Parking at the resorts

[steery1]

I'm really confused about parking at the resorts. Especially when I'll be staying in one resort but visiting another for a dining experience like the HDDMR or a character breakfast, or maybe just counter service where you dont need an AR.
Maybe someone could help me with these few points.......


1. If you are staying in a particular resort you get a parking pass for that resort only which allows you to park as long as you wish?

2. If you want to dine in a resort at which you are not staying you have to show an AR then you get a 3 hr parking pass, after which time you could get towed away?

3. If you want to dine in a resort then go to a nearby theme park without having to move the car after 3 hours you have to pay for valet parking?

What would you do if you wanted to dine at a counter service restaraunt in a resort you are not staying and you dont need an AR? How does parking work in this case?

The advice given about the Pirates Cruise is that... "young pirates MUST be at the marina no later than 9.15am".
This does not allow enough time to park, drop off DS at the marina then pick him up at 12.00 noon and leave within the allowed 3 hours!
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[skiwee1]

If you are just visiting another resort then you will either be waved through or given a 3 hour parking pass. The passes are usually saved for the resorts around the monorail.

 

[lovinthemouse]

When we checked in they gave us a parking paper to put in our car window. This gave our check in and out dates. We showed this at all resorts we visited and they just let us in. We were on the dining plan and ate everywhere and had no trouble at all. It was also how we parked at the theme parks for free. Have Fun

 

[beattyfamily]

They are the most strict about the 3 hour maximum at the monorail resorts and in the morning hours. Also during holidays.

I'm glad they are. Parking at the monorail resorts is for guests visiting or staying at the resort and NOT for parking to go to MK. I've stayed at the CR a few times and always had a hard time finding parking spots. Very frustrating.

The way I see it, if you think you will go over 3 hours, then you can either park at TTC and not move your car or you can pay for valet parking.

The parking pass allows you free parking on WDW property but you have to pay for valet parking.

 

[jcriket]

We went to AKl and told them that we wanted to eat at mara and they gave us a 3 hour pass to eat there, and after we watched the animals for a little while, it was nice and I was suprised they aloud us to dine there.
And I don't really think they will tow your car away unless you are there way over the time, which I've never seen them tow a car.

 

[Sammie]

We went to AKl and told them that we wanted to eat at mara and they gave us a 3 hour pass to eat there, and after we watched the animals for a little while, it was nice and I was suprised they aloud us to dine there.
And I don't really think they will tow your car away unless you are there way over the time, which I've never seen them tow a car.

They definitely tow cars at the Contemporary and the Polynesian as I have seen them do it. Since you can't access the park directly from AKL I am sure it is not as great a problem.

They want guests to come to other resorts to dine, shop, etc. However they do not want the resort parking lots to be used to go to the parks.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Yes, you can park as long as you wish at your resort. They give you a pass to put on your dashboard. It is good till midnight of the day you check out. Also, if you have paid to valet park at your resort, they give you a hanging tag for that. You will not have to pay to valet park at other resorts that day.

When you drive in another resort, sometimes you are waved in when they see your pass, but most of the time they stop you. They ask your ADR number and look it up. At the MK resorts, you maybe given a 3 hour parking pass.

The idea is that you ~don't~ leave your car in another resort's lot and go to a theme park. That is just what they are trying to discourage. True, you can usually "get by" with this by valet parking ... but if you were given a 3 hour pass, you could get towed after all.

If you want to dine at a counter service, you just tell the guard that and they let you in as long as there is room in the lot.

For the Pirate Cruise .. that is at the GF right? You could explain the situation to the guard and see what he/she says. Where is the rest of the group going? MK? If so, you could park in the MK lot and use the monorail to go back and forth.

Can you tell we eat at resort restaurants a lot?! hope this helps

 

[Merriwind]

The advice given about the Pirates Cruise is that... "young pirates MUST be at the marina no later than 9.15am".
This does not allow enough time to park, drop off DS at the marina then pick him up at 12.00 noon and leave within the allowed 3 hours!
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Hi! I wouldn't worry at all about this. We spend a lot of time at WDW and I have never seen anyone going around resort parking lots marking tires and writing parking tickets. Even if they did, by attending an event at the GF, you are entitled to park there. Not for the day to go to MK, but certainly for as long as you need to get your child to and from any of their children's programs. For a 3-hour program, this would obviously be something over 3 hours. If you are still worried, you can inquire at the guard gate or guest services when you arrive. Believe me, the GF and WDW want you to pay money to have your children attend these programs. They are not going to make it difficult by forcing you to park at TTC or move your car or jump through other hoops about parking. My DD7 attends the Grand Adventures in Cooking at least once a year (she just did it Friday). We are just waved in, not given a parking pass. I think that soon after 9-11 they did check that her name was on the roster.

