More Parking Insanity...

[linzbear]

Said another way...

I know it's against the rules but I got away with it. Just because you can get away with something doesn't mean you should do it.

For those of you that have children and do this...I hope you keep this in mind with your children. If they are not supposed to do something but get away with it...hey no harm no foul; right?

*shrug* I look at it like kids climbing up slides. I always tell my DS that slides are for going down, not up. He sees lots of other kids climb up slides from parents who don't parent though, so I'm sure at some point, when I'm not looking, he will climb up a slide.

And frankly, I don't care. He knows it's wrong, he knows why it's wrong, but at the end of the day it probably doesn't matter if he climbs up a few slides.

If the guard shack lets me in, I'll park. If not, I'll leave and go to regular parking. Of course, I've never tried at the Contemporary. I did the Poly once when I had an ADR. I don't really feel bad about it. I'm always on-site, so I'm not skipping out on a parking fee, and always during low times so there's always hundreds of free spots in the lot when I get there.

If I get towed someday, I won't complain, I'll just pay, get my car back, and then come to the DIS to let people know that you do in fact get towed for parking at resorts

 

[Orlando313]

*shrug* I look at it like kids climbing up slides. I always tell my DS that slides are for going down, not up. He sees lots of other kids climb up slides from parents who don't parent though, so I'm sure at some point, when I'm not looking, he will climb up a slide.

And frankly, I don't care. He knows it's wrong, he knows why it's wrong, but at the end of the day it probably doesn't matter if he climbs up a few slides.

If the guard shack lets me in, I'll park. If not, I'll leave and go to regular parking. Of course, I've never tried at the Contemporary. I did the Poly once when I had an ADR. I don't really feel bad about it. I'm always on-site, so I'm not skipping out on a parking fee, and always during low times so there's always hundreds of free spots in the lot when I get there.

If I get towed someday, I won't complain, I'll just pay, get my car back, and then come to the DIS to let people know that you do in fact get towed for parking at resorts

 

[DVCJones]

Why even start a thread like this?

If you got away with parking at a resort you aren't staying at, good for you. That doesn't mean you need to post about it especially since you know it is a hot topic since you discussed it a few months ago.

Agreed!!

I park at BLT when I plan on going to the MK EVERY year. I even make an ADR at CM that I don't intend to use for the sole purpose of getting in the parking lot. I just don't talk about it!!!!
.
.
.<kidding of course>
I just couldn't resist....

 

[maxiesmom]

*shrug* I look at it like kids climbing up slides. I always tell my DS that slides are for going down, not up. He sees lots of other kids climb up slides from parents who don't parent though, so I'm sure at some point, when I'm not looking, he will climb up a slide.

And frankly, I don't care. He knows it's wrong, he knows why it's wrong, but at the end of the day it probably doesn't matter if he climbs up a few slides.

If the guard shack lets me in, I'll park. If not, I'll leave and go to regular parking. Of course, I've never tried at the Contemporary. I did the Poly once when I had an ADR. I don't really feel bad about it. I'm always on-site, so I'm not skipping out on a parking fee, and always during low times so there's always hundreds of free spots in the lot when I get there.

If I get towed someday, I won't complain, I'll just pay, get my car back, and then come to the DIS to let people know that you do in fact get towed for parking at resorts

I remember being young, and having to sit at the top of a slide because some other child decided to be selfish and go down the slide, and then try to climb back up. So good analogy!

People should remember when they try to do things that are against the rules that they may be having a negative impact on others. If you wouldn't like to be stuck at the top of a slide while some other messed around, you shouldn't mess around on the slide either. If you wouldn't like to have to drive around looking for an open parking spot at your hotel, you shouldn't park there when you are not staying there either.

 

[YankeePrincess]

Agreed!!

I park at BLT when I plan on going to the MK EVERY year. I even make an ADR at CM that I don't intend to use for the sole purpose of getting in the parking lot. I just don't talk about it!!!!
.
.
.<kidding of course>
I just couldn't resist....

I prefer making reservations for Ohana and then parking at the Poly to ride the monorail. Now with this pesky providing a credit card for Ohana I guess I am actually going to have to go to my adr.

LOL Just kidding of course!!!!!!!!!

 

[disneymomjcs]

Agreed!!

I park at BLT when I plan on going to the MK EVERY year. I even make an ADR at CM that I don't intend to use for the sole purpose of getting in the parking lot. I just don't talk about it!!!!
.
.
.<kidding of course>
I just couldn't resist....

Thanks so much I need a good laugh!

 

[crazymomof4]

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

Passing along what I've learned..... some people blow through stop signs and never get ticketed.
Doesn't make it right.
"The Happiest Place on Earth" would be that much more "Happy" if people thought of others instead what is best for them and they can get away with.

 

[scion5220]

This is not what the OP is saying... but REALLY?

I've been at the guard shack before and had to wait while the security guard went over to talk to people that were walking over to MK. They said well we DO have reservations at CM later today. The guard made them move.

That is really the only time I've seen them actively do anything. Though there are signs at all of those resorts that state they are unable to provide Theme Park Parking (or something like that) someone has posted the picture before.

