Parking fee when visiting a resort--apparently just a rumor! My apologies!

[MakiraMarlena]

Or to keep more of the closer spots for resort guests, who would likely complain if they had to go to the overflow lot. Free parking is still a draw.

 

[larryz]

I am glad they are doing this. We stay at BW and BC all the time and it has been an issue many times.

I can not tell you how much when it came to the holidays to go to Epcot and DHS on the boat.
I stood there listening to 2 groups of locals discussing how they always park here and take boat or walk to save the $ of parking. I watched as we were able to get on the boat to DHS and lots behind us in line were left on the dock. Sorry, but I feel that those paying to stay at the property should have priority, both for transportation and parking.

There was a time when they checked for resort room keys when people boarded transportation... I guess someone thought it was too much trouble...

 

[HopperFan]

There was a time when they checked for resort room keys when people boarded transportation... I guess someone thought it was too much trouble...

But when they did that the transportation was only for hotel resort guests.
Then they changed it to anyone with park tickets.
And now I think it's just for anyone ..... in hopes that money will be spent somewhere.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I still don't see the big deal with this? Even a lot of the offsite resorts in the area are stricter with parking than the Disney resorts. I remember we went to the Omni just to look around for a future stay and we missed the free half hour by a minute and got dinged with a $10 charge.

 

[Burnedout]

They should have a policy where you can park your car at a resort if you are attending a seminar there or at least be able to pay and park your car there. DH had a four day seminar at the Contemporary, but unfortunately he couldn't get a room there as they were sold out. Overflow conference attendee people were put at POR. And buses don't go resort to resort. That meant I had to drive him over each day and pick him up, meaning missing rope drop or have him take a bus to the Magic Kingdom in a suit in the hot weather and then take the monorail over to the Contemporary or do the walk overdressed in the heat. // They would not let us park the car there for more than three hours. I thought this was pretty ridiculous, and this definitely put a damper on my stay.

You are a good wife. I would have dropped him early and then had him walk to the mk and take the bus back to po

 

[DLM1980]

I started thinking about the resorts I've been to, sure there are guard houses going in, but on the way out they are all automatic gates, no guard to say come back real soon!

So getting refunds for parking fees is gonna be more costly if they need to check you in and out of the parking lot, they will need to build new guard houses, install cash registers, cash control for security personnel. Can you imagine the lines to leave the resorts not just get into them.

 

[DisneyOma]

This is what I do not want. Yes, I park at resorts, and I go to parks after I do. But what resport i go to is for a specific reason, and I either eat there, or am there to buy a specific item. It is crazy to then move a car so you can go someplace else.

Now, I agree, one should not park at a resort and only go to a park.

You buy an item, and then you move your car, as you are no longer using that resort. Why would you think you could just leave it there all day?

Just to correct the record, Florida law is very very specific and very strict on when private property owners can tow cars.

There is very particular signage that must be at every public entrance to a parking lot and it must include the phone number and name of the towing company.

To my knowledge, none of the Disney resorts currently meet the requirements of Florida law. If they're towing in spite of this, they have all sorts of civil liability.

I saw signage at the gates on our lst trip. Didin't readall of it though - might not have the tow company listed.

I started thinking about the resorts I've been to, sure there are guard houses going in, but on the way out they are all automatic gates, no guard to say come back real soon!

So getting refunds for parking fees is gonna be more costly if they need to check you in and out of the parking lot, they will need to build new guard houses, install cash registers, cash control for security personnel. Can you imagine the lines to leave the resorts not just get into them.

No guard on the way in - you get a ticket stub then. Guard deals with it on the way out.

 

[DLM1980]

No guard on the way in - you get a ticket stub then. Guard deals with it on the way out.

So let's reconfigure all the entrances and exits too? This sounds like an expense along the lines of MyMagic+

 

[katallo]

How many of the hotels are doing this now? I agree some guests abuse the system (park and go to parks) but it's so nice to be able to go to dinner or shop at the gift shops when you stay offsite. I guess we will have to try ADR's in advance. We have never had a problem getting reservations at places like Captain's Grill on Kona. Hate to think I can't be spontaneous. We love Big River Grill and they don't even take reservations.

 

[Burnedout]

Why did you change it to be rumor only? It's not evidently. There are valid reports it is testing.

Per main street mouse who I've always found to be reasonable on the continuum between fact and gossip.

"There are some rumors swirling around that Disney is testing paid parking at some of their resorts. As you know, TMSM doesn’t deal in rumors, so we went straight to the source and asked.

According to Disney, ‘there has not been any type of pilot program announced concerning Guests having to pay for parking at the resorts. As of right now, parking is still complimentary.’ When asked about them turning away guests that may want to visit the resorts, we were told that ‘Boardwalk and Contemporary Resorts are not letting anyone without dining reservations park unless you pay for the valet service. That is due to the busy holiday season’ "

 

[MommyinHonduras]

OK, as a first timer coming soon, can someone staying off site pay to valet park for an entire day and walk from the Contemporary? Or is there a time limit. Thinking about getting to 8:30 breakfast ADR at BOG.

