Downtown Disney

[Hopefully]

From what I have read on numerous sites, this is not true. (All bolding is mine):

Frome allears.net:
"Self parking at the Disney resorts is free to all guests; however some resorts have seasonal parking restrictions. Parking at any of the resorts to gain access to the theme parks is not allowed. You must show a photo ID when entering any Disney resort! Some Disney resorts may also ask for a Dining Reservation number from guests who are dining at the resort before allowing access to the resort parking lot."

From mouseSavers.com:
"Self-parking at the Disney resort hotels remains free of charge, and it is free to drop off your luggage at the front entrance of the hotel and then proceed to self-parking. If you are not staying at the hotel and are visiting during a very busy period, you may be given a three-hour parking pass, and/or you may be asked for evidence that you have a dining reservation there (they can look up your reservation by name)."

From wdwprepschool (in reference to visiting a resort when not a guest there):
"You can also drive to the resorts and ask for a 3-hour parking pass to check out the resort or you can pay $15 to valet for the day."

My understanding is that anyone may park at a resort, even if it is to just look around. During a busy time they may issue a 3 hour permit (limiting your time allowed to park to 3 hours).

You can interpret how you choose. I believe Guest is a person paying to stay at a Disney resort hotel. Anyone can certainly park at a resort to use/investigate the options at that resort. To park there to go to a park or to DTD is not allowed. Your first quote from allears.net states that explicitly. Your quote from mouseSavers clearly states that they may ask for your dining resrvation number to verify that reservation - not so you can park and go to DTD. Your quote from wdwprepschool is flawed in the fact that moderate resorts (PR, POFQ) do not give out 3 hour passes, nor do the have the Valet parking option in your quotes.
The intent is certainly to not allow moderate resort parking for DTD goers. This is totally unfair to paying guests of those resorts.

 

[ilovebassets]

So we have a T Rex 5pm reservation there on a Thursday night in late September. Staying at Fort Wilderness. We typically avoid Disney buses at all costs, but I'm wondering if this is the one time we should make an exception? If we leave the Fort in our own car by 4pm, do you think we would be able to park at DTD and make it to the reservation without too much difficulty?

 

[kbelle8995]

So we have a T Rex 5pm reservation there on a Thursday night in late September. Staying at Fort Wilderness. We typically avoid Disney buses at all costs, but I'm wondering if this is the one time we should make an exception? If we leave the Fort in our own car by 4pm, do you think we would be able to park at DTD and make it to the reservation without too much difficulty?

I would take the bus than you don't have to worry about parking. You can go early and then just take the bus back to the Fort.

 

[Rose77]

You can interpret how you choose. I believe Guest is a person paying to stay at a Disney resort hotel. Anyone can certainly park at a resort to use/investigate the options at that resort. To park there to go to a park or to DTD is not allowed. Your first quote from allears.net states that explicitly. Your quote from mouseSavers clearly states that they may ask for your dining resrvation number to verify that reservation - not so you can park and go to DTD. Your quote from wdwprepschool is flawed in the fact that moderate resorts (PR, POFQ) do not give out 3 hour passes, nor do the have the Valet parking option in your quotes.
The intent is certainly to not allow moderate resort parking for DTD goers. This is totally unfair to paying guests of those resorts.

I was replying to your quote that said parking at resorts was only allowed for those staying at the resort. There was no mention of whether it was okay to park and go to DTD. I was only trying to say that offsite guests can park and visit a resort. However, this is a thread on DTD, so i should have included my thoughts on that.

The quote from allears says that parking at a resort to visit one of the parks is not allowed. DTD is not considered a park. Disney's website says all transportation (including boats) is free to use for even offsite guests. I don't see a problem with stopping to eat at POR and then taking a boat to DTD. Perhaps I am wrong in this. Is parking an issue at resorts? (It seems to me that most people use Disney transportation.) Are there long waits for the boats to DTD? I suppose I could see this being an issue for resort guests.

ETA: This is the info on transportation that I found on Disney's website:

"Q.
I’m not staying at a Disney Resort hotel. Can I use the monorails, buses and boats to get around Walt Disney World Resort?

A.
Yes. All Guests have complimentary access to our network of monorails, buses and boats. If you would like to visit multiple parks, enjoy a nice dinner at one of the Disney Resort hotels or shop at Downtown Disney Area, you can leave your car parked in the theme park lot and use our transportation network." (italics mine)

So, the Disney website says it is okay to leave your car parked in a theme park lot and use transportation. There is no mention of parking in a resort lot and using Disney transportation.

I think Disney's main issue is people parking at a resort and taking a bus to one of the parks to avoid paying for parking. Parking at DTD is free, however, so Disney would not be losing any money on that. IDK, to me, I don't see a problem with doing it unless it is truly creating problems for resort guests. I can't see any way that Disney itself is losing out. If the resort guests are inconvenienced in some way (no place to park, long waits for boats), then I could see how it would be an issue.

 

[JennyDrake]

I was there a little over two weeks ago and it was a NIGHTMARE to try driving yourself. It is not bad if you use WDW transportation.

 

[lelesansan]

We went back in May when they were just in the middle of everything and whew, what a nightmare to navigate through. Even for a Tuesday! We definitely prefer it much better in the mornings.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

We were there last weekend, and parking was HORRIBLE. The only place you could park adjacent to DTD was in the new garage, but they were not letting anyone in b/c it was full (it as a little after 9 p.m. on a Friday night, but it was rainy all day up until that point). It took us about 1/2 an hour just to drive through that stretch (Westside to Marketplace) on the main road with construction and get turned around. We ended up parking across the street in employee parking. The signs on the main road said there were shuttles, but there were not. We just parked and walked across the road, down a sidewalk, walled off from torn up parking areas. After that ordeal, I promised DH we would not return until construction was finished.

However, if you use Disney transportation (bus or boat), it would be much more doable.

Also, if you are staying offsite, could you go on a park day? For example, if going to the MK, you could quickly walk over to the Contemporary and take a bus to DTD. Then take the bus back to the Contemporary and take a monorail back to your car at the TC. It would take a little longer to do, but it would eliminate some of the ethical dilemma people are pointing out b/c you already paid to park at Disney.

 

[Bullseye]

Where is the new parking garage in relation to DTD? Which end or entrance is it near?

 

[kbelle8995]

Where is the new parking garage in relation to DTD? Which end or entrance is it near?

Near planet Hollywood and the movie theater. I forget which entrance it is

 

[Bullseye]

That's close enough. Thanks Belle! Family is insisting we hit DTD this June and it will be in the evening so I'm trying get prepared.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Last summer it was a giant maze of walls, but we still enjoyed our time there. Nothing is going to stop us from having a sandwich from the Earl and a big ol' sundae from Ghiradelli

 

[cindersmella]

The traffic for DTD was terrible when we were there last week. We asked at the gate at POFQ if we could park and take the boat to DTD. We did grab a snack, but didn't include that info. We were given an immediate "yes" and welcomed warmly. Maybe just good luck? Or maybe they are getting that as a request far more frequently, due to construction