Parking at the Treehouses....not happy!

[OceanAnnie]

What is "the Grandstand" area?

 

[DebbieB]

What is "the Grandstand" area?

Grandstand is marked "H" on the map. The treehouses are off to the left of the map, see second link.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/Saratoga.htm
http://0.tqn.com/d/hotels/1/0/j/M/3/Treehouse-Villas-map.jpg

Looks like another example of poor design planning by DVC. They should have put a lot at the far end. Instead, they squeezed in as many villas as possible.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Grandstand is marked "H" on the map. The treehouses are off to the left of the map, see second link.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/Saratoga.htm
http://0.tqn.com/d/hotels/1/0/j/M/3/Treehouse-Villas-map.jpg

Looks like another example of poor design planning by DVC. They should have put a lot at the far end. Instead, they squeezed in as many villas as possible.

Are you talking about the THV? They were already there for years and just renovated. So it wasn't a complete gut of the area. But the Grandstand, they probably didn't plan on the THV when they designed the Grandstand area.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney for the most part has a do not confront the guest policy. I doubt if they will enforce the one car policy and with only 60 THV units, any cost to do so doesn't make sense, either does paying any money to change software to track parking passes.

We are often offered more then one parking pass, one by the Guard Shack and one at the Front Desk so guests could have more than one.

They could put the THV unit number on the parking space but the owners at SSR would have to pay for that also.

Bill

 

[Alexander]

I don't believe there are assigned parking spaces at any of the DVC resorts, so in that respect, THVs are not unique. Having said that, each car does require a parking pass so - in principle - it should be easy enough to determine whether a car is legally parked in the THV area. Of course Disney is notorious for not enforcing its own rules.

Nevertheless, I think the OP's concerns are valid and DVC needs to be made aware that in an area where parking spots are at a premium, guests should be expected to comply with the rules. If they can theoretically fine people who smoke in villas, I expect illegally parked cars could be made to feel a little financial pain as well.

It is completely different parking at the THV than in the other DVC lots. There are many spaces for people to park at. OP is expressing the fact that there are NONE for her to park at that are not very far away because parking is so limited there. All of the cars parked at the THV are probably not illegally parked, as they likely have an SSR parking permit. the problem is guests taking more than one spot in an area were there are hardly enough for each villa to have one. Expecting each villa to only park one car is not unreasonable.

Seriously? All they need to do is spray paint villa numbers on the darn pavement! No, not everyone will follow the rules, but if there is a big ol' number under your car and that is not your villa, then you may be asked to move. Really, really simple. And as an SSR owner, I would pay for the dang spray paint if it meant getting this ridiculously simple problem solved simply.

 

[dbs1228]

Seriously? All they need to do is spray paint villa numbers on the darn pavement! No, not everyone will follow the rules, but if there is a big ol' number under your car and that is not your villa, then you may be asked to move. Really, really simple. And as an SSR owner, I would pay for the dang spray paint if it meant getting this ridiculously simple problem solved simply.

I agree with this I would pay for the paint also. We stayed at THV for 10 nights in Feb and we were told at check in only 1 car allowed. I would have been very upset if we could not park in front of our villa. My parents stayed at SSR and drove over a few times and always parked around the corner at the pool parking and it was always for short amount of times. Now I am nervous we are staying there again in Dec.!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Hi all,

This is the OP. I actually told them that I would paint the dang numbers if they just gave me the spray paint! I'm so seriously annoyed and am concerned that DVC will do NOTHING to solve this problem. The security guy I spoke with told me that there is a loop here with 5 villas and 4 parking spaces. Um....hello? What idiot designed this thing anyway, was my response! Sheesh, if I was designing it, I would have made sure there were at least 120 spots, all painted with villa numbers because these are larger units and accommodate larger families.

Why just tonight, I was out walking and saw 3 cars pull up and watched all the occupants of the vehicles go into the same villa ! I like our unit...there are some weird things in the villa...but it is overall very nice. Unfortunately, this will be my first, last and ONLY stay in THV until they fix this stupid parking situation. And yes, I am an SSR owner...I deliberately chose SSR because of the Treehouses...and yes, now I feel stupid!

K

 

[Sammie]

What is "the Grandstand" area?

There are 5 areas at SSR. Grandstand, Carousel, Paddocks, Springs and Congress Park.

Grandstand is closest to the tree houses and they ask those with more than one car staying at the THV to park at the Grandstand area.

 

[jarestel]

All they need to do is spray paint villa numbers on the darn pavement! No, not everyone will follow the rules, but if there is a big ol' number under your car and that is not your villa, then you may be asked to move. Really, really simple. And as an SSR owner, I would pay for the dang spray paint if it meant getting this ridiculously simple problem solved simply.

Whatever the proposed solution, you need to convince DVC that a problem exists and then motivate them to address the problem. Neither of those two things are particularly easy to do. And as the OP has indicated, some areas simply have more villas than parking spots. So now you need to convince them to create more parking spots.

As I indicated before, I understand the concern. Good luck with that!

 

[Chuck S]

Creating more parking spots would be a problem. Disney was only allowed to rebuild the THVs if they came up with a plan to use the same or smaller footprint of ground space. They are in an environmentally protected area. What would you be willing to tear down to build new spaces....eliminate the THV pool?

 

[Dean]

Whatever the proposed solution, you need to convince DVC that a problem exists and then motivate them to address the problem. Neither of those two things are particularly easy to do. And as the OP has indicated, some areas simply have more villas than parking spots. So now you need to convince them to create more parking spots.

