Is this a cheap way to get around the parking rules at the Contemporary?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Tell me you don't sit there and watch the guard booth all day...

No I do not do that lol. It's just that when I was there on December 31, 2005 when my family and I returned around 7:30 PM there was a long line of cars trying to get in and a lot of cars were turned away and told to leave. I saw the same thing last August when the Contemporay was in lockdown mode because of 2 huge conventions that were being held, so the only guests they were letting in were guests staying there and guests with confirmed ADR's only. So a few times when returing I happen to see a lot of cars that were turned away and told to leave.

 

[WillCAD]

I can't afford to stay at any of the monorail resorts, and I'm too poor (and too cheap) to ever valet park, so this should be a non-issue for me, but it isn't.

I am all for working the system, and getting maximum bennefit for minimum investment. But I also believe stongly that this should not be done at the expense of others.

Those who used to park at the monorail resorts to avoid the parking fees were wrongly taking parking spaces away from those who pay a premium to stay at the monorail resorts. Disney stopped this with the 3-hour parking limit, which is usually enough time for dining and shopping.

Those who use the valet service at the monorail resorts to avoid the parking trams or long walks in teh MK parking lot, to avoid the traffic at park closing, or even to avoid the hassle of moving their car after a meal, may be paying a $10 fee for the service of having someone park their car for them, but they are still taking up a space at a resort where they are not a Guest, and preventing someone else who is paying a premium to stay there from getting that space.

To me it's a simple equation: If you are a paying Guest at a particular resort, you are entitled to park your car there. If you are not a paying Guest at a particular resort, you are only entitled to park there for 3 hours, whether you valet or not. And by the way, the $10 fee is not for the parking space, it's for the service of having someone park and retreive your car for you.

 

[Aisling]

I have parked at all these resorts with the valet, dined and gone elsewhere - either for business or pleasure. Recently the security guard at the CR laughed at me on two different days for even asking if I could valet park while going elsewhere on WDW property. He invited me in and didn't care about my ID.

I own at VWL but never stay there - yet I can valet there and take a boat to MK with no issues. I often take a boat from VWL to FW and CR.

Until WDW considers this to be an issue, I will continue to park as allowed. Believe me, Disney is very good at maximizing every potential revenue source. They don't see this as one at this point.

This reminds me of people who re-use their mugs and say, even though it's against the rules, Disney makes enough money off me, so I'm going to do it anyway. I'm not debating, since I use re-use my mug.

But really, I didn't know you can park at the CR and then spend the day at MK. I thought you had to give a reason, like restaurant reservations. Thanks for the tip!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I can't afford to stay at any of the monorail resorts, and I'm too poor (and too cheap) to ever valet park, so this should be a non-issue for me, but it isn't.

I am all for working the system, and getting maximum bennefit for minimum investment. But I also believe stongly that this should not be done at the expense of others.

Those who used to park at the monorail resorts to avoid the parking fees were wrongly taking parking spaces away from those who pay a premium to stay at the monorail resorts. Disney stopped this with the 3-hour parking limit, which is usually enough time for dining and shopping.

Those who use the valet service at the monorail resorts to avoid the parking trams or long walks in teh MK parking lot, to avoid the traffic at park closing, or even to avoid the hassle of moving their car after a meal, may be paying a $10 fee for the service of having someone park their car for them, but they are still taking up a space at a resort where they are not a Guest, and preventing someone else who is paying a premium to stay there from getting that space.

To me it's a simple equation: If you are a paying Guest at a particular resort, you are entitled to park your car there. If you are not a paying Guest at a particular resort, you are only entitled to park there for 3 hours, whether you valet or not. And by the way, the $10 fee is not for the parking space, it's for the service of having someone park and retreive your car for you.

That was very well said and is the message I am trying to get across in this thread.

 

[Aisling]

If you are a paying Guest at a particular resort, you are entitled to park your car there. If you are not a paying Guest at a particular resort, you are only entitled to park there for 3 hours, whether you valet or not. And by the way, the $10 fee is not for the parking space, it's for the service of having someone park and retreive your car for you.

