parking at Polynesian

[jenrose1975]

We are staying off park and have a reservation at O'Hana character breakfast. Can we park at Polynesian and take monorail to MK or Epcot?

Thanks!

 

[grimley1968]

Parking at Disney resorts is for guests of the resorts and those visiting for 3 hours or less (including reservations).

If you want the least hassle of moving your car around, I'd park at the TTC (Magic Kingdom's parking lot). From the TTC you can walk over to the Poly (it's next door and there's a pathway). When done with your meal you can walk back to the TTC and ride an express monorail to MK or EPCOT, all without having to move your car.

 

[seashoreCM]

No.

Most of the time (that is, except for a few really busy periods) you may drive in and park but when you have finished your meal and go to Magic Kingdom or Epcot you must drive there. It's an easy rule, drive to each place you are going to.

Disney has the exception that you may park at a theme park and ride the monorail, buses, etc. to other theme parks or to resorts.

Psst! Use valet parking at the Polynesian. In a quest for better tips, the valets don't enforce any time limits.

 

[Shannon G]

While the official word answer is no, there is no harm in asking - just prepared to move the car if they say no.

In my experience, the prior comment about the valet is correct - I have actually had a valet tell me, without me asking, that I could leave my car and come back for it later, suggesting that we take the monorail to the parks after breakfast (this was at the GF).

Sometimes they'll even let you keep your car there without using valet, if it's not a busy time. When DD10 and I were at WDW this past October, we went to the Contemporary to grab a bite to eat prior to the Halloween party. When the guard at the gate pointed me towards the self-parking, I asked her if I could leave my car while we went to the MK for the party if I paid to valet park. She told me that I could use the valet, but that it was fine if I used the self-park and left the car there.

Editing to add that I don't know if the answer you will get depends on whether you are staying on property - anytime that we have been told we could leave our car, we were staying at another Disney Resort, not off property.

 

[Polydweller]

The lot is marked as not for MK parking. The reason is that the lot is very small and simply couldn't accommodate all those who would want to do that and those people staying there. People who stay at the Poly have the right to expect that they can park at their home resort just like people staying at other resorts expect to find a spot when they return to their resort. There is nothing worse than coming back and there are no spaces and it does happen there (I have experienced it and its awful).

It's really just a matter of those visiting the Poly for ADRs etc giving those staying at the Poly the same respect as they'd expect at their home resort or hotel. So please, just use it for the ADR and not MK.

 

[keishashadow]

While the official word answer is no, there is no harm in asking - just prepared to move the car if they say no.

In my experience, the prior comment about the valet is correct - I have actually had a valet tell me, without me asking, that I could leave my car and come back for it later, suggesting that we take the monorail to the parks after breakfast (this was at the GF).

Sometimes they'll even let you keep your car there without using valet, if it's not a busy time. When DD10 and I were at WDW this past October, we went to the Contemporary to grab a bite to eat prior to the Halloween party. When the guard at the gate pointed me towards the self-parking, I asked her if I could leave my car while we went to the MK for the party if I paid to valet park. She told me that I could use the valet, but that it was fine if I used the self-park and left the car there.

Editing to add that I don't know if the answer you will get depends on whether you are staying on property - anytime that we have been told we could leave our car, we were staying at another Disney Resort, not off property.

very odd the CR guards are notoriously strict as to self-parking limitations by non-guests.

YMMV but we (among others here that have reported the same) have sat on our balcony & watched cars get towed.

 

[goofy4tink]

No.

Most of the time (that is, except for a few really busy periods) you may drive in and park but when you have finished your meal and go to Magic Kingdom or Epcot you must drive there. It's an easy rule, drive to each place you are going to.

Disney has the exception that you may park at a theme park and ride the monorail, buses, etc. to other theme parks or to resorts.

Psst! Use valet parking at the Polynesian. In a quest for better tips, the valets don't enforce any time limits.

Seriously? Better tips?? As long as there is payment for parking, Disney doesn't care where you park!! And it doesn't matter where you go after parking the car...you can go to a park for the next 12 hrs..no one will care as long as there has been payment for parking that car. It's not a case of if you tip more, you can stay longer, or go wherever you wish to.

