Epcot parking lot CLOSING time?

[CleveRocks]

How late does the Epcot parking lot stay open? I've never driven at WDW, but I'm trying to help someone else. A day guest, driving to Epcot in the morning, walking out the International Gateway after IllumiNations, hanging out at BoardWalk area for a while.

They don't want to exit Epcot at the front, get the car, and drive to BoardWalk and park there for up to the allowable 3 hours ... they figure they'll be right at the Int'l Gateway to watch IllumiNations, so they don't want to walk all the way to the front of the park just to drive to almost where they walked from.

So my instinct is to tell them park at Epcot, and at the end of the night take a taxi from BoardWalk to Epcot's lot to get their car.

But how late does Epcot's lot stay open on a "normal" night? In other words, could they still get their car after midnight or so???

Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I think the problem is more how they would get TO the car. When Epcot closes, they won't be able to walk from International Gateway to the front. I don't think busses would run from resort to park after the park closes, same with the monorail.

Let me modify that a little... busses & monorail would run (I'm guessing) up to an hour after park the park closes to get people OUT of the park.

Why not have them pay to Valet at the Boardwalk, walk/boat to Epcot, and after Illuminations, go back and hang out at the Boardwalk? There's no time limit on parking if you valet (IIRC). And I think Valet parking is only a couple dollars (including tip) more than paying to park at parks.

 

[Sugardimples]

Why not have them pay to Valet at the Boardwalk, walk/boat to Epcot, and after Illuminations, go back and hang out at the Boardwalk? There's no time limit on parking if you valet (IIRC). And I think Valet parking is only a couple dollars (including tip) more than paying to park at parks.

I think this is good advice.

 

[sharadoc]

I think the problem is more how they would get TO the car. When Epcot closes, they won't be able to walk from International Gateway to the front. I don't think busses would run from resort to park after the park closes, same with the monorail.

Let me modify that a little... busses & monorail would run (I'm guessing) up to an hour after park the park closes to get people OUT of the park.

Why not have them pay to Valet at the Boardwalk, walk/boat to Epcot, and after Illuminations, go back and hang out at the Boardwalk? There's no time limit on parking if you valet (IIRC). And I think Valet parking is only a couple dollars (including tip) more than paying to park at parks.

There is a free lot across the street from the entrance to Boardwalk next to the Hess station. They can park there for as long as they want.

I would park there, walk to the Boardwalk from there and take the boat over to the International Gateway. Then they can stay at Boardwalk for as long as they want.

I would absolutely need peace of mind, I couldn't leave my car in Epcot that late. I'd be afraid it would be towed.

BUT, if MK is open late that night (not EMH, just regular late hours) then the Epcot lot will be available later for folks taking the monorail back from MK. So, for instance if MK is open until 10, they expect monorail riders until 11, so the lot would stay open later than that for sure.

 

[CleveRocks]

I think the problem is more how they would get TO the car. When Epcot closes, they won't be able to walk from International Gateway to the front.

As I said ...

my instinct is to tell them park at Epcot, and at the end of the night take a taxi from BoardWalk to Epcot's lot to get their car.

I like the valet idea. Thanks, all!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

How late does the Epcot parking lot stay open? I've never driven at WDW, but I'm trying to help someone else. A day guest, driving to Epcot in the morning, walking out the International Gateway after IllumiNations, hanging out at BoardWalk area for a while.

They don't want to exit Epcot at the front, get the car, and drive to BoardWalk and park there for up to the allowable 3 hours ... they figure they'll be right at the Int'l Gateway to watch IllumiNations, so they don't want to walk all the way to the front of the park just to drive to almost where they walked from.

So my instinct is to tell them park at Epcot, and at the end of the night take a taxi from BoardWalk to Epcot's lot to get their car.

But how late does Epcot's lot stay open on a "normal" night? In other words, could they still get their car after midnight or so???

Thanks!

Where the heck have you been hiding??? Haven't seen you around much lately. Miss your words of wisdom and calming influence. In any case......

As I said ...

I like the valet idea. Thanks, all!!!

I was going to say that if they were going to pay to park at Epcot, they may just as well pay to valet at BW...or BC.

 

[CleveRocks]

Where the heck have you been hiding??? Haven't seen you around much lately. Miss your words of wisdom and calming influence. In any case......

Thanks for your advice. And on another note, I've been busy and distracted with other things, but it sure is nice to be missed!

BTW, I'll be staying at Contemporary 10 days from now. Maybe that'll re-ignite my motivation to hang around here more often.

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't think the Epcot lot ever actually closes; they don't swing gates across the entrance.

So if you were at a late restaurant such as at Downtown Disney or at Boardwalk until 2 AM, for example, you could still enter the lot at 3 AM to get your car. Heck, you could even wait until Disney buses resumed the following dawn, if you so chose.

Your car would not be towed unless it were in one spot for a few days and then assumed to be abandoned.

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

You can get into the Epcot parking lot at all hours of the day or night. The issue really would be getting back to the car. After Illuminations starts, no Guest is able to enter the park for much of any reason. And buses do not run from YBC or BW to Epcot. I like the Valet idea!

Also, to get your car towed from a Disney lot, you'd probably have to leave you car in the same spot for at least 48 hours. Disney does not tow cars that are left overnight, as long as it doesn't become habit