parking at the contemporary for dinner and going to MK after that

[Brett Wyman]

So, I didn't dig into the WDW official policy but I did find this for someone just last week. Yeah, it's not "official" but I'm thinking they didn't make it up. Probably what they were told when they went through the resort entrance with ADRs just like I was.

Resorts (for guests visiting for dining reservations/tours, etc.)

• If you are visiting for dining reservations or to tour, etc., you can park up to 3 hours for free
• Valet $33/day (free for guests with a handicap placard)

This was from WDW Prep School website.

Yeah that's the thing, the 3 hours is on a bunch of unofficial yet trusted sites. The question is where did the info originally come from?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I agree it’s a hassle to move the car. We’ve paid the $33 valet fee (plus tip) and viewed the charge as a convenience and were comfortable we weren’t in danger of being ticketed or towed (no idea if they do that —we are rule followers) and that we weren’t taking a space from a resort guest.

 

[marikujawa]

It's possible some members want to circumvent the rules; others just want to know what they are. Some people just make up rules based on their view of common sense and fair play, and then get upset when others disagree. There was a thread not long ago where someone decided that if the owner of a Tables in Wonderland card pays the check for the table but then collects from his guests at a later time, he is cheating or gaming the system because it violates the "spirit of the law." I actually called TIW and the person I spoke with assured me that there were no rules other than those stated on the card - spiritual or otherwise.

The OP's question is not out of bounds, and I wouldn't be surprised if Disney was okay with that scenario at less busy times. There is certainly no harm in asking. Disney is notorious for not adopting set rules because, quite simply, until something becomes a problem for them, they don't care.

 

[DSLRuser]

My opinion, but I am sure the rules police will say I am wrong.........is this.

You are spending a significant amount of time and money at the contemp resort. I would have no problem walking over to MK after dinner.

Now parking at a resort for the sole purpose of going to a park, that is a big no no.

DISNEY DOES NOT TOW CARS.

Don't let anyone try to scare you otherwise.

 

[cedricandsophie]

As a DVC member you should be aware of the rules. DVC says you cannot park at BLT to go up to the TOTWL, but must take Disney transportation unless you are a guests of the CR/BLT.

Intersting because every year when we are staying somewhere else, usually OKW, we go to bay lake for the fireworks. We tell the guard that’s what we are doing, he has always smiled and said welcome home. We have a drink, watch the fireworks and leave. We have also driven to bay lake to play tennis when staying at wilderness. Again, explained what we were doing, and have always been welcomed graciously.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Sounds like cheating I know but we have gone to dinner at CG and then gone to MK. It’s never been an issue. We are not trying to game the system but it’s silly to me to have to move the car after I’ve spebt 200 on a meal.

We’ve also been let in to park at bay lake just to watch the fireworks from the top of bay lake.

When you have finished your meal, shopping or other enjoyment of a Disney resort and have opted to go to a theme park you are now considered a Theme Park Guest and as such should be utilizing parking for Theme Park Guests. I'm not speaking to a CM letting someone do this or that but more speaking to your "it’s silly to me to have to move the car" comment.

What you spend on a meal is irrelevant.

Valet parking is also an option at CR but I have read from posters in recent times where they've become stricter on this and as such I would treat Valet parking as subject to availability.

If it were me the easiest way is to park at TTC, monorail over to CR and then either walk or use the monorail to get to MK. When leaving the park I would take the monorail back to the TTC for the car.

 

[Lilsia]

@marikujawa the problem is that what one cast members say today may not be the same as what another says later on.

Would be nice is they would eastblish a policy and follow it, give the parameters so guests know what to expect. If it's a 3 hour window great, state it. If it's only for the meal, fine, just tell us.

I imagine it changes with the circumstances. If it is busier, a holiday, earlier in the day, etc, they are more likely to say "no'. This is probably why they give them the discretion.

 

[marikujawa]

One thing I've learned over many, many years of visiting Disney is that they are much more welcoming, friendly, understanding and (most of all) accommodating, than you would expect after reading some of the comments here. I've always said that if Disney ran their business the way people on these boards would like, they would have been out of business ages ago.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

One thing I've learned over many, many years of visiting Disney is that they are much more welcoming, friendly and understanding than you would expect after reading some of the comments here. I've always said that if Disney ran their business the way people on these boards would like, they would have been out of business ages ago.

That's like many companies out there. There's always that "one time exception" being made. One-time exceptions have a habit of making it harder for more lenient interactions as times have gone on.

 

[Christine]

My opinion, but I am sure the rules police will say I am wrong.........is this.

You are spending a significant amount of time and money at the contemp resort. I would have no problem walking over to MK after dinner.

Now parking at a resort for the sole purpose of going to a park, that is a big no no.

DISNEY DOES NOT TOW CARS.

Don't let anyone try to scare you otherwise.

I don't know. Guess I don't agree. As both an on-site and off-site type of Disney visitor, I've always tried to follow what I think the expectations are for parking.