I've made the point several times that a single complaint and threat's over such matters means nothing. However, this is an example where enough complaints likely will force a change.

Creating more parking spots would be a problem. Disney was only allowed to rebuild the THVs if they came up with a plan to use the same or smaller footprint of ground space. They are in an environmentally protected area. What would you be willing to tear down to build new spaces....eliminate the THV pool?

There are other possible solutions. Maybe there's an area that's not protected but close enough so they could have an overflow lot (there probably isn't but it needs to be considered). They could enforce the one car per villa option and tow or ticket cars that aren't authorized. They could provide a better shuttle service than they now have for SSR proper. It could be a case of "careful what you wish for" since those staying there will be affected by any change (one way or another) and the SSR owners will have to pay for it.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Grandstand is marked "H" on the map. The treehouses are off to the left of the map, see second link.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/Saratoga.htm
http://0.tqn.com/d/hotels/1/0/j/M/3/Treehouse-Villas-map.jpg

Looks like another example of poor design planning by DVC. They should have put a lot at the far end. Instead, they squeezed in as many villas as possible.

Thanks!

 

[OceanAnnie]

There are 5 areas at SSR. Grandstand, Carousel, Paddocks, Springs and Congress Park.

Grandstand is closest to the tree houses and they ask those with more than one car staying at the THV to park at the Grandstand area.

Just saw your post. Thanks. I haven't been to that area or heard of a Grandstand around Disney before this thread.

 

[disneynutz]

I don't think that Disney would tow anyone for parking incorrectly at a resort, that's not positive Disney PR. They don't like to confront guests for most infractions of the rules.

Last year we were staying at SSR and a guest had moved a upholstered chair from the room to the patio. Every day it rained and the chair was getting soaked. I called everyone that I could think of to report it and no one would do anything.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I don't think that Disney would tow anyone for parking incorrectly at a resort, that's not positive Disney PR. They don't like to confront guests for most infractions of the rules.

Last year we were staying at SSR and a guest had moved a upholstered chair from the room to the patio. Every day it rained and the chair was getting soaked. I called everyone that I could think of to report it and no one would do anything.

Bill

Unfortunately Disney tends to not have a backbone on such matters but it is a legitimate method to correct the problem in question. Plus, in the long run, it likely causes less PR and other issues than the totally hands off approach. I've been to several Marriott's that have under building parking. They generally give you one parking pass per unit good for that area then a different color pass for overflow parking. If they find an issue, such as parking under building without the proper pass, they will contact you and ask you to move it. If you persist, they will (and should) tow it.

 

[jarestel]

Creating more parking spots would be a problem. Disney was only allowed to rebuild the THVs if they came up with a plan to use the same or smaller footprint of ground space. They are in an environmentally protected area. What would you be willing to tear down to build new spaces....eliminate the THV pool?

I'd not be willing to tear down any existing structures for parking convenience. My point was that in order to allocate an assigned parking space for each villa, more spaces would have to be created. If it's not possible to create more spaces then no matter what possible solution is proposed, someone will always be left without parking availability near their villa and that someone will not be happy.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I'd not be willing to tear down any existing structures for parking convenience. My point was that in order to allocate an assigned parking space for each villa, more spaces would have to be created. If it's not possible to create more spaces then no matter what possible solution is proposed, someone will always be left without parking availability near their villa and that someone will not be happy.

I'm that someone AND I am not one tiny bit happy! I was told that they had to make sure that with the pool parking they had 1 space for each villa and a few extra. So, if they numbered them, then everyone would have a space. The problem is that they don't....AND they don't enforce the 1 car rule...AND some people are just jerks and care more about themselves than anyone else (like the guy next to me who I've now found out has 3 cars parked here).

Yep, that's right....3!

So, this afternoon when he is gone...I've decided I'm moving at least 1 of my 2 cars over here to the villa and then he can be shut out cause I'm not driving the rest of the vacation until it's time to head home.

Karen

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm that someone AND I am not one tiny bit happy! I was told that they had to make sure that with the pool parking they had 1 space for each villa and a few extra. So, if they numbered them, then everyone would have a space. The problem is that they don't....AND they don't enforce the 1 car rule...AND some people are just jerks and care more about themselves than anyone else (like the guy next to me who I've now found out has 3 cars parked here).

Yep, that's right....3!

So, this afternoon when he is gone...I've decided I'm moving at least 1 of my 2 cars over here to the villa and then he can be shut out cause I'm not driving the rest of the vacation until it's time to head home.

Karen

I don't blame you one bit. I would do the same thing.

I hate to say this, but check your vehicle periodically. People like that would have no qualms about "getting even", even though that isn't the case, it was yours to start with. I know you couldn't prove something like that unless he was caught in the act, but I'd still want to know.

 

[jarestel]

I'm that someone AND I am not one tiny bit happy!

Believe me, I understand where you're coming from.

Refresh my memory, do all of the THVs have enough parking spaces in front of the buildings to accommodate one car per villa or would someone still have to park in a different lot?

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are 5 areas at SSR. Grandstand, Carousel, Paddocks, Springs and Congress Park.

Grandstand is closest to the tree houses and they ask those with more than one car staying at the THV to park at the Grandstand area.

Sammie, I can't believe you left out the sixth area of SSR - Treehouse Villas.