Riding the Monorail

[buyerbrad]

Are you allowed to ride the monorail to visit the other resorts after a character breakfast at Ohana if you are not staying on-site? We are thinking about going on NYE and want to visit the holiday decorations in the other 2 resorts.

Also, I've read that you get 3 hours of "free" parking with a dining reservation? What is the cost if you stay past the 3 hour limit (say 1 hour) and how do they enforce the cost?

 

[Ben E N]

Yes you are allowed to ride. They could possibly charge you a full day's rate for parking, but if you're over by just a bit and show your breakfast receipt, I really doubt they would. The time limit is meant to keep people from parking and going to the park not those who are eating and shopping.

 

[rwdavis2]

They do not time your parking. Everyone says that 3 hours for a meal is the max. But I've never heard about anyone ever being towed for staying too long. If you want to be safe then pay for valet parking. It's good for the day.

 

[Tomh]

We often pay to valet park when having breakfast at the Contemporary, or Grand Floridian, and then go spend the day at MK, and return to the resort to retrieve our car at the end of the day. Doesn't matter how long you leave it if you valet park, and isn't terribly expensive.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's the possible issue. Because it's NYE, there may be parking issues. Parking is going to be limited to only those with ADRs...which you have. But, whether or not they monitor how long you're there is anyone's guess. You are free to ride the monorail and visit other resorts. But, I certainly wouldn't chance going to a park for the day! I would actually pay to park at the TTC, or valet park, then not worry about it. The peace of mind that comes with paying to park is a good thing.
On any other day I wouldn't worry about it, but NYE (or other major holidays) it can be an issue.

I can't imagine it taking me more than three hours to eat breakfast and then tour the other two resorts along the monorail line.

 

[Hopefully]

Here's the possible issue. Because it's NYE, there may be parking issues. Parking is going to be limited to only those with ADRs...which you have. But, whether or not they monitor how long you're there is anyone's guess. You are free to ride the monorail and visit other resorts. But, I certainly wouldn't chance going to a park for the day! I would actually pay to park at the TTC, or valet park, then not worry about it. The peace of mind that comes with paying to park is a good thing.
On any other day I wouldn't worry about it, but NYE (or other major holidays) it can be an issue.

I can't imagine it taking me more than three hours to eat breakfast and then tour the other two resorts along the monorail line.

I agree with @goofy4tink NYE is going to be very restricted, tight parking. I think I suggested the same thing on your other thread. Either park at TTC and take the Monorail or pay to Valet Park.

 

[Ben E N]

The fact that it is morning, and that they will be leaving in the morning, should make it less restrictive, though. Why throw the $20+ dollars away for parking when it is included in the dining price? The worst that would happen if someone goes over the time limit is they would charge you for parking.

 

[goofy4tink]

The fact that it is morning, and that they will be leaving in the morning, should make it less restrictive, though. Why throw the $20+ dollars away for parking when it is included in the dining price? The worst that would happen if someone goes over the time limit is they would charge you for parking.

Parking is not included in the dining price. Not sure where you got that idea. If that were the case, you would think that those not parking there would pay less to eat, and that certainly isn't the case.
And time of day isn't going to make a difference. This is one of the absolute busiest days of the year at WDW. There will be signage at every resort stating that parking is for those who are using the resort amenities, not for park access. Riding the monorail and/or going to a park is not considered resort amenities.
I'm not sure why so many people think it's okay to take up parking spaces at a resort that they are neither paying to stay at or at least dining at. Once you are done dining, you're right to park there is 'officially' gone.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to state the official policy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Parking is NOT "included" in the dining price.

The OP needs a backup plan on case they aren't permitted to park at the ART resort period. It happens on busy days. Even mornings.

 

[Ben E N]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2018/...or-disney-world-resort-guests/comment-page-4/

As included in that link:

"Now, how will this change affect guests hoping to dine, shop, or enjoy entertainment or recreation at a Disney Resort? At this time, “Day Guests” (those not staying overnight at the Resort) will still be able to self-park without a fee (space permitting, presumably)."

Therefore, parking is included in dining costs, assuming you are actually dining at the resort. Not sure how you guys can read that any differently.

 

[Hopefully]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2018/...or-disney-world-resort-guests/comment-page-4/

As included in that link:

"Now, how will this change affect guests hoping to dine, shop, or enjoy entertainment or recreation at a Disney Resort? At this time, “Day Guests” (those not staying overnight at the Resort) will still be able to self-park without a fee (space permitting, presumably)."

Therefore, parking is included in dining costs, assuming you are actually dining at the resort. Not sure how you guys can read that any differently.

Firstly the Disney Food Blog does not represent official Disne y policy.
Secondly the q outed passage says nothing about Dining including parking costs.
There is no charge to park for day quests visiting Disney Resorts, regardless of why they are there.
I don’t see how you can read that any other way

 

[Ben E N]

Firstly the Disney Food Blog does not represent official Disne y policy.
Secondly the q outed passage says nothing about Dining including parking costs.
There is no charge to park for day quests visiting Disney Resorts, regardless of why they are there.
I don’t see how you can read that any other way

If you go to eat at a resort restaurant, and they check your reservation at the parking gate, and there is room in the lot, will they or will they not let you in? I am saying yes, they will, because that is what they have done before this policy, and that procedure is unchanged as a result of this policy. Having a dining reservation is an important part of being let in, as people have reported being turned away from "premium" parking places such as Contemporary or Boardwalk when they say they just want to poke around. That's why I am saying it is included in dining. Dining= free parking. No dining= not necessarily free parking.
There are not a lot of sources out there reporting this along with the for fee parking changes because this is not change from previous Disney policy. If you can find something to show me where I am wrong about this, I would appreciate it, because you guys seem pretty insistent that I am when I am finding nothing to support your stance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Therefore, parking is included in dining costs,

No, it is not. 'Allowed as a courtesy when conditions allow ' does not equate 'included'.