It really is inconsiderate to people staying at these resorts when they are full. Especially the resorts that already seem to not have enough parking. Beach Club and Boardwalk seem to have the biggest problem from what we have seen.

The Boardwalk is a touchy issue though. If Disney provides an area with ongoing entertainment and encourages people to partake of it, it makes it difficult to police the parking quite as much. How many hours are people allowed to walk around, rent bikes, play games, buy caricatures, etc. The Boardwalk area is more akin to DTD, it just has the added burden of being convenient to two theme parks as well

 

[scion5220]

I never attended any of the CP and I didn't keep track of who was performing on each night. However I do remember that specifc day when the Boardwalk was very strict for parking was on December 16, 2011.

I saw NPH on December 10 so I don't think he was still there on 12/16.

 

[Sammie]

For those that think the parking lots should guarantee a spot for those actually staying there, next time you are at a resort that has this problem, Polynesian, Contemporary, Yacht and Beach and especially Boardwalk, and you can not park in the lots where as a guest you are entitled to, park in valet.

Then go inside and tell the on duty manager that you are in valet and you expect the resort to either make the cars that are in the lot and not staying at the resort move or for them to give you valet free.

When the guest that is staying there begins to put Disney on the line for not providing parking for them, only then will they start turning people away at the gates.

 

[seashoreCM]

... the parking lots should guarantee a spot for those actually staying there, next time you are at a resort that has this problem, Polynesian, Contemporary, Yacht and Beach and especially Boardwalk, and you can not park in the lots where as a guest you are entitled to, park in valet.

Then go inside and tell the on duty manager that you are in valet and you expect the resort to either make the cars that are in the lot and not staying at the resort move or for them to give you valet free.

When the guest that is staying there begins to put Disney on the line for not providing parking for them, only then will they start turning people away at the gates.

(copied from another post)
You can make it simpler and quicker at the concierge desk.
1. The parking lot is overfull.
2. I had to use the valet parking.
3. Please reimburse me sixteen dollars for that plus the tips.

 

[Disneyholic]

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.

Same here. We stayed at BWI 2 years ago and DH dropped me off up front with the luggage & went to park the car. About 30-45 minutes later he got back to the front door. I asked what took him so long & he said there was nothing available in the main parking lot and he had to park in the far nether regions of the furthest parking lot from the building (where guests visiting the hotel are SUPPOSED to park) That night when we came back from EPCOT he decided to see if he could get a space closer to the hotel. As we were walking out to the far away parking lot all of a sudden people who had come out of EPCOT at the same time were getting in their cars in the MAIN parking lot & leaving. We now had plenty of parking spaces to choose from, but I was ticked off that DH had to waste so much time that morning finding a space and hiking back to the hotel. What a pain, and all because of some inconsiderate people who felt that the rules didn't apply to them. They probably asked at the gate if they could park there and were probably directed to the guest lot, but decided on their own that the security CM wasn't going to chase them down if they went to the main lot instead.

 

[bumbershoot]

Passing along what I've learned..... some people blow through stop signs and never get ticketed.
Doesn't make it right.
"The Happiest Place on Earth" would be that much more "Happy" if people thought of others instead what is best for them and they can get away with.

If you stop a police officer, ask him how fast you can go, and you go that speed, that would be more along the lines of the OP's post (and mine). If a representative of the company right at that moment tell you "you can do this", only an intensely philosophical person will go with what others have told them is right, vs what is being told to them at that moment.

If the OP told the full truth to that guard (I can't remember if they did at this point), they weren't looking to get away with something. I know I certainly wasn't. And with two concierge employees directly (and one indirectly) telling me, no, insisting, that MY plan was silly and a waste of time, I figured that it was OK to do what they were telling me to do.


Now...I know that I do not expect that to happen in the future (which is why I mentioned that I'll find out how to get to the right parking lot from the Poly's in the future). And I doubt if the OP has decided that this is what will happen all the time. And honestly I think that most of the outraged responses to the OP (haven't seen any to mine, leading me to wonder if everyone on the site has me on Ignore, LOL) are by people *assuming* that that's what they took away and that's what they are espousing.

It is entirely possible to want to update on a previous question, and have that update be serious and not pot-stirring, AND without saying "you were WRONG, this is what is right and what everyone should do". I didn't get that from the OP; just that they wanted to say they aren't always as strict.

 

[Sammie]

(copied from another post)
You can make it simpler and quicker at the concierge desk.
1. The parking lot is overfull.
2. I had to use the valet parking.
3. Please reimburse me sixteen dollars for that plus the tips.

Thanks Seashore. It really doesn't bother me if others use the lot for shopping and dining, but when I am paying big bucks to stay at that hotel and can not find a spot to park my car, then yes I am upset.

Some say they only do it during non peak times, there is no way to know if the hotel is not full, even during non peak times. Disney has so many special events and conferences going on during non peak times, many times the hotel is full.

Even if the parking lot does not look full, it could be full later in the day which is what has happened to us before at the Polynesian. We left to go visit friends in Orlando and came back later to find no place to park. I guess everyone was there to watch fireworks.

I really wish they would divide the lots into resort guests and day guests and have access to resort parking with your KTTW card.

