Resorts Preview By Non DVC - Parking

[TinkAgainU]

We are planning to fly in and spend a few days Resort Hoping (not the pools, just walking the resorts) to decide which might be the best option(s) for a Home resort. Plus, just seeing all the Resorts sounds fun as a break from Theme Parks lol. We have an offsite hotel (pet friendly) already, so we will not be "DVC" this trip, and not sure about PARKING at each of the resorts if we go to maybe three per day?

Any suggestions appreciated

Thanks!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you do not have a room reservation or a dining reservation, it's likely you would be turned away by DVC security because they won't allow you to park. You can easily access the DVC resorts via Disney transportation, but you'd have to put together a good plan for that. One option is to park at one of the theme parks, pay for parking, and use transportation to hit the resorts you want. Another option could be park at Disney Springs and then take a bus. Another option could be to Uber/Lyft/taxi to a resort, hit the resorts you want, and then get rideshare back. I'm sure there are other possibilities, too, to avoid the parking restrictions.

 

[DonMacGregor]

We are planning to fly in and spend a few days Resort Hoping (not the pools, just walking the resorts) to decide which might be the best option(s) for a Home resort. Plus, just seeing all the Resorts sounds fun as a break from Theme Parks lol. We have an offsite hotel (pet friendly) already, so we will not be "DVC" this trip, and not sure about PARKING at each of the resorts if we go to maybe three per day?

Any suggestions appreciated

Thanks!

They won't let you onto the resort without a room or dining reservation. I'd suggest making a dining reservation for at least one resort per day (maybe lunch?), and use Disney transpo. for the rest. You could get BLT, PVB and VGF off the Monorail on one day for example, then all of the Epcot resorts on another day. Hitting SSR, CCV/BR, OKW, and AKV might be a tough one, but you could park at DS, walk to SSR, and then maybe take busses to OKW, and CCV/BR (or work CCV/BR into the same day you do the Monorail resorts since it's closer although the boats from CR to WL aren't running yet). I'd try to do a dining res at AKV on that same day you do SSR.

You said you are traveling with a pet? What were your plans for the pet while visiting the resorts? That may complicate things. If you are crating for example, and planned on returning to the offsite hotel several times per day to let your furry companion out, that might mean a bit more planning as a big block of 5-6 or more hours away may be more than you want to do.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Another option could be to Uber/Lyft/taxi to a resort, hit the resorts you want, and then get rideshare back. I'm sure there are other possibilities, too, to avoid the parking restrictions.

They aren't letting rideshare services drop guests off at resorts without dining or room reservations either.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

They aren't letting rideshare services drop guests off at resorts without dining or room reservations either.

Didn't realize that - thanks

 

[DonMacGregor]

Didn't realize that - thanks

Seems they're tightening things up in that regard.

 

[Brian Noble]

I second the idea of making a lunch reservation---eating at the resort will help you get a sense for its vibe.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

You might be able to get a DVC guide to give you the red carpet treatment and tour some rooms while you're at it, so long as you're willing to be pitched by a salesman/woman the whole time.

 

[RoseGold]

You might be able to get a DVC guide to give you the red carpet treatment and tour some rooms while you're at it, so long as you're willing to be pitched by a salesman/woman the whole time.

yes, let them take you around, they’ll have a plan for parking, probably riviera. You aren’t wasting their time. This is their job and you are legitimately interested.

 

[TinkAgainU]

You might be able to get a DVC guide to give you the red carpet treatment and tour some rooms while you're at it, so long as you're willing to be pitched by a salesman/woman the whole time.

Not sure I want to give up that much time and hoping to stay low stress lol ... I don't see any restaurant reservations at Riviera next week, so may have to do the DVC Tour unless we can pay to park at Epcot and take the Skyliner over. Does anyone know if they require you to have a room or dining reservation at Riviera to get on the Skyliner To/From Epcot parking - although sadly, may be less walking and complicated to just take the Tour ...

 

[lorenae]

Not sure I want to give up that much time and hoping to stay low stress lol ... I don't see any restaurant reservations at Riviera next week, so may have to do The Tour unless we can pay to park at Epcot and take the Skyliner over. Does anyone know if they require you to have a room or dining reservation at Riviera to get on the Skyliner To/From Epcot parking?

They do not- as long as you take Disney transportation, and don’t try to walk in or drive in, you’ll be fine!

 

[RoseGold]

Not sure I want to give up that much time and hoping to stay low stress lol ... I don't see any restaurant reservations at Riviera next week, so may have to do the DVC Tour unless we can pay to park at Epcot and take the Skyliner over. Does anyone know if they require you to have a room or dining reservation at Riviera to get on the Skyliner To/From Epcot parking - although sadly, may be less walking and complicated to just take the Tour ...

This won’t work because the skyliner is on the other side of Epcot. You have to go through the park. It would work at HS, the skyliner is pretty much in the parking lot.

i bet you could just do the RIV tour and they’ll validate your parking. It’s not like they’re going to give you a one hour parking spot. You could ask them. Just call and plan it ahead of time.

