Parking "Hacks"

[Butterbunkins]

After reading through (most of) this I have to wonder, are the same people so up in arms about parking the same people upset that they are now enforcing FP return times?

 

[Otter49]

This 3 hour parking pass thing should really be put to rest at this point but I know I won't be able to do that. This pass may have existed at some point in history, but now it is pretty much Urban Disney legend.

Since I became a local Ap'er again about 15 years ago I've visited the resorts hundreds of times. I've never been given such a pass, not even once. I've never been told by security about a 3 hour limit, not once. I've never received a grilling as to why I was there after I've shown them my ID and said "Just visiting". Low season, high season, it's always the same.

There was a period of a few years when I got a parking pass at Wilderness Lodge, but not anywhere else. The pass gave the resort name, had the word "Guest" printed on top, the guard wrote the date and that was the end of it - no tag number, no time when I entered the lot. Even this particular pass ceased to exist 5 or 6 years ago.

Yes, you get a dash pass if you're staying onsite but not if you're local or staying offsite.

As for the whole towing issue, if there were a 3 hour pass, or you were told verbally of a 3 hour limit, Disney still would be violating the law if they towed your car. Florida law is very stringent in what is required. There must be signage at every entry to a lot that states you're entering a tow zone and the sign must include the name and phone of the tow company. As far as I know, no such signage exists. And yes, WDW is subject to Florida law in this regard.

Finally, I too once parked at resorts to go to the parks - a matter of convenience. I no longer do that largely because of discussions like this that point out it can inconvenience resort guests.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually, I would love to just park at Pop Century. That's the resort I'm used to staying at, and I don't think the bus ride is all that long. But even that I would wonder about from a moral standpoint. If I was getting a consensus here from the other DISers that this is widely accepted as unoffensive, I'd totally do it--but I don't think that's the message I'm receiving, and I understand that. I am the OP (it might be easy to lose track of this now, on the 8th page), but I am not the evil "do anything to save a penny" monster that the rhetoric here has been suggesting. I'll note again the fact that I came here with a question. My original post wasn't, "Hey, guess what, I'm going to stay off-site and come park in your resort lots to skip the parking fees, and there's nothing you can do about it." I came asking for opinions, which I received, unfortunately in many cases coupled with some harsh and judgmental language and accusations.

And I tried to give you accurate, non-snarky answers. This subject comes up all the time...and there are a ton of posters who are, in fact, trying to avoid paying parking fees. People don't tend to park at the value resorts simply because they still have to take a bus..they can't just monorail or walk to a park.

honestly i have never seen anyone driving around writing down cars that have nothing in the windshield and i go there every 2 or 3 months.. that being said i dont know who you are calling fee avoiders the guy was just asking a question and it was answered a while ago no one else here really said they did it.

If you read my post, you'd note that I said I've never been during a peak season. I've never seen the signage. It certainly wasn't there two weeks ago. Also not sure where all the vehemence is coming from. We have an AP so parking is free, so I really don't care where I park. If Disney does not want people to go to a resort on the Monorail line for a meal and then hop over to MK on the Monorail while leaving their car in the lot, they need to say so. Insinuating that I'm breaking some kind of special parking rule that is unpublished is not cool.



The lots would still be half empty? Again, it's off-season. Sorry, I really don't think the resorts are full to bursting.



I know this was directed at a different poster, but I want to be clear about your use of 'fee avoiders' since you also quoted me earlier in your post. I have an AP. I'm not paying parking anyhow. I'm not avoiding fees.

I truly don't much care that you haven't seen it...I have. And it was on more than one occasion, while at BLT. It happens.
I have often said that if you choose to park at a resort that you are not staying at, please park in a more distant spot. That would allow those paying to stay at that resort to have access to the closer spots.
When I said 'fee avoiders', I didn't actively mean anyone specific here...it was a gross generalization. Sorry.

yeah i agree, i have annual pass as well so i dont need to avoid any fees and i have no clue who that person was calling a fee avoider.

Please see above. But still..you are taking a close up spot from someone who has paid to stay there. I have an AP as well. But that doesn't entitle me to park right up front at a different resort and then leave my car there all day.

 

[asianway]

I think a clear and direct question would be...

Taking a look at and comparing the relative size and design of the various lots, does anyone think that Disney intended for day guests to park at the nearby resort lots for the purpose of visiting the theme parks for the day?

