Parking Reminder??

[Pa@okw95]

On page 2 of the fall Vacation magic there is a parking reminder!! It says don't park at the DVC resorts unless you are using the facilities(dining,pool). How quickly our perks slip away!! It wasn't that long ago that we could valet park for free at any resort (DVC or otherwise)..Then we were told we would only be able to valet park for free at DVC resorts. Now they are stating parking is not permitted at DVC resorts unless using the resort. When I go to the parks from OKW I usually drive park my car at a resort, spend about an hour or two at a park then eat lunch at the reosrt I park at and then drive back to OKW. The busses during mid-day are cut back in numbers and I learned a long time ago not to bother with the busses. So I may not bother with WDW parks if this nonsense keeps up . A lot of you get upset over pool hopping, well this upsets me. I am sorry-I am just sick and tired of seeing the various perks we have taken away

 

[lawgs]

we just got back from staying at the BCV and did not do any disney parks ....instead we went to seaworld and busch gardens...

seems what you are saying is right....

they are letting us "slip" away

 

[CarolMN]

Other than the free valet parking at DVC resorts, DVC members have never had any parking priviledges that were different from any other resort guests. We've never been entitled to park at one of the resorts when we are going to one of the parks. I know that people (DVC members, resort guests and off site guests) did, but now so many are doing this that the actual guests of the resorts often have no reasonable place to park. Becasue of that, Disney now has to try to enforce some type of limits. IMHO, guests staying at the monorail resorts and the EPCOT resorts are more entitled to a parking place than anyone (on site guest or not) who is just trying to either avoid parking in the theme park lots or using Disney transportation that he/she feels is not convenient.

If your home resort were BWV instead of OKW, you likely would look at this issue differently. It is very frustrating to find no place to park at the Boardwalk (except way across the street) and then see the close-in hotel lot empty out right after Illuminations.

I don't want to start a debate. Again, I just want to point out that DVC members have never had any special parking entitlements (other than the free valet at DVC resorts) that were not also available to other on site guests.

 

[Lew]

I don't recall reading anything in DVC literature that parking at a DVC resort for access to the parks was a perk.

Is it done...most certainly! But it was never a benefit condoned by DVC.

 

[Peterd]

This was stopped at the Contemp. and Poly a few years back. We used to park at the contemp. around 5 pm for about two hours or so, go to Magic Kingdom, then later have dinner at chef Mickey's. Now they give you a two hour pass, so we park at the Magic Kingdom, at the end of the day, I'll retrieve the car, while the others either walk over or take the monorail to chef mickeys for dinner. I know we get free valet parking at the DVC resorts, but have never heard of unlimited parking there, so we could park hop.
I can understand why they do it. The guests at the resort should get their guaranteed parking first. I've seen people not staying in Disney, park at the Okw to use the boat to DD, seen people not staying in Disney, park at the BW to do both MGM and Epcot, and have seen it at the Magic Kingdom resorts as well.

I remember staying at the Contemp. and at times not being able to find a parking spot at our resort until after Magic Kingdom closed. This also happens at the BW at night, yeah, I know we can valet it, but sometimes we don't feel like valeting it again. We've stayed at the Okw by the main pool, and for some reason, not been able to find a parking spot in our lot. It gets a bit frustrating not to be able to park at your OWN resort. I don't see the problem with reminding DVCers not to use the other resorts parking lots if they are going to the parks, and not using the resorts pools or restaraunts.

 

[DebbieB]

It wasn't that long ago that we could valet park for free at any resort (DVC or otherwise)..Then we were told we would only be able to valet park for free at DVC resorts.

Before a year ago, anyone could valet park free at any resort, it wasn't a DVC only perk. Then they started charging $6, DVC announced an exception for DVC members at DVC resorts.

 

[Pa@okw95]

A perk is a perk wether it is for all resorts or just DVC. I rarely take the abus and I am not going to start now. i spend an hour to two hours at the parks and I am out of there. I don't plan on spending an hour or more waiting and riding buses. It is like waiting 45 minutes in line to go on a ride that lasts 2 minutes at Fantasy land. Sorry not me. They are very quickly going to have it so a lot of us will just spend time at OKW and that is it. Quite frankly I have been thinking of doing just that anyway.
Years ago I waited over 45 minutes for buses, seen customers explode over the long waits. That ended it for me. The only place I take a bus is to Animal Kingdom. If you think riding on over crowded buses and waiting for them is something that guests should have to put up with that is fine, but it is not my idea of a vacation.
Sorry, but the bus situation especially during mid-day at OKW is outrageous now and always will be, not for me. I just soon sit by the pool.

