Resort Parking

[Andrew015]

IMHO, parking at the CR and not staying there is not cheating anyone. In fact, anyone who says it's "cheating" I feel is wrong. Firstly, if anyone is at fault, I feel that it is Disney for not having sufficient parking at resorts such as the CR or PR. I normally stay at the WL, and part of my vacation fun isn't visiting just the parks, but the resorts themselves. I think it's awful that the security guards make you feel like a criminal for wanting to come walk around the resort/look in the gift shops ect. There should be no problem with letting people park at any resort that they desire. I could understand it if a person who was not staying at WDW whatsoever tried to park at CR. A few years back, if you wanted to park at a resort, all you had to flash was your resort room card, reguardless of what resort you were staying at, and the guards would wave you right through. That's the way it should be. I don't blame someone staying at PO for wanting to park at the Poly to catch the Monorail. It's much easier than trying to bus your way around. Point # 2 where Disney is at fault: There wouldn't be an issue of people trying to park at a monorail resort if transportation at all resorts were adequate. Part of the price you're paying at WDW is for unlimited use of their transportation: IE the monorail. If you're paying $$$ to stay at WDW, reguardless of whether you are at the All star, or the GF, you're a welcomed guest to WDW. The next thing you know, they're going to charge admission to the resorts. People make it sound like they own the resort that they're staying in, and if you're not staying here, get out. Well I've got news for ya, I'm a resort buff, and my favorite part of WDW is cruising the various hotels. I'll be darned if they put the hammer down on that. If you're at a shopping mall, and park at Kaufmans, but you go look around JCPenny, is that a serious crime?

 

[Dad of 5]

Perhaps "cheat" isn't the most accurate word, but it's what we have to work with in English.

The issue seems to be there are rules, and there are rule-followers and rule-breakers. My family and I are avid and strict rule-followers.

In this case, we can only surmise as to the reason for the 3-hour rule. Seems a safe bet that the resort/resorts lost out on some guest goodwill for all the non-guests taking up parking spaces for reasons *other than* visiting that resort. Seems simple enough for me.

But hey, if you're the kind of guy that wants to bring your own moral relativism into WDW, nobody's going to stop you with a few dinky parking rules. Why not hop a line or two while you're at it? After all, you paid your entrance fee to the park, right?

One thing leads to another.

 

[Lewisc]

wanting to come walk around the resort/look in the gift shops ect

a 2 or 3 hour parking pass is more than enough for this.

I don't blame someone staying at PO for wanting to park at the Poly to catch the Monorail. It's much easier than trying to bus your way around.

The resort parking lots are for guests of the resort. Guests at PO can park FOR FREE AT THE MK parking lot and monorail or ferry to the MK. Stores and restaurants near popular bars have similar problems with scarce parking places being used by people who don't belong there.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Every so often someone opens up this can of worms. It had been awhile, I thought we'd all learned our lesson by now. Guess not.

 

[Andrew015]

Look Dad of 5, this isn't about rule breaking. It's about a dumb policy that should be changed back to the way things were. For all of WDW's alustrious career, you could park anywhere you wanted to with no hassel. Up until about 2 years ago, this new 3 hour policy was implemented. Once again, I bring to light the fact that if you're paying the money to stay on property, you have the privilidge of going anywhere in WDW that you please. Now where ever you come up with Morals... that puzzles me. How you go from parking at a resort to line jumping... I don't follow. I'll have you know that I obide by the rules 9 times out of 10. When I don't, it's because I feel that the rules are wrong. If WDW made it a rule that you had to spend $100 a day in the park, would you follow it? In this case, the rule is wrong. Like I said, the old way worked for almost 30 years... why change it? The reason they probably did was because people from one resort were going to another resort to use the pool. OK.. so you correct this problem by limiting the parking? Bad move in my opinion. Instead they could check resort ID's at the pool, or have you scan your room card to check out a pool towel... something to that affect. Now by restricting parking, yes you might cut down on the amount of pool hoppers, but you also mess up the other 90 % of the people who don't look to cheat the system, but just want to look around the hotel, or hop on the monorail. This is not breaking a rule Dad of 5. And yes, I will park wherever I please. Do I look to cheat the system, or take away from anyone else... No. I don't take kindly to being called a person with poor morals.

