Can I park at Beach Club for convenience to Epcot World Showcase entrance???

[WelcomeHome]

OK, here's the deal - don't flame me for anything I'm just asking if I can or not!

We're attending the 6 hour wine class @ Alfredo's on October 28th. and while I will NOT be staying at a Disney resort that particular day, I am a DVC member and I do have an annual pass and I do have the Disney Dining card. So one way or the other, I'm entitled to free parking no matter where I park.

Will any of those credendials allow me to simply park at Beach Club. If yes, which card (DVC or AP or DDE) do I show to the guard at the entrance to Beach Club.

It just sems to me that it would be much more convenient to park at Beach Club and simply walk to Alfredo's via the International Gateway entrance.

Any help or advice would be appreciated!

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[OKW Lover]

No flame intended - but I'm sure you will get some.

Parking at the resort hotels is intended for those staying there and people doing things (eating, shoping) at that hotel, not for guests to park while in the parks. There are large signs at the entrance to the resorts remnding you of this, and the security guards at each entrance will also inquire as to your business there.

 

[Patty3]

While it would be more convenient to park there, I do not think that you can. I would like to know the official answer to this as well. I have heard that some folks will valet their car the at Boardwalk and walkover to Epcot, but I am not sure if that is ok either.

 

[Patty3]

No flame intended - but I'm sure you will get some.

Parking at the resort hotels is intended for those staying there and people doing things (eating, shoping) at that hotel, not for guests to park while in the parks. There are large signs at the entrance to the resorts remnding you of this, and the security guards at each entrance will also inquire as to your business there.

Thanks, that is what I thought. We must have been posting at the same time.

 

[sheryl0521]

From past experience, the guard will ask why you are visiting the resort and if you get by him/her, they will provide you with a parking pass for a length of time.

Actual experience: We were dining at the Poly during our last trip (a popular place to park and jump on the monorail) and the guard asked why we were there. He found our Ohana dining ressie on a report and gave us a 3 hour parking pass. When we were parking the car, we did see another security guard walking through the lot and checking the passes in the car dashboards.

Not sure what that guard did if he found a violator, but it was interesting to see that they were making the effort.

If you do attempt to park at BCV, and say you are dining at Cape May (as an example) you may get a 2-3 hour parking pass. But to get a 6 - 7 hour pass would be a surprise.

 

[crazywig]

DVC members get free valet parking at DVC resorts. i'm just sayin'.

 

[Copper3]

This is a good question as I have been let in if I say I'm meeting people for dinner at Beaches and Cream since they don't take priority seatings and have been let in. Since we get free valet I don't see why you wouldn't be able to but they did check a list when I had priority seating another time at Yachtsman Steakhouse. The Yachtsman dinner was on a Saturday night where the B&C meet was a Thursday night.

If the Beach Club doesn't let you in you can park at the Boardwalk as they have the ESPN Club that doesn't take any priority seatings so you can say you are dining there and they have a lot more parking than the Beach Club (non-valet). The Boardwalk is much less lax regarding parking there.

 

[MIDisFan]

We arrived a day early last year and were staying offsite for the one night. We drove to the boardwalk and when the guard asked we just told him we wanted to walk around the boardwalk. He just pointed us were to park and didn't give us any time limit or even a parking pass for that matter. This was in July of 2005, so it may be different now, but you could try that.

 

[sheryl0521]

If the Beach Club doesn't let you in you can park at the Boardwalk as they have the ESPN Club that doesn't take any priority seatings so you can say you are dining there and they have a lot more parking than the Beach Club (non-valet). The Boardwalk is much less lax regarding parking there.

Ah yes - the overflow lot entrance at the Boardwalk is opposite of the main gate entrance for the hotel. No one checking anything over there. Just park and walk over to BW then over to WS.

Not that we are condoning it or anything....

 

[pbharris4]

As a DVC member you get free valet parking at BCV, VWL, and BWV whether you are staying on property or not, is that right? If it is right, is there a time limit on how long you can valet park? Just wondering. We always drive to MK and AK (which is what we prefer) and always walk to Epcot and MGM.

