Resort Hopping Parking

[Maroonag1]

We will be staying offsite for our August trip but will have a free day to do DTD and a couple other things. I wanted to visit a few of the resorts to help us decide where onsite w wanted to stay on our next trip.

My question is if you are and offsite guest can you park at a resort to go in to look around or do you have to pay to park? Also if we stopped at a monorail resort could we take the resort loop to hit all 3 with out having to move the car?
I am not going to try and park at a resort and use the busses, we will pay for parkign on our park days, I just didn't want to pay on our non-park day.

 

[Missytara]

We will be staying offsite for our August trip but will have a free day to do DTD and a couple other things. I wanted to visit a few of the resorts to help us decide where onsite w wanted to stay on our next trip.

My question is if you are and offsite guest can you park at a resort to go in to look around or do you have to pay to park? Also if we stopped at a monorail resort could we take the resort loop to hit all 3 with out having to move the car?
I am not going to try and park at a resort and use the busses, we will pay for parkign on our park days, I just didn't want to pay on our non-park day.

You can get a three hour parking pass for a resort, if you plan on checking it out or for dining.

You can valet park for a cost at a resort all day.

You cannot park at one resort all day and then hop around to other resorts, leaving those people who stay at the resorts with no parking. Parking is meant for the resort guests.

 

[figment_jii]

We will be staying offsite for our August trip but will have a free day to do DTD and a couple other things. I wanted to visit a few of the resorts to help us decide where onsite w wanted to stay on our next trip.

My question is if you are and offsite guest can you park at a resort to go in to look around or do you have to pay to park? Also if we stopped at a monorail resort could we take the resort loop to hit all 3 with out having to move the car?
I am not going to try and park at a resort and use the busses, we will pay for parkign on our park days, I just didn't want to pay on our non-park day.

Technically you are only supposed to be parking at a resort to enjoy the amenities of that resort (i.e., not leaving the resort). So, if you wanted to hit the Poly, GF, and CR, you should drive to each place rather than take the monorail. You can valet park (or pay to park at the TTC, which is less) and then you can do whatever you want.

Anyone can visit any of the resorts (except Bay Lake Towers, if I understand correctly). At the guard gate tell the guard you want to look around the resort and they'll let you in. They may ask to see an ID and they may issue you a 3-hour parking pass. They may also tell you park in a specific area (this happens during F&W at the Boardwalk for sure).

 

[jperrot1]

I wanted to add that once you're in the monorail loop, it is very easy (and fun) to drive to each of the 3 resorts. Have fun.

 

[sharadoc]

I don't believe this is illegal or immoral:

Park at the Outpost lot at Fort Wilderness. Then take the internal bus to the Settlement and walk over to the marina. Take the small boat to the Contemporary and then use the monorail loop from there.

The campers don't park in that lot, it's for the convenience of visitors to the resort to eat or attend any of the shows or activities. There's a ton to do there and you might find you like spending time there. Depending on your time, you could end up back at the Fort and have some dinner or pizza, then go see the Chip and Dale singalong campfire and the movie that night.

Campers park right at their site or cabin so you're not taking away a resort guest spot like you would at the "regular" resorts, so you should be fine doing this. It takes a little longer, but it's a fun adventure.

 

[clapton]

Yes you can visit Bay Lake Tower.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

Yes you can visit Bay Lake Tower.

You must have a room key to access bay lake tower from the contemporary. You also need a room key to enter the pool area. I cannot think why anyone would want to visit BLT since there's really nothing there except resort rooms(all services are at the contemporary)

 

[Maroonag1]

Thank all of you for your responses.

 

[BMNABrinx]

I actually discussed this same type of plan with a cast member yesterday. I was told that you could park at DTD and ride the busses to different resorts to "check them out". We will be exploring as many resorts as possible the day before our stay at the Poly begins.

 

[Missytara]

I actually discussed this same type of plan with a cast member yesterday. I was told that you could park at DTD and ride the busses to different resorts to "check them out". We will be exploring as many resorts as possible the day before our stay at the Poly begins.

The CM told you something that seems a no-brainer to him and to you, but in essence you both want to park all day at a place where you want to escape paying to park at the parks or valet park at a resort, and take a place where a paying customer at DTD cannot find a spot.

Think outside the box and realize paying patrons go to DTD from the local area, just like any other shopping area. Imagine if you lived next to a shopping center near a major park, like Disney and you could not get a spot.

Shame on you.

 

[BMNABrinx]

Missytara, I'm really sorry that you don't approve of what I was told and plan to do. We will be enjoying time at DTD and spending plenty of money there before we visit resorts where I'm sure we will be spending more money. Not to mention the fact that we've already spent $$$$ for our vacation package and will continue to spend $$$ while in the parks. So, we are paying customers, our hopping will just be the day before we begin to enjoy the parks. I would feel worse about parking in the resort parking lot and taking a space that people had paid $$$$ for than I do about parking in a lot that anyone is welcome to park in.
Thanks for sharing your opinion though. Our differences are what make the world go 'round.

 

[eeyoresnr]

 

[spiceycat]

The CM told you something that seems a no-brainer to him and to you, but in essence you both want to park all day at a place where you want to escape paying to park at the parks or valet park at a resort, and take a place where a paying customer at DTD cannot find a spot.

Think outside the box and realize paying patrons go to DTD from the local area, just like any other shopping area. Imagine if you lived next to a shopping center near a major park, like Disney and you could not get a spot.

Shame on you.

sorry but Disney (not just a CM) says to do this. so if you don't like it complain to Disney.

 

[Maroonag1]

Wow did not mean to start a great debate just wanted to know if an offsite guest could visit a resort with out paying to park.
Oh well rant on.

 

[yaddakal]

Silly to say shame on you! If you are spending or planning to send money at Disney, go for it! We would like to visit resorts one time too. Having an informed decision where you are spending 1000-7000 for a week makes sense to me! If you eat at one, say at poly, they will take care of you anyhow so have fun! Not many people have time to explore when at Disney so there won't be many doing it that it would even come close to creating a parking issue.

 

[Minniesgal]

Actually you can't visit BLT, access to BLT is limited to those staying there. You can visit the Contemporary

 

[Maroonag1]

Actually you can't visit BLT, access to BLT is limited to those staying there. You can visit the Contemporary

Thanks. We probably wont be checking the DVC's this time around. Except the Yacht and Beach Club when we go eat at Beaches and Cream.

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks. We probably wont be checking the DVC's this time around. Except the Yacht and Beach Club when we go eat at Beaches and Cream.

Many of the DVCs at the Deluxe resorts (such as Boardwalk, Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge) don't have much to see. You can probably check them out when you visit the resort (adding only a few minutes). The Beach Club has it's own entrance with foyer, but it shares a lobby with the Beach Club. The Boardwalk has even less; the entry is basically the elevators (it shares the same lobby as the BWI). The WL DVCs have a little train museum in their foyer. It was cute, but didn't really take much time to see (unless you're a train fan).