VIP Parking ... Worth the extra $10?

[TrainerBBD]

I looked through a bunch of posts but could not find anything on this (Sorry if I missed it)

We are going to US/IOA for 9 nights so wondering if we should pay the extra $10/day and do the VIP parking instead of the reg parking.

Do you get to leave / pick up your car right at the entrance or is it still a bit of a walk? ... We did the reg parking last year as we visited City Walk and scouted US/IOA for this years trip .. It was quite a walk even with the moving walkways since we have 2 kiddos tagging along.

I did the valet at Busch a couple of years ago and after a lonnnnng day of walking it was a god send (lol) + I am lazy

 

[Metro West]

Do you get to leave / pick up your car right at the entrance or is it still a bit of a walk? ... We did the reg parking last year as we visited City Walk and scouted US/IOA for this years trip .. It was quite a walk even with the moving walkways since we have 2 kiddos tagging along.

There is regular, Preferred and Valet parking options for the theme parks. Valet is worth it because you're closer to CityWalk than the garage which comes in handy if you have someone in your group that needs help getting around. Preferred is an additional fee but only puts you on level three...it doesn't put you any closer to the park entrance but you would have to deal with elevators or escalators. Unless you're talking about something at the hotels, I don't know what VIP parking is.

 

[TrainerBBD]

Ooops .. I meant Valet not VIP .. Working and Surfing at the same time <Not a good idea > May need to check my doc and see if I wrote Valet where I meant VIP

 

[TrainerBBD]

Do you follow the same parking entrance as the regular garage and then get directed to the "VALET" line

My DW and I do not remember seeing any signage last year for Valet when we went to City Walk (Must have missed them or at another entrance maybe)

 

[WWEDUDE]

There is a different entrance for valet, it is right across the street from the guest drop off area, there is some signature for valet, but you can also just follow the signs for guest drop off and instead of turning into the drop off area, just turn the opposite way off the main road into the valet area.

Once there they will take your car, and give you a ticket. You go right up the escalators and you are at the start of CityWalk, much closer than the garage. You pay for the valet when you pick up your car.

 

[TrainerBBD]

Thanks for the great information

Think we will def do the Valet on the first day and then go from there. At $10 I think the happiness it will bring my DD, DS and DW will be worth it

Thanks for the info to find the right way to go. I will keep an eye out for the drop off area and go from there

 

[Metro West]

Think we will def do the Valet on the first day and then go from there. At $10 I think the happiness it will bring my DD, DS and DW will be worth it

Just to make sure you understand the fees involved...here's the schedule from the website:

$15.00 - under 2 hours
$25.00 - over 2 hours

I know you probably meant $10.00 more than regular parking but I don't want someone to read your post and think Valet is only $10.00.

 

[christophfam]

How much is valet for APHs? It might be worth it for us this trip since my Mom is coming with us and has had both knees replaced.

 

[DCTooTall]

How much is valet for APHs? It might be worth it for us this trip since my Mom is coming with us and has had both knees replaced.

Premier APH's get Valet included with their AP free on non-event nights. (Mardi Gras/ HHN /etc nights you must vacate the Valet lot early or be charged the regular pricing.)

I don't believe any other APH gets a discount on Valet.

 

[TrainerBBD]

Good point on the clarification ... Still a board rookie and learning the ways of the land when I post

Thanks

< I hate all the smileys etc in my posts but my DD loves them and bugs me to add them when she is around or even when we get home she wants to check my posts >

 

[purple hippo]

There is regular, Preferred and Valet parking options for the theme parks. Valet is worth it because you're closer to CityWalk than the garage which comes in handy if you have someone in your group that needs help getting around. Preferred is an additional fee but only puts you on level three...it doesn't put you any closer to the park entrance but you would have to deal with elevators or escalators. .

How much is the Regular and Preferred Parking? I saw your note about the Valet being $15 for under two hours and $25 for over two hours.

Also, can you get a AAA discount on parking?

 

[Metro West]

How much is the Regular and Preferred Parking? I saw your note about the Valet being $15 for under two hours and $25 for over two hours.

Also, can you get a AAA discount on parking?

Regular parking is $15.00/day and Preferred is $3.00 or $4.00 more I think. I don't do Preferred any more since it's not worth it.

There are no discounts on parking fees.

 

[mdmetromom]

Does Valet offer in/out privledges?
So if we go in the morning, leave for an afternoon break, and come back later in the afternoon, do we have to pay again? Or is it like Disney, where we can just show the Valet receipt?

Thanks!

 

[torinsmom]

Premier APH's get Valet included with their AP free on non-event nights. (Mardi Gras/ HHN /etc nights you must vacate the Valet lot early or be charged the regular pricing.)

I don't believe any other APH gets a discount on Valet.

Mousesavers says:

^^^Preferred Annual Pass gives admission every day to both parks for 365 days. Not valid for separately ticketed special events. Includes free self-parking, half-price valet parking, food and merchandise discounts, discounts at on-site resort hotels and more. Florida Resident price may be lower.

If this is true, we might do it next year. That walk to and from Citywalk tires me out before I even get in the parks. I definitely like Disney's parking better. I always use the AAA parking and it's an easy walk.

 

[Metro West]

Mousesavers says:

^^^Preferred Annual Pass gives admission every day to both parks for 365 days. Not valid for separately ticketed special events. Includes free self-parking, half-price valet parking, food and merchandise discounts, discounts at on-site resort hotels and more. Florida Resident price may be lower.

If this is true, we might do it next year. That walk to and from Citywalk tires me out before I even get in the parks. I definitely like Disney's parking better. I always use the AAA parking and it's an easy walk.

I don't believe this is current information as the website doesn't mention anything about discounted valet parking fees for Preferred passholders. There have been many changes to the discounts and extras for passholders and this appears to be one of them.

 

[Dax]

Was just at US on Friday and took a look at the current pricing...

Regular parking is $15
Preferred Parking is $20

Geez, I remember the days when it was $8 to park, and there was no preferred parking...I do not see any benefit in parking on level 3. Is 5min more is that huge of a difference...Its just another price gouge

 

[macraven]

i have old parking ticket stubs that show it was $5....

 

[TrainerBBD]

Just got back from our trip ... We did the Valet parking each day as the walk it saved us with a 7 and 2 year old was worth the difference

It cost us $25 and then usually gave a $2 tip to the guy bringing the car.

It was very close to the park as it is just after the first moving walkway and then down an escalator .. We were out of the park within a few mins of paying the fee and easily on our way.

Thanks for the tips about watching for the Valet parking signs as it is totally differnet area then the regular parking garage

 

[MrsMud]

Okay I might be misreading this since no one else mentioned it, but you said you are going for 9 nights? I'm assuming you are staying onsite then?
If so there is really no benefit to driving to the parks. You would save time and money by walking or taking the boat, and you would be closer to the entrances as well.

 

[TrainerBBD]

Okay I might be misreading this since no one else mentioned it, but you said you are going for 9 nights? I'm assuming you are staying onsite then?
If so there is really no benefit to driving to the parks. You would save time and money by walking or taking the boat, and you would be closer to the entrances as well.

We just got back and did not stay onsite ... We get a 3br condo type place for a good deal so we get a Mini Van to get around town < 9 nights Hotel + Van = $1500 Canadian >