Parking at the BWV will be bad this weekend!

[n2mm]

This is a warning for anyone coming over to the boardwalk this weekend. We have been here a week with another week to go. We just pulled in and was turned away from our own parking lot! The guard said the main lot (the big one) is closed to all guest to include the guest at BW/BWI for the next few days because it's being reserved for a conference! So we parked over near the tennis court and it's full. We parked so far out and we are not alone. We are sharing this parking with the CMs. My DH was PO'd. He walked the lot since we were so far away and hardly any of the parking passes are even for BW. I'm sure the guard will be there tomorrow. So anyone who had dinner ressies here be warned as parking is going to be so tight over the next few days. I sure hope there's a spot when we return from our morning at MK tomorrow...because I'll never hear the end of it.... Bad enough we have to compete with the locals who park here for F&W, now we have to compete with the CMs for parking too and we just lost the biggest lot. We plan to stop at the front desk to find out what a "couple of days" means. If Saturday is included, I can't imagine what parking will be like here. Just when I was bragging about how wonderful the parking has been here since the guards are stricting the access....

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

wow, what's the conference? guess it's at swan/dolphin?

 

[vicki_c]

wow, what's the conference? guess it's at swan/dolphin?

Swan/Dolphin have their own parking they would use for a conference there. Boardwalk is also a convention resort.

Edited: I just read on another thread that it is the Gartner convention at the S/D and they are using the other resorts' facilities as well.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

While on the bus back from MK a few weeks ago...I struck up a conversation with fellow passengers as I often do.

I found it that this very nice family were staying at a Downtown Disney hotel and just chose to park their car at BWV everyday to get on the transportation. They said the bus stop was so convenient from the parking lot and they just loved taking the boats to DHS and EP.

 

[cj9200]

This is a warning for anyone coming over to the boardwalk this weekend. We have been here a week with another week to go. We just pulled in and was turned away from our own parking lot! The guard said the main lot (the big one) is closed to all guest to include the guest at BW/BWI for the next few days because it's being reserved for a conference! So we parked over near the tennis court and it's full. We parked so far out and we are not alone. We are sharing this parking with the CMs. My DH was PO'd...

I would be too. I posted another thread my experience last weekend when we visited the BW. It was chaos.

It is ridiculous that guests have to park in the boonies just because there is a convention using the BW facilities. They paid either through cash rate or dues from points to use that parking lot. Close it off to all BW guests? They should be the ones with first priority.

They need to have a gated entrance for at least for part of the main lot where you need to use your room card to enter. Many other hotels do this and it better insures paying guests have a parking place.

The situation at BW parking was always a challenge, now it is out of control.

 

[Safari Queen]

Worth the tip to use valet parking...

 

[vicki_c]

Worth the tip to use valet parking...

The other thread on this says valet was not accepting any more cars when that poster was there.

 

[n2mm]

Update: We stopped at the front desk last night prior to heading over to EPCOT. We talked to the CMs about being turned away from the main parking lot and the CM along with the manager was surprised and said this was the first they had heard of this. It seems that there are too many people making these deciisions and not communicatin with each other. They could not believe that resort guest were being turned away and promised to look into it further and promised an update for me. I wondered why the resort guest were not warned of this. Normally when this happens we get a message on the phone or a letter under the door. Well it's now Friday AM and we still never got any message. My DH told the CM this was like pulling up to your gargage and finding out you can't park there. I sure hope the guards keep our 2 little lots tight and now allow anyone other than resort guest to park there or give us free valet parking. This happened to us a few years ago and my DH had to circle the lot for nearly 30 minutes waiting for a day guest to pull out.

Just an update: They just put the poles back up so no one can enter the parking lot over near the canal. I'm sure a few of you know where this little parking area is. I assume you can enter this lot near the guard shack too. Well I hope so, because that is where our car is right now. This should be interesting this weekend.

 

[jekjones1558]

Worth the tip to use valet parking...

Remember that valet parking is not free for DVC members anymore. It now costs $12/day + tip.

 

[LSchrow]

whenever we had a problem finding spots in the BW parking lot (as BWV guests), the manager has offered free valet. of course, there would still be a tip involved, but it might be worth asking about.
it is rediculous that they are not restricting weekday access to the main lot during the conference. we saw a lot of cars with other resort passes or none at all (non-rental cars with florida plates, so likely locals) during the week while we were there (10/9-18). it seemed they had all the close spots, but at least we were able to find spots somewhere in the lot.
they really need to use a room key system - the parking difficulties have been going on for too long (i've written multiple letters, but the only change i've ever seen implemented was the restrictions during F&W weekends).
hope you are having a wonderful time otherwise!

 

[castleri]

The Florida Democratic Convention is at the Contemporary the 28th-31st so that should add another parking issue for some of the resorts.

 

[twinklebug]

Just an update: They just put the poles back up so no one can enter the parking lot over near the canal. I'm sure a few of you know where this little parking area is. I assume you can enter this lot near the guard shack too. Well I hope so, because that is where our car is right now. This should be interesting this weekend.

Thanks for keeping us updated. I love BWV, but the transportation and parking problems there are what drives me away from staying there. (we have a 2 night visit in Dec though - very excited!)

 

[LisaS]

Edited: I just read on another thread that it is the Gartner convention at the S/D and they are using the other resorts' facilities as well.