Looks to be plenty of open spots at the Poly.

The older resorts, the Contemporary especially(and you may want to revisit your map as you are not encompassing all of the parking areas at the resort-FYI) were designed to accomodate nearly everyone driving and parking. With the advent of MME, there are far fewer rental cars in the lots and thus more available parking spots.

I agree with a previous poster that in recent years, the 3 hour passes are almost non existent. Iver seen one maybe 5 times in the past 5 years, mostly at Poly. There are either parking restrictions and you cant get in, or they dont care.

The notion that if there werent a parking thief in the #2 spot that it would somehow be open when you personally arrived to park in it is somewhat absurd. There is always going to be a spot, you may just have to walk a bit. In the case of Earl at DTD, theres always spaces down by Cirque.

 

[fla4fun]

This 3 hour parking pass thing should really be put to rest at this point but I know I won't be able to do that. This pass may have existed at some point in history, but now it is pretty much Urban Disney legend.

Since I became a local Ap'er again about 15 years ago I've visited the resorts hundreds of times. I've never been given such a pass, not even once. I've never been told by security about a 3 hour limit, not once. I've never received a grilling as to why I was there after I've shown them my ID and said "Just visiting". Low season, high season, it's always the same.

Yes, you get a dash pass if you're staying onsite but not if you're local or staying offsite.

As for the whole towing issue, if there were a 3 hour pass, or you were told verbally of a 3 hour limit, Disney still would be violating the law if they towed your car. Florida law is very stringent in what is required. There must be signage at every entry to a lot that states you're entering a tow zone and the sign must include the name and phone of the tow company. As far as I know, no such signage exists. And yes, WDW is subject to Florida law in this regard.

Finally, I too once parked at resorts to go to the parks - a matter of convenience. I no longer do that largely because of discussions like this that point out it can inconvenience resort guests.

You can write based on your experience, but that doesn't mean someone else hasn't experienced something different. Me, for example. I have dined at Disney resorts for years and most of the time, I don't have any issue parking there. However, I have been given the three hour pass for dining at CR at least three times. Twice it was just a color coded card to indicate what hour you arrived, once a printout with the specific arrival time on it. I have actually been turned away from CR when I had a valid ADR and told to park in the MK lot because they had a large convention in house and weren't allowing anyone to park in the lot that was not a CR guest. So they aren't some kind of urban legend - but the circumstances have to be very specific for them to be issued and enforced, and unfortunately you don't often know that it's going to happen until you get to that guard booth and try to get in. I have a room reservation at CR over July 4th this year, and I expect parking to be strictly enforced on at least the 3rd and 4th. I have also returned to my resort, particularly BW/BWV and circled the lot trying to find a space because there were so many non-guests parked in the resort lot instead of the overflow lot. Parking there really opens up after Illuminations . . . .

I do agree that if they are going to start towing for real, instead of simply implying that something dire will happen at the end of the three hours, then they do need to have that information posted and readily available to anyone entering the lot. But there have been incidents in the Orlando area (primarily downtown during events) where people have had their cars towed for parking where they shouldn't but there wasn't any signage that the local news could find (and they looked). I will admit I am no expert when it comes to parking and towing laws in Florida - but I would certainly want to know up front what could happen so I could make an informed choice about where to leave my car.

I do have to say that the funniest thing that ever happened to me as far as parking at a resort goes was back when I used to dine at the Concourse Steakhouse at CR two or three times a week. I guess security got used to seeing my car there, because I came out one night to a cast member parking violation attached to my car - with the threat that if I continued to park in guest parking, they would notify my manager. I was not a Disney employee at the time so I wondered just who they would be notifying . . . . I got a good laugh out of that one.

 

[Cappy81]

While I, myself and one who goes by the rules, I realize that many do not. Nothing much you can do about it though. Just have to shrug it off, I don't think the OP meant to cause such a stir or even realize that parking at DTD and using the buses was not allowed. That's how you find out, by asking questions.

People are going to continue to park where they shouldn't and swim at resorts that they are not staying at, while it may be an annoyance can't change it.

We are on vacation! Relax and have fun!!!!!

 

[IcedMudd]

Being towed at Disney doesn't necessarily mean your car will be removed from property. It may mean that your car will be towed and parked in the proper area. I have seen this happen.

