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

[Otter49]

Well I watched 2 CM's directing 2 tow trucks as to which cars they wanted towed, 4 that I saw. They had papers and we're checking the plates agaimist.the paperwork, looked like ducks to me.



As to signage, Disney is not.only privet property , but also a privete goverment .
If they want to tow I doubt they would have any.problems.doing it.

Others have also reported seeing cars being towed.

AKK

Disney has RCID and a couple of municipalities. That doesn't exempt them in any way from Florida law. If they're towing cars without meeting the requirements of the law, then they're open to liability and fines.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

Ah, but the question wasn't whether someone staying offsite should use valet parking. It was can they.

Yes, they can. It's not cost-effective (what with costing $5 more than TTC parking plus tip), and the monorail should definitely be available at the TTC in plenty of time for an 8:30 ADR. But tgey can.

 

[supersnoop]

Disney has RCID and a couple of municipalities. That doesn't exempt them in any way from Florida law. If they're towing cars without meeting the requirements of the law, then they're open to liability and fines.

The way the law is written, the statements by the security guard may qualify as notice.

 

[Otter49]

The way the law is written, the statements by the security guard may qualify as notice.

No, the law is not ambiguous. Permanent physical signage is required.

 

[supersnoop]

No, the law is not ambiguous. Permanent physical signage is required.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...tute&URL=0700-0799/0715/Sections/0715.07.html

"except for instances when notice is personally given to the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle or vessel that the area in which that vehicle or vessel is parked is reserved or otherwise unavailable for unauthorized vehicles"

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney has RCID and a couple of municipalities. That doesn't exempt them in any way from Florida law. If they're towing cars without meeting the requirements of the law, then they're open to liability and fines.

WDW governmental status was given to them as back in the day, the local and state government had no regulations for what Disney wanted to build. Frankly I an quite sure a minor issue like towing was covered to give WDW the requirement they needed to tow.

Your free to believe what you wish.........but I have seen towing and so have many others....

AKK

 

[Otter49]

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...tute&URL=0700-0799/0715/Sections/0715.07.html

"except for instances when notice is personally given to the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle or vessel that the area in which that vehicle or vessel is parked is reserved or otherwise unavailable for unauthorized vehicles"

Good catch. You read the stature more carefully than I did.

I'll conclude with this since this is beating a dead horse on a fairly small point. In 50+ visits to resorts every year, I can say that no security CM has ever told me I was entering a tow zone.

And since there's really no mechanism to determine who should be towed, I'm convinced no towing is going on.

 

[amylevan]

WDW governmental status was given to them as back in the day, the local and state government had no regulations for what Disney wanted to build. Frankly I an quite sure a minor issue like towing was covered to give WDW the requirement they needed to tow.

Your free to believe what you wish.........but I have seen towing and so have many others....

AKK

Just like city's can't pass laws that supersede state laws, RCID would not be able to pass laws that would supersede FL laws.

So either warning from the guard's shack is enough under the law, or something else went on - which to be honest, is more likely. Because currently, how on earth would Disney know which cars are allowed and which aren't? There are few to no parking papers and I don't think I've ever given our license plate number. So, if someone was being towed, perhaps a car wouldn't start and it was towed to be repaired?

 

[Marionnette]

Just like city's can't pass laws that supersede state laws, RCID would not be able to pass laws that would supersede FL laws.

So either warning from the guard's shack is enough under the law, or something else went on - which to be honest, is more likely. Because currently, how on earth would Disney know which cars are allowed and which aren't? There are few to no parking papers and I don't think I've ever given our license plate number. So, if someone was being towed, perhaps a car wouldn't start and it was towed to be repaired?

You may not have given Disney your plate number when you parked, but they have it nonetheless. Take a good look at the little traffic camera at the guard shack which is aimed at your rear bumper when you pull up. Think about it, you pull up to check in, camera captures your plate, computer records plate number with resort reservation info. Pull up for dining, camera captures your plate, computer records your plate number with ADR info. Either way, Disney knows whether you're a guest staying at the resort or one who is visiting.

