I have to pay $12 to park to DINE at a Swan and dolphin restaurant????

[proud_canadian]

I saw this in another post. Does anyone know if it is really true? do you really have to pay $12 to park if you want to eat at a dolphin or swan restaurant??????

I think that has made our decision not to try Garden Grove!

 

[Matt'sMom]

Why not just use free WDW transportation to get to the Boardwalk area instead? Or if you will be at either Epcot or DHS, you can simply take a boat/walk over to 'Swolphin'.

Is there a specific reason that you would need to drive and pay to park in their lot?

 

[BGK]

I can't speak for the other places, but Bluezoo validates valet parking, and the ticket was also good for self-parking.

...and yes, paying to park in a venue where there is no competition for the parking spaces, and those spaces aren't limited, irritates me to no end.

 

[disneylove69]

It's probably because it is not disney property. I would take another form of transportation. You could also park at the Fantasia golf course but I can't remember which one its at.

 

[BriarRosie]

I saw this in another post. Does anyone know if it is really true? do you really have to pay $12 to park if you want to eat at a dolphin or swan restaurant??????

I think that has made our decision not to try Garden Grove!

Change your mind. Shula's validated my friends' parking when we ate dinner there last month. I believe you'd get your parking validated if you eat at any of the restaurants there.

 

[bzlitme]

We ate at il Mulino last week and they validated our parking. They even called valet service as we paid the bill so our car would be waiting Very nice of them.

 

[proud_canadian]

I emailed them and no they will only validate if you eat at a signiture restaurant.

We are staying offsite, that is why we need to park there?

I think this has helped our decision and we likely won't go to Garden Grove...

 

[Tiger926]

I emailed them and no they will only validate if you eat at a signiture restaurant.

We are staying offsite, that is why we need to park there?

I think this has helped our decision and we likely won't go to Garden Grove...

I was going to mention that they only validate Signature restaurants, but you already know that.

As I mentioned in the other thread - if you want to eat there, you can eat there when you are at Epcot or Hollywood Studios, and just walk or ferry boat over to the hotel.

Good luck in your decision, Tiger

 

[Jeanieblue114]

So park at the Boardwalk or even the Yacht Club for free and then walk next door to the Swolfin. Those are lovely places to check out as well.
The hotels are all practically attached to each other.
You can even take a free boatride around the lake there.

Enjoy your dinner there and just park next door.

 

[Tiger926]

So park at the Boardwalk or even the Yacht Club for free and then walk next door to the Swolfin. Those are lovely places to check out as well.
The hotels are all practically attached to each other.
You can even take a free boatride around the lake there.

Enjoy your dinner there and just park next door.

I have a problem with this, since last month, as a paying guest of Boardwalk, I had to drive around looking for a parking spot. It is not to be used to get out of paying for the parking fee at the Swolphin hotels. If you want to go there, you pay the fee. Now, OP can walk from Epcot or DHS as well, or, visit the Boardwalk and he may park there. But, it is not fair to those of us who stay at the hotel to not be able to get parking spots because people don't want to pay for parking at the Swolphin or at Epcot.

Tiger

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We have NEVER paid for parking at Swan/Dolphin when eating.
2) Just ask the eatery to validate parking.
3) Even when we forgot, the valets did not charge us.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have a problem with this, since last month, as a paying guest of Boardwalk, I had to drive around looking for a parking spot. It is not to be used to get out of paying for the parking fee at the Swolphin hotels. If you want to go there, you pay the fee. Now, OP can walk from Epcot or DHS as well, or, visit the Boardwalk and he may park there. But, it is not fair to those of us who stay at the hotel to not be able to get parking spots because people don't want to pay for parking at the Swolphin or at Epcot.

Tiger

Yep...have to agree. I hate when non-resort people use the self parking at BW, and then head off to spend their time elsewhere, other than at BW. Park at BW if you're going to be at BW...otherwise, park where you're going to be.

1) We have NEVER paid for parking at Swan/Dolphin when eating.
2) Just ask the eatery to validate parking.
3) Even when we forgot, the valets did not charge us.

Many, many others have had other experiences. I can't imagine that if you are eating at Fresh, they are going to pay for your parking. Signature? Sure.
This is the reason I won't stay at the S/D....I hate having to pay an addlt $12 or so a day to self park my car.

 

[Robert P]

I saw this in another post. Does anyone know if it is really true? do you really have to pay $12 to park if you want to eat at a dolphin or swan restaurant??????

I think that has made our decision not to try Garden Grove!

As others have pointed out, the signature restaurants do validate parking.

