Parking question

[UGAwins]

if i drive to my animal kingdom breakfast adr can I leave my car there and go to animal kingdom for a few hours?

 

[Marionnette]

if i drive to my animal kingdom breakfast adr can I leave my car there and go to animal kingdom for a few hours?

Technically, no. Parking at resorts for an ADR is limited to 3 hours.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

So your real question is "Can I steal".

 

[UGAwins]

Nope, not asking about stealing. Asking about policy. Thank you though

 

[Beer Me]

Ask the parking attendant if it's ok. 99% chance they will say ok. You will not be breaking any rule.

 

[Marionnette]

Ask the parking attendant if it's ok. 99% chance they will say ok. You will not be breaking any rule.

I really think that it would depend on whether the guest (not necessarily the OP) was staying onsite at another resort, in which case they would have free parking at the theme parks. If they are attempting to evade the parking fee for offsite guests or locals by leaving their car in the resort lot, then I'm guessing that it would not be permitted.

 

[yaya74]

Ask the parking attendant if it's ok. 99% chance they will say ok. You will not be breaking any rule.

This....

Are you staying onsite or offsite??

 

[Beer Me]

Are you staying onsite or offsite??

Good point. That might make a difference.

I'm always on site and in recent years I've parked at Contemporary, WL, BC, BW and AK for various reasons. Contemporary is the only place I was told about a three hour limit. At the others they acted like I was crazy when I asked if I needed to move my car to go into the parks. Yes, even BW where I didn't even give a reason for being there. They scanned my band and told me to have a magical day.

I'm always 100% honest with the parking attendants and wouldn't try to circumvent any rules or fees.

 

[LilyWDW]

Parking at the resorts is not meant for theme park access. That is the official policy.

 

[Marionnette]

Good point. That might make a difference.

I'm always on site and in recent years I've parked at Contemporary, WL, BC, BW and AK for various reasons. Contemporary is the only place I was told about a three hour limit. At the others they acted like I was crazy when I asked if I needed to move my car to go into the parks. Yes, even BW where I didn't even give a reason for being there. They scanned my band and told me to have a magical day.

I'm always 100% honest with the parking attendants and wouldn't try to circumvent any rules or fees.

As someone who owns at BWV and often has trouble finding a parking spot, I find this extremely frustrating. My dues pay to maintain that lot and to learn that the parking attendants don't even check to see if you at least have an ADR makes me There are so many people who use the BWV lot as a free and easy access to the International Gateway that it leaves little room for resort guests until it's later in the evening. It's a well-known problem, yet nothing is done about it.

 

[HopperFan]

if i drive to my animal kingdom breakfast adr can I leave my car there and go to animal kingdom for a few hours?

Unless you are staying at AKL the policy is that you can only park there while you are dining, shopping or attending HOTEL events. If you are going to a park afterwards then you are expected to move your car to the theme park parking lot. Most deluxe have a limited amount of parking and there is the expectation if you want to leave your car longer that you pay for valet parking so they can put your car away from the parking the guests are using. Standard over the years from Disney has been 3 hours.

I have stayed at AKL and have had trouble finding a spot that wasn't far away. Considering some guests have a super long walk after they are in the hotel to their room, they don't want to have to hunt for a decent spot that won't include another long walk. Honestly, I'd rather have my car at the park at end of my day than deal with waiting in line for a hotel bus, then ride back only to get in my car and then drive.

Here is the policy from Disney, all reasons are to enjoy something in hotel -

Day Guests
Complimentary standard self-parking is available while enjoying select dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels.


From some of the responses ... it sounds like Disney has a real problem with their security guards and their lack of commitment to making sure parking policy is adhered to. ESPECIALLY now that guests are paying big parking fees on top of the inflated room rates ... there should never be a visitor allowed to stay and take up guest parking past a few hours unless Disney is going to start charging them after the first few hours. Hopefully every overnight guest who has ever has issues with parking will send a written complaint on the situation each time.

 

[Beer Me]

As someone who owns at BWV and often has trouble finding a parking spot, I find this extremely frustrating. My dues pay to maintain that lot and to learn that the parking attendants don't even check to see if you at least have an ADR makes me There are so many people who use the BWV lot as a free and easy access to the International Gateway that it leaves little room for resort guests until it's later in the evening. It's a well-known problem, yet nothing is done about it.

