guests visiting you for a day & parking

[JFrey4240]

We are staying at the Boardwalk for our trip the week before Easter. My nephew attends college about an hour outside of Orlando and would like to come spend a day with us. Will he be able to park at the Boardwalk all day? We thought he could meet us in the morning and then we can go to whatever park we're interested in that day. I don't know if he's going back to school after dinner or at the end of the day when we're finished with the parks. He's used to staying up really late so he'll probably be in better shape than us! Ah, remember those days?

 

[igitur]

I don't think it'll be a problem for him to park as long as you're a DVC member. We just returned from BCV and my husband's friend (who lives down in Orlando) came to have dinner with us and hang out for awhile. We were able to let the guard at the gate know right away because our friend was following us in, in his own car. But I think if you just show the guard that you're a member staying there and give him your guest's name, he'll know to let him through when he arrives.

Hope that helps!

Deb

 

[CarolMN]

The week before Easter is peak season - your nephew may have some trouble getting past the guards to park. BW lots cannot support large numbers of theme park guests whose plan is to visit the parks. The guards tend to turn away more people during busy times, especially in the mornings when there isn't much open on the Boardwalk itself.

My advice is to talk to the front desk when you check in. Perhaps you can get an extra parking pass for the day. The CMs can and will provide more than one parking pass when the situation warrants it.

Another option is for you to treat (college kids always seem to be broke, LOL) your nephew to valet parking. Then you will have no worries at all.

Best wishes -

 

[JFrey4240]

We are getting a towncar to and from BWV so we won't have a car. We are DVC members so hopefully we'll be able to work something out. Should I say something to the guard when we go through with the towncar or talk to the front desk when we check in? Should I call the day before we leave? By then I'll know which day he'll be coming. Right now it looks like Sunday because he has a class Saturday morning and classes again starting on Monday.

How would he do valet parking? I don't mean to be such a duh but we are self-parking kind of people. Do you pay when you drop off your car or when you pick it up?

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

I am not quite yet an owner (contract at ROFR) and I haven't stayed at BWV, but I thought I'd offer these two solutions and if I am wrong perhaps a DVC oldie can correct me.
1. When you check in, just get a parking pass for your car...since you don't have a car, you can let nephew borrow it when he comes.
2. My understanding is that valet parking is free, just for the tip...So your nephew valet parks and only has to give a small tip when he picks up his car at the end of the day. Perhaps valet parking is free only to DVC members..in which case, your giving nephew the parking pass will make his car YOUR car for the day....and since you don't have a car, certainly no one would have a problem with this that I can see.

Have fun! And when he leaves the resort and you are saying good by...just tip the valet for him...cause yes, college students never have any money!
Colorado Belle

 

[pumpkinboy]

Since you will not have a car on-site, then I'd say your nephew could simply use your parking pass and self park. Still, valet parking is cheap enough and if Uncle/Auntie JFrey4240 were to treat, it might be fun for him, since college kids are more likely to be valets than use them.

 

[JFrey4240]

I think we will have him valet park. We already are treating for his ticket and food so this day will be a total freebie for him. What's a few more bucks? Two years ago we brought his sister with us (pre-DVC) for a whole week so fair is fair. Well, not all that fair...she got 7 days and he gets one... Actually we are so happy he's willing to spend the day with us and his 5 year old cousin. We don't get to see him that much. He used to go to the Univ. of Buffalo about 30 minutes from us and just transferred to Florida in January. Smart kid. It's cold here!

 

[Saxton]

If he has any problems getting into the main lot there is also an overflow lot across the street. I believe it's for cast members but it's usually open and they will often direct people to it during busy times.

I went to UB ... obviously I'm not as smart as him since I'm still here enjoying this weather!

 

[goofy4tink]

When we were at BWV over THanksgiving last year, my dad drove up to spend a day or so with us. We talked to the front desk and they said it would be no problem. We actually had to talk them in, so to speak since they got a little turned around and lost. We were on the phone with them when they got to the 'guard shack'. I thought my poor step-mother was going to have a kitten when she thought they were going to be either turned away or searched. But, Dad told them they were visiting his dd and they waved him on. Then he valet parked. Very easy.

 

[Deb & Bill]

He won't have a member card, so he will have to pay for the valet parking, plus the tip. Unless you meet him when he drives up and you show your member card. They might let you do that.

 

[JFrey4240]

Good advice. Thank goodness for cell phones! I'll have him call me so I can meet him.