parking at AK to eat at Rainforest?

[wonderlandaddict]

We prefer the Rainforest Cafe at AK. Does anyone know if we will have to pay to park to eat there? We always stay onsite, so I didn't think about it when we made our dinner plans.

 

[tjmouse]

I just changed my reservation from dinner to lunch today and yes, she did mention parking would be $9. Since I have an Annual Pass, I am pretty sure I get free parking, but I'll have to look.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If you have an AP or are staying onsite, then yes, you can park for free. Otherwise, parking is $9.

 

[wonderlandaddict]

I will be changing our plans to a day that we will be going to a park. There is no way I am paying $9 to park & just eat! I think I am not going to like staying offsite one bit!!!!!!!
Hey I just thought of something -they may not charge you if AK is closing within the hour. It seems like last year there wasn't anyone even working at the gate when we went in to eat. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[califred]

We ate at RF in AK a few weeks agoabout an hour before the park closed and there was no one at the gate then either.

 

[Robo]

This is just between us, so don't tell anyone.

Drive to All Star Sports, Music or Movies and tell the "gatekeeper" that you are just going to the resort to "shop and eat" (just don't say WHERE).

Park the car, get on the AK bus, ride to AK/Rain Forest and "shop and eat."

Ride the bus back to the resort (look around a bit as you digest) and then get in your car and go back to your hotel.

(Yes, I know they are strict about resort parking at the MAJOR hotels, but I've never had trouble stopping by the All Stars.)
Its just a 4-to-6 minute bus-ride to AK from there.

Shhhhh-

 

[bicker]

There is no way I am paying $9 to park & just eat! I think I am not going to like staying offsite one bit!!!!!!!

That's really the point. If the parks are the main reason why you're visiting Central Florida, Disney wants to provide you as much incentive as possible to stay in one of their hotels!

 

[The Sweetness]

Its been about 4 years since i have visited, but in all of my trips to WDW, many times I have gone to the Poly, Grand Flor., and once the Yacht club for breakfast, had my car valet'd, and after breakfast gone to the park for the day on the monorail (at the yacht club, it was a boat to Epcot). When I first began doing this, I usually didnt even have a PS (now called ADR?). And of all of the times ive parked at a deluxe resort, I was never questioned about it. Only if I would be leaving after breakfast or staying for the day. Things were more strict at the gate to the MK, when I had early PS's for breakfast. (before official park opening)

 

[bicker]

When you pay for valet parking, they tend not to concern themselves as much about where you leave your car. What it appears they're most trying to address are those who seek to abuse the hotel parking lots as a means to avoid paying the applicable parking fees.