BWV Self-Parking

[DebbieB]

Rather than bury this in the valet thread, I thought I would start a new one.

Several people in that thread expressed a concern about BW self-parking availability now that valet is $12. In the past, I have had problems finding a space and ended up using valet. I just had to pay the tip but it still irked me that I could not find a space when you know a good many of the owners of the parked cars were in Epcot. I talked to the BW manager a few years ago after the annual meeting about the situation, his response was that is why members have free valet available. The last time I stayed at BWV was the third week of October last year, which was Food & Wine time. If I recall correctly, the situation was not bad, there were spaces available, better than in the past.

Any recent reports of BW self parking availability? I'll be there in early December.

 

[jekjones1558]

Good question. We hope to be there in early December also. If fewer DVC members use valet, I hope that fewer parking spots are blocked off for valet.

 

[Dean]

We've been at all times of the year including this past week and I've never had to park across the street and only a time or 2 have we had to valet park when we couldn't easily find a place. I also don't recall a time when at least some of the parking lot wasn't blocked off on the canal side. There are also a number of employees that use the regular lot, I'd expect that will be more closely enforced going forward. As noted, they should need a smaller footprint for the valet lot.

 

[DebbieB]

Good question. We hope to be there in early December also. If fewer DVC members use valet, I hope that fewer parking spots are blocked off for valet.

The valet lot is separate, it's on the left as you drive in. I'm more concerned with the self park lot on the right. The problem is people try to park there to avoid paying the parking fee at Epcot or for a quicker way out. Sometimes when I walk through the lot, I glance at the dashboards and many do not have a WDW parking permit. With this change, I think they should limit it to boardwalk hotel guests and maybe if you have a restaurant reservation (check the list). The rest should go by the guard gate (which is on the same side as the valet) or across the street in the overflow.

 

[Dean]

The valet lot is separate, it's on the left as you drive in. I'm more concerned with the self park lot on the right. The problem is people try to park there to avoid paying the parking fee at Epcot or for a quicker way out. Sometimes when I walk through the lot, I glance at the dashboards and many do not have a WDW parking permit. With this change, I think they should limit it to boardwalk hotel guests and maybe if you have a restaurant reservation (check the list). The rest should go by the guard gate (which is on the same side as the valet) or across the street in the overflow.

The entire lot on the left is not valet, only a portion of it and a variable portion of it. There are a lot of self parks spots on the left as well, the usual entrance is right as you pass through the guard gate on the left. The lot winds it's way over to the tennis court area near the canal. In the past they've tended to have a portion, often a significant portion, blocked off. I'm hoping and expecting they'll remove the barriers, allow self park access from the entrance on that side in front of the mote AND reduce the size of the valet lot. I'm sure all these won't happen at once though.

 

[dcfromva]

We are at the BWV right now. We arrived on Tues and nearly parking spot was taken in the self park lot--same was true on Wed and Thurs. Fri and Sat they put the barriers up so you could only enter the lot by going around the corner and a guard was checking for BWV resort credentials--otherwise he was directing folks across the street. When they implemented that procedure, We had plenty of availability.
DC

 

[CarolMN]

We are at the BWV right now. We arrived on Tues and nearly parking spot was taken in the self park lot--same was true on Wed and Thurs. Fri and Sat they put the barriers up so you could only enter the lot by going around the corner and a guard was checking for BWV resort credentials--otherwise he was directing folks across the street. When they implemented that procedure, We had plenty of availability.
DC

I know they monitor the BW parking much more strictly during Food & Wine Festival weekends.

Wish they would do it other busy times as well.