Quesion: Epcot, Illuninations, Cape May, Parking and a slow mom

[mousefan73]

ok I know I am overly thinking/planning this.. but...

on Labor Day we have a 645 pm res for Cape May. We plan on doing Epcot a few hours before and after dinner catch illuminations. I will have my mom with who is slow and am trying to find the most efficient Walking wise..

My plan was to park at Epcot around 3pm and slowly make our way through the park to Cape May. Stopping here and there. Dinner is at 6:45pm..

1. Will be be done by 9ish to catch illuminations.
2. will they let us back in just before 9pm if we are running late.
3. if we are running late can you see illuminations from just outside the intl. Gateway enterance.
4. are there places to sit outside ( mom)
5. Is it really only 5 min/ 10 max from cape may to Epcot??

This brings me then to my next issue. would it make more sense then to park at Beach Club? I might be stretching the "rules" but will they notice/care ( I know, I know parking Police ) if we park around 3/4pm to brieflty do Epcot, eat and then check out illunations?

This idea came up when reallizing what happens if we cant get back into Epcot and our car is there?! We could just do the Disney buses, but we will be coming from Blizzar Beach

 

[Missyrose]

ok I know I am overly thinking/planning this.. but... on Labor Day we have a 645 pm res for Cape May. We plan on doing Epcot a few hours before and after dinner catch illuminations. I will have my mom with who is slow and am trying to find the most efficient Walking wise.. My plan was to park at Epcot around 3pm and slowly make our way through the park to Cape May. Stopping here and there. Dinner is at 6:45pm.. 1. Will be be done by 9ish to catch illuminations. 2. will they let us back in just before 9pm if we are running late. 3. if we are running late can you see illuminations from just outside the intl. Gateway enterance. 4. are there places to sit outside ( mom) 5. Is it really only 5 min/ 10 max from cape may to Epcot?? This brings me then to my next issue. would it make more sense then to park at Beach Club? I might be stretching the "rules" but will they notice/care ( I know, I know parking Police ) if we park around 3/4pm to brieflty do Epcot, eat and then check out illunations? This idea came up when reallizing what happens if we cant get back into Epcot and our car is there?! We could just do the Disney buses, but we will be coming from Blizzar Beach

You can valet your car at Beach Club, then you'd have no problem leaving it for that long.

 

[cleophus12]

If your mom has walking issues, that's a really long walk from the front of the park to Cape May although a 3:45 arrival leaves you plenty of time. I am unfamiliar with the valet parking at BC allowing you to stay parked there for awhile, but maybe that is a good option. I thought you could only stay parked at a resort you are dining at for 3 hours, but perhaps that is different with valet parking. If you can valet at BC, that sounds like a good idea. There is no reason you shouldn't be finished with dinner and back into Epcot well before 9. Dinner won't take that long. There is not really a place outside of the park to see all of Illuminations. To see the whole show, you need to be inside the park. There are a few places to sit, but you need to get there early to snag one. Coming into the park at the last minute won't help you with that issue. You can FP+ Illuminations now, but I don't think that provides a seating area other than on the concrete. I could be wrong about that.

 

[LSchrow]

ok I know I am overly thinking/planning this.. but...

on Labor Day we have a 645 pm res for Cape May. We plan on doing Epcot a few hours before and after dinner catch illuminations. I will have my mom with who is slow and am trying to find the most efficient Walking wise..

My plan was to park at Epcot around 3pm and slowly make our way through the park to Cape May. Stopping here and there. Dinner is at 6:45pm..

1. Will be be done by 9ish to catch illuminations.
2. will they let us back in just before 9pm if we are running late.
3. if we are running late can you see illuminations from just outside the intl. Gateway enterance.
4. are there places to sit outside ( mom)
5. Is it really only 5 min/ 10 max from cape may to Epcot??

This brings me then to my next issue. would it make more sense then to park at Beach Club? I might be stretching the "rules" but will they notice/care ( I know, I know parking Police ) if we park around 3/4pm to brieflty do Epcot, eat and then check out illunations?

This idea came up when reallizing what happens if we cant get back into Epcot and our car is there?! We could just do the Disney buses, but we will be coming from Blizzar Beach

ditto what missyrose said:
just valet park at the BC.
EPCOT IG is about a 10m walk from the BC lobby. although you will have a comparatively short walk to IG, it's still quite a walk to the front of EPCOT (FW) and back, if you wish to go on attractions there.
you can see the upper (and maybe glimpses of lower) fireworks from the bridge between BC & BW, but definitely not the entire show. there aren't places to sit on that bridge, but are quite a few along the BW, and by IG.
as long as you have a valid pass, you can still enter thru IG while illuminations is on.
since it appears the majority of your plans are focused on the EPCOT WS area, valet parking at the BC is the most viable option, imho

 

[ses1230]

I agree with the previous posters. In your situation I think valet parking at BC is the best idea.

