Parking at Resorts other than your own

[Sammie]

There are signs posted at all the Magic Kingdom resorts and Epcot resorts that parking is not provided for access to parks.

Therefore those lots are monitored more closely and at times vehicles are towed.

 

[MickeyP]

So, is parking at the MK free for registered guests? And what is it up to for non-reg. guests? I heard 9.00, but not sure if this is true.

 

[mommyoeo]

We stayed at POP for 11 days this month. Each day, we went to other resorts to eat and look around. Not once was I given any parking pass, other than the one I already had that said POP. I don't think they cared what I was going to do or how long I wanted to stay. They saw POP on my dash and waved me through.

 

[Eeyore2003]

This has come up allot over the last few years and I seem to remember a couple years ago when someone said they were tightening up on this because people staying at the resorts were not finding spaces and too many people were trying to do this. Staying mostly at the CR and BW, I really wish people would not try to "push it" by doing this. Sometimes we've had to park in the "boondocks", just for a parking space for the resort.

I guess I feel as a guest of that resort, I certainly should be able to park in the lot, and not have the spaces taken up by people who are spending the day in the park. It's also why you can no longer go from DD to another park I believe. Too many people were parking at DD and taking busses to the parks. Only resort busses go to and from DD.

Perhaps the CM told you that 6 years ago, but I really do think they are watching it closer now. Especially like people have mentioned, the resorts close to the parks.

 

[nhpooh]

We stayed at POP for 11 days this month. Each day, we went to other resorts to eat and look around. Not once was I given any parking pass, other than the one I already had that said POP. I don't think they cared what I was going to do or how long I wanted to stay. They saw POP on my dash and waved me through.

That is what I am talking about, this is what happens to us.

 

[nhpooh]

So, is parking at the MK free for registered guests? And what is it up to for non-reg. guests? I heard 9.00, but not sure if this is true.

Yes people that are staying at WDW resorts get free parking at all theme park parking.

 

[nhpooh]

They are more strict about this practice at the monorail resorts, especially in the morning hours, as they know that many are trying to do what the OP is asking about.

I guess we haven't gotten this parking pass because we go to other resorts in the late afternoon, or dinner time.

 

[mitros]

It's basically a gamble. But Ikneller states it quite well. It does depend on a lot of different variables. Time of year,time of day, the guard, events going on, etc. Although we have found, and it has been pretty steady, that they always give you a 3 hour pass at the Polynesian. I guess that is because of it's location. The monorail, the TTC along with the ferryboat to the MK. all in easy walking distance of the resort. And yes, years ago, as long as you were staying on property and had a parking permit from the resort, you could park almost anywhere without worrying about being towed. Seems that since 9/11, they have been cracking down on a lot of things, even ticketing by the Orange county sheriffs department right on property.

 

[ChrisAlli]

We just went to Chef Mickey's last Thursday and we were waved on thru. There wasn't much parking either. We did drive over to Epcot after even though we could have just left the car there

 

[Kramer]

As others have posted... just valet park your car - its like $7 - and you don't have to worry about the 3 hour time limit or getting towed.

 

[Marseeya]

As others have posted... just valet park your car - its like $7 - and you don't have to worry about the 3 hour time limit or getting towed.

That's what we did, and never once had to worry about time limits. We just budgeted it into our trip. Plus it was nice getting that front door service.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We still get parking passes at other resorts even when we are staying on-site. We have pushed the limits a little during some of the evening ones and never had a problem but I found myself worrying a little too much about it. We haven't tried doing this in the morning but we have seen tow trucks at a couple of the resorts before so they may be enforcing things a little better.

 

[iliketoby]

As others have posted... just valet park your car - its like $7 - and you don't have to worry about the 3 hour time limit or getting towed.

While Disney may not tow you, the rule applies to everyone. If you visit another hotel, it is supposed to be a visit to that hotel (eating, touring, shopping). You aren't supposed to park there and go somewhere else.

How this works in practice seems to be debatable. I've never had a problem exceeding my time limit, while others report citings of tow trucks. But the rules do not allow you to stay at the Beach Club, but park at the Contemporary and go to the MK.

 

[nhpooh]

While Disney may not tow you, the rule applies to everyone. If you visit another hotel, it is supposed to be a visit to that hotel (eating, touring, shopping). You aren't supposed to park there and go somewhere else.

How this works in practice seems to be debatable. I've never had a problem exceeding my time limit, while others report citings of tow trucks. But the rules do not allow you to stay at the Beach Club, but park at the Contemporary and go to the MK.

We don't do this anymore. Just because parking is free even in the main lots.

 

[shellybaxter]

While Disney may not tow you, the rule applies to everyone. If you visit another hotel, it is supposed to be a visit to that hotel (eating, touring, shopping). You aren't supposed to park there and go somewhere else.

How this works in practice seems to be debatable. I've never had a problem exceeding my time limit, while others report citings of tow trucks. But the rules do not allow you to stay at the Beach Club, but park at the Contemporary and go to the MK.

This is where I'm not sure you are correct. We were staying at the WL and had friends coming to meet us and go to MK. They lived in Florida. They had two cars. We didn't want to waste time trying to find them at the MK. We went down to the valet stand and asked if they could valet at the WL and go to the MK with us and if we could pay for them. They said of course just have them give us your room number. I double checked that they were in two cars, so would that still be okay. The valet said we would have to pay two valet fees, which we expected, but anyone can valet at a resort for whatever reason. I was very upfront and it didn't seem to be a problem. No one got towed and they stayed the entire day.

Shelly

 

[TammiMcMan]

This is where I'm not sure you are correct. We were staying at the WL and had friends coming to meet us and go to MK. They lived in Florida. They had two cars. We didn't want to waste time trying to find them at the MK. We went down to the valet stand and asked if they could valet at the WL and go to the MK with us and if we could pay for them. They said of course just have them give us your room number. I double checked that they were in two cars, so would that still be okay. The valet said we would have to pay two valet fees, which we expected, but anyone can valet at a resort for whatever reason. I was very upfront and it didn't seem to be a problem. No one got towed and they stayed the entire day.

Shelly

That's a little different situation because you were guests of that particular resort and you can have friends/family visit you and park there. We have family in Florida also and we simply leave their name at the front desk for the security guard. We've never had a problem with them issuing a guest parking pass and it hasn't had a time limit.