The Gartner IT conference ended yesterday (Oct 20). It was going on while we were there and they seemed to do a good job with transportation, running special buses between venues. Since the guard mentioned that the conference was going on for a few days it sounds like it's something that is just starting. In any case, if our dues help pay for maintenance of the lot members should not be turned away.

 

[jekjones1558]

Oh, boy. DH will blow a gasket if we have parking issues when we check in for one week tomorrow. I can already hear him; "We pay over $6000 in maintenance fees and we can't park at our home resort?" Etc. Etc. It really is time that this ongoing issue gets fixed. There are 21 of us and we will have 3 minivans. I will be at the front desk asking for free valet if we encounter issues.

 

[cj9200]

Update: We stopped at the front desk last night prior to heading over to EPCOT. We talked to the CMs about being turned away from the main parking lot and the CM along with the manager was surprised and said this was the first they had heard of this. It seems that there are too many people making these deciisions and not communicatin with each other. They could not believe that resort guest were being turned away and promised to look into it further and promised an update for me...

Thanks for the update. Glad they recognized that resort guests should not be turned away. Also, someone mentioned valet. When we went to visit the BW last Saturday, valet was even turning away people unless you had a handicapped permit. So your only other choice (if you were not a resort guest) was to park at Downtown Disney and take a bus back. We even told the white lie that we were eating there.

 

[granmanh603]

We are here now and had trouble with the parking when we brought the rental car in no valet but we did find a spot in the parking to the left of shack. Let to get groceries this AM and parking lot empty...went to outlets and food store came back and there were guards all over and a CM dressed lady at shack??? just looked at our room key from far away and let us in...we just parked it the same left parking lot and it was 1/2 full did not look at main one but they did not say we couldn't go there....last year they were strict on the weekend...other than that they could care less about you. put up a big show but really don't check...very annoying... In the last 5 years that is how I have become to feel about how they treat you....they have your money and don't care at all...

 

[sweetdana]

Thanks for keeping us updated. I love BWV, but the transportation and parking problems there are what drives me away from staying there. (we have a 2 night visit in Dec though - very excited!)

that and the hallways.. I will not rent a car if at BW, and for the record.. asside f and w time, I would choose SSR over it.

 

[PiperPilot]

As we departed the parking lot this morning (Friday) we talked to the security guard who was blocking entry to the main parking lot. We asked him directly when the lot would re-open to resort guest parking. He did not answer with an exact date and time. I told him that the BW Front Desk Manager informed us that it would re-open at 3:00 pm Friday. The security officer responded emphatically it would not. He then showed us a 3 page schedule of events. Specificly pointing to the event that starts at 4:00 pm Friday.

I've tried to get an answer to the question: "When will the main parking lot re-open?".

I've tried both the resort and DVCMC. Nobody knows or is willing to disclose the information. No communications are being provided to the guests (room telephone messages or flyers).

If President Obama shows up tonight then the lack of information will make sense. Otherwise I'm dismayed at the lack of respect for providing timely information to the resort guests. Like at check-in.

We'll see later today whether we can find a parking spot at the BW. We will probably be ahead of all of the folks who drive to WDW. Last weekend was a zoo at valet.

Good luck on parking everyone.

 

[granmanh603]

As we departed the parking lot this morning (Friday) we talked to the security guard who was blocking entry to the main parking lot. We asked him directly when the lot would re-open to resort guest parking. He did not answer with an exact date and time. I told him that the BW Front Desk Manager informed us that it would re-open at 3:00 pm Friday. The security officer responded emphatically it would not. He then showed us a 3 page schedule of events. Specificly pointing to the event that starts at 4:00 pm Friday.

I've tried to get an answer to the question: "When will the main parking lot re-open?".

I've tried both the resort and DVCMC. Nobody knows or is willing to disclose the information. No communications are being provided to the guests (room telephone messages or flyers).

If President Obama shows up tonight then the lack of information will make sense. Otherwise I'm dismayed at the lack of respect for providing timely information to the resort guests. Like at check-in.

We'll see later today whether we can find a parking spot at the BW. We will probably be ahead of all of the folks who drive to WDW. Last weekend was a zoo at valet.

Good luck on parking everyone.

Unacceptable if he is not a DVC member staying at BWV he can not park in my lot!!!

 

[granmanh603]

We are here now and had trouble with the parking when we brought the rental car in no valet but we did find a spot in the parking to the left of shack. Let to get groceries this AM and parking lot empty...went to outlets and food store came back and there were guards all over and a CM dressed lady at shack??? just looked at our room key from far away and let us in...we just parked it the same left parking lot and it was 1/2 full did not look at main one but they did not say we couldn't go there....last year they were strict on the weekend...other than that they could care less about you. put up a big show but really don't check...very annoying... In the last 5 years that is how I have become to feel about how they treat you....they have your money and don't care at all...

Ok weird, so I am quoting my own post....well just read a tread by someone saying Clair was over at the Paddock Pool this afternoon..... see my quote above... the CM at the shack when we came in was an older lady well dressed in red and as soon as I saw this other post, I could not help thinking it could have been her...it was the right age and from pictures I have seen of her it definately could have been her...but why was she there? she could have stopped us and asked questions....OH would she had gotten an earful after yesterday and not being able to park in main lot(didn't even try today) I wonder????? Hey I would rather see her here than Obama!!!!