EP - where to park for Illuminations?

[DisneyDreamMom]

I have been reading that if you have a rental car in the parking lot, you are gonna have a tough time after illuminations.
It was a suggestion to park at Boardwalk or Yatch club with dinner reservation or something. I don't know if we can reserve a dinner on such short notice but was wondering if any of you have suggestions on where to park in order to get out easier after the show?

 

[Robo]

I have been reading that if you have a rental car in the parking lot, you are gonna have a tough time after illuminations.
It was a suggestion to park at Boardwalk or Yatch club with dinner reservation or something. I don't know if we can reserve a dinner on such short notice but was wondering if any of you have suggestions on where to park in order to get out easier after the show?

It is not permissible to park at a resort with the intention of going into a theme park.

Resort parking is for guests of that resort and visitors having reservations there (or just shopping and taking a look.)

So, you could book dinner at the Boardwalk or Yacht & Beach Clubs near IllumiNations time and slip over to Epcot for the show within your 3 hour window.

Alternative: Paying for VALET parking at a resort and going into a Theme Park:

There is a method that will allow guests to find out if
the valet parking and leaving the resort for a park will be OK
on the day it is attempted-

When you arrive at the parking gate, tell the guard there
what you are doing,
where you are going and
when you will return for the car.

If the guard says, "OK" then move on to the valet.

When you pull up, tell the valet
what you are doing,
where you are going and
when you will return for the car.

If the valet says its OK, then its OK.


If the guard or the valet says there is only limited time parking available, that will be your answer.

 

[RMulieri]

Robo is right. The parking at the resorts is not for theme park access and the signs there say as much. You can valet park it though.

 

[dizluvah]

I am not clear about what the problem is having a rental car after Illuminations? We always drive a rental car and after illuminations is no different than any other park closing crowd in the lots. Traffic is staggered (in that people walk or tram out to their cars) so congestion isn't really a problem.

 

[mickaholic4077]

I would park at The Boardwalk. Tell the guard you are joining friends at ESPN.(They don't take ADRs so that problem is solved). Valet park(free to those who have the Tables in Wonderland Card or a handicapped placard,or are DVC members),10 dollars to everyone else. There also might be spaces in self-parking. I went to Epcot last Sunday and there were numerous empty spaces in self-parking.

 

[disnut8]

Unless you are in a hurry to get somewhere after Illuminations, you don't have to rush out to your car. It's not like you are going to have to stand in line waiting for a bus. After the show, just grab a bench and wait a half hour or so and then make your way to your car. No one is going to hurry you along. We usually watch the show from the back half of World Showcase somewhere around Germany so by the time we make our way to the front, lots of people have already left anyway. Waiting a half hour after the show will have most of the people out of the park.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would park at The Boardwalk. Tell the guard you are joining friends at ESPN.(They don't take ADRs so that problem is solved). Valet park(free to those who have the Tables in Wonderland Card or a handicapped placard,or are DVC members),10 dollars to everyone else. There also might be spaces in self-parking. I went to Epcot last Sunday and there were numerous empty spaces in self-parking.

Which lot were you in??? If you were in the lot behind the Hess Station, then fine. But, if you were in the lot that is on BW property, across the street from the bus stop, then you shouldn't have been there if you were headed to a park. That lot is for guests of BW..not for guests who buy a soda and then head to Epcot. Sorry if that seems harsh, but resort parking is primarily for those using the resort amenities. If you wish to pay valet charges, then fine, park in the valet lot. But....if you are just taking up a space intended for resort guests, so that you can head to a park, with or without a meal at that resort, then you're out of line.
It really annoys me when I have to drive around the parking lot, in search of a spot, but end up way out in the far reaches of the parking lot. I know that there are spots that have been taken up by those who just want an easier way out at the end of the day, but are not staying at BW.

Having a car, and parking it in a park's parking lot, isn't all that much trouble. Just hang out in the park for a bit, enjoying the atmosphere. Then, about 20 mins later, head to your car. The traffic should have thinned down quite a bit.

