Free parking at theme parks?

[bwvBound]

During our visit last week, we were denied "free parking" at EPCOT when waving our DVC Member card. The gate attendant insisted that membership did not grant parking privileges.

After checking into the BWV, we posed the question to the Guest Services desk. They were unable to determine if free parking were a DVC feature or not.

Now I know I was using my DVC Member card for free parking in Dec-04 ... but have we lost that perk for 2005?

Aside: for the remainder of our stay we didn't move the car. It was only a question for the day of arrival and was solved in that moment by fishing out our APs instead.

 

[bongo59]

you should have been let in...........but i do think your resort pass on the dash is what they really want to see

 

[cindy_k]

I think its not being a DVC member that makes it free parking, but staying at a DVC resort.
IE you have checked in and received the piece of paper to stick in your window from the resort desk. They will give it to you even if your room isn't ready yet.

Of course, AP members always get free parking.

Have fun!
Cindy in NY

 

[Frozenfingers]

It is not listed as a perk on the DVCmember website. Comes with AP purchase though...

 

[bwvBound]

Thanks for the responses. I suppose I got the feature "accidentally" last year. (Our Dec-04 visit was off-property using an RCI resort stay.)

 

[tjkraz]

Thanks for the responses. I suppose I got the feature "accidentally" last year. (Our Dec-04 visit was off-property using an RCI resort stay.)

I don't think CMs pay a whole lot of attention. Their focus is typically on getting folks in the parks.

At times I've forgotten to put my parking pass in the car immediately after checking-in. Fortunately I had my AP with me. I would flash the AP at the CM as I approached, and was always waved right in. I'm sure that not all of them scrutinized the ticket sufficiently to determine that it was actually an AP and not a hopper.

 

[Granny]

I agree you probably got the "perk" accidently. The only free parking DVC entitles us to is valet parking at DVC resorts.

 

[DVC-Don]

I don't think it was ever a perk, you got lucky once.

 

[CarolMN]

Free parking at the theme parks is a perk of staying at an on site resort - Since OKW, BWV, VWL, BCV & SSR are on site resorts, guests of those resorts (including DVC members staying on points or cash) are entitled to park free at the theme parks.

There has never been a free parking perk attached to DVC membership. If you stay off site or are a local day visitor, you need to pay for theme park parking unless you are an annual passholder or have some other parking entitlement that applies. Just being a DVC member doesn't do it.

As Don & Granny said, if you got free parking with your DVC card, you just got lucky.

Best wishes -