However, I do agree with your point that any vehicles that people have seen being towed were probably not parking scofflaws.

 

[keishashadow]

There may be an obvious answer I'm missing, but why doesn't the Yacht Club/Beach Club have the off site parking issues like Boardwalk does? They are in close proximity to each other.

i've stayed often at both BWV & BCV & find self parking far easier @ BCV. @ BWV we usually wind up using valet in order to avoid parking in the overflow lot across the street (3 pm on tends to be a challenge).

Can't say i've counted the parking spots at each resort, but the BC/YC lot seems more spacious. Know there is a lot across the street, not sure if just for CMs. We've never had an issue finding a spot in the BC/YC lot, but have often gone further down towards YC and walked a bit.

I've read talk of valet going up to $30 a day, in ballpark of what most pay in major cities to park daily. While it's not a deal-breaker for me, I do find it irritating. IMO a guest really shouldn't have to valet to avoid a long trek to their car, whether it's poor design or a result of too many off-site guests parking there (using as a spring-board for visiting the parks, dining or just lookie seeing).

I suggest they implement:

1) An automated gated system wherein resort guests insert key card to access a designated parking lot (1 spot for a standard room/studio, 2 spots for 2-bedroom units). If you don't have a card, you cannot access that section of the lot, plain & simple.

or

2) A two-tiered system wherein non-guests pay a higher rate for valet than resort guests, in order to try and thin the herd. TIW card holders will likely experience a bump in their annual renewal to absorb the valet fees, don't see them eliminating that perk for it's perceived value.

thus far disney has avoided charging outright resort fees, including parking. Most deluxe resorts in the Orlando area charge for both, disney seems to take pride in fact they don't. Although we do typically rent a car, it is only fair to charge those who do park a premium in lieu of raising hotel rates. Perhaps it'd cut down on the traffic congestion and at least make it easier to park at one's resort

 

[DisneyOma]

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

They have pulled permits to do it already. A PP mentioned/linked in this thread, I believe. No need to 'reconfigure' - just have the guard move to the other side of the shack, have the shack switched around(or plunk down a ready made one that faces the right way)

I think they should just raise valet parking if the vehicle is there for more than 2-3 hours. Make it cost twice as much as parking in the theme park lot. Don't let anyone in to self-park if they don't have a reservation or ADR. If people want to walk around the resorts, they can park in a theme park lot, catch a bus, boat or monorail to the desired resort.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Just like city's can't pass laws that supersede state laws, RCID would not be able to pass laws that would supersede FL laws.

So either warning from the guard's shack is enough under the law, or something else went on - which to be honest, is more likely. Because currently, how on earth would Disney know which cars are allowed and which aren't? There are few to no parking papers and I don't think I've ever given our license plate number. So, if someone was being towed, perhaps a car wouldn't start and it was towed to be repaired?

However when the Disney regulations and governmentally standards were set up they included state agreements. The process was not only local. Again not a big thing for towing control could have been easily agreed to at the state level.

As to knowing , plates can and are recorded, passes are given and monitoring the lot and noting cars parked that are not registered is routine lot operations. As to repairs. seems most people would report the same to the lot gate or the guests services. In either case is the car is shown by lot records as being parked longer then permited and not a guest....Disney has every right to tow and make space available for resort guests.

The towing is not new and a 4 cars, maybe more were being towed is not as all likely they needed repairs, especially since they were locked and towed on dolly wheels on the tires on the ground.

But feel free to take a chance.
AKK

 

[katallo]

Does anyone know if an offsite guest can eat at Big River Grill at the BWV without paying to park. They don't take reservations. Could we show a receipt? After reading this it probably explains what happened on our late November trip. On the spur of the moment we decided to go to Captain's Grill. Parking wasn't an issue. When we arrived they said we needed a reservation...but 60% of the restaurant was empty. We had to go to Guest Services and have them make a reservation. Waited 15 minutes and were seated. We were there over 1 hour and at least 40% of the tables remained unoccupied. I guess they have a plan in mind but our feeling was why make people do this when tables are empty. Maybe they want to use the onsite restaurants for onsite guests.