 

[mickaholic4077]

As long as Disney lets me park at Boardwalk and then head for a park I will do it.(BTW,I valet parked that day but I would say I saw at least 3 dozen unused parking spaces in the Boardwalk lot). I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree about this.

 

[RMulieri]

I agree with goofy4tink. The Epcot resorts are crowded and cost alot of money, and it gets me a tad irked that I have to drive around endlessly looking for a spot when I am a guest paying for the resort. Empty spots at the BW are not the norm.The signs by the lot say " not for themepark access" I think that pretty much says it all. So valet park, or park it in the Epcot lots.

 

[WillCAD]

I have been reading that if you have a rental car in the parking lot, you are gonna have a tough time after illuminations.
It was a suggestion to park at Boardwalk or Yatch club with dinner reservation or something. I don't know if we can reserve a dinner on such short notice but was wondering if any of you have suggestions on where to park in order to get out easier after the show?

You've been misled. I have never had any kind of tough time in the Epcot lot after Illuminations.

I typically view Illuminations from the UK or Norway. When the show is over, I take a bathroom break, then stroll leisurely out of the park, usually taking pics the whole way. When I get to the exit, there is still a bit of a line at the bus stops, but the parking lot is pretty empty, and I never have any trouble at all driving straight out of the lot.

So don't add any complications to your trip, just park in the Epcot lot. And enjoy that walk out of the park after Illuminations - nothing is better to me than walking through a mostly-empty park in the quiet of the evening.

 

[WDSearcher]

As long as Disney lets me park at Boardwalk and then head for a park I will do it.(BTW,I valet parked that day but I would say I saw at least 3 dozen unused parking spaces in the Boardwalk lot). I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree about this.

Except that Disney isn't letting you park at the Boardwalk and head for a park. They are letting you park at the Boardwalk and head to ESPN to meet some friends, because that's what you told them you were doing. If Disney let you park at the Boardwalk and head for a park, then you wouldn't have to lie to do it.

Next time, tell the guard at the gate that you're going to park at Boardwalk and then head to a park. If they let you do that, then no one here would likely have a problem with it.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Actually,we almost never say what we are doing. The guards 99 percent of the time do not ask what you are doing. When they see the handicapped placard,they generally wave us through.

 

[WDSearcher]

Actually,we almost never say what we are doing. The guards 99 percent of the time do not ask what you are doing. When they see the handicapped placard,they generally wave us through.

The point remains the same. If your advice to someone regarding how to park at BW and go into the parks is to lie about what they're doing there, if asked, then clearly you understand that Disney does not want non-resort guests parking in the resort lots when those guests are there for the purpose of using the parks.

Having a handicapped placard may well get you a "special dispensation" that those folks without a placard cannot claim. But again, telling them to make up a story about ESPN in order to park at a resort indicates that you don't think Disney would allow them to do it if Disney knew their destination was the parks. So you've kind of killed the "I'll do it as long as Disney lets me" argument.

By using a parking spot at the resorts, you are quite possibly taking a H/C spot from someone else with a H/C placard who is staying AT the resort. There are far fewer H/C spots in the resort lots than non-H/C spots, so that seems even a little more selfish, IMO.

 

[cvjw]

We usually choose to drive our car to Epcot so that leaving after Illuminations is easy. We find that we are back to our resort alot quicker by driving in our own car, than by waiting for a Disney bus. We have had to park in many different Epcot lots, but have never had to wait more than a few minutes in traffic to leave after Illuminations.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Once again,we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[maxiesmom]

Once again,we'll have to agree to disagree.

What are you disagreeing about? Are you not telling someone else to lie to use parking at the Boardwalk? And are you not using your handicapped placard to take advantage of the parking situation? Why not tell the guard at the gate what you are really doing, and see what they tell you.

OP--The resort lots are for resort guests. If you are dining at a resort restaurant they will give you a 3 hour parking pass. You can usually valet your car for longer than that, but if the resorts are very busy they will still hold you to the 3 hour time table.

