Leaving car parked at Dolphin 2 days before check-in?

[Gator Kate]

I'm sure this has you baffled already, so let me clarify. I live in Gainesville, Fl and my friend whom I'm vacationing with lives in St. Pete. We are going to spend Dec.24th and 25th in Miami visiting my family. On the 26th we'll head to Orlando to spend 3 nights at the Dolphin. We were hoping to just take one car to Miami so we came up with the idea to meet in Orlando (from our respective FL cities) and leave a car there. Do you think there's any chance we could leave one of the cars parked at the Dolphin on Dec. 24th even though we don't check-in until Dec. 26th? The last time I stayed there I don't recall having to put any kind of parking pass on the car but I don't want to chance getting towed away. The lot seems plenty big so I don't feel like I'd be preventing another guest from being able to park. Maybe we could valet park for those 2 days. Can you do that without being checked-in? If so, what's the charge? I know this is a bit confusing, but I would love some feedback from my DIS community. Thanks for your help.

 

[Rhonda]

It probably won't be a problem, but you should call the hotel directly to get permission first. The number is 407-934-4000.

 

[Gator Kate]

I called the desk this a.m. and posed the question about parking 2 days prior to check-in. The clerk made a few inquiries and told me I could do it if I park in valet for $14 per day (seems steep?), but not in self-parking. I'll probably spring for it just for convenience. I'd be interested to know if any of you would risk the self-parking anyway?

 

[travelin' tigger]

I was there this past weekend and stayed at the Swan. Their parking could be pretty busy at times, especially since the hotel was fully booked.

On Sat. I made the mistake of parking at the Dolphin since I thought the Mousefest Mega meet was there (like last year), but it was actually at the Swan. Anyway, there was a MASSIVE chess meet at the Dolphin. When I was leaving, cars were POURING into the lot, parking everywhere and making it difficult to even leave. I even witnessed a guy hit a car trying to back into a tiny space - he didn't seem to care.

So to answer your question, I'd say just do the Valet parking - it's alot safer!!!

 

[undertheradar]

Risk being towed or spend $35.00(parking plus tip) to park my car while I go somewhere else before I check-in? Spend the money. You will be there at the busiest time of the year, so I wouldn't cut corners.

 

[CarolMN]

Risk being towed or spend $35.00(parking plus tip) to park my car while I go somewhere else before I check-in? Spend the money. You will be there at the busiest time of the year, so I wouldn't cut corners.

Why don't you valet at one of the nearby Disney resorts such as the YC, BC or Boardwalk? Charge there is $6/day (plus tip).

Best wishes -

 

[Rhonda]

I thought the Dolphin valet parking was $7 per day??? When did it go up? Or maybe she was telling you that it would be $14 for the 2 days?

 

[sherry8253]

I thought the Dolphin valet parking was $7 per day??? When did it go up? Or maybe she was telling you that it would be $14 for the 2 days?

When we stayed at the Swan last Dec, I think we paid $14 a day for valet parking. What made me mad is that when we valet parked at the Disney hotels when we went for dinner, we had to pay an additional valet parking fee. That didn't make me smile.

 

[Gator Kate]

Unfortunately the valet is $14.00 per day at the Dolphin. I'm most likely going to pay it and be thankful they're willing to let me park there at all since I won't officially be a guest yet. I still welcome any other opinions.

 

[jultomzach]

I spent Saturday 12/11 and Sunday 12/12 night at the Dolphin. The parking lot is huge. The lot which we parked at Saturday night (directly in front of the convention doors) was blocked off on Sunday and unavailable to hotel guests. I was never asked for any information about the car we were driving (plate, etc) nor was I given anything to identify the car to hotel security. Park in the lot and you should be fine. By the way our rental car was side swiped in the lot on Saturday night. It was a light blue car parked in front of the convention side parking lot.