Will Disney tow your car away?

[nickys]

I have to think there was more to the story.

Either it wasn’t the first time they’d parked there and headed off to the parks, and they had already been put on the “naughty list” and warned.

Or they had specifically asked and been told they could park for 3 hours and would then need to move their car. And then they ignored that.

 

[rickdrat]

I wouldn't be surprised if security cruises the lots in the wee hours and notes the license plates of any remaining cars. Anyone still there after 3-5 days probably gets hauled off. That would work in the theme parks. Don't know how you manage the resorts.

 

[mergatroid]

I wouldn't be surprised if security cruises the lots in the wee hours and notes the license plates of any remaining cars. Anyone still there after 3-5 days probably gets hauled off. That would work in the theme parks. Don't know how you manage the resorts.

I would guess this.

 

[elcheapo]

I would guess this.

I always park at the MK resorts and go the parks all day never had a problem. All they do is ask to look at your license. That’s it

 

[mkt]

They usually won't. Disney doesn't want the liability if they damage your car while towing it away.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Could be an off site guest or a guest who drove and drank around the world and their designated driver got mad at them and left. Could be any number of legit reasons.

Except that in the OP's post it makes it seem like it is an onsite guest so the second poster has a point of seems dumb to take your car if you are gonna drink around the world....

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Honestly I'd say if someone parks overnight in a park parking lot then its very possible that Disney would have it towed if they cannot locate the driver and get a good reason why its there.

If you're going to drink you don't drive yourself to the parks.

 

[Dave B]

I saw three cars being towed from the Contemporary over New Year back in 2016/17. We came back at around 5pm and there was a crowd of people watching as they picked them up; the security guards said the cars had been there since early in the morning and the owner’s weren’t staying at the resort.

So they do occasionally tow cars.

I think the OP is talking about the TTC lot at MK, not the resorts

 

[mergatroid]

I always park at the MK resorts and go the parks all day never had a problem. All they do is ask to look at your license. That’s it

I'm a little confused as I wasn't talking about MK resorts?

 

[Mickey1984]

I can't speak to current rules, but a few years ago the policy was no towing, unless a vehicle had been there for a long time. I believe it was then 21 days. Towing a "Guest" vehicle is very bad PR. There are many reasons someone may leave a vehicle overnight. Most involve some adult beverages but plans change and people do odd things. The policy at Disney Springs is no overnight parking without notification. That changed 2 years ago, but if you let them know it is fine.

We are planning our visit at the moment for February and we were saying first day as are from UK we want to bank the early morning rise, so thinking of doing to Chef Mickeys for 7am and then MK for 9am, but leaving our car at Contempery, will this work ok? or will i get towed? also do you pay at each resort? as we are staying CBR, so will pay to park there, do I then pay to also part at Contemp? ( and as a side note if i moved my car to a park would I have to pay again?)

 

[dreamfinder]

We are planning our visit at the moment for February and we were saying first day as are from UK we want to bank the early morning rise, so thinking of doing to Chef Mickeys for 7am and then MK for 9am, but leaving our car at Contempery, will this work ok? or will i get towed? also do you pay at each resort? as we are staying CBR, so will pay to park there, do I then pay to also part at Contemp? ( and as a side note if i moved my car to a park would I have to pay again?)

Technically you can only park at the Contemporary while you are eating. You would then need to move to the TTC parking lot to go to the MK. You wouldn't need to pay to park at the Contemporary while eating, resorts are only charging for overnight parking. If you are an on-property guest, you wouldn't need to be charged to park at TTC.

Now some people do leave their cars at the resort after eating, but that isn't allowed under policy, so you might get towed. But if you pay valet to park your car at the Contemporary, then you should be fine for the day.

You don't need to drive to Contemporary from CBR, you could Uber/Lyft it, which should be less than the valet rates, or buses are running by about 6:30 in the morning, so you can take a bus from CBR to MK, and if you tell the driver you are going to the Contemporary they may very well drop you off there. Early morning buses are used to people trying to get to resorts for character breakfasts.

 

[Mickey1984]

Technically you can only park at the Contemporary while you are eating. You would then need to move to the TTC parking lot to go to the MK. You wouldn't need to pay to park at the Contemporary while eating, resorts are only charging for overnight parking. If you are an on-property guest, you wouldn't need to be charged to park at TTC.

Now some people do leave their cars at the resort after eating, but that isn't allowed under policy, so you might get towed. But if you pay valet to park your car at the Contemporary, then you should be fine for the day.

