Downtown Disney -- Beware

[CAS239]

And to those wondering about the parking garage(s).. NO, Disney has no plans to charge to park there. They have confirmed this.

I don't see what anyone would think Disney wouldn't "own" the parking garages. Their paying to have them built on their property. And being that their free to use, it wouldn't benefit someone else to own them. That's the first I've ever heard that theory lol

 

[Lavitz]

So I know driving to DTD is a no go if you're staying offsite. What about if you're staying on site and catching a bus, it is still a nightmare even if you're on Disney transportation?

 

[Music City Mama]

We're going in 3 weeks and I plan on driving. We'll be staying at CBR so not too far away and it seems counter-intuitive to me to take a bus and/or park at another resort just to walk or boat to DTD when I can drive. I'm in horrible traffic on the interstate every day... it's gotta be better than that!

 

[Planogirl]

We drove to Downtown Disney during Spring Break and we were staying offsite. We went around mid-morning and it took a few traffic lights to get into the garage but it really wasn't as bad as I expected. Leaving was easy.

 

[DOOM1001]

I parked at the new garage this Friday around noon and it couldn't have been any easier.

 

[CAS239]

So I know driving to DTD is a no go if you're staying offsite. What about if you're staying on site and catching a bus, it is still a nightmare even if you're on Disney transportation?

We don't stay on site and we go to DTD every trip. You'll get there quicker driving yourself vs Disney buses imo for the fact you don't have to wait for a bus. They deal with the same traffic and roads that everyone else does, so there's no benefit of staying on site vs off or Disney transpiration vs driving your car since you drive in the same area. Only difference is where you park vs where buses drop off.

The traffic really isn't bad at all unless it's around 5pm on the weekday, or in the afternoon on the weekends. And even then, sometimes the traffic still isn't bad. It'll be real nice when they finish up the street widening.

Like I tell anyone on here, the construction at DTD is nowhere near as bad to deter someone from visiting it.

 

[Grumpy247365]

So I know driving to DTD is a no go if you're staying offsite. What about if you're staying on site and catching a bus, it is still a nightmare even if you're on Disney transportation?

No it's really nice taking the bus, but you are dropped off at one side of DTD and if you have a reservation at say, House of Blues, you'll have a long walk. If staying on site, I would most definitely recommend taking the bus or the ferry if you're at a resort with boat service.

 

[mombrontrent]

We just got back last week and during our 10 day stay we went to DTD several times. We parked in the lot over by Disney Quest and Cirque de Soliel a couple times with no trouble finding a spot. We also parked in the parking garage a couple times with no problems at all. The traffic coming in/out of the area was busy around dinner time but not crazy. We stayed at Bonnet Creek and depending on traffic made the trip in 5-15min.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We usually take a cab to DTD and plan on doing so our next trip. Hoping that won't be an issue

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I went in May we found parking fairly easy in the garage, and went to Earl of sandwich, saw cirque, and hung out around and got out with little to no problems.

I am sorry for the OPs experience, but I had he exact opposite don't let the OP scare you...

 

[bumbershoot]

And to those wondering about the parking garage(s).. NO, Disney has no plans to charge to park there. They have confirmed this.

I don't see what anyone would think Disney wouldn't "own" the parking garages. Their paying to have them built on their property. And being that their free to use, it wouldn't benefit someone else to own them. That's the first I've ever heard that theory lol

Which post are you referring to? The one with the theory that they don't own the garages?

LOL, read a third time...the first post. Got lost in there!

 

[Lynzer4]

I was just there a month ago on Saturday night. I heard stories and the ticket agent told me to plan to arrive AT LEAST an hour before the show (went to La Nouba).

It was actually not bad at all but we did park on the West Side. The lot wasn't even half full by 6pm when we got there.

They also have valet for $20 if you don't want to mess with the hassle of parking.

 

[JennyDrake]

So you paid to park at one of the parks? And then took a bus to Saratoga springs? Is there any way to not have to pay to park?

Sorry I should have added that we had APs, so we did not have to pay to park.

 

[JennyDrake]

We well be there toward the end of Sept and have an ADR at Raglan Road on a Friday night. Yikes! Now I am rethinking that. However we are staying at POR and I planned to take the ferry to DTD. What is the construction predicted to be like in the fall?

On the ferry you will be FINE!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I was just there a month ago on Saturday night. I heard stories and the ticket agent told me to plan to arrive AT LEAST an hour before the show (went to La Nouba).

It was actually not bad at all but we did park on the West Side. The lot wasn't even half full by 6pm when we got there.

They also have valet for $20 if you don't want to mess with the hassle of parking.

Yeah that's why I'm not getting this horror story OP as I found it not bad AT all. Went into La Nuba had an excellent night overall - very good night.

I guess like everything there are bad and good days.

 

[hakepb]

I'm starting to think where you visit in DTD and where you drive from have major impacts on the DTD experience

Over Christmas, I wanted to pickup the family from World of Disney (they arrived via bus), so I took my normal route by looping around Saratoga and then approached the east side Marketplace like a non-Disney DTD area hotel guest.... Massive mistake
There is no marketplace parking (new garage being built) and it took me 30 minutes of stop and go to drive 3 traffic lights..electric signs were trying to make me park across the street, and I really didn't want to park in the West side garage.

I suppose if I were driving from the Typhoon Lagoon side of DTD and wanted to see Cirque or go to House of Blues, I would have had a much easier drive and would have not thought parking was that bad.

 

[tchk]

We've tried to get to DTD twice in the last month, both times coming from the parks. Three weeks ago the traffic was so horrible it took us 40 minutes to get from one end to the other- on the main road right out front. Couldn't make the turn into the lot, and the lots on the far side were full. We wasted an hour trying to get there then trying to get out of there. It is not "that bad", it is worse than that. Last week we parked in the lot below/before you get to DTD coming from the parks. We asked a CM (about our age) about walking from the garage to the upper end of DTD and he told us it was a L-O-N-G walk. From the lot, it was a 10 minute walk from our car to the first store. Both trips were on weekdays.

Young and healthy it probably is not a problem. Old and arthritic, like me, means no more trips to DTD, at least not until it is all fixed. Anything I can't get in the parks, in the hotels, or online, I will just do without.

 

[IrishNYC]

We didn't see the appeal of DTD and will probably not bother ever going there again. So many shady people, the same merchandise as in the parks, I can see a Lego store here at home, and none of the restaurants are unique to Disney. There was nothing special about it to us. We didn't even feel like we were in Disney, except for all the merch. We'd rather just relax at our resort if we have a non park day in the future.

 

[BabyFu18]

For me the easiest way to get to DTD is to use Disney bus transportation (or boat if your at a resort that offers that). I know it takes longer since you might have to wait on a bus, but I'll happily let someone else drive and deal with the traffic while I sit back and relax. Usually, I try to make sure I give enough time befor reservations and things like that, so even if the ride is long it won't be a problem. I love DTD, lots of shops, restaurants, things to do/see, everytime we go to WDW we go downtown several times, even the construction won't stop us! I know it'll be really nice when it's all completed too.

 

[Tomh]

I find the boat ride to DTD from POR to be quite relaxing, AND it avoids all that mess