

Honestly, I've never heard of this. I was under the impression that as long as you have park tickets (with or without park hopper option) you were allowed to use the Disney transportation. I've never seen anyone turned away or even asked for any ID, neither on the busses, monorail or boats. I wouldn't worry about it. I don't know what brochure you read this in but its the first I've heard of it. Has anyone else ever seen anyone turned away from any of the Disney Transportation? Tyler are you out there, what is the official rule on this?

 

[clkelley]

From your post, it sounds like you are staying somewhere not at a Disney resort???

Technically, if you do not have a Park Hopper ticket and are not a Disney resort guest, than, you are not supposed to use Disney transportation except for the Express Monorail from the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot to Magic Kingdom.

However, in practice, resort IDs and Park Hoppers are never checked by transportation CMs.

If you are at Epcot/MK/Animal Kingdom/Studios for the day and want to go to a resort for lunch, then by all means, hop on the bus, boat, or monorail and go eat at that resort, then return to that park for the rest of the day.

It is quite difficult to get to DTD using Disney Transportation if you are at a park. You must go to a resort, than catch a bus or boat to Downtown Disney.

You only pay for parking once per day. If you leave the park to go back to your hotel, then return later in the day, than you do not pay to park again.

There is no charge for parking at DTD. There is no charge for parking at the water parks. You may park at a Disney resort if you are eating there, but you will be stopped at the guard gate and asked for your ID and tag #. Some resorts will give you a 3 hour parking pass. There is no charge to park at Disney Resorts, except for Swan/Dolphin and Shades of Green.

Carol

 

[dudspizza]

One of the perks listed for getting a park hopper was that you got to use Disney Transport. I have never seen anyone asked for ID to ride any of it.

You must take a bus or drive to DTD, and as stated above, parking is free. That free parking is why there is no bus from DTD to the parks.

You can park at a resort for a PS, but expect to only be allowed a 3 hour window to park there..... unless it is a slow time of year.

A parking pass is good all day. If you leave and come back, just show the pass to the gate and they wave you in... do the same if you switch parks. Do keep in mind that you may be denied access back in to the parking lot if the MK is full to capacity. This happened to us one spring break.


Duds

 

[clkelley]

Just to add. I have only been asked for ID to ride Disney Transportation on two occasions. Both of these occasions was when I wanted to get on the Resort monorail at Magic Kingdom closing.

One of the times I was a resort guest and they waved me on when I showed my resort ID.

Another time was one of my quickie trips where I was offsite. I had just made a dinner PS at Polynesian. I gave them my PS #, they called somebody on a radio, and I was then allowed to ride the resort monorail over to the Poly.

They do this sometimes when the crowds are exceptionally large leaving Magic Kingdom, and they want to keep the resort monorail for resort guests only.

Carol

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Personally, I always recommend... if you're staying offsite, and have a car, USE IT. Once you've paid for parking, it's good for the entire day.

 

[majumom]

Thank you to everyone who responded- you have definitely cleared things up...since the parks are open late when we will be there & will be crowed so it will take longer at each park we were considering the base ticket but didn't know what our meal options would be- I thank you all- You have been a tremendous help....I can't wait to go! We have one ps booked I have to get on it!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Never been asked or seen anyone else asked to see a park hopper pass, resort guest card, etc. Ever.
It's not just park hoppers though right? I mean what if you have a season pass... still not able to use the buses even if you aren't staying onsite?

We're staying onsite and not all our tickets are park hoppers. We're using leftover park hopper tickets plus extra tickets purchased for this trip that are NOT park hoppers. We better be allowed use of the buses..... that's all I'm saying. LOL

 

[clkelley]

Season and Annual Passes are Parkhoppers, so yes, park to park transportation is allowed. Regular and Premium Annual Passes include free parking. Florida Resident Seasonal APs do not include free parking.

Technically, the progression is as follows:

Single Day Pass, and non-park hopping multi-day pass.
Tram from parking lot to park entrance
Express Monorail from TTC to park entrance (MK only)

Park Hopping Pass (any type including seasonal and APs)
Tram from parking lot to park entrance
Express Monorail from TTC to park entrance (MK only)
Park to Park Transportation

Resort Guest
Unlimited

However, in my experience, Disney has not asked for resort ID or tickets to board any type of WDW internal transportation, with the exception of the resort monorail at Magic Kingdom closing, and it that instance, if you have a Priority Seating at one of the monorail resorts, they will let you on.

Carol

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Aha.. I see. We've never went to WDW without fitting atleast one of those stipulations (either season passes, park hoppers or staying onsite)

 

[Disneyjosh229]

As far as asking for Resort ID goes, time just doesent allow it!! Can you imagine the amount of time it would take to check everyones ID aboard a boat or bus??!!

 

[seashoreCM]

For all intents and purposes, most of the time, you can take all the Disney Transport you want. Just that once you get there you may find nothing to do. With few exceptions, pool hopping is not allowed.

Many guests enjoy a monorail ride in the middle of the day.

The most likely times that ID checks may be made are: Early in the morning on buses or monorail going to the morning extra magic hour park, or late at night when security may be of concern.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm