Getting in and out of Magic Kingdom

[consultant]

Staying offsite President's Day Week. So far it sounds like getting into Magic Kingdom in the morning is going to be a major pain. Going to get AAA Diamond Parking Pass but sounds like it won't help at all for MK. Is there anything people staying offsite can do to speed up the process of getting into Magic Kingdom aside from trying to get the earliest Character Breakfast possible and showing up at the park right when they are opening the parking lot entrance up? That will be SO tough on our 4 and 5-yr old having flown in from the West Coast.

Which begs the second question, if we come in Friday night, the 17th which is the beginning of Presidents Day Week should we tough it out and show up at MK first thing Sat morn hoping that some of the crowds have yet to arrive in Orlando or wait until mid-week to do MK?

Help! (P.S. We are staying at Sheraton Vistana and heard the $8/day Shuttle isn't worth it as it is infrequent and usually not on-time so that's why we will drive unless the shuttle is indeed better to use that busy week.)

 

[junkman]

One thing we've done in the past was to book breakfast at Chef Mickey's, which lets you park in the Contemporary resort parking lot. After breakfast we'd just ride the monorail or walk right over. They'll tell you that your parking is only good for 4 hours, but come on no one's checking.

 

[buckylarue]

One thing we've done in the past was to book breakfast at Chef Mickey's, which lets you park in the Contemporary resort parking lot. After breakfast we'd just ride the monorail or walk right over. They'll tell you that your parking is only good for 4 hours, but come on no one's checking.

Actually, they have been known to tow cars from the resort lots that were parked beyond their time limit.

 

[thelionqueen]

It is true and I have seen them tow many cars on my previous stays at the Contemporary.

HOWEVER, if you do have a breakfast @ Chef Mickey's and use Valet, you can keep your car there all day...but I didn't tell you that

 

[ACrider]

I was just wondering the same thing. If you are staying off-site, does it cost anything to park at Contemporary or do you have to show them something (confirmation of a character breakfast) in order to be able to park there? do they give you something to display in your car that shows when you got there, etc?

Our first day we will have a character breakfast at Cont. but not til the end of the morning - was wondering if we'd be able to park there by 8:30 am to take the monorail in (is there a schedule for when the monorail stops or how often it comes/goes by?) and this would work well if our vehicle was right there.


What if you don't have a character breakfast scheduled there one day - can you still park around there? if not, are there other places that provide better parking where one can then use the monorail system to get in and out. (our offsite resort does not offer free shuttle/transportation).

Also curious about the other 3 parks - do we drive there to park, and how is it as far as how far out you are - is there a "better way" for any those?

appreciate the help in helping us figure out how to best use our time!
Amanda

 

[consultant]

It is true and I have seen them tow many cars on my previous stays at the Contemporary.

HOWEVER, if you do have a breakfast @ Chef Mickey's and use Valet, you can keep your car there all day...but I didn't tell you that

This would make sense as I noticed there were lots of posts on various boards from a while back (months, years) about a trick to getting into WDW without paying for parking by parking at the hotels so I'm not suprised they've cracked down.

Now if cost is not an issue and getting to MK from outside the resort the fastest way with the least hassle, the Valet sounds like a very ingenious idea. You wouldn't have to actually go to the character breakfast either would you? It's not like the Valet will ask to see your reservation or would they?

This sounds like the ticket. Being unfamiliar with the resort layout (better start studying my Birnbaum's Book), what is the allure of the Contemporary resort? Is it simply the easiest resort to get to from offsite that is on the monorail line?

 

[safetymom]

Why not park in the MK parking lot and take the resort monorail to the Contemporary for your breakfast.

Why risk having the car towed?

 

[ACrider]

From what I understand the benefit to parking at Contemporary is because parking at MK is pretty far out. (haven't been there yet but this is what I am gathering from the posts). For us, the extra benefit is that we may be leaving MK after our late character breakfast to go check in to our resort, so it'd be nice to have the vehicle in that area so we can head out from there. Or even if we don't, the vehicle would be there in case a change of clothing is needed or to pickup snacks for taking into the park for round two, etc.

