Parking at another resort

[ww52]

Pretty sure I know the answer to this - but things change...

If I'm staying at a WDW resort, am I able to drive and park at another resort? If so - what's the time limit?

Example - staying at the Beach Club but we have reservations at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast. I believe we can drive there and park for the breakfast - but our parking would be limited in time. About how long and is it strictly enforced?

We'd not be able after breakfast to just hop on the monorail and go the Magic Kingdom for a few hours, would we?

Thanks

 

[HopperFan]

Pretty sure I know the answer to this - but things change...

If I'm staying at a WDW resort, am I able to drive and park at another resort? If so - what's the time limit?

Example - staying at the Beach Club but we have reservations at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast. I believe we can drive there and park for the breakfast - but our parking would be limited in time. About how long and is it strictly enforced?

We'd not be able after breakfast to just hop on the monorail and go the Magic Kingdom for a few hours, would we?

Thanks

PER Disney website re: Parking ~ you can only park there while enjoying hotel amenities. Once done you need to move your car. I do see it suggested that you can use Valet Parking (+ $42) and leave your car.

• Standard self-parking is complimentary for day Guests while they enjoy select dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels.

Also from PLAN DISNEY. Attached the link with suggestions.

There is complimentary self-parking at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for Guests with an Advanced Dining Reservation. However, there is a maximum of 3 hours parked time for restaurant Guests, so this will not work if you plan to visit Magic Kingdom Park after your breakfast.

Plan Disney Parking Question


You could take the bus to MK then transport to GF for breakfast, you could park at TTC and take monorail to GF then back to car after MK, you could Uber to GF and use Disney transport after that. Lots of options that Disney offers, just not leaving your car in complimentary parking at GF set aside for guests of GF.

 

[kylenne]

You already got a detailed answer but I'll just add they are ruthless with enforcement at the monorail resorts, I've seen people get towed from GF specifically many a time. For good reason. Even when they are using the lot across the street there's never enough parking. One reason we go without a car when staying at the monorail resorts.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

What you CAN do is park for free all day at the TTC.
But honestly I would simply take the bus from your resort to MK and then walk to GF or I would uber/lyft to GF and then take the bus from MK to your resort after you're done at MK.

 

[Genie+]

I can see why it is so tempting but honestly it’s not worth the risk and potential hassles.



REGULAR parking is limited by Grand Flo main lobby, closest to the restaurants

DVC parking is down by the spa, original DVC building, closest to Poly

GUEST overflow parking is across the main road Floridian Way

The regular lot is hard to find parking. If spots are available they’re usually at the furthest points from the lobby. Even if you get a spot here, it’s still a lengthy process coming back from MK. You can take the resort boat but the marina is not likely convenient to your car, or the resort monorail that’s going to hit Comtemporary, TTC and Poly before coming to GF and in my experience the more stops greatly increases chance of delays on the track. Plus both options also require a wait to board, anything from a quick 5 minutes up to waiting for the second boat of monorail because a line has built.

Honestly I’d just uber over to breakfast, go to MK after, then either take bus back to your resort or walk over to BLT and call an uber as you’re approaching. Chances are these will end up much more convenient and less stressful.

 

[Genie+]

I forgot to mention the other option - valet parking. I think it’s still $35, and if you really want to use your car it’s not a bad option. Keep your valet receipt and it can be used the whole day, including when you get back to home resort Beach Club. Overnight parking would be included, so you wouldn’t have to pay the next time you go to get your car, even if not the same day.

 

[rdaky]

You already got a detailed answer but I'll just add they are ruthless with enforcement at the monorail resorts, I've seen people get towed from GF specifically many a time. For good reason. Even when they are using the lot across the street there's never enough parking. One reason we go without a car when staying at the monorail resorts.

Exactly. And security does roam that parking lot constantly for cars doing exactly what the OP is considering doing. That lot across the street is also used by cast members who work at GF. Imagine trying to get to work and you can't park because too many people decided to try to play the system (not saying the OP is doing this but I have seen plenty of social media suggesting it) They absolutely will tow your car if they want.

 

[HopperFan]

I forgot to mention the other option - valet parking. I think it’s still $35, and if you really want to use your car it’s not a bad option. Keep your valet receipt and it can be used the whole day, including when you get back to home resort Beach Club. Overnight parking would be included, so you wouldn’t have to pay the next time you go to get your car, even if not the same day.

I think all parking went up recently. So $42 plus tax plus tip.

