How long can I stay parked at a resort after an ADR?

[wdwrich]

You can park for free for the duration of your meal. If you want to leave your vehicle longer, you must pay for valet parking which I believe is now $20 plus tip.

 

[supersnoop]

Does any one know what the cost is the how long you can park your car at the following resorts? We are staying offsite, but have ADR's at the following restaurants and resorts.

Chef Mickeys at Contempory
Beaches and Cream at Disney Beach Club
Grand Floridian Cafe, Narcoossee's and Pirate Adeventure at Grand Floridian

$25 plus tip for valet and you can stay all day (and use valet at any other resort for no charge that day)
Otherwise, you can self-park for free while you're at the resort, but you can't leave your car and go to a park. You'll likely be told there's a 3 hour limit, and parking rules are strictly enforced at the Contemporary and Beach Club.

 

[Star Mom]

$25 plus tip for valet and you can stay all day (and use valet at any other resort for no charge that day)
Otherwise, you can self-park for free while you're at the resort, but you can't leave your car and go to a park. You'll likely be told there's a 3 hour limit, and parking rules are strictly enforced at the Contemporary and Beach Club.

Thank you very much for the info...I think we are going to valet on the day that we plan to have our early breakfast and then head to the park, the cost works out the same... This is great info. Thanks again so much!

 

[Violet Parr]

OP here. We went with valet that night (Halloween night) and enjoyed our meal at Kona. We then took monorail to CR, then boat to FW, and back the same way. It was $25 (plus tip) but SO nice to not have to worry about rushing back to our car. However, no more cars for us. This was our first and last offsite trip and we will only stay onsite again. SO much easier!

 

[wdwrich]

OP here. We went with valet that night (Halloween night) and enjoyed our meal at Kona. We then took monorail to CR, then boat to FW, and back the same way. It was $25 (plus tip) but SO nice to not have to worry about rushing back to our car. However, no more cars for us. This was our first and last offsite trip and we will only stay onsite again. SO much easier!

Glad it all worked out!

 

[Violet Parr]

And I know we could have just parked at TTC but we were very close to running late to our ADR. The extra $10 saved us from missing our meal.

 

[GreatLakes]

Policy is 3 hours. Practice is really not consistent. I parked at the Poly once for a pre park opening breakfast, left the car there, and stayed at MK until close. Nothing happened but it was a pretty slow time of the year.

It depends on how risk averse you are.

 

[maxiesmom]

Policy is 3 hours. Practice is really not consistent. I parked at the Poly once for a pre park opening breakfast, left the car there, and stayed at MK until close. Nothing happened but it was a pretty slow time of the year.

It depends on how risk averse you are.

And a bit depends on how guilty you would feel taking a spot away from someone who is paying to stay at that resort. I've had experiences at both the Beach Club and Contemporary where it was all but impossible to find a place to park during the day, but miracle of miracles after the fireworks all sorts of spots were open. Most lots have signs up stating they are not to be used for theme park access. I don't know why people feel they need to be forced to follow this rule.

 

[Hopefully]

Policy is 3 hours. Practice is really not consistent. I parked at the Poly once for a pre park opening breakfast, left the car there, and stayed at MK until close. Nothing happened but it was a pretty slow time of the year.

It depends on how risk averse you are.

Not just risk adverse as to what could happen to you but also your sense of fairness to the guest of that resort whose spot you are parked in.

 

[SuzaBanana]

I'm curious about this as well, since we have several ADRs at resorts (OKW, GF, Poly, AKL) and have no intention of using it for the parks, but would like to explore the resorts a bit and maybe take a boat or monorail to see another resort. We only have tickets for 3 days at the parks and it's our first visit with the kids, so we are taking it slow and planning on enjoying exploring at their pace.

 

[wdwrich]

I'm curious about this as well, since we have several ADRs at resorts (OKW, GF, Poly, AKL) and have no intention of using it for the parks, but would like to explore the resorts a bit and maybe take a boat or monorail to see another resort. We only have tickets for 3 days at the parks and it's our first visit with the kids, so we are taking it slow and planning on enjoying exploring at their pace.

At OKW and AKL, it shouldn't be a problem because neither have direct access to a theme park. For the monorail resorts (where they tend to be more strict about parking), simply park at the TTC/MK lot and walk to the Poly or monorail to any of the other MK resorts. That way, you can remain parked without any worry about a time limit while you explore the area.

