Getting around the resorts with our a car

[DeeCee735]

Hi all. We are renting a car this time, which we rarely do. We are staying at SSR (which we also rarely do) and want to be able to get to the supermarket or pharmacy (if needs be), as well as over to AKV because the people we are traveling with are staying there. So I have a couple of quick questions.

1) Will they let us through to park at AKV if we are meeting our DVC member friends who are staying there, but don't have a dining res at AKV? We want to meet for a drink in the lounge before we head out together.
2) If we want to get over to the BWV (our home resort, we like to visit when we are on property), can we park at Swan and Dolphin with no problem and go for an ice cream on the boardwalk, or will they tell us no without a reservation at the Swan & Dolphin?
3) We have dining reservations at 6:30ish two separate nights, one at Steakhouse 71 in the Contemporary and one at the Polynesian. How early will they let us take the car into the parking lots there? We are hoping to shop, browse, have a drink in the lounge, check out the decorations, maybe get on the monorail to see the Grand Floridian gingerbread house, etc.

Thank you for your advice in advance

Dee

 

[_auroraborealis_]

1. Probably except maybe over Christmas proper.

2. If you pay, depends on space available. They may say no.

3. These are the two resorts that even with a reservation people sometimes get turned from. Consider just parking at the TTC in the first place.

 

[Tigger's ally]

For Ice cream on the Boardwalk, I would try and park at the Yacht Club and tell the guard you are doing some shopping and getting Ice cream. They usually let us shop at any hotel for 3 hours visitor parking.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thank you!

 

[AnnaS]

We give our family members not staying at the same resort our room # and they let them in. We have done this while staying at OKW and BCV. I don't know if there are certain times of the year where it might not be possible. It was not during a holiday for us.

 

[Micca]

We usually go at slower times, but we have never been turned away from parking at a resort. We tell them we are eating or shopping and they let us in. That might not be practical during peak periods.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks. We went in Feb two years ago and they wouldnt let us into the BWV parking. I think we will try swan and dolphin first. Thanks for all the info though.

 

[fla4fun]

Thanks. We went in Feb two years ago and they wouldnt let us into the BWV parking. I think we will try swan and dolphin first. Thanks for all the info though.

I just returned yesterday from WDW. When we took the Skyliner to Epcot, we could see that more than half of the BW parking lot was filled with construction vehicles and equipment. I believe the refurbishment of the villas is supposed to continue into next year, so if you are visiting this month you could run into issues trying to park there.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks. Noted.

 

[DVCPAT]

Thanks. Noted.

Have a plan B. I’m staying at GF and boardwalk & yacht club guard would not let us visit. Boardwalk guard told me to email the manager, he might let me in? He loved having authority. LOL

 

[DeeCee735]

Yes, I have experienced a nasty guard once too. She told me to see the manager….so I walked in and saw the manager. We got two hours to “visit”. It wasn’t worth the aggravation. It’s one of our home resorts and its (at least at the time it was) advertised as a shopping, dining and entertainment area, but you can’t drive in. Made no sense to me then. Now with refurbs going on, we will just stay away from BW parking.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Hi all. We are renting a car this time, which we rarely do. We are staying at SSR (which we also rarely do) and want to be able to get to the supermarket or pharmacy (if needs be), as well as over to AKV because the people we are traveling with are staying there. So I have a couple of quick questions.

1) Will they let us through to park at AKV if we are meeting our DVC member friends who are staying there, but don't have a dining res at AKV? We want to meet for a drink in the lounge before we head out together.
2) If we want to get over to the BWV (our home resort, we like to visit when we are on property), can we park at Swan and Dolphin with no problem and go for an ice cream on the boardwalk, or will they tell us no without a reservation at the Swan & Dolphin?
3) We have dining reservations at 6:30ish two separate nights, one at Steakhouse 71 in the Contemporary and one at the Polynesian. How early will they let us take the car into the parking lots there? We are hoping to shop, browse, have a drink in the lounge, check out the decorations, maybe get on the monorail to see the Grand Floridian gingerbread house, etc.

Thank you for your advice in advance

Dee

You should be ok at Swolphin but you’re going to pay.

 

[Nabas]

I just returned yesterday from WDW. When we took the Skyliner to Epcot, we could see that more than half of the BW parking lot was filled with construction vehicles and equipment. I believe the refurbishment of the villas is supposed to continue into next year, so if you are visiting this month you could run into issues trying to park there.

With all the construction, there’s noticeably less parking at the Boardwalk. If I was staying there with a car, I’d want them to limit the hotel to those staying at the hotel until all the parking is back.

 

[DeeCee735]

You should be ok at Swolphin but you’re going to pay.

How much?

 

[DeeCee735]

Also, do DVC members pay for parking at theme parks when staying onsite?

TIA
Dee

 

[CarolynFH]

How much?

According to the Swan/Dolphin/Reserve thread on the Disney Resorts forum, it’s now $34 for self park, $44 valet, plus tax on both.

Also, do DVC members pay for parking at theme parks when staying onsite?

TIA
Dee

Any guest staying onsite parks free at the parks. So it’s often easier to park at a park and take Disney transportation to a resort. If I was staying at SSR and wanted to visit BW, I’d park at DHS and enjoy the Skyliner or Friendship boat ride.

 

[drusba]

As to meeting those staying at AKV, the ones staying there should tell security through front desk who is coming, and, when you arrive, you should provide identity of lead quest staying there and room number. As to dining reservations at Poly and Contemporary, stated rule is the allowed parking time is up to 3 hours and thus if you come too early, they may not let you in, but you should be able to show up an hour or less before reservation time.

 

[DeeCee735]

According to the Swan/Dolphin/Reserve thread on the Disney Resorts forum, it’s now $34 for self park, $44 valet, plus tax on both.


Any guest staying onsite parks free at the parks. So it’s often easier to park at a park and take Disney transportation to a resort. If I was staying at SSR and wanted to visit BW, I’d park at DHS and enjoy the Skyliner or Friendship boat ride.

And I think this is my plan. Park at DHS and take skyliner or boat to BW area….if we go. They make it pretty difficult to have a car on property. One of the reasons for getting a car is so we can get off the property for once. Maybe head to Citywalk one night and spend some money outside of Disney….

Thanks for you help.

Dee

 

[DeeCee735]

As to meeting those staying at AKV, the ones staying there should tell security through front desk who is coming, and, when you arrive, you should provide identity of lead quest staying there and room number. As to dining reservations at Poly and Contemporary, stated rule is the allowed parking time is up to 3 hours and thus if you come too early, they may not let you in, but you should be able to show up an hour or less before reservation time.

Will let them know to tell security we are coming over.

Also, 2 1/2 to 3 hours before reservations at Contemporary is our plan so we can take monorail around aand see the different resort decor.

Thanks,
Dee

 

[Mle8308]

Will let them know to tell security we are coming over.

Also, 2 1/2 to 3 hours before reservations at Contemporary is our plan so we can take monorail around aand see the different resort decor.

Thanks,
Dee

They probably won't let you park in the CR lot if it's 2 1/2 hours before your ADR. It's usually about 30-45 minutes prior. And during holiday seasons, the security guards have been giving people visiting with ADR's a piece of paper to display on the windshield that has the 3 hour window of time indicated. If it's a party night, they are even stricter. If you want to take the monorail to see resort decor, park at the TTC and board the monorail there, it won't be a problem. Any resort in walking distance of a park or that has a monorail or skyliner as a means of transportation is going to be a lot stricter about allowing non-guests to park, especially without an ADR or being too early for an ADR.