 

[mesaboy2]

...or even realize that parking at DTD and using the buses was not allowed. That's how you find out, by asking questions.

Parking at DTD and going to the parks is allowed. There's never any signage otherwise or guards to tell you otherwise. It's just that Disney has made it not worth the extra time and effort.

 

[mefordis]

Question: If you want to visit a resort and eat at their quick service restaurant, browse, etc. will they let you into the parking lot for that? Everytime I've been asked by the guard at the lot I had a TS reservation and I think they looked it up to confirm, but I wonder what they'd say if we said we simply wanted to explore the resort.

 

[goofyernmost]

WAIT! WAIT! I got an idea.

Let's say that only a 80% of people using theme park parking actually pay (in cash) for the right to park there. Then let's say that about 60% of all the guests at the parks at any given time use the parking lot at all.

The math would work out that $14.00 X 60% - 20% equals $6.72 if spread out over the entire paying guest at the parks. So then if Disney were to increase ticket prices by $6.72 per day per every guests they could stop charging for parking completely.

It might even be a little less then that because you wouldn't need all those CM's working the booths or directing traffic (well maybe they would still need the traffic ones). Then everyone that goes to Disney would have to budget to include parking, transportation all inclusive in the ticket price.

No more trying to figure a way to prevent people from taking up parking places that are were not created to park in to visit parks, Disney would get the same money, no one would have to waste 3 to 4 hours a day trying to get to the parks from non paying parking spots as far away as Tampa and all the stars and planets would be in alignment. Savvy? The cost of the parking lots would be absorbed in ticket prices just like electricity, free entertainment, ice and water.

PS...to make up the difference for folks staying on site they could put a Fridge and Microwave in every room like they do in the cheap hotels off-site and that would save the on-site guest $10.00 per day, at least. WIN! WIN!

Disclaimer: If a high level Disney Executive sees this post and decides to follow this very sound advice...I can forward an address to send my royalty check. (just add the cost of that to the ticket price)

 

[Cappy81]

Parking at DTD and going to the parks is allowed. There's never any signage otherwise or guards to tell you otherwise. It's just that Disney has made it not worth the extra time and effort.

Thanks for the clarification! I must have read wrong...

 

[ygracey]

What is the purpose of leaving this thread open? In other areas of DIS they have specific info on refillable resort mugs or pool hopping and they state what the facts are and still allow people to ask questions about scenarios that have not been addressed. I just don't see why people want to continue to just dredge this until everyone has been mocked or irritated.

 

[DisneyNic]

What is the purpose of leaving this thread open? In other areas of DIS they have specific info on refillable resort mugs or pool hopping and they state what the facts are and still allow people to ask questions about scenarios that have not been addressed. I just don't see why people want to continue to just dredge this until everyone has been mocked or irritated.

I realize that I am contradicting myself with this post, but it makes no sense to comment on a thread that you think should be dropped. It had been 2 1/2 hours since anyone had posted on it. A little bit longer and it would have dropped to page 2 and been long forgotten. And as always, if you don't care for a thread's topic or the way the conversation is going, you don't have to open it. JMHO.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

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?

Oh, oh, I've got an answer. Pick me! Pick me!

Because if it wasn't for people parking for free at DTD, the rest of us that stay on site would be able to get from Downtown Disney to the parks without having to walk to Saratoga Springs or taking a bus to another resort first.

That's why.

It's not the end of the world, it's just inconvenient.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't disagree. But a $100 character breakfast certainly entitles me to park at the resort where the restaurant is. And, for the umpteenth time, if Disney intends there to be a 3 hour parking limit at a resort they would make that abundantly clear when you entered, either via the security guard at the gate or signs or slips that go on your dash. Since folks are not clearly reading all posts, I'll repeat: NONE OF THIS EXISTS DURING NON-PEAK SEASONS.

That $100 character meal does entitle you to something. It entitles you to 3 hous of parking at the resort. If you don't feel like moving your car after the meal, then park at the TTC and monorail in. You won't have to worry about moving your car later.

Of course the lot is going to have empty spots mid-day when many guests are out visiting other parks. But when they come back in the evening and have to circle endlessly to find a spot, they are no longer getting value for what they spent to stay there.