 

[Robo]

 

[Bete]

I think for your mom's sake you should choose a restaurant in WS and forego Cape May. All you are going to do is frustrate yourself and her otherwise.

If eating at Cape May is more important to you than seeing Illuminations then skip Illuminations.

Try for an earlier reservation for Cape May. Give yourself more leeway. If earlier times are booked right now then keep checking back for a cancellation. The 45 day mark before your trip is the best time to check for a different reservation time.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree with the PPs that I would either valet park at the BC or I would forgo Cape May Cafe and get an ADR for a venue inside of WS. There are lots of very good restaurants inside Epcot's WS. Then you wouldn't have to worry about getting back into Epcot in time or walking very far (in some cases) to find a spot to watch IllumiNations.

1. Will be be done by 9ish to catch illuminations.

I would generally allow about 60-75 minutes for a buffet TS meal. So, if all goes well, you should finish before 9:00 pm with a 6:45 pm ADR.

2. will they let us back in just before 9pm if we are running late.

As long as you get to the gate before 9:00 pm, yes, they will let you back into the park.

3. if we are running late can you see illuminations from just outside the intl. Gateway enterance.

You can see some of the higher fireworks bursts, but for the most part, no you cannot see IllumiNations from outside of WS. You'll be able to hear the fireworks burst and some of the music.

4. are there places to sit outside ( mom)

Outside of Epcot? No, not really. There are some bench areas to sit, but you won't be able to see much of IllumiNations. Within Epcot, there are some benches from which you can watch IllumiNations, but my guess is those go pretty fast and you probably won't get one at the last minute.

5. Is it really only 5 min/ 10 max from cape may to Epcot??

I'd say closer to 10 minutes, but yes, an average adult can walk it in 5-10 minutes. It's about a quarter of a mile from the IG to the BC.

This brings me then to my next issue. would it make more sense then to park at Beach Club? I might be stretching the "rules" but will they notice/care ( I know, I know parking Police ) if we park around 3/4pm to brieflty do Epcot, eat and then check out illunations?

Yes, if you valet the car you're free to leave it there as long as you'd like. As to whether of not they'll care, the answer is maybe. I've been at the BC when the guards were checking everyone's name against their ADR list and if you didn't have one, they suggested you park over at the Hess Station or valet parked. So in this case, if you have a 6:45 pm ADR and try to park around 3:00 pm, you would have been directed elsewhere.

 

[MHSweb79]

When we had a dinner at Cape May and were travelling with my MIL, we drove to the Beach Club and asked the attendant if we could park there. He said the parking lot was pretty empty and go right in. We were quite willing to use the valet but on this particular night, it wasn't necessary.

I would go ahead and plan to park at the Boardwalk. You get 3 hours parking with your dinner reservation, so this should be fine for dining and seeing Illuminations from the United Kingdom/ France area. If you're concerned about going over the time limit, let the parking lot attendant know your plans and offer to use the valet. It would be well worth the money (around $15) and save a ton of walking.

 

[figment_jii]

I would go ahead and plan to park at the Boardwalk.

I would not park at the Boardwalk for the OP's situation for a couple of reasons:

Firstly, Cape May Cafe is located at the Beach Club. The walk from the self parking area of the Boardwalk to the BC is about 0.7 miles. So, that's an additional amount of walking that is not be needed if the OP valet parks at the Beach Club.

Secondly, like all resort parking areas, the Boardwalk parking lots are meant for guests that are enjoying the amenities of that resort. The OP isn't going to be doing anything at the Boardwalk, so parking there seems unfair to the guests of the Boardwalk. As it stands, the Boardwalk self parking lot isn't the big. The OP could park at the lot behind the Hess Station, but that isn't very close and won't save her MIL any walking.

 

[mousefan73]

Thanks for all the replies. Good to know that valet is an option. Right now our plan is not to go back to POR and leave the car. My main concern was parking at Epcot and then not getting back in if things run late and then what. My mom is fit, but just slow, walks slow, smells the flowers and needs occasional breaks.

We havent also been in that area of WDW. So most likely we will valet and maybe check more of the Beach Club/YQ out and if we are in the mood do Epcot. Our main thing was to try Cape May and I was thinking as Epcot is sooo close tie that in. We just dont want to be rushed.

I am really liking the idea of NOT having to walk back through FW, especially as 9pm is the closing time, so no rides will be open in that direction. and it is a hike for anyone, especially end of the day after BB, eating and Epcot.

 

[figment_jii]

I am really liking the idea of NOT having to walk back through FW, especially as 9pm is the closing time, so no rides will be open in that direction. and it is a hike for anyone, especially end of the day after BB, eating and Epcot.

While none of the rides are open, Mousegear (the main shop) will stay open for about an hour. Likewise, I do like to "hang out" after IllumiNations and watch the park empty out and then slowly make my way out of the park.