Ques. re: 3 hour resort parking

[serena]

I have read in previous posts that you can park at any resort for 3 hours if you let them know you are dining there. My questions are:

-Is this only for on-property guests, or may off-prop. guests do this as well?

-Is this also ok for just getting counter service meals (versus sit-down).

-If ok for off-property, will they charge the $10 parking fee one would pay at the parks?

(We aren't checking into our Disney accommodations until Sunday am - we are arriving Sat. pm and had originally not intended to go to the parks, but have been thinking about going just to see Spectromagic/Wishes because we will be in MK on a night without them.... and since we will need to grab a bite to eat too, I have been thinking about going to one of the monorail hotels for a quick bite and easy access to and from MK for the evening events.). Thank you!

 

[wdwmomof3]

I have read in previous posts that you can park at any resort for 3 hours if you let them know you are dining there. My questions are:

-Is this only for on-property guests, or may off-prop. guests do this as well?

-Is this also ok for just getting counter service meals (versus sit-down).

-If ok for off-property, will they charge the $10 parking fee one would pay at the parks?

(We aren't checking into our Disney accommodations until Sunday am - we are arriving Sat. pm and had originally not intended to go to the parks, but have been thinking about going just to see Spectromagic/Wishes because we will be in MK on a night without them.... and since we will need to grab a bite to eat too, I have been thinking about going to one of the monorail hotels for a quick bite and easy access to and from MK for the evening events.). Thank you!

You can go to the Grand Floridian and valet park. We had dinner there and then took the monorail over for wishes and no one said anything to us. I guess you could ask them about it when you get your ADR.:animwink:

 

[cdunbar]

I would say to park at the transport center and then take the resort monorail....I am sure u can do that

 

[Tim G]

I would say to park at the transport center and then take the resort monorail....I am sure u can do that

Do u mean TTC ??? Me 2... or do u 2 <can't stand text message language>

 

[tigsmom]

I have read in previous posts that you can park at any resort for 3 hours if you let them know you are dining there. My questions are:

-Is this only for on-property guests, or may off-prop. guests do this as well?

-Is this also ok for just getting counter service meals (versus sit-down).

-If ok for off-property, will they charge the $10 parking fee one would pay at the parks?

(We aren't checking into our Disney accommodations until Sunday am - we are arriving Sat. pm and had originally not intended to go to the parks, but have been thinking about going just to see Spectromagic/Wishes because we will be in MK on a night without them.... and since we will need to grab a bite to eat too, I have been thinking about going to one of the monorail hotels for a quick bite and easy access to and from MK for the evening events.). Thank you!

Anyone can visit a resort there are no restrictions. When asked at the security station tell them you are there to look at the resort and grab a quick bite to eat. You may/may not be given a temporary parking pass.
Three hours seems to be the number always mentioned.

You will not be charged to park at the resort, however, you may want to valet park (a paid service) the car.

The WL is very nice to wander around, they have a decent snack bar (lousy seating though) and you can take the boat over to the MK afterwards. The Kona Kafe is nice for a quick meal at the Poly...if that is your choice, I would park at the TTC and walk up the path to the restaurant and then hit the monorail to the parks.

One question...will doing this "waste" a day of admission or do you have more days than you plan to attend?

 

[JimboJones123]

We had to get a new pass when we hit the boats on our 3 hr pass at the Poly, they were happy to renew, but did only give us another 3 hrs.

 

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

To the OP if your planning on parking at any of the Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts and then going to the Magic Kingdom to watch Spectromagic/Wishes, you have to move your car to the TTC. It is un fair and wrong to park your car for free because your going there to eat at a counter service location and then you save $10.00 because that means there is one less spot for the Resort guests who are paying over $300.00 per night to stay there. If you want proof here is an answer I got from WDW about what you want to do.

Dear Jason,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

You are correct. When you finish your meal and have completed your time
at Disney's Contemporary Resort you should move your auto to the TTC
parking lot.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Howard Bowen
WDW Online Communications

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your visit.

