Parking while you eat?

[JenniferFolsomCa]

If we have a reservation for Whispering Cafe at WL do I have to pay for parking? Can I leave the car there for 2 hours? What about if it's a busy day like Dec 30th?

Jenn

 

[eticketplease]

No you do not have to pay.

They will check you in at the gate and most resorts will give you a piece of paper indicating you are there for dining and will be staying for 3 hours ish. I’m not sure if WL will hand out the paper but the monorail resorts certainly do.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just show them your dining reservation on your phone and they’ll let you right in. No charge.

 

[OKW Lover]

There is no charge for self parking at any resort. It doesn't matter if you are staying there or just there with an ADR you are allowed to park there. Once you give the guard your ADR info (just your name is all you need) they will waive you through.

You will not get a pice of paper for the dash. That ended years ago.

 

[eticketplease]

You will not get a pice of paper for the dash. That ended years ago.

It depends on the resort they still this at grand Floridian

 

[Aimeedyan]

It depends on the resort they still this at grand Floridian

Not in many years. We eat there many times each year, especially at Christmas, and have never been given anything paper. With their technology, they don't need anything printed to track your car.

 

[eticketplease]

Not in many years. We eat there many times each year, especially at Christmas, and have never been given anything paper. With their technology, they don't need anything printed to track your car.

They just did this for us when we were there at Easter when we came over from Boardwalk

 

[sbbobe]

They just did this for us when we were there at Easter when we came over from Boardwalk

They were also doing this last week at the Grand Floridian while we were there.

 

[B-Ride]

How long before Disney sees an opportunity to charge for this.

 

[eticketplease]

How long before Disney sees an opportunity to charge for this.

I don’t see that happening. You are paying at your ADR and even if you were to cancel after you park you would be charged a cancellation fee.

 

[Dave006]

You will not get a pice of paper for the dash. That ended years ago.

They just did this for us when we were there at Easter when we came over from Boardwalk

Think of the parking lot guard as how the TSA works. You never have the same experience twice. Their key is just a random process to keep them engaged...

Dave

 

[eticketplease]

Think of the parking lot guard as how the TSA works. You never have the same experience twice. Their key is just a random process to keep them engaged...

Dave

lol my SO and I were discussing this and totally agree it really depends on the guard.

 

[BK2014]

I don’t see that happening. You are paying at your ADR and even if you were to cancel after you park you would be charged a cancellation fee.

You would only be charged a cancellation fee if you don't cancel 2 hours prior to your reservation. Do they refuse to let people with ADRs park more than 2 hours before their ADR time? What if I have a Flying Fish ADR and want to do some exploring/shopping at the resort before my ADR?

 

[Dave006]

Do they refuse to let people with ADRs park more than 2 hours before their ADR time?

Some times the guard at the gate will ask you to come back closer to your ADR time. Other times you may be let right through it often depends on how much parking is available at any particular time.

What if I have a Flying Fish ADR and want to do some exploring/shopping at the resort before my ADR?

You may need to explore / shop after your Flying Fish ADR. You can always arrive via Disney transportation or have an Uber / Lyft attempt to drop you off for your ADR. If there are any issues at the guard gate at BW just switch to the Swan for a drop off.

Dave

 

[eticketplease]

You would only be charged a cancellation fee if you don't cancel 2 hours prior to your reservation. Do they refuse to let people with ADRs park more than 2 hours before their ADR time? What if I have a Flying Fish ADR and want to do some exploring/shopping at the resort before my ADR?

We have been turned away at an hour and an half early so we would have been charged for the cancellation of an ADR. We had planned to shop earlier as there was extra hours that evening and didn’t want to cut into that time which is why we attempted to arrive that early.

 

[B-Ride]

I don’t see that happening. You are paying at your ADR and even if you were to cancel after you park you would be charged a cancellation fee.

You have more faith than I do.

 

[_19disnA]

What Disney doesn't want is having people park for free at a resort near one the parks and get away with not paying the parking fee at the park. Much of this seems to depend on how busy they are, what time of day it is, etc. For example, if you show up at 9 am, they are probably more wary of someone who actually wants to spend all day at MK in addition to just having an ADR. If you show up later in the day and/or at a time when they aren't as busy, that might explain the differences some are seeing.

I am sure the Disney guards have heard every excuse under the sun from people trying to park for free !!!

 

[CarolynFH]

What Disney doesn't want is having people park for free at a resort near one the parks and get away with not paying the parking fee at the park.

And they also want guests actually staying at that resort to have a place to park.

 

[BK2014]

Today we arrived at the Boardwalk at 3:00pm for a 5:25 ADR. The guard didn't hesitate to let us park, and made no mention of any time limit.

 

[CarolynFH]

How long before Disney sees an opportunity to charge for this.

Having circled the BW Resort parking lot many times, looking for a spot, when we were staying there, I do wish that Disney would charge for parking if not a registered guest there. The restaurants could comp several hours of parking for those with ADRs.

I know the Boardwalk was originally promoted as an after-hours dining and entertainment destination, but the parking lot is too small, especially now that the Skyliner turning station took a big chunk of it. It’s not practical, and guests who book breakfast ADRs so they can leave their cars all day are simply being inconsiderate.