Do DVC members pay to park at MK?

[mtdewhead]

I probably read the answer somewhere, but have forgotten! With all the talk about the long BWV bus ride to MK, some have suggested driving over to MK. Do DVC members have to pay to park at the parks? If so, how much is it?

 

[CRobin]

If you are staying on site at any Disney property, parking at the parks is free.

 

[jaysue]

Another option is to get on/off at the S&D and just walk over/to on the bridge to BWV

Depending on time of day and year, driving to the MK is not always a piece of cake. There can be long lineups at the gate just to get your car in, you may not be able to park close to the TTC and hence have to wait for a tram. Once you get to the TTC you have to wait for a ferry or monorail etc.

I am not saying do not drive to MK but giving some of the factors and details involved. Driving to the other parks - AK, Epcot, MGM is pretty much a piece of cake - MK is another story

thanks
jaysue

 

[pumpkinboy]

I would never drive to MK if I were staying at any Disney resort. The bus drops you right at the gate, rather than having to take a tram from the parking lot to the TTC then a monorail...ugh; plus the trams can get more crowded than the buses. Not gonna happen. I'd sooner walk thru Epcot and take the monorail. Crossing the bridge and catching the bus at the Swan has always been my standby if the busses or lines at BW seem excessively tiresome.

 

[new_yawka]

We stayed at BWV in February. We drove to MK early in the morning and got a parking space near the front row at the TTC. It was very convenient. Plus it gave my boys a couple of extra chances to ride the monorail...an "E" ticket for sure!

If you get to the MK parking early enough and do not have to deal with a tram...driving is a very viable option.

 

[CWO4DVC]

Having been to WDW over 25 times I think I am correct in saying that Disney transportation is far from efficient. If you have to take a bus, I would recommend driving. I need to be in motion, not sitting at a bus stop waiting for it to arrive. Then, what do you do when it arrives full? We drive and enjoy it. Will take the monorail or boat any day but the bus just does not cut the mustard.

 

[bom_noite]

An alternative to parking at MK is to valet park at the Wilderness Lodge, then, catching the boat to the MK from there.

 

[Caskbill]

If you plan to park hop to Epcot after going to MK, then you can drive and park at Epcot. Take the tram (or walk) to the front but instead of going into the park, go up and take the monorail direct to TTC and there transfer to the monorail going to MK. After MK, reverse the procedure and take the monorail back to Epcot. At the end of the evening, your car is already there.

The nice thing here is that at Epcot often you can get back to your car very quickly. It's a long walk to the bus pickup area at Epcot. Also, if you stay till park closing, the lines at the bus stop can get pretty long.

 

[brumley5]

"If you plan to park hop to Epcot after going to MK, then you can drive and park at Epcot. Take the tram (or walk) to the front but instead of going into the park, go up and take the monorail direct to TTC and there transfer to the monorail going to MK. After MK, reverse the procedure and take the monorail back to Epcot. At the end of the evening, your car is already there."


So..... if you stay at BWV, and it's been recommended to walk over to Epcot, couldn't you then walk over to Epcot's monorail and take that to MK to avoid the MK bus? (hopefully I don't have people laughing at me for asking this question as I really don't know how long that proposed walk is!)
Tammy in CA

 

[BCV23]

brumley5, I don't think anyone would laugh at such a question. But your guess is right. It's a long walk.

 

[jarestel]

Most of the time the bus transportation is fine. I'd give it a try before deciding to drive to the MK as this is the most inconvenient park to drive to.

 

[CarolA]

I drive everywhere but the MK. Sorry, but waiting in line for the monorail or on the boat and then hiking to the car or taking the tram just is NO fun for me.

The bus transport to MK is the way to go.

As to parking at the Swan/Dolphin on my last stay there they had posted guards just to stop that.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by mtdewhead
Do DVC members have to pay to park at the parks?

To answer the original question...

It has nothing to do with being a DVC member. On-site resort guests don't pay to park at the theme parks. It doesn't matter whether you're staying at a DVC resort, a deluxe resort, a moderate resort, or a value resort.

If you're staying off property, you must pay to park (or you need to have another reason to park free, such as being an annual pass holder). Having a blue DVC membership card, by itself, does not entitle you to free parking.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by CarolA
I drive everywhere but the MK. Sorry, but waiting in line for the monorail or on the boat and then hiking to the car or taking the tram just is NO fun for me.

