Dinner at GFC parking

[cursivesailor]

We are having dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe and then going straight to the MNSSHP. Will we be allowed to leave our car at the GF and be able to just take the monorail? Or will we have to move it to the TTC? Just trying to be as prepared as possible.

 

[JohnD]

We are having dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe and then going straight to the MNSSHP. Will we be allowed to leave our car at the GF and be able to just take the monorail? Or will we have to move it to the TTC? Just trying to be as prepared as possible.

Well, technically, you should be a resort guest at GF. But are you a resort guest on WDW property? As a WDW resort guest, more than once I've parked at another resort for an ADR before hopping to a park. (Kona Cafe in Poly before hopping to MK and Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge before hopping to AK come to mind.). Not directly saying "no" but also saying I've done what you're already asking.

 

[cursivesailor]

Well, technically, you should be a resort guest at GF. But are you a resort guest on WDW property?

Yes, we are staying at AKL Kidani.

 

[JohnD]

Yes, we are staying at AKL Kidani.

Then I'm thinking you should be fine. They'll scan your MB anyway as you approach the GF resort gate. The guard will see that you're a guest on property. Just state that you have an ADR at GFC.

 

[sxeensweet]

You are only technically (though not always strictly enforced) allowed to leave your car to eat/visit for several hours etc then are supposed to move even if staying on property if not a GF resort guest. Now you could pay to valet and you can leave your car without a problem being its a day rate not hourly.

 

[21stamps]

Grrr. This is one of my pet peeves. Imagine if you came back to your resort after a long day and couldn't find a spot to park.

You are only technically (though not always strictly enforced) allowed to leave your car to eat/visit for several hours etc then are supposed to move even if staying on property if not a GF resort guest. Now you could pay to valet and you can leave your car without a problem being its a day rate not hourly.

I thought they were getting more strict now.

OP, the better option is to park at the TTC, take the monorail to GF for dinner, then monorail to MK, and then boat or monorail back to your car at the TTC.

This way you aren't breaking any rules, won't harm anyone else, and either way you will be using the monorail and is not inconvenient for you.

 

[JohnD]

Grrr. This is one of my pet peeves.

I thought they were getting more strict now.

That's curious considering they don't hand out parking passes to be kept inside the dash. You can still ask for one if you want but if you go directly to your room, you're not likely to get one. So, yeah, they can scan your MB when driving up to the resort front gate to verify your purpose (e.g. dining at resort) but there is nothing ID'ing the car anymore.

 

[21stamps]

That's curious considering they don't hand out parking passes to be kept inside the dash. You can still ask for one if you want but if you go directly to your room, you're not likely to get one. So, yeah, they can scan your MB when driving up to the resort front gate to verify your purpose (e.g. dining at resort) but there is nothing ID'ing the car anymore.

The Poly did parking passes last year during my trip. I'm not sure about GF, if they don't have them then they should. Sorry, but I don't think there is any reason someone should park at a resort while going to MK. If too many people did that then the parking lot would be a mess, and the monorail and boats would be extra crowded. I just think it's inconsiderate towards the people who are staying there.

 

[JohnD]

The Poly did parking passes last year during my trip. I'm not sure about GF, if they don't have them then they should. Sorry, but I don't think there is any reason someone should park at a resort while going to MK. If too many people did that then the parking lot would be a mess, and the monorail and boats would be extra crowded. I just think it's inconsiderate towards the people who are staying there.

I'm not here for a protracted argument on whether you should or should not keep your car at a resort. I'm just saying I stayed at POFQ over Labor Day weekend and didn't receive a pass. So in answering your question "Are they getting stricter?", I simply said it was curious if they were considering that parking passes seem hit or miss. That's all.

 

[21stamps]

I'm not here for a protracted argument on whether you should or should not keep your car at a resort. I'm just saying I stayed at POFQ over Labor Day weekend and didn't receive a pass. So in answering your question "Are they getting stricter?", I simply said it was curious if they were considering that parking passes seem hit or miss. That's all.

Yeah, our stay was over Labor Day 2015. Maybe it is hit or miss.

I still say park at the TTC OP..better than having to worry about receiving a time limit upon arrival. It's only 2 quick stops from TTC to GF.

 

[mcstensrud]

The last 2 Trips(September at BWV and May At VGF) we were given a parking pass for the dashboard at the Guard Shack without asking.
Unless something big is going on at the
GF you should be able to self park.
In September we had to Valet because of a large Wedding going on.

 

[AndrewsJ]

Morally and ethically? Move your car to the TTC like you are supposed to. If you park at the GF just to eat and your accommodations are at a different Disney resort then parking is limited to 3 hours. Will you be towed? Maybe, maybe not but you are still breaking the rules if you keep your car there while you go to MNSSHP.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

Well, technically, you should be a resort guest at GF. But are you a resort guest on WDW property? As a WDW resort guest, more than once I've parked at another resort for an ADR before hopping to a park. (Kona Cafe in Poly before hopping to MK and Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge before hopping to AK come to mind.). Not directly saying "no" but also saying I've done what you're already asking.

Last December my family and I wanted to visit the Grand Floridian so we could take pictures in front of their Ginger Bread house. Now we drove there around 12:00 PM on a Wednesday and it wasn't even the week of Christmas and New Years. We were also staying onsite at the Boardwalk Inn and had our parking pass on display. However despite all that we got turned away and told to park at the TTC. While it was a inconvenience this is what I found more frustrating. Just as we were leaving the Boardwalk we started talking to this retired couple who also happened to be from Ontario just like us, because we happen to see their car as they parked out got out of it. Anyway they mentioned how they had a condo in the Orlando area and parked at the Boardwalk for easier access to Epcot. So it's frustrating how at the Grand Floridian they were restricting those who park there and the Cast Member working the guard shack at the Boardwalk let them in.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

I'm not here for a protracted argument on whether you should or should not keep your car at a resort. I'm just saying I stayed at POFQ over Labor Day weekend and didn't receive a pass. So in answering your question "Are they getting stricter?", I simply said it was curious if they were considering that parking passes seem hit or miss. That's all.

Over the summer I had one resort tell me Disney didn't do the paper window parking passes anymore then later on that trip someone asked for ours....can't win sometimes when it comes to consistent answers from staff.