Parking "Hacks"

[blainekyle]

I was just looking into parking rates, and ways to save money on parking, since I will be taking an "off-site" trip with my wife's family later this year. I read that the rate is $14 per day (is that current?), which isn't too bad, but for multiple days that will still add up to a hefty toll in the end.

Some tips I found were parking at Downtown Disney, and parking at the resorts. Both ideas give me pause, for different reasons. For one, I am wondering whether buses from DTD run directly to the parks, or if we would have to ride from there to a resort and then switch to a resort bus. I am not interested in that kind of hassle.

As for the resort idea, the tip I read said that you just have to show an ID at the security gate and tell them that you want to look around because you are considering staying there. This seems a little dishonest, and also like it might raise some suspicion, but at the same time I'm thinking, "Hey, I actually would like to check out the other resorts!" I've only ever stayed at Pop Century, and once at Port Orleans Riverside, and I would love to visit some of the moderate resorts. Actually, I really want to check out the deluxe resorts to, but I couldn't honestly claim to be considering a visit there, because that is just not in any budget I could imagine justifying unless I have a major change in social status sometime.

Anyway, I guess my questions are:
1) Do the buses run from DTD direct to the parks (and are they as frequent as at the resorts)?
And 2) Is it "kosher" to pull the resort parking trick described above? Do they check your plates and tow or ticket if you end up parking there all-day? Or, do they maybe log your name when they check the ID, and put you on a list if you do it multiple days in a row?

 

[mesaboy2]

1) No.
2) No.

On a related note, it's hot in July.

 

[Robo]

One piece of advice: LISTEN TO ROBO!!!

What did he say THIS time?


.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

uh oh two dtd parking threads in two days... they dont run to the parks but you can take a bus from dtd to like poly or something its really not worth the time it takes to do it. you should see if the place you are staying offsite has a shuttle many of them do.

 

[stargazertechie]

Sure you can park downtown Disney and then take a bus to the resort and then take the bus from the resort to the park because there are no buses that run straight to the parks from DTD. This will eat up several hours of your day.

No you cannot park at the resort to go to the park- parking at the resort is a privilege for guests at that resort. You could however pay the valet fee to park at one of the resorts but that's still going to run you $15

 

[disneychic2]

One piece of advice: LISTEN TO ROBO!!!

 

[tony609]

I gotta say I go to WDW on a budget (stay value).....the parking fee of $14 per day is NOT that much to even considering all the hassle someone would have to go through..not to mention it's against Disney policy.

 

[reiella]

I think you may be better off looking at using the Lynx/Local Bus if you really want to avoid the parking fee. But that has other costs [and complications].

 

[heyitsmejosh]

here is a question how long are you staying? would it make sense to buy 1 annual pass so that you dont have to pay for parking along with other discounts that come with buying a pass?

 

[glocon]

Yes it can get expensive paying for parking, but those of us staying onsite pay for it too- its built into our room charges.

Lucky you did some research and found out about the parking fees, now you can build them into your trip budget! Some people don't even realise there are fees to park when going to the parks, but even parks like Six Flags charge for parking...

And I sure would hate to pay for a towing fee or ticket instead of a parking fee- that would cost even more!

Don't risk it- just save up for it!

Have fun!

 

[HANDYMOM]

Never a good idea to look for validation of something you have a good idea is against the rules. Much better to fork over the $14/day in parking than work out a plan to circumvent the Disney rules.

 

[jrtoastyman]

Disney is expensive. Very expensive, in fact. $14 is a drop in the bucket compared to everything else you'll spend money on. If spending $14 is sufficient to prompt you to jump through all of these hoops, you're going to freak when you see what they charge for other things. Just an FYI.

 

[rwdavis2]

Given the number of these types of questions latley I wonder how many of them are just trolls?

 

[Rahjeir]

If the 14 buck a day parking is breaking the budget, a trip to disney might not be a wise thing.

 

[Art 1]

1) No.
2) No.

On a related note, it's hot in July.

 

[mousermerf]

Couple of practical notes..

Disney charges extortionate rates for little to no service in their parking lots. This included sercurity - or rather having the deputies they hire break into your car. See this article:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/camera-catches-duty-deputy-breaking-car-disney-lot/nNPfj/

Deputy Kirk Smurawa was caught on surveillance breaking into a car and taking a purse that was inside, while on duty at Disney Hollywood Studios' parking lot, investigators said.

