I read a tip in the Unofficial Guide that to speed a post fireworks exit from MK up; have dinner at Contemporary, drive over from MK, park up, eat then walk back to MK. What I didn’t learn from the guide was what the restrictions are to this plan…. Can anyone help me with filling in the gaps:
•Is there a time limit of how long you can be parked for? (Chat GPT tells me 3 hours)
•do you have to have a reservation or can you go over and eat in the Contempo cafe?
My understanding is that you need a dinner reservation if not staying at CR or BLT. There is a gate at the entrance to the parking area and you need to give them your name and reservation information so they can confirm before letting you into the parking area.
You definitely have to have an ADR to park at the Contemporary. There is a time limit but I don’t know how strict it is. I assume that during especially busy times that it is more enforced than at quieter times.
You need to eat somewhere that takes reservations so Chef Mickey’s, Steakhouse 71 or California Grill. But once you are parked they don’t really have a way of knowing what you are there for or how long you’ve been there so you can stay even if someone says 3 hours. It’s a good strategy.
The wild card is how early they will let you in but I’ve had success with a few hours even.
Lots of people chance it, and get away with it. Others …… not so much. How often it happens is unknown, because how many people are going to admit to being towed? It’s probably rare, but around July 4th and Christmas to New Year the chances go up.
You can absolutely do this. I have been admitted as much as an hour prior to my ADR, but other times only about 20 minutes…
But after eating you can stay as long as you want. The official line is you get 3 hours, but I have never, ever, seen a first hand report of anyone running into trouble with keeping their car there after a dining reservation for many hours.
Could it change? I suppose. Has it, not to my knowledge. Ever.
I didn’t want to risk it but you could do an uber from over there and back if you’re more risk averse. they give you a piece of paper you’re supposed to put in your window with a time period but hotel guests don’t get that piece of paper so if you’re okay breaking rules I think you could just not put that paper in your windshield and I don’t know how they would know unless they record and check license plates which they might.
