What the heck are the rules for resort parking lots?

[EpcotPhoenician]

I recently moved just a few minutes from property, and I enjoy visiting the resorts. I always spend money in one form or another (food, drink), and I never take advantage of the resort parking lots to go to the parks (I’m an AP and park for free on my park days).

What are the official rules for parking at resorts? I realize that you need an ADR to park, and you must leave within three (?) hours after your ADR.

Sometimes, the guard at the gate doesn’t care at all, and just opens the gate arm to let you park, no questions asked. Doesn’t even attempt to converse with me when I pull up.

Sometimes they ask me for my last name to confirm my resort reservation or ADR in a friendly fashion.

On occasion, the guard plays detective and asks me specifically what time I intend on leaving after I eat. For example, at Poly, I’m usually allowed to park without an issue if I tell them I’m meeting friends at Trader Sam’s. But other times, I feel like I’m being interrogated for a crime.

Sometimes I take an Uber, and, like the above, they ask my driver for my last name, or the guard just lets us drive right through.

This experience is inconsistent across all resorts (I’ve driven to most of them)… surprisingly, Grand Floridian has been the easiest to park at. This was surprising to me, given proximity to Magic Kingdom.

All I’m asking for is consistency… why has Disney failed to enforce a universal set of rules here? It’s quite frustrating relying on the mood of the Cast Member to determine if I can park. Has his always been a problem, or is this something recent?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

What we have found with post-Covid-opening larger crowds, parking enforcement at the resorts for guests without a room reservation or dining reservation has been much stricter than in the past - especially at the resorts with close park proximity (CR, Poly, GF, BC/YC, BW, etc). When we were staying at AKL in Dec and again in Jan, we saw a sign we never saw before, at the guard shed - no guests allowed to enter without a room/dining reservation. Never saw that in a decade+ of staying at AKL.

So yes, there's inconsistency. In the times we have visited another resort from our home resort, for dinner, we've usually been asked to scan our Magic Band to verify the reservation, and we're allowed through. We've not heard conversation about the old '3-hour limit' in quite some time now. But you're right - sometimes the guard will stick to the rules and other times they'll allow people through. Who can say why or why not. But if you go and hope to park, you should probably be prepared to be denied entry.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

All of the above. Like you, I've had all of the above happen, at various resorts, various times of day, various methods of arrival. It's never the same twice.
I honestly think they give the guard freedom to do whatever they want within the range you've experienced. Maybe being inconsistent is part of the security process? You never know what to be prepared for? Just a guess
It's been that way since we've been going multiple times a year starting in 2011

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't know for sure but the guard could have been advised how crowded the lot may get that day (actually a good strategy by management if historic data was kept). Then the guard could be lenient or strict as needed.

 

[Narcoossee11]

It depends on many facts:
Resorts close a park or skyliner , very strict
Time of day
Is resort close to capacity
Is parking lot almost full

As a local also, I have to remember that the parking is for RESORT guest. Can you imagine how mad it would be if I am PAYING to stay at resort and can't find a spot or a spot is far from building.

 

[seashoreCM]

I only wish that Disney could come up with some somewhat automated system to figure out how long guests were at the resort. A system might involve Magic Bands. Then parking procedures could be made more consistent.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

I only wish that Disney could come up with some somewhat automated system to figure out how long guests were at the resort. A system might involve Magic Bands. Then parking procedures could be made more consistent.

Precisely.

 

[nancipants]

We park at resorts with dining reservations, although sometimes we're going to a place like Crew Cup or Jellyrolls without reservations. We have found that the Boardwalk area hotels are pretty lenient, and will let us through even without a dining reservation. I won't try getting to Poly anymore without a reservation. My husband once told the guard "We're meeting some friends at Trader Sam's" and the guard replied, "No, you're not." SUPER rude.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I recently moved just a few minutes from property, and I enjoy visiting the resorts. I always spend money in one form or another (food, drink), and I never take advantage of the resort parking lots to go to the parks (I’m an AP and park for free on my park days).

What are the official rules for parking at resorts? I realize that you need an ADR to park, and you must leave within three (?) hours after your ADR.

Sometimes, the guard at the gate doesn’t care at all, and just opens the gate arm to let you park, no questions asked. Doesn’t even attempt to converse with me when I pull up.

Sometimes they ask me for my last name to confirm my resort reservation or ADR in a friendly fashion.

On occasion, the guard plays detective and asks me specifically what time I intend on leaving after I eat. For example, at Poly, I’m usually allowed to park without an issue if I tell them I’m meeting friends at Trader Sam’s. But other times, I feel like I’m being interrogated for a crime.

Sometimes I take an Uber, and, like the above, they ask my driver for my last name, or the guard just lets us drive right through.

This experience is inconsistent across all resorts (I’ve driven to most of them)… surprisingly, Grand Floridian has been the easiest to park at. This was surprising to me, given proximity to Magic Kingdom.

All I’m asking for is consistency… why has Disney failed to enforce a universal set of rules here? It’s quite frustrating relying on the mood of the Cast Member to determine if I can park. Has his always been a problem, or is this something recent?

This is particularly problematic at the Boardwalk, where people have legitimate bona fide reasons to visit even without a dining reservation. Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance Hall, etc. are supposed to be Walt Disney World amenities that people can access similar to Disney Springs. But Boardwalk is also the #1 spot for people to go for sneaky access to the parks, especially World Showcase at festival time.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I only wish that Disney could come up with some somewhat automated system to figure out how long guests were at the resort. A system might involve Magic Bands. Then parking procedures could be made more consistent.