More to the point, that $35/$15 per person meal allows you to park at the venue - resort, in this case - while you're dining, and for a reasonable length of time surrounding your meal.

It doesn't entitle you to park at the specific property while you spend the adjacent few-twelve hours in a theme park.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just recently got back from a trip to WDW (staying off-site). We had an AP holder in the family so got free parking anyhow.

On the first day we had a character breakfast at 'Ohana. When I drove up to the MK parking booths the CM directed me to stay to the right to go to the Polynesian. Didn't get asked to pay for parking or to show the AP.

At the Poly security gate had to show a driver's license and say we were having breakfast at 'Ohana. We were told to park anywhere. We were NEVER told there was a 3-hour resort parking limit. In fact, this is at least the tenth time I've been to WDW and have never been told there is a 3-hour parking limit.

We ended up leaving the car at the Poly all day while going to MK after breakfast. Our car was there when we got back at the end of the day, too. Not to suggest that my experience is representative of everyone's, but...

I know that I would be extremely upset to find my car towed because of an unwritten, unstated 3-hour parking limit at a resort. I would also fight to the end to make sure that I didn't pay a cent of the towing fees.

So, if there really is a 3-hour limit, why are security attendants not informing people? Is my experience different because I have never been to WDW during a peak season?

So let me see if I understand what you're saying. You misrepresented your plans to the CM at the Polynesian security gate, thus not giving WDW the opportunity to advise you of the resort parking policy.

Despite your unwritten, unstated intent - to leave your car at a resort all day instead of at the TTC - you would be extremely upset with Disney IF they removed your car after a number of hours so guests staying at the Polynesian could park there?

 

[kaytieeldr]

honestly i have never seen anyone driving around writing down cars that have nothing in the windshield and i go there every 2 or 3 months.. that being said i dont know who you are calling fee avoiders the guy was just asking a question and it was answered a while ago no one else here really said they did it.

I'm going to rely on the reports/experience of a ten year member of a three month one; similarly, I'm going to trust the experiences of a poster with multiple thousands of posts over one with several hundred. That's just life.

You not having seen something doesn't mean it doesn't happen. goofy4tink said she sits on her BLT balcony drinking coffee and sees CMs looking in windshields and writing down something. I know her vision isn't good enough to see what's being written , but clear enough to recognize the action.

Just because an individual has never seen something means nothing. I've never seen a vehicle roll over - but I know this type of accident/incident exists.

 

[kaytieeldr]

i said going out moving the car to the TTC and if you don't stay there how do you even know that people cant find parking at the monorail resorts at night?? in the off season they don't care where you park if they care they let you know. they are there for a legitimate reason they arent trying to avoid any fees and the gate guard said it was fine nothing wrong was done in that situation..

"They" who? "They" Walt Disney World? "They" security CMs? "They" guests? This is too confusing for me!

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the clarification! I must have read wrong...

Read what wrong??? Disney has no issue with you parking at DTD and heading to a resort...even if it means you are then going to a park. In all reality, this just doesn't happen all that much. The vast majority of people have decided it just isn't worth the time and effort involved, and they drive to the desired park. There has even been signage up that tells you how to get to a park. It's just a tempest in a teapot.
Parking at the resorts is a whole different issue. Will Disney tow your car if you park at the CR/Polynesian/GF all day? No, most likely not. Do they encourage this practice? No, they do not. Yes, there may be plenty of parking available at one of these resorts, but that doesn't mean that anyone can now head there and park for the day, unless they have valet parked. If everyone started doing this, there would be no room for guests to park at their own resort. And believe me, if word got out that everyone can park wherever they wish to, you would find a ton of guests just driving to the CR and parking there...it's so much easier to access MK from there vs TTC.
I don't much care what people do...it's up to each person to make that choice for themselves. Some feel it's a violation of Disney policy, others don't. The problem is that Disney has no signage up that states you can't leave your car there all day....yes, they do at certain times of the year. So, I suppose I can only assume that they don't care if you do it at less busy times of year. But, we all know what happens when you 'assume'.

 

[Suellen]

Disney has no issue with you parking at DTD and heading to a resort...even if it means you are then going to a park.

Guess I am confused.... I thought they didn't want people parking at DTD and going to a park.... hence the reason there are no longer buses from DTD to the parks.... too much of this WAS going on.

True or not?