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

[BriarRosie]

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.

You don't have to pay to park at Disney-owned resorts if you're dining at that resort's restaurants and leaving within the 3 hour parking limit. Because Bistro de Paris is inside Epcot, the closest "legal" spot is a theme park lot. If you want to park legally, and closer than the Epcot lot, you can park at Disney's Hollywood Studios (showing the parking receipt you had from paying the first time that day) and take the boat to Epcot's International Gateway. However, that route is REALLY SLOW. I know it can probably take a half hour after the boat arrives.

And forget about Narcoossee's if you don't want to pay to park or walk. The self-parking lot for the Grand Floridian is a long walk across a street to the main hotel entrance. You'd be better off parking at Epcot!

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.

No, that's not the case at all. All the restaurants at WDW are open to all guests, whether they are staying onsite, offsite, or day visitors. Bistro de Paris doesn't accept the Disney Dining Plan, which is why I think you have luck booking it. They don't have a kids' menu, either. They've been allowing kids to order from the Chefs de France kids' menu.

 

[Jeslynb]

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.

Thanks, Carol, but we're dropping the kids back at our condo with a babysitter before continuing on to dinner that night. We thought it would be nice to chill for a bit after a hectic few days in the parks. We changed our ADR to Narcoossees, but Flying Fish is also available and I might change it again.

Thanks again.

 

[seashoreCM]

Thanks, all. We're cancelling the ADR there, ...

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

Yay! Now I can spend the day at Epcot and there is a place I can have dinner without planning six months in advance and without having to leave and drive to a restaurant off site!

 

[Jeslynb]

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.

Thanks - I got the sense that the discussion was taking a far different direction than my initial post, so that explains why it went off the rails.

When I called earlier today to change the ADRs, the Disney Dining rep who helped me, "G," suggested that I park at one of the resorts for Bistro de Paris. So, it may be that others who are calling for reservations are being told that this is fine. I can see how the extra congestion would be annoying to resort guests.

It doesn't seem to save us any walking in this case, obviously, so Date Night will have to find an alternative venue.

Thanks again.

 

[Jeslynb]

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[Jeslynb]

Yay! Now I can spend the day at Epcot and there is a place I can have dinner without planning six months in advance and without having to leave and drive to a restaurant off site!

I can't imagine reserving anything 6 months in advance, but most of the restaurants in Epcot are wide open for dinner next week, so there's some wish-fulfillment for ya!

 

[clkelley]

Thanks, Carol, but we're dropping the kids back at our condo with a babysitter before continuing on to dinner that night. We thought it would be nice to chill for a bit after a hectic few days in the parks. We changed our ADR to Narcoossees, but Flying Fish is also available and I might change it again.

Thanks again.

You will LOVE Narcoosees. We had a fabulous dinner there in February!! Excellent service, excellent food, and a great atmosphere. If you are timed for the fireworks you have a great view and they pipe in the music. We like it even better than California Grill.

But as others have said, if you self park at Grand Floridian, you are still going to have a bit of a walk from the parking lot back to Narcoosees. If this is really a nice date night, I would spring for the Valet parking.

 

[Jeslynb]

You will LOVE Narcoosees. We had a fabulous dinner there in February!! Excellent service, excellent food, and a great atmosphere. If you are timed for the fireworks you have a great view and they pipe in the music. We like it even better than California Grill.

But as others have said, if you self park at Grand Floridian, you are still going to have a bit of a walk from the parking lot back to Narcoosees. If this is really a nice date night, I would spring for the Valet parking.

We are all about the Valet parking! Thanks for your help - we're excited. We just want to roll up, walk in and relax.

 

[BriarRosie]

We are all about the Valet parking! Thanks for your help - we're excited. We just want to roll up, walk in and relax.

You're gonna hate me, but Narcoosee's isn't in the main building. You still have to walk to a building near the resort boat launch to get there. I cringe every time I'm giving cautions about your walking situation!

The main building is easy to spot. Narcoosee's is labeled on the far right, round building with 9.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/grandflomap.htm

 

[Jeslynb]

You're gonna hate me, but Narcoosee's isn't in the main building. You still have to walk to a building near the resort boat launch to get there. I cringe every time I'm giving cautions about your walking situation!

The main building is easy to spot. Narcoosee's is labeled on the far right, round building with 9.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/grandflomap.htm

Lol. Not hating you - I appreciate it. I did ask, after all.

I showed the thread to DH and he's offering Jean Georges if I cancel all ADRs at this point!

So - what would be relatively quiet, good food and easy to get to in terms of walking? We went to Jiko last time and it was fine. Didn't knock my socks off (other than the wine list, which was insane) but certainly a nice evening and very easy to get to.

 

[twinklebug]

Lol. Not hating you - I appreciate it. I did ask, after all.

I showed the thread to DH and he's offering Jean Georges if I cancel all ADRs at this point!

So - what would be relatively quiet, good food and easy to get to in terms of walking? We went to Jiko last time and it was fine. Didn't knock my socks off (other than the wine list, which was insane) but certainly a nice evening and very easy to get to.

