There are two primary parking garages in Vail, $20 per day. One is near Lionshead (west), the other is mtn plaza/vail village (east). You might also find some paid parking by the Gold Peak area (turn right just past the east garage and follow the curvy road a few blocks). When you get off i-70 there are traffic circles instead of lights on each side of the interstate so be aware. And yes, you get to feel like you are in NYC changing in a parking garage.
Gold Peak is closet you will get to parking near a lift if there is any left (iffy proposition, I usually just go to the main garage and walk to vista bahn). East two parking areas will require 2 lifts to the top of the mtn to get to the bowls (Lionshead can be done in two, but you need to know a bit of the layout so probably not your best option). So, you have either vista bahn to mtn top express (or wildwood can get you there too); or riva bahn to northwoods. All high speed lifts. In fact only a couple of lifts at Vail are NOT high speed.
Food is of course fairly pricey, but usually better than your average resort (including Breck). The infamous Two Elk is usually a good bet for lunch and should be OK mid-week (unless it's prime spring break weeks. Two elk is the one the enviro's burned down, but was rebuilt even bigger since).
Back bowls face south so can be mucked up if hit by the sun too much... But even then should head back to get to north facing Blue Sky Basin areas. The more excieting stuff in blue sky is off earls and skyline lifts (pete's is ok but not too steep).
Back bowls depend on conditions where is best (or worst in some cases). Not always easy to tell on the map if the run is worth the traverse. forever, wow, windows are prime early on a powder day. tea cup & china bowls are not too steep, but enough pitch for powder days as well. my personal favorite in the back bowls is red square. traverse the obvious from the orient express lift, then there is a gate/rope line on the ridge (roughly where shangria la is/starts on the trail map). once through the gate make a hard right and tuck out along that ridge real far (you'll want some speed!). Then left (usually a small cornice at top of red square). I leave inner & outer mongolia for when powder is getting scarce in the more easily accessed bowls... but hey have some good spots as well.
Long description, but a lot of terrain. Hope it helps...