Amanda

 

[safetymom]

The parking lot is for resort guests or those dining at the resort. After you are done dining you are no longer entitled to park there.

I don't find parking in the MK lot bad at all. There are quite a few trams that go out to the parking lot so if you needed a change of clothes it is very easy to do. By the time you walked back to your car in the Contemporary parking lot or took the resort monorail and then walked to your car it would take as much time as riding the tram out to your car in the MK parking lot.

Believe me I park in the MK lot quite a bit and it doesn't take long at all.

 

[consultant]

It would be nice is someone experienced in going to MK both ways (parking lot versus Valet at Contemporary) could post there time estimates and a little bit more detail on the advantages/disadvantages.

From what I've gathered (need to find a good, to scale map of all WDW with steets, paths, monorail stops, parking lots, etc.) Contemporary resort is the last stop on the monorail before MK so it is a short ride (although it seems the monorail might be packed by the time it gets to Contemporary). I think someone also said it's the only resort close enough you can walk to MK Gates.

The other advantage someone mentioned is when leaving the park, it can be quite hectic getting back to your car (big lines for the monorail, ferry, and/or tram) and is quicker/easier to get back to the Contemporary resort to get your car and get out of the park (although there may be a bit of a wait at the Valet?) The question is how much of a difference is it? I would expect it only makes a difference if you are leaving after the last show. If you leave in mid-afternoon I would imagine the monorail, trams, and ferry and not crowded so it is easy to get to your car.

 

[safetymom]

The resort monorail runs the opposite direction from the express monorail to the parks. You would board the monorail at the Contemporary, then it goes to the TTC, Poly, Grand FL. before it goes to the MK.

 

[hockeygirl]

I was there last year on presidents day and it really wasn't that bad at all. It was crowded but nowhere near the crowds you will experience in the summer. Keep in mind the Daytona 500 is the day before and from my experience last year, it seemed like a lot of people are in Florida for that event and spend time at Disney also. That is what we did last year.

 

[consultant]

The resort monorail runs the opposite direction from the express monorail to the parks. You would board the monorail at the Contemporary, then it goes to the TTC, Poly, Grand FL. before it goes to the MK.

So is the allure of going to MK from Contemporary that you can walk there and if so how long is the walk? If it's a long walk, is the allure that you can get on the monorail when it's empty before the mobs or is there really no big advantage unless you are totally set on going to the Character Breakfast at Chef Mickey's so you don't have to get back in the car and drive to the parking lot?

 

[Feralpeg]

So is the allure of going to MK from Contemporary that you can walk there and if so how long is the walk? If it's a long walk, is the allure that you can get on the monorail when it's empty before the mobs or is there really no big advantage unless you are totally set on going to the Character Breakfast at Chef Mickey's so you don't have to get back in the car and drive to the parking lot?

I, personally, thought it was a long walk. It would be especially long for little ones. I've heard others say that it isn't a bad walk at all. I guess it is all a matter of perspective. If you are going to be on your feet all day, I'd skip the long walk and take the monorail.

I park at the TTC (MK parking lot) all the time. We prefer taking the monorail to the boat, but either works well. The trams from TTC to the various parking lots run very often. It never takes me very long to get a tram.

 

[Allison]

From what I understand the benefit to parking at Contemporary is because parking at MK is pretty far out. (haven't been there yet but this is what I am gathering from the posts). For us, the extra benefit is that we may be leaving MK after our late character breakfast to go check in to our resort, so it'd be nice to have the vehicle in that area so we can head out from there. Or even if we don't, the vehicle would be there in case a change of clothing is needed or to pickup snacks for taking into the park for round two, etc.

Amanda

The benefit of parking at the Contemporary is for the guests of the Contemporary. It is NOT a parking lot for park guests.

