non-guest parking options for Epcot and Boardwalk

[htrm]

I'm going to Epcot and want to walk over to the BoardWalk after Epcot closes. I'm not sure if there parking options for that, since the free non-guest BoardWalk parking is supposed to be for 3 hours and not for theme park visiting. Downtown Disney closes before the BoardWalk. Is parking at the Ticket and Transportation Center a good idea, or is it as cheap and faster to get a cab for 2 from my off-site hotel? It's only 5 miles to the BoardWalk, 7 the long way.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm going to Epcot and want to walk over to the BoardWalk after Epcot closes. I'm not sure if there parking options for that, since the free non-guest BoardWalk parking is supposed to be for 3 hours and not for theme park visiting. Downtown Disney closes before the BoardWalk. Is parking at the Ticket and Transportation Center a good idea, or is it as cheap and faster to get a cab for 2 from my off-site hotel? It's only 5 miles to the BoardWalk, 7 the long way.

If you're going to pay to park any way, at Epcot, why not just head to BW to begin with, pay to valet park there for the day. Then, the car will be right there, at BW, all ready when you need to leave.
If you pay to valet park the car, you can go to a park for the entire day..no problem.

 

[htrm]

I was under the impression that valet parking was for resort guests and others who are only there for the BoardWalk.

 

[vicki_c]

I was under the impression that valet parking was for resort guests and others who are only there for the BoardWalk.

Anyone can valet at any resort for any reason, with very rare (once in a blue moon) times where valet has been restricted. I think I have only read of that at the Contemporary and only when something big was going on.

 

[goofy4tink]

I was under the impression that valet parking was for resort guests and others who are only there for the BoardWalk.

Nope, not so. There could be times that valet is limited to resort guests only, but that's not very often. It may happen during Food and Wine time over at Epcot or if there is a huge convention at the Boardwalk itself.
I stay at BW quite often, and have never seen valet closed to resort guests only.

 

[loveswdw]

I would pay the valet at BW. How would you get back to your parked car at Epcot? If you are going to BW after Epcot closes, there will not be a bus from BW back to Epcot (usually there are no buses to Epcot from BW anyway). I don't think they'd let you back in through the International Gateway to get to your car if the park is closed. There's no way to get to the Epcot parking lot from BW without going back through the theme park.

 

[DaveD]

I would pay the valet at BW. How would you get back to your parked car at Epcot? If you are going to BW after Epcot closes, there will not be a bus from BW back to Epcot (usually there are no buses to Epcot from BW anyway). I don't think they'd let you back in through the International Gateway to get to your car if the park is closed. There's no way to get to the Epcot parking lot from BW without going back through the theme park.

Good point.

We've never had an issue going past the nice guard at the gate and parking at Boardwalk. We tell him we are grabbing a bite to eat and that's that.

We've left the car all day. And we just went this last November and never noticed any restrictions or time limits for self parking. Disney ticketing or towing just doesn't seem to be a practice.

Once they were sealing the main lot's pavement so we had to park back across the street in the farther lot. The nerve!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Good point.

We've never had an issue going past the nice guard at the gate and parking at Boardwalk. We tell him we are grabbing a bite to eat and that's that.

We've left the car all day. And we just went this last November and never noticed any restrictions or time limits for self parking. Disney ticketing or towing just doesn't seem to be a practice.

Once they were sealing the main lot's pavement so we had to park back across the street in the farther lot. The nerve!!!

So, you lied to the 'nice guard' and you think that's okay?? Self-parking at resorts, for park access, is supposed to be for those staying at that resort, not for those trying to avoid paying a parking fee. I hugely resent it when I am unable to find a decent parking spot in the afternoon, when I return to BWV. And why is this so?? Oh, I don't know....perhaps it's those people that feel it's okay for them to park at BW while they go to Epcot for the day. Epcot has a parking lot...if you want to visit Epcot, park in the appropriate parking lot. You want to visit BW, to get a bite to eat or check it out? Sure, park in self parking, then move your car when you're done. But, just because Disney doesn't ticket or tow doesn't make it okay for non-resort guests to park there for the day while they go off to a park.

And if you're trying to get in during Food and Wine, or even during Flower and Garden times? Many times you'll find that there are frequently barriers up at BW parking lots...open to only those with BW/BWV room keys, or checking in. So, it's always best to plan on either paying to valet park, or just self park across the street behind the Hess Station.

Those staying at the BW are paying a lot of money for that ability to walk to the parks. Really not all that fair for others to take what isn't theirs.

 

[cwhite92]

So, you lied to the 'nice guard' and you think that's okay?? Self-parking at resorts, for park access, is supposed to be for those staying at that resort, not for those trying to avoid paying a parking fee. I hugely resent it when I am unable to find a decent parking spot in the afternoon, when I return to BWV. And why is this so?? Oh, I don't know....perhaps it's those people that feel it's okay for them to park at BW while they go to Epcot for the day. Epcot has a parking lot...if you want to visit Epcot, park in the appropriate parking lot. You want to visit BW, to get a bite to eat or check it out? Sure, park in self parking, then move your car when you're done. But, just because Disney doesn't ticket or tow doesn't make it okay for non-resort guests to park there for the day while they go off to a park.

And if you're trying to get in during Food and Wine, or even during Flower and Garden times? Many times you'll find that there are frequently barriers up at BW parking lots...open to only those with BW/BWV room keys, or checking in. So, it's always best to plan on either paying to valet park, or just self park across the street behind the Hess Station.

Those staying at the BW are paying a lot of money for that ability to walk to the parks. Really not all that fair for others to take what isn't theirs.

So true!!!!