Please clarify for me. Is this a rule, or an opinion about being entitled/not being entitled to park at a resort? I always thought that you had to have a reservation at the restaurants in order to be allowed to park if you weren't a paying guest. But now I'm reading that the CMs don't follow this? I have no experience with the parking at WDW, so I need this information for my trip.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Please clarify for me. Is this a rule, or an opinion about being entitled/not being entitled to park at a resort? I always thought that you had to have a reservation at the restaurants in order to be allowed to park if you weren't a paying guest. But now I'm reading that the CMs don't follow this? I have no experience with the parking at WDW, so I need this information for my trip.

Here is the answer you are looking for.

Self parking at the Disney resorts is free to all guests; however some resorts have parking restrictions. The Contemporary, the Polynesian and the Beach Club give guests not staying at those resorts a 3-hour parking pass to allow shopping or dining at these resorts. Parking at any of the resorts to gain access to the theme parks is not allowed. Disney resorts may ask for a photo ID before allowing entry. Some Disney resorts may also ask for an Advance Dining Reservation number from guests who are dining at the resort before allowing access to the resort parking lot.

I hope that answers your question?

 

[Aisling]

Here is the answer you are looking for.

I hope that answers your question?

Yes it does. Thank you.

And WillCAD, I love your website.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Yes it does. Thank you.

And WillCAD, I love your website.

Your welcome.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, yet again....I just don't see all that many folks paying to valet park at the CR in order to avoid parking at the TTC. It just isn't all that much more convenient. Now, if Disney is truly concerned about this growing issue, then they would do one of two things...1. give you a time limit for parking with valet services and if you don't return in that window, off goes your car or 2. check your resort ID card before letting you use valet parking for an undetermined amount of time.
We are not talking, at least I am not, about those busy times of year...ie, NYE, Christmas, July 4th, but the normal times of year. I'm not concerned about valet parking issues at BWV, where I own...but more concerned about those who use the closer parking lot in order to get to MGM and Epcot, taking away 'prime' spots from the guests of the resort. They should be using the further away parking lot.

 

[bavaria]

Finally as for your car being towed by Hertz, I am sure if any guests with a MK view who saw this must have thought you did park there illegally, if I saw it I would have thought the same thing. However with the problems they have had with guests who park there for the Magic Kingdom can you blame them for thinking that and would you not have thought the same if it was not your car getting towed? At least you know the real reason it was towed so that should be good enough in your mind.

Frankly, no, I am not so judgemental as to make assumptions about others. Things happen. I afford others that respect, but obviously there are many here who do not do the same. Perhaps they are so fortunate that nothing in their lives has been negative, but I know that things happen and I try and not judge people

 

[bavaria]

This reminds me of people who re-use their mugs and say, even though it's against the rules, Disney makes enough money off me, so I'm going to do it anyway. I'm not debating, since I use re-use my mug.

I don't park planning to spend the day, but if I have dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse and then walk to Epcot to watch Illuminations I don't consider that an issue.

Remember, there are millions of guests at WDW who do NOT read these judgemental posts which make assumptions about 'Disney rules'. They don't know any better and valet park and walk as well.

Until Disney states otherwise, I am not concerned.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

did we do this thread last year ??
my 2 cents
if you are only using the valet to go to MK and not to eat or shop at the CR its wrong, but thats just me.

 

[goofy4tink]

did we do this thread last year ??
my 2 cents
if you are only using the valet to go to MK and not to eat or shop at the CR its wrong, but thats just me.

That is something I can agree with.

 

[shellybaxter]

I voted for "No" because that has been my personal expirience. On our last trip to WDW we rented a car primarily because we rented a scooter from offsite. We still took the Disney buses most of the time, but one day we had breakfast ressies at Ohanas. We pulled up in front of the resort to off load the scooter. As the valet approached us we explained that we had breakfast and dinner ressies at the Poly and were planning on going to MK for the day between the ressies. We then asked if we could valet park our car and the attendent said "of course" in a way that sounded like "why wouldn't you be able to". I said I knew that the resorts were not for parking to gain park access. He said that didn't matter in valet and that anyone can use the valet unless the hotel is super full, then they will restrict the valet to hotel guests only.