 

[crisi]

Keep in mind that using valet for this or using the BW "restaurant and shop" parking lot will work only as long as only a few people do it. When there is so much traffic that they can no longer meet the needs of the guests that these services are provided to meet, they will find some way to stop allowing it.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Sometimes I'm just ignorant. This is a lightbulb-on moment. About the only thing I don't like about BWV and BVC is the crowded parking situation and how far away you have to park. One is not allowed to use the carts in the lobby or valet area. They are for staff only. I have never been one to pay someone to park my car or cart my luggage for me. So.... If you do park in a DVC resort parking lot and are simply taking a leisurely walk to your experience or meal.... please don't take the closest space possible. I ask this without flames, but with a new understanding of why it's so crowded.

 

[Copper3]

Keep in mind that using valet for this or using the BW "restaurant and shop" parking lot will work only as long as only a few people do it. When there is so much traffic that they can no longer meet the needs of the guests that these services are provided to meet, they will find some way to stop allowing it.

This is true and that's probably a big reason why they are trying to move ESPN Club to DisneyQuest and convert it to an ESPN Zone. If they took priority seatings at ESPN the situation could be solved. On July 4th they were letting anyone and everyone in, the traffic was backed up onto Epcot Resorts Boulevard. I was eating at Flying Fish that night so I had a PS but they didn't even ask for it just my driver's license. There was a DJ on the Village Green lawn and the whole Boardwalk was a very festive atmosphere.

As for using Valet and not staying there, I was told we can do this at least by the BW Concierge staff as a lot of us are leaving our cars at either BCV or BWV while on the DVC Cruise this October. I also called security and they suggested I do this since it is a guarded lot. It is a perk and one I don't usually use but of course our dues pay for it.

 

[Sammie]

There is no time limit on valet parking but I was told that does not override the ruling of No Parking for Access to Theme Parks at Epcot Resorts and Monorail resorts.

Also at busier times such as holidays etc. that time limits can be enforced in valet for nonresort guests. It would only make sense, that you can not completely fill the valet lots with guests not staying at the resort and deprive thier own guests.

 

[pbharris4]

True. I never really saw a parking problem at BC until this past year. Same with DTD. I just wish people would do the right thing and follow rules so it doesn't ruin it for others. (I'm not talking about the OP..at least they asked first. I'm talking about the people who stay off property and park at BC, BW or DTD or wherever else). Too bad they don't have some sort of guard at DTD too.

 

[KennySC]

Keep in mind that using valet for this or using the BW "restaurant and shop" parking lot will work only as long as only a few people do it. When there is so much traffic that they can no longer meet the needs of the guests that these services are provided to meet, they will find some way to stop allowing it.

I don't think this is a concern. have you ever seen the BCV parking any where near full? I think not....

 

[crisi]

I don't think this is a concern. have you ever seen the BCV parking any where near full? I think not....

I don't drive at WDW, so I haven't seen any of the parking lots. But I've heard plenty of complaints about the BW parking lot, the one at the Poly and the Contemporary parking lot - and Disney will solve the problem with the same process across all sites when they decide to solve it. They won't say "well, the Y&BC doesn't have a problem, so we will have a different process there."

 

[pbharris4]

I don't think this is a concern. have you ever seen the BCV parking any where near full? I think not....

This past summer (late June) when we self parked (several times) we had difficulty finding a spot. There were maybe 2-3 spaces open.

 

[Stimpy]

I don't think this is a concern. have you ever seen the BCV parking any where near full? I think not....

Yes, I have seen it get quite full when we have been staying there, especially during the day. So yes it is a concern...not a gigantic one but it is something that happens.

 

[WelcomeHome]

Hi - I'm the original poster of this thread. First of all, I'd like to thank everybody for all their ideas, suggestions and points of view - I had no idea this would be such a touchy subject with such varied opinions!

I'm still a bit confused due to the wide range of responses so I'd like to rephrase my question this way: As a DVC member, do I have a right to use my free valet parking at Beach Club Villas or Broadwalk Villas on a day when I will not be staying at a Disney resort????

Based on your reponses to this question, I will make my decision on what appears to have become a "moral" issue for some of my fellow Disney-loving associates!

Rest assured I definitely intend to "do the right thing" based on your responses. Thanks so much for all your interesting opinions and suggestions - that's why I enjoy this forum so much.

Best wishes,
Dave