Originally Posted By mousegrl or any of the Disney Hotels or do you self park? I usually do valet, however I don't want to spend the extra money this trip. I know the parking lot is across the street from the grand, but is it a pain to get to, or is it directly across from the Grand's exit? I really like them just taking the car at the entrance, but just can't justify it time around. Thanks for any advise or tips! 19 DAYS!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub This might be the trip you will want to splurge and use valet because of all the DVC construction at the Grand.I am sure someone will know more about this and reply before you leave.I plan to be their in Dec so appreciate your return trip report. I hope you have lots of fun!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I always park myself - everywhere - but I drive a Deisel Ford Excursion - so not only is it big with very dark windows - it has to be started correctly as not to blow out the glow plugs!!
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 Sometimes we valet and sometimes we self-park. If we feel like we will be needing our car a couple of times or my dad isn't with us then we valet otherwise we self-park.
Originally Posted By PetesDraggin I would self park. It is very easy at the Grand and I found it to be very convenient. The self park area is directly across from the GCH entrance and takes about 2 minutes to walk back to the hotel. If we needed to take our car somewhere, I would walk over while my wife was getting ready and bring the car around to the front to pick her up. I did the same thing to drop her off. The DVC expansion really doesn't affect it at all, so that shouldn't be a factor. Personally, I think self parking is more convenient because you don't have to wait to have someone bring your car up to the front for you.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I agree and do the same things. The only time I ever used Valet Parking, I had picked up a bunch of family at another hotel and brought them back to the Grand for the evening. It was easier than having everyone troop back and forth across the street.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 We just drive up, have a bellman take our luggage, go in and check in and then if our room isn't ready we get back into the car, drive across the street (lot is across the street between the AMC and PPH)and then walk to the monorail or hang around DTD. If our room is ready, I go to the room and call the bell desk while DH goes to park the car. The only time we did valet was when we were leaving that night for Knotts Haunt but then we self parked when we returned.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I believe if they valet you once, they charge you valet for EVERY night of your stay, whether you ever move your car again or not. More than one person here has had that experience, unless they've since changed it. Self-parking, though, is included in the "resort fee" you pay anyway, so no additional charge. And the lot is right across the street from the front entrance.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ If you are billed for more times than you use valet, it's a billing mistake and will be corrected if you bring it to the desk's attention.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Good to know - I remember this complaint from quite a while ago, so maybe this was an early kink they worked out.
Originally Posted By mousegrl I love the convenience of them taking the car, but do not like having to depend on them every time I need it. One trip, my mom forgot her book in the car, and I had to call valet to bring the car around to get it out. It was a pain. I'd much rather be able to go to and from on my own. The ONLY positive to that was I felt that at least I'm paying for them to do something. Usually they take the car one day, and I don't touch it (which mean they don't either) for the next five or six days. Yet, I still pay nightly for the service. (What is it now? An extra $20 a night on top of the $10?) So, to clarify the billing, if you leave your car in the valet parking lot the whole time your there, even if you don't use it, you pay for the total time the car is in the lot. If you use the valet one day, and then self park, you should only be billed for the one day. If they billed you for more days, they will correct the mistake. Thanks everyone. I leave in 18 days!
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf I like to valet at the Grand. And I think it's $20/night compared to the $12/night self-parking. For the extra $8. I think it's worth it, especially if you have a bunch of luggage and two young kids.
Originally Posted By LuLu I think the $12/night is charged to everyone, whether you have a car or not ("Resort Fee"). So the $20 would be on top of that. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 You are correct LuLu the self-parking fee is included in the resort fee. I remember the number to be more about $12/13 per night more for valet parking. Perhaps it has gone up since our last visit.
Originally Posted By mousegrl Ok, that was bugging me, so I looked it up. (I have seperate files for all my trips where I keep old reciepts, bills, maps, memorbia, photo cds, ect. I know, I'm a dork.) Last November('06), when I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, I was charged an $11.50 resort fee AND a $14.00 valet charge per night. I'm sure it's gone up by now. The July before that, at the Grand, it was a $11.50 resort fee and a $12.00 valet fee per night. I think I'll skip valet.
Originally Posted By mousegrl <I think it's worth it, especially if you have a bunch of luggage and two young kids. > You can still pull up to the front of the hotel and have the bellman bring your luggage up without the valet, right?
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Having done both valet and self-park, I would recommend valet if you plan an using your car at least once a day. I would recommend self-park if you are planning to abandon your car for your entire DLR stay.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Is the self-parking lot guarded? Just wondering if valet is considered any safer.
