Parking: DTD vs Resort

[bookgirl]

We are going to be offsite next month.

Just how bad is the DTD parking?

I originally though to park and visit DTD, eat dinner, maybe grab a boat over to POFQ for Beignets then back to DTD. (I know about the closed dock but we might eat dinner at Raglan so we'll already be halfway to the dock)

Now with all the horror stories of DTD parking I'm considering reversing those plans.

I have an AP so I figured I might just go straight to POFQ, get a parking pass, then boat over to DTD then back to POFQ.

I'm pretty sure we will be well within the 3 hour time that sometimes gets imposed (I've never been given any kind of pass when visiting a resort I'm not staying at. They usually just send you to park and say have a nice visit).

I just think it would be easier to park at DTD usually, but don't want to subject the parents (who are older and get overwhelmed/frustrated at 'mess', 'delay', anything other than 'normal' and then drive me nuts complaining ) to stress.

 

[figment_jii]

The technical answer is that you shouldn't leave your car at POFQ when you leave to go to DTD.

Personally, I would probably drive to POFQ, have the beignets and then drive to DTD for dinner (I've done this in the past as part of a grand resort touring day). I would do it this way because I like to have the car with me and then I don't have to worry about dealing with intermediate transportation (i.e., waiting for the boat, riding the boat, waiting for the boat again, etc.).

 

[Pkltm]

What I have heard is the DTD is nightmare. My friends just returned and could not find parking due to crowds and construction.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

What I have heard is the DTD is nightmare. My friends just returned and could not find parking due to crowds and construction.

Parking is horrible. We took the boat from POR to the west end to bowl & eat. Then back to the resort. Later in the evening took the bus to the Marketplace to shop. They have so many lots shut down for the parking garage construction that it's next to impossible to find a spot for your car.

 

[bookgirl]

Leaning more towards seeing POFQ first and just taking the boat. I just keep seeing more and more threads about traffic/parking problems.

My mom and I stayed POR on her last trip and she loves the boats and my stepdad would probably like it as well.

Thanks for the opinions.

 

[Grumpy92]

I would not even try the DTD parking. They have so much construction and the other portion reserved for valet. If you self park you will be in lots across the street at the Casting Center and Team Disney. This is a good walk, someimes they offer golf cart rides but have been infrequent.
Here are pics:
http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2014/06/24/downtown-disney-land-of-construction-walls-and-cranes/

I fear they will soon be cracking down on parking at PO as so many guest are starting to use this option.

 

[bookgirl]

Forgot to update this but we were there in mid July,

we went to POFQ, I showed my AP/DL and told the gate that we were going to eat some beignets and shop and he said "have a nice day".

No parking pass, no questions, zip.

We parked, the lot was very empty, grabbed a few pictures with the locals ,
grabbed a boat and did a little shopping at DTD (was there maybe an hour and that included the walk from the dock through constructions wall to the marketplace, grabbed a bus back to POFQ and then went and had some allergen free beignets and soy milk, mom had reg editions of both.

Got in the car and left. Total time about 2 1/2 hours.

PS also drove in to watch fireworks from the POLY but we parked at TTC for that parent's have never ridden the monorail and I do know that the POLY parking is very limited due to Villa construction.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the update....glad to see that so many posters were correct in their advice!!! And glad you got to have a nice visit!