Parking - An Old Complaint

[catne]

Last 3 trips (5/2007, 5/2008 and 9/2008) we either paid to valet park at deluxe resorts when we had dinner reservations, or we got a 3 hour pass at the guard gate...but we had to stop at all guard gates & they checked for our ressie before issuing a 3 hour pass (that was at AKL in September.) There have been reports of cars getting towed from some deluxe resorts, so my guess is Disney does enforce the registered guest parking.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Oh, believe me I'm not going to stress over it. Both times we went it was during the slower time of the year and I just don't remember having a hard time to find a place to park. But I still can't believe that some hotels would charge thier guest to park. Good Grief! Except for valet I guess. I guess I don't get out that much.

 

[catne]

Oh, believe me I'm not going to stress over it. Both times we went it was during the slower time of the year and I just don't remember having a hard time to find a place to park. But I still can't believe that some hotels would charge thier guest to park. Good Grief! Except for valet I guess. I guess I don't get out that much.

couple of years ago we stayed at gaylord Opryland hotel in Nashville--big ole posh place...they didn't charge a daily fee, they actually charged every time you went in & out of the lot! We were only there one night & used the shuttle bus to get to the Grand Old Opry but we heard other guests having screaming fits that they were going to be charged again on the same day to park at the hotel they were staying at (and the rooms were ridiculously expensive there.)

Most hotels in downtown areas of big cities we stayed at have charged daily for parking, but one charge per 24 hours, not each time you came & went. That included as high as $28 per day (downtown Philadelphia.) Average has probably been about $15 per day for hotel parking.

 

[Sammie]

I agree completely, complain while at the resort. And next time tell them if you have difficulty finding adequate parking due to this problem you want them to pay for valet for you.

Only when you complain while there will something get done.

 

[Feralpeg]

During the busier times of year, security at the resorts does crack down on who is allowed to park at the different resorts. During the non-busy times, they are very nice about letting people park to eat at resort restaurants, shop or just stroll the resort. Some of the resorts give out short term parking passes. Others do not. Christmas is by far the worst time of year for parking all over WDW.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I do remember that we were at DD on our last night, and I think it was the last night for the clubs being open and we had to hunt and fight for a spot to park. It was unreal.

 

[dclfun]

It's even worse to try and find an accessible parking space at BW or elsewhere. Once we arrived later in the evening and all those spaces were taken by other guests- of course I had no way of knowing if they were resort guests or those who parked to enjoy the restaurants. At any rate I had to park with my luggage and service dog in the overflow lot. I cannot use valet as my w/c is the driver's seat and my van operates by joystick that most people wouldn't be able to operate. Many times when we are just visiting a resort for a meal the spaces are taken by other guests. Last September we went to the Contemporary for breakfast at Chef Mickey's and were late as there were FIVE cars parked illegally w/o handicapped tags in the ONLY accessible spaces. I pointed them out to a security guard driving around who did nothing. I felt like parking behind all the cars to block them in but instead I did nothing too and those guests got away with greatly inconveniencing my family and likely hurting other disabled guests. I agree with the suggestion that parking permits should be issued and required in a lot set aside for resort guests only at BW and other resorts where the restaurants and evening activities are popular. A separate lot or section for short term guests could then require the short term parking passes that are given by security guards to indicate a guest has 3 hours to enjoy a meal or shop in that resort. Security guards driving around aren't really helping if the rules aren't enforced, esp. those regarding handicapped parking. Next time I'll call the local police to come out and ticket the offenders- not something I'd prefer to do when we're trying to enjoy our vacation.---Kathy

 

[TChrist05]

As a Disney Vacation Club member, you get free valet parking at any of the vacation club resorts that have valet parking. We will occasionally go to the different DVC resorts when staying on property and if you have your ID card you are in. Just a tip later and you are heading to your other resort you are staying in. Never have had a problem from security or parking valet.

Tom

 

[TChrist05]

DCLFUN....it is absoutely rude for able bodied people to take the spots set aside for handicapped parking....Disney security does not have the authority to ticket cars for that parking....but the sheriff does....make the call....that will smarten them up when they get the ticket for $150.00 bucks for illegal parking...I myself work in a supermarket in New York as a manager....many times I will get customers unhappy that someone has parked in the handicapped spaces...and I cannot do anything about it....but the cops can....so make the call....smarten these rude people up.

Tom

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

DCLFUN....it is absoutely rude for able bodied people to take the spots set aside for handicapped parking....Disney security does not have the authority to ticket cars for that parking....but the sheriff does....make the call....that will smarten them up when they get the ticket for $150.00 bucks for illegal parking...I myself work in a supermarket in New York as a manager....many times I will get customers unhappy that someone has parked in the handicapped spaces...and I cannot do anything about it....but the cops can....so make the call....smarten these rude people up.

Tom

I totally agree.

 

[TravelinGal]

It's even worse to try and find an accessible parking space at BW or elsewhere. Once we arrived later in the evening and all those spaces were taken by other guests- of course I had no way of knowing if they were resort guests or those who parked to enjoy the restaurants. At any rate I had to park with my luggage and service dog in the overflow lot. I cannot use valet as my w/c is the driver's seat and my van operates by joystick that most people wouldn't be able to operate. Many times when we are just visiting a resort for a meal the spaces are taken by other guests. Last September we went to the Contemporary for breakfast at Chef Mickey's and were late as there were FIVE cars parked illegally w/o handicapped tags in the ONLY accessible spaces. I pointed them out to a security guard driving around who did nothing. I felt like parking behind all the cars to block them in but instead I did nothing too and those guests got away with greatly inconveniencing my family and likely hurting other disabled guests. I agree with the suggestion that parking permits should be issued and required in a lot set aside for resort guests only at BW and other resorts where the restaurants and evening activities are popular. A separate lot or section for short term guests could then require the short term parking passes that are given by security guards to indicate a guest has 3 hours to enjoy a meal or shop in that resort. Security guards driving around aren't really helping if the rules aren't enforced, esp. those regarding handicapped parking. Next time I'll call the local police to come out and ticket the offenders- not something I'd prefer to do when we're trying to enjoy our vacation.---Kathy

That's HORRIBLE!!
Hopefully that will never happen to you again, but if it does, please consider leaving your bags at the front before parking. That certainly would have made it less of a burden on you.

