Parking at the Contemporary Hotel...

[oldkey1]

....to visit the Magic Kingdom. With all the changes associated with the new DVC addition, can you still park at the Contemporary Hotel, ride the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom then "walk" back to your car along the path past the bus area? We always found this a pleasant way to end an evening at the Magic Kingdom versus the boat or monorail with the throngs of people when the park closed.

 

[hsmamato2]

you've never been 'allowed' to do this,and most times the guard at gate will stop you from doing so...and rightfully so IMO.
We visit in low season,and have never gotten thru the gate without a full battery of questioning and showing id and recording it.

 

[oldkey1]

We have always taken the monorail from the Contemporary after drinks or dinner at the California Cafe to the Magic Kingdom (love it at night, especially closing when the park quiets down as everyone is "shopping" on Main Street). But at the end of the evening we always walked back vs. taking the crowded monorail. I truly don't recall there being a booth on the walkway or a guard. In many, many times walking back never had anyone stop us or ask. Seems to me that more foot traffic is better for everyone. So with the new DVC building is there now a guard on the walkway - or has the walkway been moved?

I always looked at this in the same vein as parking and eating at the Boardwalk then walking through the International Gateway at Epcot.

 

[hsmamato2]

nope...not the same, limited parking for guests of the hotel..... the guard is at the front gate letting cars in- how would you like to have to search at your pricey hotel for a space to park b/c 200,000 people from the MK want to park there and walk?

 

[oldkey1]

We have always enjoyed exploring the "world," which often means visiting the many resorts to eat, swim, and explore. I've never really thought of visiting a resort as "stealing" parking spots from someone staying there. We often park at the Boardwalk hotel, eat at Flying Fish then walk through the International Gateway to visit Epcot to end our day. We do the same thing at the Contemporary eating/drinking at the California Cafe (some of the best night time views at WDW) then visiting The Magic Kingdom....using the walk way to come back to our car (or back to the bar if it is still open). We also like to visit Narcoose's before taking the monorail to/from the Magic Kingdom.

It's never occured to us to move our car once we finished dinner/drinking before heading to the park.

Next time I will be very specific in telling the guard that we are visiting the California Cafe then the Magic Kingdom.

Based on the answers I guess the walk way is still there available to guests of the hotel or DVC property.

 

[fridayfun]

OP - in the past when we have driven to the Contemprary for dinner, we were questioned by the security officer about our business (officer is at the drive entrance to the property), he confirms our reservations and we were told we had a certain amount of time to be there. I am not sure if they supposedly tow after a certain time frame or what if you do not have a Contemporary parking pass. I do know they have been very specific about not staying overly long and parking seemed to be a lot less plentiful the last time we drove over and ate there.

 

[goofy4tink]

Parking, for non-resort guests, is not provided for park access...period. It doesn't matter if you are DVC or not. You can pay to valet park and then go off and do whatever you want though. BUT..if you self-park, you are expected to move your car when you are done doing whatever you are doing at the resort, before heading to a park.
I sat on my balcony at BLT last month and watched security checking out the cars that were parked in the BLT lot...some were tagged as I watched. not sure what happened after that.
And by the way...it is frowned upon at BW as well. There is parking, across the street, behind the Hess Station for those who are not paying to stay at the resort. I have had to drive around looking for a parking spot when returning to BW before IllumiNations ended. And that's not fair to those of us who are paying to stay there.

As for visiting other resorts and using their facilities.....go ahead, eat at the restaurants, shop in the shops. Swim in the pools if you are a DVC member and it isn't a blackout period. But, if you don't own DVC then you are not entitled to swim anywhere you are not paying to stay. Pool hopping is not allowed for anyone other than DVC members. And lifeguards will ask to see your blue member card if there is any issue.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have always enjoyed exploring the "world," which often means visiting the many resorts to eat, swim, and explore. I've never really thought of visiting a resort as "stealing" parking spots from someone staying there. We often park at the Boardwalk hotel, eat at Flying Fish then walk through the International Gateway to visit Epcot to end our day. We do the same thing at the Contemporary eating/drinking at the California Cafe (some of the best night time views at WDW) then visiting The Magic Kingdom....using the walk way to come back to our car (or back to the bar if it is still open). We also like to visit Narcoose's before taking the monorail to/from the Magic Kingdom.

It's never occured to us to move our car once we finished dinner/drinking before heading to the park.

Next time I will be very specific in telling the guard that we are visiting the California Cafe then the Magic Kingdom.

Based on the answers I guess the walk way is still there available to guests of the hotel or DVC property.

Why don't you just park at the TTC? Much easier I would think.
In any case...the sidewalk is open to anyone who wants to walk on it. It's the parking spaces that are the issue here. The parking lot at the CR, or for that matter at BW, is NOT a parking lot for the MK or Epcot.