 

[crazymomof4]

If you stop a police officer, ask him how fast you can go, and you go that speed, that would be more along the lines of the OP's post (and mine). If a representative of the company right at that moment tell you "you can do this",

I didn't read your post with your situation. I was responding to the OP only. The OP's words "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." came across as "throwing it in the face" of those on DIS who had apparently tried to make the rules clear to him/her in the past.

So, again in reference to the OP-

The "company" or government that sets out the rules or laws hopes that those they hire will enforce them conscientiously and interpret them correctly. Not all employees do as their boss asks tho. Lax or uninformed employees do not make the rules/laws optional.
For example, say you are speeding & see the radar gun pointed at you from a patrol car as you passed it. But the officer happens to be enjoying a donut (sorry, stereotype tossed in here for comedic relief ) and he chooses to finish his treat rather than take off after you. Does it make speed restrictions optional for you from there on out? After all, the cop basically said, "drive as fast as you want" when he chose not to ticket you.
Also, some employees may not be clear on details about rules even for the company they work for. I once called comcast with a specific pricing question. The after 2 calls and 2 cust serv reps, I had 2 totally different answers. For the fun of it I called a total of 5 times. Yup, got 5 DIFFERENT answers! Only one was actually the one comcast accepted.
Obey the rules as posted, not an employee's interpretation...... he may not be employed there the week after you speak to him. So what's it to him what you do?

In addition to the posted signs and employees that DO enforce the parking rules, I would think one would have enough common sense to know that the Magic Kingdom/EPCOT, etc parking lots are for those going into MK/EPCOT, etc. and the resort lots are for those staying there or for those visiting/having business at the resort. Like everyone's mom used to say to us when we were little: "What if EVERYONE did that?" What if everyone decided they'd like to use the resort lots for getting into the MK? Ya, there's your answer as to whether it's OK or not.

There a lot of "tips and secrets" shared here on the DIS for making your WDW simpler and easier. Parking in the resort lots to go into the parks is not one of them. Like someone posted early on in this thread- DISboards has a policy not to condone things that go against WDW rules/policies.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My guess is the OP wouldn't be very happy if he came home to find someone parking in his driveway such that he couldn't get into his garage. What would the difference be?

You don't park where you are not staying unless you are dining there and you move your car to the theme park lot when you leave the resort.

 

[1 Minnie & 3 Mickeys]

I love that I come here and learn something new everyday. Today I have been enlightened and now have some guilt. We are DVC members and have stayed at both the BC and BW and now understand why the parking situation there is so horrible. It never occurred to me that it was due to Epcot visitors.

Now, here is where the guilt kicks in...we have done this several times at the Poly to visit the Magic Kingdom. Not to avoid parking fees...we are staying on property and always have our DVC parking pass in the window. We have small children who love riding the monorail and have made this a fun start to our day. When we had strollers this was easier than dealing with the tram. It happened by accident the first time because we were looking for the ticket & transportation center to park and take the monorail but must have missed it and stopped at the Poly for help. The greeter said to stay there and showed us where to park.

We have done it a few times since never making up an ADR reservation or shopping excuse. Pulled up to the person said we were going to grab the monorail to MK and to tell us the best place to park. These have never been short visits...12+ hours each time. I am thanking my lucky stars that we were never towed cause that would have really stunk. I would have thought the car was stolen!

So I guess it is the Ticket and Transportation Center from now on. There is no way I could enjoy my day at the Magic Kingdom wondering if the car is being towed from the parking lot. Although, I will miss my visit to the Poly...it is one of my faves.

 

[mom2rtk]

I love that I come here and learn something new everyday. Today I have been enlightened and now have some guilt. We are DVC members and have stayed at both the BC and BW and now understand why the parking situation there is so horrible. It never occurred to me that it was due to Epcot visitors.

Now, here is where the guilt kicks in...we have done this several times at the Poly to visit the Magic Kingdom. Not to avoid parking fees...we are staying on property and always have our DVC parking pass in the window. We have small children who love riding the monorail and have made this a fun start to our day. When we had strollers this was easier than dealing with the tram. It happened by accident the first time because we were looking for the ticket & transportation center to park and take the monorail but must have missed it and stopped at the Poly for help. The greeter said to stay there and showed us where to park.

We have done it a few times since never making up an ADR reservation or shopping excuse. Pulled up to the person said we were going to grab the monorail to MK and to tell us the best place to park. These have never been short visits...12+ hours each time. I am thanking my lucky stars that we were never towed cause that would have really stunk. I would have thought the car was stolen!

So I guess it is the Ticket and Transportation Center from now on. There is no way I could enjoy my day at the Magic Kingdom wondering if the car is being towed from the parking lot. Although, I will miss my visit to the Poly...it is one of my faves.

Nothing is stopping you from visiting the Poly. It's right next to the TTC. Just walk over and take the monorail from there.

 

[seashoreCM]

(deleted)

 

[1 Minnie & 3 Mickeys]

Nothing is stopping you from visiting the Poly. It's right next to the TTC. Just walk over and take the monorail from there.

Great point...I did not realize it was in walking distance...I like a late night Lapu Lapu!