You don't need to drive to Contemporary from CBR, you could Uber/Lyft it, which should be less than the valet rates, or buses are running by about 6:30 in the morning, so you can take a bus from CBR to MK, and if you tell the driver you are going to the Contemporary they may very well drop you off there. Early morning buses are used to people trying to get to resorts for character breakfasts.

the bus starting at 06.30 was the vital bit of info, will save us driving!! i assumed it would be too early, so for an MK opening time they still start at 06.30hrs?

 

[dreamfinder]

the bus starting at 06.30 was the vital bit of info, will save us driving!! i assumed it would be too early, so for an MK opening time they still start at 06.30hrs?

The official story that CMs at the desk will tell you is that buses start running an hour before park open. But in reality, they start around 6:30. I've gone for many early morning runs at that time, and have seen plenty of buses out and about. They may not be as frequent as closer to park open, but there are several resorts that have 7AM breakfasts, and some of the parks have tours that start around that time as well. If you book a 7AM breakfast, you would prob want to be at the bus stop 6:15-6:20, and if you aren't on a bus by 6:40 do an Uber/Lyft so you aren't too late. @Driver or one of the other bus CMs can confirm if the 6:30 is still kosher or not.

 

[danyoung56]

Now some people do leave their cars at the resort after eating, but that isn't allowed under policy, so you might get towed. But if you pay valet to park your car at the Contemporary, then you should be fine for the day.

FWIW, whenever I eat at the Contemporary I usually go into the MK for the evening, and have never once had my car towed.

 

[Phonedave]

Honestly I'd say if someone parks overnight in a park parking lot then its very possible that Disney would have it towed if they cannot locate the driver and get a good reason why its there.

If you're going to drink you don't drive yourself to the parks.

Sometimes things do not go as planned. Maybe the heat and alcohol hits you harder than you thought. Maybe you weren't planning on drinking but then you met a friend and went for drinks. Who knows. Maybe it does not even involve drinks. Maybe you parked at EPCOT and later used the monorail to hop to MK, intending to come back to EPCOT but something happened and you missed the last monorail

 

[Driver]

The official story that CMs at the desk will tell you is that buses start running an hour before park open. But in reality, they start around 6:30. I've gone for many early morning runs at that time, and have seen plenty of buses out and about. They may not be as frequent as closer to park open, but there are several resorts that have 7AM breakfasts, and some of the parks have tours that start around that time as well. If you book a 7AM breakfast, you would prob want to be at the bus stop 6:15-6:20, and if you aren't on a bus by 6:40 do an Uber/Lyft so you aren't too late. @Driver or one of the other bus CMs can confirm if the 6:30 is still kosher or not.

It is in some cases, however don't get confused with the bus traffic you may be seeing. Because some bus routes run 24/7 and many busses are on the road early as they are being shuttled back to the hubs from being cleaned. I am not saying you're wrong, I'm saying there is a lot of bus traffic going on for reasons that most people aren't privy to or considered.

 

[dreamfinder]

It is in some cases, however don't get confused with the bus traffic you may be seeing. Because some bus routes run 24/7 and many busses are on the road early as they are being shuttled back to the hubs from being cleaned. I am not saying you're wrong, I'm saying there is a lot of bus traffic going on for reasons that most people aren't privy to or considered.

Would it be safe to say that buses running through resorts like OKW and CBR at that time of day with the parks on their signs are indeed doing those routes and that guests can ride them? I've never done normal runs on the main roads outside of runDisney events so wouldn't expect to see buses going to the bus hubs and such in the resort areas.

 

[Joesixtoe]

What if you parked at the Epcot parking lot and stayed at one of their resorts? Is that ok to do? Or frowned on?

 

[Driver]

Would it be safe to say that buses running through resorts like OKW and CBR at that time of day with the parks on their signs are indeed doing those routes and that guests can ride them? I've never done normal runs on the main roads outside of runDisney events so wouldn't expect to see buses going to the bus hubs and such in the resort areas.

In resort areas yes absolutely, but there's also the possibility a private group has rented a Disney bus for personal service. This is common, and in this case they can request p/u anytime they please. I'm only trying to illustrate that there are many variables and not trying to be argumentative. Chances are good the busses you are seeing are in fact the early busses. I have on occasion worked some of the early shifts and have been on the road at 5:30 am, of course this is inline with an early park opening.

 

[dreamfinder]

In resort areas yes absolutely, but there's also the possibility a private group has rented a Disney bus for personal service. This is common, and in this case they can request p/u anytime they please. I'm only trying to illustrate that there are many variables and not trying to be argumentative. Chances are good the busses you are seeing are in fact the early busses. I have on occasion worked some of the early shifts and have been on the road at 5:30 am, of course this is inline with an early park opening.

Not thinking you were arguing, just trying to clarify. We all know the standard CM answer on bus service doesn't always match reality, was hoping you could just chime in. Appreciate your input.