Epcot dinner and Illuminations cruise parking

[karenrc]

There is so much collective wisdom here that I know someone can help with this! During our late March trip we're having dinner in Epcot WS at 5:30 then taking an Illuminations cruise leaving from the Boardwalk at 8:30. We probably will want to go to Epcot for a few hours before dinner.

Do we park at Boardwalk in the afternoon? (easiest for leaving after the cruise but can we park that long? Allows teenage sons some BW time)

Do we park at Epcot, not let our teenagers enjoy BW after the cruise and swim upstream to leave after Illuminations?

Or do we ride Disney transportation and have a very long trip to AKL after the cruise? (how long would this be?)

Anyone who's done this have any advice? Does the advice change if we decide to go to Epcot even earlier in the day?

 

[SuzEm]

When we took the illuminations cruise leaving from the Boardwalk, we valet parked at the Boardwalk Resort. But we got there only about an hour before the cruise, enough time to explore the Boardwalk area before catching the cruise. Don't know how they would respond to your coming that early and parking. Who's to say you're not having dinner somewhere at the Boardwalk; or better yet, have dinner at the Boardwalk and then walk over to Epcot for a short visit before your cruise. Then when they question you at the gate you can tell them you're having dinner then catching the illuminations cruise - both legitimate reasons for parking there.

 

[CarolMN]

You can park at the Boardwalk for dinner and the cruise. As far as I know, they do not give you a timed parking pass.

Self-parking is free (but you may have trouble finding a spot). Valet parking is $6 plus tip. No one will care how long you are there if you use the valet service.

 

[AuntBJ]

We spent all day in Epcot Saturday prior to our Illuminations Cruise. We took the Friendship boat to the Marina and after the cruise we had them drop us off at the Friendship boat dock at the International Gateway and walked back through the park and got a bus. It was very easy and didn't take any longer than if we had just viewed from WS.

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by CarolMN

Self-parking is free (but you may have trouble finding a spot). Valet parking is $6 plus tip. No one will care how long you are there if you use the valet service.

Valet parking is good advice.

PS. AKL has very good transportation. I found the busses to be faster "door to door" than staying at Polynesian and taking the monorail to MK. Same with Epcot.

 

[SCOTTNJ]

Since you are staying on disney property, you will have a resort guest paper on your dash board. You won't have a problem parking at the Boardwalk, or you could even park at the Yacht or Beach Club.

The only resort that I received a timed parking pass was at the Contemporary.

Let the kids enjoy the Boardwalk.