parking problems at OKW

[manning]

This has happened to us this and last year in Jan. We could not park in our unit lot. I had to go down several units to find parking. It looks like DVC did not anticipate the growth of cars in families. I wonder if we could convince them to limit the number of cars per unit. It could be done by adding a membership code to the parking tag. IE M for member and G for guest. Then an overflow lot could be built for the G tags. Anyone violating the rule could have a fee added to their bill per day.

 

[jemiaule]

This has happened to us this and last year in Jan. We could not park in our unit lot. I had to go down several units to find parking. It looks like DVC did not anticipate the growth of cars in families. I wonder if we could convince them to limit the number of cars per unit. It could be done by adding a membership code to the parking tag. IE M for member and G for guest. Then an overflow lot could be built for the G tags. Anyone violating the rule could have a fee added to their bill per day.

I do not agree with this type of fee; sorry.

Most likely what you encountered was you were staying in an area where the majority of people had cars. When I was there in November there was more than ample parking in by our building....and we came in Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[JimC]

Were you near HH? The adjacent lots sometimes absorb overflow from there.

 

[Granny]

Were you near HH? The adjacent lots sometimes absorb overflow from there.

Jim...this is exactly what I was thinking. If someone is in buildings 11-12-13-14 they could easily run into parking problems I would think. They didn't put enough parking for people at HH. We've been to OKW during the summer a couple of times (when it was pretty much full) and didn't have problems parking.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One of the newest buildings (is it 63?) doesn't have a real parking lot. Plus I have seen lots of CMs parking in the resort parking lot instead of the CM parking area. When we stayed in Bldg 63, I noticed the parking lot next to our studio emptying out everyday around 5PM.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

We've stayed at OKW several times (at different times of the year) and have never had a problem. It's nice to know, though, as it may be specific to certain buildings. Good info to have when you check in, especially if you have young children, elderly or disabled guests.

I wouldn't have a problem with limiting parking by unit, as there are no elevators and lugging bags to your room from two lots away would be a pain!

 

[diznyfanatic]

Were you near HH? The adjacent lots sometimes absorb overflow from there.

That was my thought as well. We've stayed three times at OKW (at peak times) and the only time parking was a problem for us was when we were checking in or needed to make a stop at HH for something on our way in or out. The lot for the building right across the street (forget which building it is) was also always filled to capacity so I imagine those folks may experience parking problems also due to the proximity to HH.

I've also seen CM's get in their car in the lot by HH but had no idea where else they were supposed to park either. I just figured they were having the same parking problem that everyone else has by HH.

 

[dumbo71]

The real problem will be at AKV. Many people will want to drive there as it is so removed. Plans look limited in the parking department.

Maybe they banked on ME adsorbing more of the problems.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I must agree it does depend on which building you are in. Those across from HH get a lot of overflow from the HH lot. That is especially true during meal times. Building 64 (not 63) has no lot, which makes buildings 63, 15, and 16 lots absorb those folks vehicles. We were in 55 in December, and the lot was mostly empty the whole trip.

 

[manning]

Were you near HH? The adjacent lots sometimes absorb overflow from there.

No, this year it was building 46 and last year it was building 16. Both times in Jan.

 

[manning]

I don't know if this is a common problem. Only that it happened twice in a row for me.

The only thing that I could think of way this is happening is that when OKW was built the thought was there would be only a few cars in a family and most would be flying in.

Now just about every child over 16 in a family has a car and wants to drive.


If it is a problem how do you solve it if don't have an overflow area and not impose a fee. No penalty, no solution.

 

[jemiaule]

If it is a problem how do you solve it if don't have an overflow area and not impose a fee. No penalty, no solution.

I see no reason to penalize people. You were able to find parking correct; just not directly in front of your unit. Thus there was ample parking, just not parking you felt was convenient.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We also encountered problems finding a parking place when we stayed in Building 15 (that building just seemed to have a small parking lot). However, we figured it was because of the time of year, Thanksgiving week. Think of it this way-if you have to walk a little further, you burn off more calories and justify eating more!

 

[spiceycat]

No, this year it was building 46 and last year it was building 16. Both times in Jan.

building 16 has a tiny parking lot - and it is across from building 64 which has no parking lot. so this building will always have this problem.

building 46 has a bigger parking area and only shares with building 45. Now I can understand not finding one directly infront of your unit (those building are shaped strange) but not finding one in that entire parking lot?

if you did was it only during the day - or was this a night time problem, too?

if only during the day it could easily be maintence. I don't know why the painters need 5 cars and a van - but that is how they do it. add that to two or three for the maids and yes it can get crowded.

 

[spiceycat]

the cm parking is directly across from building 17-19 in the parking lot where we can only go when there is a problem with our entrance or exit.

 

[JimMIA]

I see no reason to penalize people. You were able to find parking correct; just not directly in front of your unit. Thus there was ample parking, just not parking you felt was convenient.

I agree. I don't see having to "go down several units" as a problem.

 

[manning]

I agree. I don't see having to "go down several units" as a problem.

Properly designed you should be able to park in the parking lot of your unit. These situations took place in the evening after the parks closed. One night I had to cruise for a while to find a spot and that was several units down. All the lots were quite full, particularly on the weekends.

Staying at SSR a few years ago I recall more parking, but that was when they were still building out the resort.

 

[Mom B]

Just curious, dumbo71, where did you find info on parking at AKV? I've been wondering what the setup was going to be. Is there something I haven't seen yet? I'm just wild to find out about the layout, floor plans, etc....

 

[dianeschlicht]

We also encountered problems finding a parking place when we stayed in Building 15 (that building just seemed to have a small parking lot). However, we figured it was because of the time of year, Thanksgiving week. Think of it this way-if you have to walk a little further, you burn off more calories and justify eating more!

Building 15 gets a lot of folks from building 64, since that building does not have its own parking lot. Same goes for building 16.

Pat is right about the parking for employees, but all of the housekeepers park off-site and drive into the resort on their carts from the path that goes between OKW and DTD. When we have stayed in building 55, we have seen them every morning coming in on the carts.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Other than when I stayed in building 64, and building 11, I have never had a problem with parking at OKW. Try staying at Marriott, if you want to see parking problems. I think everyone drives to Florida in a bus-sized motor home, and then parks across 7 parking spots, so the cars have to sandwich themselves in wherever they can.