Are there places to drop people off at the parks without paying for parking?

[Barb D]

In one possible scenario for our September trip my sister (who lives near Orlando) may drop off one or two of her kids each day to spend the day with us. We're doing one day each at MGM, Epcot, and MK. My family will already be at the park each morning. (We won't wait around the hotel for them; don't want to lose any park time in case they're running late!) She would call us when they get there, and we'd come out to the entrance to meet them. But can she do this without having to pay for parking? How close can she get to each park entrance?

Oh, we don't need to worry about it for MK. She's coming there herself, so she'll park that day.

 

[Kermit]

I can't think of any good way to do that. They may grant you some type of temporary pass, but I doubt it. The parking attendents make you park at the first available spot; it would be hard to get up to the front.

Do they have annual passes? If so, parking is free. Your sis may have to park and then walk the kids to the front if they're young. I guess another possibility would be to park at DD or the Boardwalk and then take them to the park, but that would take a lot of time.

 

[AllanJ]

If the kids are young enough that someone must walk them to the park entrance, then your sis' needs to park while she does it and there is currently no way for the parking lot inspectors to identify short time parkers.

If the kids are older and have hopper passes, you can drop them off at the check in area of a nearby resort and they can take the bus or monorail. Note that the boats serving Epcot dock at the rear, in the International pavilions area.

If you are holding their park passes and will check them thru the turnstiles when you meet them at the entrance, be very careful to keep their passes weparate from yours. If you go in and out of parks or do hopping before the kids arrive you don't want to tick off a day on their pass and also tick off a day on your pass all by yourself.

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"Many turnstiles, and posts along a driving lane, look alike. Be sure you and the party you are going to meet have identified in advance a spot with a unique label or sign or poster, where you will meet."

 

[Master Gracey]

There is a free drop-off area at the TTC. And, of course, there is bus or monorail transportation to all the parks from there. If the kids are old enough they could be dropped at the TTC, then travel to a park to meet you. If not, perhaps you could send a family member to the TTC to get them. Draw straws - the loser has to go get the kids!

 

[GeorgeY]

YES,
At MGM, they will send you up following the blue line on the road, Just keep telling each attendent that tries to steer you into a lane that you are just dropping off. When you get to the Handicapped parking area, there are 3-5 spaces that are painted with the words, "GUEST DROP OFF ONLY, 15 MIN LIMIT". They can park here and get out and walk up to the gates and then go back, just try and stay within the 15 minute limit.

At EPCOT, there are also 3-5 spaces marked with that with a covered area for people to wait. Again the attendents will direct you up there.

They just have to tell the attendent and they will direct them to the areas. We have done this quite a few times, 2 weeks ago we had to renew our passes, we were not going into the park so we did it at EPCOT. Last week, we were at AK and my wife wanted to take our youngest son home for a nap, so she dropped me and my older son off at MGM (In the drop area). Then came back and parked there and walked up to the gate to pick us up.

George

 

[TSI_Fan]

I was thinking maybe drop the kids off at the Contemporary and have them walk to Magic Kingdom from there. It's worth a shot.