Visit a monorail resort

[biggroofy]

Now we will stay at SSR, but still want to check out a few resorts. We will rent a car, and I believe our resort parking permit will allow us to enjoy Free Parking anywhere in WDW.

According to my previous trip - I couldn't figure out how monorail resorts work. I still recall the Security Guard at CR who held a list of names, and verified if I have booked Chef Mickey for breakfast - before he granted a 3-hour parking permit for me.

However, it seems my two visits to GF (dinner at 1900 Park Fare & dinner at Nacroseeses) was different. The guard did not ask details about our reservation, and simply show us the way to the parking lot. There were no 3-hour-limit either (maybe my visits to GF were in evenings, around 6:30pm).

My question is, I would love to check out Poly and GF, before our dinner appointments in those resorts. Ideally if we can arrive the resort 1.5 hours earlier, look around and let DD3 to play in the beach for a while. However, if the 3-hour-limit is a strict reinforcement, then I think it may not sufficient.

Any suggestions?

 

[Lynne M]

I don't believe they have a 3-hour limit on valet parking at the GF or Poly. You'll have to pay for the parking, but I think it's well worth it. You can relax and enjoy dinner and exploring the resorts without having to worry about the time.

 

[aynt79]

If I were you I would just park at the TTC and take the monorail over to wherever my dinner reservations were, and not have to worry at all about any time limits. I've never done it, but the Poly is walkable from the TTC as well. The monorail should still be running at least an hour after MK closes. Consider the monorail ride as part of the dinner experience.

Another option would be to valet park. Most of what I have read is that the time limits don't apply when you valet. So drive to resort, if the guard doesn't give you a time limit - you're all set. If they do, go with valet. (I would still doublecheck when you give the keys to the valet about time limits, just to be safe.)

 

[canron]

you can park for free at any resort for 3 hour and go eat or walk around we do it all the time they will aks for photo id and thats it go have fun, we go to the contemp and just ride the monorail around and see the parks and the lakes

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

You can park for free if you use the self parking option. If you chose to valet, you are charged for that.. plus tip.

I have frequently been given a 3 hour pass at the Polynesian. The last time I tried to park at GF, I was not let in without an ADR. But I have read so many variations of this it is amazing. There doesn't seem to be much consitancy.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

According to my previous trip - I couldn't figure out how monorail resorts work. I still recall the Security Guard at CR who held a list of names, and verified if I have booked Chef Mickey for breakfast - before he granted a 3-hour parking permit for me.

The Contemporary does that for every guest with an ADR, so they can confirm who they let park there. The reason is there have been some guests in the past that may have pretended to have an ADR, but they would really be parking there so they walk to the Magic Kingdom & save the $9.00 parking fee at the TTC. Also on my familes last stay at the Contemporary in August 2006, whenever we would arrive back they would always be asking for our Resort ID card to verify we are guests of the Contemporary, despite the fact we would have the parking pass. So it's just their way of checking who they let in, so I am sure your not the 1st person that has had to have their names checked & etc before getting your parking pass.

 

[ArielsMommy]

We have never been questioned when we take the monorail from TTC. We have always had plenty of time to look around. We like to see all the holiday decorations.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We have never been questioned when we take the monorail from TTC. We have always had plenty of time to look around. We like to see all the holiday decorations.

The reason you were never questioned is because the TTC is the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom, so anyone can come at anytime to park there with no problems, unless the Magic Kingdom is closed on a major holiday where you might be told to turn around leave because no more parking spaces are availabe.