BTW, self parking at the GF is across the street from the resort. If you are cutting the 9:15 time close, you will definitely want to go the valet route. It's a decent walk from the parking lot to the resort, further to the marina.

As far as dining, if the guard stops you, just tell him/her your plans. More often than not, we are just waved in. If we do get a pass, 3 hours is usually more than enough time.

Don't worry too much about parking, just enjoy!

 

[jcriket]

They definitely tow cars at the Contemporary and the Polynesian as I have seen them do it. Since you can't access the park directly from AKL I am sure it is not as great a problem.

They want guests to come to other resorts to dine, shop, etc. However they do not want the resort parking lots to be used to go to the parks.

Whoa I didnt know that, I just thought they gave you a ticket.
Its nice to know though.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are going to the GF, you could park at the TTC. Then you and your little pirate could hop the resort monorail over the GF.

 

[steery1]

For the Pirate Cruise .. that is at the GF right? You could explain the situation to the guard and see what he/she says. Where is the rest of the group going? MK? If so, you could park in the MK lot and use the monorail to go back and forth.

Can you tell we eat at resort restaurants a lot?! hope this helps

My DW and I were planning on having a nice relaxing breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe while DS was at the Pirates Cruise after which the plan was to go to MK for the rest of the afternoon.
So I think I should valet park yea? or should I park in the MK lot and take the monorail to and from the GF
BTW thanks for all the great advice guys

 

[Sammie]

My DW and I were planning on having a nice relaxing breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe while DS was at the Pirates Cruise after which the plan was to go to MK for the rest of the afternoon.
So I think I should valet park yea? or should I park in the MK lot and take the monorail to and from the GF
BTW thanks for all the great advice guys

I would simply park at the Magic Kingdom and ride the monorail and save the fee for valet.

 

[disneyholic family]

we rarely have problems, but as another poster said, they're most strict at the monorail resorts in the morning hours during peak seasons....
also if they see you have a car full of people (when i'm in the car alone, they just wave me through, even at the Contemporary Resort, where they're really very strict)..

in any case, when they are giving the 3 hour passes and we want to stay longer, we just use the valet parking....i really doubt they'd ever tow a valet parked car....

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

My DW and I were planning on having a nice relaxing breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe while DS was at the Pirates Cruise after which the plan was to go to MK for the rest of the afternoon.
So I think I should valet park yea? or should I park in the MK lot and take the monorail to and from the GF
BTW thanks for all the great advice guys

In this case, I would park at the TTC (which is where you park for the MK) for sure. You can use the monorail to the GF and then back to the MK for the afternoon.

Have fun!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

While the parking passes are normally for 3 hours, the guards will fudge on the time if you have a reason. We have had long gatherings at some of the resorts and we just tell the guard about it and they will give a pass that is longer than 3 hours and generally still fit within the time that we need to be there. They are aware that some of the events take longer but in general most people need 3 hours at the most so that is the standard time.

 

[Tomara]

Question: Family reunion in September. My brother happens to be there for a convention. Everyone is staying at the Port Orleans Riverside but his convention is at the Coronado. Instead of taking Disney Transportation (which could take over an hour!) he's going to use my van (since we're driving, he's flying). Will he be able to park at the Coronado? What does he need to do?

--Tomara

 

[Deb & Bill]

Question: Family reunion in September. My brother happens to be there for a convention. Everyone is staying at the Port Orleans Riverside but his convention is at the Coronado. Instead of taking Disney Transportation (which could take over an hour!) he's going to use my van (since we're driving, he's flying). Will he be able to park at the Coronado? What does he need to do?

--Tomara

All he'll need to tell security is that he is attending a convention at CS. I did this exact same thing a few years ago but we were staying at POFQ because CS was full for my convention. You will get a parking permit when you check in and he should have a convention ID tag to wear if security has any problems.

 

[Tomara]

Awesome! Thanks D&B!

--Tomara

 

[Dizneydaz]

We've always had our own vehicle and have eaten at many different resorts. The only one who has given us any difficulty (and it wasn't really too bad) is Poly. I've had them check their ADR list several times, check my license, have me pull forward slowly so they can make a note of my license, etc. None of the others have even checked an ADR list (this inc. GF and Cont.)

I would agree with PP about parking at GF. Self parking is quite a walk. Last time we ate there we were running behind and I dropped DD and DM at the lobby entrance. Then I went to self-park. I had forgotten how fair it was so I exited and went thru the guard station again. This time I valet'd it. So much easier.