Parking at The Contemporary

[gumbo1009]

So on our departure day we have a flight at 2:50pm out of MCO. Want to make a very quick (2.5 hour) trip to MK that morning (opens at 9am).

I am playing around with ideas and need help id-ing potential weaknesses...

Option 1. Park TTC. Leave the park at ?11am? and quickly get ourselves on the ?Ferry? ?Monorail? (which is better?) We want to get 3 FP+s in the last morning, so I am thinking 11am departure will be tricky unless I am able to move up our final FP+ after using the 2nd one.

Option 2 - park at The Contemporary (can leave park at 11:30am and take Monorail back to CR, which gives us a better shot of making our 3rd and final FP). Within, this I was considering 3 different options...

• 
  2a. Get a breakfast ADR at The Wave for 7:30am and use Self Park. (but means would have left the car there for 4+ hours, which is more than Disney allows).
  
  2b. No ADR and use Valet parking at The Contemporary. But do they turn people away (if you don't have an ADR)? Would not want to drive all the way there just to be turned back to the TTC...
  
  2c. ADR at the Wave *and* Valet park. (Assume would not be turned away if have an ADR.) Most expensive of the options, but I might be willing just to ensure my sanity...

Can anyone think of additional downsides/weaknesses to any of the options? (Or perhaps there are options I have not considered??)

Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

You can valet park without a reservation.

Walking back to CR might be as quick as the monorail.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Memorial Day weekend we wanted to eat at the Contempo Café for lunch. We drove over and told the guard our plans and he did not let us in. "No ADR, no room for ya."

 

[DebbieB]

Memorial Day weekend we wanted to eat at the Contempo Café for lunch. We drove over and told the guard our plans and he did not let us in. "No ADR, no room for ya."

Did you want to self park or valet park? Did you have a WDW resort parking pass?

 

[teambeaman]

You can valet at Contemporary and walk back, no ADR required.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Did you want to self park or valet park? Did you have a WDW resort parking pass?

We had a WDW resort parking pass but wanted to self park.

 

[DebbieB]

We had a WDW resort parking pass but wanted to self park.

They were probably more strict because of the holiday weekend. Especially if it was the 24 hour day.

 

[vicki_c]

I saw signs at Easter restricting CR SELF parking to guests of the resort or those with ADRs. But valet was no issue. We had an ADR but the guard didn't even ask us once we said valet.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

They were probably more strict because of the holiday weekend. Especially if it was the 24 hour day.

I agree - It wasn't the 24 hour day, but the guard did say during busy times they would not allow people to self park. He told us we were more than welcome to park and the TTA and take the monorail over. Later that week we also went to the Boardwalk and the guard there allowed us to self park but gave us a stern talking to about not allowing people to park there and go to Epcot. We had no intention of going to Epcot, just grabbing some treats at the bakery and checking out the resort...but we were nervous! lol!

 

[gumbo1009]

Sounds like valet parking will be a viable option for us...

Thanks folks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Self parking at any resort may be restricted during busy times. Especially at resorts that are close to a park. But, valet parking is a good option. But...even that can be restricted....doesn't happen often, but it can.
I would valet park, grab a bite to eat as early as you can. Walk over to the MK from the CR. When it's time to leave, walking is usually quicker than the monorail. The only time it would be quicker to monorail is if the monorail was coming in just as you walked up there...and got on immediately. Otherwise, walk to the CR. Takes under 10 mins.

 

[mgothel]

You can valet at Contemporary and walk back, no ADR required.

So what do you say to the guard when they ask?

 

[teambeaman]

So what do you say to the guard when they ask?

You tell them you are valeting the car. They don't usually follow up because they don't care. The valet manager at AKL told us to do it, so it's not against the rules. We even asked the valet at CR where the path to MK was and he pointed us in the right direction with no hesitation or surprise.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would not plan on using the monorail to get back to the car. If you park at TTC, use the ferry. If you valet at CR, walk. Based on recent history, I'd be concerned the monorail would get shut down while I'm on it.

 

[sarmat1]

Hmm, this thread has me a little concerned. Later this month, we intended to go to Contempo Café on day of arrival for lunch as my kids get a kick out of watching the monorail go through. We're staying onsite, but not at CR. We have no intention of going to MK afterward as that is scheduled for our first full day. Are we going to have a problem parking at CR?

 

[sam_gordon]

Hmm, this thread has me a little concerned. Later this month, we intended to go to Contempo Café on day of arrival for lunch as my kids get a kick out of watching the monorail go through. We're staying onsite, but not at CR. We have no intention of going to MK afterward as that is scheduled for our first full day. Are we going to have a problem parking at CR?

One of the following will happen...
1) You'll be allowed to 'self park'. They may or may not time limit you.
2) Self park won't be available, but you'll be allowed to valet park. There is no time limit for valet
3) Neither self park nor valet park will be available. You'll have to park somewhere else and use Disney Transportation to get to CR.

I'm guessing you'll have a 95%+ chance of #1 or #2 being available.

 

[mgothel]

I honestly wasn't too concerned about this until I read on another thread recently that a family tried to valet park at CR and they were turned away. I guess they told the guard they wanted to valet park and the guard asked for what reason.

 

[Happyjen27]

How quickly does the valet return with the car once you've returned to the CR?

I'm considering an off-site visit, and when visiting the MK, I'd rather pay valet at CR and walk than wait for TTC transport. However, the one sticking point would be an endless wait at the end of the day if valet takes a good, long time.

Anyone have a guesstimate? I know it will vary greatly depending on so many things. We would probably not be visiting during any holidays (Labor day, Easter Week, School break, etc)

 

[Bree]

How quickly does the valet return with the car once you've returned to the CR? I'm considering an off-site visit, and when visiting the MK, I'd rather pay valet at CR and walk than wait for TTC transport. However, the one sticking point would be an endless wait at the end of the day if valet takes a good, long time. Anyone have a guesstimate? I know it will vary greatly depending on so many things. We would probably not be visiting during any holidays (Labor day, Easter Week, School break, etc)

We valet parked this past Tuesday. It was less than a five minute wait. The valet lot must be very close.

 

[mgothel]

Any update on this subject? Has anyone recently self-parked or valet at the contemporary? What was your experience?