Parking at resort then leaving car?

[Disneyrsh]

Ok, I'll try and come at this from a more civil point of view.

For us, eating at the monorail resorts is dependent upon being able to park at them and then having some flexibility afterwards where we go. If we didn't have this tacit leeway that Disney grants us (by not towing our vehicles), then we wouldn't eat at either the GF or the CR or the Poly, which we usually do at least one of for each of our trips.

I think that Disney recognizes this and does a somewhat tepid 'no parking' warning, but recognizing that it would potentially lose a fairly lucrative revenue stream, does not even slap on the wrists.

Everyone I know with small kids, who eats at the monorail resorts, uses this method, because it's just too darn difficult with small kids to do a meal and then pack everyone and everything back up and then go park to get into the parks.

For example, NONE of us ever goes over to POFQ for a meal, because then you just have to load all the kids back up again. We all either eat at our 'home' resort before we leave or eat in the parks.

Having the option of parking at the monorail resorts gives us more eating options, and makes Disney a heckuva lot more money.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Now I am going to explain my side from a more civil point of view. The biggest problem I see with the Contemporary is their parking lot. During peak hours from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM, they get a lot of non Contemporary guests who park there because they have an ADR for Chef Mickey's, Concourse Steakhouse or California Grill. Like I have said before these people have a right to park there for their ADR. Speaking as a Contemporary guest it get's frustrating comming back during those times to park because a lot of these spots are taken. What makes it worse are the people who sometimes lie & say they have an ADR, but park there & walk to the MK to aviod paying $9.00 at the TTC. If these guests would not do that it would make things so much easier. I do realize my Dad could move his car to another spot closer to the front around 11:00 PM when the parking lot is empty, however if we plan on doing something the next morning that invloves taking the car, what's the point of moving it. Some Cast Members we have talked with also have said it's frustrating for the people who break this rule & go to the Magic Kingdom, because there no parking lot set out for Cast Members so they park with the guests.

 

[lovwdwalot]

But you still just don't get it do you Disneyrsh, I agree with CR Resort Fan 4 Life on this, you only have a 3 hr. limit when you are eating at a monorail resort, and the reason is that you could take a space for a guest that is paying to stay there. Both the Poly and CR have small parking lots as it is and the more people who abuse the 3 hr. limit the less space for parking for the paying guests.And about the DVC at the contemporary,it's just rumors that people hope will come true, I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But you still just don't get it do you Disneyrsh, I agree with CR Resort Fan 4 Life on this, you are only have a 3 hr. limit when you are eating at a monorail resort, and the reason is that you could take a space for a guest that is paying to stay there. Both the Poly and CR have small parking lots as it is and the more people who abuse the 3 hr. limit the less space for parking for the paying guests.And about the DVC at the contemporary,it just rumors that people hope will come true, I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

lovwdwalot: Thank you for agreeing with me about this & seeing it from my point of view.

 

[Allison]

Now I am going to explain my side from a more civil point of view. The biggest problem I see with the Contemporary is their parking lot. During peak hours from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM, they get a lot of non Contemporary guests who park there because they have an ADR for Chef Mickey's, Concourse Steakhouse or California Grill. Like I have said before these people have a right to park there for their ADR. Speaking as a Contemporary guest it get's frustrating comming back during those times to park because a lot of these spots are taken. What makes it worse are the people who sometimes lie & say they have an ADR, but park there & walk to the MK to aviod paying $9.00 at the TTC. If these guests would not do that it would make things so much easier. I do realize my Dad could move his car to another spot closer to the front around 11:00 PM when the parking lot is empty, however if we plan on doing something the next morning that invloves taking the car, what's the point of moving it. Some Cast Members we have talked with also have said it's frustrating for the people who break this rule & go to the Magic Kingdom, because there no parking lot set out for Cast Members so they park with the guests.

I have to agree with this also. It really isn't fair for guests who are staying at the resort and it doesn't really matter what the reasons are someone thinks they should be able to park there. Disney makes it clear the resort lots are not for those traveling to the parks.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I am DVC, I have kids (they aren't so small anymore but they used to be), I eat at the Contemporary, I spend a lot of money eating at the Contemporary (Chef Mickey's California Grill) and I do not leave my car there. I don't mean to add fuel to the fire but I think if everyone with small children, who ate at Chef Mickey's, parked their car there for the duration of their day in the MK area, the CR parking lot would be full the point that absolutely nobody could get their car in. Having small kids at Disney is a pia from the moment you start packing the million and one things you will take on that trip, until you get back home and have to unpack those million and one things. I don't see how leaving a car at the CR makes it that much easier all said and done.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have to agree with this also. It really isn't fair for guests who are staying at the resort and it doesn't really matter what the reasons are someone thinks they should be able to park there. Disney makes it clear the resort lots are not for those traveling to the parks.