The bus transport to MK is the way to go.

As to parking at the Swan/Dolphin on my last stay there they had posted guards just to stop that.

I think back to last December when I was hanging onto a pole on a bus, totally squished like sardines as we left MK after Wishes. Had to stand in line at the bus stop while 1 bus filled up and waited for a second to come. Finally got to BWV after stopping at Swan, Dolphin, YC, BC (ok, I did get to sit down by time we got to YC, didn't feel like walking from the Swan I had been up since 5:00am to get our flight). I wouldn't call that fun either.

I don't think it's that bad, parking, tram plus express monorail, especially during the day (we rarely arrive at park opening, usually 10 to 11am). Definitely not worth walking all the way through Epcot to get to the Epcot Monorail to the TTC, that's going to take you way longer than driving or the bus. The only time we take the bus is if we go to MK at night when the lot will already be pretty full and everyone will be leaving at the same time.

 

[chainkid]

We always take our car when visiting the magic kingdom. We usually park at the Poly go in for breakfast there and then hop the monorail. On our way out we sometimes catch the small boat rather than the mono or large ferry. Its a great ride not usually as well known so its never been a problem for us. We then stop at Grand Floridian to eat or drink before picking up our car. It really is much more fun to experience the restaurants at the resorts than eat the fast food in the parks. You could park at one of the other resorts also but you really should plan to eat there or they won't want you to park. For our family the resorts are a destination in themselves...alot of fun to explore. If you ave your swim suit as a DVC member you can pool hop unless its really busy.

 

[lisareniff]

Originally posted by new_yawka
...... We drove to MK early in the morning and got a parking space near the front row at the TTC. It was very convenient. Plus it gave my boys a couple of extra chances to ride the monorail...an "E" ticket for sure!

If you get to the MK parking early enough and do not have to deal with a tram...driving is a very viable option.

We had the same experience and conclusion as new_yawka. We drove to MK two mornings for an early PS (8:30 at CP, fantastic!) and for EMH. Both times the parking lot was empty!! We had a front row parking spot. NO TRAM! EMPTY MONORAIL! A magical entry to MK for our first day on our first family trip to WDW!

However, we drove back for wishes and spectro one evening and it was horrible getting out of there (the park closed at the end of wishes). The line for the monorail took forever, especially with a very tired toddler! and perhaps the bus would have been better. ...or perhaps there was no good way out of there.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by chainkid
We always take our car when visiting the magic kingdom. We usually park at the Poly go in for breakfast there and then hop the monorail.

Technically speaking, this is a no-no. If you're not staying at the Poly, you shouldn't park there with the intention of going to the parks. However, I know people are able to do this sometimes, so I'm just pointing out the policy. Everyone is free to do as they wish, of course.

 

[pearljim]

We valet park at the Contemporary - longer monorail ride to MK but first stop on the return! I always tell the security guard that I'm going to valet park and never have a problem. We've done the same at the GF but the valets are the laziest bunch I've ever seen so we try and avoid it.

 

[Merilyn]

So are we saying that after Wishes there is no good way to leave MK? We drive over and park in the handicapped lot. We usually ride the monorail. Is it better to take the bus or drive? I agree the line can be long for the monorail and boat, but will the bus be any better? We are staying at OKW. We will have a wheelchair but he can walk and won't need a handicapped bus. Need suggestions as to which way to go. Thanks

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have been to WDW too many times to count--and I know for a partial fact (I say partial, as I'm sure some may have heard or gotten away with it otherwise)...that WDW prefers that guests do not use hotel parking as a means to park for the parks. In other words, if you aren't staying at Poly, CR, GF, etc...then going and eating breakfast and then going to the parks is to be frowned upon. One time hubby and I went to "look" at the AKL when it first opened...we had no intention of sneaking over to Animal Kingdom--just wanted to look at the hotel. We were given a kind and gentle reminder that parking was for resort guests and a 2 hour parking pass. So be careful--wouldn't want to see your vehicle towed to the Mouse House impound should Disney decide to one day enforce its suggestions.

One more item--we love the bus system, except when it is crowded--we either try to beat the crowds by going early--or like we did in Epcot one night--took the long way through World Showcase after illuminations and enjoyed disney without the guests as we meandered back to transportation. (After a glass of wine or 2 in France just before closing