Parking for ADR's at resort -- then on to the park....

[Letsbgoofy]

If you take the boat from the MK, your son will get the trip both ways! The boat ride is very relaxing; it almost makes me forget I'm at a theme park. I would do that rather than have to move my car, what a pain!

 

[goofy4tink]

Not trying to take sides, but I have to say that I have seen, on many occasions, people getting out of their cars at both the CR and the Polynesian and then hopping on the monorail. I know there are people that are going to,and parking at, the monorail resorts in order to eat at a particular restaurant. But, when those that are paying for a room at that resort, can not find a parking space, within a decent distance, due to those who have used the parking lot in order to get to a park, it's just not fair. At Boardwalk it doesn't seem to be as big a problem because the parking lot is quite a distance from the Boardwalk itself. But, when you combine the desire to eat at 'Ohana and then the ability to hop on the monorail and get to MK, it makes parking there an issue. Same thing with CR...Chef Mickeys and then walk over to MK.
To the OP....I don't think anyone was saying you are trying to 'beat the system'. But, I would hate to see you have any problem with not having your car be there when you got back. What a bummer that would be at the end of a fun day!!!! If I were you, I would park at the TTC, then take the monorail to MK and then hop on the boat to WL. Your car will be in one place and it will be more convenient for you when you leave MK that day.
Hope your trip is a good one. I know all about those 'celebrating a life' trip. My dd and I made one 2 months after my mom died. Bittersweet but wonderful. And it sounds like you got a great unit to stay in. Have a great time!!!!

 

[skiwee1]

I mean have you really not had a place to park when you stayed on site or something? .

Yes I have. I always stay at the Poly. When I drive, on more then one occasion, I haven't been able to find a parking spot. Or the spots are in the very back. Thankfully the Poly does tow cars because I see it all the time. That is why I told you they tow. Even now when I fly, I can't tell you how many folks get the monorail at the Poly and brag for everyone to hear how they have beat the system and don't have to pay for parking. It really is pathetic. I have no tolerance for anyone to park where they don't belong. I do believe an AP gets you free parking at the parks but does not entitle the AP holder to resort parking. If you are not a guest of that resort they will give you a 3 hour permit and that is it. I imagine it is more strict in busy season. I only go in low to moderate so I can only tell you what goes on then.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

It is obvious you feel taken advantage of, but I can't imagine the cynicism is really all that warranted -- I mean have you really not had a place to park when you stayed on site or something? I hope you consider my story the next time someone asks 'an innocent question'. Try giving them the benefit of the doubt. You attract more flys with honey anyway.

Label me another "cynic." We frequently stay at the Contemporary and have watched people park and hop the monorail or walk over the MK. Now we just factor in the $7/day valet parking fee and skip the self-parking... even during value season finding a parking space at the Contemporary can be challenging. So, yes, here's another person who's not found a place to park. I suppose I should just give all those people parking at the Contemporary and walking over to MK the benefit of the doubt, too.

 

[The Sweetness]

I sure hope that I am as welcome to valet my car at the GF, Poly, and Yacht club as I have always been in the past on my next trip. I dont care if it is $10 or even $15 per day. It is worht avoiding the MK and EPCOT parking lots IMO, and also, I enjoy tipping the valets, because then, I know where at least a very small amount of my vacation bucks are going. And the resorts are nice places to have breakfast before entering the parks.(yes I do make ADR's for this)

HAs any resort guest ever been told that there is no room to valet their car? If so, I may reconsider my plans. If not, Ill be taking the resort monorail to MK, and the boat to EPCOT as usual.

 

[beattyfamily]

Even valet parking has it's limits. They can only park so many cars...it's not meant to fit everyone going to MK...so they do sometimes have to turn people away during the holidays/busy times of the year.

I also stay at the CR a lot and have had a really hard time finding parking. I'm staying again next week and I sure hope I don't see what I saw last time; people parking, getting out, putting their Santa hats on, and then walking to MK for the party. I did (and will) tell security any time I see abuse of the parking at CR.

 

[LvsTnk]

Just a warning.

I don't like to waste my precious vacation time and you might be doing that if you think that BWI valet never fills up. We have stayed there many many times and I have a son with special needs so we only use valet, and yes you may be turned away especially at the holiday. It's happened to us on 2 different occasions.

