Welcome to planDisney, Heidi! Thanks so much for coming to us with your question today.
Parking at Walt Disney World Resort is pretty easy and efficient, but there are some rules to follow, and I'm happy to clear them up for you today so you know exactly what you can do the next time you're at The Most Magical Place On Earth.
If you have a dining reservation at
Disney's Contemporary Resort or any
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, parking is included for the duration of your meal, typically for around three hours. This can vary depending on how busy the Resort Hotel is that day, and a security Cast Member will tell you how long you can park when you check in, which explains what you were told today when you parked. If you are planning on leaving the Resort Hotel and going to
Magic Kingdom Park, then you will need to take your car to the Transportation and Ticket Center and park there for the rest of the day. Because parking space is limited, it is reserved for guests who are staying at the Resort Hotel or actively dining, so it is not permitted to leave your car in the parking lot and continue to Magic Kingdom Park using the walking path or the
monorail.
Heidi, although parking is included for the length of your meal when you're dining at a Resort Hotel, some guests who are eating at a restaurant on the monorail loop before continuing to Magic Kingdom Park find it easier to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and take the monorail to their destination. That way, you don't have to move your car after you eat and you are welcome to use the walking path or monorail after your meal to go to the Theme Park, which is pretty convenient!
I hope this answers your question, Heidi, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica