Just to be sure about parking...

[UberPlannerMom]

OK so I just want to be sure about being able to park places. If I am staying at one resort it is perfectly acceptable for me to park at another resort, right? If I wanted to take the boat from the Dolphin to EPCOT I would be allowed to park at the Dolphin, right? We will have a car so we can drive anywhere that we wish but I still just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

 

[Kamikaze]

Uhm, no.

You need a reason to be at a resort to park there. And then you get a three hour parking pass.
Swan and Dolphin are not Disney resorts and have different policies. I believe they charge a flat rate for parking. In which case you can probably park there for the fee. If you want to take that boat, park at the Studios and take the boat to Epcot.

 

[Laura]

OK so I just want to be sure about being able to park places. If I am staying at one resort it is perfectly acceptable for me to park at another resort, right? If I wanted to take the boat from the Dolphin to EPCOT I would be allowed to park at the Dolphin, right? We will have a car so we can drive anywhere that we wish but I still just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

The resort parking lots are meant for the people staying at those resorts or eating at them.

The park parking lots are for people visiting the parks.

And as the person above said, there is a charge to park at the Dolphin. It is not a Disney resort.

 

[unkadug]

"X" Resort parking is for "X" Resort guests only.

Otherwise resorts like the Contemporary would be overrun with guests from the other resorts parking and then going to the MK.

You do have free parking at all the parks.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

OK. Allears only listed the comtemporary, polynesian and beach club as having the three hour limits. I was just hoping to be able to allow my little one to ride the boat there and back tomorrow. Oh well.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

Do you suppose that it would be ok to drive to DTD and take the boat to PO or one of those and then right back? Or would that be an issue since we aren't staying at any of those resorts?

 

[DISMOM]

'You do have free parking at all the parks.'
Huhhh, the last time that I checked, it cost to park at the parks. Quite a lot, I believe. Like $9 or $12. Per day.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

I do know for certain that resort guests have free parking at all the parks.

 

[thrupaytonseyes]

Do you suppose that it would be ok to drive to DTD and take the boat to PO or one of those and then right back? Or would that be an issue since we aren't staying at any of those resorts?

I believe that would work.

Or how about parking at Epcot, going to International gateway, taking a boat to Boardwalk, walk around there for a bit, and then head back to Epcot?

 

[thrupaytonseyes]

'You do have free parking at all the parks.'
Huhhh, the last time that I checked, it cost to park at the parks. Quite a lot, I believe. Like $9 or $12. Per day.

Resort guests DO have free parking at every park. Just show your parking pass for your resort and they wave you thru.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

I believe that would work.

Or how about parking at Epcot, going to International gateway, taking a boat to Boardwalk, walk around there for a bit, and then head back to Epcot?

Thanks! I just think that it would be very very cool to get to have my sons first plane ride and first boat ride on the same day! I think it would be a really fun start to the trip

 

[thrupaytonseyes]

Enjoy your trip! Hope he loves the plane and boat ride! How old?

 

[UberPlannerMom]

He is turning three during our trip. We are definitely one of the families that they are marketing for next year, we are just doing it a little early!

And thank you- I am very excited about this trip!

 

[krankenstein]

Thanks! I just think that it would be very very cool to get to have my sons first plane ride and first boat ride on the same day! I think it would be a really fun start to the trip

You could also drive to MK and take the boat at the TTC rather than the monorail.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

You could also drive to MK and take the boat at the TTC rather than the monorail.

Yeah I guess that that is possible- I just know I would be disappointed. One time when I was a kid we were taking the boat in and Goofy water skied right next to us and ever sense if I take the boat from the TTC I spend the whole trip waiting for Goofy to water ski on by! Haha! Yeah I know- I am odd!

 

[ewensell3]

Thanks! I just think that it would be very very cool to get to have my sons first plane ride and first boat ride on the same day! I think it would be a really fun start to the trip

There's also the boats that runs across World Showcase Lagoon inside Epcot...

 

[UberPlannerMom]

There's also the boats that runs across World Showcase Lagoon inside Epcot...

I hadn't thought about that. Of course, as I have been planning this trip I have had to admit that there are a million and one things that I do not know about Disney, especially EPCOT. My parents and I would always for a day but I never even knew that you could go inside spaceship earth. I always wanted to and my parents told me that it was just for looks. I thought that the only thing inside of EPCOT were stores that were themed to countries. HAHA! Oh and the dinosaur ride (the energy one for years ago, all I ever remembered were the little bit of dinosaurs!)

 

[slappy magoo]

Just for the sake of being clear and concise...

1: if you're staying at a Disney resort, you get a pass good for free parking at any of the parks, including the water parks.
2: if you want to visit a different resort, or have a meal there, when you arrive at the gate, you will, IN THEORY, be told you can park for three hours, maybe even be given a three hour pass. However, the actual enforcement of the three-hour window will vary, and again, IN THEORY, that three hour window is more of a big deal at the MK resorts and the Epcot resorts. WDW doesn't want a run of people using resort lots to avoid the ginormous lots for the theme parks, but the enforcement will depend a lot on how busy the resorts and the theme parks are. After all, if you're staying at a WDW resort, it's not like you're saving money by parking at the Poly and taking the monorail, as opposed to parking in the main lot and taking the monorail. I honestly have never heard of anyone getting towed for parking in a resort lot different from the resort where they're staying for too long. That's not to say it can't happen, or that it won't happen to you.
3: If you're NOT staying at a WDW resort and try to park in a resort lot, I'm going to make a rash assumption and say the odds are better that 3 hour window WILL apply to you, as it looks more like you're trying to avoid paying for parking.
4: Swan and Dolphin are not Disney resorts, so even with a WDW parking pass, you'll have to pay to park at those resorts. In fact I think even Swan and Dolphin guests have to pay for parking (or at least, they once used to have to pay, that may have stopped).
5: Nobody asked, but it comes up so: If you're a non-resort guest, and decide to park at the free lot at Downtown Disney and take a bus to one of the parks, be aware that none of the buses at DTD go directly to parks any more. You'll have to take a bus to a hotel, and then take a bus to a park from that hotel. OR walk to Saratoga Springs or Old Key West and jump on buses from there. Either way, you're taking a lot more time out of your day to save the parking fee. Hope you think it's worth it.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

5: Nobody asked, but it comes up so: If you're a non-resort guest, and decide to park at the free lot at Downtown Disney and take a bus to one of the parks, be aware that none of the buses at DTD go directly to parks any more. You'll have to take a bus to a hotel, and then take a bus to a park from that hotel. OR walk to Saratoga Springs or Old Key West and jump on buses from there. Either way, you're taking a lot more time out of your day to save the parking fee. Hope you think it's worth it.

I am glad that no one ever told my grandpa this when I was a kid... we would have been hoofing it all the way!

 

[MomofKatie]

OK. Allears only listed the comtemporary, polynesian and beach club as having the three hour limits. I was just hoping to be able to allow my little one to ride the boat there and back tomorrow. Oh well.

If you are going to Epcot, just drive to Disney Studios. Park at their lot, then get on the boat outside the front gate. It will take you on a scenic trip to Epcot, stopping at the Epcot resorts along the way. You can take the same boat back to DS when you are done for the day.