People pay a lot of money to stay onsite. Onsite guests are now subject to overnight parking fees too. Onsite guests also spend a LOT of money to eat at the Contemporary or at the Grand Floridian restaurants, etc. on top of their resort costs and parking fees. One of the ever-dwindling perks of staying on site, especially the monorail resorts or Contemporary with its walkability to MK, is the proximity to the parks. If Disney is going to let every diner at the Contemporary or GF, or Poly park at the resort all day after a Chef Mickey or 'Ohana breakfast, what's to stop the masses of people doing that for every day of their stay. Not only are getting to park free at a resort all day, you are also bypassing the cost of the TTC parking.

You can see by my signature that I've stayed offsite a number of times and have paid the daily fee for parking to visit the parks. I've also driven over to various breakfast buffets, parked at a resort, and then moved over to the TTC parking (or went to Epcot or Animal Kingdom) from there, in my car, and paid the parking fee. It's not really inconvenient at all.

 

[sndral]

My opinion, but I am sure the rules police will say I am wrong.........is this.

You are spending a significant amount of time and money at the contemp resort. I would have no problem walking over to MK after dinner.

Now parking at a resort for the sole purpose of going to a park, that is a big no no.

DISNEY DOES NOT TOW CARS.

Don't let anyone try to scare you otherwise.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/will-my-car-get-towed-from-the-contemporary.3486118/I remember a thread here on DIS a couple of years ago, can’t locate it - may have been someone’s trip report - where they described watching the tow truck removing cars from the Contemp. parking lot.
Perhaps you are correct & they don’t tow cars, I dunno, but that significant amount of time and money spent at the Contemporary on a meal would turn into an even more significant amount of money and time to retrieve their vehicle after MK closes if you are wrong.
I have also read that at times they won’t even let non resort guests valet park in some of the smaller resort lots if it’s too busy.

 

[MomOTwins]

You really are not losing much time at all by parking at TTC from the get go and monorailing to Contemporary for your dinner. Sorry, but I don't think you have an excuse here.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You are spending a significant amount of time and money at the contemp resort. I would have no problem walking over to MK after dinner.

Once one finished being the customer of a specific entity, their use of the entity's amenity ends.

What is your opinion of others parking, say, in your driveway preventing your access?

DISNEY DOES NOT TOW CARS.

.
Too many reports of multiple cars being towed from the Contemporary parking lot in a brief period, for breakdowns to be the reasons for the tows.

 

[cdoc29]

I have pulled up in a line at the guard shack at the Contemporary and overheard a guard tell a guest that they could not valet park if they were not a guest of the resort. We had an ADR and were directed to self parking for the duration of our meal.

My understanding (according to the Disney Park's Mom's Panel) is that Valet is good at all resorts. In other words if I am staying at BeachClub and paying for Valet parking I can also use valet when I go to the Contemporary for diner and only have to tip the attendant. So I hope the guard doesn't tell me we can't use valet.....

 

[kaytieeldr]

My understanding (according to the Disney Park's Mom's Panel) is that Valet is good at all resorts.

Space available. Also note, despite being "official" the Moms' Panel isn't always right.

 

[Lilsia]

nce one finished being the customer of a specific entity, their use of the entity's amenity ends.

I think that is a fair point. Anyone that lives in a bigger city knows that you can only park somewhere while shopping there. Many places have spotters and as soon as you leave the premises, just even going across the street, you will be towed. Even if you shopped at the original store first. I think that many people feel that it is just "all Disney" and that because "I am spending so much money here", that they can just do whatever they want. It is tough at the resorts on the monorail loop because of the limited parking and so many people wanting to park there and go to MK for whatever reason. I totally understand why they would have these rules and enforce them for these resorts.

 

[marikujawa]

My understanding (according to the Disney Park's Mom's Panel) is that Valet is good at all resorts. In other words if I am staying at BeachClub and paying for Valet parking I can also use valet when I go to the Contemporary for diner and only have to tip the attendant. So I hope the guard doesn't tell me we can't use valet.....

We usually visit in May, October and November and we’ve never been told we couldn’t valet park. Obviously, I can’t speak to what might happen at busier times but the valets usually have quite a few spots. I don’t think it will be a problem.

 

[PetePanMan]

Go with 3 hr rule of thumb ( providing you go to ADR restaurant) and you’ll be fine. Only very, very rarely does resort parking get so full that it would prevent a staying guest from parking.

 

[marikujawa]

While I would never condone blocking someone’s private driveway - that would be very bad - I hope the OP asks someone at Disney and reports back. It would be useful to hear about a first-hand experience instead of somebody’s opinion of what should happen or numerous posts recounting the misadventures of those fabulously unlucky folks “the people in front of us.”

 

[maxiesmom]

My understanding (according to the Disney Park's Mom's Panel) is that Valet is good at all resorts. In other words if I am staying at BeachClub and paying for Valet parking I can also use valet when I go to the Contemporary for diner and only have to tip the attendant. So I hope the guard doesn't tell me we can't use valet.....

Be very wary of taking at face value anything on the Mom's Panel. Disney does not verify anything they post as fact. Believe it or not, at first you could comment on what the Mom's posted. They were called out on being wrong so much that that function was taken away.