? re: parking at MK or Poly?

[schlepsnort]

Ok we are staying on site at ASMu-- we have ressies at Ohana's on the night of the MNSSHP on 9/29 and the very nice CM told me that we could take the monorail from Ohana's to the MK.

Thing is I think she assumed that we were using ME and we're not, we've rented a car.

So my question is: could we park at O'hana's, have our dinner, and then take the monorail over to MK?

Or will our car have a meeting with a tow truck so we should then just drive over to MK and park there?

I'd like to avoid parking at MK and let the kids enjoy the monorail ride. but I also don't want to have to bail my rental car out of car jail.

Advice? Please!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

First, LOVE the pic of the kids... That is too cute.

Anyway, to your question, you are not "supposed" to park at the resorts and go to the parks, but since you have dining at O'Hana, you will be able to get into the lot. They may or may not give you a temp parking permit, sometimes they give you a 3 hour parking pass, other times they just wave you in, no questions. Anyway, they will not tow your car, if they don't give you a pass don't worry about it, if they do, just don't display it. While they say they will tow cars, they really have no way of tracking the cars in the lot. They don't take the vehicle information of registered guests, and a lot of guests forget to put their hotel Parking permit in the windsheild, some don't even get one.

Again, while I do not recommend parking there on a regular basis, since you have the res prior to the party, I wouldn't worry about it. We have had meals at Kona and then headed out to MK.

 

[DVCLiz]

I would be very leery of taking the advice of the above poster, not because it's bad advice, (not picking on you at all, CDSTapisRouge!!) but because you never know what new or different procedures will be in place, especially for a night when there is a special event like MNNSHP. Since the TTC is literally right next door to the Poly, a better idea would be to drive to the TTC, park, walk to the Poly and enjoy your dinner, then catch the monorail from the Poly to the MK. At the end of the night, catch the monorail back to the TTC, and get your car. That way you get to ride the monorail, have your dinner, and not worry about your car.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I would be very leery of taking the advice of the above poster, not because it's bad advice, (not picking on you at all, CDSTapisRouge!!) but because you never know what new or different procedures will be in place, especially for a night when there is a special event like MNNSHP.

Not offended at all...

I have never had a problem with this, and in 11 years have never seen a car towed from a guest parking lot (although I am sure some others have).

Just my thoughts, I would not worry about parking in the lot provided that you have a legit reason for being there in the first place. We always have dinner at Kona and then head to MK with my in-laws for the Halloween Party, both our car and theirs stay at the Poly until we return (for the MVMCP we have dinner at Artist Point and the cars stay at WL). Just talking from personal experience.

 

[DVCLiz]

Not offended at all...

I have never had a problem with this, and in 11 years have never seen a car towed from a guest parking lot (although I am sure some others have).

Just my thoughts, I would not worry about parking in the lot provided that you have a legit reason for being there in the first place. We always have dinner at Kona and then head to MK with my in-laws for the Halloween Party, both our car and theirs stay at the Poly until we return (for the MVMCP we have dinner at Artist Point and the cars stay at WL). Just talking from personal experience.

That's good to know!!!

I did think I remembered hearing about some towing, but it might be that your experience is more the norm. Hope the OP has a great trip regardless of where she decides to park!!

 

[Allison]

I would park at the TTC and walk to 'Ohana and then catch the monorail.

 

[goofy4tink]

You have to park at the TTC if you drive to MK anyway....so park there and either walk, via the pathway, or take the monorail to the Polynesian for dinner. Then, take the monorail to MK for the evening. Then, either the monorail or the ferry from MK to TTC at the end of the night. Easy.

I'm sure the people at the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and to some extent the Grand Floridian, really love it when they can't find a decent parking spot at their resort. Why? Because those who are not staying there, yet want to eat there and then head to a park are already parked there. This seems to be a recurring theme with the Polynesian and CR. Chef Mickeys and 'Ohana are both very popular, perhaps that's why. If you do want to park at these resorts, and need to be there for more than a few hours, then valet park. Yes, it's going to cost you about $10 but at least you'll be doing the right thing.

 

[monetnj]

I thought I should point out that when you park at the MK lot, a tram will take you to the TTC. At that point, it is about a 5 minute walk over the GCH where O'hana's is located.

 

[civileng68]

If you do want to park at these resorts, and need to be there for more than a few hours, then valet park. Yes, it's going to cost you about $10 but at least you'll be doing the right thing.

RIGHT! Hey, you figure that the cost of TTC parking is nearly $10, so if you can valet park for a buck or two more, and get to have no hassles when leaving at night, why not?

