How Does Somebody Get an EV Parking Space at Disney World?

[DryerLintFan]

You have been helpful, but I am being truthful(see your words below) But you seem to take umbrage with me pointing out that one of things you said is so important and( you wrote it as if I didn't understand, which I did) is that charging at home or the hotel you are staying at solves most issues(see text below).
Again, on my vacation home won't be an option and neither will the hotels I am staying at! I truly hope it will be easy charging elsewhere, I'm really only concerned I'm Vero(provided it has a full charge when I pick it up at the airport), where again there isn't a charger at the hotel, but seems there are some options around the town.
Anyway I have found this very useful, and have appreciated all your input. No bad feelings, I am sure I am just being range paranoid, I actually think there is a another team for it.

Because you’ve secured a Tesla it’s super duper easy. Don’t waste brain space worrying about it. Plan a night to either get ice cream at baskin Robbins or eat at chipotle or sit in the car and chill for 20-30 minutes, and hit the super charger that’s slightly off property.

I think the BR was also a Dunkin’ Donuts if my memory isn’t failing me, I can’t fully remember. But you could also go in the morning for coffee if that works better.

Easy peasy lemon squeasy. You shouldn’t need to worry about it more than once.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Tesla is now opening up its superchargers to all EV's. Already done in UK, USA underway.

Tesla will add CCS connectors to Supercharger stations in the US, says Elon Musk

Tesla will add CCS connectors to its Supercharger stations in the United States to let non-Tesla EV owners access the...

electrek.co

This is great news.

To date though, the Tesla chargers near me are Tesla-only. I have never seen a non-Telsa charging at any of them, and I shop about twice a week in 2 plazas that each have a bank of Tesla chargers. It would definitely be helpful if they opened up to non-Teslas, as there are regularly open chargers.

(While the Chargepoint and Volta stations are nearly always in use.)

 

[Hcalvert]

I have a hybrid and plan to try to charge it at one of the parks. I have a handicap placard and last time I saw EVs in those charging spots without a placard. Hopefully, I will get there before they do. If not, oh well. It is not a make or break for me.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

You have been helpful, but I am being truthful(see your words below) But you seem to take umbrage with me pointing out that one of things you said is so important and( you wrote it as if I didn't understand, which I did) is that charging at home or the hotel you are staying at solves most issues(see text below).
Again, on my vacation home won't be an option and neither will the hotels I am staying at! I truly hope it will be easy charging elsewhere, I'm really only concerned I'm Vero(provided it has a full charge when I pick it up at the airport), where again there isn't a charger at the hotel, but seems there are some options around the town.
Anyway I have found this very useful, and have appreciated all your input. No bad feelings, I am sure I am just being range paranoid, I actually think there is a another term for it.

Well thanks for that, but I think you are selectively ignoring the multiple times I've qualified my answers by saying something like, "I don't know the specifics of your situation."

WDW Magic also attempted to explain the same thing I did - see post #55.

If you want to find solutions, they exist, but it will require an adjustment. That's all I am trying to explain. I have said in this thread, and always tell people EV's aren't yet ideal for every type of driving, but I also always tell them to try them for themselves, because for me, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

 

[Raxel7851]

Except the person who just ran into the store from the pump has the option to just pull his car around to a parking spot in 2min and then walk in. There is no way anyone should be reasonably expected to take an hour to two hours to leave MK to go back to TTC to move their car.

Leaving the MK hypo aside I have been parking garages and parking lots that fill up completely for big events. Are you supposed to go and get your EV car and then move it hoping to find an empty spot? And if it’s full are you supposed to leave the lot? It’s just not practical. This also ignores many events and locations that don’t allow re-entry.

All Great points! It seems like the charging stations aren’t keeping up with the amount of EVs being produced.

 

[mkt]

Look, I know you love your EV and that’s GREAT, but charging an EV is not as easy... as filling a gas tank.

It is

Look, I know you love your EV and that’s GREAT, but charging an EV is not as convenient as filling a gas tank.

It is.

Look, I know you love your EV and that’s GREAT, but charging an EV is not as fast as filling a gas tank.