Sadly, the S/D switched from free parking to fee parking several years ago. The Swan especially was becoming a free parking mecca, and some offsite guests were so unabashedly obvious about it that they wrote it into their trip reports (another site). In response, and possibly sensing a revenue opportunity, the S/D started charging for parking. I also despise this charge, but do like that there is usually no problem finding parking at those hotels now.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I am kind of surprised no one told the OP that Garden Grove is awful and not worth going to...free parking or not?? Or am I the only one that found GG to be one of the worst meals on WDW property ever?

(Yes, I know The Swan is not a WDW hotel, but it is on WDW property.)

Are we talking about self parking, valet parking, or both?

Anyway, I agree, OP. I hate that when I stay at the Swan or Dolphin, I have to pay for parking. I think it is ridiculous. Honestly, I could understand a little more of paying for parking if you only dined there, even moreso than charging guests actually staying at the hotel.

I wonder if I dine at a sig restaurant while there, and have my ticket validated, if I can park for free one day of my stay? Probably not, just thinking out loud.

 

[Tiger926]

I am kind of surprised no one told the OP that Garden Grove is awful and not worth going to...free parking or not?? Or am I the only one that found GG to be one of the worst meals on WDW property ever?

(Yes, I know The Swan is not a WDW hotel, but it is on WDW property.)

Are we talking about self parking, valet parking, or both?

Anyway, I agree, OP. I hate that when I stay at the Swan or Dolphin, I have to pay for parking. I think it is ridiculous. Honestly, I could understand a little more of paying for parking if you only dined there, even moreso than charging guests actually staying at the hotel.

I wonder if I dine at a sig restaurant while there, and have my ticket validated, if I can park for free one day of my stay? Probably not, just thinking out loud.

I disagree...we just ate there last month, and it was good. Italian night - food was hot and fresh, characters were amazing and service was outstanding. Even better was the restaurant was empty, so not crowded at all.

I've eaten pretty much everywhere on property, and I don't find Garden Grove to be that bad at all. You want to talk worst meals on property? Garden Grove isn't even anywhere close to being on my list, but I do have a couple of Disney Signature restarants that I would definitely put on the list.

Tiger

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I disagree...we just ate there last month, and it was good. Italian night - food was hot and fresh, characters were amazing and service was outstanding. Even better was the restaurant was empty, so not crowded at all.

I've eaten pretty much everywhere on property, and I don't find Garden Grove to be that bad at all. You want to talk worst meals on property? Garden Grove isn't even anywhere close to being on my list, but I do have a couple of Disney Signature restarants that I would definitely put on the list.

Tiger

I would be willing to try it again, not sure my husband would, though. We ate there for breakfast in Aug 2008. It was REALLY bad, not just "eh" bad. I do realize that many restaurants at WDW seem to go back and forth with quality. I just hate it when, I have a bad experience somewhere, I give it another try...and I have another bad experience. I feel so suckered!

I am wondering if the breakfast is just not as good as the dinner? I figured if they messed up breakfast so badly, how could dinner be good? Anyway, we are staying at the Dolphin in Oct...if I could find a certificate on restaurant.com, maybe I can talk DH into trying it again.

have a great day!

 

[Tiger926]

I would be willing to try it again, not sure my husband would, though. We ate there for breakfast in Aug 2008. It was REALLY bad, not just "eh" bad. I do realize that many restaurants at WDW seem to go back and forth with quality. I just hate it when, I have a bad experience somewhere, I give it another try...and I have another bad experience. I feel so suckered!

I am wondering if the breakfast is just not as good as the dinner? I figured if they messed up breakfast so badly, how could dinner be good? Anyway, we are staying at the Dolphin in Oct...if I could find a certificate on restaurant.com, maybe I can talk DH into trying it again.

have a great day!

Sorry to hear that...I don't really count breakfast at all. Pretty much most buffets serve dry toast and runny eggs, with a few variations in between. Of course, some are better than others, but I wouldn't judge a restaurant solely on one meal at all, IMHO. There are different theme nights at Garden Grove, so if you try dinner, make sure you know what food will be served at the buffet that night.

We rarely eat breakfast buffets anywhere, but we have eaten at all of the character meals on property, and some are better than others. We really like Kona Cafe for breakfast/brunch. I also hear that Fresh at the Dolphin has a good breakfast buffet as well.

Happy eating, Tiger

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I have a problem with this, since last month, as a paying guest of Boardwalk, I had to drive around looking for a parking spot. It is not to be used to get out of paying for the parking fee at the Swolphin hotels. If you want to go there, you pay the fee. Now, OP can walk from Epcot or DHS as well, or, visit the Boardwalk and he may park there. But, it is not fair to those of us who stay at the hotel to not be able to get parking spots because people don't want to pay for parking at the Swolphin or at Epcot.