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I thought I should point out that when you park at the MK lot, a tram will take you to the TTC. At that point, it is about a 5 minute walk over the GCH where O'hana's is located.

You know that is probably the best option. In thinking about it we have probably just been lucky (and that luck will probably run out) .

You can park in the MK lot for no charge because you are a resort guest, just have your ASMu parking permit or your resort ID card out when you go through the toll plaza and they will wave you through. Take the tram to the TTC and the you can walk all the way over to the left and it connects to the Poly or take the resort monorail over from the TTC, it's the first stop and Ohana is right there. After dinner you can catch the monorail over to MK for the party and then head back to the main parking lot when it is over.

 

[JMD]

All the advice you've recieved is great, but I doubt you will have any problems at all parking at the Poly. Many people go to different resorts for dinner, then stay afterwards, have a few drinks in the lounge, check out the shops, or just walk around and soak up the atmosphere. Security has no way of knowing whether or not you're still in their resort, so the chances of them calling a tow truck are remote.

I've parked at the Poly many many times, had dinner, then went elsewhere, either to another hotel for drinks or something, or to MK, and have never had a problem.

 

[schlepsnort]

Thank you for all of the great advice!

I think we will park at MK TTC and go from there. Is it absolute madness parking when it's later in the afternoon? Are there CMs that tell you where to park or do you just drive around until you find a spot?

 

[mince]

You can DEFINITELY park at the resorts and take the MR to MK. You'll get a weekly parking pass when you check in to ASM.

Even if they give you a 3 hour pass at some resorts, they don't check. I parked at resorts almost every night even when I didn't have ADRs.

Park at the Boardwalk or Yacht Club for Epcot, especially for fireworks. You'll have such a smooth exit. You can park at the Boardwalk anytime or tell them you are eating at the Galley for the Yacht club.

5 minute walk to Epcot's WS entrance.

You have no worries.

 

[monetnj]

Thank you for all of the great advice!

I think we will park at MK TTC and go from there. Is it absolute madness parking when it's later in the afternoon? Are there CMs that tell you where to park or do you just drive around until you find a spot?

No, parking is pretty smooth and their will be CMs to guide you. The madness occurs if you leave MK along with everyone else after Wishes.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I say park at the TTC because that is the best option for you & since you said you were staying at All Star Music, you won't be charged the $9.00 parking fee as a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guest. Besides it's unfair to guests of the Polynesian to leave your car parked there when your not staying there, eventhough you are staying at another Walt Disney World Resort.

 

[GrumpyC.Hook]

RIGHT! Hey, you figure that the cost of TTC parking is nearly $10, so if you can valet park for a buck or two more, and get to have no hassles when leaving at night, why not?

Ok since the OP is staying on property and is a Disney Resort hotel guest she can park at the TTC for Free save the buck or two more for valet at the hotel. I went to Ohana's for Dinner on my previous trip and was give a tag that had the date and the guard was very firm in the 3 hour rule.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I think, personally, that you'd be fine, especially since you have reservations there. When we went in April (mind you, they could have gotten more strict since), we told the security guard that we were visiting someone at the hotel and we parked and took the monorail. We probably shouldn't have morally but oh well. Our car was there when we got back hours later and all was good.

 

[Markstudy]

.Our car was there when we got back hours later and all was good.

Tell that to the guy that paid $500-a-night to stay at the Poly
and you and a buch of other sneaks just took his parking space

 

[schlepsnort]

Ok now let's not go there! My original question was based on the fact that the CM who was doing our dinner ressie said that we could go to the Poly and then take the monorail to MK. I thought after I hung up and thought about it that she must have been assuming that we were using the ME, which we are not. So I just wanted to clarify that unless we are residents OF the Poly and not just 'on site' guests we can't go ahead and just park there for an extended period of time.

I wasn't starting the thread to see if I could 'get away' with anything!! Or start a debate over it!

For some people they have done it with no problems and were just letting me know their experience.

Besides that...and just an opinion, don't these hotels usually have more than enough parking spaces to accomodate not only all of their guests but most likely for staff and visitors who are coming and going to use their restaurants? So I find it somewhat hard to believe that people who park there and are not 'guests' staying at the Poly (or any of the other resorts) are taking anything away from the staying guests. It's just asphalt.

Not like swimming in the pool with last year's refillable mug!

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Tell that to the guy that paid $500-a-night to stay at the Poly
and you and a buch of other sneaks just took his parking space

That's why they have guest space, that's where you are directed and that's where you go.