help suggest a parking strategy for me.

[sachilles]

We've had a boardwalk villas res for a while now, checking in on Feb 24. We never use cars at WDW and always use the magical express in and out.
With Covid, United altered our flights much later. However, they allow free changes so I found we could arrive two days earlier. So I cashed in some marriott points to stay at the swan for two days. That meant we couldn't use the magical express to get in to wdw. No biggie, I can rent a car for free for a day, as I have rental car points. Picking the car up at MCO at 2pm, and need to return it to the car care center before 2pm the next day. Allows us to do a little grocery shopping and the wife has always wanted to check out the character warehouse at the vineland outlets.
We have DVC blue cards and gold annual passes.

We only need the car from MCO to the Swan. So I could take it back to the car care center that night, but they close 7pm. I think I can drop after 7, but would have to uber or lyft back to the swan as the shuttle will be out of service after 7. Dolphin rental car desk is closed, so it's not an option. What are my options in respects to saving a few bucks?

I can return the car before 7 on arrival day, but skip our extra stops, or rush on those stops and take free shuttle back.
I can return after hours, and uber back which would be cheaper than parking at swan.
I can park at Swan for the night, pay the parking fee and return car in AM.

Can I park it overnight at hollywood studios without cost. As I could return it at lunch as we have park reservations at the studios on that day.

 

[SteveH]

I'm going to vote to return after hours and take a Lyft back. Simple, and it's over with so you can enjoy the next morning. That said, if you're going to park at Swan other then unloading you're probably going to pay for the parking so just keep it there if you want it in the AM.

 

[JenBush]

I agree with SteveH. And as far as I know overnight parking is not permitted at the parks. If it was allowed no one would be paying parking prices at hotels, especially the Polynesian, if they could just park at the TTC for free.

 

[Missingmypooh]

We’ve parked at the parks overnight, especially Epcot when we’re not able to drive and we just get it in the morning before park open.

your DVC so why not park it at the boardwalk and just walk to the swan?

 

[SteveMouse]

your DVC so why not park it at the boardwalk and just walk to the swan?

Parking at DVC is free for members only when staying on points.

 

[Missingmypooh]

Parking at DVC is free for members only when staying on points.

dvc members are able to park at other DVC resorts when visiting- or has that perk changed?

 

[keishashadow]

We’ve parked at the parks overnight, especially Epcot when we’re not able to drive and we just get it in the morning before park open.

your DVC so why not park it at the boardwalk and just walk to the swan?

BW is the last resort to try this. Parking is very limited there, often difficult to find a spot as a registered guest. The guards are, thankfully, strict with their enforcement.

 

[sachilles]

My understanding was DVC free parking is only during your points stay. This would be two days prior to our points stay.

I'm leaning towards an after hours drop with a lyft ride back and be done with it. Otherwise, I'll pay the swan parking and return it first thing in the AM, as I'll have to be awake to try to get into the rise of the resistance queue anyway.

Thanks for the help. In the grand scheme of thing it's just a few extra bucks. Just didn't want to miss a free option if there was one. Just wish they were doing the car returns at the Dolphin like the use to. (National rental car).