Will Disney tow your car away?

[MAGICFLOP]

I think if you went to EPCOT and told them at guest relations that you drank too much and are going to call uber because you are afraid to drive and asked to leave your car in the parking lot overnight, what can the say? Liability of telling you to drive it out is too great.. Especially if you you drove over another guest on your way out..

 

[LAKid53]

I suspect they would at some point. Why bother charging for parking at a resort if you can just drop your car at the theme park for the week? That said though, I'm pretty sure I've seen random cars in various spots in the parking lots in the early am on the bus to runDisney events, well before anyone who be a) at the park b) parking at a random spot halfway to the back. Maybe they note what cars are there each night and on night 2 or 3 they tow it?

Same here. As it's usually MK or Epcot, I assumed it was volunteers who have to be there around 1-2 AM.

 

[LAKid53]

We stayed at POFQ in May upon entering the resort we told the gate guard we had a reservation and he let us in never asked for any further information. When we checked in guest services asked if we drove and said there was a parking fee, We were honest and said yes we drove and once at POFQ we never moved my truck until we checked out. If we were dishonest and said no we did not drive how do they know whether we drove or not.

When you first stop at the gatehouse and hand them your DK, they check you on their list of guests - I believe they have terminals in the gatehouse.

The parking fee is automatically added to a resort reservation, unless you're DVC at a DVC resort.

 

[LAKid53]

I've been curious about this myself but more so in regards to parking at the resorts without having a parking pass on your car's dashboard. The last time we went, they said you didn't need one because they track your vehicle...?

Do they seriously?

Unless the lights in the parking lots have cameras, they can't. The parking pass was for parking for free at the parks.

I've left my car for days in the parking lot at my resort when I went on a cruise. No biggie.

 

[LAKid53]

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 imagine there are times they will tow from resort parking lots. Ticketed events like MNSSHP, MVMCP, 4th of July, NY Eve. Usually, though, they won't let you in at that time unless you're a resort guest or have an ADR.

 

[LAKid53]

One park parking lot that will be patrolled overnight - DHS on the 28-29th.

 

[LAKid53]

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

At certain times of the year, they won't let you.

 

[LAKid53]

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?

Officially, buses start around 45 minutes before the first park opens.

 

[thomas998]

We stayed at POFQ in May upon entering the resort we told the gate guard we had a reservation and he let us in never asked for any further information. When we checked in guest services asked if we drove and said there was a parking fee, We were honest and said yes we drove and once at POFQ we never moved my truck until we checked out. If we were dishonest and said no we did not drive how do they know whether we drove or not.

If you were dead certain you would never need to leave then that would work. Your only problem would be if you did leave the park then when you came back the guard would ask if you had reservations and if you said you were checking in and they checked to verify that you were on the list of guests checking in - you wouldn't be on that list. Frankly most of the time we have entered the park they have checked to see if we were on the list. I think in the past 10 years we have just been waved past may 2 times. So I wouldn't want to presume that luck would be on my side.

 

[LAKid53]

If you were dead certain you would never need to leave then that would work. Your only problem would be if you did leave the park then when you came back the guard would ask if you had reservations and if you said you were checking in and they checked to verify that you were on the list of guests checking in - you wouldn't be on that list. Frankly most of the time we have entered the park they have checked to see if we were on the list. I think in the past 10 years we have just been waved past may 2 times. So I wouldn't want to presume that luck would be on my side.

Resort guests don't have to go through the guard at the gate when returning. Once checked in, they can use the same lane that buses do by tapping their magicband on the security box.

 

[danyoung56]

Resort guests don't have to go through the guard at the gate when returning. Once checked in, they can use the same lane that buses do by tapping their magicband on the security box.

Which would register in the computer, and Disney would know that you have your own car.

 

[beertiki]

My guess is, every weekend several cars are left in the Epcot lot by people who got too drunk. Plans can change, random things happen. I bet CM's see a hungover person climb out an Uber or Taxi and walk out in the parking lot to that lone car in a row by itself every Sunday morning. Disney is not going to give anyone who parks over night a hard time or tow them on the first night, because Disney knows that they got drunk at Disney, and then were responsible enough to not get behind the wheel.

 

[LAKid53]

Which would register in the computer, and Disney would know that you have your own car.

Which they would already know when you stopped at the gatehouse when checking in upon arrival.

 

[thomas998]

Resort guests don't have to go through the guard at the gate when returning. Once checked in, they can use the same lane that buses do by tapping their magicband on the security box.

I know. But if you had told them you didn't have a car I'm not certain they would have authorized your magic band to open the gate. Maybe they are just automatically authorized, maybe they use people using the magic band to open the gate as a way to determine if someone should have the parking added on or not... I have no clue about that, maybe someone that has worked in the resorts could chime in and explain.

 

[LAKid53]

I know. But if you had told them you didn't have a car I'm not certain they would have authorized your magic band to open the gate. Maybe they are just automatically authorized, maybe they use people using the magic band to open the gate as a way to determine if someone should have the parking added on or not... I have no clue about that, maybe someone that has worked in the resorts could chime in and explain.

They'll know if you drive up to the gatehouse upon arrival at the resort and tell the guard you're checking in.

 

[Phonedave]

They'll know if you drive up to the gatehouse upon arrival at the resort and tell the guard you're checking in.

Maybe, maybe not. I have been on business in Tampa with a rental car, finished up business, drove to WDW, went into the resort with my rental car, checked in, dropped off my luggage, and then drove over the the Swan and dropped off my rental car (and took DME at the end of my stay)

-dave

 

[LAKid53]

Maybe, maybe not. I have been on business in Tampa with a rental car, finished up business, drove to WDW, went into the resort with my rental car, checked in, dropped off my luggage, and then drove over the the Swan and dropped off my rental car (and took DME at the end of my stay)

-dave

I would love to hear from those resort guests who fly in, take taxi, Uber, DME to their resort. Does the parking fee show up on your bill? I was told by one of the managers at WL that the fee is added to your bill, unless they see it's a DVC reservation.

 

[MissingDisney]

I would love to hear from those resort guests who fly in, take taxi, Uber, DME to their resort. Does the parking fee show up on your bill? I was told by one of the managers at WL that the fee is added to your bill, unless they see it's a DVC reservation.

No. It didn’t, but it didn’t when we drove either.

 

[LAKid53]

No. It didn’t, but it didn’t when we drove either.

Is it hit or miss then? Weird.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I'm pretty sure they give it a night or two before having it towed.