Valet Parking Dumb ?

[minniemmom]

OK-this is probably a really dumb question, but no one I know (who travels a lot) can answer this~ If you park your car in Valet Parking, are you charged the $7.00 for each day your car is in the lot? We're driving to WDW and chances are our car will sit in the lot the entire length of our stay. Or are you charged just for each time you request your car?

All Ears says, "I'm not used to all this luxury! How does valet parking work?

Just drive your vehicle up to the front entrance of the resort. From there, someone will park your car for you, for $7."


Hope this makes sense to you experts out there!

 

[kda]

Yes, it's $7 a day, and you can pick it off and drop if off as many times as you'd like (but it's customary to tip each time you do that). You're not charged each time you request the car. Once you valet park for the day, you get a sign or a tag, and you can valet park in any of the WDW resorts that have valet parking for that $7 fee. The charge is automatically added to your bill. You can use valet service part of the time and park it yourself in the regular lot part of the time.
I always thought this was frivolous, but have come to understand that it's a big luxury "splurge" for my husband, and it signifies he's on vacation. [But I'd still think it's frivolous if we just had the car parked and never used it again until check out.]

 

[minniemmom]

Thanks kda! I thought it would be $7/per day, or what a bargain it would be! It's funny; my DH doesn't like to use valet parking. He feels funny when anyone sort of "waits on" him! He'd also prefer to take our luggage to our room himself, although he got a kick out of the golf cart at the Poly!

thanks again for the input!

 

[GEM]

That's why we don't use the valet parking. We usually park the car when we arrive and don't get in it again until we check out. We really like leaving the driving to Disney, so paying $7 each day for our car to sit in the parking lots seems like a waste.

 

[pooh6890]

We only use valet the first night. Once we get there we are just too excited to do anything but get our luggage and check in. We leave it there overnight and then the next morning before we hit the parks, we request the car, tip the guy $2 and move it to the regular lot. It stays there for the rest of the trip because we always use Disney transportation and I am so relaxed to not have to drive anywhere the whole time (except at Test Track )

 

[shannonandtom]

We always use the Valet. After all, we are on Vacation and $7 a day is not very much compared to what you pay for your room.

Tom...

 

[Snurk71]

When did valet go up to $7 from $6?

 

[dennisnlisab96]

We ALWALYS use the valet. We have small 3 kids and use our rental car to go everywhere.

 

[JudithM]

If you have handicapped tags/permit, then valet parking is complimentary at WDW resorts.

Also, if you are a DVC member, then valet parking is comlimentary at DVC locations - Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club & the Boardwalk.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

One thing I might note...

There are a few resorts where Valet Parking is a heck of a lot easier. For example, the Grand Floridian. The self-park lot is practically in a different county. On the other hand, for the Contemporary, often times you can park yourself for free, and get a space that is super duper close.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Snurk71
When did valet go up to $7 from $6?

I would like an answer to this also. I know parking at the park parking lots went up from $6 to $7 but I do not remember reading that the valet parking fee at the resorts was going up also.

Anyone who has come back recently know first hand if valet parking at the resort also went up to $7?

 

[queenofhearts]

I want to make sure I'm straight on this, because my boyfriend and I were planning on splurging on valet parking at the AKL. So, here's what I understand:

When you arrive, you give your keys and a tip to the valet. The valet parks your car. Your room is charged $7.00. When you are ready to use your car, you go to the valet, give the valet a tip, and the valet will retrieve your car. You can do this as many times during the day as you like for a tip each time. However, you are only charged $7.00 once per day. Is this correct?

Here's my question:
1. How late is valet open at the resorts?
2. If we pay $7.00 for the day to valet park at AKL, and we go have dinner at the WL and use the valet at the WL, do we have to pay another $7.00, or do we just tip?

Thanks for your help!

minniemom- This is a great thread! I live in Atlanta, and we valet park at restaurants all of the time, but this seems a bit more complex that valet parking for dinner.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by queenofhearts
I want to make sure I'm straight on this, because my boyfriend and I were planning on splurging on valet parking at the AKL. So, here's what I understand:

When you arrive, you give your keys and a tip to the valet. The valet parks your car. Your room is charged $7.00. When you are ready to use your car, you go to the valet, give the valet a tip, and the valet will retrieve your car. You can do this as many times during the day as you like for a tip each time. However, you are only charged $7.00 once per day. Is this correct?

Yes. This is correct. The tipping part is personal. We also tip at drop off and pick up but many people only tip at pick up.

Originally posted by queenofhearts
Here's my question:
1. How late is valet open at the resorts?
2. If we pay $7.00 for the day to valet park at AKL, and we go have dinner at the WL and use the valet at the WL, do we have to pay another $7.00, or do we just tip?

The valet is open 24hrs just like bell services and the front desk.

If you pay $7 at AKL they give you something to hang from your rearview mirror you will not be charged another $7 at the WL. Tipping the WL valets is expected though.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I thought valet parking was $6? WHEN did the price go UP?

 

[minniemmom]

Thanks, again, everyone, for your replies! I went on a search of these boards to find the post about valet parking price increase and I can't find it! I swear, sometime this past summer (late summer; when the parking fees went up) someone posted that valet went up too. On All Ears it says valet parking is $6.00. Anyone been recently and parked valet that could clear this up? But I do appreciate everyone's input, especially about the GF. That's where we'll be staying Christmas time. We will be keeping the kids Christmas presents and Christmas tree in the car. Would valet retrieve the car just so we can get something out of it? Is this another "dumb" question????

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by minniemmom
We will be keeping the kids Christmas presents and Christmas tree in the car. Would valet retrieve the car just so we can get something out of it? Is this another "dumb" question???

I'm sure they'd be happy to... however, the valet lots are usually quite close, so if you wanted to, I'm sure they'd let you just walk over and grab the stuff yourself.

 

[dtuleya]

Does anybody recommend valet vs. self at the WL? How close is the self parking lot?

 

[freediverdude]

The price increase in valet took place sometime over the summer, I believe either late August or early Septemer, because I remember going several times over the summer, particularly during that period, and one time I went and it was $6, and then the next time it was suddenly $7. But it's definitely $7 now.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by freediverdude
The price increase in valet took place sometime over the summer, I believe either late August or early Septemer, because I remember going several times over the summer, particularly during that period, and one time I went and it was $6, and then the next time it was suddenly $7. But it's definitely $7 now.

Thanks freediverdude. I was budgeting $6 for our upcoming Feb trip based on our Aug trip. I thought I read that the increase was only for the park parking lots but if you were charged $7 I will budget for that.

Can anyone say for sure if this went up when the park parking went up?

 

[queenofhearts]

Hi Tiffany!

Thanks for the helpful answers!