Parking at the Boardwalk is NOT a problem

[gdrj]

Call me silly but I want to get this off my chest. I always see on the boards that Parking at Boardwalk is a problem.

Parking at Boardwalk is NOT a problem, there I've said it!
Unless you have walking issues and go out to your car 10 times a day it is not an issue in my opinion and should not impact on your decision on staying or not staying. I've been staying there since 1999 and it has never impacted my stay or the level of enjoyment in a negative way.

I have stayed there during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, July 4 and many other busy times as well as in the Fall and January.

If you are going to be walking the parks, the boardwalk, DTD, golf courses, walk to EPCOT or the Studios, parking is not an issue. If you have kids in strollers, out of strollers, tweens, teens, 20's; parking is not a problem.
If you have elderly with you it is not a problem, because common courtesy dictates you drop them off at the hotel entrance.

If you have an issue for yourself parking here due to physical limitations or laziness (not implying they are connected in anyway), then you may have problems at a number of resorts including:
Grand Floridian (the hotel)
Wilderness Lodge
Jambo House
Beach Club
Bay Lake
Saratoga (depending on where your unit is)
I list these not to debate that Boardwalk is better or worse just that parking at most resorts can be a challenge. In our multiple visits to BWV I remember only once parking at the overflow lot which again to me is not that big of a deal

For most active adults and children who spend 6, 8 10, 12 or 18 hours at the parks; Boardwalk Parking is not an issue.

If you are a guest who will walk or boat to EPCOT and or Hollywood Studios, or walk the boardwalk in the evening parking choices will not enter in your decision process.

I understand that every family vacations differently and we all have our favorites, I just hate to see people shut down a stay option based on parking. There are so many positives to the BWV's and it would be a shame if someone doesn't stay there due to an issue that for most guests is not an issue.

 

[jekjones1558]

I agree with you, OP. While BWV parking is not as convenient at OKW, there really is no other DVC which has the convenience of OKW parking. We always rent a car and have also been staying at BWV since 1999, probably have stayed there 40 times or so. We have never had to park in the overflow lot. And the walk from the regular lot is no big deal. It doesn't seem longer to me than VWL or Jambo, for instance. I am happy that there is added parking enforcement during busy times at BWV, which certainly helps to keep spaces available for those staying at BWV.
There may be lots of reasons that folks prefer to not stay at BWV but I agree with you, OP, that the parking problem is really an overstated issue.

 

[Murron]

I agree with you both. BWV is our resort of choice and parking has never been an issue for us at all. 40 times jekjones!!! And we thought our 29 were over the top!

 

[DebbieB]

Call me silly but I want to get this off my chest. I always see on the boards that Parking at Boardwalk is a problem.

Parking at Boardwalk is NOT a problem, there I've said it!
Unless you have walking issues and go out to your car 10 times a day it is not an issue in my opinion and should not impact on your decision on staying or not staying. I've been staying there since 1999 and it has never impacted my stay or the level of enjoyment in a negative way.

I have stayed there during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, July 4 and many other busy times as well as in the Fall and January.

If you are going to be walking the parks, the boardwalk, DTD, golf courses, walk to EPCOT or the Studios, parking is not an issue. If you have kids in strollers, out of strollers, tweens, teens, 20's; parking is not a problem.
If you have elderly with you it is not a problem, because common courtesy dictates you drop them off at the hotel entrance.

If you have an issue for yourself parking here due to physical limitations or laziness (not implying they are connected in anyway), then you may have problems at a number of resorts including:
Grand Floridian (the hotel)
Wilderness Lodge
Jambo House
Beach Club
Bay Lake
Saratoga (depending on where your unit is)
I list these not to debate that Boardwalk is better or worse just that parking at most resorts can be a challenge. In our multiple visits to BWV I remember only once parking at the overflow lot which again to me is not that big of a deal

For most active adults and children who spend 6, 8 10, 12 or 18 hours at the parks; Boardwalk Parking is not an issue.

If you are a guest who will walk or boat to EPCOT and or Hollywood Studios, or walk the boardwalk in the evening parking choices will not enter in your decision process.

I understand that every family vacations differently and we all have our favorites, I just hate to see people shut down a stay option based on parking. There are so many positives to the BWV's and it would be a shame if someone doesn't stay there due to an issue that for most guests is not an issue.

I've never had an issue with the location of the BW parking. My gripe in the past has been that we typically arrive on a Saturday afternoon and there it can be very difficult to find a space. There have been times when I've had to circle the lot a couple times. One time there were several employee spaces open and I parked there temporarily so that I could run in and help my friend with the groceries I left off with her at the door.

I brought it up to the BW manager when I first became a member, he response was that is why we give members free valet parking. Well we don't get free valet anymore. I didn't have a car on my last trip, I think the last time was April 2012 and it seemed to be better on that trip.

 

[jekjones1558]

I agree with you both. BWV is our resort of choice and parking has never been an issue for us at all. 40 times jekjones!!! And we thought our 29 were over the top!

