AK to Boardwalk to Illum.

[cdntowdw]

What do you think of this plan? Thought we would stay until about closing at AK then drive to Boardwalk for a counter service dinner and a little look around. Catch the boat to International Gateway at Epcot to do a little WS and see Illuminations.

Not sure - but can we then head back on the boat to our car parked at Boardwalk and drive (offsite) to our hotel.

Are we allowed to use the boat even though we are not onsite guests at this time.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Disney transportation is included in any multi-day ticket, so not staying on site isn't a factor

Besides that I think it is a good plan.......except I would walk the boardwalk and stop at the bakery and buy dessert to go, then eat dinner at a counterservice in WS.....where there are many more choices !

 

[Eeyore2U]

You may not get to park in the BW main parking lot. They are only allowing guests. We just stayed there 9/30-10/6. They may give you a three hour pass. But if you go beyond three hours you may get towed. I think there is an overflow lot across the street from the main lot.

 

[cdntowdw]

Just to see if I understand your post - if we park in the overflow lot across the street, we are firstly, more likely to be allowed and secondly, not restricted to the three hour limit?

 

[Eeyore2U]

That's right. I think the three hour pass is a dining pass. This is not just at the BW. It is also at Contemporary for sure and I think at all resorts. The Boardwalk and Contemporary have signs stating what's going on. It seems as though guests at these resorts couldn't get spaces but once the parks cleared the lots cleared out. There were threads on the Resort Board and Theme Park board if you want to do a search.

 

[CarolMN]

This is the first time I have heard of the infamous three hour pass being given out at BW. BW is a destination in and of itself. It is true that guests (both off-site and on-site) are being directed to the lot across the street if they are not staying at BWI or BWV. This is especially true in the mornings when the BW is not really open and most people who come are really going to EPCOT.

I do not believe that they are issuing 3 hour passes for BW (YC/BC are an entirely different story, however). I have never heard of anyone's car being towed from the BW's parking lots either.

As mentioned above, the BW is a destination all by itself, especially in the evening. Other than it is a bit of a walk from the parking lots to the BW, I see no problem with you parking in the BW lots for the evening.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Eeyore2U]

Carol,

I may be wrong about the 3 hours pass but I do know the were checking to see if you were a guest and checking ID and looking for reservation confirmation to access the property.

 

[CarolMN]

Hi, Eeyore2U -

You were there and I absolutely believe you when you say they were checking resort IDs to get into the lot(s) closest to the BWV & BWI. That is very good news, IMHO. I very happy to see the extra security and I also believe guests actually staying at one of those hotels deserve to have a parking place in the near lots.

That said, I would find it very hard to believe that anyone is being turned away from the lot across the street (unless of course, it is full). The BW restaurants and clubs do draw locals and off-site guests as well as WDW resort guests. Disney needs to provide parking to keep the BW viable. (But in my mind, guests of the BW hotels should not have to compete for parking with people going to EPCOT or the BW). The large lot across the street should be more than adequate for those visiting the BW. From what I've read on the DVC board (you're a DVC member, too, right?), the CMs have been directing others to use the lot across the street since about June of this year. Some have observed that this lot now gets a lot more use in the morning than it ever did in the past. No doubt filling mostly with off-site guests who are going to EPCOT and trying to avoid paying for parking. I'm very glad that Disney is finally reserving some decent parking for BWV and BWI guests. It's very disheartening to come back in the early evening and have to park about 1/2 mile away from your room - and then watch the close in parking lot empty out right after Illuminations.

I certainly don't begrudge BW visitors a parking space (but I DO think people going to EPCOT should use the EPCOT lot). If people going to EPCOT or the BW area feel the lot across the street is too far away, they can always use the valet service (for $6 plus tip). Valet is available to anybody. Hotel guests should have priority for the close in self park lot. I still think cdntowdw can drive to the BW and find a parking place. He/She just needs to be prepared for a bit of a walk. Hope that clarifies my post.

Carol

 

[drusba]

Not sure what they are doing at the main BW lot now. In summer, it was usable by guests and those going to the Boardwalk (but not those going to Epcot or MGM)--and generally they were checking mostly during the day (when nothing goes on at the boardwalk) and not much at night (when it is assumed poeple are actually going to the boardwalk). In any event, you can use the overflow lot (there is no guard or gate to that one; you just drive in) but be aware that lot can get very full in the evening. Note, there is no "counter service" restaurant at BW; all are sit down except you can get pizza at a window near spoodles and sit outside, and crepes and some other snack like foods are served at some of the booths on the BW. Though you can take the boat, you don't need to do so to get from BW to Epcot and back. It is actually faster to walk (10 minutes or less).