Just back: my observations about parking at Disney resorts

[peacefrogdog]

Just back from a trip, my first since 2017. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge. Unlike past trips in which we had a printed parking pass, I only had to provide my name at the security desk when checking in and parking there was no issue. This didn't surprise me so much as my name was listed as a hotel guest. However when driving to a breakfast at Boma,i was asked to show my driver's license - the guard looked at it briefly, did not seem to check whether I actually had a dining reservation, and waved me through to the hotel parking lot. It's possible he could have double checked I had a dining ressie after I drove through, but I did not have to provide my car info or license plate. With that I think I could have left my car there for the day.

If what happened to me is the norm, is it now possible to park your car at a resort for the day?

 

[fla4fun]

Just back from a trip, my first since 2017. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge. Unlike past trips in which we had a printed parking pass, I only had to provide my name at the security desk when checking in and parking there was no issue. This didn't surprise me so much as my name was listed as a hotel guest. However when driving to a breakfast at Boma,i was asked to show my driver's license - the guard looked at it briefly, did not seem to check whether I actually had a dining reservation, and waved me through to the hotel parking lot. It's possible he could have double checked I had a dining ressie after I drove through, but I did not have to provide my car info or license plate. With that I think I could have left my car there for the day.

If what happened to me is the norm, is it now possible to park your car at a resort for the day?

I don’t know that it is the norm at all resorts. I know when I had a reservation at Beaches and Cream a few months ago that they looked up my reservation, so they may be more strict at resorts where you can walk to a park. I have also been turned away from AoA when I wanted to dine there (no reservations possible there). I think the norm is that each resort, and each guard at that resort, is going to provide a different experience based on things like the time of day, time of year, and the occupancy of the resort.

 

[focusondisney]

they may be more strict at resorts where you can walk to a park.

Yep, they for sure have gotten more strict at those resorts. We don’t drive, but take a car service from the airport. Almost every time we arrive thru the main gate, there’s a sign saying parking for resort guests only. And when we were staying at Contemporary, we took a Lyft back from another resort. The guard made sure we were registered guests before he let the driver in.

 

[scrappinginontario]

No, you are not allowed to park at a resort you are not staying at for longer than your dining reservation. This is Disney’s policy but also the responsible thing to do. Guests staying at a resort need to easily be able to park.

 

[nw6675]

We drive. Bc and YC - Fort Knox. Poly - eh, who cares. Coronado and Port Orleans, no issues. Grand Floridian - across the street. WL - no big deal.

 

[Best Aunt]

When I arrived from the airport in a towncar, the driver rolled down his window, told the cast member that I was checking in, and provided my last name. The cast member said he had to speak to me. So the driver rolled down my window. The cast member asked me what my last name is. I provided it. The cast member let the driver through. The cast member did not look anything up.

The next day, I was arriving back to the resort in a Lyft. The cast member at the gate just waved the driver through. Didn't ask for anything.

This was BoardWalk, approximately the same time in the late afternoon.