What is the best way to do this?

[MomofKatie]

We are planning a day at Disney Studios and then going to the Boardwalk area after the park closes for dinner, hanging out, etc. We are staying off site, so will be driving our car. What, in your opinions, would be the best way to handle getting around?

*If we park at DHS, will we be able to get back to our car and out of the DHS lot if we spend 2 or 3 hours at the Boardwalk after the park closes?

*Could we valet park at the Boardwalk or Beach Club for the whole day if we aren't guests of that resort? We would pay for the valet, of course. I know we won't be able to park at the resorts' self park areas for that long (plus, there is the whole ethics consideration).

*I'm sure we could just get in the car and drive over to the BW area, but I think it would be fun to take the boat from DHS to the resort.

I'm not out to try to get out of paying for parking or poach a resort guest's spot- just trying to figure out how best to handle the car situation. Thanks for any advice!

 

[SamIAm21]

My only worry would be that the Friendship boats may stop running back to DHS and then even if they were running to get you back to DHS, you may have to walk quite a long way back into the parking lot if the trams were no longer running. If I remember correctly, they only run for an hour or two after the park closes??? The Boardwalk area is so fun, that I'd hate to see you be under a time constraint and you may regret having a time constraint as well.

I know you want to take the boats, but it might not be feasible?? Driving to the BW area may be your best bet!

 

[mikelan6]

I agree. I'd drive from DHS to the Boardwalk. That way, you also don't have to shlep all the way back to the DHS parking lot after your evening.

 

[wishspirit]

Agreed!

We almost got caught out on our Illuminations Fireworks cruise, we had walked to MK (from BLT) and got the bus to the first hotel on the boardwalk.

At the end of the night we realised we wouldn't be able to get back through Epcot, so were trying to think of a way to sweet talk a bus driver who was going back to Magic Kindgom to give us a lift!

Luckily the DHS buses were still running, so the boat driver gave us a lift to the DHS landing so we could catch the bus back!

At least you are planning ahead! It hadn't even occurred to us about how to get back!

 

[corky441]

Another option is to take the walkway back to the Studio parking lot. It's a very pleasant walk along the waterway the boats use to get to the park from the Boardwalk. If memory serves me, I believe it is about a 20 minute walk

 

[FireDancer]

Drive from DHS to the Boardwalk? It is less then a mile along the waterway.

I would get to the Boardwalk early and park for free, just tell them you are going to the boardwalk area, and walk to DHS. It is one of my favorite paths on property and I run it often.