Ok, fair point.

Which is why you charge at home.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

It is



It is.



Ok, fair point.

Which is why you charge at home.

I also do not miss the smell of gasoline.

Or pumping gas on a very cold night.

While changing stations aren't perfect, and don't function 100% of the time, gas stations along a long-distance drive are also often a bit sketchy. Some are downright filthy.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Which is why you charge at home.

The OP was talking about charging away from home. I am very happy for you and your electric car. It’s fabulous to own an electric car right now. Congratulations!

 

[mkt]

The OP was talking about charging away from home. I am very happy for you and your electric car. It’s fabulous to own an electric car right now. Congratulations!

I know. I gave him some pointers as well.

Charging on on the drive, use A Better Route Planner (unless you have a Tesla, then use Tesla's own app). Charging while at WDW, stay in a hotel with EV charging and charge overnight. But if you need a top-up, and see a park charger available, run and take it. Disney Springs chargers should only be used as a last resort.

Finally, given that later this year the cheapest new EV with a usable range will be $27k (2023 Chevy Bolt), I expect this question to be asked more frequently.

 

[mkt]

I know. I gave him some pointers as well.

Charging on on the drive, use A Better Route Planner (unless you have a Tesla, then use Tesla's own app). Charging while at WDW, stay in a hotel with EV charging and charge overnight. But if you need a top-up, and see a park charger available, run and take it. Disney Springs chargers should only be used as a last resort.

Finally, given that later this year the cheapest new EV with a usable range will be $27k (2023 Chevy Bolt), I expect this question to be asked more frequently.

One more tip. If you have a non-Tesla EV, buy a Lectron Tesla to J1772 Adapter. It will allow you to use Tesla destination (L2) chargers, which is good insurance when staying in a hotel that advertises EV charging, but doesn't specify what kind of charger they have.

Like here:

 

[SteveAZee]

It would be interesting to have a conversation like this in an alternate universe where nearly everyone drove electric cars and someone was wondering where they can get gas for their new ICE car... does each resort have a gas pumping station available?

The change from one to the other is also a change in how one approaches 'refueling'.

I'm not slamming the OP... it's a legit question. I have an ICE truck and my wife has a Tesla (so a mixed marriage ) and we've done road trips and vacations in her car... and honestly I'll be moving to a Rivian pretty soon... there are just small tweaks to be made in how one travels, but the trade-offs are small and the wins are big.

 

[mkt]

The change from one to the other is also a change in how one approaches 'refueling'.

This is the biggest change.

In an EV, you do not charge to 100% when you stop to recharge, and you do not get to low percentages if at all possible.

IME, best overall is to do a quick top up when you hit 15% and go to 60%. You can usually do that with enough time to get a bite to eat and use the restroom, and hit the road. And due to charge curves, doing this multiple times during a road trip is almost always faster than a single 0-100% charge.

 

[mkt]

Yeah its a very token effort so far.

What is needed is something like this by the TTC.

Tesla unveils its largest Supercharger station in the US — and it kind of looks like a truck stop

Gee, I wonder why?

www.theverge.com

View attachment 643170

I'm definitely down for something like this - but split between Tesla and DCFS (plus a single CHAdeMO for the person who rolls up in a Nissan Leaf).

And add Disney-centric food options and merch (with some unique merch for this location), so you have something to do while you're there.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Finally, given that later this year the cheapest new EV with a usable range will be $27k (2023 Chevy Bolt), I expect this question to be asked more frequently.

The new trucks are also a game changer... and if not the current models, the ones that will be coming out over the next few years.

Looks like the 2022 electric Ford F150 has already sold out. I could see that being a great vehicle for a road trip to WDW.

 

[mkt]

Looks like the 2022 electric Ford F150 has already sold out. I could see that being a great vehicle for a road trip to WDW.

First year sold out, same for the Hummer EV. Silverado EV and whatever GMC twin it gets will be the next ones out.

Also, Cadillac Lyriq first year is already sold out.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

One more tip. If you have a non-Tesla EV, buy a Lectron Tesla to J1772 Adapter. It will allow you to use Tesla destination (L2) chargers, which is good insurance when staying in a hotel that advertises EV charging, but doesn't specify what kind of charger they have.

