Parking Conundrum - The DIS Discussion Forums

julirina · 09-22-2012, 10:07 PM

UGH. Not a Disney issue -- this is on the home end. I'm looking for a place to park an oversized vehicle (small RV) with shuttle service to Reagan Airport in Washington DC. The airport economy lot is not an option; I called and they said it's theoretically no problem to actually park there, there wouldn't even be a surcharge...but their ticket booth is too narrow for the vehicle to enter/exit. All the park & fly options I'm seeing for DCA are hotels with parking garages, and I fear I'll be up against the same thing (narrow ticketing gates). We're hoping to take the motorhome to avoid having to drive (and pay parking fees for) 2 vehicles, as we're a party of 8. But it looks like it might not work.

Any ideas? Since DCA is 4 hours from home, we can't have someone drop off and pick up...

vicki_c · 09-22-2012, 10:25 PM

DCA is a difficult parking location, generally. (We haven't even braved it - I won't even look @ flights from DCA even though it's not far for us.)

You might try looking for park & fly hotel packages at any further out hotels that are not right at the airport, so they might have a larger parking lot. I'm not sure if those exist though.

Another thought - and I have no clue if it's possible - you need a regular DC commuter to chime in probably - you could possibly park somewhere at a Metro location and take the Metro into town? But again, I'm not sure if that is possible either or if they even have any kind of overnight/long-term parking options at the Metro stations.

seashoreCM · 09-23-2012, 07:31 AM

Some of you take commuter rail and metro and the rest go in one car with the luggage to the airport parking lot?

(How far out your way does commuter rail go?)

I would not park for several days at a public or commuter lot, a vehicle sitting in one place and alone at night is likely to be broken into.

You could scout out the hotels near Reagan Airport in advance to see if any can take your RV. Don't forget height limits.

kaytieeldr · 09-23-2012, 12:08 PM

The Doubletree Crystal City has outdoor self-parking http://www.globalairportparking.com/...ime=00:00%20AM
If the link doesn't work, just go to that site - globalairportparking.com - and search for DCA.

09-22-2012, 10:07 PM	#1
julirina Close your mouth, Michael. We are not a codfish. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 522	Parking Conundrum UGH. Not a Disney issue -- this is on the home end. I'm looking for a place to park an oversized vehicle (small RV) with shuttle service to Reagan Airport in Washington DC. The airport economy lot is not an option; I called and they said it's theoretically no problem to actually park there, there wouldn't even be a surcharge...but their ticket booth is too narrow for the vehicle to enter/exit. All the park & fly options I'm seeing for DCA are hotels with parking garages, and I fear I'll be up against the same thing (narrow ticketing gates). We're hoping to take the motorhome to avoid having to drive (and pay parking fees for) 2 vehicles, as we're a party of 8. But it looks like it might not work. Any ideas? Since DCA is 4 hours from home, we can't have someone drop off and pick up... __________________ 4 girls 12 7 3 1... who think pirates are cooler than princesses Sept. 2012 - offsite (Terra Verde) -- Sept. 2008 - ASMu -- Sept. 1996 - Dixie Landings -- many 70's & 80's trips - offsite (Grandma & Pop-Pop's house)

09-22-2012, 10:25 PM	#2
vicki_c DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 21,586	DCA is a difficult parking location, generally. (We haven't even braved it - I won't even look @ flights from DCA even though it's not far for us.) You might try looking for park & fly hotel packages at any further out hotels that are not right at the airport, so they might have a larger parking lot. I'm not sure if those exist though. Another thought - and I have no clue if it's possible - you need a regular DC commuter to chime in probably - you could possibly park somewhere at a Metro location and take the Metro into town? But again, I'm not sure if that is possible either or if they even have any kind of overnight/long-term parking options at the Metro stations. __________________ June 1978 - Poly / Nov 1996 - Yacht Club / Jan 2001 - Poly / Jan/Feb 2004 - Wilderness Lodge / 2004-2006: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Nick Hotel, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside, HI Sunspree, Buena Vista Suites, Caribe Royale / Jan 2008 - Poly / June 2008 - Saratoga Springs and Villas @ Wilderness Lodge / Nov 2008 -Boardwalk Villas / Dec 2008 - WL, Beach Club Villas and Beach Club / June 2009 - POFQ and Poly / Jan 2010 - AKV, 4 night DCL & BCV / Nov 2010 - POFQ / April 2011 - SSR / Nov 2011 Swan / Jan 2012 - BC/ April 2012 OKW

09-23-2012, 07:31 AM	#3
seashoreCM All around nice guy. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 20,603	Some of you take commuter rail and metro and the rest go in one car with the luggage to the airport parking lot? (How far out your way does commuter rail go?) I would not park for several days at a public or commuter lot, a vehicle sitting in one place and alone at night is likely to be broken into. You could scout out the hotels near Reagan Airport in advance to see if any can take your RV. Don't forget height limits. __________________ Last Disney trip: December 2010. (news item) Rescuers and responders getting headaches from leaking natural gas all over the place in Oklahoma. (me) Utility companies need to cut off service to the affected streets and cancel the latest monthly bills of subscribers whose homes were damaged and where a substantial increase in consumption was recorded. Last edited by seashoreCM; 09-23-2012 at 07:43 AM.

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09-23-2012, 12:08 PM	#4
kaytieeldr Reserving the right to make jokes out of typos - but NOT the people who make them - since 2012 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: There is no Pixie Dust on the Transportation Board!!! Posts: 34,323	The Doubletree Crystal City has outdoor self-parking http://www.globalairportparking.com/...ime=00:00%20AM If the link doesn't work, just go to that site - globalairportparking.com - and search for DCA.