wilderness lodge villa question

[jasonpicken]

i'd like to go to the parks the day i'm supposed to check into the lodge villas. i have a car and want to arrive at 8:30 a.m. and take the boat over to magic kingdom and check in later that afternoon. will they let me do that? anyone have any experience with early arrival or early check in? thanks!

 

[DVCLiz]

I'd go ahead and check in when you arrive - better chance of having any room requests met, and you can use valet parking if you want. Otherwise, drive up and have them store your luggage (or leave it in your car and self-park if you'd rather keep things locked in your trunk), check in and get your room key, then go right to the boat dock and catch the boat to MK. When you return, pick up the phone in the lobby and request your room number. (Much easier than standing in the line!) A bellman will bring your luggage to your room. If you've self-parked, you'll need to go get your luggage yourself, but you can drive up to the Lodge, unload your bags, and then repark your car. Personally, I'd always valet park and store the luggage!

 

[DVC Jen]

I totally agree. We do this all the time. We arrive in Orlando the day before, spend the night at the Doubletree Castle (a tradition my DDs will not let us break) and then check into our DVC resort (usually VWL) around 8:00am the next morning. We check in, get a card with a phone number to call back to see if our room is ready and head off to the MK.

 

[spiceycat]

you can check in the resort as early as 7:00am - someone say 6:30am - it is easier to ride the boat if you know you have your ID (key) - just in case you get asked for it.....

WL has gotten very mean about their letting off site - I had to argue with them to allow mother (she was 81 at the time) to get off there and I WAS checking it - but I wasn't using their valet parking - a cat to visit 4 times a day.

they were down right rude to me.

 

[jasonpicken]

sounds good, i wasn't sure you could check in so early. how much does valet run?

 

[spiceycat]

you don't pay for valet - you do need to tip - generally I tip $2 both ways - so it adds up fast.

DVC members get valet parking at DVC resort for free!

 

[CarolMN]

If you are a DVC member, there is no charge to valet park at VWL, BCV or BWV. Tips are still appropriate and appreciated.

If you are not a DVC member, the valet charge is $6 /day (plus tip).

Best wishes -

 

[Alexander]

WL has gotten very mean about their letting off site - I had to argue with them to allow mother (she was 81 at the time) to get off there and I WAS checking it - but I wasn't using their valet parking - a cat to visit 4 times a day.
they were down right rude to me.

Being rude is never called for, but I do totally understand why they have gotten more strict. We went down this morning to pick up our car (valet) and we had to wait almost 10 minutes for the roadway to be cleared because people were picking up and dropping off other people, and then they would get out of their cars and look in the trunks, and then talk, it was really nuts! There was a limo parked taking up two lanes (there are four). The valet had our car but couldn't pull up to the lodge because of the traffic jam.

Another time we watched a valet driving a brand new corvette pull ahead and back up and pull ahead and back up so he could get out and to the parking lot. We were cringing watching him and it wasn't even our car.

I think valet parking is $7.00/day. I'm not sure because we don't pay for it, but I think I read it in the paperwork they give you at check-in. The tips really begin to add up however! We just came back and self-parked for the first time this week because we didn't have any small bills left.

 

[jasonpicken]

here's the skinny, i rented points from a dvc member. i guess i fall into the paying for valet category?

 

[Caskbill]

Tip of the day for Self-Park at VWL.

When you first drive toward the parking lot, you'll notice the 1st row is handicap parking, then several rows of valet area parking, and finally the rows for self parking: All at the furthest point from the villas...

Tip: Turn up the First Row, the one for all the handicap spots. The handicap spots only go halfway up the row, then it's self parking the rest of the way.

Being halfway up the 1st row is much closer than parking in any of the other self-parking areas on the far side.

Wouldn't it be nice if they could designate a special parking area just for DVC members, and let the hotel guests park in the other areas that are actually closer to the hotel section for them anyway....

P.S., let's keep this a DVC tip only.......

 

[Muushka]

Tip of the day for Self-Park at VWL.

When you first drive toward the parking lot, you'll notice the 1st row is handicap parking, then several rows of valet area parking, and finally the rows for self parking: All at the furthest point from the villas...

Tip: Turn up the First Row, the one for all the handicap spots. The handicap spots only go halfway up the row, then it's self parking the rest of the way.

Being halfway up the 1st row is much closer than parking in any of the other self-parking areas on the far side.

Wouldn't it be nice if they could designate a special parking area just for DVC members, and let the hotel guests park in the other areas that are actually closer to the hotel section for them anyway....

P.S., let's keep this a DVC tip only.......

Oye! We USED to park there. Now it will be full!

 

[sleepydog25]

More on the checking in early thread. . .
Our trip was from 10-15 Apr, and we had to take a red-eye from Greensboro to Orlando or wait until an evening flight. We opted for the early flight. We wound up arriving at VWL a little past 8:00 a.m. and decided to pre-register with the front desk, eschewing the valet option since we're healthy and don't mind walking a little bit. Our vacation timing couldn't have been better as the CM told us they had a 2BR suite clean and ready for check-in if we wanted. In short, we were able to get our keys, unpack, and freshen up before heading out to AK (a good choice for a day when you've been up since 1 a.m.). My point is, I think it's always a good idea to check-in early since you never know what might happen. Yes, we're the exception to the norm, but what a pleasant surprise it was.