How early can you arrive to park at Grand Californian?

[Xalthon]

Knowing that parking is included in a stay at the Grand Californian, I would like to take advantage of that. On the day of my check-in, how early can I arrive and get the free parking? Is 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM okay?

 

[LilyJC]

Knowing that parking is included in a stay at the Grand Californian, I would like to take advantage of that. On the day of my check-in, how early can I arrive and get the free parking? Is 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM okay?

Yes, you’ll be totally fine. I feel like we’ve even pulled in before 6am, and it’s been fine. Just a heads up that you’ll most likely be sent over to park in the Pixar Place garage due to all the construction in the GC lot.

 

[KPeterso]

We have also arrived early. Definitely before 8 AM and it has never been a problem.

 

[Xalthon]

Great! Thanks all!

 

[RunnerMom71]

How did you get parking included? Valet is listed at $70 per night / self park $40?

 

[Genie+]

How did you get parking included? Valet is listed at $70 per night / self park $40?

DVC reservation for VGC

 

[Xalthon]

How did you get parking included? Valet is listed at $70 per night / self park $40?

Yes, DVC reservation.

 

[maleficent55]

Knowing that parking is included in a stay at the Grand Californian, I would like to take advantage of that. On the day of my check-in, how early can I arrive and get the free parking? Is 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM okay?

You are granted parking but just an FYI, it isn’t included in the price

it’s $40/day for self park and $70/day for valet

 

[RunnerMom71]

FWIW I've parked as early as 7:30 am no problem: checked into room (to get access later in the day), dropped bags and received park tix

 

[Genie+]

You are granted parking but just an FYI, it isn’t included in the price

it’s $40/day for self park and $70/day for valet

I’m 99% sure it works like this:

VGC has parking included in Dues/MF. Any DVC member using their points to stay at VGC (whether a VGC owner or another DVC resort owner trading in to a stay at VGC) will never pay to self park over the dates of their VGC reservation.

VDH is a little different story. Unlike VGC, parking and ToT (Transient Occupancy Tax - a local hotel tax) were not included in VDH Dues/MF. From what I understand VDH went back and forth about charging DVC members for parking or not. But at VGC they have no choice legally, it’s part of the resort contract and dues of that DVC property.

 

[LilyJC]

I’m 99% sure it works like this

Yes, for VGC guests staying on points it definitely works that way.

 

[pineapplepalms]

I’m 99% sure it works like this:

VGC has parking included in Dues/MF. Any DVC member using their points to stay at VGC (whether a VGC owner or another DVC resort owner trading in to a stay at VGC) will never pay to self park over the dates of their VGC reservation.

VDH is a little different story. Unlike VGC, parking and ToT (Transient Occupancy Tax - a local hotel tax) were not included in VDH Dues/MF. From what I understand VDH went back and forth about charging DVC members for parking or not. But at VGC they have no choice legally, it’s part of the resort contract and dues of that DVC property.

At VDH we do need to pay ToT at checkout but do not need to pay for parking.

 

[MillauFr]

So DVC members who don't bring a car are having to subsidize parking?

 

[crazycatlady]

Yes, you’ll be totally fine. I feel like we’ve even pulled in before 6am, and it’s been fine. Just a heads up that you’ll most likely be sent over to park in the Pixar Place garage due to all the construction in the GC lot.

Can you please tell me more about construction in the GC lot? Is the whole parking lot closed? We will be there mid-November.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

So DVC members who don't bring a car are having to subsidize parking?

No, DVC members who have the option to park for no charge, but choose not to, are just ignoring a perk they're entitled to.

 

[MillauFr]

No, DVC members who have the option to park for no charge, but choose not to, are just ignoring a perk they're entitled to.

Those parking spots are very expensive to construct. If I don't use a very expensive perk I would want a discount.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you have any luck with that, please let the other members know. Since the parking lot was created and has long been used by (and subsidized by) GC hotel guests with a pretty significant nightly fee, not sure how much of a discount you feel would be 'fair' for a DVC reservation not using a space.

 

[LKing]

I pay for a park ticket but don't arrive until 10 am. Should my ticket cost be pro-rated because I don't arrive at rope drop?

 

[LilyJC]

Can you please tell me more about construction in the GC lot? Is the whole parking lot closed? We will be there mid-November.

Every time we’ve stayed at VGC for the past 2-3 (?) years, some spaces have been blocked off. The entire lot has never been closed. We arrived pretty early for our most recent staycation at the end of June as all the teens in our party wanted to rope drop. Due to how early it was, no spaces were available in the GC lot so we were sent over to the Pixar Place hotel’s garage which isn’t very far from the GH lot. We had driven my newer vehicle since it accommodates the most passengers comfortably, and I was actually happy to park it in the garage!

Anyhow, we’ll be checking into VGC on Thursday, so I can give a more recent update on the lot as we’ll be arriving after my youngest finishes school.

 

[Genie+]

Those parking spots are very expensive to construct. If I don't use a very expensive perk I would want a discount.

Take DVC owners at AKV. Their dues pay a good portion of the animal upkeep there, which makes their dues more expensive than average. If an owner never uses their points at AKV they still pay for the animals with their dues. All WDW DVC have owners paying for a portion of the lots with their dues, whether they bring a car or not.

It’s part of the contract. People often don’t use their resort pool either. It’s not like you can get a cash credit at the front desk for it. For DVC you can’t get back the portion of your buy-in that paid for pool construction and the portion of your dues that pay for pool maintenance.