valet parking

[CocosMeme]

Can you valet park at Boardwalk or Beachclub to visit if you are staying at another resort? We have 13 people with little kids and have a reservation at Teppan Edo for an early dinner one night. We want to visit the boardwalk after dinner to let the kids see all of the fun activities there. I don't want to do anything illegal! We are staying at AK Kidani and will be resting at the resort before coming for dinner and I don't want to have to walk all the way through Epcot just to get to Japan.

 

[DenLo]

You can valet park at any Disney resort as long as you pay for the valet parking. DVC members no longer get free valet parking as that perk ended in October 2009.

However, you can still get free valet parking when dining at a restaurant at a resort and have a Tables in Wonderland Card.

 

[CocosMeme]

Thanks. I think I would rather pay the fee for 2 cars than walk all the way through Epcot just to get to Teppan Edo! DH rents an ECV every day because of Peripheral Artery Disease in his legs ( he has 2 stints in his legs). We will have turned it in already for the day and it is such a hassle to get it back.

 

[DenLo]

Thanks. I think I would rather pay the fee for 2 cars than walk all the way through Epcot just to get to Teppan Edo! DH rents an ECV every day because of Peripheral Artery Disease in his legs ( he has 2 stints in his legs). We will have turned it in already for the day and it is such a hassle to get it back.

Well let me rephrase my statement above. If you have a handicapped placard or plate, then you can park at valet for free.

Whew, I almost misadvised you on that one.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But, when you drive up to the BW, you will see the sign that states that they cannot provide parking for the theme parks. And DVC asks that we not park at resorts to visit the theme parks. So beforeyou visit the BW, you should move your car to the Epcot parking lot and park there to dine at Epcot. Your walk from the BW will be as long or longer than it would be from the main gate at Epcot.

Why not just rent an ECV from a rental company instead of just daily at the parks? Then you can take the bus over to the theme park and dine.

You could park at the Epcot parking lot (or ride the bus) for dinner. Then when you are going to leave the BW or finished dining, someone go back for the car and pick everyone up at the BW.

 

[JimMIA]

But, when you drive up to the BW, you will see the sign that states that they cannot provide parking for the theme parks.

Deb is correct -- you can't park at a resort to eat dinner in a theme park.

The suggestion of renting an ECV from a local vendor for the trip is a very good one. It will probably be less expensive and will add enjoyment to your trip. With an ECV for the duration, you can either drop off at the theme park entrance or ride the bus, whichever works best for you.

 

[JeriLee]

If you don’t mind a piggy-back question…

We have Chef Mickey reservations at the Contemporary on our MK day. Can we valet park for the day since we will be dining at CM?

Thanks!

JL

 

[Halle]

I'm thinking that you are only permited to valet park to dine at Chef Mickey's.

 

[JeriLee]

Please forgive me, but I’m having trouble understanding this.

Why would anyone pay $12.00 to valet park for their ADR when they can get a 3 hour parking pass for free? Surely the only reason would be to visit the park before/after the meal – no?

And, correct me if I am wrong – I just spent 30 minutes Googling this…

From what I have read, if I am allowed to Valet my car at the Contemporary, then I am also allowed to Valet my car at any/all resorts for the entire day at no additional charge. This means that I do not have to have an ADR for any of the other resorts; no one will question me as to what I will be doing; nor will there be a 3 hour maximum stay imposed.

Is this not all true?

So IMO, the questions are:

1) Do the resorts allow cars to Valet park if they have ADRs? Or do they insist on you using the 3 hour self parking pass?

2) If ADR's can not use the Valet, then who would??? The Resort guests already park for free, so who would be allowed to VP?

I seriously want to understand this…

Thanks for any input!

JL

 

[vicki_c]

I know we were already having this discussion (unresolved) elsewhere, but I will say this:

Of course you can valet park for your ADR. Of course you can valet park for other reasons at the resort as well.

Anecdotal evidence says you can even valet park at a resort and walk to the park because the valet staff do not seem to care. However, that is always at the discretion of the valet staff. Now they of course want tips, so most often they are going to tell you that it's not a problem. The other reason may be because they have a separate valet lot and they are in charge of parking the cars there, so it is up to them to determine who can and can't stay. But there have been a few (very few) reports here that someone received a 3 hour parking pass at the valet stand during peak crowd / holiday times, especially at the resorts that are within walking distance to a park.

Keep in mind that the more turns they get in the valet lot, the more money the company (which is not Disney) makes and the more tips the valet staff make. So when it's very crowded and parking is limited and opportunities for new customers are high -- like @ the Boardwalk, they may limit you even in the valet lots.

People who can self park with an ADR or as guests of that resort still use the valet service - my family does it sometimes. Sometimes we just feel like it, sometimes it's raining, and sometimes we might be walking in the International Gateway after our dinner at the Beach Club. Sometimes I pay $12 to valet park just because I'm on vacation. But valet parking @ the resorts is NOT intended for people to park for theme park access, which seems to be your idea of the only logical reason people would use valet parking since you have to pay for it. Shockingly wasteful, I have left my car in the Poly valet lot for close to a week one time and paid for it every night.

And in our prior conversation, I wasn't questioning parking for dinner, then walking into the park at all. I was being skeptical about whether it was "right" (so subjective) to valet park at a resort in the morning to go to a park, return and get your car, come back later to the same valet lot, have dinner and go back to the park. It was the morning / no ADR part that struck me as kind of hinky for lack of a better word. I'm sure others may have no problem with that.

 

[daisyduck123]

2) If ADR's can not use the Valet, then who would??? The Resort guests already park for free, so who would be allowed to VP?

JL

We valet park at our own resort just about every day. The reason? We're on vacation & we like the luxury of it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you don’t mind a piggy-back question…

We have Chef Mickey reservations at the Contemporary on our MK day. Can we valet park for the day since we will be dining at CM?

Thanks!

JL

The Contemporary has the same sign when you enter the parking lot. They are sorry but they cannot provide parking for the theme parks. So park there while you eat and then move your car to the MK parking lot.

 

[Halle]

I have TIW and was told to show the dining receipt to validate that we were there to dine. That was at the Contemporary on Wednesday.

 

[DebbieB]

I have TIW and was told to show the dining receipt to validate that we were there to dine. That was at the Contemporary on Wednesday.

You were dining at the Contemporary, correct? The OP wants to dine in Epcot, not Boardwalk or Beach Club. They will probably not accept a dining receipt from Teppan Edo.

Unless you are going to be there at a busy time, they will most likely allow you to valet park. The Boardwalk valet lot is rarely full, so I'm sure they will be glad to take your fee and tip.