Parking at resorts

[gumbo1009]

We have reservations at Coronado Springs, but I was thinking it would be fun to check out the other resorts. I don't plan on getting ADRs, but might grab some food at the various Lounges (or perhaps Counter Service if they have something interesting/unique).

My question is: am I really allowed to park for free at the resorts? Or do I need an ADR to park for free?

Thanks!

 

[seashoreCM]

Most of the time you'll have no problem driving from one resort to another to visit. No charge whether or not you are staying on site. Sometimes during busy times you may be denied entrance to the parking lots of a few resorts notably around the Magic Kingdom, unless you have a restaurant reservation (or are staying there).

Sometimes you will be limited to, say, 3 hours because the resort doesn't want guests parking at resorts they are not staying at for the purpose of spending the day at a park. Again, this depends on how busy things are expected to be that day.

Valet parking is a little different. There is no time limit and also you may go to another valet parking facility that day without paying the fee again.

 

[gumbo1009]

Thanks! We would definitely not need 3 hours (just enough time to look around and grab something to eat). Also, it's likely we would be going mid-day or early eve (4-5pm or so). Hopefully that would not be a busy time for parking...

Thanks again!

 

[seashoreCM]

I forgot to mention that there are some resorts interspersed with Disney's resorts and that are owned by other entities and have their own parking rules. The Swan, for example charges everyone for parking.

 

[Minniedap]

We have gone to different resorts many times to check them out while we are staying at Disney. We just tell the person at the gate that we were there to check out the resort for future visits. If they were not too busy, we have even asked if we could see a room.

 

[figment_jii]

Sometimes during busy times you may be denied entrance to the parking lots of a few resorts notably around the Magic Kingdom, unless you have a restaurant reservation (or are staying there).

Same goes for the Epcot resorts during Food & Wine Festival (especially on the weekends). It all depends on how busy the lots are.