 

[tazleiten12]

I also must say, While staying at the CR we have had a hard time finding a space in the parking lot many times! But also i understand the OP's question. I too, am trying to figure out how to get to Chef Mickey's and Ohana's for 2 early breakfasts. Usually we stay at a Magic Kingdom resort for a few days, so we schedule our early breakfast's around those days. This time we will be staying in a 2 bedroom villa at BCV. My breakfasts are around 8:15 am, any ideas on how to get there, eat, then head right to Magic Kingdom without driving back to BCV first? Can we park at TTC (how early do they start running?), then monorail to resort, resort to MK, pick up the car that night? Does that make sense?
THANKS!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

tazleiten12, your plan sounds good. TTC should be open by 7 a.m. because the monorails begin running at 7 a.m. Just give yourself time to drive over to TTC in the morning (traffic should be light). Make sure you get on the resort monorail to go to breakfast. The Poly is the first stop after TTC; the CR is stop #4 after TTC -- so plan a little extra time to get to your 8:15 breakfast with Chef Mickey.

 

[Sammie]

To the OP, you just happen to ask a question about a situation that is badly abused by others, even to the point some come on these forums and brag about it.

As Skiwee stated at the Polynesian it is very bad and I to at times while staying there had to park at the TTC and walk to the resort because of no parking. Since I had to walk from such a distance I took the time to glance at the dashes of all those cars parked in my resort lot and many were not staying the Polynesian.

It is also a problem at the Contemporary. And yes at times valet parking is restricted to those staying there.

 

[The Sweetness]

Just a warning.

I don't like to waste my precious vacation time and you might be doing that if you think that BWI valet never fills up. We have stayed there many many times and I have a son with special needs so we only use valet, and yes you may be turned away especially at the holiday. It's happened to us on 2 different occasions.

Is this the only resort that anyone knows for sure has turned guests (day or otherwise) from valet ? I hope so, as I dont think Id want to valet there anyway

 

[Sammie]

Is this the only resort that anyone knows for sure has turned guests (day or otherwise) from valet ? I hope so, as I dont think Id want to valet there anyway

At different times of the year we have been turned away from the Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary unless staying there.

 

[tazleiten12]

tazleiten12, your plan sounds good. TTC should be open by 7 a.m. because the monorails begin running at 7 a.m. Just give yourself time to drive over to TTC in the morning (traffic should be light). Make sure you get on the resort monorail to go to breakfast. The Poly is the first stop after TTC; the CR is stop #4 after TTC -- so plan a little extra time to get to your 8:15 breakfast with Chef Mickey.

Great! Also if i get a Cindys Ressie at around 8:15 am, can i go to the TTC and take the monorail to Magic Kingdom?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Great! Also if i get a Cindys Ressie at around 8:15 am, can i go to the TTC and take the monorail to Magic Kingdom?

Sure. Just be sure to watch the signs as you approach the monorail. There's one for Epcot, one for MK Resorts and one that is express to MK.

 

[CheriePenguin]

I understand that it would be abusing the system to park at Poly (etc) and then go to the parks.

But just a note about a possible misunderstanding - the people that park at the resort and then hop on the monorail may just be going to ride the monorail circuit before/after their meal. (Of course, they may also be going to MK.)

We are staying at WL and have 5:40 dinner reservations our first night for O'hana; and I plan to take my son on the monorail - full circle (not to MK) - either before or after dinner. I'm hoping he'll hold out long enough so we can see the fireworks and electrical water pageant from the Poly grounds as well. But that would put us past 3 hours for parking at Poly.

How long of a walk is it from the TTC to/from Poly? What is the monorail route from TTC to Poly (which direction does it go - how long till the Poly stop?) Would it be best to park at TTC and walk/monorail to Poly and then walk back?

(We originally weren't going to get a car, but several times it will be helpful (with toddler son, and going to/from DTD, AKL, Poly) especially this first night when I'm presuming the monorail and boats will be mobbed right after Wishes, and we wouldn't have a car seat with us to use in a taxi!)

 

[Sammie]

I understand that it would be abusing the system to park at Poly (etc) and then go to the parks.

But just a note about a possible misunderstanding - the people that park at the resort and then hop on the monorail may just be going to ride the monorail circuit before/after their meal. (Of course, they may also be going to MK.)

We are staying at WL and have 5:40 dinner reservations our first night for O'hana; and I plan to take my son on the monorail - full circle (not to MK) - either before or after dinner. I'm hoping he'll hold out long enough so we can see the fireworks and electrical water pageant from the Poly grounds as well. But that would put us past 3 hours for parking at Poly.

How long of a walk is it from the TTC to/from Poly? What is the monorail route from TTC to Poly (which direction does it go - how long till the Poly stop?) Would it be best to park at TTC and walk/monorail to Poly and then walk back?

(We originally weren't going to get a car, but several times it will be helpful (with toddler son, and going to/from DTD, AKL, Poly) especially this first night when I'm presuming the monorail and boats will be mobbed right after Wishes, and we wouldn't have a car seat with us to use in a taxi!)

The TTC is just next door to the Polynesian, in fact one of the Polynesian lodges is about one hundred yards or so. The monorail stops at the TTC, then the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, back to the TTC.

