On site guest parking

[KrazeeK120]

I'm still confused as to how they "know" which cars belong at the resort and which do not. Do they keep track of plate numbers of people entering through the "guard shack" and the reason why they're entering in that manner (vs. guests entering with their MBs)?

I stayed at CBR Memorial Day weekend. That resort A) Doesn't have a parking problem anyway and B) Doesn't really have anything that would draw non-resort guests. So...I'm guessing that their parking lots aren't closely monitored. I never saw any tow trucks or anything.

 

[DVC-Don]

Since 2010 I live near WDW from October to May and quite often park at resorts (not the monorail resorts though) and from there go to parks. I've never been denied access and I've never ever seen cars towed or "chalk marks" on my tires. For the MK I my go to place is the Wilderness Lodge for parking, then bus or boat to the MK. The OP mentioned the WL not the monorail resorts. Another favorite is Old Key West due to liking to start the day with a beer at the Gurgling Suitcase before catching a park bus. Been doing this for years.

That said, I've never waited an "hour" for a bus anywhere. Once and a while more than 20 minutes, but that's rare.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

They do tow and I have seen it. Its not worth the chance.

AKK

 

[Polydweller]

This discussion has totally missed the point. It's not about parking passes or time limits or getting away with it. It is about two other things.

First, signage that says not for theme park parking. That says it all. If you park at the lot and go to a theme park then you have broken that rule regardless of permit or time limit. The rule and signage are there because the resort lots are small and cannot manage the number of people who would want to do that plus the resort's own guests.

Which leads to number two which is much more important. Courtesy to others and based on the posts in this thread that's something many don't care about. The resort's own guests have no other option than their own parking lot, people visiting have other options. There is nothing worse than returning to your home resort to find there is no parking. And it does happen and I have experienced it and it's horrible and can really ruin a vacation. So, if you do park at a resort and go to MK you are potentially ruining someone else's vacation unnecessarily.

And they do tow when they need to and it's the discourteous drivers who get towed. Those of you who have written that you done that try thinking about the impact of your behaviour. If you'd like to come back to your home resort and find no parking then keep doing it but I suspect you'd hate it too.

So folks, stop telling people you've gotten away with it and that somehow it makes it ok. It doesn't. Try to learn what courtesy and respect for others is about.

 

[Traveliz]

My stance is tell the guard your plans and then go from there. They are the ones in charge; no one else

 

[KrazeeK120]

But...how do they know which cars belong in the lot and which ones don't? I never got a paper parking pass during my last stay. How would they know whether or not my car belonged in the resort parking lot?

 

[supersnoop]

But...how do they know which cars belong in the lot and which ones don't? I never got a paper parking pass during my last stay. How would they know whether or not my car belonged in the resort parking lot?

They record your license plate when you stop at the guard shack.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's my thought.....actually not worth all that much. Resort parking lots are for those guests of the resort. Those paying to stay in that resort, get to park there for as long as they want...obviously. Those eating or shopping, or just looking around, can park there for the time they are enjoying the 'amenities' of that resort. Being able to walk, boat or monorail to a park is NOT one of the 'amenities' that is offered to those just visiting the resort. There is usually signage to that effect. People know what's right and what isn't.
Can you park at BW, for instance, and then head off to Epcot for the day/evening? Sure, and you can probably get away with it with no repercussions. Does that make it the right thing to do? No..not even close. You want to walk or boat to Epcot or DHS? Pay to stay at an Epcot resort. You want easy access to MK? Stay at one of the MK resorts. It's really pretty easy to understand.
But...people will continue doing what they want to do...and they will always be able to justify their actions. It will never be solved here.

 

[supersnoop]

I know I've seen someone post a picture of the signs in the parking lots that specifically say parking is for resort access only. But I can't seem to find that picture.

 

[Tigger1989]

If I have an ADR for dinner at the Contemporary on the 4th of July, will I be able to valet park and stay for fireworks at 9:00? We are not planning to leave the Contemporary. We are planning to watch fireworks from the observation deck on the 4th floor but it will be longer than 3 hours from the time we would arrive for the ADR until the fireworks would be over. I know the self-park limit is 3 hours but if I valet park, can I stay longer? Also, will the valet parking fill up since it is the 4th of July?

 

[goofy4tink]

I know I've seen someone post a picture of the signs in the parking lots that specifically say parking is for resort access only. But I can't seem to find that picture.

I gave up posting my photo of that signage...those that want to park at a resort, for park access, aren't going to be bothered by signage. The signs keep the honest honest, so to speak.

If I have an ADR for dinner at the Contemporary on the 4th of July, will I be able to valet park and stay for fireworks at 9:00? We are not planning to leave the Contemporary. We are planning to watch fireworks from the observation deck on the 4th floor but it will be longer than 3 hours from the time we would arrive for the ADR until the fireworks would be over. I know the self-park limit is 3 hours but if I valet park, can I stay longer? Also, will the valet parking fill up since it is the 4th of July?

I would try to get to the CR as early as possible. Valet parking could very well get filled. If you pay to valet park your car, you can go off and do anything you want, anywhere you wish. I would be concerned about a spot being open later in the afternoon. I would drive there in the morning and just leave the car for the day...if at all possible.
Or, you could possibly find that security says that only those with ADRs at the resort will be allowed to valet park! Get an answer early..just to be on the safe side.

 

[Traveliz]

They will let you valet if there are spots but the biggest problem with parking at the monorail resorts on major firework holidays is the LINE to get into the resort. Sometimes the cars stretch out into the main roads and it makes traffic moving very slowly. As often as I will park at monorail resorts otherwise on July 4 and the New Years holidays I actually prefer to park at TTC and hop around from there.