 

[MarkRG]

And for this announcement, I am glad! We had an impossible time parking at our home resort, BWV, upon arrival two trips ago. We complained heavily. Last time, the lot was only 3/4 full due to the fact that this policy was being enforced there. And it's not a new policy. You're first seeing a reminder of it now.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm sorry you are so upset, Pa@okw95. No one has suggested that you take the bus instead of driving, just that you are not entitled to park in one of the resort parking lots when you are going to a theme park. Just park in the theme park lots!

If you disagree, then you and I will have to agree to disagree.

 

[Pa@okw95]

The way to end the parking problem at some key resorts parking areas is to make it so you have to valet park if you drive in and are not a guest of that particular resort. The rest of the parking areas can easily have gates that only allow guests of the resort to park in open areas.
What everyone is missing with me is that I valet park wherever I go. I just refuse to start paying $6 for something I used to do for free. I give the valet $5 by the way, but now I only park at DVC resorts. What I don't want to have to go through is the 3rd degree at the gate when I want to get into a DVC resort, I am a member after all.
I usually eat at the resort I am parking at also but that usually follows a hour of two at one of the parks, not counting Animal Kingdom of course.
I will park at other resorts when I intended on eating or drinking at their resort which I also do often. That WDW does not have a problem with anyway. I often do this at the Poly-they give me some kind of note with a time limit which is fine with me, but I no longer valet park there because of the $6 fee.
Now to repeat myself I learned early on that the bus situation at OKW especially during the middle of the day when I want to return is beyond what I call acceptable. I refuse to go that route as so many other members I am sure.
Next they will take the free valet parking away--then I sit by the pool in the glorious Florida winter sun.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by MarkRG
And for this announcement, I am glad! We had an impossible time parking at our home resort, BWV, upon arrival two trips ago. We complained heavily. Last time, the lot was only 3/4 full due to the fact that this policy was being enforced there. And it's not a new policy. You're first seeing a reminder of it now.

As a BWV member, I'm glad to hear that. But I don't think it was DVC members crowding the lot, it was offsite people. When we stay there and have a hard time finding a space, I look at the dashboards of the cars parked, 90% had no WDW parking permit (any resort) That's where the big problem is, that was always my gripe.

 

[Peterd]

"90% had no WDW parking permit (any resort)"

Debbie, I totally agree. We have seen this too many times to count. Our family Had a road rage experience from someone trying to take our spot, when we were just straightening out our van. They were almost late for illuminations,and not staying in a Disney resort. How dare us, for looking like we were leaving when we weren't.

Pa@okw95, I'm sorry you hate the buses to Okw so much, and refuse to ride them. Our kids use the buses once in awhile to go to Disneyquest, but that's it. I would say the buses are the same at all of the DVC resorts, and wouldn't just single out the Okw buses. We've had way to many bad experiences with them, and choose to drive, walk, or take the boat to the parks instead. It is nice to know we still have the option to take a bus if we ever needed one though.
You say you drive your car to the other resorts, park, use the parks, then later eat at one of the restaraunts. Why not just drive to the parks with your' own car, then go to the resort of your choice for food later? You can get your' "free" valet parking then. What's the big deal?
Have you ever had a problem parking in YOUR resort? Until you have had to circle your parking lot for 10 minutes looking for a spot, knowing that there are a lot of cars taking spots that are just park hopping, I guess you probably wouldn't understand why they made this rule. Guests at that hotel should take priority. Oops! should have said In my opinion.
Parking is free at the parks for resort guests, and you don't have to deal with buses, so why not use that option?
There has to be a reason that this is now being brought to our attention.

"A perk is a perk wether it is for all resorts or just DVC"

Again, I don't think this was EVER a perk. It was a nice scam some of us found out about. I know,........ we used to do it at the Contemp. or Poly. Too many people figured this out also, and it became a problem. That's why they had to put the rules in writing for us. If it's not in writing, must be legal. Letting us know before our next trip, is a good thing, isn't it? Saves the embarassment later on at the gate.