I'm not sure how that would work, as many guests wouldn't need their MBs if they weren't a guest of the resort!!

Since mostly anyone can use the Disney transportation, and parking appears to be the concern for restricting access without a reservation, the most consistent might end up being no entry.

I agree with a previous post - the restrictions are likely more important now that the are actually charging non-DVC guests for that parking space at their resort. It's not right to have a non-guest who wants to avoid theme park parking to take up their space when they return for the day. And I know not everyone is looking to bypass theme park parking fees - but it's probably the #1 reason people have done it in the past and one of the main reasons Disney has to prohibit/limit the access to non-guests.

 

[DVC4US]

What I don't understand is why people arriving by Uber/Lyft to visit the hotel say for the bar are being turned away. We plan to visit Trader Sam's and Enchanted Rose before going to dinner at a different hotel and we will be using Uber/Lyft/Taxi to get there. Looks like taxi might be the best choice for us since the only reason I can see for them turning away Uber/Lyft is that people could be using it as a front to get in and park.

Believe me, I get the parking at the hotel thing - BWV is a home resort and I have dealt with it many times and I've dealt with the bus congestion at SSR with people parking at DS and walking over to take the bus but when wanting to visit other hotels Disney bus transportation just does not work.

 

[brockash]

I recently moved just a few minutes from property, and I enjoy visiting the resorts. I always spend money in one form or another (food, drink), and I never take advantage of the resort parking lots to go to the parks (I’m an AP and park for free on my park days).

What are the official rules for parking at resorts? I realize that you need an ADR to park, and you must leave within three (?) hours after your ADR.

Sometimes, the guard at the gate doesn’t care at all, and just opens the gate arm to let you park, no questions asked. Doesn’t even attempt to converse with me when I pull up.

Sometimes they ask me for my last name to confirm my resort reservation or ADR in a friendly fashion.

On occasion, the guard plays detective and asks me specifically what time I intend on leaving after I eat. For example, at Poly, I’m usually allowed to park without an issue if I tell them I’m meeting friends at Trader Sam’s. But other times, I feel like I’m being interrogated for a crime.

Sometimes I take an Uber, and, like the above, they ask my driver for my last name, or the guard just lets us drive right through.

This experience is inconsistent across all resorts (I’ve driven to most of them)… surprisingly, Grand Floridian has been the easiest to park at. This was surprising to me, given proximity to Magic Kingdom.

All I’m asking for is consistency… why has Disney failed to enforce a universal set of rules here? It’s quite frustrating relying on the mood of the Cast Member to determine if I can park. Has his always been a problem, or is this something recent?

Traditional Disney standard...there are no policies, just depends on the day and the customer...guest.

 

[john7994]

In January, we stayed off property and had several reservations for dining at various WDW resorts. The pattern we observed was those within "walking" access to a park (i.e. Epcot, MK) tended to be strict; whereas, Riviera for example was a complete pass through. Obviously not scientific, but it seemed to at least make sense. We were using rideshare everywhere, and this is the first time we encountered the rules being enforced. For us especially, with a plan to "resort hop", it was a definite downer to the plan because we knew what we could expect in a worst-case scenario. Even if the enforcement in practice was inconsistent, we got enough of an experience where it was still a deterrent - which I presume was the point of the rules in the first place.

Disney does have all parking policies outlined including for those considered "Day Guests" - not sure everyone (including us on our last trip) pays attention to all that information.

 

[seashoreCM]

Go back to the 3 hour parking pass system. There would be a few times of day, notably around fireworks at a nearby park where your parking pass could be shorter than 3 hours in order that it expire in the middle of the fireworks. Or the pass may last a little longer to compensate for seating delays if you have a restaurant reservation (ADR).

It is not perfect but it is reasonable to expect drivers to have to jump through some hoops. Actually most resort visitors and diners should encounter no inconvenience.

 

[keishashadow]

What are the official rules for parking at resorts? I realize that you need an ADR to park, and you must leave within three (?) hours after your ADR.

ask the same questiion at WDW three times and you often will get as many different answers.

“The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules." -Hector Barbossa​

the parking policies are clearly stated in writing. Yet, people often do receive pixie dust, then interpret it as fact going forward

​

 

[john7994]

ask the same questiion at WDW three times and you often will get as many different answers.

“The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules." -Hector Barbossa​

the parking policies are clearly stated in writing. Yet, people often do receive pixie dust, then interpret it as fact going forward

​

Thats kind of the way I look at - i know what the rules are and if someone is more lenient - great - otherwise it is what it is

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Go back to the 3 hour parking pass system. There would be a few times of day, notably around fireworks at a nearby park where your parking pass could be shorter than 3 hours in order that it expire in the middle of the fireworks. Or the pass may last a little longer to compensate for seating delays if you have a restaurant reservation (ADR).

It is not perfect but it is reasonable to expect drivers to have to jump through some hoops. Actually most resort visitors and diners should encounter no inconvenience.

Might be better optics to refuse people without reservations entry than it would be to have someone's car towed after 3 hours. Not to mention the additional staff required to walk around enforcing parking requirements for non-resort guests. Disney does not prevent guests from visiting resorts without reservations - they offer multiple means of transportation to get there. They just don't offer parking.

At this time, if you have an ADR, parking is not an issue and there has been no '3-hr limit' mentioned at security.