Best way to get to Bistro de Paris if arriving at Epcot by car?

[Jeslynb]

Do we have to park in the theme park parking lot, pay for parking and walk, or is there a better way to get there?

Not sure if we can park at a resort and take a boat? I'm sure there are resort rules re: this.

Help!

 

[illuminationsfanatic]

You can park in the Boardwalk Resort's parking lot and walk to the International Gateway and enter the World Showcase from there. This way you won't have to worry about parking in the main EPCOT lot and the traffic is a lot nicer We've done this before and it worked out nicely

 

[cglaura]

You can park in the Boardwalk Resort's parking lot and walk to the International Gateway and enter the World Showcase from there. This way you won't have to worry about parking in the main EPCOT lot and the traffic is a lot nicer We've done this before and it worked out nicely

I think you can only park there for 3 or 4 hours though. So if you plan to stay for the day, then you'd have to use the EPCOT parking.

 

[illuminationsfanatic]

I think you can only park there for 3 or 4 hours though. So if you plan to stay for the day, then you'd have to use the EPCOT parking.

We stayed for part of the afternoon and the rest of the evening. We made sure to ask the person at the gate to the Boardwalk parking lot if it was alright. He told us that since we were staying at a different Disney resort it wouldn't be a problem. Maybe things have changed since then (it was probably 4 years ago) or maybe he didn't have the right information (which is possible). Either way, I hope everything works out for you

 

[Jeslynb]

Thanks, Fanatic! We're staying off-site - I wonder if that means we can't park there? But we're just going to park for dinner at Bistro; not staying at the park.

 

[plutolovr]

Use the valet parking at the Beach Club resort. You have to pay, but the walk will be short and you won't have to worry about the time.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Moving tot he transportation board - they know everything there!

 

[Jeslynb]

Thanks, Jodi. And Pluto. Happy to pay for Valet - we would like to keep the walk to a minimum. I have a foot injury that I know will be bugging me after a full day in the parks with kids.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can park in the Boardwalk Resort's parking lot and walk to the International Gateway and enter the World Showcase from there. This way you won't have to worry about parking in the main EPCOT lot and the traffic is a lot nicer We've done this before and it worked out nicely

It is not supposed to be allowed...especially for those staying offsite and trying to avoid paying to park. Parking at resorts is for those who are availing themselves of the amenities of that particular resort...period. Parking for park access is not permitted. Of course, I may have misinterpreted the signage that says...'parking for park access is not allowed'.

If you want to park at BW, then please, be fair to those who are paying to stay there and don't use their guest parking lot. Park across the street, behind the Hess Station, then walk over to Epcot.
I will say that when parking at BW, it is almost the same distance to Epcot's WS as the Epcot parking lot. Takes about 15 mins to walk to WS from the parking lots of BW.

Otherwise, pay to valet park. If you valet park, you are then free to do whatever you wish and go wherever you want.

 

[Jeslynb]

I'm willing to pay to park, although that doesn't seem particularly reasonable since we're coming to eat/spend. We will already have paid for parking at one of the Disney World parks that day, so paying a second time seems odd. I assume if we change our ADR to Narcoossee's, we can dine there without paying for parking or having a very long walk? Or do you have to pay to park any time you eat at a Disney restaurant if you are staying off-site?

Assuming we'll have to pay, I am just trying to figure out the closest *legal* parking lot to Bistro. I'm not an experienced Disney-goer, but I assume that the parks are eager to allow diners to park somewhere nearby their restaurants - or maybe not? I would think that's only reasonable...

If there really is no good way to get there from offsite, we'll definitely cancel. Not the end of the world - Manhattan has pretty good French food, after all. It's just food.

 

[twinklebug]

I'm willing to pay to park, although that doesn't seem particularly reasonable since we're coming to eat/spend. I assume if we change our ADR to Narcoossee's, we can dine there without paying for parking? Or do you have to pay to park any time you eat at a Disney restaurant if you are staying off-site?

Assuming we'll have to pay, I am just trying to figure out the closest *legal* parking lot to Bistro. I'm not an experienced Disney-goer, but I assume that the parks are eager to allow diners to park somewhere nearby their restaurants - or maybe not? I would think that's only reasonable...

Unless you're staying at one of the area resorts, the closest legal parking for your purpose would be EPCOT's main parking lot. The restaurants inside the parks are not set up to be convenient dining locations. They're a part of the park experience.

If you're eating at a place on the BW then you may park in BW's parking lot for a limited time.

If you want to park at BW, then please, be fair to those who are paying to stay there and don't use their guest parking lot.

<snip>

Otherwise, pay to valet park. If you valet park, you are then free to do whatever you wish and go wherever you want.

I have not run into the problem myself as I usually don't drive but I'll echo goofy4tink here and ask that people who aren't visiting BW/BWV for legitimate reasons not park in its lot simply for access to EPCOT/HS. Guests staying at those resorts have reported circling the lot looking for places to park and wound up paying for valet service due to the number of non-guest vehicles out there. They then have to discuss the situation with the front desk to hopefully be reimbursed.