In all reality? You may be able to self-park for the day, but that doesn't make it right. Self-parking is not supposed to be provided for park access if you aren't staying at that particular resort. Those that are staying at these resorts are paying top dollar for the various perks of staying there. And one of those perks is park access. How does someone, not even staying onsite, justify parking there, free, for park access?? So, either pay to valet park at that resort, or park at the TTC and either walk or monorail to the Polynesian.

 

[seashoreCM]

(not official terminology or procedure)
Stage 1 closure -- Drivers not staying at the resort are given a 3 hour parking pass or are advised of a 3 hour limit.
Stage 2 closure -- Drivers not staying at the resort must show proof of a restaurant reservation or other activity at that resort.
Stage 3 closure -- Only guests staying at the resort may self park there.
Stage 4 closure -- No cars are admitted.

Ability to drive in and park includes stage 1 and to some extent stage 2.

 

[chartle]

1. very odd the CR guards are notoriously strict as to self-parking limitations by non-guests.

2. YMMV but we (among others here that have reported the same) have sat on our balcony & watched cars get towed.

1. They probably see it much more since they are right next door to the MK.

2. This though always seems to come off as an urban legend. Not saying thats not what you saw but for "Yes they tow cars" post there is an opposite "I know for a fact they don't" post. Some think it maybe for other issues like its a non returned rental.

 

[Lewisc]

(not official terminology or procedure)
Stage 1 closure -- Drivers not staying at the resort are given a 3 hour parking pass or are advised of a 3 hour limit.
Stage 2 closure -- Drivers not staying at the resort must show proof of a restaurant reservation or other activity at that resort.
Stage 3 closure -- Only guests staying at the resort may self park there.
Stage 4 closure -- No cars are admitted.

Ability to drive in and park includes stage 1 and to some extent stage 2.

I bolded the only part of your post which is accurate, the rest is fiction.

2. This though always seems to come off as an urban legend. Not saying thats not what you saw but for "Yes they tow cars" post there is an opposite "I know for a fact they don't" post. Some think it maybe for other issues like its a non returned rental.

A person who witnesses cars being told can say, yes the tow cars. The posters who says I know for a fact they don't aren't CM and they're certainly not watching the parking lot 24/7 365. In other words a poster who says they've seen a car being towed is posting an experience but the poster who says they don't tow doesn't have any basis.

Non-returned rental? That's a good one. A person rents a car, leaves it at the POLY and take DME back to the airport? Rental agencies generally give you one key. Wouldn't they just send an employee with the extra key to drive it back. That said a car being towed could have mechanical issues. Multiple cars are towed from legal parking spaces. Sounds like parking enforcement to me.

 

[keishashadow]

1. They probably see it much more since they are right next door to the MK.

2. This though always seems to come off as an urban legend. Not saying thats not what you saw but for "Yes they tow cars" post there is an opposite "I know for a fact they don't" post. Some think it maybe for other issues like its a non returned rental.

certainly could be the reason for towing or just a car needing service but, on the occasion that we aren't staying there and have an ADR, we've always been cautioned by guard that the parking pass is for three hours maximum. I don't necessarily discount reports from those who have been able to gain access to park there and haven't been towed either, just not our method of operation...we tend to follow stated policy since it'd be rather unpleasant to have to explain to rental car agency as to their missing vehicle.

It's my understanding that DVC members not staying @ BLT who want to use the top of the world lounge aren't permitted to park there, parking spaces really are an issue there.

 

[chartle]

A person who witnesses cars being told can say, yes the tow cars. The posters who says I know for a fact they don't aren't CM and they're certainly not watching the parking lot 24/7 365. In other words a poster who says they've seen a car being towed is posting an experience but the poster who says they don't tow doesn't have any basis.

Non-returned rental? That's a good one. A person rents a car, leaves it at the POLY and take DME back to the airport? Rental agencies generally give you one key. Wouldn't they just send an employee with the extra key to drive it back. That said a car being towed could have mechanical issues. Multiple cars are towed from legal parking spaces. Sounds like parking enforcement to me.

certainly could be the reason for towing or just a car needing service but, on the occasion that we aren't staying there and have an ADR, we've always been cautioned by guard that the parking pass is for three hours maximum. I don't necessarily discount reports from those who have been able to gain access to park there and haven't been towed either, just not our method of operation...we tend to follow stated policy since it'd be rather unpleasant to have to explain to rental car agency as to their missing vehicle.

It's my understanding that DVC members not staying @ BLT who want to use the top of the world lounge aren't permitted to park there, parking spaces really are an issue there.

