Parking! Parking! Parking!

When I went last Saturday for opening weekend, I drove up to see how close I could get on the far right side (where the beach parking used to be) and ended up in the preferred parking lot.

I didn't pay for preferred parking, so I turned around and drove out, but it occurred to me later that I could have parked there because how would they know that I hadn't paid?

So how DO they know? Do they give you a slip of paper or something that you put on your dashboard? Do they tow cars that don't pay? Or do they really not care about it and I could have parked there?

Also, where is the beach parking now? I can't find any map that says.

Thanks!

We went yesterday and they had a person at the booth at the entrance to the preferred lot checking. It looks as if the beach parking is directly behind the preferred lot.

When you pay the upcharge for Preferred Parking or scan a Prestige Pass at the toll booth you recieve a card with a large "P" on it which allows traffic control to direct you to the Preferred Parking lot. When entering the lot there is supposed to be an attendant to re-scan your pass or reciept.

Sounds like a breakdown in the process, which is not that unusual for opening weekend.

Kudos for the honesty.

Bozman:

When you pay the upcharge for Preferred Parking or scan a Prestige Pass at the toll booth you recieve a card with a large "P" on it which allows traffic control to direct you to the Preferred Parking lot. When entering the lot there is supposed to be an attendant to re-scan your pass or reciept.

Sounds like a breakdown in the process, which is not that unusual for opening weekend.

We got there around 1 p.m. and by that time there weren't any attendants anywhere. Once you go through the toll gate you could park wherever you wanted. My guess is at that point they really didn't care where you parked. And there were a LOT of open spaces in the preferred lot! But I didn't want to take a chance and get towed or something. It worked out, I found a super close spot in the regular parking! Thanks for the info.

Bozman:

When you pay the upcharge for Preferred Parking or scan a Prestige Pass at the toll booth you recieve a card with a large "P" on it which allows traffic control to direct you to the Preferred Parking lot.

I used the self scan at the main booth, then showed the attendant at the PP booth my prestige pass. She didn't give me any card with a P on it, or anything for that matter.

I haven't tried the self scan yet. When I have gone through the regular lane the attendant hands me the card. Apparently it is not really necessary.

^^ We arrived opening day around 2:00 and the Preferred Parking attendant was in the booth and scanned my pass.

Of course opening day is usually chaotic.

I never drove past any booth. I was trying to get to the beach entrance so I drove all the way to the right side of the parking lot and along that outside lane that skims the fence. I passed some blue barriers and saw a sign that said "Preferred parking" but didn't see a booth. Maybe I accidentally came in the back way?

Yeah it sounds like you entered into the lot via the exit. They don't have anyone stopping people from entering through the exit.