You do know the Water Pageant comes past the Wilderness Lodge also.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

How long of a walk is it from the TTC to/from Poly? What is the monorail route from TTC to Poly (which direction does it go - how long till the Poly stop?) Would it be best to park at TTC and walk/monorail to Poly and then walk back?

The walk is not long, however, if you've been in the parks all day and are with a toddler, it might seem endless.

The MK resorts monorail from TTC goes (1) Poly, (2) GF, (3) MK, (4) Contemporary and finally (5) back to TTC. Once you leave TTC its a short ride to the Poly.

There is also an express monorail to MK and another to Epcot. Each monorail has it's own entrance, so be sure to read the signs at each entrance to select the correct monorail.

I'd use the monorail after parking at TTC. To me it sort of defeats the purpose of parking at TTC to walk to the Poly (even though it's a short walk or ride). I'd probably stay on, ride the complete circuit and wait to arrive at the Poly the 2nd time before getting off. More fun that way!

If your son is old enough, ask the CM if you can ride with the driver (up front). If it's available and no one else has asked before you, it's a neat way to ride the monorail!

 

[scubamouse]

We are staying at WL and have 5:40 dinner reservations our first night for O'hana; and I plan to take my son on the monorail - full circle (not to MK) - either before or after dinner. I'm hoping he'll hold out long enough so we can see the fireworks and electrical water pageant from the Poly grounds as well. But that would put us past 3 hours for parking at Poly.

i hadn't thought of that but we may do that before our dinner at chef mickeys! we valet (in this case WL) and love the conveinence of it for our ADRs at other resorts and getting to the parks early. even if there's a 3 hr limit on valet, I figure we can do a lap on the monorail before dinner.

and really how many more years do i have left where my kids (now 5 and 4) still think the monorail is a ride

 

[DisneyWisher]

We are staying at WL and have 5:40 dinner reservations our first night for O'hana; and I plan to take my son on the monorail - full circle (not to MK) - either before or after dinner. I'm hoping he'll hold out long enough so we can see the fireworks and electrical water pageant from the Poly grounds as well. But that would put us past 3 hours for parking at Poly.

How long of a walk is it from the TTC to/from Poly? What is the monorail route from TTC to Poly (which direction does it go - how long till the Poly stop?) Would it be best to park at TTC and walk/monorail to Poly and then walk back?

(We originally weren't going to get a car, but several times it will be helpful (with toddler son, and going to/from DTD, AKL, Poly) especially this first night when I'm presuming the monorail and boats will be mobbed right after Wishes, and we wouldn't have a car seat with us to use in a taxi!)

By your countdown it looks like you are having dinner at Ohana on Monday is that correct? Wishes is at 8pm that day but if memory serves me correctly usually EWP is around 8:30 at Poly. It appears at GF, Poly, CR, WL and FW in that order. Personally I would take the boat. Watching the fireworks from the boat are beautiful but its not always easy to catch it at the exact time. There is also a bus that runs from WL to MK. That would be much easier than parking at TTC, catching the tram, walking to the monorail and going to Poly. When you take the bus or boat to MK you can either take the monorail or GF/Poly boat to Poly. If you take the boat (WL/FW) to MK then the monorail you won't even have to fold the stroller. Or if you decide on the bus its faster (not many take the bus) The last time we were there (Sept) usually DD12 and I were the only ones on board.

Good Luck

 

[CheriePenguin]

Thanks to Sammie, Tigger_Magic, ScubaMouse, and DisneyWisher for your quick responses!

Sammie – Yes, I know the EWP goes past WL, but I’m not sure how late DS (20 months) will last, and I think it’s even later on MVMCP nights when the fireworks are later . We’ll be at Poly that first night (and it should feel an hour earlier to us, though travel tired), so I thought we’d try to catch it there, and then if we get to see it another night from WL, so much the better!

Tigger_Magic – Thanks – I agree taking the monorail all the way around and back to Poly the 2nd time sounds like the best plan, if we get there early enough, and hopefully we’ll catch the front car at least once during our trip! We can fill time by riding again after dinner (or else maybe play in the sand or shop?) We can either try the monorail or walking back to TTC after fireworks/EWP.

ScubaMouse – I know! I’ve read lots of trip reports with young kids saying their favorite things were the monorail and swimming at the hotel!

DisneyWisher – Yes, Monday is our arrival day and O’hana dinner! We aren't doing any parks that day. We do plan to take the boat to MK when going to MK from WL, but I’m worried about getting back “home” to WL from the Poly with a toddler after fireworks and EWP when I imagine the boats and monorails to be mobbed, especially our first night when we don't have the hang of everything yet.

Sorry for kind of “hijacking” this thread!