parking

[Ariel620]

Hello,
I have a complicated parking question.

We will have a rental car and pretty sure we get free parking at Grand Californian from July 28-30 since we have a DVC points stay (we are DVC members, own at AKL). However, we also will be driving to property on July 26 for a 1pm reservation at StoryTellers cafe. I see that comes with 3 hours free valet parking, but what's the best option if we want to stay longer than 3 hours? We are planning to walk around Downtown Disney after StoryTellers, and don't plan to be done with lunch plus shopping in 3 hours.

Could we use our lunch reservation for a longer parking amount if we don't use valet (self-park at hotel)? Or is there anyway to use our DVC stay to park 2 days early? Or is there no way to do this to park at the hotel and instead we should use the regular downtown disney parking (I'm hoping for other suggestions!).

Thanks

 

[ParkHopper1]

Your July 28 reservation will have no bering on the July 26th trip...no benefits are extend beyond reservation dates.

Resort Hotels restaurants do not validate for DTD parking lot but you can get a 3 hour validation with any $20 DTD purchase which sounds like you will meet if shopping.

So your options are Valet and pay for extra time, DTD lot and pay rack rate as a regular visitor, or park in the one of the Garages for $30 and take the tram in.

DTD lot with the 3 hours towards validation after shopping purchase would be my vote.

 

[Ariel620]

Your July 28 reservation will have no bering on the July 26th trip...no benefits are extend beyond reservation dates.

Resort Hotels restaurants do not validate for DTD parking lot but you can get a 3 hour validation with any $20 DTD purchase which sounds like you will meet if shopping.

So your options are Valet and pay for extra time, DTD lot and pay rack rate as a regular visitor, or park in the one of the Garages for $30 and take the tram in.

DTD lot with the 3 hours towards validation after shopping purchase would be my vote.

ParkHopper, do you know if there is any restaurant validation if I self-park at the GrandCalifornian? And how much it might cost to have extra time with self-park?

 

[pigletliz]

According to the website, regular self-parking at the hotel is $35 per night. Dining at Storytellers gets you complimentary parking at the hotel for 3 hours. If you want to stay longer than 3 hours, you may want to call the hotel directly to find out the cost. It looks like $10 for each additional hour.

From the site:

Rates for Guests Visiting Select Restaurants at Hotels of the Disneyland Resort:

• Storytellers Cafe: 3 hours complimentary parking—your choice of valet or self-parking—with restaurant validation at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Daily Standard Rates:

• Self-parking: $35 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $75

 

[DLgal]

How long, total do you estimate you will spend between eating and DtD? That will impact my answer to you.

 

[Ariel620]

How long, total do you estimate you will spend between eating and DtD? That will impact my answer to you.

I'm not sure, maybe just a few hours for shopping, or we may even stay until the live entertainment (Hard Day's Night plays at 6:30 and that sounds fun)

 

[DLgal]

I'm not sure, maybe just a few hours for shopping, or we may even stay until the live entertainment (Hard Day's Night plays at 6:30 and that sounds fun)

Okay, so my suggestion would be the following (assuming you will buy SOMETHING at Downtown Disney)

Park at the Grand. Get your 3 hours. At the 3 hour mark, send one person to move the car to the Downtown Disney lot. You will pay $10 for the first hour. Take your parking ticket with you when you exit the car. Simply make a purchase totaling $20 or more from ONE DtD mercant for an additional 3 free hours. Remember to get the ticket validated at purchase. This way, you can get 7 hours of parking for $10 plus a $20 purchase.

If this sounds like too much of a pain, you can leave the car parked at Grand and pay the additional per hr over the 3, although keep in mind, that first hour will be $35, not $10. You get 3 free hours and then the clock starts like you didn't dine there, so $35 for first hour plus $10/hr thereafter maxed out at $75/day.

Parking in the Mickey and Friends structure is $30 for the whole day and is another option.

Keep in mind, when leaving DtD, the self parking at the Grand is NOT actually at the Grand, it's across the street between Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneyland hotel. The DtD lot is literally steps away from Grand self parking. So, moving the car to DtD lot at some point will not change how far you have to travel at the end of the day.

 

[Ariel620]

Okay, so my suggestion would be the following (assuming you will buy SOMETHING at Downtown Disney)

Park at the Grand. Get your 3 hours. At the 3 hour mark, send one person to move the car to the Downtown Disney lot. You will pay $10 for the first hour. Take your parking ticket with you when you exit the car. Simply make a purchase totaling $20 or more from ONE DtD mercant for an additional 3 free hours. Remember to get the ticket validated at purchase. This way, you can get 7 hours of parking for $10 plus a $20 purchase.

If this sounds like too much of a pain, you can leave the car parked at Grand and pay the additional per hr over the 3, although keep in mind, that first hour will be $35, not $10. You get 3 free hours and then the clock starts like you didn't dine there, so $35 for first hour plus $10/hr thereafter maxed out at $75/day.

Parking in the Mickey and Friends structure is $30 for the whole day and is another option.

Keep in mind, when leaving DtD, the self parking at the Grand is NOT actually at the Grand, it's across the street between Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneyland hotel. The DtD lot is literally steps away from Grand self parking. So, moving the car to DtD lot at some point will not change how far you have to travel at the end of the day.

Wow, this is all great information. Thank you so much for the details. This is our first trip to DL so I appreciate it!

 

[Ariel620]

Okay, so my suggestion would be the following (assuming you will buy SOMETHING at Downtown Disney)

Park at the Grand. Get your 3 hours. At the 3 hour mark, send one person to move the car to the Downtown Disney lot. You will pay $10 for the first hour. Take your parking ticket with you when you exit the car. Simply make a purchase totaling $20 or more from ONE DtD mercant for an additional 3 free hours. Remember to get the ticket validated at purchase. This way, you can get 7 hours of parking for $10 plus a $20 purchase.

If this sounds like too much of a pain, you can leave the car parked at Grand and pay the additional per hr over the 3, although keep in mind, that first hour will be $35, not $10. You get 3 free hours and then the clock starts like you didn't dine there, so $35 for first hour plus $10/hr thereafter maxed out at $75/day.

Parking in the Mickey and Friends structure is $30 for the whole day and is another option.

Keep in mind, when leaving DtD, the self parking at the Grand is NOT actually at the Grand, it's across the street between Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneyland hotel. The DtD lot is literally steps away from Grand self parking. So, moving the car to DtD lot at some point will not change how far you have to travel at the end of the day.

This worked perfect and we did exactly this, we parked at GC, got our free 3 hrs for the dining reservation, then moved the car and got 4 more hours for just $10 with a validated purchase from downtown disney! Thanks for the great info!

 

[DLgal]

This worked perfect and we did exactly this, we parked at GC, got our free 3 hrs for the dining reservation, then moved the car and got 4 more hours for just $10 with a validated purchase from downtown disney! Thanks for the great info!

Glad it worked our for you!