 

[goofyernmost]

My personal opinion is that you are imagining a problem that isn't that big. The parking lots are huge but it is really a comparatively short walk to the trams which bring you to the transportation center. Once there you can take the Monorail or the Ferry to MK. All the while, the anticipation is building. It really is kind of fun and is like another ride. Hassles are mostly in the mind of the hassled.

The minor walk to the tram is way offset by the concern that your car may be towed while you are in the park. Then let's talk about hassle! I always have a car and I always use the parking lots and have never really found it much of a problem and I have been at really busy times.

 

[Sammie]

My personal opinion is that you are imagining a problem that isn't that big. The parking lots are huge but it is really a comparatively short walk to the trams which bring you to the transportation center. Once there you can take the Monorail or the Ferry to MK. All the while, the anticipation is building. It really is kind of fun and is like another ride. Hassles are mostly in the mind of the hassled.

The minor walk to the tram is way offset by the concern that your car may be towed while you are in the park. Then let's talk about hassle! I always have a car and I always use the parking lots and have never really found it much of a problem and I have been at really busy times.

I agree the walk to any tram is much shorter than the walk from the Contemporary parking lot to the MK or from the lot inside to the monorail. I truly do not understand why anyone unless they were staying at these resorts wants to use thier parking lots.

 

[Sammie]

One thing we've done in the past was to book breakfast at Chef Mickey's, which lets you park in the Contemporary resort parking lot. After breakfast we'd just ride the monorail or walk right over. They'll tell you that your parking is only good for 4 hours, but come on no one's checking.

One post and you are already in deep water, you are living dangerously.

 

[Florida_Mom]

I feel for you. Parking is a pain. Living in Florida, I've been to MK a LOT, and parking is never not time-consuming.

The times we have stayed overnight in Orlando, we always stayed off-site. Well. For the first time this summer we stayed on-site. I could not believe the difference in the process of getting to the MK! It was down-right enjoyable! We stayed on-site a few more times this year and it's been great. (Suffice it to say we usually stay at Ft. Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge, so transportation to MK was quick.)

Having said that, I'm not sure there is a whole lot of difference between parking at the TTC or parking at the Contemporary or the Poly. I actually did park at the Poly once (when we weren't staying onsite) and worried about my car all day. Was it going to get towed? (It didn't, but I felt kind of guilty about doing that and haven't done that since.) Besides, we had to wait longer for a monorail and the monorails to the resorts aren't express...they stop at each resort. The one from the Contemporary stops 3 times before you get to MK -- not to mention the times the monorails stop mid-way while waiting for traffic to clear at the next stop. Then, when you stop at the resort, the monorails might wait a little bit to ensure they get as many people that are wanting to ride as possible. In December we waited at the Poly for 10 minutes! I also think it's time-consuming getting from the parking lot at the Contemporary to the Monorail. It really might be quicker to walk.

My suggestion is to go early, park at the TTC, and take things you might normally leave in your car for a mid-afternoon change and put them in the lockers at the entrance to MK.

You're right that there is not usually a problem leaving in the middle of the day. In fact, on two separate trips, we made it over to Frontier Land, left the stroller parked in a designated area, got on the MK train to the front of the park and took Disney transportation out to DTD for a mid-afternoon change of scenery, lunch, and rest. The kids actually had a quick nap on the bus while we were getting to Rainforest Cafe, and then went back around 4, got back on the train to Frontier Land, found our stroller, and kept going around the park until it closed that night.

Have fun on your trip, whatever you decide!

 

[kstgelais4]

OP, what is the AAA diamond parking pass, and how do you get it? We are also staying at the Sheraton vistana and driving to the parks each day. Actually we will be there the week before presidents day, and the week of... maybe we'll see you there Anyway, if you could give me the info that would be great. We are already AAA members too. TIA
Kelly
paitienly awaiting our first disney family vacation! 2/12/06-2/24/06