Vallet parking @ GF

[WillowBelle]

I don't know if this has been asked a million times or not, please forgive me if it has .

I was reading on another thread (in a different category) that there is vallet parking @ the GF? It was suggested that someone driving to the MK from a resort, rather than driving to the TTC, drive to GF and use the vallet parking?

I had no idea this was an option.

Tell me if I'm understanding this correctly.....DDs and I are staying at Pop, next month. On the days (there are 2 of them) that we are going to MK, I can drive my own vehicle to GF, use the vallet system and hop on the monorail? Is this like the best kept secret of WDW transportation?

How much does this cost?

I find this almost too good to be true!

TIA
WillowBelle

 

[Tara]

I don't know if this has been asked a million times or not, please forgive me if it has .

I was reading on another thread (in a different category) that there is vallet parking @ the GF? It was suggested that someone driving to the MK from a resort, rather than driving to the TTC, drive to GF and use the vallet parking?

I had no idea this was an option.

Tell me if I'm understanding this correctly.....DDs and I are staying at Pop, next month. On the days (there are 2 of them) that we are going to MK, I can drive my own vehicle to GF, use the vallet system and hop on the monorail? Is this like the best kept secret of WDW transportation?

How much does this cost?

I find this almost too good to be true!

TIA
WillowBelle

Yes, all deluxe resorts offer valet parking, including the Grand Floridian. And yes, what you've read is too good to be true. Valet parking is for guests and visitors to the hotel. It is (IIRC) $11.00 per day, plus tip for the parking attendants. There is typically a 3-hour limit for parkers who are not guests staying at the resort. As a WDW resort guest, you pay to valet park at other resorts, but you do not pay to park at the parks.

If you are concerned about the time involved and the ease of transport in getting to MK, you are much better off taking the bus to MK from Pop.

 

[ExecChef]

There is suppose to be some type of time limit for parking unless you are obviously staying there, not sure how well they watch it though. Other wise people would park at BWV and walk to DHS and Epcot.

 

[WillowBelle]

Thank you for the answer. I'm glad I went ahead and asked. I would have been if I had shown up thinking I was good to go and then found I had to be eating at 1900PF or something like that to take advantage.

I have always relied on Disney transportation to get me around. This summer it is DDs (10 & 8) and myself going it alone without DH. I thought some days it may be easier to just drive to the park rather than be the family pack mule AND keep up with the girls at the end of a long and exhausting day.

I did this last summer with the girls to MK and ended up standing, DDs standing (my youngest hanging on my leg) while I was also holding a tripod, camera bag (full of extra equipment) as well as wrangling extra water bottles in my hands. I know that people will come along and say, "you should have waited for the next bus" -- I'm not complaining saying someone should have gotten up it's just that by the time we got on the bus it was 2:00 (EMH night) and we were just ready to get moving *yawn*.

 

[Tara]

Thank you for the answer. I'm glad I went ahead and asked. I would have been if I had shown up thinking I was good to go and then found I had to be eating at 1900PF or something like that to take advantage.

I have always relied on Disney transportation to get me around. This summer it is DDs (10 & 8) and myself going it alone without DH. I thought some days it may be easier to just drive to the park rather than be the family pack mule AND keep up with the girls at the end of a long and exhausting day.

I did this last summer with the girls to MK and ended up standing, DDs standing (my youngest hanging on my leg) while I was also holding a tripod, camera bag (full of extra equipment) as well as wrangling extra water bottles in my hands. I know that people will come along and say, "you should have waited for the next bus" -- I'm not complaining saying someone should have gotten up it's just that by the time we got on the bus it was 2:00 (EMH night) and we were just ready to get moving *yawn*.

Well yeah, I actually see where you're coming from. If you don't mind the extra transfers, then driving to MK isn't bad. I do it as often as I take the bus. You still have to get everyone on the monorail or ferry and then on the tram, so it might not be the ideal solution, either. Good luck, whatever you do!

 

[prncess674]

I would just drive to the TTC. You aren't saving much by driving to GF since you are still having to board the monorail. I like having my own car. I can leave extra clothes or water bottles in the car for when we change parks.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Technically, even Valet is restricted to the 3 hour time limit, however rarely if ever is this enforced. That said, driving up to guard station and saying you want to valet park and then hop the monorail to MK probably is not a good idea.

 

[n2mm]

Keep in mind that valet actually cost more than parking at the TTC parking. Once you add the tips into the cost.

 

[goofy4tink]

Why not just take the bus?? Buses to MK, from the resorts, are truly the best way to go. They drop you off a short walk from the park entrance.
Can you use valet parking? Sure. And you can leave your car for as long as you like...there is no time limit imposed. I have asked this question at several valet areas, and have been told that if you pay to valet park, you are free to go wherever you want, for however long you want.
But, why pay the valet parking fee, plus tip, when you can take the bus??
Same goes for the Epcot resorts. Most people want to park in the self park lots, that are there for the guests that are paying to stay at that particular resort. It is those guests, that are not staying at the resort, that get (or are supposed to get) a 3 hr parking permit, but they don't pay to park. Believe me, the walk from the parking lots at BW and YC/BC are not as quick as you would think to Epcot. No way would I park there in order to access Epcot more easily.

 

[WillowBelle]

Thanks to everyone's replies.

There were 2 reasons that I started this thread.

(1) because out of the 19 times that I have been to WDW I have never heard of this - we ALWAYS use Disney transportation to get around, and ALWAYS stay on property.

(2) because if it was an option I was considering taking advantage the days that we went to MK because of crowds trying to leave MK after a long exhausting day (and yes, I realize everyone is tired, not just us) quicker. I was just trying to trouble shoot and see if, even though we are on property, there is a better/easier way to get from MK back to Pop Century that I didn't know about.

Thanks again, to everyone who replied .

WilliowBelle

 

[Traveliz]

Why not just take the bus?? Buses to MK, from the resorts, are truly the best way to go. They drop you off a short walk from the park entrance.
Can you use valet parking? Sure. And you can leave your car for as long as you like...there is no time limit imposed. I have asked this question at several valet areas, and have been told that if you pay to valet park, you are free to go wherever you want, for however long you want.
But, why pay the valet parking fee, plus tip, when you can take the bus??
Same goes for the Epcot resorts. Most people want to park in the self park lots, that are there for the guests that are paying to stay at that particular resort. It is those guests, that are not staying at the resort, that get (or are supposed to get) a 3 hr parking permit, but they don't pay to park. Believe me, the walk from the parking lots at BW and YC/BC are not as quick as you would think to Epcot. No way would I park there in order to access Epcot more easily.

This is absolutely true - there is no technical limit to valet parking - there is no policing of it aside from the boards. You are free to valet park as long as you wish.

However I also agree there unless there is a reason to be positioned in that valet area (hotel) at the beginning or end of the day it really isn't much (or any) advantage to valet park there to avoid the theme park parking lots. They do a great job of getting people where they are going and I suspect in most cases you won't be saving much time or wear or your legs.

Liz