parking at resort qstn.

[my3boys]

I think we will have a car on our next trip. So, if we have breakfast at the Grand Floridian, are we allowed to leave our car there if we go to the Magic Kingdom?

 

[SuperGurl]

I had the same question.

 

[grimley1968]

The parking attendant will probably give you a 2 or 3 hour parking pass at the GF. If your car is there after that time, I'm pretty sure it could be towed.

Here's what I would do:

I'd park at the TTC before breakfast, so you get a nice spot really close to the front of TTC. You may be early enough that you don't need to ride one of those obnoxious little trams at the TTC parking lot. Walk or tram up to the front of the TTC, and ride the resort monorail loop over to GF for breakfast. When you're done with breakfast, hop back on the monorail and go to MK (next stop from GF). When done with MK, ride the monorail back around to the TTC and get in your car.

 

[beattyfamily]

NO! Parking at the monorail resorts is for resort guests and for those eating/shopping at the resort BUT those just visiting to eat or shop there will get a 3 hour parking pass.

IMHO, it would be inconsiderate to those paying to stay at those resorts to park there all day and head to Magic Kingdom. There are only so many parking spots and it's not enough to accomodate Magic Kingdom guests parking there too.

Just park at the TTC and take the monorail to your dining reservation if you'd like to head to MK afterwards.

 

[WillCAD]

No, when you park at a resort you only get a 3-hour parking pass. You will have to move your car after breakfast.

This is meant to keep off-site Guests from taking up all the good parking spaces.

Disney is especially strict about the policy at the monorail resorts, because they are so close to MK.

Don't worry, though; it's easier to simply park at the MK lot in the morning, take the monorail to Contemporary for breakfast, and then take the monorail into MK when you are done eating. Then you will not have to worry about moving your car.

 

[Anthony1971]

No
there is no other way of saying it
they do check....
sorry
But you may be able to get away with parking in Downtown Disney and taking a bus to GF the only problem is you will need to go to a resort to get back to DD

 

[my3boys]

Thanks for the insight on parking.

We will be staying at a Disney resort (not sure which one yet, though), so we will have a parking pass, but it is logical that it would be for only our resort and the parks to avoid the overcrowded parking lots.

 

[grimley1968]

We will be staying at a Disney resort (not sure which one yet, though), so we will have a parking pass, but it is logical that it would be for only our resort and the parks to avoid the overcrowded parking lots.

It is true that your resort parking pass (no matter which resort) will give you parking privileges at the TTC (and all other park parking lots), but not at other resorts. This makes the TTC the right place to go for your scenario, in addition to it being where you can catch the resort monorail over to GF.

 

[kaytieeldr]

my3boys: Even though you're going to have a car, the consensus for onsite Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom is Take The Bus! Take The Bus! Take The Bus!
Disney buses will drop you off closer to the MK entrance plaza than you could ever possibly park to the TTC. No tram, no monorail (not that you can't ride it if you want), WAY less walking...

 

[grimley1968]

my3boys: Even though you're going to have a car, the consensus for onsite Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom is Take The Bus! Take The Bus! Take The Bus!
Disney buses will drop you off closer to the MK entrance plaza than you could ever possibly park to the TTC. No tram, no monorail (not that you can't ride it if you want), WAY less walking...

This may be true, but the OP is wanting to go to GF for breakfast first. No buses go from resort to resort.

 

[Kathy C]

You can always get a bus to the MK and take the resort monorail to the GF and after breakfast get the monorail the MK. Just a suggestion!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Of course you're right, Grimley... on the other hand, it's possible that the MK Character Breakfast bus will drop them off at the Grand Floridian... or they could maybe (I don't know for sure if it'd run that early, otoh I don't know what time their ADR is) take the ferry from outside the MK over to GF?

 

[madalex]

You would be able to leave your car at the GF all day after your breakfast if you are willing to valet park it. However, that costs $7 plus tip.

Also, if you do leave the car at GF, you have to go back at the end of the day to get it. Whereas, if you bus to MK and monorail to/from GF, when you leave MK at the end of the day, you can just hop on the bus back to your resort.

 

[The Sweetness]

$7 (+ whatever extra you want to give) sounds like a bargain for the luxury to valet How much do they charge at that horrible mammoth of a MK parking lot???

 

[grimley1968]

You would be able to leave your car at the GF all day after your breakfast if you are willing to valet park it. However, that costs $7 plus tip.

Also, if you do leave the car at GF, you have to go back at the end of the day to get it. Whereas, if you bus to MK and monorail to/from GF, when you leave MK at the end of the day, you can just hop on the bus back to your resort.

If they're wanting to make it to breakfast early, it is much, much faster to drive to the TTC or GF than wait on the buses. If it weren't for having to make an ADR, I'd be in favor of the buses, but not if there is an ADR.

I wouldn't do the valet parking thing at GF for 3 reasons:

a) The reason you list above about having to retrieve the car from GF is a good one
b) It costs money. It's free at the TTC if you have a resort parking pass. I hate the trams at the TTC, but there's no need for a lot of walking in the TTC lot, unless you simply choose to do so.
c) The TTC is slightly closer to MK than GF. If you're on the resort monorail leaving MK, the TTC is 2 stops closer (and those resort stops can take 5-10 minutes each sometimes). The direct monorail of course has no stops. The MK-TTC ferry is pretty slow, but it takes about the same length of time or less to get to TTC as the GF boat would. The ferry is also stroller and wheelchair-accessible. The GF boat requires both to be folded down.

But if valet parking at GF is still what you'd prefer, that's still quicker for you in the AM than the buses would be.