Parking @ Epcot, DHS and AK

[Koz]

Good morning.
We'll have a car for the first time in all of our visits to Disney World, and I'm really looking at eliminating all of the hassles associated with daily bus transportation. For MK- we will valet in Contemporary and just walk over, but I'm wondering, given that there is now "preferred" parking and "peon" parking, if we arrive well before rope drop, are we going to end up parking in the boonies and wave down the nearest tram, or is it really not a significant walk? We have no problem with the distance, but I'm just wondering if WDW truly goes out of their way to penalize you for not paying the extra $$$.

 

[richmo]

Personally, I've never had a problem with where I park, even arriving well after rope drop. Unless you're really worried about saving 5 minutes here and there, I'd stick with standard parking.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I parked in the "peon" parking for our early June trip and found it not to be a big deal. We still walked up at EP and DHS and took the tram at AK. I didn't feel like we needed a Sherpa to get us to the front gate.

 

[CAS239]

No they don't go out of there way lol. If you arrive real early you'll be parking near the front. They start in the front and work their way back

 

[loves to dive]

the only time I've ever driven to a park was AK and it was in March. We arrived before Rope Drop, can't say when but we were the first people at the tapstyles. We parked in about the 4th row of what was then regular parking. I'd say the walk was just about the same distance as from the bus stops. The only reason we drove was because we were doing a split stay and that was move day so we decided why not. Normally we just take the bus.

 

[gatormom2tots]

If you get there at rope drop, you will lose about 2 minutes walking past the extra 3-4 rows of preferred parking. Not worth it.

 

[Koz]

the only time I've ever driven to a park was AK and it was in March. We arrived before Rope Drop, can't say when but we were the first people at the tapstyles. We parked in about the 4th row of what was then regular parking. I'd say the walk was just about the same distance as from the bus stops. The only reason we drove was because we were doing a split stay and that was move day so we decided why not. Normally we just take the bus.

We are normally bus people too, but given that Alamo had a deal for the week @ $210 for a full size car ( pick up at Car Care center after transport on Magical Express) it was too sweet to pass up.

 

[Hopefully]

Good morning.
We'll have a car for the first time in all of our visits to Disney World, and I'm really looking at eliminating all of the hassles associated with daily bus transportation. For MK- we will valet in Contemporary and just walk over, but I'm wondering, given that there is now "preferred" parking and "peon" parking, if we arrive well before rope drop, are we going to end up parking in the boonies and wave down the nearest tram, or is it really not a significant walk? We have no problem with the distance, but I'm just wondering if WDW truly goes out of their way to penalize you for not paying the extra $$$.

What a negative view of life!! They do not go out of their way to penalize you for anything. It is your choice. And as others have said, if you arrive early it is not bad.

 

[Koz]

What a negative view of life!! They do not go out of their way to penalize you for anything. It is your choice. And as others have said, if you arrive early it is not bad.

Settle down with the slight comments. My question was a sincere one, in that there's other parks I've been too where "preferred" parking takes up the first 30 rows and you tend to be directed to other areas not as close when not paying the premium- see Six Flags. Since we've been a bus family up until now, I never noticed the parking situation in those parks. No need for psychoanalysis. Thanks for answering my question with the 2nd half of your response.

 

[richmo]

We are normally bus people too, but given that Alamo had a deal for the week @ $210 for a full size car ( pick up at Car Care center after transport on Magical Express) it was too sweet to pass up.

Just an aside, kind of. Since it sounds like you don't rent often, keep in mind that sometimes rental rates go down as the trip approaches, especially in the last 3 weeks before departure. $210 certainly isn't a bad deal for a full size/week, but it isn't spectacular. I'd encourage you to check back on the Alamo site now and then.

 

[Koz]

Just an aside, kind of. Since it sounds like you don't rent often, keep in mind that sometimes rental rates go down as the trip approaches, especially in the last 3 weeks before departure. $210 certainly isn't a bad deal for a full size/week, but it isn't spectacular. I'd encourage you to check back on the Alamo site now and then.

Thanks Rich- I've been keeping that in mind. I chose to not pre-pay for that reason, believing that there will be some change/promotion as we get closer. As you've said, $210 isn't a bad price, but we can do better. The prices are considerably less from MCO, but it's foolish for us to not take advantage of Magical Express, specifically dealing with luggage etc, and just picking up the car on property an hour later. It's funny how the price is so radically different, even this far out, between Alamo and National, whom I believe are affiliated companies.

 

[richmo]

Thanks Rich- I've been keeping that in mind. I chose to not pre-pay for that reason, believing that there will be some change/promotion as we get closer. As you've said, $210 isn't a bad price, but we can do better. The prices are considerably less from MCO, but it's foolish for us to not take advantage of Magical Express, specifically dealing with luggage etc, and just picking up the car on property an hour later. It's funny how the price is so radically different, even this far out, between Alamo and National, whom I believe are affiliated companies.

Sorry to keep hijacking...One thing you could do if Alamo prices are way better at MCO is just have the driver pick the car up at MCO and the rest of you can do Magic Express. You could either make the rental MCO to Car Care Center or MCO to MCO. Perhaps a little more inconvenient, but keep in mind picking up at CCC isn't totally convenient either. If you haven't done it before, the procedure is: the day before you want the car, call the Car Care Center directly (not the Alamo reservation number, but the location itself - probably a 407 area code). Tell them when you would like to be picked up at your resort -- generally about a half hour before the reservation starts. Then the Alamo shuttle will come pick you up and take you to the CCC and you'll be on your way. Of course, only one of you needs to take the shuttle. When you return the car, you drive to the CCC and the shuttle will take you pretty much anywhere on-property.

 

[Klayfish]

We never stay on property, so we always park in the lots. We're here now. It will really depend on when you arrive and some of it is just luck of the draw. As stated, they go from the front to the back one side at a time. If you get there at rope drop, you'll be just a few rows behind the "preferred" parking. Even if not, it may not be a big deal. Sometimes, even if we're 25 rows back, if we just miss a tram we just decide to walk.

Luck of the draw also comes into play on where in the aisle you park. Each row is very wide. So if you're the last one in the row, you're right next to where the tram path and walkway is. Great. If you're first in the row, you park WAY down and it's a 5 minute walk to just get to the end of your row. By that time, you're willing to wait for the tram. Happened to us yesterday. We were only 18 or so rows back on Epcot, but at the very end of the row. I'd swear the row reaches halfway to Magic Kingdom, LOL.