Tiger

I'm pretty sure that Disney doesn't mind because if/when I do park at their resorts I walk past gift shops and such and end up often spending money there. Also, the Boardwalk is one of those resorts that advertises the nightly street entertainment to draw in guests including those not staying there as well as bringing people to the area to dine at all the various restaurants.
The EPCOT resort maps have all of those resorts, including the Swolphin, listed together and all the restaurants, shops, etc. lumped together as well. It seems they are the only combined resorts that do this for their area and want guests to come over and spend some money.

Finally, after 40 visits, I have noticed that if parking is a bit full, the security guard at the gate will provide a permit that limits guests to 2 hours so that should not be a problem for resort guests if Disney is monitoring the resort capacity and guests. Anytime I have gone to any Disney resort driving and the guard speaks to us, we will say we are coming over to sightsee, or shop, or dine, or whatever it is. They ALWAYS say we are welcome and often will point out some things we should look out for when we are even just sightseeing.

So, if Disney doesn't have a problem with the parking, then I don't either. I spend an enormous amount of money there. They get it one way or another. I suggest that if you can't find a parking space on a visit when you are paying that much for a deluxe resort that you mention it to the resort and ask them to provide you with complimentary valet. It is not the fault of other guests who are being welcomed by Disney to enjoy the resort.

 

[webprinter]

DH said a lot of people were parking at the Fantasia mini golf parking lot and walking over to the S&D for dinner when we were there this past weekend.

 

[Tiger926]

I'm pretty sure that Disney doesn't mind because if/when I do park at their resorts I walk past gift shops and such and end up often spending money there. Also, the Boardwalk is one of those resorts that advertises the nightly street entertainment to draw in guests including those not staying there as well as bringing people to the area to dine at all the various restaurants.
The EPCOT resort maps have all of those resorts, including the Swolphin, listed together and all the restaurants, shops, etc. lumped together as well. It seems they are the only combined resorts that do this for their area and want guests to come over and spend some money.

Finally, after 40 visits, I have noticed that if parking is a bit full, the security guard at the gate will provide a permit that limits guests to 2 hours so that should not be a problem for resort guests if Disney is monitoring the resort capacity and guests. Anytime I have gone to any Disney resort driving and the guard speaks to us, we will say we are coming over to sightsee, or shop, or dine, or whatever it is. They ALWAYS say we are welcome and often will point out some things we should look out for when we are even just sightseeing.

So, if Disney doesn't have a problem with the parking, then I don't either. I spend an enormous amount of money there. They get it one way or another. I suggest that if you can't find a parking space on a visit when you are paying that much for a deluxe resort that you mention it to the resort and ask them to provide you with complimentary valet. It is not the fault of other guests who are being welcomed by Disney to enjoy the resort.

Just because Disney doesn't mind, and isn't giving you a parking pass, it doesn't mean it's best for the other guests. On the contrary...But, if you are taking part in Boardwalk activities, then that is different because you are spending money or enjoying that entertainment. That is different than the people who park there just to get free parking - I've heard these conversations in the Boardwalk parking lot and in the hotel lobby. Why do you think the Swolphin charges for parking now? They never used to charge before people starting using it for free parking to get into Epcot.

I don't want to argue with you about this...I have been to WDW many times as well, and like I said, when trying to park last month, to get into my room, at around 10:00 am (went grocery shopping), there were no spots available. Please don't tell me that everyone is at the Boardwalk - when I went on the Boardwalk to go and buy a tea, it was empty. Most of the shops and restaurants aren't even open at that time, or, they are just opening up. People park there to go to Epcot, and avoid paying parking fees, as security is pretty lax there.

Parking security has become very lax at all Disney resorts, and guards aren't really giving out the 2-3 hour passes anymore. If they are, it's highly inconsistent. So, just because they don't care about parking their guests, it doesn't mean that you as a fellow guest should do the same. We eat at all restauarants, so are very familiar with getting our 2-3 hour parking passes, and we haven't had to get one in at least 2 years. Have spoken to several guards about it, and they said they aren't doing it much anymore. They haven't done it at BLT or Poly during our last 3 visits over the past year, nor have they ever done it at Boardwalk, while we have been there. Therefore, it requires that guests think of the paying guests who need to park there, and not use the lot for the sole purpose of not paying to park at either Swolphin, Epcot or DHS.

Tiger