Staying Offsite - Is This OK??

[SDSorority]

Hi everyone! We are staying offsite in December for the first time in a long LONG time. Actually, we're just doing WDW while we're going to be in Orlando for other purposes. Anyway, we are only hitting up MVMCP one day, and EP another day... and then on the off-park days, we're going to just be bopping around the resorts, eating at Narcoosies, Bluezoo, Beaches 'n Cream...

Here are a few questions:

Can we see Wishes from the Poly, or is the beach closed while they're doing the big Poly overhaul??

Is it ok to park our car at the Beach Club, eat dinner at the Dolphin, and then go back and get ice cream later that evening from Beaches 'n Cream? We don't want to pay to park at the Dolphin if we can help it.

 

[wilkeliza]

Hi everyone! We are staying offsite in December for the first time in a long LONG time. Actually, we're just doing WDW while we're going to be in Orlando for other purposes. Anyway, we are only hitting up MVMCP one day, and EP another day... and then on the off-park days, we're going to just be bopping around the resorts, eating at Narcoosies, Bluezoo, Beaches 'n Cream...

Here are a few questions:

Can we see Wishes from the Poly, or is the beach closed while they're doing the big Poly overhaul??

Is it ok to park our car at the Beach Club, eat dinner at the Dolphin, and then go back and get ice cream later that evening from Beaches 'n Cream? We don't want to pay to park at the Dolphin if we can help it.

Wishes from the Poly is a hot debate. On most nights no one is going to bother you but if the beach gets crowded they may scan magic bands. Usually that is only July 4th, Christmas and NYE.

Parking becomes an issue. If you don't have a reservation for Beaches 'n Cream (highly suggested if you want the real kitchen sink as they haven't been talking walk ups the last few weeks) they may tell you you have to park somewhere else. Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk also have timed visitors parking lots. When we parked at Boardwalk we noticed the tire had chalk on it. We were later told by a friend in security it is because when they put you in the 3 hour parking they do hourly swipes. Three chalk lines means you've been there too long. I don't know if they actually do anything but they could if they wanted. This is less to prevent people like you who are resort hoping from parking and more to prevent people who are trying to park for free to get to DHS or Epcot.

 

[Itinkso]

bluezoo validates Valet parking. They even validate if you stop by the lounge for drinks and appetizers. So, you may as well park there and then drive to BC for dessert.

 

[MEK]

I don't know the answer to the Poly beach question with the overhaul. I can tell you that I have parked there multiple times in the past and watched from the beach without a problem. Ever.

I am also a frequent BC parker. I have parked there for Beaches N Cream and I have even parked there and told the attendant I was going to guest services to get my AP (which was not a lie). I have never, ever had an issue parking there. I resort park a lot for various reasons which always center around a visit to the actual resort. If the parking lot can't accommodate you, they will let you know. This happened once at the Contemporary. They said there was no room.

I know people will flame for resort parking. That is their right. I am just relaying to you from my own person experience that I have not had an issue. I usually stay on-site but do drive to other resorts. I stayed off-site last summer and parked at both resorts you mentioned.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't know the answer to the Poly beach question with the overhaul. I can tell you that I have parked there multiple times in the past and watched from the beach without a problem. Ever. I am also a frequent BC parker. I have parked there for Beaches N Cream and I have even parked there and told the attendant I was going to guest services to get my AP (which was not a lie). I have never, ever had an issue parking there. I resort park a lot for various reasons which always center around a visit to the actual resort. If the parking lot can't accommodate you, they will let you know. This happened once at the Contemporary. They said there was no room. I know people will flame for resort parking. That is their right. I am just relaying to you from my own person experience that I have not had an issue. I usually stay on-site but do drive to other resorts. I stayed off-site last summer and parked at both resorts you mentioned.

I don't think you should be flamed. It's up to the resorts to enforce their own parking IMO.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I have heard that they will be closing off access to the Poly beach for non-guests... and also while they are doing the big pool refurb. I would honestly not plan to do this anymore.

In regards to parking, you cannont park at a resort that you are not staying in and then go somewhere else for dinner. Either park at the Dolphin OR (better option) park at the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot.

 

[SDSorority]

I have heard that they will be closing off access to the Poly beach for non-guests... and also while they are doing the big pool refurb. I would honestly not plan to do this anymore.

In regards to parking, you cannont park at a resort that you are not staying in and then go somewhere else for dinner. Either park at the Dolphin OR (better option) park at the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot.

We are not going to Epcot that day. Are you suggesting that I park at the TTC, take the monorail to Epcot, then take a bus to the Dolphin???

 

[Itinkso]

We are not going to Epcot that day. Are you suggesting that I park at the TTC, take the monorail to Epcot, then take a bus to the Dolphin???

There isn't a bus to Dolphin.

Drive to Dolphin and Valet park, then drive to BC.

 

[SDSorority]

I don't know the answer to the Poly beach question with the overhaul. I can tell you that I have parked there multiple times in the past and watched from the beach without a problem. Ever.

I am also a frequent BC parker. I have parked there for Beaches N Cream and I have even parked there and told the attendant I was going to guest services to get my AP (which was not a lie). I have never, ever had an issue parking there. I resort park a lot for various reasons which always center around a visit to the actual resort. If the parking lot can't accommodate you, they will let you know. This happened once at the Contemporary. They said there was no room.

