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

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You know on threads when some people say they have a breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's and then say they want to go head off to the Magic Kingdom when their done, so others here say to valet park your car at the Contemporary because it's ok. Well isn't that a cheap way of getting around the parking rules for parking to visit the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary? I personally think it is because even if a Cast Member says it's ok the Contemporary was not built to have parking for the Magic Kingdom and that includes the valet parking lot even though you pay to park there. 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.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention doesn't the sign at the entrance to the Contemporary which says "we do not provide parking for the Magic Kingdom" prove that it's not ok even with valet parking?

 

[helenk]

How could it be a cheap way of getting around the parking when you have to pay to valet park. Isn't the cost to valet park just as much as the parking fee?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

How could it be a cheap way of getting around the parking when you have to pay to valet park. Isn't the cost to valet park just as much as the parking fee?

Technically the cost of valet parking + the tip makes it more expensive then parking at the TTC.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

This is one of those non-issues that has never bothered me when I am at Disney and doesn't bother me when I am not at Disney.

 

[salmoneous]

Where's the option for "I don't care period"?

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

Where's the option for "I don't care period"?

It's listed as "Other." That's what I used.

 

[goofy4tink]

Technically the cost of valet parking + the tip makes it more expensive then parking at the TTC.

So, how does it then qualify as a 'cheap way to get around the parking rules'? Basically I just don't care. It's the same for the other deluxe resorts...if there is 'foot' access to a park, then people will try to park there and avoid paying the parking fee. But, if they valet park, then they are entitled to be there.
My father valet parked when he visited us at BWV...then he left the area and went to Epcot. How is that wrong?
Until the valet attendants start asking for a resort ID, then I guess anyone can pay to use them...no matter where they go after that.

 

[keishashadow]

Perhaps I'm operating under a mis-conception; but I thought the valet parking @ WDW resorts was for guests of the hotel and patrons (i.e. dining res., shopping, entertainment, etc.) NOT an expedited way to slip into the parks.

Additionally, said pass is limited to a few hours. Don't think using valet extends it.

Location is considered to be a part of a resort's amentity...i'm sure you've heard the term "monorail resort"; one of the reasons they command the big bucks to stay there.

While I suppose you can justify nearly anything if you try hard enough; what do you tell the guard @ the CR gate when he asks why you're there? If you state the truth "I'm valeting to get easy access to MK"; I'd think he'd have you turn around on the spot.

BTW, last Oct. from our balcony @ CR; watched tow-trucks haul away a few vehicles from the parking lot. Not sure why, have read threads that they do tow scofflaws. The parking situtation will only get worse now that the North lot is closed during the upcoming busy months.

Expect to soon be seeing angry threads posted as to "why did they tow my car"; would imagine the rental companies won't be too thrilled when they get the call from the pound.

 

[goofy4tink]

But, if someone is going to eat at Chef Mickey's then they are using the amenities. And they are entitled to use valet services. I don't think you will find all that many people that use valet parking without actually go into the CR, but rather to just be closer to MK. To me, that would be a huge pain in the rump!! If you are not using the CR facilities, then you should be parking at TTC. But, if you are eating at CR, then you are entitled to park with valet parking. The cost is a bit more than TTC since you should be tipping the valet attendants.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Technically the cost of valet parking + the tip makes it more expensive then parking at the TTC.

Not "technically" - it genuinely costs more to valet park than to use the park lots.

 

[Maine-iac]

Valet parking, is this the only way to park your car at Contemp if you have Chef Mickey's/other ADRs? Could one just park in a general parking area?
When you valet park do they put a ticket or something in your front window?
You can tell I know nothing about valet parking!

 

[keishashadow]

Yes, there is a general parking lot.

FYI, from allears:



[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WHICH GUESTS MAY PARK FREE OF CHARGE?[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If you are staying at a Disney resort, at check-in, you'll be given a parking pass to put on your dashboard. This pass identifies you as a Disney resort guest, and helps you gain easier access to other Disney resorts as well as granting you free parking at the four major theme parks. Though not Disney-owned, guests of the Swan and Dolphin hotels also park without charge at the theme parks. Swan and Dolphin guests will not receive a parking pass. Instead, showing a room key to the Cast Member at the parking tollbooths will allow free parking. [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Annual Passholders may also park at the theme parks during regular park hours free of charge.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Members of the Disney Dining Experience program may park free of charge at the theme parks after 5:00 pm by showing their DDE Card at the tollbooths. DDE guests must pay to park when entering before 5:00 pm. After dining, guests must take the parking receipt and dining receipt to Guest Relations for a refund of the parking fee.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WHICH GUESTS MUST PAY TO PARK?[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Non-Disney resort guests, or those staying off Disney property (with the exception of the above-mentioned passholders and program members) will be charged to park a vehicle at the four major theme parks. Guests need only pay for parking once per day and can move from park to park that day without paying again. Show the parking receipt received at the first park to the Cast Member at the next park's tollbooths to enter the parking lot without paying an additional charge.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARK AT THE DISNEY THEME PARKS?[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As of September 3, 2006, the daily parking charges for various vehicles are:[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Auto/Taxi/Limo/Shuttle/Motorcycle $10[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Camper/Trailer $11[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bus/Tractor Trailer $14[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WHAT ABOUT PARKING AT OTHER DISNEY VENUES?[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Parking at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Winter-Summerland Mini-Golf, Fantasia Gardens Mini-Golf, Fort Wilderness, Wide World of Sports and self-parking at Downtown Disney is free to all guests, including those staying off property.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Self-parking for use of the entertainment and dining facilities at the Boardwalk's entertainment area is also free.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]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.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shades of Green charges $3 to park at the resort.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Swan and Dolphin charge $9 + tax for Overnight Self-parking; $9 +tax each exit for Day Self-parking. Overnight Valet parking is $16 + tax; while Day Valet parking $12 + tax each exit.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