 

[Lewisc]

, this isn't about rule breaking

Disney has signs that tells you not to park in the resort lot for theme parks. Disney gives you a 3 hour pass to eat in the resort parking lot. IT'S ALL ABOUT RULES AND RULE BREAKING. You were never allowed to park in the resorts for theme parks. When the number of cheaters got too big Disney had to take action. Pool hooping is a separate problem. It's OK to park (2 or 3 hours) to "check out" a resort, not to park for they day. I think line jumping is probably a very good analagy.

 

[Dad of 5]

Au contraire, it's all about breaking a rule.

WDW has the right, because they own it, to make whatever rules they choose. Our choice is to (a) patronize them at all and (b) abide by whatever rules they set up for their patrons.

We, as patrons, have the right to complain about rules we think are stupid or "wrong", but don't have the right to ignore them.

I've made a habit of saying that procedures are written in advance, and policies are made after the fact. That a policy had to be made illustrates that there was a problem that needed to be dealt with.

"Poor morals" was your choice of words, and an incorrect reading. (The use of the pronoun "you" was a poor choice for the indefinte "one", and my mistake.) What I'm seeing is relativism - which says "Your rules are fine for you, my rules are fine for me" and "Those rules may be fine, but just some of the time, when I think they should." See?

We're not going to see eye-to-eye here. So, when I show up at WDW in November, I'll park my rental car in a parks lot, leaving a resort space open for you. No problem. So maybe I needn't have joined in this discussion after all...

 

[Andrew015]

It's OK to park (2 or 3 hours) to "check out" a resort, not to park for they day

OK.. what if you wanted to park at the Poly for dinner, hop on the monorail and stop at the GF, then the Contemp, and back at the Poly. This could very well take you more than 3 hours. Now all you wise guys are going to say "well drive to each reasort." Well seeing it's such a PAIN to go to a resort to park, it makes sense just to take the Monorail. Now are you using the parking lot to go to a Park? No. It's a parking lot. If they want to keep tabs on how long people stay there, maybe they should implement Parking Meters for everyone, including hotel guests. I wonder how that would go over. I can see the problem of someone parking at a resort, such as the GF, and then using the pool, spa, ect. You're not paying for the privilige. We're talking about a PARKING LOT. Maybe WDW is just too crowded, and they should expand their transportation/ parking, instead of making it a hassel and putting limitations on parking. Parking lot = meant for PARKING

 

[Dad of 5]

Originally posted by Andrew015


OK.. what if you wanted to park at the Poly for dinner, hop on the monorail and stop at the GF, then the Contemp, and back at the Poly. This could very well take you more than 3 hours. Now all you wise guys are going to say "well drive to each reasort." Well seeing it's such a PAIN to go to a resort to park, it makes sense just to take the Monorail. Now are you using the parking lot to go to a Park? No. It's a parking lot. If they want to keep tabs on how long people stay there, maybe they should implement Parking Meters for everyone, including hotel guests. I wonder how that would go over. I can see the problem of someone parking at a resort, such as the GF, and then using the pool, spa, ect. You're not paying for the privilige. We're talking about a PARKING LOT. Maybe WDW is just too crowded, and they should expand their transportation/ parking, instead of making it a hassel and putting limitations on parking. Parking lot = meant for PARKING

Yep, I understand. It is a pain for parking, in the scenario you outlined. My take on it would be that I'd do dinner, and then be checking my watch to see when 3 hours were up to make sure I got back before they considered towing my car (which, by parking there, I've assented to after overstaying my welcome). The three-hour parking pass is just like a parking meter, only non-automated. Maybe that makes more sense...

I don't think the issue is that it's too crowded. It's back to what so many people have said - the parking lots at the resorts are being used for longer periods of time by people that don't have current business at the resort.

