Parking at the Beach Club

[DorotheaJN]

We're planning to have lunch at Beaches and Cream at the beach club during our upcomming visit. We'll be staying on-site and have a rental car, so we thought that we might just drive over from POR.

After lunch we have plans to spend the remainder of the day at Epcot, where we have a CP reservation at LeCelier for dinner.

Is it OK to leave the car at the Beach Club and just take the boat over ? or do we have to move the car to the main parking lot at Epcot ? It would be a lot easier just to leave it and then leave the park using the international gateway after illuminations.


Helle

 

[Big V]

I think it depends on how busy it is. They might just give you a two hour pass to eat at Beaches and Cream. But , you are staying on site and don't have to pay for parking any ways. You could just park at the Boardwalk and take a boat over to the Beach Club. I think there is more parking over there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The resort guests appreciate if you park at the resort only while you are eating and then move your car over to Epcot. It's a real bummer to try to find a parking spot in the evening and the lot is full of people who have gone to Epcot.

 

[zurgswife]

As a frequent Boardwalk guest....they might give you a 2 hr parking pass so don't plan on parking there for the entire time also. They have gotten stricker on how long people park during certain times of the year....

 

[Harley-Mouse]

Pay the $6.00 for Val service and thay don't ask any questions. We are DVC at BCV and find after Epcot lets out a lot of people are waiting for there car.

 

[zulaya]

As someone who stays at the Beach Club Villas, I'd appreciate it if you would just take the time to move your car so I have a spot for mine at the resort that I am staying at.

Might I suggest that you leave a little early, park at the Epcot main parking lot and then walk through Epcot to the Beach Club? You would then still have access to your car after you decide to leave Epcot.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Without getting involved in the parking question, I just want to say that it is a very short walk from the International Gateway entrance/exit of Epcot to the Beach Club.
Maybe 5 minutes, 10 tops if you are walking really slowly.
There are lot of nice restaurants and shops in the Boardwalk area so you may want to spend some time there. You can also vist the resorts in the area....Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin.
You can also walk (or take the boat) to the Studios from there.

 

[sters]

We're planning to have lunch at Beaches and Cream at the beach club during our upcomming visit. We'll be staying on-site and have a rental car, so we thought that we might just drive over from POR.

After lunch we have plans to spend the remainder of the day at Epcot, where we have a CP reservation at LeCelier for dinner.

Is it OK to leave the car at the Beach Club and just take the boat over ? or do we have to move the car to the main parking lot at Epcot ? It would be a lot easier just to leave it and then leave the park using the international gateway after illuminations.


Helle

We stayed at POR and, like you, drove over in our rental car. The only difference is we went for dinner at the Cape May Cafe for the all you can eat seafood buffet. We hung at the boardwalk and dropped in for Illuminations and made a quick getaway. I'd say we were back at POR before most people had exited the park! I don't know if you'll get stuck with a 2-hour ticket or not if you go in the middle of the day. I think there is free parking at the Boardwalk anyway, should you get stuck.

 

[JustHolly]

We eat at Beaches and Cream and Cape May often. When we go there and tell them where we are eating, they let us in and do not give us a two hour pass, no questions asked.

I won't admit to "sneaking" over to Epcot after the Beach Club, but it would be very easy to do if you feel the need to.

 

[dvcgirl]

We live in Orlando and do this all the time. We park at one of the resorts around the Boardwalk and walk in through the International Gateway. I know that there are many here who think this is the height of sneakiness, but really it's not a huge deal. 99% of the time there's plenty of parking in those lots. I've been given 3 hour parking passes at the Poly and at AK when dining there, but again, I highly doubt that Disney is in the business of towing the cars of paying customers. The only time I wouldn't try this without a priority seating is the two weeks straddling Easter and from Christmas Eve through New Years Day. And if you valet your car, you'll likely get no parking pass restriction....

 

[Hippychickali]

Perhaps the best people to ask about this are on the Transportation Board or even Disney Resorts.

Doing my small part to keep posts relevant ,
Ali

 

[sodaseller]

We often park at Boardwalk to go to Epcot, without problems. I tell the guard what I am doing. If they are busy, I am directed to park across the street after I drop off the family

 

[DebbieB]

You tell the guard you are just going to Epcot?

I've stayed at BWV in early December the past 4 years. It gets very frustrating when you are trying to find a parking spot in the evening and the lot is full. You know that a good many of the cars belong to people who are at Epcot. Our standard view room faced the lot and there is a mass exodus after Illuminations. I would hope that if someone pulls up and says they are going to Epcot that they are directed to the Epcot lot or at least to the lot across the street.

I really wish they would dedicate part of the lot to hotel guests with a card key gate.

 

[sodaseller]

You tell the guard you are just going to Epcot?

I've stayed at BWV in early December the past 4 years. It gets very frustrating when you are trying to find a parking spot in the evening and the lot is full. You know that a good many of the cars belong to people who are at Epcot. Our standard view room faced the lot and there is a mass exodus after Illuminations. I would hope that if someone pulls up and says they are going to Epcot that they are directed to the Epcot lot or at least to the lot across the street.

I really wish they would dedicate part of the lot to hotel guests with a card key gate.

I understand. We also stay at the resorts on occasion (we are from Tampa), and it would irritate me were parking not available.

We are usually directed across the street and never are allowed to park closer than the lot behind the guard hut, and then only during slow times. My point is just that I still prefer to proceed in that manner if possible. I save money, but it's also more decorative, and I usually have my mother in a wheelchair, and it much easier dropping her off in the roundabout, then taking the boat.

 

[DebbieB]

Does your mother have a handicap permit? You could valet for free.

 

[sodaseller]

She does - never knew that! Thanks