parking passes (info only, not debating!)

[maxiesmom]

Hi eveyone! I just wanted to pass along some info I read on my a l l e a r s newsletter. One couple stated that at the Boardwalk Villas they are now issuing the parking passes at the gate before you check in. And that the gate attendant is taking your license to make sure it matches with a name on their reservation list.

I have seen some posts lately about how people are not driving to Disney, and plan on giving there pass to another family member. I'm not trying to debate if that is right or wrong, but I wanted to pass on this info so that they are aware that Disney is becoming more strict with the parking passes.

 

[raven69david]

This happened to us last year in August during Magical Beginnings at AKL. When we first arrived, the security guard asked for my ID and then confirmed it with my reservation/check-in date. He wrote my license plate down and let me go through after he handed me the parking pass which was good through the length of my stay.

After that, they never checked the license plate number on the pass. They just saw the pass and let me go through - no hassles beyond that. I, for one, am for this security as it doesn't apply to me or my family. We always rent a car (as we're from Texas and would NEVER drive to Florida) and like to explore the Orlando area when we're not at the parks. It's good to know that some security measures are being taken by Disney to ensure guest safety. Not sure how safe this particular issues makes us, but at least it's a step in the right direction IMO.

 

[PrincessV]

I can tell you with the utmost assurance that the name on the parking pass does NOT have to match the driver, or even the passenger, of the car. All parking passes issued to guests of a room will bear the name of the person under whom it was reserved. I just traveled with 2 other guests, each of whom had their own car. The room was under my name and all three parking passes bore my name.

I'm not advocating misuse, just pointing out that multiple cars of guests staying in the same room will have no problem coming and going.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Each time we have stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort, the guard has taken my driver's license and wrote the number down beside my reservation number on his list. That was only done the first time we entered the grounds to check in. During the rest of the stay, the didn't check my drivers license again. I did have them ask for my key card a couple of times.

 

[ElizabethB]

We were given our parking pass at the Boardwalk parking lot entrance gate house. We received a second one when we checked in.

 

[Got Quattro?]

Sorry, but the boardwalk is a destination for resort and non resort guests. There is too much to do there to keep out day parkers.

The times we have a car, and are not on disney, we always park at board walk. Tell the guard we are eating at the boardwalk. they wave us on. A few times they take id information.

Point being, we park there for 6-10 hours all the time and have never been ticketed or towed.

Again, the boardwalk is a destinatio, they have to allow parking.

 

[momtosam]

When we checked in to POFQ in June they took my husband's ID at the gate for our parking pass. The problem was somehow there was a screw up and the parking pass they had ready for us was in my 2 YEAR OLD'S name!! Of course, they gave us the pass anyway, so no the name does not have to match the driver. When entering parking lots around the resort we simply pointed to the pass on our dash and drove through. They never took time to read it or match it to our license plate.

 

[spiceycat]

Sorry, but the boardwalk is a destination for resort and non resort guests. There is too much to do there to keep out day parkers.

The times we have a car, and are not on disney, we always park at board walk. Tell the guard we are eating at the boardwalk. they wave us on. A few times they take id information.

Point being, we park there for 6-10 hours all the time and have never been ticketed or towed.

Again, the boardwalk is a destinatio, they have to allow parking.

there is a second parking lot for the BW guests - not guests of the hotels.

but someone else says this is something that BW does during the food/wine festavial only.

too bad - wanted it all the time.

nothing is more irrating. than to be staying at BWV driving the car to shop or DD coming back and not being able to find a place to park - because day trippers are parks in the self parking for the hotel.

sorry there is a second lot for the day trippers. I have ended up in that parking lot several times.

 

[smfnj]

And that the gate attendant is taking your license to make sure it matches with a name on their reservation list.

I have seen some posts lately about how people are not driving to Disney, and plan on giving there pass to another family member.... I wanted to pass on this info so that they are aware that Disney is becoming more strict with the parking passes.

If I remember correctly this all started right after 9-11. Prior to 9-11 the guards (if there was one) looked at our reservation and waived us in, there were no parking passes.

I believe the procedures in place now are purely for security purposes, not to stop a few people from "getting away with something". If somebody is staying at a resort without a car and they give their parking pass to a family member, who cares? Hey, they paid for a room and are entitled to a parking space anyway aren't they?

Steve

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I can tell you with the utmost assurance that the name on the parking pass does NOT have to match the driver, or even the passenger, of the car. All parking passes issued to guests of a room will bear the name of the person under whom it was reserved. I just traveled with 2 other guests, each of whom had their own car. The room was under my name and all three parking passes bore my name.

I'm not advocating misuse, just pointing out that multiple cars of guests staying in the same room will have no problem coming and going.

