Hey there, Craig!
Thanks for bringing your question to me. I'm happy to answer your call (of the wild) about planning the perfect day at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney's BoardWalk.
When you purchase
standard theme park parking, your purchase will be valid for standard parking at any of the other theme parks on the same day. Unfortunately, this will not apply to parking at the resorts. Cast Members at the resort entrances will typically not let visitors park unless they are registered guests or have a dining reservation, but I have a few suggestions that might help.
Once you've finished enjoying
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (don't leave without a stop at Nomad Lounge if you can snag a table) you can drive to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Hang on to your parking receipt from the morning and show a Cast Member when you arrive. They will direct you where to park without any additional fee. Once parked, you can make your way to
Disney's BoardWalk one of three ways. There is a walking path, or you can utilize the FriendShip Boats or Disney Skyliner, as I
detailed in this recent answer. The boats will first stop at Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels, and then at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts before docking across Crescent Lake at Disney's BoardWalk. You can also soar in a Skyliner gondola to the International Gateway stop at the back of EPCOT after making a quick transfer at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Once you exit the Skyliner you'll be a short walk away from all the fun along Disney's BoardWalk.
You can also consider making an advance dining reservation at
Trattoria Al Forno which should allow you to park at Disney's BoardWalk Inn for approximately 3 hours. This would give you enough time to enjoy a meal and then experience the atmosphere and entertainment afterward. You could also opt for a dining reservation at one of the Table-Service restaurants at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, which would offer a parking window just across the lake.
Ale & Compass Restaurant offers a cozy feel and a reasonably priced menu (I usually opt for the Sustainable Catch of the Day), but a visit to
Cape May Cafe would be fun, too. Just keep in mind that characters aren't present during dinner, but the buffet is plentiful.
I hope these suggestions helped, Craig. If I can offer any additional guidance please come back and let me know.
Magic and memories,
Amy