Allison thank you for backing me up about the sign that says "We do not provide parking for the Magic Kingdom". it's good to see other Disboard members notice these things.

 

[Principessa1284]

I would recommend parking in the valet lot at the contemporary in the morning, taking the monorail to MK and then taking the monorail back. To benefit (your dad I think you said?) the person in your party with the mobility problem. As a CM, I see no issue with leaving the car in valet all day - it involves the least amount of walking (althought i don't work in hotels).

 

[LilyWDW]

-Resort parking is for those who are staying at the resort or currently dining at the resort.
-There is a 3 hour limit for those who are not resort guests.
-There is a giant sign saying that the parking at the CR is not for those who are visiting MK.

To me this would say "if you are going to the Magic Kingdom and you are not staying at this resort, then you will have to park somewhere else."

I personally would never think that I could go to the CR and have a meal, then leave my car in their lot to walk to MK. Breaking a rule is breaking a rule, no matter what the reason is . The posted rule is that you have a 3 hour limit for parking there if you have an ADR and unlimited if you are staying at the CR. It is also very very clearly posted that you can not leave your car there to go to MK if you are not a guest at the CR.

I do hope they crack down on the abuse, so that those actually staying at the CR need not worry about being able to park at their own resort. It's extreemly unfair to the guests of the CR.

 

[Sammie]

Actually for the monorail resorts and Epcot resorts is no parking for access to theme parks. This includes valet. There is no time limit on valet, but the no parking for access to theme parks supercedes the valet situation. Is it enforced, well you can guess on that one. I have seen it enforced during holiday times by asking the guest where they are dining and a follow up on that if they over stay their limit.

This is another situation if abused will be changed. I have heard discussion of raising the price to valet park for guests not staying at that resort. Something over the cost of parking in the theme park lots.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This past New Years Eve when my family & I were arriving back to the Contemporary around 7:30 PM there was a huge line up of about 25-30 cars. While we were waiting we noticed that some cars were told turn around leave. When we got up to guard shack they asked for my Dad's Resort ID & drivers license & checked to make sure we had our parking pass. The Cast Member at security told us they were making sure to only let Contemporary guests in & guests who were just there because they had an ADR. So if they were not a Contemporary guest or had no ADR's then they had turn around & leave. They also said some CR guests were giving their parking passes to other people, so they could park there car there. However with out the Resort ID card they were told they could not park. It's great to see they crack down on people who break the rules during the busy holiday seasons, however they should keep doing more often. Also I do agree that eventhough valet parking does not fill up as much as a regular spot, it's still wrong to park there & walk on over to the Magic Kingdom because it's against the rules & no where does that sign say it's ok to park in valet parking & go to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[grgich]

If you ride the monorail to the Poly, you will get off on the second floor, so no need to go up to the second floor to get to O'hanas.

 

[dhcoffey]

I will just add that the last time we stayed at CR, my DH, myself and my DD were walking to the MK. We were stopped by security to see our room keys to prove that we were staying there. Once we showed them, they said, no problem, have a great day. Now, what they would have done if we had ridden the monorail over there and then were walking back, I don't know, didn't think to ask since we were staying there.

Also, we were staying at POFQ back in April, had an illuminations cruise booked on a Sunday night. Went over to YC, asked the valet people if it was okay to park all day since we had the cruise that night. He said, no problem, once you valet, you're good all day even just to go the parks. I know everyone says they'll say whatever to keep people happy or they may not know the rules; but if that's what I'm told by the people that work there, that's what I do.

 

[Disneyrsh]

But you still just don't get it do you Disneyrsh, I agree with CR Resort Fan 4 Life on this, you only have a 3 hr. limit when you are eating at a monorail resort, and the reason is that you could take a space for a guest that is paying to stay there. Both the Poly and CR have small parking lots as it is and the more people who abuse the 3 hr. limit the less space for parking for the paying guests.And about the DVC at the contemporary,it's just rumors that people hope will come true, I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

No, I get it, I just don't agree with it.