Like here:

View attachment 643854

Just to clarify, currently in the states, non-Teslas cannot use Tesla super-chargers. (the kind of station pictured on page#3 post #58).

The adapter only works for the type in the above post- the chargers with a red background sign.

It is also worth adding that I mostly just use a regular electric outlet to do the bulk of my charging. It is slower, of course, but per the discussion of WDW adding more charging stations, a station isn't essential where overnight/multi-hour charging is possible, like a hotel, when staying with friends, or when renting a vacation home.

 

[mkt]

Just to clarify, currently in the states, non-Teslas cannot use Tesla super-chargers. (the kind of station pictured on page#3 post #58).

The adapter only works for the type in the above post- the chargers with a red background sign.

That’s why said destination chargers, since they are all level two. They’ll also work on a level one Tesla charger as well.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

This is the biggest change.

In an EV, you do not charge to 100% when you stop to recharge, and you do not get to low percentages if at all possible.

IME, best overall is to do a quick top up when you hit 15% and go to 60%. You can usually do that with enough time to get a bite to eat and use the restroom, and hit the road. And due to charge curves, doing this multiple times during a road trip is almost always faster than a single 0-100% charge.

This really isn't the biggest change, at least on a macro level for a shift to EV. The big change is from a market perspective, who is going to be the one offering "refueling" services.

For most of car driving history, refueling has been handled by third party companies specifically founded and run to provide this service. Gas stations were placed along routes of travel, and near large visitor destinations, but were not owned, operated by, or on the property of the destination itself. Disney didn't build gas stations at the Contemporary Resort or at TTC. Fueling your car was done before/after your trip to your destination and not related to the destination itself.

Fast forward to the inception of EV vehicles, and maybe even to present day. EV re-charging is still somewhat of a niche market. I have no hard figures to cite here but I think I am safe that less than 10% of vehicles going to WDW are currently EV vehicles that would need/want recharging available on site? So you place a couple charging stations at various parking facilities. it is not going to dominate the parking resources or your energy budget, but you have a few spots as a nice feature for your EV drivers.

If EV usage continues to rise, a total infrastructure question is going to have to be decided on who is providing recharging services. I don't know if Disney (or any large scale destination source) wants to become a "gas station" fuel provider on top of its normal operations. I am just not sure that model is scalable for every business. Even at 25% EV utilization, can you see Disney wanting to be set up to accommodate charging that many vehicles a day?

 

[mkt]

If EV usage continues to rise, a total infrastructure question is going to have to be decided on who is providing recharging services. I don't know if Disney (or any large scale destination source) wants to become a "gas station" fuel provider on top of its normal operations. I am just not sure that model is scalable for every business. Even at 25% EV utilization, can you see Disney wanting to be set up to accommodate charging that many vehicles a day?

Offer greater quantities of EV parking in their resorts and make free EV charging a perk of staying on-site. Doesn't need to be fast chargers, just some rows of J1772 L2 chargers should work.

 

[Disstevefan1]

It would be interesting to have a conversation like this in an alternate universe where nearly everyone drove electric cars and someone was wondering where they can get gas for their new ICE car... does each resort have a gas pumping station available?

The change from one to the other is also a change in how one approaches 'refueling'.

I'm not slamming the OP... it's a legit question. I have an ICE truck and my wife has a Tesla (so a mixed marriage ) and we've done road trips and vacations in her car... and honestly I'll be moving to a Rivian pretty soon... there are just small tweaks to be made in how one travels, but the trade-offs are small and the wins are big.

Related to your conversation if it comes a time when the majority of folks are driving electric, what is that going to do to the electric rates I wonder?

It seems to me, everyone's electric rates will be high due to good old supply and demand.

Today, most can choose to drive less to save on the cost of gasoline, but there are many folks that their entire home is run on electricity; cooking, cooling and heating. That makes using less electricity much harder.

Even if someone does not own an electric car, they will be paying high electric rates to keep the Teslas charged up.