Well the last time my parents and I stayed at the Contemporary on New Years Eve which was in December 2005, when returning that night the Cast Member security guards were asking for photo id and your Resort ID. My Dad asked them why they needed that because we had our parking pass showing that we were staying there, well we were told some guests were getting extra parking passes for family and friends. So even if they tried to park without the Resort ID cards they would not be allowed to.

I can also say that this does not just happen on the major holidays. For example this past August when my family and I would return to the Contemporary some of the security guards would still ask to see our Resort ID card, even though it was not a major holiday. So maybe the problem of guests giving extra parking passes to guests not staying there happens more then we think.

 

[Shorty82]

there is a second parking lot for the BW guests - not guests of the hotels.

but someone else says this is something that BW does during the food/wine festavial only.

too bad - wanted it all the time.

nothing is more irrating. than to be staying at BWV driving the car to shop or DD coming back and not being able to find a place to park - because day trippers are parks in the self parking for the hotel.

sorry there is a second lot for the day trippers. I have ended up in that parking lot several times.

The second parking lot is where non-BW guests are supposed to park. They may only strictly enforce it during the Food and Wine Festival (I don't know for sure) but the rules are always the same. The main lot is only for Boardwalk guests and the second is for visitors.

If you are not a BW guest please park in the visitor lot. How would you like it if you returned to your resort but had nowhere to park in the guest parking lots because of a bunch of visitors? You wouldn't like it so don't do it to BW guests. Also, do not park in either lot then go to a park if you are not a BW guest. The parking at the resorts is only for resort guests and visitors of that resort. If you leave the resort you are no longer a visitor and your car should not be taking up a spot that could be used by a visitor or guest.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The second parking lot is where non-BW guests are supposed to park. They may only strictly enforce it during the Food and Wine Festival (I don't know for sure) but the rules are always the same. The main lot is only for Boardwalk guests and the second is for visitors.

I assume you mean the parking lot behind the Hess station right? If so I can tell you on a day like New Years Eve non guests going to the Boardwalk for a meal or to look around like my family and I did were told park there. We were also given a 3 hour parking pass which said the time we arrived and the time it would expire.

 

[WickedWench]

We ate at Flying Fish, and I was just waved through (I had a parking pass from the Poly). I was directed to the BW lot by the guard. I didn't even know there was a second lot until I was walking to the hotel and saw a sign that said "additional parking". It did not say "non-BW guests" and the lot near the hotel did not say "BW guests only". I actually wished I'd just parked valet.

 

[Traveliz]

Well the last time my parents and I stayed at the Contemporary on New Years Eve which was in December 2005, when returning that night the Cast Member security guards were asking for photo id and your Resort ID. My Dad asked them why they needed that because we had our parking pass showing that we were staying there, well we were told some guests were getting extra parking passes for family and friends. So even if they tried to park without the Resort ID cards they would not be allowed to.

I can also say that this does not just happen on the major holidays. For example this past August when my family and I would return to the Contemporary some of the security guards would still ask to see our Resort ID card, even though it was not a major holiday. So maybe the problem of guests giving extra parking passes to guests not staying there happens more then we think.

Every single time you reenter the All Stars area (which is not a hotbed of illicit parking) you must show your resort ID...even if you have the parking pass. I stayed there over two weeks this summer and found it a little tiresome.

Liz

 

[spiceycat]

We ate at Flying Fish, and I was just waved through (I had a parking pass from the Poly). I was directed to the BW lot by the guard. I didn't even know there was a second lot until I was walking to the hotel and saw a sign that said "additional parking". It did not say "non-BW guests" and the lot near the hotel did not say "BW guests only". I actually wished I'd just parked valet.

that is part of the problem.

which there have finally been enough complaints hopefully to STOP.

the guards should not be letting non-BWv or bwi guests in this parking lot. they should be directing them to the offsite one.

they were not on my last visit believe me. this was in May.

I got there at 6pm - the self parking at BW was full - so I had to go park at the second lot. Well guess what at 10pm the self parking was almost empty.

made me so mad. It is just not right. especially since half the problem is the security guards.

if the MK and most of the Epcot resorts can have parking only for their guests - why can't BW?

I was so happy to learn about the new policy. but someone else say it was for the food/wine festavial only. that the BW security guards had not changed their policy.

 

[mickaholic4077]

On 10/21,I parked at BW at around 8:30ish in the morning. The guard let me in and told me to park to the left. I didn't like any of the spots,so I went out of the lot and valet-parked. It was free with my G.A.C.(for an undisclosed medical condition)(of course I tipped!!) No judgements please,just telling of my experience.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

if the MK and most of the Epcot resorts can have parking only for their guests - why can't BW?

Actually non of the Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts (CR, Poly & GF) don't have seperate parking lots for guests not staying there, which I think they should have.