I know people will flame for resort parking. That is their right. I am just relaying to you from my own person experience that I have not had an issue. I usually stay on-site but do drive to other resorts. I stayed off-site last summer and parked at both resorts you mentioned.

Thanks! You and I are on the same wavelength. We have reservations for Bluezoo at 5:30, and Beaches n Cream at 7:30. I can't imagine that they wouldn't let us park at Yacht/Beach, but I wanted to hear others opinions on this too. Thanks for validating my thought process

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks! You and I are on the same wavelength. We have reservations for Bluezoo at 5:30, and Beaches n Cream at 7:30. I can't imagine that they wouldn't let us park at Yacht/Beach, but I wanted to hear others opinions on this too. Thanks for validating my thought process

It depends on how busy they are. They are more strict during the Food & Wine Festival. One time I went over to BC to pickup friends and they gave me a hard time, they kept saying I could not park. I said I don't want to park, I just want to pullup to the entrance and pick them up!

If you are eating at Bluezoo, someone said above that they will validate your parking.

 

[SDSorority]

It depends on how busy they are. They are more strict during the Food & Wine Festival. One time I went over to BC to pickup friends and they gave me a hard time, they kept saying I could not park. I said I don't want to park, I just want to pullup to the entrance and pick them up!

If you are eating at Bluezoo, someone said above that they will validate your parking.

We'll be going in December.

When they validate our parking, does that mean we don't have to pay when we leave the lot? I didn't know if we were expected to pay upfront, or when we leave. We have stayed at the Swan in the past, and of course did have to pay a nightly fee, but that was attached to our bill, so I wasn't sure what hourly guests were charged.

 

[Itinkso]

We'll be going in December. When they validate our parking, does that mean we don't have to pay when we leave the lot? I didn't know if we were expected to pay upfront, or when we leave. We have stayed at the Swan in the past, and of course did have to pay a nightly fee, but that was attached to our bill, so I wasn't sure what hourly guests were charged.

bluezoo will validate your parking after your meal. Give the validated ticket to the Valet and there is no charge to you for parking at The Dolphin.

 

[itchin2go]

In regards to parking, you cannont park at a resort that you are not staying in and then go somewhere else for dinner. Either park at the Dolphin OR (better option) park at the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot.

Actually, you can. Maybe it's frowned upon. Maybe I wouldn't volunteer my plan to dine somewhere else before B&C, but you CAN do it.

As a previous poster said, it's up to the resorts. I have parked at resorts (both regular and valet) for ADRs. I have never once been asked for my confirmation number. I will readily admit that we have gone at non-busy times, so your mileage may vary.

I have parked at BC, BW, GF, AKL, WL and Contemporary. If you are dining at the resort, I think the "rule" is 3 hour parking but I'm not sure when/if it's enforced. Others have weighed in on that. It may be enforced and it may not be. Regardless, it shouldn't be a problem for what you have planned.

OP has said they'll be dining (at some point) at B&C. Again, it's up to the resort to state and enforce their policies.

Every time someone asks a question like this, some posters chime in with gloom and doom posts. I understand what the resorts' policies are. I just feel it's only fair to give my personal experience, and I have never once had a problem parking at a resort to dine there.

 

[SDSorority]

Actually, you can. Maybe it's frowned upon. Maybe I wouldn't volunteer my plan to dine somewhere else before B&C, but you CAN do it.

As a previous poster said, it's up to the resorts. I have parked at resorts (both regular and valet) for ADRs. I have never once been asked for my confirmation number. I will readily admit that we have gone at non-busy times, so your mileage may vary.

I have parked at BC, BW, GF, AKL, WL and Contemporary. If you are dining at the resort, I think the "rule" is 3 hour parking but I'm not sure when/if it's enforced. Others have weighed in on that. It may be enforced and it may not be. Regardless, it shouldn't be a problem for what you have planned.

OP has said they'll be dining (at some point) at B&C. Again, it's up to the resort to state and enforce their policies.

Every time someone asks a question like this, some posters chime in with gloom and doom posts. I understand what the resorts' policies are. I just feel it's only fair to give my personal experience, and I have never once had a problem parking at a resort to dine there.

 

[MEK]

If you have a 7:30pm reservation for ice cream at Beaches and Cream I can not imagine you having any difficulty parking there. Go there first to park. If you have trouble, go to the Dolphin and park. But you won't.

Seriously, I have been hearing for years about how they are strict on parking, how they are not allowing people to park more than a certain time allotment, how they are this, how they are that, yada, yada, yada...... Like I said, I have never been turned away from parking at the BC during any season ever and I visit several times a year.

Could that change? Sure. I guess. But part of Disney is they WANT people to see and visit their resorts. That's how they attract new guests. Don't give it another thought!

 

[wilkeliza]

My experience with Boardwalk was during the first Tower of Terror race weekend in 2012 so it could have been that. It was Food and Wine plus the race starting at DHS so they were very clear we were only allowed to park for 3 hours.

The only other time I have been turned away was Christmas at Grand Floridan. We wanted to come see the gingerbread house and such. We tried to park but the security guard told us we had to park at TTC if we wanted to come and we could take the monorail over.

Besides that we have always had our magic bands check or have to give photo id and a reason for being there if we had to go to through the guards.