 

[Otter49]

As for resort parking passes, I haven't been given one in years. In fact, I've only ever gotten them at two resorts. Once at the Contempo for a DVC presentation. WL used to hand out an orange pass that had the date but not the time nor a time limit.

I've also never been given a verbal time limit by security. I was at GF three times in December, Yacht Club on Christmas day, and BW this past Sunday. No passes. No limits.

Kind of hard to enforce a rule that doesn't exist anywhere but the internet.

 

[goofy4tink]

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.

Yes you can. Disney doesn't care. There just aren't that many people valet parking. Sure, you could run into problems if there is a convention at the resort, or it's an incredibly busy time of year. Otherwise, it shouldn't be an issue.
I was asked if I needed a parking pass when I was at POR in May. I was asked if I had a car when I arrived at BW earlier this month....I didn't.
There will be signage at certain resorts, at certain times of year, stating parking is not provided for park access. At other times of year, no one is going to follow you around, checking up on you. I have, though, seen security CMs checking out parked vehicles in the BLT lot.....morning and evening. Taking notes. No idea what they did with those 'notes'.
I've seen the abuse. And yes, only certain reports have this issue. I would imagine that Disney could easily charge for parking. If you're at the resort for three hrs or less and gave a validated parking pass, you don't pay anything. There wouldn't be any long lines of cars waiting to pay. Those that wanted to park at, say BW, in order to access Epcot and IllumiNations without paying to park, or to avoid the masses exiting the main lots, wouldn't want to pay to park there.
Most likely, we're seeing what normally happens at this time of year....limited parking at certain resorts.

 

[lubob]

If you are staying on disney property just take one of the disney buses to whatever resort y o u want to eat at or visit. It's harder than before but beats laying out money for a parking fee. We spend enough money in disney. They are getting very greedy. I hope they realize that people spend money at the resort gift shop when they visit different resorts.

 

[amylevan]

They are getting very greedy. I hope they realize that people spend money at the resort gift shop when they visit different resorts.

I honestly think this is one of the very few times that Disney isn't really being greedy. People were taking advantage of the free parking and they are attempting to put a stop to it. If you pay top dollar to stay at one of those resorts, you don't want to have to worry about finding parking.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

They have pulled permits to do it already. A PP mentioned/linked in this thread, I believe. No need to 'reconfigure' - just have the guard move to the other side of the shack, have the shack switched around(or plunk down a ready made one that faces the right way)

I think they should just raise valet parking if the vehicle is there for more than 2-3 hours. Make it cost twice as much as parking in the theme park lot. Don't let anyone in to self-park if they don't have a reservation or ADR. If people want to walk around the resorts, they can park in a theme park lot, catch a bus, boat or monorail to the desired resort.

Rsise valet? ?? Some resort guests use valet. Their car can be sitting in thst spot 24 hrs???? At one time, valet was free for the resort guest.

 

[goofy4tink]

For the life of me, I can't imagine why someone would go to a specific resort in order to buy something in the gift shop. There is very little variety in merchandise any more. It is probably about 2% of the people parking that may be going to a gift shop only. Add to that, about 10% that are going for counter service.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If you are staying on disney property just take one of the disney buses to whatever resort y o u want to eat at or visit. It's harder than before but beats laying out money for a parking fee. We spend enough money in disney. They are getting very greedy. I hope they realize that people spend money at the resort gift shop when they visit different resorts.

Easier said than done. There are no resort to resort buses. You either have to take a bus from your resort to DS, TTC, or a theme park then transfer to the resort bus that you want to go to. Then you have the reverse trip back. If Disney is going to charge other resort guests and pass holders (who obviously aren't skipping out on paying theme park parking) to visit their resorts, they will loose money in the long run.