Parking, transportation question

[jthornton94]

not sure what forum to put this under. I have an Illuminations cruise booked that is a surprise for my family. We are staying at Pop Century. I am wondering the best was to get to the marina without having to spill the beans. Luckily we have reservations at Beaches and Cream as well. I know using Disney transportation from one hotel to another is very time consuming. If we drive, can we park with our dinner reservations so I won't have to mention the cruise? Is there a time limit on parking? I didn't want to tell the family until shortly before we board. We have never been to the Boardwalk area before.

 

[seashoreCM]

You may park at Beach Club or Yacht Club or Boardwalk for cruises that depart from those resorts. If you have dinner and then take the cruise from the same resort you may park there all the while.

The parking guard may ask what you will be doing or how long you expect to be there. If he does then you may be forced to confess within earshot of your family that you are going on the cruise.

After you get back or if there is a time span between dinner and cruise, if/when you leave the resort you must drive out.

You may not park at resorts (such as Port Orleans) and take boats that drop you off elsewhere (such as Downtown Disney) to spend considerable time and then take a boat (or bus) back.

Exception: Unless pointed out to your otherwise by the valet as you enter, say, during a busy time whereupon you may instead of paying him beat a hasty retreat, valet parking covers the whole day even if you leave the resort, and includes free hopping to other resorts with valet parking.

 

[ELSA711]

Can someone tell me what parking at the different parks is like comparable to taking the buses.
We may be driving this year to WDW and it seems like parking your car at the various lots seems like a further walk to each park entrance then just taking the buses...what has your experience been like? Seems like a 'wash' for time.

 

[wdwrich]

Can someone tell me what parking at the different parks is like comparable to taking the buses.
We may be driving this year to WDW and it seems like parking your car at the various lots seems like a further walk to each park entrance then just taking the buses...what has your experience been like? Seems like a 'wash' for time.

We have a rental car on our visits and we find it much more efficient to drive to all the parks except MK. For MK, it's a toss-up as to whether a bus or driving is better. We actually split our group up one time with some of us driving and some taking the bus from POR. We all arrived at the MK gates within a minute or so of each other.

 

[staceyeileen]

You may park at Beach Club or Yacht Club or Boardwalk for cruises that depart from those resorts. If you have dinner and then take the cruise from the same resort you may park there all the while.

The parking guard may ask what you will be doing or how long you expect to be there. If he does then you may be forced to confess within earshot of your family that you are going on the cruise.

After you get back or if there is a time span between dinner and cruise, if/when you leave the resort you must drive out.

You may not park at resorts (such as Port Orleans) and take boats that drop you off elsewhere (such as Downtown Disney) to spend considerable time and then take a boat (or bus) back.

Exception: Unless pointed out to your otherwise by the valet as you enter, say, during a busy time whereupon you may instead of paying him beat a hasty retreat, valet parking covers the whole day even if you leave the resort, and includes free hopping to other resorts with valet parking.

Wow. You're saying if there is 30 min between dinner and the cruise they have to leave the parking lot and then come back later? No way. This post states many things as fact that in practice are not stated rules anywhere nor are they enforced. Take it with a grain of salt, OP. You won't be "forced to confess" anything.

Here is how it works in practice. Tell the parking attendant you are parking there for your Beaches & Cream reservation and they'll let you in.

 

[Hootch]

If you are arriving early in the morning at DAK, DHS or Epcot, you can get a fairly close parking spot. You can choose to use a tram or walk. There are a number of handicap and reserved spaces toward the front so a tram may be necessary. Depending on where you park at the resort, it is usually faster to drive to these lots. One exception I have noticed is DAK for an AM EMH. The booths don't seem to open until 20 minutes or so before park opening. Taking a bus will get you closer to the gate.

It is better to drive to the MK. You have to park and take a tram to the T&TC. There you have to take the monorail or the ferry. Usually you will have to wait for these as the T&TC is crowded in the morning.

 

[disnut8]

The parking guard may ask what you will be doing or how long you expect to be there. If he does then you may be forced to confess within earshot of your family that you are going on the cruise.

You can just write a note in case that happens (prepared beforehand) and hand it to the security guard if you are asked. Include the message that the cruise is a surprise for the family.

 

[disnut8]

Wow. You're saying if there is 30 min between dinner and the cruise they have to leave the parking lot and then come back later? No way. This post states many things as fact that in practice are not stated rules anywhere nor are they enforced. Take it with a grain of salt, OP. You won't be "forced to confess" anything.

Here is how it works in practice. Tell the parking attendant you are parking there for your Beaches & Cream reservation and they'll let you in.

I think the intent was to caution people not to make a dinner reservation or a lunch reservation for 4:30 or 2:00 and then expect to be able to park at the resort for the remainder of the night. Disney has the right to ask guests not staying at a resort so close to Epcot to move their vehicles. Otherwise, give an inch and others will take that very long mile.

 

[staceyeileen]

I think the intent was to caution people not to make a dinner reservation or a lunch reservation for 4:30 or 2:00 and then expect to be able to park at the resort for the remainder of the night. Disney has the right to ask guests not staying at a resort so close to Epcot to move their vehicles. Otherwise, give an inch and others will take that very long mile.

The OP already said they have a dinner reservation followed by the cruise. Both of those are valid reasons for parking at the resort.