Parking fees for IOA, Citywalk???

[marriedmarylander]

IOA is $8 to park and Citywalk is $9 for parking... Do they give any sort of daily parking tag or discount? We might do IOA during the day, go back to our hotel and come back for Citywalk but now we aren't sure if parking is that much. We also are staying at WDW so not exactly a close drive either... How is that drive anyways - should we do Citywalk or just skip it?

 

[Motherfletcher]

The parking garage is the same for both CityWalk and IOA. You can leave and return the same day like WDW. The drive is 15 to 20 minutes. I go the back way but others swear by I-4.

 

[marriedmarylander]

The parking garage is the same for both CityWalk and IOA. You can leave and return the same day like WDW. The drive is 15 to 20 minutes. I go the back way but others swear by I-4.

So it parking $8 or $9?

 

[AllieKat]

Yes, vehicles can leave the garage and return the same day without paying for parking again. Just remember to keep your parking ticket for re-entry. Parking is $9 for cars, motorcycles & vans and $10 for RV's.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

Alliecat...do you know if any of the stores/restaurants at City Walk Validate?

I went over in December to exchange a voucher for a ticket and kinda got lost (honest!) I ended up in this outdoor parking lot...teeny for about 20 cars very near the escalator taht went up into that round thingie 'info center'.
I parked for free and there were no signs, a couple other cars and I think maybe a bus stop....anyone know what I'm talking about? I probably took an hour or less to get what I had to get done. I wouldn't THINK of trying to do it all day or anything...and heck, I couldn't even find it again if I tried...but I wonder if there is any way to avoid a $9 charge going over in late afternoon for a margarita or for dinner something?

Someone on another site wrote a long piece about parking at TGIF or HI near the parking lot exit and walking in the exit ramp and taking the L up to the 3rd floor tosave the $9. Seems like there should be a way to park for an hour without paying such a high fee???????

 

[AllieKat]

Hi Colorado!

I do know that Margaritaville validates valet parking from 11am-2pm Monday thru Thursday for up to two hours. That's the only place that I know of for certain. Yay for Margaritaville!

I believe parking is free after 6pm. I believe this is to encourage people to go and hang out at City Walk and enjoy the restaurants, clubs, movie theater, etc. without having to pay for parking.

Hmm, I wonder what the little parking lot you accidentally found yourself in is for. Heh, I don't have too much of problem getting lost, but I almost always pass up the place I'm going to...even if it's a place I've been to 50 times. I don't know what my deal is.

 

[phamton]

Sounds like you parked at Guest drop off. There are a few parking spaces there and I've seen some unoccupied cars there before.

The only other small parking lot would be valet parking but I suspect someone would have caught you there.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I foung this on mousesavers.com:



CityWalk valet parking is complimentary for guests eating lunch at Emeril's, Hard Rock Cafe, Latin Quarter, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville & NASCAR Cafe. Guests may enjoy two hours of complimentary parking between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm when dining at the restaurants listed above. Guests should take their ticket to the restaurant for validation.

CityWalk self-parking is FREE to everyone after 6:00 pm.

Is CityWalk parking lot apart from the amusement parks?

 

[phamton]

Citywalk parking lot is the same lot as for the parks.

 

[robvia]

Parking fees add up when visiting multiple parks over multiple days.
The free parking info is on my site here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/offsite.htm
It all depends on whether you can walk the extra distance and whether you are dragging kids. It will take you an extra 10 minutes to cross the street and walk into the garage.

As for visiting IOA, driving back to Disney, then coming back to Citywalk at night, you probably won't do it. Citywalk is just a bunch of restaurants/shops leading to the parks that turn into discos later. The prices are slightly higher than those offsite and the lines to get into them are long at night. You'll probably end up eating at a restaurant near Disney.

There is one idea that may work. There is a watering hole bar in IOA near the JPRA ride. They start happy hour early at 2pm. You could have a drink there, then walk out to Margaritaville and people watch sitting in the chairs they have set up. At 4pm, they start their happy hour. You would eat an early dinner, then head out as the crowd arrives.