Parking at Resorts for Park Access About This Page:

[Monorail49]

It has always been my understanding that WDW frowned on guests parking at resorts as a way to get a parking advantage when visiting a park.
In the recent Passporter newsletter (7/9/04) one tip recommended parking at Wilderness Lodge if one was attending Hoop De Doo or Mickey's Backyard Barbeque at Fort Wilderness.
Has WDW relaxed their resort parking stance and has anyone ever had any problems doing this at any resort? Thanks. Clark

[DrDolphin]

Clark - Mickeys BBQ and Hoo Dee Doo are not in the parks - they are at resorts. Disney has not relaxed their policy of parking at the resorts. At those resorts near MK for instance you will be given a parking pass of 3 hours if you are visiting to eat at a restuarant or shop at the resort.

[WillCAD]

Disney is still fairly strict about parking at the MK resorts to avoid paying the $7 fee.

When you park at one of those resorts, you are given a 3-hour parking pass to put in your windshield.

Disney won't mind if you park at WL in the evening for Hoop-De-Doo, because it's obvious that you're only going to be there for a few hours for the show and then leave. What they are trying to prevent is a flood of people (mostly locals and off-site Guests) trying to park at the resorts to avoid the parking fee, taking up spaces that the resort Guests are paying for as part of thier resort fees.

If you're going to HDD or the BBQ, don't be concerned with parking at WL. I've heard that walking from WL or taking the boat is quicker and more convenient that taking the internal FW busses, which can take up to 30 minutes to get you from the FW parking lot to Pioneer Hall.

[Monorail49]

Thanks for the replies.

I agree parking at WL makes sense and WL would not get upset by those folks parking there for the FW dinn dinn deals.

I am just way over sensitive about folks taking advantage of the charm of WDW by doing what they should not do at the expense of registered resort guests. A few years back we were enjoying the quiet pool at BC and watched folks who were obviously not guests (all sweated up from day tripping at Epcot) walk in and go swimming. The quiet pool was not quiet or particularly appealing for the rest of the afternoon. I even wrote a note making a suggestion they put up a attractive waist high gate similiar to the one at Stormalong Bay that would allow entrance with one's room card. From the results they did not think it was as necessary as I.

I am glad they continue their diligence with resort parking and appreciate your relieving replies. Clark

[RobDVC]

Yeah, and I can't stand those people that drive to DD and park their cars there and hop on the first bus to a resort then switch over to the bus from the resort to a park. I've been at DD pretty early in the morning a few times and noticed the parking lots having a lot more vehicles in it than there were people at DD.... It always amazes me how cheap people can be. They go through all this trouble to save $7?!? It costs them at least an extra 30 minutes of touring by doing this, so where's the benefit?

[Figmentlvr427]

What my DH and I did last time we went was we went to dinner at the Contemporary and then left the car there and walked over to MK when we were done to see parades and fireworks. It was a good idea and very close. We only did it when we ate there. That's the only place we've done it too. We stay on property so paying for parking is not an issue.

[Laughaholic]

Yes, they are really strict and if you take it off the windshield they probably will notice.

For my brother, we needed to park at the Contemporary to walk or take the monorail over, as he could not wait for the bus (he's Autistic) and we could not park at MK as the wait is too long for him because you have to do the business with the ferry or monorail and all that waiting.

We had to go thru a long process, and we eventually did get a parking pass for the Contemporary. But it was extrememly long.

The reason I said this is because it's not really fair to take up spaces to park at the resorts in close access to MK unless there's a real necessity. But that's only my opinion.

[tinkeringaround]

Disney is still very strict about parking at the resorts if not a guest at them. The resorts have guest parking tags. If you don't have one, you need a reservation at one fo the resort restaurants to get in to the parking and even then, you are limited to three hours. They have a list at the gates of the priority seating and will check it. At least they have with us any time we have had reservations at the California grill or at the Poleynesian. It makes sense. How else would there be enough parking for resort guests?

[goofy4goofy]

You don't necessarily need a priority seating at a restaurant. Anyone can visit the resorts to eat at the food courts, shop in the merchandise stores, or even just look around. You just tell the security what you are there for and they will give you a 3 hour pass, in most cases.

They definately try to enforce the rules, but you don't necessarily have to have a PS to park in that particular resort.

Kelly

[stonewall]

You beat me to it, Kelly! We enjoy going to different rsorts to dine, shop or just to look around. Of course, you must stop at the entrance gate, but as long as you explain why you are there, you shouldn't have any trouble(especially if you display the parking pass from the resort where you are staying).