First Time staying off site: Windsor Hills: question on driving/parking issues

[khanna]

Hi everyone,
We are a big family-2 adults, 6 kids, plus grandma. Also, my DH's parents will be getting a condo in WH as well. We are driving down so we will have vehicles already. Going 2014 end of April early May.
I am trying to figure out parking and a park strategy. When we eat at Ohana's where do we park? Also, going to MK is it best just to go down World Drive?
We are going to plan on Epcot, HS and AK as well. Also hope to have a Sea World day. We will be there 8 nights, 7 days. Cost of parking and actual parking is what I am trying to understand. We do have a few younger ones so we plan to come back mid day for a nap--may be only a few of us while others stay at the park, then we can go back and meet back up. Is this a realistic plan? Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

with a reservation at O'hana you can park at the Polyn - just be sure to have your reservation confirmation number.

the parking fee I think is $14 per day (this is for all WDW parks)

not sure about SW

think your plan is fine. just decide before hand if possible who is going back and who is staying.

for the MK really does not matter you end up on world drive (for Epcot as well)

for AK and Studios the shortcut - Sherbert road is shorter

 

[ParkHopperFan]

If you're going to access the parks from WH, use World Drive. Animal Kingdom has a short-cut from 192 using Sherberth Road which circumvents World Drive.

The parks charge $14 per day to park but if you're going to the Polynesian for Ohana, they won't charge you to park at the hotels. Tell the parking attendant that you're going to Ohana and they will let you through.

 

[naomiatx86]

Does anybody in your group have an AAA membership? I believe they have a parking pass for the Disney parks. May want to look into it.

 

[lizzygreen]

Just to confirm- the AAA Diamond parking pass does not give you free parking - It is a reservered section of the parking lot - on a first come first served basis.

 

[sympatico]

You still have to pay the parking fee with AAA it's just that you get preferred parking near the front of the park. If you have an Disney Annual Pass then you don't have to pay to park.
Parking is $14 per day. Keep the parking tag so that if you leave and come back to that park or any other park that day you won't have to pay again.
I think parking at SeaWorld is $15.

 

[Mama Mouse]

I'd park at the TTC for Ohana if you're planning on EPCOT or MK that day. The only way I'd park at poly for the ressie is if I wasn't going to try to park there all day. (ie, eat and then go to another park.) If you leave a lot and come back the same day, keep the tag they issued you. You don't have to pay again when you re-enter any of the four lots the rest of that day.

 

[BeerMe]

I'd park at the TTC for Ohana if you're planning on EPCOT or MK that day. T

Good advice. Sometimes the line to get into the Poly lot get very backed up early in the morning.

 

[nugov2]

We had no problem parking at the resorts and leaving our cars, but we did pay to valet them. We valeted at CR on our MK days and just walked into the park. It was a nice walk over and easy in and out access and we didn't have the hassle of MK parking. We also were able to come and go for midday breaks and just drop the car back off at the valet stand. Just make sure you save your ticket. Windsor Hills is great....you are going to enjoy your trip. We just stayed in June and loved it!!!

 

[Kitkat6595]

We stayed at WH in June of this year and loved being able to drive everywhere. Parking was raised to $15 the night before we arrived (ha!!). It took 15minutes or less to get to all of the parks, with AK being the shortest drive at 7 minutes!! We took breaks every single day for swimming and naps, as we had little ones as well. We never had any issues with driving or parking and we swore by the mid-day breaks. It was so nice not to put tired and cranky boys on a crowded bus!