I've heard great things about Artist's Point at Wilderness Lodge. You can even take a short stroll around the lobby, view the falls & geyser without going very far, and perhaps catch a boat around the lake at sunset or when the EWP is going on. Very cool

I have reservations for my two teens and myself there for the first time this trip, but the youngest is just as happy with burgers and such. ~~sigh~~ Maybe next year.

 

[Jeslynb]

The reviews look really good for that place - thank you!

 

[BriarRosie]

Lol. Not hating you - I appreciate it. I did ask, after all.

I showed the thread to DH and he's offering Jean Georges if I cancel all ADRs at this point!

So - what would be relatively quiet, good food and easy to get to in terms of walking? We went to Jiko last time and it was fine. Didn't knock my socks off (other than the wine list, which was insane) but certainly a nice evening and very easy to get to.

Jiko is one of my favorite places, but maybe it's not as good as I remember since the chef I like is now executive chef at California Grill. (Love that place for the sushi and flatbread pizzas.) But quiet? California Grill ain't quiet. Wine Room is slightly less noisy.

Citrico's is also at the Grand Floridian, in the main building, if you wanted to try it. I would recommend that vs. Narcoosee's anyway. I actually tend to enjoy the Swan and Dolphin restaurants (like Todd English's bluezoo™), but I know the Starwood resort group charges for parking. Not sure if they validate for restaurants. My friends did the chef's tasting menu at Todd's place, and it looked awesome. I enjoyed my meal there when I ate there a couple years ago. I'll be trying Shula's steakhouse in a few weeks. I'm sure they are definitely more quiet. And somewhat adult atmosphere, too.

One of my biggest pleasant food surprises was Sanaa at AKL villas. I am not a fan of Indian curry flavors, but I managed to get a dish that didn't have those flavors but was fabulous. Sustainable fish with shrimp and scallops over a bed of veggies in a light broth. The fish was arctic char and was just perfect.

I have way too many places I like, but it's hard to keep your limitations in mind when suggesting things!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Ouch a foot injury is not fun if you are trying to visit Disney where there is tons of walking.
Have you thought about renting a wheelchair? There is nothing like being slowed down by a foot injury. Not to mention that after doing all that walking you may slow down the healing process. I highly recommend getting a wheelchair. After all you are shelling out some serious cash for this trip so you might as well enjoy it.

Is there a Moderator who can point her in the right direction on how to go about getting a wheelchair?

As for your ADR don't cancel it! Go and enjoy it. The restaurants are there for everyone to enjoy not just guest staying onsite.

The Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge is a great place. You could valet park or have your hubby drop you off at the door and do self parking. You could rest in one of the many cushy chairs they have in the lobby while you wait for him to park. The restaurant is a short walk from the front door.

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.

 

[goofy4tink]

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.

As noted already, the only 'legal' spot for parking for Bistro is the Epcot parking lot. You have paid for theme park entrance. You still have to pay to park at the parks..unless you have an AP which gets you free parking.

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.

Many offsite people head to the theme park restaurants to eat. But..they also realize they need to park in the parking lot that is there for that theme park.
Parking in guest self park lots, at the resorts, is not allowed for non-resort guests parking for park access. There is signage up that states that.

But, you can pay to valet park and head to a park..that is perfectly acceptable.
And if you're looking for a nice meal, Flying Fish is one of our favorites...and since you'll be eating at the BW, you should be able to park there for up to 3 hrs.

 

[Jeslynb]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Blue Zoo or Flying Fish sound good - paying to park is fine, as long as we're close by.

My foot will be ok up to a point - I still am able to exercise etc. I have tendinitis, and I can probably get through about 5 miles at Disney before it starts to get sore. But for sure by dinner it will be tender and I will want to stay off it if I can.

I don't think I will need a wheelchair, but it would still be good to know how to get one if I do.

Thanks again.

 

[figment_jii]

As for renting a wheelchair, you can rent one at the stroller rental place in each park. For Epcot, this can be done at either entrance. Haven't rented one at a resort or from a location outside of the park, but from the number of EVCs with ads for Orlando companies, they must be pretty easy to get.

 

[o2bnoz]

So how much IS valet parking, anyway??

Thanks!

We went to Cape May breakfast and parked at the resort, and we had dinner reservations LATE that evening at Spoodles, and they told us to happily leave our car there. We were off-site visitors. It was very nice of them. I do understand the parking issue, but that day in October there was ample parking for all. I'm sure it's a major pain in the busy months. Please don't flame me, we were just doing what we were told.

 

[Inkmahm]

If you're looking for great restaurants with a minimum of walking, California Grill is our second favorite (after Jiko). Artist Point is also very good. So is Yachtsmen Steakhouse at Beach Club. All of those you can park fairly close even with regular parking, not using valet. The restaurants are in the main hotels and are easy to get to with great food!

 

[Jeslynb]

Thanks, Inkmahm. After reading the Trip Adviser reviews of Bistro, and speaking to our hotel neighbors who ate there last night, we decided to pass on Bistro. We've had lots of wonderful meals here, though - so we're good!