VIP parking pass?

[formytinkerbelle]

Does anyone know about VIP parking passes? I see them on sale on eBay and just wondered if it is worth it. It is my understanding you still have to purchase the $14 parking pass but it is to get a parking spot right up front I guess. Also, is one pass good for your whole trip or is it just for one day?

 

[RMulieri]

If it is the AAA diamond parking pass,they are issued to AAA members only and are not supposed to be transferable or purchased( they have the persons name and travel dates on them-at least mine always do), and yes you need to pay for parking still.The only thing it does is give you closer parking , but that is subject to availibility.

 

[ancestry]

I highly recommend that you don't purchase anything like this off of ebay. These most likely are the AAA preferred parking passes that come with the purchase of a Disney package through AAA.

The AAA parking pass is simply a "pass" that allows you to park in a particular section of the parking lot at the Disney parks. It DOES NOT include free parking for non-Disney resort guests (Disney resort guests get free parking).

The very limited parking area the AAA pass is for is usually located in or around the Handicapped parking lot, but "behind" all the handicapped spaces. There is only a very few spaces for the AAA pass (maybe 50 per park), so unless you simply "get lucky" or go to the park very early, you can't get a space usually.

Now, if you go to the park very early, in many cases, you'll be just as close in the "front rows" of regular parking as you are in AAA parking, so you gain very little. If you go later in the morning or afternoon, all the AAA spaces are taken.

 

[dqpowell]

Don't bother paying for one. The parking spots at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are physically closer to the park entrances, but you could end up walking less in the regular spaces because the trams run to the regular spots. (The trams do not run to the 'VIP' spots.)

If you are a member of AAA, you may be able to get a Diamond parking pass for free, which is the same idea. Some AAA offices will just give you one if you are a member. Others require you to book through them to get the pass.

But really, they are unnecessary. The benefit is a mild one at best.

David

 

[dqpowell]

they have the persons name and travel dates on them-at least mine always do),

I've gotten them twice... once on a package I purchased through AAA, and once just by walking in and asking for one (hadn't booked the trip through them).

Neither one had my name or any other identifying information on it. I haven't bothered trying to get one for the last couple of trips, since I didn't see much benefit to them. They may have started putting identifying information on them more recently to discourage sales on eBay.

David

 

[Jennasis]

We love the AAA parking passes. Great spots. Easy to find the car at the end of a long day.

 

[ccgirl]

I got one in May when I purchased my DD's park tickets thru AAA. Although my name was not printed on it, there was a spot for name. Parking attendants are within every right to make sure the name on the pass matches your identification. I would be too afraid one of the passes already had a name on it and I would have just wasted my money. We always got to a park early and had no problem getting one of the spaces. At MK, this was AWESOME! We have small children and a stroller. Instread of trying to fit all of us and the stroller on the tram we just walked to the monorail. At the end of the night, with a sleeping toddler, we just had to walk to the car and put her in her car seat and she slept right thru. Now, if we had to take her out of the stroller to get on the tram, and then carry he to the car asleep that wouldn't have been too convenient. They are non transferable as a PP mentioned. If you obtain one thru your AAA office, they are actually good for the year. For example, I am using my pass from May for our trip in December as well.

Good luck.

 

[formytinkerbelle]

THe ones on eBay say they don't have any names or travel dates and are good until 12/31/10. I guess it doesn't seem work it then? If I end up walking a shorter distance to the tram why bother.

 

[BradyBz12]

We've used these before when booking AAA packages. One day we arrived at AK too late and all spaces were taken. One day we used it at EP and yes, it did get us into the first few rows of parking, but the rows are looooooong and if you find yourself at the end of it, you still have a pretty good hike to the gate - no trams run here.

Some people swear by them, we've never found them to be that great. I definitely wouldn't pay for one.

 

[RMulieri]

I've gotten them twice... once on a package I purchased through AAA, and once just by walking in and asking for one (hadn't booked the trip through them).

Neither one had my name or any other identifying information on it. I haven't bothered trying to get one for the last couple of trips, since I didn't see much benefit to them. They may have started putting identifying information on them more recently to discourage sales on eBay.

David

I got one in 2008 and 2009 with my packages thru AAA in Central Penn.Both times my name and trip dates were printed on them

 

[dqpowell]

I got one in 2008 and 2009 with my packages thru AAA in Central Penn.Both times my name and trip dates were printed on them

The two I got were for Dec 2007 (package through AAA) and Jan 2009 (just asked and got one). Central NY AAA office in my hometown. I guess it just depends on the particular office whether they mark them with identifying information.

David

 

[nbs2]

The offices in central Maryland all told us we had to buy through them to get the passes. I was a little disappointed, especially when they ran a quote that mirrored our itinerary and it came up $400 more expensive.

 

[catne]

ours have always had our name printed on them, thought the parking attendants have never looked that closely at them or asked for ID, our AAA travel agent told us she knew of times people were asked to actually show their AAA card when using the parking pass. Has never happened to us that way, though.

...and agree that it's a crap-shoot as to whether or not you get a better spot. Sometimes it was wonderful...the only closer spots were handicapped spaces. But plenty of times we've ended up at the far end of the Diamond row and had a long hike to the gate. And sometimes the Diamond parking is closed...if there's any sort of event going on at the park that day, they use the Diamond parking space for parking vehicles related to the event. That happened to us when we went to DHS on a day they were having Night of Joy....the diamond parking was not available at 9:00 in the morning, even though the event didn't start until the park closed at 7:00 that night.The parking attendant told us the entertainers' private tour vehicles were parked in the Diamond spaces.

 

[goofy4tink]

THe ones on eBay say they don't have any names or travel dates and are good until 12/31/10. I guess it doesn't seem work it then? If I end up walking a shorter distance to the tram why bother.

Quite possibly, but, the pass itself states that they are not for sale and are non-transferable. They are a perk of doing business with AAA.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Purchased one off ebay for our trip in 09 and our trip last week. Just find someone with positive feedback and you wont have any troubles, as long as it is blank. I always carry my AAA card but have never once been asked for it. HAVE A GREAT TRIP......I know we did!!!!

 

[BradyBz12]

I guess it just depends on the particular office whether they mark them with identifying information.

It does. Each office has their own individual rules and policies. Some have reported getting them just by asking, here in southern NH you have to book your package through AAA.

FWIW this is also true of any discounts you may be able to find on park tickets through AAA - it varies by office.

 

[nytimez]

I like driving my mother to the parks -- she has a handicap. That's as close as I'll ever come to any kind of "VIP" parking!