On site guest parking

[Laura of the Fields]

I'm staying at Art of Animation and will be using complimentary parking at the theme parks as I do not wish to wait an hour or more for a bus with my 10 month old. Wondering if the day I have ADR for Whispering Canyon if I can park for free at Wilderness Lodge all day, go to MK then return to Wilderness Lodge for my Dinner reservation and head back to my resort from Wilderness lodge. Attempting the least amount of travel with the baby.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm staying at Art of Animation and will be using complimentary parking at the theme parks as I do not wish to wait an hour or more for a bus with my 10 month old. Wondering if the day I have ADR for Whispering Canyon if I can park for free at Wilderness Lodge all day, go to MK then return to Wilderness Lodge for my Dinner reservation and head back to my resort from Wilderness lodge. Attempting the least amount of travel with the baby.

You cannot park in the WL guest lot for the entire day. You can pay to valet park your car and leave it in the WL valet lot for the whole day.

Why not just park in the TTC lot, go to the MK for the day, take the boat to WL for your ADR and then a boat back to CR followed by a monorail to the TTC when you're done eating?

 

[Alesia]

I'm staying at Art of Animation and will be using complimentary parking at the theme parks as I do not wish to wait an hour or more for a bus with my 10 month old. Wondering if the day I have ADR for Whispering Canyon if I can park for free at Wilderness Lodge all day, go to MK then return to Wilderness Lodge for my Dinner reservation and head back to my resort from Wilderness lodge. Attempting the least amount of travel with the baby.

You cannot. Parking at resorts is only for people who have legitimate business at that resort, not theme park access.

Why do you think you'd be waiting an hour for a bus? It's usually less than 10 minutes. It's faster to take the bus to MK than it is to drive.

 

[baler31]

I'm staying at Art of Animation and will be using complimentary parking at the theme parks as I do not wish to wait an hour or more for a bus with my 10 month old. Wondering if the day I have ADR for Whispering Canyon if I can park for free at Wilderness Lodge all day, go to MK then return to Wilderness Lodge for my Dinner reservation and head back to my resort from Wilderness lodge. Attempting the least amount of travel with the baby.

For dining you are given a parking pass that has a 3 hour time limit. If you wish to safely park without fear of towing (the MK resorts are where we see this the most) you will need to valet park for the day. The fee for all day valet is $20 plus gratuity and well worth not having to struggle with your child on the bus IMO.

If you do not want to absorb the cost, simply park at the TTC as normal and after your day at MK take the boat or bus to WL and then return the same way to MK and then ferry or monorail back to TTC.

 

[Laura of the Fields]

Why do you think you'd be waiting an hour for a bus? It's usually less than 10 minutes. It's faster to take the bus to MK than it is to drive.

My only complaint from my last trip was the horrible waits for the buses. I waited almost an hour for a HS bus to come to our resort. I also waited a very long time at closing for a bus. I can honestly say I never waited less than 10 minutes for a bus during my last trip. I also went in May when it wasn't so busy. With how unpredictable my baby might be, I don't want to take a chance on the bus transportation. Fool me once mr bus, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I was planning on parking at TTC but wanted to see what else could work too.

 

[Traveliz]

For dining you are given a parking pass that has a 3 hour time limit. If you wish to safely park without fear of towing (the MK resorts are where we see this the most) you will need to valet park for the day. The fee for all day valet is $20 plus gratuity and well worth not having to struggle with your child on the bus IMO.

If you do not want to absorb the cost, simply park at the TTC as normal and after your day at MK take the boat or bus to WL and then return the same way to MK and then ferry or monorail back to TTC.

I am thinking they no longer give out parking passes. I was at two different resorts this week visiting friends where I was allowed in by the guards without giving any more details than visiting guests of the resort. (And I was). One was at the poly and I was there about ten hours and one was at the beach club and I was there about seven hours. Neither time was I given a pass or told a time limit.

Liz

 

[mom2rtk]

My only complaint from my last trip was the horrible waits for the buses. I waited almost an hour for a HS bus to come to our resort. I also waited a very long time at closing for a bus. I can honestly say I never waited less than 10 minutes for a bus during my last trip. I also went in May when it wasn't so busy. With how unpredictable my baby might be, I don't want to take a chance on the bus transportation. Fool me once mr bus, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I was planning on parking at TTC but wanted to see what else could work too.

Where did you stay on your last visit? We never had trouble waiting for a bus staying at Pop Century or Art of Animation.

Honestly, if it's that big a deal for you, just pay for the valet parking.

