not staying at a Disney Resort. Can we still go to a Disney Resort to eat at one of the resort restaurants? If so will they let us park at the resort without a resort parking pass?
You may want to remember that Beaches & Cream is the smallest restaurant on Disney property and it does not take reservations. If you go at a peak time, you'll be waiting to get in. As today is a major holiday, you may want to remember that you might be given a limit on parking time.
TDC Nala is correct. DH and I normally stay at YC and always try to get in at B&C. In order to sit down in the restaurant, they normally take your name and you are given a pager. The last time we were there in May, we waited 30 minutes for a seat at the counter. They do have a take out line, but only offer limited ice cream selections.
You should be able to park at either YC or BC while going to B&C.
We have done this twice at the contemporay for cm. Once we got a parking pass for a certain time. It was while they were doing construction. Last time we went though we just had to park in the visitor parking.