Limited Parking Notice on RAT

[KAT4DISNEY]

Today a new notice showed up on the Resort Availability Tool:

"Due to limited parking availability, we highly recommend all Disney Resort hotel Guests take advantage of our complimentary transportation options. For Guests arriving in their own vehicles, please be advised that only valet parking may be available. For Guests traveling to Epcot, please utilize the Epcot Guest Parking Lot."

I admit I'd find it quite frustrating to arrive at a resort and be told there was no parking and all I would be offered is to pay for valet. Parking lot maintenance is a part of our dues. Considering that they allow guests to park just to look around the resort and yet might not have a space for a guest that is staying at the resort it does not seem like an appropriate solution unless they were planning on allowing complimentary valet in those instances, which I doubt.

 

[wdrl]

Today a new notice showed up on the Resort Availability Tool:

"Due to limited parking availability, we highly recommend all Disney Resort hotel Guests take advantage of our complimentary transportation options. For Guests arriving in their own vehicles, please be advised that only valet parking may be available. For Guests traveling to Epcot, please utilize the Epcot Guest Parking Lot."

I think the notice is aimed at Disney guests who are staying at one resort but want to visit another resort. Disney wants those people to use Disney transportation rather than driving a personal car to another resort and taking up a parking space.

In particular, it sounds like Disney is trying to encourage non-BWV and non-BCV guests to park their cars in the Epcot parking lot rather than at BWV or BCV. That last sentence ("For Guests traveling to Epcot. . . .") makes sense only if its directed at people who aren't registered guests at BWV or BCV.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

At first I was thinking that too and then began reading it as referring to guests arriving at the resort they were staying at. But yes, the part about Epcot only makes sense, as you say, if it's to direct people away from BCV and BWV parking. Ok, I'm back to interpreting it the way you do. Really, the only resort we've had difficulty at is BWV and that had more to do with a lot being set aside for convention parking (although it wasn't even 1/2 full mid day). They also seem to have over allocated parking for valet.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

If they are going to declare the Boardwalk a "destination," then fix the parking problem. It's not fair to ask us to patronize the venue and then not provide for parking for EXPECTED guests.

 

[VrBchJ]

Most weekends during F&W and many weekends in Dec. the BWV/BI parking lot in front of the Convention center is closed to Members and BI paid guests. They have a guard stationed at the entrance to the lot advising that we aren't allowed to park in that lot. We are directed to the front lot by the guard shack. They used to send people across the street behind the Hess station. But recently that lot has become Cast Members only parking. Last Dec. the lot by the guard shack was full so I went back to the guard blocking the entrance to the Convention lot. The alternatives he offered were pay valet, park at BC/YC and most outrageous of all, park at Downtown Disney and take the bus back to BWV! I ended up paying valet for one night. The first thing the next morning I picked up my car and moved it and left it in the lot for the duration. The guard seems to arrive in the early afternoon so in the morning you can park. Every year we go thru this and every year I complain to member services. Sometimes they tell me the Convention lot is primarily for use of convention attendees and only available to BWV/BI guests if not filled by the Convention ctr. Sometimes they tell me we should not be prevented from using the lot unless it's full. Sometimes they say they are going to talk to BW manager and fix it. But it never gets fixed and it's always a problem. It's so frustrating to arrive for a nice week's stay and have no place to park.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think the notice is aimed at Disney guests who are staying at one resort but want to visit another resort. Disney wants those people to use Disney transportation rather than driving a personal car to another resort and taking up a parking space.

Yes.

 

[spiceycat]

I asked the same question on the DVC member service.

now BWV does have a BIG problem with parking - so even if you are staying at BWV you can't park in the lot. that is plain silly. my contract with BWV is one of the first - and I thought it implied guaranteed parking where you are staying?

I found it on the online reservation section on DVCmember.com

okay now definitely confused - through DD closed earlier than BW - so if you take a bus to DD then transfer to BW - if you stay for closing - how do you get back - using WDW transportation???

really think that BW needs a parking deck. or open up the parking lot behind the Hess station again.

boy this is silly -even a motel 6 allows their guest to park in THEIR lot

 

[Kimly]

We are staying at BWV for over week in a few days. I'm going to be pissed if I have to valet my car. We only live two hours away so of course we are driving. Maybe it's somethimg to do with the rehab? Taking up spots for construction stuff?

 

[spiceycat]

found another problem - say you just went to the grocery store - well how to do you get your grocery to your room if you can't park and refuse to use the valet - or don't have the money for valet.

 

[Kimly]

Exactly, what happens if I refuse to valet park? Even though we have a reservation on points, what will happen? $20 a day for 8 days is a lot.

 

[Kimly]

Why is the bullet on RAT only for Epcot resorts? I would think it would also be a HUGE issue at BLT.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

<snip> I think the notice is aimed at Disney guests who are staying at one resort but want to visit another resort. Disney wants those people to use Disney transportation rather than driving a personal car to another resort and taking up a parking space. <snip>

With absolutely no disrespect for the poster of this message, I could care less what they want. I ain't riding your crappy bus system unless a very hot place gets very, very cold.

I drive. You want me there spending money. Give me a place to park. Period.