This is just my observation from reading these posts over the past years of how they do or do not enforce parking at the monorail resorts. There was even the long thread that showed a car with a boot on it with the caption "look I told you they tow cars/enforce parking regs" it was then determined that it was an owner applied anti theft device.

As for the "they don't tow cars" not coming from a CM not sure where I heard this but I think was from a CM that works or worked at the CR. Of course all CM comments have to be taken with a grain of salt.

The rental thing I don't know why I even posted that, blaming not having breakfast yet.

I have read posts of single cars being towed but its never really been determined why. Now if someone posted that they saw a fleet of tow trucks come in it would be more believable since I can't imagine them just singling out one car. Based on some of the posts here and some "tips" on other travel sites, there has to be a ton of guests who try this so I would imagine there would be quite a few.

Also I'm not taking one side or the other, its just I read a lot of posts here and the "They tow cars all the time" seems to sound like an UL. But I do say no parking at resorts for park access.

Even the 3 hour parking limit itself is a huge hit and miss thing. Some say they get one every time they park at a monorail resort some park there all the time and never get one. If they never hand them out how do they determine how long a car has been parked there and if it should be towed?

So if anyone is staying at the CR with a parking lot view could you setup a time lapse camera and see if they do regularly tow cars. I can help you with the rig.

PLEASE NOTE: OP I'm not singling you out its just that this question comes up a lot in these forums.

Oh and to the DIS

 

[keishashadow]

i now have a complex re receiving the three-hour passwe must look shifty

 

[chartle]

i now have a complex re receiving the three-hour passwe must look shifty

Our leaving WDW tradition is to eat a breakfast at a deluxe resort we have never visited before. We drive so we pack up and head to the resort.

The first year it was the end of August and at the time (before Free Dining promos) dead. 3s and 4s on touring plans. We went to Boma and got the third degree. They wanted a res number, Drivers License, plate number and checked a list. I was expecting them to ask for a blood sample also. Almost empty parking lot.

Two years later we decided to go to Wilderness Lodge. It was early May and starting to get busy. We pulled up to the guard shack and before we could say anything, She asked "just visiting? go on through".

 

[keishashadow]

maybe it's a (pitts) 'burg thing haha.

Know the OP mentioned the Poly, CR always follows, but rarely does anybody mention parking @ the GF and visiting the MK.

 

[Shannon G]

i now have a complex re receiving the three-hour passwe must look shifty

In that case, I must look extremely innocent, because I've never been given a three hour pass.

 

[chartle]

Know the OP mentioned the Poly, CR always follows, but rarely does anybody mention parking @ the GF and visiting the MK.

I'm was thinking the same exact thing. I guess its out of the way. Out of sight out of mind.

 

[chartle]

maybe it's a (pitts) 'burg thing haha.

Yea they must think we are a bunch of Jag Offs 'n at*.

*Best Pittsburghese I could type. They say that a lot on DVE when doing a "Pittsburgh accent". People from outside the area don't think I have a PGH accent. Even though my Mother is kind of from the Nor'side (Spring Hill) and I live only a mile outside the city limits up the Ohio.

 

[keishashadow]

In that case, I must look extremely innocent, because I've never been given a three hour pass.

go ahead, rub it in

 

[goofy4tink]

I have stayed at BLT....loved sitting out on my balcony each morning, having coffee, eating my cereal. Now...did I see cars being towed? No. Did I see people drive in, around 8:15ish, park, and then open their trunks, get out backpacks and head off, on foot, to MK? Yes. And I saw these same people, return to their car around 10ish....replace the backpacks and get in and drive away!! Yeah, I probably need a life, but that was one of our hang out a bit later and go to bed early days! I watched the little security car go around the BLT parking lot...taking note of cars without those parking permits on the dashboard. Later on in the day, same thing happened. This time, the guy stopped the cart, got out and took down some type of info...I was about 10 floors up, so couldn't tell what he was writing!! He made about 9 or 10 stops within that lot. I have to think that he was making note of 'illegally' parked cars.

Now, on that same visit, my ds drover over from Tampa to pick up some stuff we had brought down with us that was his. He stopped at the security shack, told them he was there to see his mother..gave our name and villa number. He was then told where to park, close to the BLT lobby. So, not sure if his having our name and villa number made a difference of not.