AKL Parking ??'s

[TartanFan]

Hi everyone!

We'll be at AKL for 2 nights before our DCL Western Cruise in Aug. I've stayed here twice before on mum/daughter trips when we didn't have a car so I never took any notice of parking arrangements! This time, DH is tagging along (well, he did pay for it so it's only fair!) and we'll have a rental car so I need some parking info!

Is it relatively easy to find spaces if you self-park? How much of a hike to the lobby?

DH is a big fan of valet parking. I think he's a frustrated diva - he likes saying "have my car ready" LOL!!!! How much is valet and are they prompt? Can you call from the room when you want the car brought?

We have an 8.30am PS for PSB at Epcot. If we've valet'd at AKL, could we valet at one of the Epcot resorts for the day and use the International Gateway to save having to park in the main Epcot lot and hike over to World Showcase?

Apologies for so many questions but thanks for any and all info!

Diane

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by TartanFan

If we've valet'd at AKL, could we valet at one of the Epcot resorts for the day and use the International Gateway to save having to park in the main Epcot lot and hike over to World Showcase?

Yes. Get there early. The boats to Epcot are rather slow at times. I found it easier to walk.

 

[yecats]

I haven't valet'd at any of the resorts to know the cost but parking at AKL isn't hard to find but some of it may be a bit of a walk (probably furthest parking may be 500 feet out). I find the bus service to be pretty good and would tell you to leave about 45 minutes to an hour before your PS and you should arrive before time.

 

[Jo-Jo21]

This valet parking question seems to be coming up on several different threads. I always thought that to park at a resort you needed to be staying there or dining there. And if you were dining there, there was a time limit. On another recent thread I learned that if you valet the car when dining at a resort there is no time limit to how long you can keep your car there. But, can you really just drive up to the GF or BC and valet park without a PS and leave the car all day?
I've always just respected the time limit, whether I self parked or valeted.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Valet parking at the resorts is $6 a day and they will charge it to your room. You can call the bell station from your room and they will bring your car up front. We always do this. It is much nicer than having to wait once you get outside.

 

[CBCit]

We took our car from the Pop Century to AKL last month to check it out. We had the Pop Century parking pass in our car window.They let us right in and did not ask if we had dining reservations,in fact when we said we just wanted to look around,the guard kind of gave a "whatever" shrug and waved us in,no mention of a time limit to park. We self parked,it was a very short walk to the hotel and had an enjoyable hour or so there. Checked out the beautiful lobby,animal viewing areas,pool,restaurants and made a few gift shop purchases. We were VERY impressed with the originality and beauty of the place and with the friendliness of all the CMs we encountered(many are actually from Africa). My husband wanted to try Boma for lunch,but it was only about noon and we had a late breakfast so we skipped that.We have started an AKL fund and hope for a 3 or 4 night stay there in the Spring!
After that we headed over to the Boardwalk Inn,parked and looked around there.Very pretty resort,but the AKL gets our vote hands down! Boardwalk area was very pleasant to walk around,did more shopping and we had a great lunch at the ESPN restaurant. Might try those surry bikes when we go back next Spring(early April),June was way to hot.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

My husband wanted to try Boma for lunch

FYI : Boma is open for breakfast and lunch only. Mara serves lunch and you can sit at nice tables with a view of the pool. There is a large inside area also.

 

[Topper]

I think CoolDisneyCat meant Boma is only open for breakfast and DINNER