Is guest parking at the Boardwalk Inn really a problem?

[Tony]

Have a stay at the Boardwalk coming up - there was an alert saying that parking was limited and we might have to use valet parking instead.

Is this really an issue, or is it only at certain times of the day?

Thanks

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It can be an issue. They're trying to better enforce people trying to park for free not staying there, but if they have a lot of Inn/Villas guests with cars it can also be an issue.

 

[MsThumper]

We've stayed there twice since that alert was issued. We had no problems parking at all. We usually arrive mid afternoon on Sunday. We don't move our car again until we leave, so there may be times when the lot is fuller, but we have not experienced a parking problem.

 

[n2mm]

The problem can be when there is a convention there. That can really fill the lot. Food and wine causes problems too. Usually there are two guards on duty then. One at the kiosk and others as you enter the actual lots. The guards do try to enforce the abusers, but some do get in. We stay at BWV 4 trips a year so have seen the lots at their worse. We were there last month and things went well. As a Murphy's law parking is near impossible when we return from the grocery store with a car load of bags! My husband had to drive around one night for almost an hour waiting for someone to leave! But that doesn't happen too often now. We do try not to move our car at nights, weekends, or late night emh at Epcot or the studios, since others like to somehow park there to attend emh. You figure out the pattern, esp in the am when you go out the next morning to an almost empty lot, compared to the night before.

 

[loves to dive]

I've stayed there 3 times and have had pretty good luck. I get there around 2:30 or 3, which seems to be a good time, people who are leaving have checked out and the night time crowd aren't there yet. I've been lucky enough to get parking pretty close to the front of the lot most times.

 

[Disney Khi]

We stayed there in early Dec 2015 and never had a problem. In fact, there were lots of empty spaces throughout the parking lot. I guess it just depends on when you go.

 

[Tony]

OK that's great, many thanks. We just have one night there after leaving BLT so will aim to get over there mid-afternoon.

 

[Dave006]

The key is to the look at the parking area as you enter, just past the Gatehouse. You will have a good idea of how busy the main lot is as you approach the portico (just avert your gaze from the building and focus on the parking area). You can also take a scenic drive through the general lot or just spring from Valet parking ($25) for the one night.

Dave

 

[BabyFu18]

We stayed there awhile ago and did recieve the parking lot alert thing, we were traveling with a big party (so we had 3 cars), we did valet our car but the others in our party did self parking and they didn't have an issue finding a spot (this was mid-afternoon around check in time). We didn't get the cars out so they stayed parked until we checked out, but I'd say the parking is fine but might change periodically throughout the day as people come and go it might be an issue in the evenings when everyone is back from the parks and such, I'd imagine that's when the parking lot is pretty full.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Ha, I would raise you know what if they tried to tell me I might need to use valet while staying at a resort where parking is included. Fine, I'll valet, on their dime. If they are having parking issues they shouldn't be hassling their paying guests.

 

[Sue M]

I rarely have a car in Wdw, preferring Disney do the driving. But during a Poly stay we did have a car part of the time and parking was difficult. I wish the resorts would have a reserved parking area of the lot for guests staying at resort.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I wish the resorts would have a reserved parking area of the lot for guests staying at resort.

They do...it's pretty much the entire parking lot. Problem is, there is a plethora of dishonest knuckleheads who try to beat the system and save the parking fee by staying offsite, then parking at resorts. There is plenty of parking at the resort lots for resort guests...not resort guests and offsite guests.

Parking is not a problem at resorts that are not near the parks. Ever wonder why?

What Disney SHOULD do is collect the normal parking fee plus $10 extra at the entrance to the resort parking lot, along with a time stamped ticket. When you leave in under the allowed 3 hours, you get your parking fee back. If you're "late", you've paid for "premium" parking.

 

[goofy4tink]

They do...it's pretty much the entire parking lot. Problem is, there is a plethora of dishonest knuckleheads who try to beat the system and save the parking fee by staying offsite, then parking at resorts. There is plenty of parking at the resort lots for resort guests...not resort guests and offsite guests.

Parking is not a problem at resorts that are not near the parks. Ever wonder why?

What Disney SHOULD do is collect the normal parking fee plus $10 extra at the entrance to the resort parking lot, along with a time stamped ticket. When you leave in under the allowed 3 hours, you get your parking fee back. If you're "late", you've paid for "premium" parking.

Been saying this for years! I stay at BW...a lot. I've sat and watched as hordes of cars leave the parking lot about 20 mins after IllumiNations. Coincidence? I think not!!!
If they just made the big lots MB accessible only, and had a smaller area for non-guests, then had them pay for parking if they were there over a few hours, things would be much better.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Been saying this for years! I stay at BW...a lot. I've sat and watched as hordes of cars leave the parking lot about 20 mins after IllumiNations. Coincidence? I think not!!!
If they just made the big lots MB accessible only, and had a smaller area for non-guests, then had them pay for parking if they were there over a few hours, things would be much better.

Yep. Offsite guests and locals trying to beat the parking fee. There are several ways to pretty much eliminate it...if Disney would step up.

It is a problem.

 

[TowMater92]

They gave us free Valet last trip for all three rooms. They were not letting us park in the closer lot outside the Inn side of the BW saying it was for Convention guests only and making us park in the lot all the way out next to the main gate and it was full. I went to the front desk and complained since we're paying guests why are we forced to walk that far especially when there were a ton of empty spots in the lot they wouldn't let us in. We also mentioned that they took away free valet(were DVC members) that was a perk when we bought DVC and now they're making us park in the lot that is all the way out by the main gate. They need to build a garage across the street with a walk bridge over to the BW and enforce non BW guests and keep them from parking there or assign parking spots so they can keep track of how many empty spots they have each day.

 

[Turtlemom]

If you are staying at another disney resort (Saratoga), can you park in the BW parking lot if you want to visit the boardwalk for dinner, etc???? Or will you have a problem getting in?

 

[RAD]

Last year we weren't staying at BWV but wanted to go visit in the evening during October. Stopped at the guard shack, showed our DVC member card and said we just wanted to visit for a couple hours, he told us the password to use to get past the CM that was at the guest lot, no problems. We were also there the week of Christmas staying at BWV. We pulled up front to drop off some folks and the valet attendant started to tell us there was only valet parking available, until they saw our parking pass, then they said no problem, guest lot has spaces, which it did.

 

[Turtlemom]

Thanks, RAD! Guess I'll keep the DVC card handy and give it a go!

 

[rcraw45425]

I rarely have a car in Wdw, preferring Disney do the driving. But during a Poly stay we did have a car part of the time and parking was difficult. I wish the resorts would have a reserved parking area of the lot for guests staying at resort.

We had issues at the Poly last September and had to valet. In December the lot there was a lot better. I'm a little concerned coming in on Friday of Independence Day weekend at BWI. I'll valley if I must but would prefer to save that $25 per day