I LOVE OUR DVC, BUT THIS I HAVE TO POST :(lengthy)

[DeeCee735]

But therein lies the problem. There really is no hard and fast rule for parking, except you can be be turned away, not that you will be turned away. Whether you are actually turned away will depend on a lot of factors...for instance, the convention center may not be in use every day, or part of the parking lot may not be lost for construction every day, or the hotel may not be fully booked every day. All of these factors combine so that some days parking may be limited, and other days there may be plenty of parking...

So, it really is best, if there is something specific you want to do at a resort where you are not staying and where you don't have an ADR, to use Disney transportation. I remember when you could drive over to Y/BC, park, and wait no more than 20 minutes for a table at Beaches and Cream, or easily find parking at DtD, then it got so bad they had to build the current parking structures.

If you do decide to drive to another resort, be prepared to be told "no parking" and have an alternate plan in mind. I was surprised when, on my most recent trip, we decided to go to Grand Floridian Cafe for lunch rather than grab something in Magic Kingdom. I've never had problem being seated there without a reservation. Well, I was surprised it it was fully booked for whole day...be prepared.

Thank you! Well said and appreciated.

 

[DeeCee735]

According to my Disney experience and the manager, and the woman from DVC member satisfaction, Big River Grille does not accept reservations. If I’m missing where I can make them, please let me know. I’ll be back in a couple of months....without a car ROFL, and we want to have lunch there.

 

[sgtdisney]

I don't know where you can find it officially, but I think it can vary depending on the time of year and how busy they happen to be. Your chances are probably better during non-peak times. You could always try to park at the resort and just park in the nearest theme park lot if they won't let you park at the resort. If you park at the TTC, it's a short walk to the Poly for Dole whip or a monorail ride away from TOTWL. Sometimes we try to park at a resort without an ADR if we just wanted to visit for a quick stop to take photos of the holiday decorations on the way to another park, or want to get something from a certain gift shop. For example, when we parked at the Yacht Club to check out the train display, there were a ton of empty spots, so that's probably why they didn't mind us parking there for a short time. If they did turn us away, we'd either park at a theme park lot and take Disney transportation to the resort, or modify our plans to try to visit another time. Not a big deal as long as your plans are flexible!

These are all good ideas. Good way to do resort hopping, and it's a nice walk from TTC to the Polynesian too. We could take the bus to MK from OKW as well and walk over to Contemporary. Food for thought, kind of make it something fun to do.

 

[sgtdisney]

Wow, I would have never thought of that. I bet now that this has been brought up.....not too long.

And how much is parking at parks? I thought if staying on property no charge? We use Dis transportation in and out of parks. It gives us the option of going to DS after parks which we do often.

It costs 20.00 now (for day visitors) for parking in the theme park lots. If you are staying on property it's free.

 

[drbrjb01]

I guess I don’t understand why people don’t use Uber. We did it three or four times including having them drop us at the entrance of the Comtemporary. No need to park with Uber.

 

[disneynutz]

Parking has been an issue and it is getting worse as more people go to Disney. Resort parking close to any park has always been abused by some and it seems that now Disney has decided to do something about it. While their delivery of the news was not friendly by either security or management, you are dealing with people and people are not always friendly. Disney CM's are not always in a good mood or friendly but people don't post negative and only want to post happy so everyone thinks that Disney is the happiest place on earth. Sometimes it is but sometimes it isn't.

Bill

 

[Chuck S]

According to my Disney experience and the manager, and the woman from DVC member satisfaction, Big River Grille does not accept reservations. If I’m missing where I can make them, please let me know. I’ll be back in a couple of months....without a car ROFL, and we want to have lunch there.

If you are planning to eat there, and are not staying at BW/BWV I would take Disney transportation. BW/BWV parking has been limited to guests, and ADRs more often than not for several years, now. And with the construction, it is likely a given that the parking will be severely restricted. I've stopped renting cars when I fly in, usually a one or two person trip, I use magical express and have groceries delivered by Amazon Prime NOW (different from regular Amazon Prime, separate app). If it is a group of 3 or more, we generally drive from Texas, and pretty much abandon the car unless we go offsite for shopping.

 

[lovin'fl]

According to my Disney experience and the manager, and the woman from DVC member satisfaction, Big River Grille does not accept reservations. If I’m missing where I can make them, please let me know. I’ll be back in a couple of months....without a car ROFL, and we want to have lunch there.

You are right. Big River and ESPN aren't on MDE for ADRs. But they are on Open Table for resies. Just FYI. That doesn't help with parking as it won't be on your magic band. But you could show the gate your resie on your phone or print it out. I LOVE open Table as there aren't penalties to miss the resie...or used to not be (i heard that they might change that since they are adding more Disney dining venues on there).