This made sense to me. That way hotel guests ALWAYS have access to valet and guests who choose to valet have that access when there is room. I don't understand how this takes up room from self parkers because valet usually has their own lot. I simply see nothing wrong with what we did and I don't think anyone on here will be able to convince me otherwise.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm not sure how you can say paying for valet parking is cheap.

Valets can park the car some distance from the facility. I'm sure there are more than enough "overflow" lots available. It's up to Disney to decide if they want to time limit valet parking.

 

[UConnJack]

I'm not sure how you can say paying for valet parking is cheap.

Valets can park the car some distance from the facility. I'm sure there are more than enough "overflow" lots available. It's up to Disney to decide if they want to time limit valet parking.

I think CR Fan shouldn't have used the word "cheap", I don't think it explains what he is getting at. I think "rude, ignorant, and selfish" is more appropriate.

Do I have a problem with someone eating dinner at CR and then walking over to the MK for an hour or two to shop or watch the fireworks? No, not really, as long as they stay in the 3-hour limit (REGARDLESS if they paid for valet or self-parked).

However, I think people who park at CR for say breakfast at CM, and then spend the enitre day at MK. Yes, those people are rude and selfish and should have their car towed away.

 

[Lewisc]

Valets can park cars in remote lots. It's not clear that those, very few, guests are rude or selfish because it's not clear they do anything to diminish parking for guests staying at the Contemporary.

Does the parking valet tell the customer parking is limited to 3 hours? Is there some type of notation on the slip? I don't think so. Really can't justify moving those cars. No reason to tow. Disney has the car keys. Just move the cars to a remote lot, could even use a section of the MK parking lot if additional space is required. Guests valet parking for more than 3 hours, who aren't staying at the Contemporary, may have to wait a little longer to get their car.

I doubt this is a real problem. If it was the solution could be as simple as a $10 charge for 3 hours of parking but a larger charge $20-$30, if the guest wants to valet park for longer than 3 hours.

Do I have a problem with someone eating dinner at CR and then walking over to the MK for an hour or two to shop or watch the fireworks? No, not really, as long as they stay in the 3-hour limit (REGARDLESS if they paid for valet or self-parked).

However, I think people who park at CR for say breakfast at CM, and then spend the enitre day at MK. Yes, those people are rude and selfish and should have their car towed away.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have yet to hear, or see, any time limits placed on valet parked cars. It is very seldom that the valet lot would be full. At those times, then yes, valet parking should be limited to resort guests. But, to say that a valet car should be towed if the owner eats at CM's that morning and then walks to MK is a bit harsh...at least IMHO. I have been told by valet attendents, as well as the front desk CM's, at BW that anyone may pay to valet park and then go wherever they wish. Now, this may differ at other valet lots, but it is most probably the same. Unless it is a busy time of year, then anyone is going to be able to use valet parking.
I have to ask here...what should Disney do to enforce this? Perhaps before you can take advantage of valet parking you have to show your resort ID? For that particular resort, of course. I have to ask.....how many resort guests actually pay to valet park while they are staying at a resort?
I just do not see this as an issue. Yes, I agree that people shouldn't be able to use the 'free' parking spots if they are going to be there longer than those three hours. That's wrong...it takes away spaces from resort guests. Those guests are entitled to a free parking spot.

 

[Lewisc]

Guests aren't required to follow rules that are "secret" or ambiguous. I don't really care what a high ranking CM may have told you.

What limit is listed on the voucher the valet gives the customer? Guests who self-park are sometimes given a 3 hour pass. I've never heard of a valet customer getting a similar pass.

Guests who eat a meal at the Contemporary are parking to eat. Disney, not hotel guests, decide how long those guests can park.

Also I have been told by higher ranking Cast Members at the Contemporary (non bellman who park your cars who people claim have told them it's ok) that it's not ok to valet park for a meal and leave your car parked there all day so you can go off to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[bavaria]

Guests aren't required to follow rules that are "secret" or ambiguous. I don't really care what a high ranking CM may have told you.

Exactly. I have no issue with following posted rules, but just because a teenager on a website says that something is wrong, I do not have to agree.