Is this a way around paying parking at Disney?

[jbuzzy11]

Is this a way around paying parking at Disney?
We have friends that exchanged into OKW and we are staying at OrangeLake, Can we drive into OKW and park there and visit them and then go to the park with them on a bus or get a pass for parking from them on the days they dont go to the parks?

 

[lprstn]

Yes you could do that (there are no Disey police to stop you) however people that stay there have a parking pass (which they will give you when you go through the gate either for dinner reservations - which they don't confirm at the gateor if you are visiting someone)...but should you...only you know the answer to that.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Is this a way around paying parking at Disney?
We have friends that exchanged into OKW and we are staying at OrangeLake, Can we drive into OKW and park there and visit them and then go to the park with them on a bus or get a pass for parking from them on the days they dont go to the parks?

If your friends ask at Old Key West, they will give a second parking pass, which will allow you to use parking everywhere. We found Old Key West to be extremely nice when our parking pass blew out of the top of the VW Beetle convertible we had, and they quickly offered another parking pass. So you can do it, but it is officially against the rules. I doubt anyone would check to see if you had keys to the unit (your friends could get those too), but they do check at the resorts at night to make sure you have keys and aren't driving into the resort without being a guest.

 

[laxmom]

There is a security gate at OKW and your friends only get 1 parking spot, I believe. When you eat dinner, you only get a 3 hour window. So, not sure how that would work. When we were there last week, they were stopping cars during the day also.

 

[Sea Six]

That's been my experience, too - when you visit a resort you get a 3 hour pass. Also, some resorts like the Dolphin and the Swan charge you $9 a day to park even if you are staying there, so NO you don't get free parking anywhere you want.

 

[PeterS]

Only two really legit ways...

1-Buy at least one annual pass which includes parking

2-Park at Downtown Disney and use the Disney transportation.

Everything else is pay or pray (you don't get caught)...

Pete

 

[jbuzzy11]

I just spent about $1850 for 2 adult and 2 kids 10 day non expire passes so I have to try to save a few bucks somewhere.

 

[borntotravel]

I think this would be a pain in the neck, but you could park at Downtown Disney and take the bus into the parks.

 

[Blues]

I think this would be a pain in the neck, but you could park at Downtown Disney and take the bus into the parks.

Because so many people were doing that, they discontinued service from Downtown Disney to any park. Now, from Downtown Disney, you can only get to the resorts. Then you'd have to take a different bus (or monorail) to whatever park you're going to. That would really be a pain in the (whatever).

 

[luv2vacation]

Blues is right, they do not go from Downtown Disney directly to the parks. Found that out the hard way one time when we were AT DT Disney and decided to go to the parks. Thought it would be easier to leave the car where it was. Wrong. What a lot of wasted time.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

You can have breakfast at the Polynesian hotel and park there. You can always take a diversion on the monorail as I have never seen anyone get towed for going over the 3 hour limit. Keep your receipt.

 

[Pit]

You could park at downtown disney and take the bus to OKW to meet your friends.

 

[mgeez]

We have always made breakfast reservations at either of the 3 monorail resorts or Wilderness Lodge. On several occasions, the guardgate asked us for the breakfast reservation # and sure enough, it was on his list. We never were given a 3 hr warning or pass.

 

[sandcastles]

Along with the ticket price increase, parking is going up to $12 per day.

 

[lprstn]

I believe there is a back entrance to the parking lot where they have no booth set up for payment. My DH told me about it when we were staying at Fort wilderness.

 

[riverdees05]

Trying to pay for all the buses, etc. that own that are going around the Disney property. Talk about need for cleaner transportation.

 

[laxmom]

You could park at downtown disney and take the bus to OKW to meet your friends.

Or you can take the boat from DTD to OKW and then ride with them from there. Sounds like a lot of wasted time, though, to avoid that $12.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Johnny, when are you going?

Maybe you should upgrade one pass to an annual pass? Is there someone in your group who doesn't like water, that wouldn't care about going to the water parks? An adult annual pass is just under $500.

 

[Davidr]

There is a way into the MK parking without paying. (at least there was 2years ago) We stumbled on to it while trying to find a shortcut to the parking. Of course it took us 20 minutes longer then taking the "Long way". It wasn't worth the savings especially with the kids whining and the wife nagging. We only did that once.

 

[bnoble]

Agreed on all counts. There are many ways to get to the parks without paying for parking, and unless your time is next to worthless, few of them are good values.

 

[gjw007]

I also agree that there are ways to avoid the parking fees but given the additional time lost, it doesn't seem worth it. I would opt for Cindy's suggestion of having 1 member of the party having an annual pass. Not only will it allow you to park free, it also will give you discounts on purchases at places like the World of Disney and some food outlets. If you make any purchases, the difference in the annual pass and a 10-day non-expiration pass shouldn't be too far apart and the savings on the various items should make the annual pass less expensive overall. The second best solution is to have your friends say they need 2 vehicle passes which they can give you on so you can park free anywhere.

 

[Carl D]

You can have breakfast at the Polynesian hotel and park there. You can always take a diversion on the monorail as I have never seen anyone get towed for going over the 3 hour limit. Keep your receipt.

If I ever see anyone doing this, I will be the first to contact security.
I have stayed at the Poly many times, and have found it extremely difficult to find a parking space.

Why should the guest who pays $400 a night to stay at the Poly not be able to park because an off site guest "steals" their space?

 

[Carl D]

2-Park at Downtown Disney and use the Disney transportation.

At best, this is poor advice. At worst, it's not the intended rules.

Have you ever tried to park at the Marketplace for legitimate shopping?
If so, you know how hard it can be to find a space.

C'mon folks.. If you can't cough up $11 a day for your entire car load of people, than maybe you shouldn't be taking a Disney vacation.

 

[Carl D]

Sounds like a lot of wasted time, though, to avoid that $12.

Yup... this is very true.
$12 a day equals $3 pp for a family of four.
I think an extra hour in the park is worth 3 bucks.

 

[Carl D]

There is a way into the MK parking without paying. (at least there was 2years ago) We stumbled on to it while trying to find a shortcut to the parking. Of course it took us 20 minutes longer then taking the "Long way". It wasn't worth the savings especially with the kids whining and the wife nagging. We only did that once.

I thought they closed that loophole.. Maybe not.