 

[sndral]

Not sure I want to give up that much time and hoping to stay low stress lol ... I don't see any restaurant reservations at Riviera next week, so may have to do the DVC Tour unless we can pay to park at Epcot and take the Skyliner over. Does anyone know if they require you to have a room or dining reservation at Riviera to get on the Skyliner To/From Epcot parking - although sadly, may be less walking and complicated to just take the Tour ...

The Skyliner doesn’t go to/from Epcot parking - it goes to/from the International gate at the back of Epcot. Make a reservation to eat at Boardwalk or YC/BC to park & then catch the Skyliner at the International gate. Or park at DHS take the Skyliner from the front of that park to the CBR station then hop over to the Riviera/Epcot line.
Personally I’d park at Disney springs & walk or bus over to SSR, bus from SSR to MK & take the monorail from MK to BLT, VGF, & Poly. Grab a bus at MK to see BRV/CCV, bus from there back to DS & your car.
Next day back to Disney Springs, bus over to OKW, then bus to DHS, Skyliner hop over to Riviera, Skyliner over to BCV & BWV. Then boat or walk to the front of DHS & grab a bus to AKL/V to check out Kidani, and walk or grab the internal shuttle to Jambo. Grab the DS bus back to your car from AKL/V.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

yes, let them take you around, they’ll have a plan for parking, probably riviera. You aren’t wasting their time. This is their job and you are legitimately interested.

Not sure I want to give up that much time and hoping to stay low stress lol ... I don't see any restaurant reservations at Riviera next week, so may have to do the DVC Tour unless we can pay to park at Epcot and take the Skyliner over. Does anyone know if they require you to have a room or dining reservation at Riviera to get on the Skyliner To/From Epcot parking - although sadly, may be less walking and complicated to just take the Tour ...

Honestly it sounds like your plan to take Disney transport will take more time than just letting a guide drive you to the front door of each resort and then getting to view whatever you like, rooms included. Just be up front with them at the beginning about your level of interest and what exactly you want from the tour. But I understand if you just want to take in the ambiance at your own pace

 

[TinkAgainU]

The Skyliner doesn’t go to/from Epcot parking - it goes to/from the International gate at the back of Epcot. Make a reservation to eat at Boardwalk or YC/BC & catch the Skyliner at the International gate. Or park at DHS take the Skyliner from the front of that park to the CBR station then hop over to the Riviera/Epcot line.

Thanks! I have a brunch scheduled at Boardwalk, sounds like I could just walk to the Skyliner from there

For the record, I thought I could just rent a car and drive to see the Resorts - silly me. Good thing I booked an extra hotel night....

 

[sndral]

Thanks! I have a brunch scheduled at Boardwalk, sounds like I could just walk to the Skyliner from there

For the record, I thought I could just rent a car and drive to see the Resorts - silly me. Good thing I booked an extra hotel night....

My son’s in laws visited us at AKL Jambo 10 days ago & they just had to tell the guard they were doing so - not sure if they had to give our name or villa number. I think near park resorts are stricter on parking than places like SSR & AKV where it’s not such an issue w/ folks trying to avoid the parking fees.

 

[karen4546]

I did not know they DVC guides would drive you around to the DVC resorts. When we bought, we toured the model rooms at Saratoga (I think-but it may have been OKW). We have since toured the CCV cabins and other rooms while staying at Wilderness Lodge. I do know that they had rooms at the Polynesian and Riviera available for viewing also when we stayed there.

Our driver took us from Epcot to view the models and then back to our resort (Jambo). We had already done our research but did not have the cash available that day. We scheduled a call with our guide and made the purchase after we got home.

 

[DonMacGregor]

You might be able to get a DVC guide to give you the red carpet treatment and tour some rooms while you're at it, so long as you're willing to be pitched by a salesman/woman the whole time.

Is a guide going to spend hours driving around to 11 resorts, the vast majority of which are sold out?

 

[Pens Fan]

Back in Oct of 2020, we were in the process of adding on some more direct points and mentioned to our guide that we wanted to tour some of the other resorts during our upcoming trip. We knew using Disney transportation would be fine, but he told us if we wanted to drive to any resort to give him a call a few hours ahead of time and he'd leave our name with the guard.

We didn't end up calling him as we toured all the rooms we had time to using our feet or Disney transport, but he was more than willing to help us get into any resort that we wanted to see. I'm betting that if you go to Riviera and take their tour there, they can set up something to get you into the other resorts. I'm not sure it will be necessary to actually have them drive you around or if they even have the staff to do that. But they want to sell points. They'll make sure you get into any room available that you want to see.

 

[Nabas]

Thanks! I have a brunch scheduled at Boardwalk, sounds like I could just walk to the Skyliner from there

For the record, I thought I could just rent a car and drive to see the Resorts - silly me. Good thing I booked an extra hotel night....

Yes, you can walk from the Boardwalk to the Skyliner, and then take the Skyliner back.

The Boardwalk also has a sample DVC room on the Boardwalk (past the Big River Grille). They also have a DVC kiosk in the lobby. Someone should be able to show you a room there.

The Skyliner is very close to Beach Club Villas. You also should be able to look there.

Then, from the Boardwalk, you can take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and use the Monorail to see 3 more DVC resorts. Then, from the Magic Kingdom, take a boat to the Wilderness Lodge and see 2 more.