Resort Parking Question

[TraderSamWDW]

Anyone have any experience on how strict they are when parking at a resort for Dinner with regard to time.

Reservation at the Contemporary at 6:30 - If I go at 5, will there be issue?

 

[Deb & Bill]

They may give you a three hour parking pass. Will that be a problem to get back to your vehicle by 8PM?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I really doubt that arriving at 5 will be a problem. They'll tell you where to park and tell you that you have 3 hours (we haven't had a physical 'pass' in many years) - but if you're over that 3 hours due to dinner or shopping at CR, they're not going to tow your car or anything. They like you're there spending money!

 

[TraderSamWDW]

Thanks. I did not know about the 3 hour rule. Although I suppose it could be an issue if I go over to MK after dinner or something, so I will have to decide before hand I guess. I have parked before and never been told anything, so had no idea as to what the rules are.

Yea, I cant see them towing either, but since you mentioned it, I have always wondered what they do at the parks. There has to be cases of people going to F&W and getting hammered and having to leave their cars. I once asked about it and could not get an answer.

 

[marikujawa]

Thanks. I did not know about the 3 hour rule. Although I suppose it could be an issue if I go over to MK after dinner or something, so I will have to decide before hand I guess. I have parked before and never been told anything, so had no idea as to what the rules are.

Yea, I cant see them towing either, but since you mentioned it, I have always wondered what they do at the parks. There has to be cases of people going to F&W and getting hammered and having to leave their cars. I once asked about it and could not get an answer.

We make two or three week-long visits to Disney each year - over 50 trips now. In all those visits we've never been given a three-hour limit for an ADR - just directed to self-parking. I don't doubt that during busy times this can happen, but it's not a rule. Someone said the complimentary valet you get with TIW used to have a three-hour limit, but it doesn't anymore. Maybe that's where it originated. One thing that is a rule, though, is that resort parking lots are not intended for theme park access. There are signs expressly stating that policy.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

Thank you!
We will probably use the bus to MK then walk to CR or take a lyft. Dinner is at 6:30. I do not want to worry about things if the decision is made to go see Happily Ever After after dinner.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Years ago, there used to be a paper they'd put on your dashboard indicating a 3-hour limit. But that's been gone for awhile now. We will still hear it from the security guard now and then - but it's not strictly enforced when we've been there (and we tend to visit during quieter times).

 

[Malestrom Troll]

Lots of people make ADRs for Chef Mickey Breakfast and walk to MK for the day. I don't know if this is against the rules but this is why those ADRs go fast.

 

[Disneypro1]

When we drive we always use Disney busses except when we explore some resorts. We always drove and park. We have never had an issue parking at any of the Deluxe resorts. And no one has ever had issues with time. Sometimes we are done long before 3 hours. Others not.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There has to be cases of people going to F&W and getting hammered and having to leave their cars.

The drunks aware enough to leave their cars have typically parked in a park lot, not at a resort.

Lots of people make ADRs for Chef Mickey Breakfast and walk to MK for the day. I don't know if this is against the rules but this is why those ADRs go fast.

Parking at a resort is for guests of that resort at that time. It's not intended for park access.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

The drunks aware enough to leave their cars have typically parked in a park lot, not at a resort.

I was not clear, in that case I meant the EPCOT lot, where a car left overnight would stick out like a sore thumb. They would blend in just fine at a resort lot.

 

[TeresaWen]

I really need to get a real answer on parking at a resort for the purpose of dining.

This past Saturday my husband dropped me and my visiting girlfriend off at AK for the day. As dinner approach I checked MDE for a place to dine. Grand Floridian Cafe, Kona, and the wave had availability. I though she would enjoy any of these and taking a tour of the hotels before dinner would be fun. Plan was to then have my husband join us for dinner. Here is the BUT

He has mobility issues and uses a scooter. It takes both of us to get the base out of the car. So he just could not park at the TTC without me. Did not want him to show up at the gate of a hotel only to be told to park at the TTC.

Since it is impossible to get an answer and be sure we skipped this. Went back to mg house & I cooked.

It is so frustrating to not be able to get a straight answer to this question!

 

[SharonZ]

The "issue" with parking at a monorail resort for a meal and then heading to the parks is that there needs to be parking for the guests that are actually staying at that resort. You can always pay to valet park and not have an issue.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I really need to get a real answer on parking at a resort for the purpose of dining.

This past Saturday my husband dropped me and my visiting girlfriend off at AK for the day. As dinner approach I checked MDE for a place to dine. Grand Floridian Cafe, Kona, and the wave had availability. I though she would enjoy any of these and taking a tour of the hotels before dinner would be fun. Plan was to then have my husband join us for dinner. Here is the BUT

He has mobility issues and uses a scooter. It takes both of us to get the base out of the car. So he just could not park at the TTC without me. Did not want him to show up at the gate of a hotel only to be told to park at the TTC.

Since it is impossible to get an answer and be sure we skipped this. Went back to mg house & I cooked.

It is so frustrating to not be able to get a straight answer to this question!

I think a general rule for parking at the resorts - if you are not a guest at the resort, but have a dining reservation, they will allow you part short-term for your dining (approximately 3 hours). Many times when we've shown up at CR for dinner (at Cali Grill, for example), they have scanned our Magic Band to confirm the reservation. I'm not sure what the reaction is at security if you indicate you're trying to dine by walking up for a table, or you are there to do some shopping.

Also, something to keep in mind, if you do go to one of the resorts for dinner, and you have a vehicle identified with a disabled license or placard, you can use the Disney valet parking for no fee - it's free in that situation.

For resorts within walking distance of a theme park (CR, BC, for example), they are much tighter with the screening for who is parking there, so guests at the resort are not shut out of a reasonable parking space. They don't want those resorts to be used for free parking for a theme park day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The "issue" with parking at a monorail resort for a meal and then heading to the parks is that there needs to be parking for the guests that are actually staying at that resort. You can always pay to valet park and not have an issue.

If you have a handicap tag for your vehicle, you can valet park for free and only pay the tip.

 

[TeresaWen]

If you have a handicap tag for your vehicle, you can valet park for free and only pay the tip.

Thanks! Good to know. We eat out about once a week and choose Disney restaurants because of my food allergies. We also have TiW.

 

[Mango7100]

Thanks! Good to know. We eat out about once a week and choose Disney restaurants because of my food allergies. We also have TiW.

We were at the Grand Floridian on NYE and used valet for free since my mom has a handicap tag—it was so. Ice to be able to let her out at the door. They did not give us any time limit...I think we ended up actually there 4 hours

 

[marikujawa]

We were at the Grand Floridian on NYE and used valet for free since my mom has a handicap tag—it was so. Ice to be able to let her out at the door. They did not give us any time limit...I think we ended up actually there 4 hours

In my experience, the people here give time limits. The Disney employees do not. (Except maybe when parks and resorts are at capacity.)

 

[Disneypro1]

In my experience, the people here give time limits. The Disney employees do not. (Except maybe when parks and resorts are at capacity.)

That is like 200% correct.

 

[TeresaWen]

Thanks all!