Aloha Kathy, I'd like to wish you a warm island welcome from the shores of planDisney!
I'm glad to be able to answer this one for you not only as a frequent visitor to
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, but a big fan of the
fantastic food offerings to be found there. I sometimes find myself dreaming about enjoying a treat under the palm trees by
Pineapple Lanai or listening to the sounds of a ukulele as I dine near a waterfall outside of
Capt. Cook's.
You'll be happy to hear that I've definitely been able to join the Walk-Up list at
'Ohana on several occasions without necessarily being a Disney Resort Hotel guest; you may even be able to use the My Disney Experience App to check
Mobile Dine Walk-Up Availability before you head over! Do you remember how Moana mentions the line where the sky meets the sea? She probably wasn't referring to the potentially long line of folks with a similar idea that tends to grow over time, so if you're finding it challenging to do so on your mobile device I highly recommend making your way over to the Cast Members at the host stand early to make sure that they have your name and contact information down on their list!
Regarding the parking situation at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort,
the official Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Parking policy states the following:
"
Standard self-parking is complimentary for day Guests while they enjoy select dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels."
It's important to note however that parking and security Cast Members have been stricter with guests who are unable to show a valid Resort Hotel reservation or a confirmation of a dining reservation, especially at busier times of the year where parking availability may be more limited for the guests even staying at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort itself! (Don't be surprised if you're turned away at the gate without a confirmed dining reservation as it's happened to many guests this year who have had to figure out parking alternatives.) Though some choose to park nearby at the
Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) to either hop on the Resort Monorail or walk over directly, many locals have been known to take advantage of the complimentary
self-parking over at Disney Springs and use
the Walt Disney World Bus Service as a means of getting to 'Ohana and back again.
I hope that this helps, Kathy; don't hesitate to
swing by planDisney again soon for any more tips and tricks ahead of your next Disney adventure!
As Maui says, "You're welcome!"
Prince