Resort parking passes being eliminated

[WilsonFlyer]

Unless they've memorized the ADR list (doubtful), no they are not. The resort guard has never checked my name against any list, in any of the dozens of times I've dined at a resort.

I don't believe I said anything about verifying you against a list for a restaurant reservation. I said that they were verifying that you were at least who you said you are for a claimed restaurant reservation and verifying you against a list if you had a reservation at the resort (hotel).

 

[bumbershoot]

My brother and sister in law live in Orlando and come to spend time with us on every DVC vacation. I always get a parking pass for them. They won't have magic bands so I wonder how they will get to park and hang out with us?

Drive up, show id. I'm visiting room 111. Go on through. Just like now.

I can't even tell you how often I forget the parking pass in the room or never get it, how many nights our car has been parked with no pass in it, without being towed. They barely pay attention to the papers now. IMO this is just eliminating something they didn't much care about anyway.

 

[jmkjr72]

really the best way to curb parking abuse at popular resorts would be to charge the valet rate BUT refund people for it as long as they left the lot within the set time limit given (whatever they typically give for an ADR) then people would know they couldn't use it as a way to get around paying for parking at MK or Epcot that it truly was just for their dining reservation

The problem is valet is now a contracted service this is why we lost the free valet parking option
I don't know the contract but I'm sure there is something in the contract per car parked that the company gets

 

[CMNJ]

All I meant was to charge a high enough refundable fee that would discourage people from abusing "free ADR parking"-I just said valet since I thought that was the only resort parking with a fee-they could call it an "ADR parking deposit" or whatever

 

[mello]

It's not a big deal. We were just at AKL the other day and there's one lane marked "Returning Guests" to scan your MB, and the other lane goes to the guard shack if you need to show your id. The returning guests lane generally had more cars in it, but actually moved faster than the one where people were talking to the guard. Also, the guards are well aware of when and where parking is a problem, and when/where it isn't. Disney has no real incentive to keep guests out of the parking lots during slow times - people will walk around resorts and spend money shopping, eating, etc., and they will gladly let you in to do it if there is room to park. However, during events, parties, etc., they will limit parking at nearby resorts to only resort guests or those with dinner reservations. There are lists for those, which they can and do check if need be. They will, for instance, inact a "hard close" at MK area resorts on party nights, and if you don't have a reservation on those nights, you'll be turned away and have to park elsewhere.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We got paper parking permits at AKV and OKW (March 19 and 21). But they did check our magic bands most of the time. And also asked to see Drivers License for check in both times. Other resorts asked for Magic Bands.

 

[nalajms]

We got paper parking permits at AKV and OKW (March 19 and 21). But they did check our magic bands most of the time. And also asked to see Drivers License for check in both times. Other resorts asked for Magic Bands.

Did you have direct to room? And was the parking paper pass given at the front desk or gate?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Did you have direct to room? And was the parking paper pass given at the front desk or gate?

We had direct to room and were given the paper pass at AKV at the guard shack. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived, so we did check in at the desk. At OKW, we did not do online check in because we had a very specific request that we hoped to get. We didn't get that, but got another room that was pretty good. They gave us the parking pass at check in.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Everything at AKV is just like it's always been (since MBs at the gates) this week.

 

[philharmagic fan]

In early January we stayed a few days at BLT, then with family offsite. On our last night in Orlando we had a reservation at Boatwrights. We took our MB's with us, and the guard at the POR gate scanned one to verify that we had a dining reservation. I think the new system will be great, but only if they don't let you in unless you're staying or have an ADR. If there are no paper passes for your windshield, how will they know if you said you just wanted to look around for a couple of hours but then went to a park and should be towed?

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Just got back on the weekend, still had the white sheet of paper for the car, some checked the date, most waved by, no scanned our band except the first day I left the paper in the room.
We also had ADR GF, and as we approached the guard said, "ADR for today?" and waved us in. We used valet for the wheel chair. When asked about shopping at MK and getting a haircut at the Barber Shop, the woman attendant stated we had 24 hours. We were gone maybe three or four hours.

 

[crazybones27]

We were at the Poly on Sept 27-30 and got a paper parking pass. Moved over to the BCV and did not receive a parking pass. BLT was checking people's ADR's at the guard shack crossing your name off when you arrived during hat week also.

 

[n2mm]

At BWV a couple of weeks ago and also got a paper parking pass.

 

[freediverdude]

I still don't see the point of the paper parking passes. I think it's just for show. They take a picture of your license plate when you enter anyway, and check you off the list. It would be very easy for them to check the records/video of when you entered for any car that they thought wasn't supposed to be there.

 

[Millionaire2K]

If I have "direct to room" Will my magic bands open the guard gate on first visit? Do I have to see guard the 1st time I arrive?

 

[n2mm]

If I have "direct to room" Will my magic bands open the guard gate on first visit? Do I have to see guard the 1st time I arrive?

It did not for me at BWV last month. I thought since I already had my room number I could just scan and enter. It did not work and the guard told us we had to see him first to get our paper pass. He said that the band will not work until after we use them on the door. I thought I read others could just scan and bypass the guard shack. Maybe since BWV has parking restrictions it's different. Guess I'll find out again next week when we arrive Friday.

 

[supersnoop]

If I have "direct to room" Will my magic bands open the guard gate on first visit? Do I have to see guard the 1st time I arrive?

In my experience, your band must be used on your room door before it will open the gate. And that goes for each individual band.

 

[jekjones1558]

In my experience, your band must be used on your room door before it will open the gate. And that goes for each individual band.

This has been my experience as well. I learned the hard way.

 

[Millionaire2K]

In my experience, your band must be used on your room door before it will open the gate. And that goes for each individual band.

Thanks.

 

[Sharon526]

Funny, when I bought my DVC, my sales person actually told me to park at BLT (or any DVC resort) to avoid paying the parking fee. He said to just show my card and say I'm going to see the property. We did it the last time we went in August and never had a problem. I have to say that this particular sales person was kind of scummy though. He also lied and told me that if I bought my initial points through Disney, that any points I bought resale would have the same benefits as the ones I bought from Disney, so I ended up buying only 50 points to "get in the system".