Visiting and parking

[MamaTiger]

Can you park for free at the resorts without dining reservations? Specifically Art of Animation for the Cars courtyard, and the Polynesian for Wishes. Thanks!

 

[dansdad]

Can you park for free at the resorts without dining reservations?

Depends on the resort, time of year and time of day.

Specifically Art of Animation for the Cars courtyard.

Definitely.

and the Polynesian for Wishes. Thanks!

Probably not.

 

[disnut8]

At the Epcot and Monorail resorts, you will more than likely be restricted to a maximum of three hours. At the others, depends on the guard at the time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

At the Epcot and Monorail resorts, you will more than likely be restricted to a maximum of three hours. At the others, depends on the guard at the time.

Or not allowed at all. Sometimes they only allow guests actually staying at the resort use the parking lot at the resort.

 

[MamaTiger]

Or not allowed at all. Sometimes they only allow guests actually staying at the resort us the parking lot at the resort.

What about dining reservations?

 

[Deb & Bill]

What about dining reservations?

It may again depend on the day, the resort, etc. I've seen them turning guests away from the Contemporary/BLT at the guard shack if they weren't staying there.

 

[disnut8]

It may again depend on the day, the resort, etc. I've seen them turning guests away from the Contemporary/BLT at the guard shack if they weren't staying there.

If the guest (not a resort guest but a guest) has a dining reservation and is driving and there is a cancellation fee of $10/person if they don't show up, that makes no sense.

 

[MamaTiger]

If the guest (not a resort guest but a guest) has a dining reservation and is driving and there is a cancellation fee of $10/person if they don't show up, that makes no sense.

Agreed. I have a dinner ADR at Kona Cafe now, is there really a chance they won't let us park there?? It's on our arrival date too, so we won't be visiting the parks.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Heck... they wouldn't let us park at the Poly to go to Trader Sam's and spend lots of money.

MG

 

[Deb & Bill]

Agreed. I have a dinner ADR at Kona Cafe now, is there really a chance they won't let us park there?? It's on our arrival date too, so we won't be visiting the parks.

You could park at the TTC parking lot and walk over to the Polynesian or take the monorail from the TTC to the Polynesian.

 

[MamaTiger]

You could park at the TTC parking lot and walk over to the Polynesian or take the monorail from the TTC to the Polynesian.

Don't you have to pay for parking then? Or do they have dining passes or something? Thanks for all the help!!

 

[hakepb]

Don't you have to pay for parking then? Or do they have dining passes or something? Thanks for all the help!!

If you are staying at any Disney resort, theme park parking is free.
If you are staying off site, the main free parking option is at Disney Springs, where you can take a bus to any resort.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you are staying at any Disney resort, theme park parking is free.
If you are staying off site, the main free parking option is at Disney Springs, where you can take a bus to any resort.

No, no, no! Disney Springs is not a good idea AT ALL! Disney has made it hard to transfer there on purpose, as they don't want people parking there to get out of paying for parking at a park.

Typically you CAN park for free at any resort for up to 3 hours. They only turn guests away if it is insanely busy--such as on the 4th of July or Christmas. And that happens so infrequently that I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bumbershoot]

If the guest (not a resort guest but a guest) has a dining reservation and is driving and there is a cancellation fee of $10/person if they don't show up, that makes no sense.

Right there with ya.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

No, no, no! Disney Springs is not a good idea AT ALL! Disney has made it hard to transfer there on purpose, as they don't want people parking there to get out of paying for parking at a park.

Typically you CAN park for free at any resort for up to 3 hours. They only turn guests away if it is insanely busy--such as on the 4th of July or Christmas. And that happens so infrequently that I wouldn't worry about it.

They have been turning us away the last several visits unless we are willing to valet. That's generally what we do because TIW covers the fee.
They wouldn't less us park at Poly when we told the guard we wanted to spend money at Trader Sam's. He said park at MK or valet. Same with BW and BC.

MG

 

[_auroraborealis_]

But if there's nowhere to park, it's not like they're just turning you away for fun n yuks.

Boardwalk is like that. Sometimes, there is pretty literally nowhere to self-park, and you will either be asked to valet (and pay), or pay your no-show. They can park... differently in a valet lot vs. the self-park zone, and when self-park is gone, it is not something where they can just wave you through and it'll be swell.

Now, you can debate if someone trying to park for an ADR should be comped valet if self-park is full, but Disney's response to that is nope, so the debate is pretty much for fun n yuks.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

But if there's nowhere to park, it's not like they're just turning you away for fun n yuks.

Boardwalk is like that. Sometimes, there is pretty literally nowhere to self-park, and you will either be asked to valet (and pay), or pay your no-show. They can park... differently in a valet lot vs. the self-park zone, and when self-park is gone, it is not something where they can just wave you through and it'll be swell.

Now, you can debate if someone trying to park for an ADR should be comped valet if self-park is full, but Disney's response to that is nope, so the debate is pretty much for fun n yuks.

What if we had an 'Ohana ressie?
There was parking. Poly parking used to be much harder to find prior to the second lot.

MG

 

[DebbieB]

Heck... they wouldn't let us park at the Poly to go to Trader Sam's and spend lots of money.

MG

When I was there in October, they let us in for Trader Sams, no problem. We were staying at Boardwalk, that may have been the difference. You're local?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

When I was there in October, they let us in for Trader Sams, no problem. We were staying at Boardwalk, that may have been the difference. You're local?

Yes, I'm local.
I'm glad to hear they may have come to their senses. We never have a problem when we can show them a booked reservation, but as you know there is no booking for Sam's.

MG