 

[Chuck S]

I guess I don’t understand why people don’t use Uber. We did it three or four times including having them drop us at the entrance of the Comtemporary. No need to park with Uber.

I think because a lot of us "older folks" haven't used Uber or Lyft, and just aren't familiar with it. There really isn't much need for it here where I live, it is a smallish town of about 30,000, and they have a free mini-bus for seniors and disabled.

 

[pineapplepalms]

I guess I don’t understand why people don’t use Uber. We did it three or four times including having them drop us at the entrance of the Comtemporary. No need to park with Uber.

I think because a lot of us "older folks" haven't used Uber or Lyft, and just aren't familiar with it. There really isn't much need for it here where I live, it is a smallish town of about 30,000, and they have a free mini-bus for seniors and disabled.

On the other end of the age spectrum, if you have young kids like we do, they need a car seat and Uber/Lyft don't necessarily provide those. Our options are renting a car and car seat (or bringing our own car seat on the plane), Minnie Vans, or Disney transportation. We typically find that renting a car is very convenient and relatively inexpensive when booking via Costco Travel, although we are going to try out a combination of Minnie Vans and Disney transportation on an upcoming trip instead since we'll be staying at the Poly and VGF.

 

[DeeCee735]

It costs 20.00 now (for day visitors) for parking in the theme park lots. If you are staying on property it's free.

Thanks.

 

[DeeCee735]

On the other end of the age spectrum, if you have young kids like we do, they need a car seat and Uber/Lyft don't necessarily provide those. Our options are renting a car and car seat (or bringing our own car seat on the plane), Minnie Vans, or Disney transportation. We typically find that renting a car is very convenient and relatively inexpensive when booking via Costco Travel, although we are going to try out a combination of Minnie Vans and Disney transportation on an upcoming trip instead since we'll be staying at the Poly and VGF.

Do the Disney buses offer car seats for the little ones? One reason my kids rented a car was because they weren’t sure about whether or not the buses had car seats for 14 month old babes. Parking at the parks was doable with the trams running, but for the future I’d like to fill her in on the buses for babies.

TIA

 

[DeeCee735]

You are right. Big River and ESPN aren't on MDE for ADRs. But they are on Open Table for resies. Just FYI. That doesn't help with parking as it won't be on your magic band. But you could show the gate your resie on your phone or print it out. I LOVE open Table as there aren't penalties to miss the resie...or used to not be (i heard that they might change that since they are adding more Disney dining venues on there).

That is very helpful! Thank you. I’ve been on open table for a long time and never thought to look at it for Disney restaurants! I really appreciate this!
My lengthy venting post has really paid off in great information. I love these boards!

 

[DeeCee735]

Parking has been an issue and it is getting worse as more people go to Disney. Resort parking close to any park has always been abused by some and it seems that now Disney has decided to do something about it. While their delivery of the news was not friendly by either security or management, you are dealing with people and people are not always friendly. Disney CM's are not always in a good mood or friendly but people don't post negative and only want to post happy so everyone thinks that Disney is the happiest place on earth. Sometimes it is but sometimes it isn't.

Bill

Very true. After 18 years of mostly positive posts, it was unfortunate to have the negative.

 

[lovin'fl]

That is very helpful! Thank you. I’ve been on open table for a long time and never thought to look at it for Disney restaurants! I really appreciate this!
My lengthy venting post has really paid off in great information. I love these boards!

Many Disney Springs dining places on Open Table too. I love that I can get resies and not have to worry about that no show penalty fee.

 

[DeeCee735]

Many Disney Springs dining places on Open Table too. I love that I can get resies and not have to worry about that no show penalty fee.

Awesome

 

[jo-jo]

How does one prove they are staying at a resort? Magic Band? We have never had a car at disney ourselves. About 5 yrs ago, we were staying at BCV and my brother at all stars. He had taken me grocery shopping. The guard asked him and he was turned down, but when I explained I was a guest, he let us though.

 

[starry_solo]

OK, I'll be on the other end of it.

If the security guard had been nicer and said that parking was only for guests staying at the hotel, I think the OP wouldn't be here venting. But, instead, she got an excuse that she had never heard received before at any of the other resorts - that she had to have a reservation at a restaurant that Disney doesn't accept ADRs for. So, if she had lied and said she had a reservation, she would have gone through because the guy at the gate would have had no way of verifying it was true based upon the magic band.

Interestingly, the guy at the gate didn't offer the option of valet parking either, in an effort to make a guest happy and to make some $ for Disney.

 

[BillPA]

Valet, guards, housekeeping are NOT Disney employees. They just don't care. Just more areas that Disney cut cost at the expense of that Old Disney Magic they use to have. Poor Walt and Roy must be spinning in their graves at the New Disney.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You cannot use car seats on buses. You have to hold the child. There are not acceptable tethers for car seats and they would be unsafe.