Parking for Magic Mornings

[Spelurker]

We are staying off-site and will coming in from the east side of DLR to park everyday. On Magic Mornings I would like to be at the gate at least 15 minutes before they open at 7:00 am. I heard that they only open the parking lots 30 minutes before the magic mornings opening time. Is this correct?
Is it possible to park at Toy Story or Pumba, get on the tram, and be at the gate ready to walk in by that time?
If not, where would you park?
Thanks.

 

[I'm mikey]

I heard that they only open the parking lots 30 minutes before the magic mornings opening time. Is this correct?

From the disneyland website
Parking structures for the theme parks open one hour prior to the published Disneyland Park opening time. On days featuring Magic Morning Early Admission, Mickey & Friends parking structure opens 90 minutes before the published Disneyland Park opening time.

Heres a link to the disney parking website.
Disneyland parking

 

[Spelurker]

Thanks.
I guess the only remaining question is how long does it take to park, ride in the tram. and get in line for the security check.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It takes a good 15-20 minutes. My drive (on a 'normal' traffic day) to Disneyland is about 25 minutes - half hour. I usually allow 45 minutes to drive to the park, park my car, take the tram to the drop-off point, go through security, and enter the park.

Of course, if you get there later there will be a lot of cars going into the car garage, and your wait will increase, so you'd need to factor that in.

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks.
I guess the only remaining question is how long does it take to park, ride in the tram. and get in line for the security check.

About 20-30 minutes. It depends on how quick you are, timing with the trams, and how quickly the security check is moving. Get to the garage early not late, and out of the car quickly.

 

[Spelurker]

Thanks for the information.
So even if I'm right there at the entrance to the parking lot at 6:30 am when it opens, there's a good chance I won't be inside the park when the rope drops. I'm just trying to figure out a way to be there ready to go when they let us in on our one Magic Morning. I don't have to be first in line at the rope drop, but I would like to be through the ticket booth. We can't walk to the park, we're staying too far away. Is there someplace else to park?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I don't know of another place to park. You should really be okay.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Can you change where your staying? It truly is better to stay within walking distance.

You could drop everybody but the driver off up front, not everyone needs to park the car, take the tram - yuck! That way even if the driver can't join them before they enter the park all but 1 has a great head start on their MM.

 

[MrsMears]

Not sure if this helps you.. however, my husband and I caught a cab for MM and it costs us about $6. We arrived at 6AM and had a breakfast picnic in front of the security tents.

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks for the information.
So even if I'm right there at the entrance to the parking lot at 6:30 am when it opens, there's a good chance I won't be inside the park when the rope drops. I'm just trying to figure out a way to be there ready to go when they let us in on our one Magic Morning. I don't have to be first in line at the rope drop, but I would like to be through the ticket booth. We can't walk to the park, we're staying too far away. Is there someplace else to park?

Well, first of all I would have tickets in hand. There is no way this will work if you are standing in line to buy tickets as well. Buy them online from Disneyland.com or however else you were getting tickets, but have them before you get to Disneyland.

Secondly, a trick we have used in times past is to use the drop off point on Harbor Blvd. Drop off most of your party here and have them walk through security and to the turnstiles. They will hold your spot in line. The driver then gets to the parking structure or Toy Story and parks. It is much easier for that one person to be fast and speedy. And you have already taken care of getting the kids out and getting all their stuff. Now the remaining person meets their party at the turnstiles.

This has worked for us many times in the past. Drop off your party well in advance of the park structure opening. It is not unusual in my experience to have the parking booths open a few minutes early. That way while the driver is parking, the rest of the party is securing a good place in line.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

...You could drop everybody but the driver off up front, not everyone needs to park the car, take the tram - yuck! That way even if the driver can't join them before they enter the park all but 1 has a great head start on their MM.

...a trick we have used in times past is to use the drop off point on Harbor Blvd. Drop off most of your party here and have them walk through security and to the turnstiles. They will hold your spot in line. The driver then gets to the parking structure or Toy Story and parks. It is much easier for that one person to be fast and speedy. And you have already taken care of getting the kids out and getting all their stuff. Now the remaining person meets their party at the turnstiles.

