Parking at BWV?

[cel_disney]

We have a Sept 30-Oct 6 stay at BLT. Two years ago we were there the same week and at the 7 month mark first thing in the morning I had the option to change to almost any resort - including BW and BC. We didn't take it but I am prepping in case the option is there this year as we are up for a change of pace.

We typically drive to the parks and love the convenience of parking close at BLT and OKW when we stay there. Not sure if we would do that as frequently staying at BWV but want to understand how far the parking is from most rooms and if there are any issues finding spots there during F&W for resort guests?

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

We have a Sept 30-Oct 6 stay at BLT. Two years ago we were there the same week and at the 7 month mark first thing in the morning I had the option to change to almost any resort - including BW and BC. We didn't take it but I am prepping in case the option is there this year as we are up for a change of pace.

We typically drive to the parks and love the convenience of parking close at BLT and OKW when we stay there. Not sure if we would do that as frequently staying at BWV but want to understand how far the parking is from most rooms and if there are any issues finding spots there during F&W for resort guests?

Thanks!

There was recently a thread on this topic:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3220444

 

[cel_disney]

Thanks for that link! I don't know how I missed it!

For us it's not so much an issue with the walking but more of the time and impact to our schedule when we inevitably forget something in our room first thing in the morning as we attempt to get to rope drop and I walk to slow for DH to not get cranky especially if I left him with whiny kids!

Every year I feel like I read about issues parking there when we are there which is of course October which aligns with the posts in that thread but maybe with the right info that we should always be able to park there if we are at BWV...

Decisions decisions!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Your trip meshes with the big convention that takes over a lot of the Epcot resorts. We were there in 2013 during that time and were told we couldn't park in the biggest part of the parking lot at BW (that was mostly empty) and were limited to the small portion behind the valet parking lot (that was mostly empty) or across the street behind the Hess station.

 

[MARDUN]

We have stayed and/or parked at BWV for food and wine on numerous occasions. The walk to the parking can be a little bit of a hike but we have never had a problem finding a space. There is also valet parking which I believe was free for DVC staying at BWV except for the tips.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...There is also valet parking which I believe was free for DVC staying at BWV except for the tips.

That perk ceased to exist a few years back. It disappeared overnight and left some members paying for valet when they originally had free.

 

[LSchrow]

as of oct 2013, BW management has "been trying to make sure all the lot guards <often outside company> know resort policy" - BWV/BWI resort guests may not be refused entry to the main lot, including during the F&WF and gartner symposium.

we've had problems with some guards not knowing policy in the past (we go every year during both the F&GF & F&WFs), but had no issues whatsoever after speaking with BW management on the 1st day of our 11-day oct 2013 visit.

and.....walking to parks trumps driving any day

 

[staceymay00]

We like OKW and one reason is because we always have our own vehicle and the parking there is so convenient...did not have a problem with parking at BWV in November, which I worried about based on what I had read about parking there. I requested a pool view room to put us on the parking lot side of the resort. We had no problem finding a place to park in the lot next to valet near the walkway that leads to DHS. We used the stairs at the end of the building to get to the parking lot except when we had luggage. It would have been more of an issue if we could not/preferred not to use the stairs.

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[DizBub]

We stayed at BWV last year at the beginning of F&W. We drove. Our rooms ended up being all the way at the opposite end of the resort from the parking lot. We were nearly over Jellyrolls. Be aware that there is only 1 bank of elevators in the entire DVC side and they are right off the lobby.

We did not use bell services and had to schlep all of our luggage and groceries to the room. Basically we had to wheel our bags and things along the waterway to the main pool area, up the elevator to the 3rd floor and then a very long hike to our rooms. Multiple trips and it was HOT.

No real issues with parking spaces, we just had to prove we were staying there. I heard some nonsense about others having to give passwords but we didn't encounter that. The main problem was in the evenings the lines to get into the resort were so long it took forever just to get to the guard gate. Most all traffic was turned away because they were not resort guests who just wanted to park there for easy access to F&W. It was insane. We just decided to not drive anymore and take the buses and we all know how bad the bus service is at BWV. At least you can walk or take a boat to 2 parks from there.

After all that we did have a very nice time during our visit. I would stay there again.