WHAT ABOUT VALET PARKING AT THE RESORTS?[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Valet parking is available at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge resorts. Effective January 7, 2007, the charge is $10 per day plus tip. Guests need only pay for valet parking once per day at Disney resorts--show the day's valet receipt at the next resort to avoid being charged again.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney Vacation Club members may valet park free at the DVC resorts. Those resorts are the Boardwalk, the Beach Club and the Wilderness Lodge. Show your DVC membership card to the valet captain upon vehicle pick-up.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney Dining Experience Members may valet park free of charge at any Disney resort offering this service by showing a DDE membership card.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Valet parking is free of charge to all vehicles displaying a disabilties tag at Disney facilities offering valet service.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Valet parking at the Swan and Dolphin hotels is as follows:[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Overnight Valet -- $16 + tax[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Day Valet -- $12 + tax each exit[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NOTE: Valet parking at the Swan and Dolphin is not reciprocal with the Disney-owned resorts. Disney resorts' valet receipts will not be honored by the Swan and Dolphin or vice versa.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Whether you pay for valet parking or receive it free as a perk, remember to tip your valet for taking or retrieving your vehicle[/FONT]​

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But, if someone is going to eat at Chef Mickey's then they are using the amenities. And they are entitled to use valet services. I don't think you will find all that many people that use valet parking without actually go into the CR, but rather to just be closer to MK. To me, that would be a huge pain in the rump!! If you are not using the CR facilities, then you should be parking at TTC. But, if you are eating at CR, then you are entitled to park with valet parking. The cost is a bit more than TTC since you should be tipping the valet attendants.

What I meant was anyone who has an ADR at Chef Mickey's can valet park if they want. What I don't like is when then they say how they plan to leave their parked in the valet lot all day since they paid for it. Once your meal is done at Chef Mickey's and you want to visit the Magic Kingdom, then move it to the TTC. I don't care for the excuse we paid $10.00 + tip for valet parking well to bad. Because the Contemporary is not for parking at the Magic Kingdom even if you were there before to eat at Chef Mickey's. In the time you will be at the Resort you have all the right to leave your car there to visit the Contemporary and have your meal. However once your meal is done it's not ok to leave it in the regular lot or the valet lot, because then there goes the rule of the Resorts not being a parking lot for guests not staying there. So remember this info that was already posted.

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.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Valet parking, is this the only way to park your car at Contemp if you have Chef Mickey's/other ADRs? Could one just park in a general parking area?
When you valet park do they put a ticket or something in your front window?
You can tell I know nothing about valet parking!

Guests with ADR's can also use the regular parking lot and not pay for valet, but in the time there are parked there it's one less spot for Contemporary guests. I am only saying that because the regualr parking lot at the Contemporary is hard enough to park in and since a lot of spaces have been closed off because of the North Garden Wing demolition, there are now even less spaces. I have nothing against non Contemporary guests parking there because I always see parking passes from various WDW Resorts and offsite Resorts. It becomes an even bigger problem when those guests leave their cars in the regular lot and head off to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Detailor]

I think this is the same for BoardWalk as well. They also have the sign advising people that the parking lot isn't to be used for theme park parking. But the convenience to MGM and EPCOT (and then by Monorail to MK) is incredible. We go to BoardWalk for lunch or dinner and shopping usually driving in from an off-site location and spend hours at the complex. We're not limited to a specific amount of time and no parking pass is given by the guard. While we've never used this location as a launching spot to avoid parking fees, I can imagine that others might think of that - using valet parking or just self parking. I'd rather not take the chance of coming back and finding no car.

Dick Taylor

 

[bavaria]

It would appear that the OP only cares about the CR. The same could be held true for BCV, BC, YC, BWV, BWI, AKL, Polynesian, GF, and soon AKV.

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.

And YES, I have had my car towed from a WDW resort parking lot. The car malfunctioned and Hertz sent a tow truck and a new car. But I am sure that at least one guest made a judgement and assumed that I was being punished for parking where I shouldn't.

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.

To me, this is a non-issue and probably not worth the energy I just spent typing this.

 

[bavaria]

Originally Posted by salmoneous
Where's the option for "I don't care period"?

It's listed as "Other." That's what I used.

thank you for clarifying. Off to cast my vote.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It would appear that the OP only cares about the CR. The same could be held true for BCV, BC, YC, BWV, BWI, AKL, Polynesian, GF, and soon AKV.

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.

And YES, I have had my car towed from a WDW resort parking lot. The car malfunctioned and Hertz sent a tow truck and a new car. But I am sure that at least one guest made a judgement and assumed that I was being punished for parking where I shouldn't.

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.

To me, this is a non-issue and probably not worth the energy I just spent typing this.

I think it is an issue for WDW however all they can do is put the signs up that say parking at any of the resorts to gain access to the theme parks is not allowed and hope guests will follow that rule. As for the security guard laughing when you asked if he wanted to see your ID and etc, try parking there during the 4th of July, Christams Day and New Years Eve without an ADR and see how far you would get. Sometimes I have lost count at all the cars that were turned away and told to leave, plus that also happens when the Contemporary hosts huge conventions. Also the Cast Members we spoke to at the Contemporary said the valet parking lot is only for the Contemporary and is not meant to leave your car there after a meal and go off to the Magic Kingdom. 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.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Sometimes I have lost count at all the cars that were turned away and told to leave.

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