Even though I have no need for the accessible spots, I am appalled when I see people taking them at stores. What also bothers me is someone with no need is riding with someone who has a tag/plate. They park in the dedicated spots and the able bodied person jumps out to go into the store/business while the owner of the tag/plate sits in the car and waits!

 

[fall08CP]

I agree completely, complain while at the resort. And next time tell them if you have difficulty finding adequate parking due to this problem you want them to pay for valet for you.

Only when you complain while there will something get done.

Something that not everyone may know.. valet is outsourced and not owned by Disney. The only people to complain to are those with valet (if they are requiring that you use their service) or security. Front desk, concierge, merchandise, etc. have nothing to do with the parking situation so they can't do anything about it. It's run by security and valet.

 

[OhMari]

We checked into the Beach Club on the last weekend of Food and Wine Fest. When we got to the gate, we had to show our ID and it confirmed that we were staying at the Beach Club. We parked our own car and didn't Valet. The parking lot was really empty.

My opinion the Beach Club does a good job screening.

I did see people on our last day, park at POR and walk to the bus depot. We had a rental car our last 4 days, and we never had to show any ID. We did have our parking pass in our window. But the gate always opened before we even got to the gate.

 

[TroyE]

It seems Dis would take the same approach for all of the resorts. The Beach Club seems to have their system down to not allow people to park where they are not supposed to.

 

[mickaholic4077]

To those who experience having trouble parking:Complain to the management WHILE YOU ARE AT THE RESORT. The more people that complain WHILE THEY ARE THERE the more likely Disney will change how they enforce the parking policy. In the meantime,as long as Disney allows me to park at Boardwalk(or The Poly),I will do it with a clear conscience.

 

[DebbieB]

We checked into the Beach Club on the last weekend of Food and Wine Fest. When we got to the gate, we had to show our ID and it confirmed that we were staying at the Beach Club. We parked our own car and didn't Valet. The parking lot was really empty.

My opinion the Beach Club does a good job screening.

I did see people on our last day, park at POR and walk to the bus depot. We had a rental car our last 4 days, and we never had to show any ID. We did have our parking pass in our window. But the gate always opened before we even got to the gate.

When I was there in October, I was staying at BWV and drove over to BC to pickup friends who were staying there to go to SSR to see the BLT models. The guard at the gate gave me a hard time! I said it would be only 2 minutes, they were waiting in front of the building and I would be right back out. The guard said "OK, but you can't park here!". I could see a hard time if I didn't have a WDW parking permit, she even verified my room key. I know they are tough during food & wine but why would I want to park there for Epcot when I'm staying at BWV!

 

[Pikester]

I just wanted to post my experience with parking at other resorts. We drove to Disney this year and had ADRs at both the Poly and WL for dinner. We would stop at the Guard Shack, they would ask for ID and then say have a good night. They never confirmed our ressie or anything. This was during 12/7/08-12/14/08. Maybe because it is a slow time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wow, this is interesting. We have ate on the boardwalk during both of our trips and we did park in the parking lot of the Boardwalk, but it was in the evening and we did leave after about two hours or so. I really don't remember have a hard time finding a parking place, but was this considerd wrong? Also, why do some places charge thier guest to park? I wonder what they do with that money? I've never heard of that.

Only the Swan and Dolphin charge their guests to park. Disney owned resorts do not charge for resort parking.

It seems Dis would take the same approach for all of the resorts. The Beach Club seems to have their system down to not allow people to park where they are not supposed to.

BW also did that amount of checking during Food and Wine. They had to....there were a ton of cars being turned around and sent away. If you didn't have a resort guest key, or were on the daily checkin list, you didn't get in with a car. Should be that way all the time but it's not.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

You don't have to sit and observe to notice a problem. There's nothing worse as a paying resort guest to have to circle the parking lot numerous times looking for a space, and then when someone does come to get in a car, they have the obvious trappings of being in the park (Mickey balloons, etc.) and it would be right at park closing. CR and BW are two of the worst for this. I can't tell you how many times I have driven all over the CR parking lot looking for a space (and that was before BLT, when the lot was much bigger). When I stayed at BWV, I didn't even take my car out once I had it parked, for fear I wouldn't find a space when I returned. It shouldn't have to be that way.

As to the pp who mentioned cutting through parking lots - yes, at some of the moderates or values, that may be the case. But the poster was referring to WL, and there is no reason to be in the WL parking lot other than to enter or exit your car. There's nothing to cut through for. That is pretty much the case at all the deluxe resorts.

We were just at the Boardwalk and the close Guest parking lot was closed/full most afternoons when we returned.

We passed the lots on the way to valet - had scooter so the regular lot was out of reach for us this time around.

 

[ols386]

Don't you need to have a parking pass displayed on the inside of the windshield of your car, to park in one of the resort parking lots? So, when you pull in to the resort, don't you have to go by security, and they check your parking pass? Or do they just not pay any attention if you have a pass or not?