Question about parking at Grand Californian

[DougK]

I know that valet parking is free for handicapped people at Walt Disney World resorts but I have not been able to find if that also hold true for Grand Californian. We will be staying on DVC points.

Thanks.

 

[Frederic Civish]

I have stayed at Grand Californian with DVC points. Standard Parking is free with DVC, whether it is a villa or an exchange into a hotel room. However, I cannot tell you about Valet or Valet for handicapped. I THINK it will be covered, but you should call Grand Californian directly and ask them. I BELIEVE the phone number for Disneyland Resort Hotels is 714-300-7526

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have stayed at VGC and here is my experience. Free parking for handicapped, but the spaces are rarely available. So then they allowed free valet, that is what we did. This was me, and my son who uses a WC and is mentally disabled. We did not use the car much, I think one day we used it during our stay, both times no HC parking, had to valet. When we checked out, they charged me for the valet. When I asked at the desk,they said it was my responsibility to try and remove my car from valet and into a HC spot each day. I said so each day I should look for an available spot, with my son in his WC, and if I find one, pull my car from valet, (hoping space is still there), load my son and his WC into the car, move car to HC spot. Okay....... but I had no way of knowing this was the policy. They waived the fees "this time".

I was on points.(I am not sure if the free parking for HC for all GC guests is the rule, or it is just for DVC on point reservation.) The above situation was a few years ago, and it is possible policy has changed, or the CM I was dealing with was misinformed. I was very confused, but I guess it makes sense. My problem was that while it would be not THAT hard for me alone, to dash down in the evening and try and move my car out of valet, it is complicated for me because I often travel alone with my special needs adult son, and taking him down to look for parking spaces 1-2X a day would be annoying but if that is the policy, that is the policy for everyone. I think because in our case, he uses a WC at the parks, we might just park across the street, because it is probably easier for us (but not for all of course) and leave the few HC spots for those who need it more than us, and skip the valet option.

 

[DougK]

I have stayed at VGC and here is my experience. Free parking for handicapped, but the spaces are rarely available. So then they allowed free valet, that is what we did. This was me, and my son who uses a WC and is mentally disabled. We did not use the car much, I think one day we used it during our stay, both times no HC parking, had to valet. When we checked out, they charged me for the valet. When I asked at the desk,they said it was my responsibility to try and remove my car from valet and into a HC spot each day. I said so each day I should look for an available spot, with my son in his WC, and if I find one, pull my car from valet, (hoping space is still there), load my son and his WC into the car, move car to HC spot. Okay....... but I had no way of knowing this was the policy. They waived the fees "this time".

I was on points.(I am not sure if the free parking for HC for all GC guests is the rule, or it is just for DVC on point reservation.) The above situation was a few years ago, and it is possible policy has changed, or the CM I was dealing with was misinformed. I was very confused, but I guess it makes sense. My problem was that while it would be not THAT hard for me alone, to dash down in the evening and try and move my car out of valet, it is complicated for me because I often travel alone with my special needs adult son, and taking him down to look for parking spaces 1-2X a day would be annoying but if that is the policy, that is the policy for everyone. I think because in our case, he uses a WC at the parks, we might just park across the street, because it is probably easier for us (but not for all of course) and leave the few HC spots for those who need it more than us, and skip the valet option.

Wow what a weird policy.. and such an inconvenience. Thanks for your reply.