Parking "Hacks"

[chartle]

It's called Orange Lake; I believe it is now a Holiday Inn property. It shares a border with Animal Kingdom. Just out of curiousity, I've looked at it on Google Maps, and looks like a brief hike through the trees surrounding the resort golf course could give a view of parts of Kilimanjaro Safari. Not that I would, since I can just go to the park and ride the ride, but I did think that was neat.

If you do, don't forget your alligator repellent and a snake bite kit. Ok I'm kidding about the alligator repellent they would probably just run away, but not about the snake bite kit.

 

[asianway]

I don't care if they want to go through the hassle of DTD but I definitely care about parking at the resorts. Those lots simply aren't big enough to handle that and still have sufficient space for those who are staying there. I ask those who think its ok to do that to think about how'd they'd feel about coming back tired to their home resort and being unable to find parking. Yeah, it's very,very bad. If you wouldn't want that to happen to you at your home resort then why would you feel it is ok to do that at someone else's resort.

And if you think it doesn't happen, think again. It does and it's awful. It's why they have security checking the lots and it's why they do tow. And they do tow, I've seen it several times.

So, it's not wrong because you aren't paying Disney for parking, it's wrong because of the unnecessary inconvenience you are causing others. It's just plain inconsiderate.

The towing myth is a scare tactic - no one gets towed unless timed parking passes are in effect which is vary rarely. And even then, Ive never seen a tow. Then again, I dont spend my vacation policing the parking lots. They pay crooks to do that.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

The towing myth is a scare tactic - no one gets towed unless timed parking passes are in effect which is vary rarely. And even then, Ive never seen a tow. Then again, I dont spend my vacation policing the parking lots. They pay crooks to do that.

lol i see what you did there

 

[mattsdragon]

Dude, you own the internet, cough up the 14 bones ya cheapskate, you can afford it.

 

[daisyduck123]

And if you think it doesn't happen, think again. It does and it's awful. It's why they have security checking the lots and it's why they do tow. And they do tow, I've seen it several times.

Yep, I saw it once as well.

 

[Wadecool]

One piece of advice: LISTEN TO ROBO!!!

When in doubt, defer to Robo.

 

[Wadecool]

Edit: Not worth it. Delete at will.

It's not a total loss, at least you learned something.

 

[lucas]

Yep, I saw it once as well.

In 25 years of going to WDW, I've never seen it.

If you did see a car being towed, maybe it was broken down and needed a tow? Just wondering.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

In 25 years of going to WDW, I've never seen it.

If you did see a car being towed, maybe it was broken down and needed a tow? Just wondering.

i saw a car that was in a crash towed does that count?

 

[DisneyNic]

I must be completely jaded by the DIS, because I really didn't think anything said in this thread was that mean or sarcastic or anything else. I wonder if that should worry me..........

 

[sharadoc]

Why do I care if someone does the DTD/resort/park thing? Couple of reasons:

1. If I want to run (drive) to DTD for an Earl of Sandwich lunch or dinner and can't find a place to park because the lots are full of people who parked free for the day
2. If I get on the bus back to my resort at a park and can't find a seat because people are just riding to my resort to grab a bus to DTD
3. Because I believe that a strong society is based on people following rules. There's no excuse for breaking a rule, especially with children observing. I don't care if "it's just parking" or "it's just fountain soda" or whatever, it's still breaking a rule.
4. Too many rulebreakers means too much scrutiny. I don't want WDW to turn into the airport TSA security screening. We've already seen things go away because of abuse/overuse.

So that's why I prefer that EVERYONE follow the rules.

 

[photobob]

how come people get so upset about this parking issue? if someone wants to go through the hassle of it let them how does it affect someone to the point they get angry about it?

If you pay the premium price of staying onsite, it is rather frowned upon to comeback to say Boardwalk Villas or Boardwalk Inn and find no place to park. That is the reason people get upset, same for Contemporary or Bay Lake Towers, you pay a pretty penny for these locations and the resort guests need virtually the entire parking areas.

 

[alicia080979]

I might get slammed for this but let me tell you our experience from last week. Now, I will say we have APs so we weren't avoiding paying any fees but we did stay off-site and still wanted to use the bus a couple of times. We also valeted at deluxes a number of times but early in the trip, we drove over to French Quarter one day to take the boat to DTD for lunch & shopping. We could have driven to DTD but we wanted to ride the boat. I told security we wanted to ride the boat to go to DTD and he said, "Absolutely, make sure you take it down to check out Riverside too if you haven't been there. Please park to the left & have a great time". No mention of any 3 hour time limit or anything for our windshield.

We ate at DTD, took the boat to Riverside and walked around the resort, shopped, etc. On our way out of FQ, I stopped at security and asked them if we would be allowed to come back and park there to take the bus. I told him we had APs and just wanted to ride the bus to MK and he said, "Sure, no problem at all. You don't need to have a resort key to use Disney Transporation, it is for anyone visiting the parks so come on back".