This has worked for us many times in the past. Drop off your party well in advance of the park structure opening. It is not unusual in my experience to have the parking booths open a few minutes early. That way while the driver is parking, the rest of the party is securing a good place in line.

That's what I was eluding to I agree that the Toy Story lot would be better

 

[Spelurker]

Thanks for information.
I hadn't thought of the cab; it would under $10 judging by the distance from the hotel.

 

[Girimama33]

With MM, there is no rope drop technically. They will not open the turnstiles and let people in until 7. There will be lines depending on when you get there. If you want to line up first, probably a cab. If you want to just be there when they open the gates, you could park.

 

[cmwade77]

Here are the average times from the parking kiosk at each of the lots to the turnstiles:

• Parking Structure - Opens 90 Minutes prior to first park opening that has MM - 45 Minutes
• Toy Story - Opens approximately 30 minutes prior to first park opening (even during MM), sometimes at the same time - 15 Minutes
• Pumbaa - Runs only on days that are expected to be very busy, but will usually open around the same time as Toy Story - 10 Minutes
• Simba - This will open after the Pumbaa lot is full - 60 Minutes, including an approximately 30 minute walk to main entrance and you will not be allowed to used the GCH entrance, unless you are staying at the one of the on-site resorts.
• Also when Simba is first being parked, the Monorail is usually limited to hotel guests only for boarding at Downtown Disney.
• Gardenwalk - Runs only on the busiest of the busy days, honestly if they are parking here before the park opens, go home - 20 Minutes

NOTE: All wait times are approximate and your mileage may vary, but this is based on personal experience.

 

[Spelurker]

Thanks for the information. Looks like my two choices are taking a cab or arriving at the Mickey & friends parking structure at 6:30 am.
One question: How long of a walk is it from the parking structure to the turnstiles?
The reason I ask is that it looks like a about a half mile walk from the middle of the parking structure to the turnstiles. Do they have it fenced off so that you cannot walk from the parking structure or is that a viable option? 45 minutes seems like a long time to take the tram method.
Thanks.

 

[cmwade77]

Thanks for the information. Looks like my two choices are taking a cab or arriving at the Mickey & friends parking structure at 6:30 am.
One question: How long of a walk is it from the parking structure to the turnstiles?
The reason I ask is that it looks like a about a half mile walk from the middle of the parking structure to the turnstiles. Do they have it fenced off so that you cannot walk from the parking structure or is that a viable option? 45 minutes seems like a long time to take the tram method.
Thanks.

Not 45 minutes on the tram, but rather 45 minutes from entering the parking lot to the main gate, this includes time for security checks as well. This assumes that you do not have any strollers, backpacks, etc. to lug and have no bags when going through the security check points, add 5 minutes for your first bag and 1 additional minute per additional bag. This also includes the 5 minutes or so that you will generally have to wait for the next tram, if it is busy, this may increase to 10-15 minutes.

Walking will take about 65 minutes from entering the parking structure to the main gate.

Additionally, on the busiest of days, they have randomly inspected vehicles in the past prior to allowing them to park. This is rare, but I have seen it happen on days like July 4th, New Year's Eve, etc. I would imagine that the first couple of weeks of Carsland, etc. will have similar crowd levels and may have a similar situation.

 

[perlster]

Uh, OK ... I have been through the security line several times recently and have never seen "five minutes for the first bag'.

I also think the 45 minute time for M&F to the gates is perhaps true only on very busy days.

 

[Spelurker]

Thanks for all the good information.
Just curious; I presume from looking at the resort on mapquest, that if you were going to walk to the park, you would exit the parking structure at or around the southeast corner. Then walk south beside S. Disneyland Dr. until you got to Downtown Disney, walk through that and onto the security check point at the gate. On the map that looks to be about a 3000 foot walk. Are my walking directions correct or do they make you walk some other longer route?

 

[cmwade77]

They have a walking route, which is about 1.25 miles as I recall.

 

[Spelurker]

I figured it had to be some long route like that. Thanks.