 

[Andrew015]

Dad of 5, I appreciate your clarification. I realize that we both feel our opinion is correct, and that we’re not going to see on the same level. My point is that when I park at a resort, regardless of it being a monorail resort or not, I’m not parking there to put anyone else in a bad position. I don’t say to myself “Hey I just put someone out of a parking spot! That made my day!” It’s kind of like anything else… parking spots are first come first serve. Now I realize the rules say 3 hours, or for resort guests. Well I feel the old way was much better. Before, it was parking for Resort guests; resort guest meaning any WDW resort guest, not just that specific hotel’s guest. Now for whatever reason they implemented this policy, they did. Whether or not you agree/follow it is up to you. I happen to disagree with it, and will do as I please. I respect your position, and maybe you’re a better Disney goer than I am. I just feel that Disney has a habit of implementing policy that might not be the best, but the cheapest. Like I said, build more places to park.. construct more efficient transportation… or for a cheaper fix, Implement a system at the pools to insure that only people from that resort are using it, such as a Resort card scanner to check out a towel. I never look to cheat the system, I just do what I feel is right. It was right before, but too many people took advantage of the system. Instead of shutting down the system, come up with a better way to regulate it. I too apologize for being rude, because I’m sure I may have offended some. I just have a tendency to get wrapped up in discussions that I feel strongly about.

 

[Lewisc]

Disney never allowed parking in the resort lots for theme park parking. The number of "rule breakers" got to the point in which Disney had to police exisiting rules. No, the problem isn't just people using the pool it's people using the resort lots for theme park parking. Disney has plenty of parking--each theme park has ample parking that's free to any resort guest. I agree they need a better system. I think they should have an automated gate opened with the guests room key to control access to the resort self-parking lot.
For now Disney is selectively towing. If you park in the morning your car may be missing in the afternoon.

 

[Andrew015]

No you're wrong. They never had any restriction on parking, except if you were not a WDW guest. The idea of having parking for resort guests, and for any other WDW guest is a good idea. Then everyone would be happy.

 

[Dad of 5]

Not "better," just different.

And you're absolutely right about things being done on the cheap now, instead of taking a little longer to come up with a comprehensive solution. Maybe, just maybe, if tourism and travel picks up again, there'll be more $$ to throw at the problems that come with growth and expansion.

Think about this - up until a couple of years ago (not really too far back), there were sources of "inside" information on how to get around quickly, where to get a good parking spot (!), and other tips and tidbits. But these sources weren't quite as well-known as nowadays. And with the ubiquity of Internet access, everybody and their grandma can find out what a precious few knew.

Fast forward, and now what was a minor deal turns into a big problem for WDW. For example, Stormalong Bay is now the most locked-down of the resort pools, thanks to everybody that said "Hey, go there - it's just like a waterpark without the extra admission price." And, of course, our current CR parking lot discussion.

I don't think there are quick solutions - just quick answers, mostly in the form of policies that tend to kill a fly with a tank. Unfortunately, you're the fly they're aiming for.

 

[DancingBear]

Andrew015--

They didn't change the rules because there were too many resort-hoppers like you. They changed the rules because too many people were parking at the monorail resorts and then going to MK all day, because they didn't want to park in the TTC lot.

Then, when people staying at the Contemporary, etc., came back to their resort to their rooms, they couldn't find places to park. Surely you understand that people actually STAYING at a resort have a right to park there.

So, it was these MK visitors who made the rules necessary and put a wrench in your resort-hopping plans.

The problem is not that the parking lots are too small. There is plenty of parking at TTC, and TTC is the best choice for traffic management. Can you imagine if the Contemporary's parking lot was enormous and at the end of MK's day everyone was trying to leave there at once?

The limited parking rule is a good one. Most rules have some undesired effects, and unfortunately for you one of those effects is that as you suggest 3 hours is probably not enough for a meal and then hopping to GF and the Poly. However, you have alternatives---you can park at TTC and use the monorail to get to all three resorts. Or you can pay for valet parking at Contemporary. If during my December stay I return to my room at the Contemporary and can't find a place to park, I have no good alternative. I assume you will agree that it is more fair for you as an over 3-hour resort-hopper to perhaps park at TTC than to expect that I, a Contemporary Resort guest, should do so.

