Valet vs self park

[deva]

New to DVC. We are staying at OKW soon and BCV this fall. I'm wondering if most DVC members use the valet service. We used the valet when we stayed at the Swan last fall, but it was just a short walk downstairs to the front entrance. How does it work at a DVC resort if your room is located far away? Are you "expected' to use valet? We have three small kids and if the valet pick up is a long walk from the room we'd rather self park close to our room.

 

[kimberh]

We self park. My husband will drive up and pick me up if there is a good distance. Other wise we walk. We are back and forth on some trips. We need our keys. We usually always use Disney transporation. Plus you still have to tip the Valet, sometimes we are tipped out.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We really do both on and off........
We self park at OKW (right outside our door usually), as well as self park at VWL and AKV usually. We use valet for BWV though---it seems kind of far and it's in the back of the resort.

 

[Granny]

New to DVC. We are staying at OKW soon and BCV this fall.

OKW is easiest just to park in front of your villa. BCV has great self-parking too. We normally use valet parking for our DVC stays but in the case of the two resorts you name I'd self park.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I never valet. Self-parking is pretty convenient.

 

[DVC Mike]

I prefer to self-park. DW prefers to valet.

 

[photobob]

I valet at BWV. Self at VWL. So far that is all the WDW DVC Resort we've tried.

 

[Deb & Bill]

No valet parking at OKW and SSR. Valet at BWV is probably the easiest because it's so far out to the parking lot from the villas. BCV has easy self parking. VWL and AKV currently have about the same set up - easier to valet. But with Kidani Village, you will park underneath the villas (ala VB).

 

[DebbieB]

At BWV, I usually use the valet when I check-in because it's easier to just drive up, get the luggage out and go into the lobby. I'll usually also put it in valet the night before check-out also so that we can just take the luggage straight to the car through the lobby. The rest of the time the only time I do it is if it's raining hard or if I can't find a space in self-park (a sore subject).

 

[tjkraz]

Self park at BC unless you need help with stuff. There is an entry door for the villa wing right by the self park lot.

At BW we frequently valet because the self park lot is so inconvenient. I guess it depends where your room is. If you're along that wing lining the entry drive, the self park lot isn't too bad. But if you're on the back side near the BoardWalk, the self park lot is too long of a haul.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Self park at BC unless you need help with stuff. There is an entry door for the villa wing right by the self park lot.

At BW we frequently valet because the self park lot is so inconvenient. I guess it depends where your room is. If you're along that wing lining the entry drive, the self park lot isn't too bad. But if you're on the back side near the BoardWalk, the self park lot is too long of a haul.

We also self park when we have a SV room at BWV. Not having a valet to tip is another small cost-saving that comes with booking SV. -- Suzanne

 

[OKW Lover]

While I prefer to self-park, there are some exceptions. Most notable is BWV where self-parking isn't very convenient so we almost always Valet Park there.

Also, at AKL and VWL the self parking can sometimes be very far away. We'll typically valet then if we are coming back tired or have a lot of bags.

Of course at OKW, you're parking practically outside your door.

 

[jenstall]

I valet at AKL on check-in day and check-out day. But the rest of the time I self-park, mostly because I'm popping in and out fairly frequently during the day. It's not uncommon for me to leave and come back three or four times in a single day.

I don't want to be tipping that often just because I decided I needed to run to 7-11. Or because I drove to Epcot to get a Soarin' fastpass and then came straight back to the resort to wait the four or five hours until I can use it

 

[daisyduck123]

We always valet, & many days it is more than once (we never use the WDW buses). Heck, we're on vacation!

 

[WolfpackFan]

We always self-park. I don't like someone else driving my car.