That said, I feel no remorse in stating some "facts" that have nothing to do with gaming the system but rather everything to do with how parking works.

Magic Kingdom parking toll plaza is also the gateway to Magic Kingdom resorts. Guests visiting Magic Kingdom resorts do not pay to park, because they are not parking. Those guests are supposed to stay to the far right, while guests going to the parking lot are to stay to the left.

There are lanes in the "middle" that service both.

That is a fact. There is no debating it, it is a fact. It is not against any policy or rule or anything to know that information.

Once parked in the Magic Kingdom lot you can get to any of the 4 main theme parks at WDW quickly and easily via Disney transportation which is allowed free of cost as a "guest" of the Walt Disney World resort. Disney does NOT tow vehicles from their lots which do not have parking passes for the day from the autoplaza, because they do not issues parking plaza tickets for Annual Passholders, CMs, and hundreds of other reasons. They would be towing countless hundreds of cars that are validly parked in their lot with permission without paying if they even considered doing such a thing.

 

[smcabee]

Not sure how many days your going but you may want to weigh the cost of your ticket + 14/day parking vs 1 annual pass It may be close enough to go with the annual pass. You could also tack on a TIW card then for $75 and save more with your dining.

 

[gator girl]

btw can you please provide a link to your "sources" for parking-fee-avoidance tips? Because I'm pretty sure we could mobilize a pitchforked mob around these parts to TAKE THEM DOWWWWWWN!!

 

[blainekyle]

Wow, thanks to those with helpful answers. I didn't realize that my question was against policy, and I'm sorry for that, but I definitely didn't expect to make anyone angry by asking. I wouldn't have even asked the question if I hadn't just Googled "disney world parking" and found those "tips" in the fourth result. I originally just set out to find out the rates. I wanted to go to the parks every day of our 6-day trip, but when I told my wife the total ticket prices between 4 and 6 days were negligible, she pointed to parking costs as something I hadn't considered. She does seem to be under the impression that it is more than $14 per day (maybe because it is more at Universal--is that correct?).

Anyway, to those who are telling me that I am in for a shock when I see how much other things at Disney cost, I will say that I am NOT new to Disney, thanks. I am only new to doing Disney from off-site. There is a shuttle from my resort, but it is by reservation only, and doesn't sound like it will be very convenient.

Also, I'm not trolling. You can check my record here if you think I'm a troll; you'll find no corroborating evidence. I'm sorry if this question has come up recently and I missed it. I did run a search for "parking" on the boards before posting, and came up with nothing relevant.

I had been told that this community had some hot-button topics that would bring out the mean in some folks, but I sincerely didn't mean to tread into that territory. I've been enjoying being active on these boards lately, and have come to think of it more and more as both a way to get my Disney fix until the next trip, as well as a valuable resource for well, "strategies."

Now, it's true, I did come into this with reservations about the legitimacy of parking at a resort while staying offsite. That wouldn't have even occurred to me if I hadn't read it from what looked like a well-informed source. In case you think I'm bluffing about that, here's the link:
http://voices.yahoo.com/disney-world-tips-avoid-parking-fees-11-day-800379.html?cat=16

Maybe I shouldn't have even asked the question, but I guess I was lulled in to feeling like I could ask a question in earnest here without being ostracized.

And as for the DTD "strategy," well, it didn't even occur to me that this was something bad to do--just less convenient. I mean, there is no security gate, you don't have to lie and say you are just there to look around, and the parking is legitimately free, as far as I can tell.

But seriously, the sarcasm and flaming seems to me to be wholly uncalled for. Suddenly it feels like this is a place to come to get into a fight, which is not what I'm looking for. I get enough of that from all the extended family with differing political opinions on Facebook.

And yes, I know it's hot in July. And since I didn't mention anything about when my trip is, I'm forced to assume that was sarcasm (I do try to give the benefit of the doubt). So, in reply, I will only note that there are other places that are known for being hot, and some people may go there anyway.

Oh, and thanks, mousermerf.

 

[blainekyle]

Also, in reply to those who suggesting an annual pass, thank you. That might be a very legitimate solution. It looks like it would be less than a $70 difference versus a 6-day pass, plus then I would get the benefit of park-hopper, which we weren't planning on buying, and it would help in the trip I am trying very hard to plan for next year.

So, annual passes include parking then, is that right?