 

[autigger]

been thinking about going just to see Spectromagic/Wishes because we will be in MK on a night without them.... and since we will need to grab a bite to eat too, I have been thinking about going to one of the monorail hotels for a quick bite and easy access to and from MK for the evening events.).

If you valet your car at one of the monorail resorts, you can stay longer than the three hours.

My recommendation would be to chose a restaurant at CR, PR, GF or WL and make an ADR, valet your car, enjoy your meal, enjoy Spectromagic and then drive home. You will obviously have to pay to valet your car.

When asking this very question last summer, I was told that this is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

 

[Thorphin]

Generally, "cheating the system" is not what us Disney die-hards like to see, but if you really do wish to visit the resort or a friend staying there or want to dine or do other activity there, the guards will generally hand over a parking pass with no problem - I think they record your license plate, but who knows how often they ever check these things. It's probably a lot easier to fool the Disney security guy than your local meterperson.

That being said... I can't remember specifics, but on a recent trip, we visited about 10 resorts one day, just hopping from one to the next, and each hotel seemed to be a little different. I think a couple issued a pass that was good for "P.M." rather than 3 hours. At Saratoga Springs, the guard was so perplexed - his face had "why the heck would you want to visit?!" written all over it - that he didn't even offer a parking pass, and just let us crazy tourists park as we wished.

After about 10 years of really wanting to take a tour of the various resorts, on this last trip, we ended up arriving about 12 hours before the rest of our group, and instead of paying park admission, we just explored property and took some photos. It was a GREAT way to spend a day and take in more of sights.

 

[serena]

Thanks everyone for the replies and clarification about what the parking is and isn't for! Sherri

 

[Zummi Gummi]

So just to clarify a related point....

If I have an 8 AM breakfast ADR at Kona Cafe, and plan to go over to Magic kingdom afterwards, the best thing to do is park at the TTC, walk to the Poly, then take the monorail to MK? I have an AP, and will be staying on site, so paying for parking is not an issue.

 

[Thorphin]

So just to clarify a related point....

If I have an 8 AM breakfast ADR at Kona Cafe, and plan to go over to Magic kingdom afterwards, the best thing to do is park at the TTC, walk to the Poly, then take the monorail to MK? I have an AP, and will be staying on site, so paying for parking is not an issue.

That's definitely what I would do. You could, of course park at Poly and move your car after breakfast, but it would be much simpler to do as you've described. The walking distance is very manageable and enjoyable, especially early in the morning before it gets too hot.

 

[Monty]

So just to clarify a related point....

If I have an 8 AM breakfast ADR at Kona Cafe, and plan to go over to Magic kingdom afterwards, the best thing to do is park at the TTC, walk to the Poly, then take the monorail to MK? I have an AP, and will be staying on site, so paying for parking is not an issue.

I did exactly that our last trip, and just wanted to add that it is quite a healthy walk from TTC to get to the Kona Café. I suggest allowing extra time before your ADR or take the Resort Monorail for the one stop to Poly...

Isn't free parking with an AP great?

 

[tigsmom]

So just to clarify a related point....

If I have an 8 AM breakfast ADR at Kona Cafe, and plan to go over to Magic kingdom afterwards, the best thing to do is park at the TTC, walk to the Poly, then take the monorail to MK? I have an AP, and will be staying on site, so paying for parking is not an issue.

Thats what I would do. We stayed in RapaNui which is at the back of the resort and it only took a couple of minutes to walk to the TTC down a beautiful landscaped path.

You could park at the MK and take the monorail over, but I think the first option is faster.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Thats what I would do. We stayed in RapaNui which is at the back of the resort and it only took a couple of minutes to walk to the TTC down a beautiful landscaped path.

You could park at the MK and take the monorail over, but I think the first option is faster.

Isn't parking at the TTC the same thing as parking at the Magic Kingdom?

 

[tigsmom]

Isn't parking at the TTC the same thing as parking at the Magic Kingdom?

Is it? :lol:

We've never done that, we always stay onsite so we are parked at the resort. I just assumed it was a different lot like all the other parks.