Resorts/Parking/Boat Transportation

[merlin307]

Hi

I asked Disney a few questions directly as I was getting conficting information and thought I would post the response I got to help any fellow fans

My original questions

Message:
I will be visiting Walt Disney Word in Orlando from Scotland, in a few
weeks and will be staying off site. I want to experience the resorts in
WDW so will be visiting (when not in the theme parks) and I have a
couple of questions

Is there a parking charge at the resorts (e.g. Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin)?
Disney Response "Please know that there is no charge for parking at any of our hotels."
Can the shuttle launches (e.g. fom Boardwalk to Epcot) be used with a
valid theme park ticket or do you need to be a Disney resort guest?
Disney Response "It may interest you to know the Walt Disney World Resort transportation system is designed to transport guests between the Disney theme parks and resorts. There are also boats, buses, and monorails that operate between the individual theme parks; the cost for this service is
included in the price of a regular admission. Therefore, there is no
"add-on" price to use Disney transportation."
Can you access Boardwalk directly from Epcot on foot (is see from aerial
maps that there is a walkway but is this controlled by security for
hotel/resort guests only or can you walk to the resorts with a valid
theme park pass?
Disney Response "You can access Disney's Boardwalk on foot from Epcot. "

Marshall

 

[Netty]

Great! Thanks for this info, its answered a few things i wanted to know

 

[Goofyish]

A few clarifications for you:

Hi

I asked Disney a few questions directly as I was getting conficting information and thought I would post the response I got to help any fellow fans

My original questions

Message:
I will be visiting Walt Disney Word in Orlando from Scotland, in a few
weeks and will be staying off site. I want to experience the resorts in
WDW so will be visiting (when not in the theme parks) and I have a
couple of questions

Is there a parking charge at the resorts (e.g. Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin)?
Disney Response "Please know that there is no charge for parking at any of our hotels."
There is no parking charges at Disney owned resorts (unless you use valet parking). The Swan and Dolphin are not owned by Disney and charge for parking. $9 plus tax per day, $16 plus tax for overnight.
Can the shuttle launches (e.g. fom Boardwalk to Epcot) be used with a
valid theme park ticket or do you need to be a Disney resort guest?
Disney Response "It may interest you to know the Walt Disney World Resort transportation system is designed to transport guests between the Disney theme parks and resorts. There are also boats, buses, and monorails that operate between the individual theme parks; the cost for this service is
included in the price of a regular admission. Therefore, there is no
"add-on" price to use Disney transportation."
Spot on
Apart from the Epcot resorts (Friendship boats) and MK resorts (monorail), there is no direct Disney transport between resorts though, or from DTD to the parks.
Can you access Boardwalk directly from Epcot on foot (is see from aerial
maps that there is a walkway but is this controlled by security for
hotel/resort guests only or can you walk to the resorts with a valid
theme park pass?
Disney Response "You can access Disney's Boardwalk on foot from Epcot. "
You exit Epcot via the International Gateway which is between the UK and France showcases. There are normal entry/exit turnstiles at the exit, so you will need a valid park pass to re-enter Epcot here.

Marshall

 

[merlin307]

Thanks for the updates and clarification - i thought the Disney response was a wee bit vague

 

[poffles]

... holy cow ... so for every day you stay there and have a vehicle you have an additional $16 charge ?!! That's something I wasn't expecting.

They don't mention that when you make the room reservations, that would have been an awful shock and probably would have been a bad way to start the vacation just learning that upon arrival.

I just booked for 8 days, now I have to add this cost to the budget. I think that is terrible.

So are there any other costs I need to be aware of?

 

[Danauk]

Just to clafiry a few things for you. The deluxe resorts near to the parks can be strict on parking, the parking there is for the use of people staying at the resorts and those visiting for meals or to look around. If you are there for a meal or to look around you will be issued with a 2 hour parking permit. This is because some people try to avoid the parking charges in the theme park car parks and want to park at a deluxe resort and use the transport in to the parks.

To clarify your 2nd question, anyone with a WDW ticket may use any of the transportation available between the parks. However you will need to have paid for parking at a resort or have parked at DTD to start with (the parking at hotels for more than a few hours is only for the use of guests paying to stay there.)

I think Tim answered number 3. We stay at the Beach Club Villas when we go to WDW and use this enterence all the time. We also walk beween Epcot and MGM using the walkway. If you are in Epcot or MGM you can use this walkway to visit the Epcot resort hotels. If you want to do this I highly recommend a call in to the Beach Club to the icecream parlour to try a kitchen sink!!

 

[merlin307]

Just to clafiry a few things for you. The deluxe resorts near to the parks can be strict on parking, the parking there is for the use of people staying at the resorts and those visiting for meals or to look around. If you are there for a meal or to look around you will be issued with a 2 hour parking permit. This is because some people try to avoid the parking charges in the theme park car parks and want to park at a deluxe resort and use the transport in to the parks.

To clarify your 2nd question, anyone with a WDW ticket may use any of the transportation available between the parks. However you will need to have paid for parking at a resort or have parked at DTD to start with (the parking at hotels for more than a few hours is only for the use of guests paying to stay there.)

I think Tim answered number 3. We stay at the Beach Club Villas when we go to WDW and use this enterence all the time. We also walk beween Epcot and MGM using the walkway. If you are in Epcot or MGM you can use this walkway to visit the Epcot resort hotels. If you want to do this I highly recommend a call in to the Beach Club to the icecream parlour to try a kitchen sink!!

Kitchen Sink?????? I am intrigued...........

 

[wifey]

It's literally a kitchen sink filled with ice cream I think there's a photo on the food thread on the restaurants boards.

 

[Netty]

Kitchen Sink?????? I am intrigued...........

Heres the one we ate...

 

[merlin307]

Heres the one we ate...

this has now been added to the list of must do's