Liz

 

[Tigger1989]

They will let you valet if there are spots but the biggest problem with parking at the monorail resorts on major firework holidays is the LINE to get into the resort. Sometimes the cars stretch out into the main roads and it makes traffic moving very slowly. As often as I will park at monorail resorts otherwise on July 4 and the New Years holidays I actually prefer to park at TTC and hop around from there.

Liz

Thank you for the warning! I'm not sure I want to battle that kind of traffic! Is there any chance that the TTC lot will fill to capacity and we wouldn't be allowed to park there?

 

[BSmithington]

But...how do they know which cars belong in the lot and which ones don't? I never got a paper parking pass during my last stay. How would they know whether or not my car belonged in the resort parking lot?

They do not care. I would be willing to bet I have spent more time in the parks this month alone then the vast majority of DISers. On very rare occasions they give out a time limit (4th of July, Xmas, etc...). Forget the whole courtesy thing. The entire argument is just ridiculous. Pull up, tell the guard you are there for whatever you are doing and go about your day.

 

[BSmithington]

Here's my thought.....actually not worth all that much. Resort parking lots are for those guests of the resort. Those paying to stay in that resort, get to park there for as long as they want...obviously. Those eating or shopping, or just looking around, can park there for the time they are enjoying the 'amenities' of that resort. Being able to walk, boat or monorail to a park is NOT one of the 'amenities' that is offered to those just visiting the resort. There is usually signage to that effect. People know what's right and what isn't.
Can you park at BW, for instance, and then head off to Epcot for the day/evening? Sure, and you can probably get away with it with no repercussions. Does that make it the right thing to do? No..not even close. You want to walk or boat to Epcot or DHS? Pay to stay at an Epcot resort. You want easy access to MK? Stay at one of the MK resorts. It's really pretty easy to understand.
But...people will continue doing what they want to do...and they will always be able to justify their actions. It will never be solved here.

It's the DIS police mentality that's annoying. If the resort and security guard doesn't care why should you? That's me "beef" with messages like this. If the person gets permission to park there, it doesn't matter what some DIS person says who visits once a year. Stop backseat coaching!

 

[DVC-Don]

It's the DIS police mentality that's annoying. If the resort and security guard doesn't care why should you? ...............!

............ The entire argument is just ridiculous. Pull up, tell the guard you are there for whatever you are doing and go about your day.

Exactly. Just tell the guard. I've always tell the guard and they just wave me through. Now that said I will not try to park at the monorail resorts or Boardwalk due to congestion in those lots. Used to park across the street at the Boardwalk but now that is just for employees.

 

[grimley1968]

It's the DIS police mentality that's annoying. If the resort and security guard doesn't care why should you? That's me "beef" with messages like this. If the person gets permission to park there, it doesn't matter what some DIS person says who visits once a year. Stop backseat coaching!

Personally, I find the assumptions within this post annoying. How do you know how many times "some DIS person" visits? Some DISers live nearby and visit every few days, some actually work at Disney, some live states away (like me) and don't get to go more than once per year.

I'm one of many people who have witnessed cars being towed at the resorts (though not at WL I'll admit). I didn't interview the tow drivers. I have personally seen the signs at many of the resorts that say self-parking is for paid guests of the resorts. That, to me, is an indication that the resorts do care. I would never assume, based on my experience alone that the security guards "don't care". I've had experiences where I've gotten temporary parking passes for ADR's at resorts and times I haven't. Neither experience warrants an assumption about the policies going forward, and neither do yours.

The OP asked a question, and some posters gave their answers to that question based on their experiences, and based on stated rules of the resorts. That is not "backseat coaching".

 

[wdwrich]

They do not care. I would be willing to bet I have spent more time in the parks this month alone then the vast majority of DISers. On very rare occasions they give out a time limit (4th of July, Xmas, etc...). Forget the whole courtesy thing. The entire argument is just ridiculous. Pull up, tell the guard you are there for whatever you are doing and go about your day.

If you have kids, is that what you teach them?

 

[supersnoop]

It's the DIS police mentality that's annoying. If the resort and security guard doesn't care why should you? That's me "beef" with messages like this. If the person gets permission to park there, it doesn't matter what some DIS person says who visits once a year. Stop backseat coaching!

The problem is that the one security guard is only on duty for part of the time you're there. Think about the phone agents who constantly give out terrible, inaccurate information. If you rely on one employee telling you it's okay, while the posted signs specifically prohibit what you want to do, you may not find your car when you return. The "DIS" perspective seems to err on the side of caution. Because one bad experience will ruin an entire vacation. The advice you should get from here is the safest. If you want to push the limits and see what you can get away with, then you at least need to understand the consequences.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's the DIS police mentality that's annoying. If the resort and security guard doesn't care why should you? That's me "beef" with messages like this. If the person gets permission to park there, it doesn't matter what some DIS person says who visits once a year. Stop backseat coaching!

Forget the whole courtesy thing? How about you start paying for that convenience of walking to a park from the CR or BW? You can ask 4 different CMs at WDW if you can park at the resort for park access....you will get different answers. I own DVC at both BLT and BWVs...... I see more clearly why the parking lots have the issues they have.......those who feel entitled to do whatever they wish, whenever they want.
I am not of the 'DIS police mentality'....I am, however, supposed to uphold DIS guidelines....those that suggest ways around Disney policy. And the official Disney policy is that parking at a resort, one you are not staying at, to access a park is not allowed. During really busy times of year, there are jersey barriers up at BW.
And visit once a year? Hardly. And when I do go, I am always chatting with CMs about transportation issues. So, rather than subject a DISer to embarrassment, I prefer to give all the info....they can then make an informed decision. They know what 'could' happen.

So, I will continue with my 'backseat coaching'.....sorry.