Parking at Boardwalk?

[grumpyandbashful]

I read on Deb Wills' site that WDW resort guests can park free in a lot at the Boardwalk. Does anyone have firsthand experience with this?? We are staying at AKL, but have a rental car, and I would rather park at BW and walk in thru the International Gateway, on the day we plan on doing World Showcase.
Thanks for any info!

 

[Calcio]

I can go the other way. In early January I stayed at the Boardwalk Inn and parked my car in their self park lot. Upon checkin I was given a pass to leave on the dashboard of the rental car.

I had dinner one evening at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. When I drove up to the guard booth at AKL, I told them I was staying at the Boardwalk and visiting the AKL. They waved me right through.

 

[CarolMN]

There is no charge to self park in the Boardwalk lot.

The lot at the Boardwalk is intended for guests of the BWI/BWV and for guests that are visiting the Boardwalk area.

At times, it is very difficult to find a space in the Boardwalk lot. That is a frequent complaint of the BWI/BWV Hotel guests. The lot is not big enough to handle everyone who wants to park there, especially in busier seasons. (I myself had quite a bit of trouble finding a spot in the late afternoon when I stayed at BWV the first week of December last year). The CMs at the entrance shack discourage people from parking there to go to EPCOT (actually turn them away if they say they are going to EPCOT), especially in the mornings when there is nothing much happening on the Boardwalk. That said, many people do park there and go to EPCOT. After Illuminations, you will see lots of people leaving.

 

[Greg K.]

...the self-park lot is a looooong way from the main entrance to the Boardwalk Inn.

Depending on your pace, factor in up to a 10 minute walk, just to get to the hotel.

 

[Chadm]

Originally posted by Greg K.
...the self-park lot is a looooong way from the main entrance to the Boardwalk Inn.

Depending on your pace, factor in up to a 10 minute walk, just to get to the hotel.

We parked there Tuesday to eat lunch at ESPN and look around the Villas. We were staying at the AKL and had no trouble whatsoever getting past the guard. He just waved us through.

By the way, I didn't think the walk up to the hotel was bad at all. Sorry to disagree, but it wasn't anywhere near a 10 minute walk. Basically, you just walk through the lot to the street and cross the bridge and the hotel is just steps away from there. Actually, it was closer than my parking space at AKL.

 

[DebbieB]

When the main lot is full, they sometimes tell you to park in the lot behind the guard gate, which is a longer walk. They may also direct you to the lot on the other side of the road, which is even longer.

As a DVC member at BWV, I can tell you it can sometimes be difficult getting a space in the main lot in the evening. You are then forced to park farther away or do valet parking. There is a sign outside the gate at BW saying parking is not for the theme parks, but you know by the mass exit after Illuminations that many people do park there for Epcot. I wish they would have a gated area just for resort guests.