I'm aware of this problem. Not sure if it makes a difference but when I parked at BW it was evening and we weren't going to Epcot, just looking around and had dinner at Big River (no adr). But nothing was stopping us as the guard didn't ask and we were given no restrictions on how long we parked. That being said there were definitely plenty of open spots. I would hope they would be aware of how full the lots are and enforce restrictions accordingly. If the lots were near capacity I would have no problem being given a time limit.

I'm a bit more surprised I was given a free pass at BC for a breakfast ADR at Cape May. I asked if I should move my car if we were going to Epcot and he acted like I was crazy and explained I could simply walk to the IG. Similar experience at WL and they told me to just take the boat to MK.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm aware of this problem. Not sure if it makes a difference but when I parked at BW it was evening and we weren't going to Epcot, just looking around and had dinner at Big River (no adr). But nothing was stopping us as the guard didn't ask and we were given no restrictions on how long we parked. That being said there were definitely plenty of open spots. I would hope they would be aware of how full the lots are and enforce restrictions accordingly. If the lots were near capacity I would have no problem being given a time limit.

I'm a bit more surprised I was given a free pass at BC for a breakfast ADR at Cape May. I asked if I should move my car if we were going to Epcot and he acted like I was crazy and explained I could simply walk to the IG. Similar experience at WL and they told me to just take the boat to MK.

I wasn't directing my at you specifically but more at the lack of parking enforcement at BWI/BWV. No paying guest should have to circle the parking lot multiple times (regardless of the time of day) while the cars belonging to people who "just want to look around" park all day/evening and are taking up prime real estate.

 

[Lynne M]

Not everyone who comes to the DISboards is an expert on WDW policies, such as whether Disney allows guests to leave their car in a resort lot while visiting a theme park. That’s why these boards exist - to answer just these sorts of questions.

So let’s remember the days when each of us was new to the DISboards and/or WDW and leave the rudeness and sarcasm at the door, please.

 

[UGAwins]

I am staying onsite and want to eat at akl. Especially for breakfast, transportation is nonexistent. I hate moving my car over to the Park but I can.

 

[HopperFan]

if i drive to my animal kingdom breakfast adr can I leave my car there and go to animal kingdom for a few hours?

I am staying onsite and want to eat at akl. Especially for breakfast, transportation is nonexistent. I hate moving my car over to the Park but I can.

Yes, the policy is if you choose to drive to breakfast at a Disney resort you either:

(1) move your car to the theme park parking lot after you eat

(2) park at the theme park parking lot to begin with and if not walk-able take a resort bus/boat to eat your breakfast

(3) Pay for valet parking and they will move your car and you can leave it as long as you want

OR

I personally would look at getting a Minnie Van or Uber to breakfast, then use Disney transportation the rest of the day.



We all agree that eating at Disney resorts can be time consuming and Disney tells guests to plan 90 minutes if using only Disney transportation. For those of us with cars it is easier that we can drive, but we must also plan on our car not staying at those resorts past our 3 hour limit.

 

[Beer Me]

Couple more points and I'll give it a rest.

I'm a sample of one with only a few personal experiences so they may not be typical. That being said, as someone who always stays onsite and has stayed at all levels I think it's perfectly reasonable that Disney would be flexible on this policy when there is excess parking capacity available.

Obviously if guests at a resort can't find a parking spot it is unacceptable no matter what the reason.

 

[rdaky]

I am staying onsite and want to eat at akl. Especially for breakfast, transportation is nonexistent. I hate moving my car over to the Park but I can.

Take a Minnie Van. It's worth the extra few dollars and the convenience, and then your car will remain at your own resort.

 

[UGAwins]

Thank you all, for the help. Theme parks don't always have a return bus to resorts that early so I guess moving my car back to the park is best

 

[kaytieeldr]

perfectly reasonable that Disney would be flexible on this policy when there is excess parking capacity available.

But that can change so easily and quickly, and there's no way to track down the vehicle owner somewhere in a park several hours later.