Yeh, we are boring. We go 3 - 5 times a year. I get DH and family to try another resort once in a while and they seem to enjoy it but the next trip they want to go back to BWV. At this point I think BWV just really does feel like coming home. I actually have liked every one of the DVC resorts and will finally get to try Aulani soon. Curiously I have no real itch to stay at VGF but that may change.

 

[DebbieB]

Yeh, we are boring. We go 3 - 5 times a year. I get DH and family to try another resort once in a while and they seem to enjoy it but the next trip they want to go back to BWV. At this point I think BWV just really does feel like coming home. I actually have liked every one of the DVC resorts and will finally get to try Aulani soon. Curiously I have no real itch to stay at VGF but that may change.

I have a VGF res for May, can't wait! I always said the only thing that would make me want to sell my BWV was VGF. But the reality of the high cost of the points plus the high points per night makes it easy to keep my BWV. I'll roll the dice at 7 months if I want to stay there.

 

[delilah]

We stayed at BWV just before Christmas. Our room was 1001, which is the last room on the first floor, just beside the Jelly Rolls building. It tooks us a couple days to realize that the entire lot closer to our room wasn't all valet parking. While parking wasn't particularly an issue for us, it was for one lady that we encountered. Poor thing was traveling with her husband, who was disabled. Somehow, she had left her husband off at the main entrance, then, tried to carry all her bags into her room. We encountered her on our way back to our room, and helped to carry her stuff to her room. She had just dumped it on the ground near the gate.

My only comment about parking is that it is more convenient at Kidani, despite the long hallways at Kidani. We have stayed at both ends, and usually it is quite easy to bring luggage up to the room. Plus, the car is inside and protected from the elements. Kidani is my favorite in terms of parking. We ended up driving most places from Kidani, but, either walking or taking Disney transportation while at BWV.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Call me silly but I want to get this off my chest. I always see on the boards that Parking at Boardwalk is a problem.

Ok Silly -

Prior to my last trip I never thought it was too bad. Then I had my bout of forgetting items in the car. 1.5 miles and multiple flights of stairs later I finally was able to stay in the room for the night!

The upside - I did get to see fireworks happening at DHS - must have been a special party because the park was closed but they were having the Home Depot college football awards during that time so I thought maybe they had something extra for them.

Still - I had already walked 9+ miles earlier in the day prior to my quick "runs" out to the parking lot. And yes, I was mumbling to myself about choosing that resort to be so forgetful at.

 

[LSchrow]

Call me silly but I want to get this off my chest. I always see on the boards that Parking at Boardwalk is a problem.

Parking at Boardwalk is NOT a problem, there I've said it!

totally agree
the main lot is not far at all, and we always get a spot. if we park near the convention ctr, it is a (mostly covered) 3m short walk to the lobby. if the car is nearer the main road, it is a pretty, and about 3-4 minute walk to the lobby - even when laden with many grocery bags.

btw, we have never been told to use any lot other than the main resort guest lot (across from the convention ctr), until this past october - i wasn't happy about it, either.

when we walked into the lobby, concierge announced "WELCOME HOME!!!".... i replied (yes, with a bit of smile), "it's not home if we have to park in our neighbor's driveway!"
the concierge CM called us over, and i told her we were turned away from the main lot, and had parked behind the valet lot.
she called a manager out.......bottom line: BWI/BWV guests are never, ever to be refused access to the main lot because of another event!! apparently, the guards change (from other resorts, and even outside co's), and they may not remember the correct policy.
all were incredibly apologetic, and insisted on giving us a room credit (we refused, & asked them to use it toward water & drinks for the outside guards - they said they would do both, and the credit was going on no matter what ).
& yes, i wrote a letter saying how fantastic they were

sooooo.....have the guard call if you are ever disallowed parking in the lot across from the convention ctr and are staying at the BWV/BWI - simply, BWV/BWI resort guests have priority over convention, wedding, etc guests who might wish to park there.

 

[jekjones1558]

totally agree
the main lot is not far at all, and we always get a spot. if we park near the convention ctr, it is a (mostly covered) 3m short walk to the lobby. if the car is nearer the main road, it is a pretty, and about 3-4 minute walk to the lobby - even when laden with many grocery bags.

btw, we have never been told to use any lot other than the main resort guest lot (across from the convention ctr), until this past october - i wasn't happy about it, either.

when we walked into the lobby, concierge announced "WELCOME HOME!!!".... i replied (yes, with a bit of smile), "it's not home if we have to park in our neighbor's driveway!"
the concierge CM called us over, and i told her we were turned away from the main lot, and had parked behind the valet lot.
she called a manager out.......bottom line: BWI/BWV guests are never, ever to be refused access to the main lot because of another event!! apparently, the guards change (from other resorts, and even outside co's), and they may not remember the correct policy.
all were incredibly apologetic, and insisted on giving us a room credit (we refused, & asked them to use it toward water & drinks for the outside guards - they said they would do both, and the credit was going on no matter what ).
& yes, i wrote a letter saying how fantastic they were

sooooo.....have the guard call if you are ever disallowed parking in the lot across from the convention ctr and are staying at the BWV/BWI - simply, BWV/BWI resort guests have priority over convention, wedding, etc guests who might wish to park there.