 

[OKW Lover]

Exactly. And security does roam that parking lot constantly for cars doing exactly what the OP is considering doing. That lot across the street is also used by cast members who work at GF. Imagine trying to get to work and you can't park

How would security know if the car did not belong to a guest at the hotel?

The CM parking across the street is a separate lot from the guest parking with its own entrance.

 

[dansdad]

How would security know if the car did not belong to a guest at the hotel?

The CM parking across the street is a separate lot from the guest parking with its own entrance.

I don't know the details of how they use them, so admittedly may have nothing to do with this, but I have 1st hand knowledge that every resort has license plate readers at each entrance/exit. Plus around 30 mobile readers installed in vehicles.

 

[OKW Lover]

I have 1st hand knowledge that every resort has license plate readers at each entrance/exit. Plus around 30 mobile readers installed in vehicles.

OK, what does that give them? How does that help?

 

[Dave006]

OK, what does that give them? How does that help?

Nothing. It is not used to enforce a 3 hour parking window. However it does provided a useful tool in specific law enforcement situations.

Dave

 

[dansdad]

OK, what does that give them? How does that help?

Like I said, I have no idea how they're using it. Just pointing out it's there.

 

[ww52]

Thank you everyone for the information - it's what I expected but wanted to be sure. We are a week away from ADRs so we will likely plan accordingly and do the 1900 Park Fare on a "no park day"

I very much understand their enforcing and even towing; if I recall they note the car and time at the entrance gate. We have a large party and 7 kids included so Uber or bus is less convenient. Valet at 42 plus tip is a lot with (likely) three cars.

 

[rdaky]

How would security know if the car did not belong to a guest at the hotel?

The CM parking across the street is a separate lot from the guest parking with its own entrance.

A guest at the hotel would be in the regular lot, most likely not in overflow.

I'm talking about the overflow lot across the street, which is where they often send people who are eating at a restaurant. It is all one lot. We just had dinner at Citricos and we had to park in overflow across the street. When walked back to our car, cast members were getting into their cars in the same lot.

 

[jaredjohn4]

We stayed at Fort Wilderness Campground this last week. We thought about driving over to Wilderness Lodge for dinner at Gyser Point. We were told due to the construction workers parking we could not park there. We had to go back to the Fort, and then take the bus over to eat there.

 

[cdoc29]

They are not allowing parking at any resort unless you are a guest of that resort or have a dining or activity reservation. Staying at CS this week (7/27 - 8/3) and was hoping to hop over to buy an item we saw at AK that is only sold at AKL outside the park. When I explained to the guard we just wanted to hop in and make a quick purchase as DS didn’t have the item they told me I had to take the bus. We wound up parking at AK and taking the bus over but it was not convenient.

Wish Disney would address the issue of having exclusive items and snacks at the resorts but then making them super hard to get by requiring using Disney’s (cumbersome) transportation.

 

[_19disnA]

Thread from a couple of years ago. But Disney is wise to all of the creative excuses people try to use to park for free and game the parking fee at one of the parks within walking distance. Basically, you need to be a guest of that resort or have an ADR that allows you to park for a limited time. Those planning to spend all day @ MK and park for free at a nearby resort is what Disney is trying to prevent.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Pretty sure I know the answer to this - but things change...

If I'm staying at a WDW resort, am I able to drive and park at another resort? If so - what's the time limit?

Example - staying at the Beach Club but we have reservations at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast. I believe we can drive there and park for the breakfast - but our parking would be limited in time. About how long and is it strictly enforced?

We'd not be able after breakfast to just hop on the monorail and go the Magic Kingdom for a few hours, would we?

Thanks

3 hours. Towing is enforced. If you want to go to 1900 Park Fare and your reservation is within 1 hour of Magic Kingdom opening, just take a Disney bus to Magic Kingdom then take the Resort Monorail line to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Allow at least 1 1/2 hours leeway for waiting and travel time.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

They are not allowing parking at any resort unless you are a guest of that resort or have a dining or activity reservation. Staying at CS this week (7/27 - 8/3) and was hoping to hop over to buy an item we saw at AK that is only sold at AKL outside the park. When I explained to the guard we just wanted to hop in and make a quick purchase as DS didn’t have the item they told me I had to take the bus. We wound up parking at AK and taking the bus over but it was not convenient.

Wish Disney would address the issue of having exclusive items and snacks at the resorts but then making them super hard to get by requiring using Disney’s (cumbersome) transportation.

I don’t see the issue here? The fact that they are not easy to get is partially what makes them “exclusive”.

If everything exclusive was accessible to everyone than it wouldn’t be exclusive………