UG Dinner & Quick Exit Strategy - MK & Chef Mickey's?

[LglBlonde]

Hi! On Tuesday of our vacation, we planned to dine at Chef Mickey's at 7 pm, driving our rental car to Contemporary, as suggested in the UG. Spectromagic is at 9 and Wishes at 10 that night. After dinner, we planned to hop on the monorail to MK (leaving our car at Contemporary) and then after it was over, I believe I read you can walk back to Contemporary and get your vehicle to avoid a mass exodus.

On the Restaurant board, someone mentioned a similar idea involving Poly and people went nuts saying it was wrong to do this.

I've also read on these boards you only get a 3 hour parking pass. SO ours would expire before Wishes! Any suggestions? Is this wrong to do this? Why would UG suggest it then?

TIA Jen

 

[MickeyMamma]

The Contemporary and other hotels do this because people park at those hotels to avoid paying for parking or to try to have a short walk after the park closes.

What they tell you when you go to park is that you have a limited amount of time that you can stay parked there. I think it is 3 hours max.

They have been cracking down more on people who try to leave their cars there and head to the parks (ie. towing) since it is unfair that you are taking up the parking spot for somebody who has a reservation at that hotel and has paid for the convenience.

Why not just park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and not have to think twice about how long you have parked or if you will be towed. OR if you are staying at a Disney resort, just take the bus.

If you really want to miss the "mass exodus" hang out in the park for and extra 20-30 minutes after it closes. Most people will have left already and you can get to your car more easily. Also you can enjoy the park without all the crowds.

In my opinion, UG is wrong to have said this.

 

[crazywig]

Originally posted by MickeyMamma
In my opinion, UG is wrong to have said this.

i agree!

you are taking a parking space away from a guest who shelled out big $$ to stay at that resort. imho, this is unacceptable and i am glad they are cracking down on it.

 

[LglBlonde]

Thank you both. This is the kind of info I'm looking for... We are staying at POFQ, so I think we will just leave the car parked and use Disney Transportation. WE could take the bus to TTC then hop the monorail to Contemporary right?

 

[Kimberle]

Just to let you know, you might not get a space at CR. Parking is tight there and sometimes they don't allow "visitors".

 

[GarrettJD]

Last year for our dinner at Chef Mickey's we took a bus to the Magic Kingdom then walked over to the Contemporary (about a 5-10 minute walk.) You could take the monorail from the MK, but I think it'd be quicker to walk, actually.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by LglBlonde
Thank you both. This is the kind of info I'm looking for... We are staying at POFQ, so I think we will just leave the car parked and use Disney Transportation. WE could take the bus to TTC then hop the monorail to Contemporary right?

Actually, from POFQ, there isn't a bus to the TTC. You would take the MK bus. Then, you could either walk over to the monorail station and take it to the CR (it's the first stop), or you could walk. My suggestion is to take the monorail to CR, because it is fun to arrive in the CR by going inside the resort. Kids love this! After dinner, walk to the MK as it is quicker. The monorail to the MK will stop at the TTC, the Poly and the GF before it gets back to the MK.

Best wishes -

 

[LglBlonde]

Thanks so much Carol. That is really helpful! By our second day, I might not have figured all that out too!

It's just my husband and I though! No kids, but it's his first Disney trip ever, and my first in about 18 years, so I think it will be fun to arrive at CR by Monorail!

 

[punkin]

How about if you valet park at the contemporary. Believe me no one will tell you you only have 3 hours.

 

[redskiesx25]

last year when we ate of Chef Mickeys, we took a bus to MK, hopped the monorail, ate, then took the monorail back to MK and then a bus back tp POR. I guess it all depends on the weather, if its nice and sunny you might want to enjoy the weather and walk, but when we went that night, it was raining, thundering & lightening out but also..it was a very long bus line...

hope i helped

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by punkin
How about if you valet park at the contemporary. Believe me no one will tell you you only have 3 hours.

Just an fyi...when we parked at the CR for a meal this past December, we got the 3-hour parking pass to put in our window BEFORE you even get to the valet parking attendants.

So I guess you could try and 'hide' the pass and just valet park and hope no one says anything but I wouldn't risk it.

They make these policies and parking time limits for a reason.

I stayed at the CR in 2002 and could never find parking at night because people would park there and just walk over to MK to catch the parade and fireworks or to attend MVMCP/MNSSHP. It was VERY annoying. We could see them park, put their Santa Mickey hats on and walk to MK while we kept driving around looking for a spot.