Secondly the quoted passage says nothing about Dining including parking costs.

If you go to eat at a resort restaurant, and they check your reservation at the parking gate, and there is room in the lot, will they or will they not let you in?

May or may not. Also depends on business expectations. You go for breakfast, the resort expects 400+ new resort guests throughout the day on 12/31, much less likely to be allowed to park (at all, for any extended period, etc.)

 

[Ben E N]

May or may not. Also depends on business expectations. You go for breakfast, the resort expects 400+ new resort guests throughout the day on 12/31, much less likely to be allowed to park (at all, for any extended period, etc.)

That's possible. But I would strongly bet that they would then give the OP free parking at the T&T center to make up for the lack of parking at Poly. They want you to park at the hotels for dining because it equals revenue for them. If they are forced to turn guests away, those same guests are not going to be eating at their restaurants, so they are going to do what it takes to get them a parking spot.
Going back to the original question about it, should he pay up front for parking when he can get it for free why wouldn't he just take it for free if offerered, and if and only if he gets turned away from any other possibility, then pay for it? It seems silly to assume that the worse case scenario only will come up and just fold your cards and pay up for parking when you most likely do not have to.

It's also worth noting that I said free parking was included in dining costs, not guaranteed. I am yet to hear of a situation where a resort charges for parking when dining there.

 

[joelkfla]

No, it is not. 'Allowed as a courtesy when conditions allow ' does not equate 'included'.



May or may not. Also depends on business expectations. You go for breakfast, the resort expects 400+ new resort guests throughout the day on 12/31, much less likely to be allowed to park (at all, for any extended period, etc.)

So if someone has a dining reservation, and they arrive at the resort 15 minutes before their reservation but are denied parking, would Disney be required to refund the reservation guarantee? What if the MK parking lot was full, and the only alternative was to park at Epcot or DHS, take the tram in to the other park, and then bus or monorail to the resort? They could be well over an hour late for their reservation!

 

[Hopefully]

That's possible. But I would strongly bet that they would then give the OP free parking at the T&T center to make up for the lack of parking at Poly. They want you to park at the hotels for dining because it equals revenue for them. If they are forced to turn guests away, those same guests are not going to be eating at their restaurants, so they are going to do what it takes to get them a parking spot.
Going back to the original question about it, should he pay up front for parking when he can get it for free why wouldn't he just take it for free if offerered, and if and only if he gets turned away from any other possibility, then pay for it? It seems silly to assume that the worse case scenario only will come up and just fold your cards and pay up for parking when you most likely do not have to.

It's also worth noting that I said free parking was included in dining costs, not guaranteed. I am yet to hear of a situation where a resort charges for parking when dining there.

You are making things up and speculating.
I have been going to Disney since the early 80’s. I have been posting on the DIS. For more than a Decade. I have never heard or read of anyone being given free parking at the TTC. (T & T Center) because a Resort lot was full.. Personal speculation is not helpful to newbies

 

[KrazeeK120]

That's possible. But I would strongly bet that they would then give the OP free parking at the T&T center to make up for the lack of parking at Poly.

I’ve never heard of that happening.

 

[joelkfla]

You are making things up and speculating.
I have been going to Disney since the early 80’s. I have been posting on the DIS. For more than a Decade. I have never heard or read of anyone being given free parking at the TTC. (T & T Center) because a Resort lot was full.. Personal speculation is not helpful to newbies

It used to be that whether a resort lot was full or not, all you had to do was tell the parking cm that you were going to a resort and they wouldn't charge. But that was when everybody went thru the toll plaza.

Now that cars going to the resorts bypass the toll plaza (and parking charges have been greatly increased), I wonder whether they would wave you thru if you said you were parking in the MK lot to visit a resort.

 

[Ben E N]

You are making things up and speculating.
I have been going to Disney since the early 80’s. I have been posting on the DIS. For more than a Decade. I have never heard or read of anyone being given free parking at the TTC. (T & T Center) because a Resort lot was full.. Personal speculation is not helpful to newbies

Right, but have you factually heard that it will not happen? The only point I am trying to make is that it would be dumb to pay for something that you will most likely get for free. What I am saying is
1. Park in lot for free, if not
2. Ask if you could park in TT center for free instead
3. No? Darn, I guess I will either have to decline my dining reservation because you won't let me in (odds are they will want to make something work) or I will pay for valet.

What others are proposing is
1. Pay for valet or 2. Pay to park at TT center.

They both end with paying, but my proposal has three possibilities of free parking, with one of them being an established procedure except in the most extreme of instances.
By the way on that topic, have you, in your decades of going, seen people with ADRs being turned away? That process would be helpful to share with newbies.

 

[Ben E N]

I’ve never heard of that happening.

Me either. Just saying it's worth fighting for $33 before throwing in the towel and paying it because you didn't ask.