Parking at the resorts is very limited. Put yourself in a resort guest's shoes. How would you like it if you had to struggle to find a place to park at your own resort? But then after the fireworks were over you saw tons of people leaving? Parking at the resorts for park axcess is not allowed by Disney, and well, it is just plain rude.

 

[goofy4tink]

As long as Disney lets me park at Boardwalk and then head for a park I will do it.(BTW,I valet parked that day but I would say I saw at least 3 dozen unused parking spaces in the Boardwalk lot). I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree about this.

There is no 'agree to disagree'...one of the issues here is that, yet again, Disney has a rule in place, but fails to enforce it. They 'hope' that the guests will do the honorable thing and follow the stated rules. This goes for parking at resorts for park access, refilling mugs that were purchased on previous trips, and hopping to pools at resorts other than you own.
But....the rules are the rules. It is against DIS policy to suggest or recommend ways of getting around Disney policy or rules. There is signage at the resorts stating that parking is not provided for park access. Personally I would like to see parking at the resort to be key entry...at least part of the resort lots. That would negate a lot of this discussion.

Yes, the security people allow anyone in to park in the guest parking lots. But, they are not supposed to. I guess I can't blame someone from taking advantage of this. I do know that at busy times of the year, Food and Wine for instance, you can't get into the parking area at BW unless you show them a room key, and have a parking permit for your car. There is someone stopping you at the first gate and then another person at the actual entrance to the guest lot. I don't know why non-guests can't just park across the street, behind the Hess Station.

So....while some may have been able to park at the resorts, other than valet, and then head to the parks, it isn't anything that is recommended.

 

[my2disneyboys]

I am sure I will be "flamed" for writing this- but this site is for people to write about and share their experiences and I was TOLD by the CM when I made my ADR's to park at the POLY, have our breakfast and then hop on the Monorail to MK and then come back for my car. I told him on these boards I read all the time "your car will be towed" or "it's not allowed" and his reply was, "listen, a car has never been towed, you are on vacation, just enjoy yourself".

 

[goofy4tink]

I am sure I will be "flamed" for writing this- but this site is for people to write about and share their experiences and I was TOLD by the CM when I made my ADR's to park at the POLY, have our breakfast and then hop on the Monorail to MK and then come back for my car. I told him on these boards I read all the time "your car will be towed" or "it's not allowed" and his reply was, "listen, a car has never been towed, you are on vacation, just enjoy yourself".

True, many CMs will tell you to do that. But...be aware, Disney Dining CMs have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to anything other than making ADRs. I have had Dining CMs tell me that I won't be able to get to an early ADR unless I have my own car!! So very wrong.
There is signage, at every resort, stating that parking is NOT provided for park access. That's the rule...plain and simple.
I have to tell you...if you park at the Polynesian, and they are having an issue with non-resort guests overstaying their parking welcome (so to speak) and start towing cars (and it happens), and your car gets towed, I seriously doubt that you will have a leg to stand on when you tell them that a Disney Dining CM told you to go ahead and park there and then head to MK for the day.
I have seen cars towed from the Polynesian. I know they were parked there 'illiegally'. How?? I asked the tow people. They told me that the WDW resorts tow cars on a regular basis if the resort lots are too full, based on occupancy. So...go ahead and do as you will. The rules are the rules...they are right there, on a sign. Ignore them if you wish....your choice.

 

[seashoreCM]

And the answer is: (drum roll) "ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta"..The Epcot parking lot!

I am sure I will be "flamed" for writing this- but this site is for people to write about and share their experiences and I was TOLD by the CM when I made my ADR's to park at the POLY, have our breakfast and then hop on the Monorail to MK and then come back for my car. I told him on these boards I read all the time "your car will be towed" or "it's not allowed" and his reply was, "listen, a car has never been towed, you are on vacation, just enjoy yourself".

On the phone or in person?
There is a lot of discussion on these boards about CM's giving misinformation on the phone.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm