Self vs. Valet parking

[disneysteve]

I'm one person who will pretty much always pick self parking vs. valet whenever I have the option. I don't like other people driving my car. I don't like not knowing where my car is. I don't like having to wait to get my car back.

I am young enough and able-bodied enough that walking whatever distance from the parking lot isn't an issue thankfully. If and when that changes, I'm sure I'll change my view but for now, if I can park it myself, I will.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd pretty much agree with this except when I'm on vacation and driving a rental car. Then its nice to just stop right at the door and let them do the walk to/from. Especially true at a place where the self parking is not very convenient, like the GF.

 

[disneysteve]

I'd pretty much agree with this except when I'm on vacation and driving a rental car. Then its nice to just stop right at the door and let them do the walk to/from. Especially true at a place where the self parking is not very convenient, like the GF.

We drive to Disney but even there, I always self park. The GF lot is a bit of a hike but I just drop off my wife and daughter, go park and meet them in the lobby.

 

[Kimberle]

I never use valet parking. I've heard to many stories of the "things" valet's do to cars. (personal experience, not through the grapevine) For instance, a valet took my FIL's keys home. He put them in his pocket and forgot. FIL didn't notice till he went to get his car around midnight after a party. It took a good two hours for the place to figure out what happened, call the valet and have him return the keys. (FIL's house was an hour away, so it's not like someone could have driven him home to get another set of keys.)

 

[disneyholic family]

I'd pretty much agree with this except when I'm on vacation and driving a rental car. Then its nice to just stop right at the door and let them do the walk to/from. Especially true at a place where the self parking is not very convenient, like the GF.

same.
i don't like using valet parking if it's my car, but have no problem when it's a rental and at the GF or other resorts with similarly inconvenient self parking.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

When it's free like when we are visiting a restaurant and we have the Disney Dining Experience card, then I valet or if I am at a hotel where the self parking is a pain to get to. Otherwise I self park. We actually make a game of it by trying to get what we may consider the best space each time we drive back to the resort!

I do also valet when I visit the Outlets at the top of International Drive because I can never get a good parking space there.. oh and at the Mall of Millenia also.

 

[kaligal]

Love valet parking, especially when it is hot, raining or I'm tired.

I don't care a whole lot about the car, though. And I generally just give them the car key, not the whole set.

 

[disneysteve]

When it's free

Valet is never truly free since it is customary to tip the valet, so it always costs a couple of dollars. I don't mind that now and then or for a special occasion, but in general, I see no need to pay someone to do something I can do myself.

What always annoys me is places that are valet-only. There is a restaurant near home that we like that does this. Their lot is valet-only so I know in advance that's the deal. The lot isn't all that big so I dont know why they do that. I'd much prefer self-parking. The last time I was there, my car was literally parked about 15 feet from the front door but I still had to hand my ticket to the valet and wait for him to pull the car up, and then tip him. It just seems like a waste of everyone's time.

 

[derekburgan]

I had never used valet parking in my life until earlier this year I figured I would try it because we had a two year old in our party and I figured it might be easier. Stayed at the Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal. I'm now officially sold on valet and used it again a couple months later for a quick trip when I stayed at the Portifino Hotel for one night. It made things so much easier! Not only could I just drop the car off and immediately check in, but whenever I needed the car I could text ahead of time and the car would be waiting for me.

Because Universal charges for parking I think it was a $22 charge instead of $15, and of course there's a couple bucks to the valet any time I wanted to get the car. WELL WORTH IT in my opinion as the time and hassle it saved was immeasurable, and this is coming from someone who probably would have said it's not worth it ahead of time. Especially if you have young kids in your party, it de-stresses one part of the trip.