Boardwalk parking

[marct]

I was hoping someone could give me an opinion on this. We are staying offsite next week, so I am renting a car. We have PS at Rose and Crown for 7:30 on 11/16, and we plan on spending the day at Epcot and then watching Illuminations from the R&C after dinner. Because we are going to end the day there, I was thinking that maybe my best parking plan would be to park at the Boardwalk in the morning and walk/boat to Epcot, and then we could just go straight back there after Illuminations. I think it would probably be easier to get out by the International Gateway rather than going to the front of the park to get the car. Is there anything wrong with this plan, or any reason this either wouldn't work or is a bad idea? Also, I can't really tell if parking at the Boardwalk is free for people staying offsite or not. I mean, even if we weren't planning on going to the park, if we wanted to go the Boardwalk area for dining or entertainment purposes, would we have to pay to park?

Thanks in advance for any input anyone might have.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Boardwalk parking is for guests and folks having business at Boardwalk, it is not for parking and going into Epcot or taking the boat to MGM. You will see a sign stating something similar to this when you enter the parking lot for Boardwalk or any resort near a park. Parking is very tight at Boardwalk and I am sure the guests paying a lot of money are not amused with not being able to find a space. I am sure you understand.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by marct
Is there anything wrong with this plan, or any reason this either wouldn't work or is a bad idea?

Yes there's something wrong with it. There isn't enough parking for guests staying at the BW to begin with. If you want to park there, then by all means choose to stay there, it's a lovely resort. Otherwise park in the lot that you are most welcome to park in--at Epcot.

Anne

 

[paults]

here comes the parking police

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by paults
here comes the parking police

I am not the parking police. The question was asked and I tried to answer it in the nicest possible way.

 

[CarolMN]

You may encounter a problem getting into the Boardwalk lot in the morning - this is the time that most guests get turned away if they are not staying at the BWI/BWV. Very few shops are open on the Boardwalk when the parks first open and the security staff knows this.

May I suggest an alternative? Go ahead and park in the EPCOT lot. After Illuminations, don't be in a hurry to leave. Why fight human traffic as well as the auto traffic when you can be enjoying some of the most beautiful time in the park?

Find a bench, listen to the music and smile to yorself as you watch all the crazies run/push their way to the exits. Sip a drink of something while you relax. After things have cleared out a bit, make your way leisurely to the exit, enjoying the lights, the fountain show and the relative quiet. Enjoy the space - no worries about losing your children, bumping into strangers or getting run over by strollers.

You won't get back to your resort more than a few minutes later than if you rushed out and sat in the traffic. You won't be all stressed from spending time in the traffic with all the impatient people who rushed out to get back to their rooms a few minutes sooner! You'll still be in a Disney mood!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[micks]

But, if you are having dinner on the Boardwalk (Flying Fish Cafe for Thanksgiving Dinner) you can park there, right?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by micks
But, if you are having dinner on the Boardwalk (Flying Fish Cafe for Thanksgiving Dinner) you can park there, right?

You most certainly can, you will get a 3 hour pass.

 

[LvsTnk]

Be aware that if you happen to be there when it is busy the lot and valet do fill up. Happened to us twice as resort guests.

 

[DebbieB]

There is also an overflow lot across the street, on the same side as the gas station.

Laurie - even valet was full? what did you do? If I'm a boardwalk guest, they better valet my car.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
There is also an overflow lot across the street, on the same side as the gas station.

Laurie - even valet was full? what did you do? If I'm a boardwalk guest, they better valet my car.

Debbie, while I see your point, where would they put the car?
Since it is a public option, I don't know what they would do.

 

[DebbieB]

They should not totally fill the valet lot, they should leave some spaces for resort guests and turn away others before it is 100% full. It would really have to be crowded for the valet lot to be full. The times I've stayed there, it is usually less than half full even at night. They should also direct non-resort guests to the overflow lot before the main selfpark lot is full, allowing only resort guests to park then. Parking at BW is a pet peeve of mine when staying there. I even discussed it with the BW Manager one time after a DVC annual meeting, he said they are supposed to direct non-resort guests to the overflow when close to full, but I don't think it happens. When I walk through the lot after parking, I look at the car windshields and most have no WDW resort parking permit (any resort). The past 2 years our room faced the bus stop and parking lot, there were lots of people pushing strollers through the lot at 9:00am. Gee, alot of people going to Spoodles for breakfast, the only place open at that time. Then after Illuminations, the cars quickly flow out. They need to police it better.

 

[LvsTnk]

Since our son has a handicapped plate and it was pouring down rain they took it and parked it right there, I guess until a space opened up. Others were being turned away for valet and to the overflow lot for self park.

Alot of unhappy people all the way around.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
They should not totally fill the valet lot, they should leave some spaces for resort guests and turn away others before it is 100% full. It would really have to be crowded for the valet lot to be full. The times I've stayed there, it is usually less than half full even at night. They should also direct non-resort guests to the overflow lot before the main selfpark lot is full, allowing only resort guests to park then. Parking at BW is a pet peeve of mine when staying there. I even discussed it with the BW Manager one time after a DVC annual meeting, he said they are supposed to direct non-resort guests to the overflow when close to full, but I don't think it happens. When I walk through the lot after parking, I look at the car windshields and most have no WDW resort parking permit (any resort). The past 2 years our room faced the bus stop and parking lot, there were lots of people pushing strollers through the lot at 9:00am. Gee, alot of people going to Spoodles for breakfast, the only place open at that time. Then after Illuminations, the cars quickly flow out. They need to police it better.

With that, I totally agree.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I agree. Police BW parking lots better than they have in the past. On busy days, refuse parking for those not staying at the resort. I don't think they can refuse DVC members from other resorts, and those who came from other valet parking lots, but certainly something needs to be done.