 

[SuzaBanana]

At OKW and AKL, it shouldn't be a problem because neither have direct access to a theme park. For the monorail resorts (where they tend to be more strict about parking), simply park at the TTC/MK lot and walk to the Poly or monorail to any of the other MK resorts. That way, you can remain parked without any worry about a time limit while you explore the area.

But that requires me to pay for parking, correct?

If I have an ADR, parking at a resort is free for the ADR, right? Can you park for free at a resort just to check out the resort, go shopping or play mini-golf? Like Boardwalk for example or Fort Wilderness for horseback riding?

 

[wdwrich]

But that requires me to pay for parking, correct?

If I have an ADR, parking at a resort is free for the ADR, right? Can you park for free at a resort just to check out the resort, go shopping or play mini-golf? Like Boardwalk for example or Fort Wilderness for horseback riding?

Yes, you pay at the MK lot if you're staying off site (unless you have an AP). Guests staying in Disney resorts can park for free at the parks.
Parking at the resorts is free while you dine/shop, but you can't leave your car at one resort and go off to explore other resorts, play mini-golf, or head to a theme park. Note that the mini-golf courses have their own free parking.

 

[Lefty33]

Policy is 3 hours. Practice is really not consistent. I parked at the Poly once for a pre park opening breakfast, left the car there, and stayed at MK until close. Nothing happened but it was a pretty slow time of the year.

It depends on how risk averse you are.

Exactly.

 

[Lefty33]

Granted I'm normally only at the parks during the slower weeks of the year but in all honesty I've never seen this enforced once.
I just did this two months ago in September at BC and at GF without issue the same as I've done it during prior stays at BC, GF and WL without issue. Maybe during busier times of the year things are different or maybe if you're not staying at another property things are different but at least from my vantage point the policy is not even remotely close to the actual reality of what's going on.

 

[wdwrich]

Granted I'm normally only at the parks during the slower weeks of the year but in all honesty I've never seen this enforced once.
I just did this two months ago in September at BC and at GF without issue the same as I've done it during prior stays at BC, GF and WL without issue. Maybe during busier times of the year things are different or maybe if you're not staying at another property things are different but at least from my vantage point the policy is not even remotely close to the actual reality of what's going on.

As mentioned above, enforcement is inconsistent. However, We've stayed at the CR twice and both times witnessed cars being towed from the self-park lot. No owner/renter present, just the tow truck and Disney security.
Personally, I wouldn't risk a big hassle on my vacation. It's far easier to heed the posted signs that state that resort lots are not for theme park access and keep my vehicle where it's supposed to be.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

First, there are cameras at the entrance and they to know both your plate and the time you enter.

There was no problem for you but there may have been a problem for someone staying at the Polynesian. The lot does occasionally fill to capacity which means that a returning Poly guest may not find a spot. Been there and believe me it's horrible.

The lots are posted as not for theme park access. If you do go to a park then you are it using the lot in the manner intended. Really, it comes down to courtesy. You wouldn't want to find your resort's lot filled when you returned neither do those at the Poly. Show them the same courtesy you'd expect at your resort by not parking longer than needed for your ADR or use valet.

If you are staying at a Disney resort I believe theme park

Parking is included not sure if that has chaged in the last five years or if everyone up threats is staying of property

 

[wdwrich]

If you are staying at a Disney resort I believe theme park

Parking is included not sure if that has chaged in the last five years or if everyone up threats is staying of property

Yes, theme park parking is included if you're staying in a Disney resort but that only applies to the actual theme park parking lots. It does not mean you can park at another Disney resort and head off to a theme park.

 

[LisaS]

At OKW and AKL, it shouldn't be a problem because neither have direct access to a theme park.

I've had parking issues at OKW. On our first stay there we had a rental car. We couldn't find an empty spot in the lot near the hospitality house when we arrived to check in. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came out to the lot and vacated a spot so that we could park our car. This was around 1pm so maybe a lot of people were parked there while eating lunch at Olivia's? On that same stay there were a couple of times where we got the last spot when parking near our building at OKW. This was at a less busy time as well (late January). In my experience, OKW doesn't have any excess capacity beyond what's needed for guests and people parking for a short time to eat at Olivia's.

 

[seashoreCM]

I've had parking issues at OKW. .

OKW needs a profusion of complaints so they will be better aware that they need to expand their parking lots. Parking should be sized and/or managed so it is never full. I would say it is fair game to file another complaint even during the same stay if you return later and see the lot full.

(Does Disney prefer to comp the valet parking for its resort guests over expanding the lots?)