 

[mapmakerj]

I'm willing to pay to park, although that doesn't seem particularly reasonable since we're coming to eat/spend. We will already have paid for parking at one of the Disney World parks that day, so paying a second time seems odd. I assume if we change our ADR to Narcoossee's, we can dine there without paying for parking or having a very long walk? Or do you have to pay to park any time you eat at a Disney restaurant if you are staying off-site?

Just so you know, if you have already paid to park at one of the parks you would not have to pay again at another park that day. If you decide to park in the main EPCOT lot you would just need to show your parking receipt from which ever park you went to that day.

 

[Jeslynb]

Thanks, all. We're cancelling the ADR there, now that we know that it's "not set up to be a convenient place to dine." We didn't realize that the restaurants inside the parks are primarily intended for on-site guests. That's not at all the impression you get when you read the guidebooks, but it's really good to know. Thanks to all who posted!

I guess that explains why ADRs at Bistro were wide open every night of next week! I should have known there was a reason.

 

[Jeslynb]

Just so you know, if you have already paid to park at one of the parks you would not have to pay again at another park that day. If you decide to park in the main EPCOT lot you would just need to show your parking receipt from which ever park you went to that day.

That's great to know - thanks!

 

[chartle]

Thanks, all. We're cancelling the ADR there, now that we know that it's "not set up to be a convenient place to dine." We didn't realize that the restaurants inside the parks are primarily intended for on-site guests. That's not at all the impression you get when you read the guidebooks, but it's really good to know. Thanks to all who posted!

I guess that explains why ADRs at Bistro were wide open every night of next week! I should have known there was a reason.

Also you did know you would have to use a ticket to get into the park.

The only reason I ask is there have been stories posted here about helping people get to a restaurant and the people not realizing that it was in a park and they needed a ticket.

 

[Jeslynb]

Also you did know you would have to use a ticket to get into the park.

The only reason I ask is there have been stories posted here about helping people get to a restaurant and the people not realizing that it was in a park and they needed a ticket.

Thanks, Chartle. We have a park-hopper, so we thought we were set. If my foot holds up and the weather is not boiling, we might attempt to hike over there, but I am already booking some more user-friendly alternatives.

 

[LSchrow]

Thanks, all. We're cancelling the ADR there, now that we know that it's "not set up to be a convenient place to dine." We didn't realize that the restaurants inside the parks are primarily intended for on-site guests. That's not at all the impression you get when you read the guidebooks, but it's really good to know. Thanks to all who posted!

I guess that explains why ADRs at Bistro were wide open every night of next week! I should have known there was a reason.

fyi, bistro is no less convenient than many of the other restaurants in the parks. all in-park restaurant are intended for guests in the parks (as you need a pass to enter the park, and access the restaurant); absolutely none are intended for onsite guests only . as others noted, parking at a resort (BW or BC), and walking from those lots will be about the same distance as just going from EPCOT's parking lot (which you wouldn't pay additional for as you said you would have already paid to park that day).

btw, bistro tends to be less crowded b/c it doesn't take the dining plan, which makes even unpopular restaurants crowded

 

[Jeslynb]

This thread seems to be devolving into a semantics debate, which I certainly didn't intend. I was looking for tips and opinions, and I think I get the gist, even if I am not articulating it as precisely as the experts.

I get that it's not supposed to be convenient and that we can't park at the resorts. Not arguing, don't have a horse in this race. It's all fine.

Relaxing, post-park, date-night dining experience will be sought elsewhere, and I appreciate everyone's time in responding.

 

[chartle]

This thread seems to be devolving into a semantics debate, which I certainly didn't intend. I was looking for tips and opinions, and I think I get the gist, even if I am not articulating it as precisely as the experts.

I get that it's not supposed to be convenient and that we can't park at the resorts. Not arguing, don't have a horse in this race. It's all fine.

Relaxing, post-park, date-night dining experience will be sought elsewhere, and I appreciate everyone's time in responding.

There are a few subjects on these boards that can start heated discussions and this is one of them.

I know you were just trying to find the most convenient way to get to your ADR but some people can see this as you trying to get out of paying for parking(which it looks like you weren't trying to do). Also people who stay at these Epcot area resorts (or the monorail resorts) are very protective about their parking. Many times they come back to their resort and can't find a spot, but once Epcot closes miraculously the lot is now half full.

Basically Disney only wants you to park at places where you are actually visiting and not using it for park access and they have put in place policies that either keep you from doing it out right or put in place barriers.

It used to be that you could catch a bus to/from DTD to any park. They stopped this when people started to park there to save the parking fee and there were not spots for people who wanted to just visit DTD.

 

[clkelley]

Let me give you a totally different alternative. You say you'll be in a different park for the rest of the day.

Take Disney transportation to Epcot!!

If you are at Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom, take the bus from MK to Beach Club, then walk over to Bistro de Paris. If you are at the Studios, take the boat from Studios to Epcot, then just stroll in.