parking/epcot/resort question

[blemon]

We are staying at POR for three nights.

Tuesday morning we are going to check out of the hotel then spend the day at EPCOT. In the evening we were planning on driving a couple of hours north to knock some time off of our 14-hour drive home (the next day).

If we drive to EPCOT in the morning, can we park for free even though we will have checked out of the hotel?

Is it even worth it to drive or should we just take the bus in the morning then bus it again back to POR, hop in the car and head out?

Not sure what the better plan is.

If we will have to pay to park, I will just leave the car at the resort for the day and take the bus.


Thanks!

 

[WEDWDW]

You'll still have free Parking all day on check-out day.

 

[blemon]

You'll still have free Parking all day on check-out day.

Thank you!

We will probably drive then. I think that will be faster.

 

[Traver Freeman]

Thank you!

We will probably drive then. I think that will be faster.

I would drive. Most of the time when I go I drive. Call me weird, but I like the parking lots and taking the tram. That's part of my "Disney experience."

We took the buses once. I enjoyed it for some parks, like MK, because it takes an hour to get to the park if you drive (tram, waiting, monorail/boat). But all the others are easy to drive to.

 

[mousegear]

I second on driving. We like to drive to most parks except MK since it takes pretty long time from parking lot to the gates. Unless we are staying at Epcot resort area, we drive to Epcot, DHS and AK. It's a lot faster than the bus and don't have to wait for it when you are leaving. Saves lots of time.

 

[DisneyAnytime]

I suppose I am in the minority. I would be one to bus over and back, then get in the car and go. That last bus ride would be an easier "goodbye" for me and a way to wind down from the day before having to drive (ie: fight traffic) home.

 

[blemon]

Thanks for this info. We'll see how we feel day of. This will be our second trip. For our first we camped at the Fort and took buses everywhere (or the boat to MK). Never had any issues with it.

These tips have been so helpful. I do like the idea of the final bus ride before heading out. Then again, just getting out is also appealing. That night at Epcot is extra magic hours until 11 so I don't think we'll have many crowds that night. I'm sure we'll be ready to go after dinner. We'll be exhausted!

I think we are going to drive to just South of Jacksonville.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks for this info. We'll see how we feel day of. This will be our second trip. For our first we camped at the Fort and took buses everywhere (or the boat to MK). Never had any issues with it.

These tips have been so helpful. I do like the idea of the final bus ride before heading out. Then again, just getting out is also appealing. That night at Epcot is extra magic hours until 11 so I don't think we'll have many crowds that night. I'm sure we'll be ready to go after dinner. We'll be exhausted!

I think we are going to drive to just South of Jacksonville.

not just Disney but can you hide suitcases and other stuff out of view? would not be as concerned at a resort but at the park. just something to think about

 

[Traver Freeman]

not just Disney but can you hide suitcases and other stuff out of view? would not be as concerned at a resort but at the park. just something to think about

I've never really worried about this. If you are, just put a sheet or coat over some of the more important stuff. There's generally a code of honor among Disney guests, and you can't get into the parking lot without paying, and then there's all the parking attendants and other people around.

We have stuff in our stroller at Disney all the time and no one has ever once stolen anything from our stroller. No one wants their stroller messed with and so no one will mess with your stroller. Same principle applies to cars I would think. Though I get a criminal could theoretically pay $20 or whatever to get in expecting a big enough "haul" to pay it back. But I don't know if this really happens all that often. You don't really hear about cars being broken in to at Disney? Anyone have any other thoughts?

 

[Disney_Alli]

I'd have bell services hold your bags, bus back grab the bags and load the car then drive... but that's just me having had my car broken into twice (the first time a dollar was stolen, the second time nothing and it cost me over $500 in repairs after my deductibles so I'm a little more cautious about leaving things in my vehicle now)

 

[Traver Freeman]

I'd have bell services hold your bags, bus back grab the bags and load the car then drive... but that's just me having had my car broken into twice (the first time a dollar was stolen, the second time nothing and it cost me over $500 in repairs after my deductibles so I'm a little more cautious about leaving things in my vehicle now)

Stolen in general or at Disney?

 

[Disney_Alli]

Stolen in general or at Disney?

In general (while I was at work in a casino parking lot both times to be exact) but it's made me A LOT more cautious everywhere as a result.

 

[purple figment]

Even if you drive to Epcot you might want to leave your luggage at bell services, especially if you are going when it is hot because heat can damage cosmetics, medicines, vitamins, food, candy and other things.