We actually chose our resort on this past trip with transportation in mind. I knew we wanted to visit DTD and with parking being such a hassle there, we stayed at POR because we knew it had boat access.

 

[goofy4tink]

If it were me, I would park at the TTC, head to the MK. When it's time to head to WL, one of two things....
1. go back to TTC, get your car and drive to WL...quick drive
or
2. take the boat from MK to WL, have dinner, boat back to MK, and then over to TTC and get your car.

All day parking at a resort you are not staying at is not recommended. You can park while you eat or shop, but other than that, nope. Move your car. It's not fair to those paying to stay at that resort to take up spaces.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

No, you will risk being towed. You can park in the MK/TTC lot or pay for valet at WL.

Also, I doubt it will take an hour for the bus, it could be a good option if you give it a shot!

 

[ejdmomma]

Just curious after reading this post - we have stayed at AKL, AOA and POR in the last 2 years. Each visit we have driven and parked at the resort. None of those visits did they ask for vehicle information or give us anything to be placed in our car. Our last visit which was to POR, we did online check in and went straight to our room upon arrival.

So my question is - how do they track cars to tow vehicles that don't belong to guests?

 

[mom2rtk]

We were at POR this past weekend and were given a parking pass and told to display it on our dash.

 

[themommy]

I just wanted to say that in my 20 or so times going to WDW, I have never waited anywhere near an hour for a bus. I can't imagine that happening again. If you must drive, you should park at the TTC where you are supposed to park and not at a resort where others are paying to stay.

 

[supersnoop]

So my question is - how do they track cars to tow vehicles that don't belong to guests?

The security guys sitting in the booths watching the cameras aren't just for show. If you drive in and say you're going to valet, they'll know if you don't.

 

[disnut8]

So my question is - how do they track cars to tow vehicles that don't belong to guests?

We've seen chalk marks on the tires of vehicles in resort parking lots. So, at 10:00 AM, chalk marks are put on the tires of vehicles with no markings of belonging there and at 2:00 PM, those marking are still there, well, tow trucks can arrive. And the colors can change for each hour so at 11, maybe blue chalk is used instead of white.

 

[Marionnette]

We've seen chalk marks on the tires of vehicles in resort parking lots. So, at 10:00 AM, chalk marks are put on the tires of vehicles with no markings of belonging there and at 2:00 PM, those marking are still there, well, tow trucks can arrive. And the colors can change for each hour so at 11, maybe blue chalk is used instead of white.

Wow! I've never seen that but I hope they're doing it at the Boardwalk! Parking there for guests and DVC owners is tough enough but it's really bad during F&W.

 

[Traveliz]

We've seen chalk marks on the tires of vehicles in resort parking lots. So, at 10:00 AM, chalk marks are put on the tires of vehicles with no markings of belonging there and at 2:00 PM, those marking are still there, well, tow trucks can arrive. And the colors can change for each hour so at 11, maybe blue chalk is used instead of white.

But there are no "markings" to identify cars that "belong" there. Parking passes are no longer given, there is nothing put on your car or dashboards. You drive in and tell the guard your business and off you go unless for some reason they turn you away. Today I was once again with my friends and the Beach Club from 2-8

Liz

 

[BSmithington]

I had 8 stays last year and 4 this year. Never once have I been given a time limit.

Lots of people on the dis will try to scare you. You will be fine.

 

[BSmithington]

We've seen chalk marks on the tires of vehicles in resort parking lots. So, at 10:00 AM, chalk marks are put on the tires of vehicles with no markings of belonging there and at 2:00 PM, those marking are still there, well, tow trucks can arrive. And the colors can change for each hour so at 11, maybe blue chalk is used instead of white.

Maybe years ago but not anymore. Again 12 stays of 2+ weeks in 18 months at the Poly and GF and have never seen this.

 

[Networth]

I can promise you they do still tow. I just witnessed it last weekend at the GF for a quick trip. Every time you pull up to the gate a photo of your tag is taken with a time stamp and date.

Sometimes they are a just more lax than others. OP valet the car or park at the TTC.

 

[aaarcher86]

I can promise you they do still tow. I just witnessed it last weekend at the GF for a quick trip. Every time you pull up to the gate a photo of your tag is taken with a time stamp and date.

Sometimes they are a just more lax than others. OP valet the car or park at the TTC.

Yep. Saw cars getting towed out of the Poly last trip.

I don't know why people think it's some kind of scare tactic from the DIS. It might not happen often, but what a **** way to end the day if it does!