Parking at different DVC resort than where we're staying?

[MegMoves]

Hey DVC Family!

For our upcoming welcome home stay, we have a split stay at Jambo House and Saratoga. Our home resort is Boardwalk. Can we park at Boardwalk during the day to walk around and check it out? And maybe bop into international gateway to take home some french bread? Or would we have to park in front of Epcot to go through the construction wall maze to check out our home resort prior to booking next year's trip? If we "can" what are pros-cons of Parking at BWV vs Epcot if we're not doing a full Epcot day?

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

Meg

 

[wnielsen1]

It's best to have a dining reservation or a DVC tour scheduled at Boardwalk. They have been really strict about this lately.

 

[Marionnette]

Hey DVC Family!

For our upcoming welcome home stay, we have a split stay at Jambo House and Saratoga. Our home resort is Boardwalk. Can we park at Boardwalk during the day to walk around and check it out? And maybe bop into international gateway to take home some french bread? Or would we have to park in front of Epcot to go through the construction wall maze to check out our home resort prior to booking next year's trip? If we "can" what are pros-cons of Parking at BWV vs Epcot if we're not doing a full Epcot day?

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

Meg

You can only park at the resort where you are registered, unless you have an ADR. It doesn't matter that it's your home resort. It's where you are staying that counts.

So to answer your questions more completely:
No. You cannot park at BWV just to look around.

No. You cannot park at BWV in order to enter Epcot through the IG.

I suggest parking at HS and taking the Skyliner to the IG and then either walk or take the boat to BWV.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

As others have said, unfortunately, home resort ownership does not come with parking permissions when not staying there (even if staying elsewhere on property). It can always vary depending on the guard at the gate, but in my experience the EPCOT and MK resorts are especially strict about not allowing parking if you aren't staying there and don't have a table service dining reservation. Note that there are reports of those with mobile orders from quick service restaurants being denied parking so don't count on that either. DHS parking is a great idea and valet parking at the resort is another potential alternative - $33 plus tip.

 

[CarolynFH]

You're welcome to look around at BW, but as others have said, you'll need a dining reservation to park there. Parking at DHS is the most convenient, and you have a choice of Skyliner, Friendship boat, or walking from there to the BW (you can do one in one direction and another in the reverse). There is no walkway around Epcot, so parking at Epcot to visit BW would require a ticket and the proper park pass reservation/hopper privilege to enter Epcot, then you'd have to walk all the way through and exit through the IG. Not very practical!

 

[dvc lover 1970]

No - you cannot park at BW unless you have a reservation at one of the BW restaurants. Make a couple dinner or lunch reservation at Trattoria al Forno or Big River Grill on the boardwalk. The food was good and the prices were pretty good to for disney. You can then park at the BW. Home resort does not matter - it is where you are staying that matters. Parking is already limited everywhere.

 

[MegMoves]

You can only park at the resort where you are registered, unless you have an ADR. It doesn't matter that it's your home resort. It's where you are staying that counts.

So to answer your questions more completely:
No. You cannot park at BWV just to look around.

No. You cannot park at BWV in order to enter Epcot through the IG.

I suggest parking at HS and taking the Skyliner to the IG and then either walk or take the boat to BWV.

So, if we have an ADR at Flying Fish we can, but not to just do counter service at a quick service. Is this correct?

 

[MegMoves]

Thanks for the tips & knowledge, everyone! This will be our first stay and my first visit to WDW in over 20 years. I'm a total newbie.

 

[wnielsen1]

So, if we have an ADR at Flying Fish we can, but not to just do counter service at a quick service. Is this correct?

Yes

 

[Marionnette]

So, if we have an ADR at Flying Fish we can, but not to just do counter service at a quick service. Is this correct?

You can park for a few hours but not all day. And during popular festivals like F&W, even parking for ADRs can be sent to a satellite lot.

 

[shoegal9]

Oh how I wish Flying Fish would reopen!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Did Big River start taking reservations? Last time I was there they did not.
What if you want to visit Abracadabar, or Jelly Rolls..??

 

[MegMoves]

We're going in November, last week of F & W. So, fingers crossed to try Flying Fish. If not, we'll just have to eat our way around the world... twice. I was liking the idea of being able to check out the home resort and get an accessibility feel for it for the next reservation. (Thinking about bringing my little cousin and her daughter - they got hosed by their Make-a-wish - so I may treat them to accomodations.)

The thing I feel most concerned about is knowing the parking rules. I think it would be better to check it out and talk to someone in-person, rather than wait on the phone for hours and still not have a feel for it.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Pens Fan]

Oh how I wish Flying Fish would reopen!

I just got through watching Pete and the gang's dining review of Trattoria al Forno. Pete mentioned that the chef from Flying Fish was currently the head chef of Trattoria al Forno but that he would be returning to the Flying Fish in September. So I think you will get your wish!

 

[MegMoves]

Did Big River start taking reservations? Last time I was there they did not.
What if you want to visit Abracadabar, or Jelly Rolls..??

This is a good point. I would assume they want people spending time & money on the Boardwalk. Can't do that if you can't day-park.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

So, if we have an ADR at Flying Fish we can, but not to just do counter service at a quick service. Is this correct?

If you have a mobile order you can also park there. You will need to show your mobile order pickup in your phone. But no you cannot park and say you are going to get a quick service there.

 

[shoegal9]

I just got through watching Pete and the gang's dining review of Trattoria al Forno. Pete mentioned that the chef from Flying Fish was currently the head chef of Trattoria al Forno but that he would be returning to the Flying Fish in September. So I think you will get your wish!

Yay! I’m so excited!! I loved Flying Fish more than California Grill or anywhere else on property.

On a side note, we did have dinner at Trattoria al Forno in May for Mother’s Day and it was excellent. And I’m Italian and lived in Rome for 2 years. So for me to say that.... now I know why! Compliments to the chef!

 

[CarolynFH]

This is a good point. I would assume they want people spending time & money on the Boardwalk. Can't do that if you can't day-park.

I’m sure they do. But unfortunately people have been known to say they’re going to visit the BW, eat CS, etc., in order to park in the BW lot for free and spend the day and evening at Epcot. Then BW Resort guests (for example, you when staying at your home resort) have trouble finding a place to park - unless they don’t arrive until after Epcot closes and the lot empties. So that’s why the guards may be strict about requiring an ADR for a BW restaurant if someone is not staying at BWV or Inn. I know Disney used to promote the BW as a destination in itself, but the parking lot is just too small. And when there’s a convention going on there too, it’s worse.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I’m sure they do. But unfortunately people have been known to say they’re going to visit the BW, eat CS, etc., in order to park in the BW lot for free and spend the day and evening at Epcot. Then BW Resort guests (for example, you when staying at your home resort) have trouble finding a place to park - unless they don’t arrive until after Epcot closes and the lot empties. So that’s why the guards may be strict about requiring an ADR for a BW restaurant if someone is not staying at BWV or Inn. I know Disney used to promote the BW as a destination in itself, but the parking lot is just too small. And when there’s a convention going on there too, it’s worse.

Okay, so what is someone to do who is going to Jelly Rolls? Im guessing they have a parking agreement, seeing as though they are a third part vendor.

 

[drusba]

Adding to the above, under current park reservation rules, even if you could park at BWV, you could not enter Epcot‘s International Gateway entrance unless you have reserved Epcot for the day. Likewise you cannot park at the front of Epcot and walk through without having a park reservation.