Well I just got home from 9 awesome days at WDW.
Not sure if this will spark mroe debate or controversy or if people will dislike me even more but here is what I found out....
We had dining reservations at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club one night and wanted to go to Epcot after.
Now according to many people here I would be given a parking pass for about 3 hours then I would have to move my car (reminder, I was staying at AKL).
so we checked in at the gate and I asked the gaurd how long I was allowed to park at this hotel....he shrugged his shoulders and said, "however long as you like" so we parked, ate, then went to Epcot for quite a few hours.
so again I ask, what would stop me from parking at the Contemporary and walking to the Magic Kingdom.
Sounds like it's not as strict as you all led me to beleive.
Again, I'm not a hater, just wanting to participate and pass along what I learned.
Jaffa
It would seem that there are times that you are allowed to do this. But, be careful...as with everything, that can change in the blink of an eye. I've sat out on my BLT balcony, watching security drive around the BLT parking lot. And there were several instances where the driver stopped, got out of the car, and wrote down something on a clipboard. Now, I can't tell you what he wrote down, but it did happen almost every day....in the afternoon. I watched them drive around early in the day, as I had my coffee around 7am-ish. No writing down then...only in the late afternoon.
So, while you can 'get away' with something, it just doesn't mean it's okay.
Shellybaxter-
I agree 100% with you. Disney is the one running the huge corporation and are making their own rules. If "they" choose to bend some rules, that is there perogative. Who am I going to listen to, "WDW" or the know it all's on the Disboards? I couldn't believe how many people were all in an uproar when people used their fastpasses late. If Disney wanted to enforce those rules, all these past years, they would have. Obviously, they choose to let people use them anytime after the time posted on them. Why do people care so much, if people "don't follow the rules", when obviously disney doesn't care???
Be careful...you may find yourself a victim of Disney's 'subject to change' rules. You may 'think' that Disney allows you to park wherever you want, whenever you want, but you could be very surprised to find out differently...in person.
Agreed. The last time I stayed at the BW if you were on the Boardwalk when Epcot closed you would have seen hundreds of people leaving through the Inernational Gateway,walk to the BWI, turn left to go up up the stairs which lead to the hotel entrance, and then straight to their cars in the parking lot. They may be strict about parking during certain times of the year, but when I stayed at the BW there was no enforcement at all. I think the guards are posted to give the guests actually staying at the hotel a "warm, fuzzy, security feeling", because it certainly wasn't to keep people from parking illegaly, and then going to Epcot to save the $14 Epcot parking charge.
Huge pet peeve of mine. Happens every single night there. Now, I don't mind if they have parked behind the Hess station, across the street. But to return to BW, midday, to freshen up before the evening festivities and not be able to find a decent parking space is really annoying. Especially when you watch all those 'front spot' cars leaving about 30 mins after IllumiNations is over. Yeah, they're staying at BW...NOT.
In all reality? I wish Disney would make all resort parking lots room key accesible. There can be short term parking for those checking in, but after that?? You need a room key to access the parking lots. Should be pretty easy. Then, you can get a parking pass which you can get validated while eating or shopping at that resort. If it is validated and you are within the 3 hr window, you don't pay to park. But, if there is no validation, or you have gone into the 4 or 5 hr window??? You now get to pay for resort parking. Should be very easy to do.
I have watched people walk back to their cars after Wishes...they park in the BLT lot. They take up spots that are very close to the walkway to MK..then, about 15 mins after Wishes is over, or MK closes, you see a bunch of people heading down the walkway...right to their cars. They hop in, and drive away...pretty much the same as at BW. While it's nice to sit out on your balcony at night, watching the fireworks at MK, it can get very annoying seeing what is going on below you.
So, long story short???? You are not supposed to park at a resort you are not paying to stay at, and then head to a park. That is the official Disney policy. You can pay to valet park and then head wherever you wish to for as long as you wish to. But self-parking is for those eating/shopping at the resort, or those staying there.
Can you get away with it? Sure you can. Just don't come back here and tell us how easy it was. We know it is. And many of us hope that so many people do it that Disney decides to lock down their parking lots. I mean really?? Why pay to stay at the CR or BW when you can stay at the Motel 6 out on International Dr for $60 a night, and then drive to WDW and park at the CR and have the same access those paying $350 a night get???
