Parking at resorts

robfamily

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Dec 4, 2012
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We are staying off site, but would like to tour the resorts. Can we get free parking at a resort to tour it? It will be be on New Years Eve so I know that it will be crazy busy. We have never stayed on site and would like to see all the Christmas decorations at some of the resorts.
 
We are staying off site, but would like to tour the resorts. Can we get free parking at a resort to tour it? It will be be on New Years Eve so I know that it will be crazy busy. We have never stayed on site and would like to see all the Christmas decorations at some of the resorts.

Especially for the monorail resorts that is one day, really the Christmas week, when the parking lots can be and often are restricted to resort guests and ADRs with no other guests admitted. This includes valet at that time. Although at most times of year you can park for a short period (about 3 hrs) you should not plan on being able to do so on New Year's Eve. The same is likely true for the Boardwalk area hotels.
 
I highly doubt you will be allowed to park at these resorts on that day/evening...
CR
Polynesian
GF
WL
YC/BC
BW

At high capacity times of year, and NYE is one of the highest, parking at these resorts is allowed only for those staying at the resort. You could pay to valet park, but that could be iffy as well.
 
That's what I suspected. This is the only day that we will have not in the parks. Would parking at DTD and taking a bus into the resorts be a possibility? I am assuming DTD will also be crazy busy too. Any other suggestions for what we could do during the day? I have a 4 yo and 6yo and we just wanted something low key. We could stay at the hotel and swim, but I know we can't could on the weather to be warm enough. We plan to go to bed early on NYE and get to the parks early on NY. We are traveling 1000 miles so I really don't want the kids sitting in the car another day in traffic.
 

That's what I suspected. This is the only day that we will have not in the parks. Would parking at DTD and taking a bus into the resorts be a possibility? I am assuming DTD will also be crazy busy too. Any other suggestions for what we could do during the day? I have a 4 yo and 6yo and we just wanted something low key. We could stay at the hotel and swim, but I know we can't could on the weather to be warm enough. We plan to go to bed early on NYE and get to the parks early on NY. We are traveling 1000 miles so I really don't want the kids sitting in the car another day in traffic.

DTD will be busy just because WDW is busy but there is nothing special happening there for NYE.

I wouldn't park at DTD just for travel to a hotel, not necessarily because its frowned upon, but because it would add extra travel hassles.

If you really wanted to see the hotels I would park at Epcot (and yes pay) and then take the monorail to the TTC and then tour the monorail parks. I say park at Epcot because the MK will probably experience even the lowest stage of closure and that's closing the parking lot. Epcot is much bigger so it should still be open.

If you also wanted to see the Epcot/Boardwalk area you would have to take a bus there from the MK since there is no direct way to get to that area from the Epcot parking lot without a ticket.

I think it would be money well spent.
 
DTD will be busy just because WDW is busy but its there is nothing special happening there for NYE.

I wouldn't park at DTD just for travel to a hotel not necessarily because its frowned upon but because it would add extra travel hassles.

If you really wanted to see the hotels I would park at Epcot (and yes pay) and then take the monorail to the TTC and then tour the monorail parks. I say park at Epcot because the MK will probably experience even the lowest stage of closure and that's closing the parking lot. Epcot is much bigger so it should still be open.

If you also wanted to see the Epcot/Boardwalk area you would have to take a bus there from the MK since there is no direct way to get to that area from the Epcot parking lot without a ticket.

I think it would be money well spent.

I agree. Park at Epcot.
 
Hmmm... I really wanted to avoid the parks altogether because of the crowds. What about visiting the value resorts. We are considering staying on site in the future now that my DH's school gets a longer break in October. I would like to see which value resorts my kids like the most. Ever since they got the poster for AoA my kids have been wanting to see it. Would parking at the value resorts be possible and not too hectic? My biggest concern is keeping the kids in the car all day again bc of traffic. I would really like a relaxing day and trying to fight crowds at Epcot does not sound like fun to me.
 
1. Hmmm... I really wanted to avoid the parks altogether because of the crowds.

2. What about visiting the value resorts. We are considering staying on site in the future now that my DH's school gets a longer break in October. I would like to see which value resorts my kids like the most. Ever since they got the poster for AoA my kids have been wanting to see it. Would parking at the value resorts be possible and not too hectic? My biggest concern is keeping the kids in the car all day again bc of traffic. I would really like a relaxing day and trying to fight crowds at Epcot does not sound like fun to me.

1. You really aren't going to a park so its not the same thing. If you don't get there until say 11:00 AM the crowds will be mostly in the parks. Just leave before the mad rush at 12:30 AM.

2. You should have no problem at a Value but they still may grill you on why you are there.
 
I don't think that they will let you park at a value unless you said you are there to eat. Even with eating if it is too crowed I don't think they will let you in. I agree park at EPCOT. Good luck
 
Another option (but not cheap), would be to take a taxi from wherever you are staying to one of the resorts and then tour the resorts from there. For example, take a taxi to CR and then tour the monorail resorts. Or you could do something similar with the Epcot resorts. It'll be much cheaper to park at Epcot and then use Disney transportation, but if you really don't want to be near a park, then a taxi is another option.
 
I have to agree with parking at Epcot.Park at Epcot,take the monorail to the TTC,transfer to the resort monorail and check out the Poly,Grand Floridian and Contemporary then take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and grab the boat to the Wilderness Lodge.Go back to MK and grab a bus to the Boardwalk and tour the Boardwalk and Y&B club,the Dolphin and Swan are right there if you want to check those out.Grab the boat to DHS and board a bus back to Epcot to get your car.
 
See if you can get a breakfast ADR at Kona or GF. Go for breakfast then tour the Monorail resorts.
 
See if you can get a breakfast ADR at Kona or GF. Go for breakfast then tour the Monorail resorts.

On NYE they will be giving out 3 hour parking passes, so they would still have to move the car, and the TTC lot will almost certainly be closed by the time breakfast is over, so they'll still have to park at Epcot.
 














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