We used FQ buses twice during our week but I would say tell them what you want to do. If you want to ride the bus, tell them you are staying off site and want to ride the bus. If the resort isn't busy, they may tell you that's fine. They never asked us about our APs when we came back. I don't think it is scamming the system if you are honest and they let you do it.

All that said, we went back on last day to FQ and the security guard that day was not very nice. I just told him we wanted to get beignets then take the boat to DTD for last minute shopping. He wanted to know where we were staying, acted like he had never heard of Bonnet Creek before and was just kinda rude but out of 4 trips to FQ, he was the only one that wasn't super nice about it. I don't feel bad about going there to shop, eat, use the boat, etc. bc at the end of the day, I am giving my money to Disney and that is all they really want.

 

[Polydweller]

The towing myth is a scare tactic - no one gets towed unless timed parking passes are in effect which is vary rarely. And even then, Ive never seen a tow. Then again, I dont spend my vacation policing the parking lots. They pay crooks to do that.

Not true and not a myth at all. I have seen it on most trips and I don't police the lots either. Just see it walking to my car. That also means its fairly frequent.

By the way, they don't have to give a parking pass. The only people in that lot without that hotel's parking pass are those who aren't staying there. And, times of entry are known at the guardhouse. So staying too long is known regardless of whether they are giving out passes or not. It's also why they rarely give them out. No need. Don't fool yourself that no pass means no regulation of the lot.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

Not true and not a myth at all. I have seen it on most trips and I don't police the lots either. Just see it walking to my car. That also means its fairly frequent.

By the way, they don't have to give a parking pass. The only people in that lot without that hotel's parking pass are those who aren't staying there. And, times of entry are known at the guardhouse. So staying too long is known regardless of whether they are giving out passes or not. It's also why they rarely give them out. No need. Don't fool yourself that no pass means no regulation of the lot.

thats not true because you can visit people at resorts or just visit resorts you just tell them you have a friend staying there ect they dont give you anything thats time stamped. resorts that are big like CBR or something dont check whos parked there and who isnt that would be way too much work.

 

[TxMickeyLover]

The towing myth is a scare tactic - no one gets towed unless timed parking passes are in effect which is vary rarely. And even then, Ive never seen a tow. Then again, I dont spend my vacation policing the parking lots. They pay crooks to do that.

I've seen them towing vehicles both times we've stayed at the Poly.

 

[cmpeter]

New to WDW...we are staying off site and planning to pay for parking. But, can someone clarify...

Paying to park is $14 or you can pay for valet at a resort and pay $15? Four a $1 more would it make sense to pay for valet? I am looking at the commuting times to and from Disney Resorts to the parks and often it's quicker to go from the resort using Disney Transportation vs. your own car. Is the $15 valet for the whole day or just the 3 hours they give you to look around the resort.

 

[Robo]

New to WDW...we are staying off site and planning to pay for parking. But, can someone clarify...



1- Paying to park is $14 or

2- you can pay for valet at a resort and pay $15?

3- Four a $1 more would it make sense to pay for valet?

4- I am looking at the commuting times to and from Disney Resorts to the parks and often it's quicker to go from the resort using Disney Transportation vs. your own car.

4- Is the $15 valet for the whole day or just the 3 hours they give you to look around the resort.

1- Yes.
2- Yes. (Give or take... the TIP figures into what you'll actually pay.)
3- Not always available.
4- It varies. MK can be especially more complex and time-consuming to self-park in the lot.
5- Once they agree to park your car, it's parked until you return.

.

 

[peppermintpea]

why do i care if someone does the dtd/resort/park thing? Couple of reasons:

1. If i want to run (drive) to dtd for an earl of sandwich lunch or dinner and can't find a place to park because the lots are full of people who parked free for the day
2. If i get on the bus back to my resort at a park and can't find a seat because people are just riding to my resort to grab a bus to dtd
3. Because i believe that a strong society is based on people following rules. There's no excuse for breaking a rule, especially with children observing. I don't care if "it's just parking" or "it's just fountain soda" or whatever, it's still breaking a rule.
4. Too many rulebreakers means too much scrutiny. I don't want wdw to turn into the airport tsa security screening. We've already seen things go away because of abuse/overuse.

So that's why i prefer that everyone follow the rules.

amen!!!!

 

[Lynne M]

thats not true because you can visit people at resorts or just visit resorts you just tell them you have a friend staying there ect they dont give you anything thats time stamped. resorts that are big like CBR or something dont check whos parked there and who isnt that would be way too much work.

That's Polydweller's point - they don't need to give you anything that's time stamped.

It is true that you can visit resorts. It's also true that they don't want you leaving your car in the lot all day while you go off to a theme park. Particularly if the resort is full, and allowing that would mean there's not enough room for the paying guests to park.