If Disney really was concerned about us parking there, they'd make it a lot harder to park and then go to the park. It's not. There isn't even a towing warning.

And I am a paying guest, from my point of view. I'm just not paying to stay at the Contemporary, or Poly, or GF. I'm paying to eat there.

Now, all of us who follow every sign, every rule, all the time, raise our hands?

What?

Nobody?


That's right. Disney puts the no parking signs up to discourage people from parking there, but there are no consequences for disobeying the sign.

I"m all about the consequences; if you tell me something's verboten, then back it up with consequences and I'll be happy to obey it.

From my point of view they put the signs up to appease the guests without really intending on enforcing it because they don't want to scare away the people who come to eat because it's a loss of revenue stream.

I don't see why people are getting so upset that their parking space is further out because of the crowds.

Nobody has said on this post "I had nowhere to park". Because everyone is still finding a parking spot, the issue remains that on site guests are steamed because they have to walk further because they're sharing the lot with the people who come and eat, or come over to rent the sea raycers, or some people just like to hang out in the different resorts, all day, or hang out, eat, walk over to the MK, come back, eat some more. Goof off, shop, wander around.

We rented a pontoon boat once from the Contemporary and were gone all afternoon-is that a violation? We're not staying there, we're not "at" the contemporary, we were off wandering around Bay Lake.

Are those people also not allowed because they haven't secured a room on site?

It's just so draconian to exclude these people, and THAT's why Disney doesn't enforce the parking.

 

[Allison]

It seems they were enforcing it on New Years Eve. I have read reports from other people of cars being towed although I have not seen it myself.

 

[Disneyrsh]

I am DVC, I have kids (they aren't so small anymore but they used to be), I eat at the Contemporary, I spend a lot of money eating at the Contemporary (Chef Mickey's California Grill) and I do not leave my car there. I don't mean to add fuel to the fire but I think if everyone with small children, who ate at Chef Mickey's, parked their car there for the duration of their day in the MK area, the CR parking lot would be full the point that absolutely nobody could get their car in. Having small kids at Disney is a pia from the moment you start packing the million and one things you will take on that trip, until you get back home and have to unpack those million and one things. I don't see how leaving a car at the CR makes it that much easier all said and done.

I'll agree with you on this one, if we have a Chef Mickey's for breakfast we do use the TTC and the monorail, or take the boat over from WL, because the car would be there all day, 12-18 hours, just sitting in the CR lot.

However, when we come over to the CR for a 6 pm ADR and if you parked your car at the TTC you are way, way, way out there, as opposed to getting into the TTC bright and early for the breakfast, you're pretty close in and you're going to spend the day in the park so there's no benefit to parking at CR.

But, you look at a 6 pm adr, you're out of CG at 8:30, go over to the MK until, what, 10 pm, walk back to the Contemporary, drive home, that opens up our spot from 10:30 on. While it's really stretching the three hour time limit, it's not using up a space for huge gouts of time, and it's not a repeat issue.

And the times we've been to CR we've never had a problem finding a space, it's never even been like, wow, it's crowded, it's been like, wow, we're *right next to* the door!

I do want to make clear that I don't agree with the people who park in the CR and go right over to the MK without using the CR's facilities.

We use the CR's facilities and spend money there. Perhaps not as much as the paying guests, especially the atrium dwellers, but we do.

It sounds like they have a fairly good system in place to weed out MK parking folks, because we've always been asked for our ADR #'s and we have them, and have had no problem.

If the system changes, then we'll adapt.

It will probably mean fewer meals at the Contemporary, and more at the Boardwalk, where we can park all day and then go over to EPCOT without people being convinced that there's a special spot in hell reserved just for us, the mug abusers and the pool hoppers...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

No, I get it, I just don't agree with it.

If Disney really was concerned about us parking there, they'd make it a lot harder to park and then go to the park. It's not. There isn't even a towing warning.

And I am a paying guest, from my point of view. I'm just not paying to stay at the Contemporary, or Poly, or GF. I'm paying to eat there.

Now, all of us who follow every sign, every rule, all the time, raise our hands?

What?

Nobody?


That's right. Disney puts the no parking signs up to discourage people from parking there, but there are no consequences for disobeying the sign.

I"m all about the consequences; if you tell me something's verboten, then back it up with consequences and I'll be happy to obey it.