 

[DLM1980]

OK, as a first timer coming soon, can someone staying off site pay to valet park for an entire day and walk from the Contemporary? Or is there a time limit. Thinking about getting to 8:30 breakfast ADR at BOG.

If you have no valid reason to be at the Contemporary parking lot, other than to walk to the MK for a breakfast ADR, then you should be parked at the TTC

 

[thornton0511]

There was a time when they checked for resort room keys when people boarded transportation... I guess someone thought it was too much trouble...

I was thinking about this exactly when we were staying at the Poly last time and got in line for the resort monorail to take us back to our resort after a night at MK. I could not believe the amount of people in line and we waited forever to get on. We were squished like sardines too. When we first stopped at the Contemporary only one family got off from our car, then when it stopped at the TTC next, 90% of the people got off and we were only a few left after that. There is a specific monorail for guests to get back to the TTC from the MK at closing time, why do they have to use the resort monorail? I think the resort line should not stop at the TTC after park close, the only people who need to be on that train are the ones going back to the resorts IMO.

 

[DLM1980]

I was thinking about this exactly when we were staying at the Poly last time and got in line for the resort monorail to take us back to our resort after a night at MK. I could not believe the amount of people in line and we waited forever to get on. We were squished like sardines too. When we first stopped at the Contemporary only one family got off from our car, then when it stopped at the TTC next, 90% of the people got off and we were only a few left after that. There is a specific monorail for guests to get back to the TTC from the MK at closing time, why do they have to use the resort monorail? I think the resort line should not stop at the TTC after park close, the only people who need to be on that train are the ones going back to the resorts IMO.

It's probably to get the most amount of people out of the park at closing otherwise an even bigger bottleneck happens at the exit gates. And while I understand the frustration of having to wait I'm speculating thats why it does stop at the TTC, plus what about those that might be at a MK Resort but went to Epcot.....they need a way back to their resort too.

If they wanted to solve that bottleneck though, they should finish the Walk around the World. If I was staying at the poly I'd gladly take that walk then wait in any line for a bus/boat/monorail. Even if I was parked at the TTC I'd walk around the world, it feels like I'd get back to my car faster at park close.

 

[thornton0511]

It's probably to get the most amount of people out of the park at closing otherwise an even bigger bottleneck happens at the exit gates. And while I understand the frustration of having to wait I'm speculating thats why it does stop at the TTC, plus what about those that might be at a MK Resort but went to Epcot.....they need a way back to their resort too.

If they wanted to solve that bottleneck though, they should finish the Walk around the World. If I was staying at the poly I'd gladly take that walk then wait in any line for a bus/boat/monorail. Even if I was parked at the TTC I'd walk around the world, it feels like I'd get back to my car faster at park close.

You bring up a good point. I hadn't thought about that. I probably could have swam and gotten there faster than we did though lol. One good thing about staying at the Contemporary in regards to the other monorail resorts is that you do have the option to walk.

 

[Boopuff]

I was thinking about this exactly when we were staying at the Poly last time and got in line for the resort monorail to take us back to our resort after a night at MK. I could not believe the amount of people in line and we waited forever to get on. We were squished like sardines too. When we first stopped at the Contemporary only one family got off from our car, then when it stopped at the TTC next, 90% of the people got off and we were only a few left after that. There is a specific monorail for guests to get back to the TTC from the MK at closing time, why do they have to use the resort monorail? I think the resort line should not stop at the TTC after park close, the only people who need to be on that train are the ones going back to the resorts IMO.

People have caught onto the fact that both monorails go to the same places. The only way they could discourage non-mono-resort people from riding the resort loop would be if it bypassed the TTC. Usually the resort line is considerably shorter than the general monorail loop line. (although during holidays I"m guessing both lines are horrible.) Too bad Disney didn't build a walking path around the lake....

 

[Burnedout]

If you have no valid reason to be at the Contemporary parking lot, other than to walk to the MK for a breakfast ADR, then you should be parked at the TTC

seriously.

 

[Gracie09]

seriously.

The pp said she wanted to VALET not take a spot in self park

 

[Otter49]

People have caught onto the fact that both monorails go to the same places. The only way they could discourage non-mono-resort people from riding the resort loop would be if it bypassed the TTC. Usually the resort line is considerably shorter than the general monorail loop line. (although during holidays I"m guessing both lines are horrible.) Too bad Disney didn't build a walking path around the lake....

They couldn't very well bypass TTC as I'm sure that every night of the year there are people visiting all the monorail hotels who are parked in the MK lot.

 

[soniam]

I was thinking about this exactly when we were staying at the Poly last time and got in line for the resort monorail to take us back to our resort after a night at MK. I could not believe the amount of people in line and we waited forever to get on. We were squished like sardines too. When we first stopped at the Contemporary only one family got off from our car, then when it stopped at the TTC next, 90% of the people got off and we were only a few left after that. There is a specific monorail for guests to get back to the TTC from the MK at closing time, why do they have to use the resort monorail? I think the resort line should not stop at the TTC after park close, the only people who need to be on that train are the ones going back to the resorts IMO.

Also, when there are monorail issues, ie maintenance or unexpected, Poly and GF people need an option, and bringing in buses quickly can be difficult.