 

[spiceycat]

Why is the bullet on RAT only for Epcot resorts? I would think it would also be a HUGE issue at BLT.

BLT has lots of parking spaces - the only time it was full when the CM parked there - now they park in the lot closer to the MK. It is so big that lots of time they store equipment in the parking lot.

besides the convention are on the CR side - so when they are having one - think the CR guests must park at BLT.

 

[disneynutz]

Maybe this is what they are getting ready for?

As a result of DVC member feedback, in an effort to reduce the parking issues at BWV as a DVC hotel guest you can park for $12 per day, BWI guests can park for free.

Bill

 

[spiceycat]

We are staying at BWV for over week in a few days. I'm going to be pissed if I have to valet my car. We only live two hours away so of course we are driving. Maybe it's somethimg to do with the rehab? Taking up spots for construction stuff?

I wish! It is the darn convention. really think the manager of BWV&I needs to replaced and someone who values guest services - not customer (these people don't even need to staying on WDW property) service. there is a different between a guest and a customer that he has NOT learned yet.

he/she is the problem.

until he replaces the parking lot with a parking deck - he caters to them not the guest.

now some of it could be - because the CM parking lot was near BC - not BW - and it looks like that one is being use for construction.

you know need to look at what the Florida law says about not allowing you to park at the place where you are staying - when it is consider hotel/motel - he probably thinks that since most of it is villas - then he is under the apartment/condo ruling - but I don't know.

 

[deedisneydream97]

I just got some further clarification from member services regarding this notice (although I am sure someone will come on here and tell me that I was lied to).


This is what I was told: That notice is intended for those guests NOT staying at the BoardWalk, but wanting to park there in order to stroll around, visit jellyrolls, shop, pool hop, etc. (and also use the International Gateway to get into Epcot). They may not be permitted to self-park and would instead have to use valet parking.

I agree that the wording should have a little more clarification regarding guests staying at the resort vs. guests visiting the resort.

I have stayed at the BoardWalk many times during the very busy Food & Wine season. The guard shack is always clogged with people wanting to park there but are not staying there. They want to park there to "go shopping or go to the clubs" when in reality they want to park there to go to Epcot for drinking around the world and seeing the concerts and Illuminations. These are the people that the notice is directed at. If you visit the BoardWalk parking lot, you will notice that the valet section is quite large and always has lots of open spots. The self-parking on that side is quite limited, but the parking lot to the right of the guard shack is quite large and, I have to say, not full very often. During F&W and F&G they have guards stationed at those parking lot entrances to double check if you are staying at the resort or not because quite often someone will tell the guard at the shack that they will valet, but then try to "sneak" into the parking lot.

There was the overflow parking lot across the street, but I was also told that it is now a CM parking lot (and that would make sense)....but I also think a lot of construction equipment is being parked there for the rehab. While there recently, I observed a lot of equipment being moved about along the driveway adjacent to the canal to DHS along with a lot of construction vehicles and construction workers, but everything would disappear by the early evening.

The Swan & Dolphin charges everyone for parking, even their guests I believe, $18/day.

There was also some discussion a few weeks back about the resorts eliminating the paper parking pass that goes on the dashboard, so I was surprised when, upon checking in, the guard handed me my paper parking pass. I told him I thought these were being eliminated and he said something about they had been thinking about it, but then there really isn't an easy way to identify the cars in the parking lot that can be there vs. those that should not be. Perhaps the introduction of this new "valet" rule is a way to keep self-parking freed up for those staying at BW. There is a similar notice on the regular WDW site for both the villas and the inn at BW, but not for Yacht and Beach Club.

Also, the main parking lot at BW has just been re-tarred and re-lined, and maybe that is a continuing project.

 

[spiceycat]

hope so - and that makes sense.
would think this would be a bigger problem at BC.

still as long as BW is open longer than DD - taking WDW transportation is not going to work - unless they go to what they do sometimes at FW - your WDW hotel bus could take you to BW - they use to do it for CSR (again a convention thing)

 

[deedisneydream97]

hope so - and that makes sense.
would think this would be a bigger problem at BC. (again a convention thing)

I think that with the BoardWalk, there are more "legitimate" reasons for people not staying there to park there. People may want to go to Atlantic Dance, Jelly Rolls, ESPN Club, the Wayland Gallery, enjoy the entertainment on the BoardWalk. Aside from a convention and the resort restaurants, Y&B really doesn't offer anything else. If you have a reservation to eat at Y&B, the guard accesses your magic band or checks a list. Plus with the ADR cancellation fee, I think this eliminated people making "shell" reservations in order to be admitted for parking.

On my next trip to BW, if I am told there is "no room at the Inn" and I must valet park, I will park by the lobby and walk directly to the front desk and ask to speak to a resort manager.

 

[spiceycat]

yea that is the problem with BW closing after than DD - if you are nice and go park at DD - then take the bus to BW and stay until closing - well unless wdw changes things - DD will be closed. that is just NOT fair

 

[freediverdude]

That does kind of put the businesses on the Boardwalk kind of at a disadvantage, if they're telling people they can't park there. Sounds like they mainly consider the Boardwalk businesses to be for the Epcot area resort guests, and don't really care about bringing in outside business, preferring those people go to Downtown Disney.