First time having a rental car and confused about one specific parking question

[MaC410]

Hey all, going on our trip soon and it will be our first time having a rental car. We have a reservation at Chef Mickey for breakfast on one of our days and I'm seeing a lot of conflicting posts about what the actual parking rule is. I know if you have an ADR at a resort you are allowed to park for free. But what exactly is the rule for keeping your car at the resort and walking to Magic Kingdom? I'm seeing all different information about this. I see people saying you need to move your card to the TTC. I see people saying they just keep their car at the Contemporary and walk to MK. Is there an actual rule?

 

[LadybugsMum]

There is a 3 hour time limit for parking at a resort with an ADR. Either park at the TTC and take the monorail over to the Contemporary for your meal or park at the Contemporary for the meal and then move your car to the TTC afterwards.

 

[SteveH]

If you want to park, eat and go to MK then use the Valet parking and you're covered. But @LadybugsMum is correct with the time limit.

 

[reddog21]

What people do and what the rule is are entirely different. I don't know if there's an office rule at least I could never find it however back in the day they used to give out parking passes that had the 3 hour limit written on it. I don't think they give them out anymore.

 

[MaC410]

If you want to park, eat and go to MK then use the Valet parking and you're covered. But @LadybugsMum is correct with the time limit.

I'd be ok with paying for Valet parking for the day for this convenience of being able to park at the contemporary and walk to MK. Is this definitely allowed?

 

[seashoreCM]

The parking rule everywhere in the world is that when you are done with activity at one location or venue, drive to the next.

One specific exception at Walt Disney World is that you may leave your car in one of the four theme park lots or at the resort you are staying at while you use other transportation to go among the various Disney locations.

Also, when you valet park at Disney, you have until the closing time of that lot unless a conspicuous sign or the valet him/herself advises you otherwise

A resort stay begins upon your arrival on your check in date and ends at the close of business for your check out date (AFAIK the record latest time was 29:59 on the clock on one Feb. 29 several years ago.)

Enforcement varies with how crowded the parking lot is expected to get, and you could be allowed in or denied parking at a resort differently even at different times on the same day.

 

[sponica]

I'd be ok with paying for Valet parking for the day for this convenience of being able to park at the contemporary and walk to MK. Is this definitely allowed?

Anyone can valet park.

 

[Mazz519]

There is a 3 hour time limit when dining at a resort….do they check ? All depends on the crew working, in the past we went to Chef Mickeys or even Ohana for breakfast and left our car in the lot the whole day while we went to the MK… I heard they got strict on that 3hr rule but have never seen a post by someone saying their car was towed or booted

 

[_19disnA]

Anyone can pay to valet park. Valet parking costs more then just parking at MK. Many people want to 'game' the parking fees by parking for FREE at a resort and then walking to the park. Disney has gotten wise to that and therefore restricts who is able to park at the resorts within walking distance of a park. If they let everyone park there, resort lots would also fill up with park goers and those actually staying at the resort would have no place to park. What someone may have gotten away with doesn't change that 3 hr rule for those with ADR's. Some others tried to mobile order (and then canel their order) just to be able to park and Disney no longer allows that either. The fact some random person online says THEY have gotten away with parking for free isn't going to mean much if you find your car has been towed.

At peak times/days, they are likely more restrictive about parking and I can imagine the guards have heard every excuse under the sun from those trying to 'game' the parking fees.

 

[seashoreCM]

Why hasn't Imagineering come up with methods to combat parking at resorts and then going into the parks?

Like (oversimplified) having drivers submit Magic Bands at the parking guard station and also pay for parking. Upon exit they tap the same Magic Band and if there was no theme park entry on that Magic Band transcript since entering the parking lot then the parking fee is refunded.

 

[MICKIMINI]

The parking lots at the monorail resorts are not big and if everyone who had an ADR parked there all day there would no space for guests. If you have an ADR you are allowed 3 hours period. Please don't abuse the rules.

 

[mickey916]

What people do and what the rule is are entirely different. I don't know if there's an office rule at least I could never find it however back in the day they used to give out parking passes that had the 3 hour limit written on it. I don't think they give them out anymore.

View attachment 866295

We got one of those parking passes in April when we had a breakfast ADR at 1900 Park Fare. It looked exactly like that. We took our car to the TTC after breakfast.