Parking at Polynesian?!

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Hi there, wonder if i could pick your collective Disney brains please?!

I am booked onto the Keys to the Kingdom tour in the Magic Kingdom in May, so have booked breafast at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian beforehand (for my first ever taste of tonga toast!). Will I be able to leave my car at the Polynesian until the tour finishes (early afternoon I think) and use the Polynesian monorail to the MK? It will give us a few minutes longer at the hotel, rather thn having to rush off, park at MK, wait for tram, wait for monorail . . .

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this!

 

[kaytieeldr]

No. Parking at the resorts (especially those adjacent to theme parks) is for resort Guests only.

Guests dining, shopping, etc., can generally park for up to three hours (proven via a parking pass provided by Security).

Park in the Magic Kingdom lot. Take the tram to the TTC. Walk to the Polynesian. Eat. Take the monorail to the park. Enjoy the tour.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Thanks! Sorry, one more question then . . . will the TTC trams be running that early? Our reservation is for 7.40am, and MK doesn't open until 9am that day?

 

[Matt'sMom]

Arriving at that hour of the morning, you will not need a tram. We have done this before (when staying at All Stars and having breakfast at Poly/Kona.) You will be parking right at the front of the lot, near the TTC. Easy walk to the Poly from there.

 

[goofy4tink]

Park at the TTC, then walk to the Polynesian..it's a very pleasant walk, about 8 mins. When you get to the TTC, head over to the left, you'll see a sign for the Polynesian walkway. When you're done eating, you can either take the small boat to MK, it goes there directly, or hop on the monorail. They are pretty equal in time.
This way you won't have to worry about taking your time in MK..if you decide to hang out there longer, you're good to go. And yes, the monorail is up and running then...the resort monorail, which is what you would be using at the Polynesian, starts around 7 am.

 

[Uncleromulus]

It's a walk we take every time we go to the MK. We park at the TTC, walk over to Kona, have breakfast, the go to the MK via the monorail. Coming back we'll check out the big Ferry Boat, the inter-resort small boat, or the monorail again. Whichever seems ready to depart is the one we pick.

And a hint about the walk to the Poly--just keep well to the left (on the walkway right along the Poly parking lot). Some signs leading to the Great Ceremonial House ( where Kona is located) have you heading into the Poly building complex--no need to do that.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

In case anyone else was wondering about doing this, I emailed Guest Services yesterday with the same question (before I thought of asking on here), and they just answered to say that we can park there while we're on the tour . . . so now I'm confused!!

 

[Island Mouse]

In case anyone else was wondering about doing this, I emailed Guest Services yesterday with the same question (before I thought of asking on here), and they just answered to say that we can park there while we're on the tour . . . so now I'm confused!!

Good to know. I plan on doing the KTTK tour in October, and some Tonga toast beforehand sounds like a stellar idea.

 

[mickaholic4077]

If you valet park at The Poly,there is no time limit on how long you can stay there. If you have the DDE card,are a DVC member,or have a handicapped sticker,then valet parking is free.

 

[kaytieeldr]

...but it is customary to tip for valet service (upon picking up the vehicle), whether one pays for the service or not. It is important to note that NONE of the valet fee goes to, well, the valets.

 

[Princess_Belle]

In September we parked our car over 2 nights at the WL and we were staying at the CR. Don't flame me just yet, I have a pretty valid reason. My SIL won the Castle suite and we had to be at the WL packed and ready in an hour with our luggage. We had to drive bc of the luggage. When we got the the gates they didnt ask any questions we were let in. We didnt pick the car up the next day bc it was our wedding! we finally made it back over there 2 days later with no problem at all. So i see no problem in leaving your car at the poly for a few hours.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you valet park at The Poly,there is no time limit on how long you can stay there. If you have the DDE card,are a DVC member,or have a handicapped sticker,then valet parking is free.

Sorry, but you are wrong about DVC members getting free valet parking at the Polynesian. DVC members only get free valet parking at resorts with DVC villas - BC, BW, WL, AKL. That's it. Not YC , S/D, GF, CR, or the Polynesian. And the member must be visiting the resort, not the theme parks. The member would have to move their car if they decided to visit the theme park.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Very odd that Guest services at the Poly would suggest you park there for a MK trip. Goes completely against what seems to be the MK resorts (including the Poly) policy of not parking at their lots for trips to the MK. Most times they will give you a 3 hour parking pass if you are visiting the resort just for dinner, etc.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Sorry, but you are wrong about DVC members getting free valet parking at the Polynesian. DVC members only get free valet parking at resorts with DVC villas - BC, BW, WL, AKL. That's it. Not YC , S/D, GF, CR, or the Polynesian. And the member must be visiting the resort, not the theme parks. The member would have to move their car if they decided to visit the theme park.

Then I guess my friend got lucky on December 31st,2005,when she valet parked for free at The Poly to join me for breakfast at Ohana and told me all she had to do was show her DVC membership card.

Also,kaytieeldr,I do tip. To me,it is worth it not to have to deal with the hassle of the MK parking lot.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Few trips back, we were staying at the WL and were taking the Steam Train tour and the resort desk said to drive over to the CR and park there. We did this and informed the security booth what we were doing and he said no problem, just park to the right and we can stay the whole day, no sticker, no time limit. I guess you get different answers to these questions but we rather believe the actual Cm's on property then these boards for whats right and allowed. Just ask at the front desk, call guest services and explain whats up and abide by their answer.

 

[goofy4tink]

You will get almost as many different answers to this question as the number of people you ask. Everyone will give you a slightly different answer. So....at most resorts, most of the time, you will see signage telling you that parking for park access is not allowed. That's pretty clear to me...if you'll be in a park, you shouldn't be parking in the resort lot unless you are staying there. BUT....many have been told by CM's at the resort that it's okay to park there. Many have been allowed to park all day long while at a park...the guard/security person had no issue whatsoever.
So...how to handle this? If you feel you really have to park at a resort, and then head off to a park at some point, then please, remember that you are taking a parking spot from a paying resort guest. Try to park as far from the front of the lot as possible. Nothing annoys me more than to be walking through a parking lot and overhear a family getting out of their car saying..'Wow, this is so much better than parking at the park...we're much closer to things here." as they walk away from a parking spot that is right next to the sidewalk leading to the resort.