Thanks for this info!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

sooooo.....have the guard call if you are ever disallowed parking in the lot across from the convention ctr and are staying at the BWV/BWI - simply, BWV/BWI resort guests have priority over convention, wedding, etc guests who might wish to park there.

Good to know but the guard posted at the lot that prevented us from pulling in last year sure seemed to have been directed that nobody except the convention was supposed to park there even though we questioned it and pointed out we were guests staying there.

 

[jillgunter]

Thank you for this post. Good to hear. We just became owners at BWV, and normally like a rental car.

 

[Murron]

Yeh, we are boring. We go 3 - 5 times a year. I get DH and family to try another resort once in a while and they seem to enjoy it but the next trip they want to go back to BWV. At this point I think BWV just really does feel like coming home. I actually have liked every one of the DVC resorts and will finally get to try Aulani soon. Curiously I have no real itch to stay at VGF but that may change.

Same for us. We go about three trips per year. Two are in WDW and one is always in BWV... with a third trip to Vero or Hilton Head. But BWV calls us back. We both just love that place. Aulani is on my list and I agree, I have no urge for VGF. Just not our style. p.s. love your Westie!

 

[Denise W]

We have been BWV members since 1998 and stayed there at least once every year since then. We have never been refused parking in the main lot. We usually come in the gate on the right, where we use our room key or MB to open the gate, and then park in the main lot across from the bus stop.

Denise

 

[cvjw]

My problem with parking at BWV is that the valet lot is so huge and never, ever full. It pains us to have to park in the last parking area (all the way by the guard shack), and then hike to our room, while passing the mostly empty valet parking lot on the way. Our last week long stay was over Memorial Day last year, and our room looked directly over the parking lot. Not one day was the valet lot even close to being full, yet every time we moved our vehicle, we always had to park at the at the very back of the parking lot.

I understand that the valet parking lot should have been that large when valet parking was free for DVC members, but should it be so large now? I spoke with a manager at BWV that week about that very issue. She said that lots of guests had complained and they were in the process of doing a study to see how large the valet lot needed to be. I guess we will see

 

[Deb & Bill]

Good to know but the guard posted at the lot that prevented us from pulling in last year sure seemed to have been directed that nobody except the convention was supposed to park there even though we questioned it and pointed out we were guests staying there.

My problem with parking at BWV is that the valet lot is so huge and never, ever full. It pains us to have to park in the last parking area (all the way by the guard shack), and then hike to our room, while passing the mostly empty valet parking lot on the way. Our last week long stay was over Memorial Day last year, and our room looked directly over the parking lot. Not one day was the valet lot even close to being full, yet every time we moved our vehicle, we always had to park at the at the very back of the parking lot.

I understand that the valet parking lot should have been that large when valet parking was free for DVC members, but should it be so large now? I spoke with a manager at BWV that week about that very issue. She said that lots of guests had complained and they were in the process of doing a study to see how large the valet lot needed to be. I guess we will see

 

[rseeb]

The only time I had to park far away was the week of Christmas. We got in late on Saturday night, but the next morning the lot was cleared out and moved my car up closer. This was not a big deal since we never use our car once we arrive until we leave.

 

[crisi]

I don't have an issue with it either, although we've only had a car there once anyway (maybe twice), we usually don't bother.

Is it in front of your unit like if you were at OKW or the treehouses, nope. But I sort of wonder how people who complain about the distance from the parking lot and the length of the hallways at BWV manage to move around WDW - in the scheme of how much walking we do, we could run to the car and from the end of the hall to the elevators a dozen times and not make a significant difference in the pedometer count over the vacation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't have an issue with it either, although we've only had a car there once anyway (maybe twice), we usually don't bother.

Is it in front of your unit like if you were at OKW or the treehouses, nope. But I sort of wonder how people who complain about the distance from the parking lot and the length of the hallways at BWV manage to move around WDW - in the scheme of how much walking we do, we could run to the car and from the end of the hall to the elevators a dozen times and not make a significant difference in the pedometer count over the vacation.

Walking a long distance uphill with luggage or groceries, plus down a long, narrow, confining corridor is a pain. It's the same reason I don't like MK during Christmas time - too confining with 90,000 guests all walking down Main Street at the same time.

 

[jekjones1558]

Walking a long distance uphill with luggage or groceries, plus down a long, narrow, confining corridor is a pain. It's the same reason I don't like MK during Christmas time - too confining with 90,000 guests all walking down Main Street at the same time.

That's why there is Bell Services! Bell Services is also great if you don't want to haul luggage and groceries and strollers, etc. up stairs to your villa at OKW!