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by Andrew015
I don't blame someone staying at PO for wanting to park at the Poly to catch the Monorail. It's much easier than trying to bus your way around. Point # 2 where Disney is at fault: There wouldn't be an issue of people trying to park at a monorail resort if transportation at all resorts were adequate.

Actually, transportation to the Magic Kingdom is pretty darn good from any resort on property.

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by Andrew015
And yes, I will park wherever I please. Do I look to cheat the system, or take away from anyone else...

As I've explained above, if you park at the Contemporary in violation of the rules you could very well be taking away from me as a Contemporary guest. Since this is not your objective, I assume you will reconsider your position.

 

[Andrew015]

Dad of 5 summed it up quite well. There is/was nothing wrong with parking at a resort for as long as you desire. It's just that a lot of people do it, and some of those people took advantage of a GOOD system. And I feel that there still isn't anything wrong with parking however long you desire. The problem isn't that everyone and their uncle is parking at CR, and there's no room for resort guests. Disney wouldn't care where you park. What disney cares about is having people park at a resort, then coming in and spending money in their restaurants/ gift shops. Or for that matter, parking at their resort, eating/ shopping, then taking the monorail to their park to pay $50 a head to get in, then blowing another $50 in the park, and returning to your car at the end of the day. To disney, that's an ideal situation. And that's why it was no problem to park wherever you pleased 2 years ago. Now, the reason Disney puts up the red flag is that people park at a resort and jump in the nicer hotel pools. Like I said before.. it's not a parking problem. I don't expect disney to throw up more parking lots. it would be great to have a section for resort guests, and a section for any guest of WDW.

 

[Andrew015]

Dancing Bear, No I won't reconsider my position. I've made my position clear. I've never once pulled into a resort and couldn't find a single spot. Now yes, you might be a little further away than you desire, but never have i seen a resort parking lot completely filled. I do not want to put anyone in a position. But if I find a spot and take it, and you pull into the lot 5 minutes after me, Hey that's the way it is. Like i said in a previous post, parking spaces are first come first serve.

 

[Lewisc]

parking spaces are first come first serve

Many lots have signs limiting parking to patrons. Many business have to tow non-customers from their lots. This is particularly a problem with parking lots near popular bars. Disney now has signs limited parking in the resort lots. First come first served only applies to those people who have a right to park there in the first place. IT'S PHYSICALLY impossible for CR to have a big enough lot for all Disney resort guests going to MK.
Andrew many teenagers (and others) chose to violate rules, cut lines etc. DISNEY'S RULES ARE POSTED AND CLEAR. I agree they need an easier way to enforce the rules. The system works if a few people cheat. When the cheating gets extensive Disney has to crack down.

 

[Andrew015]

Andrew many teenagers (and others) chose to violate rules, cut lines etc.

First of all, I'm a teenager, and How many teenagers do you know that drive to WDW? You have to be over 21 just to be able to rent a car. Teens aren't the problem. Anyways, back on track, I said in my first post that parking at a resort is not CHEATING anyone. You make it out to sound like everyone and their uncle parks at CR, PR, or GF... Hops on the Mono...and spends their day at the park. With these newly implemented parking regulations, that has been cut way down. In the first place, I'm absolutely positive that the majority of park goers either park at TTC, Epcot, MGM, AK, or take respective transportation from their hotel. Few people probably did this. Even if so, there WAS NOTHING wrong with doing so. My point that I've been trying to make is that Parking never was the issue. For one reason or another, like i said before, people who abuse resort priviliges, such as pool/spa use, where the MAIN (not sole) reason for the parking limitations. What confuses me is that you have a 3 hour limitation, which is ample time to go take a dip, dry off in the sun, and go on your marry way. I see what you're saying though Lewis. I use Resort parking to check out resorts at my own pace. I don't use resort parking to be a jerk and make things easier on me, and harder on others. I think all can agree, those who side with and against me, that the present system sucks. There are probably going to be pros and cons to every solution, but I feel this solution has more con's than pro's.