Boardwalk Parking

[iheartglaciers]

From time to time I see people complaining about the parking at Boardwalk, but what is the issue? I usually don't come to Disney with a car, but given the pandemic, I will probably rent a car for our Disney trip and we'll be staying at Boardwalk. Thanks!

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Some of the DVC resorts have parking right outside the villa. SSR and OKW come to mind for that. Some like BCV, and AKL have semi close parking to the rooms.. and then some like Boulder Ridge and Boardwalk.. it is quite a trek to get to the car. That is the only issue I would have with parking at the boardwalk. If you own at SSR or OKW.. you will definitely notice the difference.

 

[NoTime42]

In normal times It’s often difficult to find a “close” parking spot to BWV during park hours. Magically, 30 minutes after Epcot closes lots of good parking opens up.

It’s a problem stemming back to the free Valet for DVC member days. Since Valet was free, the Valet lot was expanded (On the Villa side of the resort). After the free Valet ended, the size of the valet lot was never reduced and returned to members. Plus the member side parking area has been frequently reduced during resort rennovations and Skyliner construction.

In post-Covid times, it sounds like security is much more picky about parking at all resorts, so parking may be a lesser problem for current BWV guests.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So many people going to Epcot don't want to pay to park, so they park at the BW and that leaves you with no space to park if you get back before Epcot closes for the night. You also have the guests who want to ride the Skyliner driving to the BW to park so they can hop it at Epcot. Plus you have to walk up hill from the parking lot to the BWV.

 

[iheartglaciers]

Good to know, thanks!! Hopefully it won’t be an issue with the hotels not at full capacity right now. That’s annoying that people skirt the rules and park there for Epcot.

I’m not used to having a car at Disney, so this will be totally new!

 

[cvjw]

Rode the skyliner over the BWV parking lot last week. It was the emptiest I had ever seen it.

My issue with the BWV parking lot is the valet parking is on the villa side, and is huge and is never full. That doesn’t leave much regular parking for dvc members. Add to that the fact that people are allowed in to park for Epcot - It can be tricky for dvc members in normal times. Right now, I don’t think parking is an issue!

 

[LadybugsMum]

Add to that the fact that people are allowed in to park for Epcot - It can be tricky for dvc members in normal times.

I thought they cracked down that? At least that seemed to be the case when I was there 2 years ago as I wasn't able to get in unless I had a dining reservation.

 

[Skywalker3]

Parking was SO much worse a few years ago, before they started being more strict at the guard shack and not allowing people in unless you had reservations. We had one trip years ago, and there were only 3 spots in the whole lot! We didn't have any issues last Oct and Nov. . Lots of spots, although many were a bit far out, but by mid/end of trips, could move up to better locations.

 

[justadreamaway77]

It's not just that the lot gets full, it is really far away from the building!

 

[ParrotBill]

For a time, they had renovations taking up parking lot space for staging. And then they had conventions and reserved capacity for drive-in attendees. So they notified us owners we did not have guaranteed parking in the main lot, and might have to park across the street in an overflow lot. We were pretty frosted that they didn't send the conventioneers over there instead. So for a year or two I would drive around the lot for up to a half hour waiting for someone to leave. I don't know what changed, but in the last few years it has not been an issue.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

We only started driving to WDW in Jan 2018 but based on the past three years we have not had any issues with parking at BWV. We have to show our reservation at the gatehouse, they verify we are staying at the resort and let us in. Once my DH parks the car we pretty much don't move it again until the day we are leaving. My DH would much rather let Disney do the driving so he can sit back, relax and enjoy the sites. No stress or hassle for him when Disney is doing the driving. You know what they say "a happy husband makes for a happy life"

 

[ParrotBill]

We only started driving to WDW in Jan 2018 but based on the past three years we have not had any issues with parking at BWV. We have to show our reservation at the gatehouse, they verify we are staying at the resort and let us in. Once my DH parks the car we pretty much don't move it again until the day we are leaving. My DH would much rather let Disney do the driving so he can sit back, relax and enjoy the sites. No stress or hassle for him when Disney is doing the driving. You know what they say "a happy husband makes for a happy life"

Me too. But that's not how I remember the saying.... LOL

 

[NoTime42]

We only started driving to WDW in Jan 2018 but based on the past three years we have not had any issues with parking at BWV. We have to show our reservation at the gatehouse, they verify we are staying at the resort and let us in. Once my DH parks the car we pretty much don't move it again until the day we are leaving. My DH would much rather let Disney do the driving so he can sit back, relax and enjoy the sites. No stress or hassle for him when Disney is doing the driving. You know what they say "a happy husband makes for a happy life"

I was fully in the “park it and forget it” vacation relaxation camp until Covid.

But now, I kinda see busses as an additional possible exposure point, and more importantly, Reduced bus capacity has to mean occasional much longer bus wait times, so now I drive instead of bus.

 

[iheartglaciers]

I was fully in the “park it and forget it” vacation relaxation camp until Covid.

But now, I kinda see busses as an additional possible exposure point, and more importantly, Reduced bus capacity has to mean occasional much longer bus wait times, so now I drive instead of bus.

That's why we're planning to have a car for the first time! Normally we like to leave all of the transportation to Disney.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I hear what you're saying about taking the bus, monorail, gondola but I'm pretty sure we are still going to leave the driving to Disney...To many crazy drivers who don't know exactly where they are going, don't need to be in a traffic accident at WDW.... We will wear our masks, social distance and wash or hand sanitize our hands regularly to keep safe.