From my point of view they put the signs up to appease the guests without really intending on enforcing it because they don't want to scare away the people who come to eat because it's a loss of revenue stream.

I don't see why people are getting so upset that their parking space is further out because of the crowds.

Nobody has said on this post "I had nowhere to park". Because everyone is still finding a parking spot, the issue remains that on site guests are steamed because they have to walk further because they're sharing the lot with the people who come and eat, or come over to rent the sea raycers, or some people just like to hang out in the different resorts, all day, or hang out, eat, walk over to the MK, come back, eat some more. Goof off, shop, wander around.

We rented a pontoon boat once from the Contemporary and were gone all afternoon-is that a violation? We're not staying there, we're not "at" the contemporary, we were off wandering around Bay Lake.

Are those people also not allowed because they haven't secured a room on site?

It's just so draconian to exclude these people, and THAT's why Disney doesn't enforce the parking.

The point is that you still can not park at the Contemporary & go to the Magic Kingdom if your not a Contemporary guest. Did you not see everyone else who agreed with me that it's wrong? As for why they seem to inforce this rule around the holidays I don't know why, but if they do it on a night like New Years Eve then they must do it on other nights during the year. People just don't notice it as much because there is less security, but I am sure they are still on the look out because of that sign that says "We do not provide parking for the Magic Kingdom." Basically I am saying they do not have it there for nothing. Next month I will be at the Contemporary & I plan on speaking with a few high ranking Cast Members about this parking situation & ask them how much it happens & how they will try to stop these people from illegally parking there & going to the Magic Kingdom? Lastly you have to realize that no matter how much money you may spend on food at the Contemporary, guests like my family who have had many, many stays there over the past 6 years will always come before people who are just there to eat. I am not playing the Atrium Club floor card here, I am refering to how great guests my family & I have been to the Contemporary because we choose to keep comming back. When we go to the Animal Kingdom Lodge or the Boardwalk, we don't say or were spending so much money on dinner here we are the most important guests in this Resort. As for what you said about you don't agree with people parking at the Contemporary with out using a Contemporary facilities (Going to Chef Mickey's) it's still wrong no matter what because if your not a guest who is staying there, you can't park your car & walk on over to the Magic Kingdom. As for why you got such good spots close to the front, well maybe Contemporary guests were out at the time which is why all the good spots were taken & when Contemporary guests came back they had to park way in the back.

 

[Disneyrsh]

The point is that you still can not park at the Contemporary & go to the Magic Kingdom if your not a Contemporary guest. .

Oh, but I can.

And I do.

If Disney really wants me to stop, then they'll start enforcing it.

And that's fine with me, because Disney's the real authority on what's being "abused".

I'm still laughing about the "high ranking cast member", though, ya got me quakin' in mah boots!

And that's all I'm going to say about this particularly incendiary topic...

 

[DVCPAT]

I"m all about the consequences; if you tell me something's verboten, then back it up with consequences and I'll be happy to obey it.

So if you can get away with something without direct consequences, it’s OK ?? I guess that’s part of your signature “Newest Oxymoron: Polite Society” Your going to have your hands full when you're little one gets older.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Oh, but I can.

And I do.

If Disney really wants me to stop, then they'll start enforcing it.

And that's fine with me, because Disney's the real authority on what's being "abused".

I'm still laughing about the "high ranking cast member", though, ya got me quakin' in mah boots!

And that's all I'm going to say about this particularly incendiary topic...

Well I believe in karma, what goes around comes around. So don't be surprised one day when you will not be allowed to park & the Contemporary & not go to the Magic Kingdom. I would suggest that they take down every non Contemporary guests license plate number once they arrive & the time they arrive. If they car is there at a certin time then it should be towed. Also I don't plan on speaking with a front desk clerk. I can speak with high ranking Cast Members on the Atrium Club floor, some who have worked there for more then 20 years & would seriously suggest them to tell the manager of security & the Contemporary manager to stop non Contemporary guests from parking & going to the Magic Kingdom. Lastly you don't seem to realize that everyone has said it's wrong to park at the Contemporary & go to the Magic Kingdom no matter if you say you were just there to eat. But if you want to keep breaking the rules go ahead, just remember that your setting a bad example for your kids. Basically your saying ignore the sign because Disney never enforces it, so we are doing nothing wrong. Once again I am going to say karma, what goes around comes around.