"What everyone is missing with me is that I valet park wherever I go. I just refuse to start paying $6 for something I used to do for free. "

Don't pay it! DVC free, and others you get a 2 or 3 hour pass if you park yourself. Why is it so bad to give the guests at THAT resort guaranteed parking? Again, there must have been a lot complaints to send this memo out. I'm glad they did this.

 

[brittsmum1998]

With BWV's as my home resort, I'm so glad to see this memo go out. I don't know how many times I've heard and seen people walk thru just to take the boat to Epcot or the studios. It is horrible to be able to find a parking space. Not to mention after being at the parks at night having to wait for a boat only to see it packed w/ people who walk right thru out to the parking lot. Don't flame me BUT isn't that why we pay higher dues? LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. If people want to use the amenities at the other resorts let em pay for it. Maybe they need a service where if they go to the Boardwalk etc to eat dinner or whatever....they can turn in their slip upon leaving and receive there parking "fee" back.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

BWI/V parking lot is going to continue to be a problem for guests of this resort. The Boardwalk is an attraction and within that context many, many people expect to be able to drive themselves to the BWI and find a parking place.

Switch the parking areas. Make those closest to the resort operate only with a room key and make the one across the street open to general parking.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I am truely sorry you have had long waits IN THE PAST for OKW buses, but we have been members at OKW for 5 plus years, and I can honestly say we have NEVER waited more than 15-20 minutes for a bus. Even on New Years Eve 1999 after Illuminations, we only waited 10 minutes at Epcot. Some in our party drove from the lot. The drivers got back to OKW more than an hour later than those of us who took the bus. Try it again. You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I am truely sorry you have had long waits IN THE PAST for OKW buses, but we have been members at OKW for 5 plus years, and I can honestly say we have NEVER waited more than 15-20 minutes for a bus.

During our trip to OKW Aug 14-24, we had tremendous luck with the buses. We waited about 15 minutes once, but every other time we never waited more than 7 - 10 minutes. We stayed in Turtle Pond, and I timed the trip to each park. Magic Kingdom in 22 minutes. Epcot in 17 minutes. Animal Kingdom in 25 minutes (this was the only trip where we had to stop somehwhere else first-Blizzard Beach). Only one bus in 10 days was so crowded we could not sit down, and that was a MK bus one morning. Picking up the buses at the parks was just as worry free.

 

[Regina]

Over the course of 10 years, I have seen many changes in the bus transportation at OKW, and it's vastly improved.

At first, we shared buses with the Disney Institute (or whatever it was called back then.) We'd rumble through that resort, and rarely find anyone waiting for the bus. Fortunately, that ended.

It sounds like you used the buses during the next phase, when afternoon transportation was scaled down. They did hand out schedules during that time so you knew when the bus would be available. That also ended.

The current bus schedule is great!

As others have stated, the free valet parking at DVC resorts is an added benefit for members.

 

[Tigger7570]

We've been members at OKW since 93 and I too remember when they used to go through the Disney Institute. We chose to drive everywhere now, but I won't hesitate to take the buses again. We visit BW every time we go which is twice a year, but have never thought of using the parking lot to go to Epcot or MGM. We go over to do the Boardwalk and sometimes have dinner, other times just stroll and do the shops and have a snack. We also go to the Poly and Contemp and I admit we will go into the MK from one of these, but we also eat and shop in these resorts. I agree that the guests of these resorts should be able to park, after all they are paying to stay there, but like someone else mentioned maybe they could come up with a better system. I still want to visit these resorts and usually other than the Poly we are quite a distance out and I don't mind that. I really enjoy these resorts and spend money in them but I definitely don't want the people staying there to be frustrated about the parking. Because I have been at OKW for the past nine years, I was aware of how bad the parking had gotten for the guests of these resorts. Let's hope they come up with a solution for all of us.

 

[Tigger7570]

Sorry, meant to say I was unaware not aware.

 

[Mickey_UK]

I think you were very lucky with your bus schedule.
we waited for 1 hour at OKW for a bus to animal kingdom back in may(from 10am)after 1/2 hour we asked the bus driver heading for MK to radio in to find out what had happened,he did, but no reason given and said the bus would be hear shortly,it took another 1/2 hour