Best Parking Option

[njchris]

We parked at the structure yesterday for our DCA day. We arrived to structure around 0800 and were in DCA by 0900. I wish we had gotten there earlier as RSR was already an hour at 0905! The walk in was rough but it was nice to walk out via DTD after dinner at Black Tap.

I think if you want to get in earlier do Garden Walk and get there by 0745.

Gardenwalk is what I'll probably do this Saturday when I go to DL. Thanks for the info!

 

[4boysDisneymom]

Is Downtown Disney parking open? Any thoughts on if it's a better option than the garage? TIA!!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Is Downtown Disney parking open? Any thoughts on if it's a better option than the garage? TIA!!

I just parked in the Simba lot Monday (Simba is currently the only parking available for DTD). It’s $10 for the first hour, then $14/hour thereafter with a $66/day max. You can get five hours comped if you eat at a TS restaurant in DTD. If money is no object I suppose it’s an option. Security was completely empty at 9:30am.

 

[DLgal]

Is Downtown Disney parking open? Any thoughts on if it's a better option than the garage? TIA!!

It's definitely not a better option. It's way more expensive and the walk is almost as long, if not longer. The actual parking is way back behind the PPH/DLH Frontier tower.

The best option is the garage and walk in/out via DtD using the pedestrian bridge/walking path.

 

[4boysDisneymom]

Thank you both for your response!

 

[Evita_W]

Some of the hotels across Harbor offer parking for the same price as M&F and would be substantially closer.

 

[DisneyPhanDoor]

Hi all! Thanks for the insight and info!
I will be staying at a hotel off Disney Way and will be going Harborside for entry. Does anyone know if the lines are organized spilling out onto the sidewalk? Or are there multiple lines converging into a single line? If so, is there a CM directing traffic, or is it a free for all? It’s a 15 minute walk from my hotel, I am planning on walking out my door at 7:30am and hoping to join the line INSIDE Disney property. Anyone with any experience have any answers or advice?

 

[jackbo487]

seeing how much of a frenzy the Harbor entrance has been lately I'm reconsidering my Gardenwalk-Harbor plan for this weekend. Would Mickey & Friends (arriving around 8:15) be a better/smoother experience?

 

[UnpokemonMom]

If so, is there a CM directing traffic, or is it a free for all?

When my son went on Sunday, he arrived at Harborside at 5:39am, and said there were already CMs there directing people.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I am copying and pasting from another thread. This was my experience parking yesterday (Tuesday, 6/8):

Prior to AC opening my plan was to park at the Anaheim Gardenwalk and walk to the Harbor security entrance but I changed my mind and parked at Mickey & Friends. We pulled up to the structure at 7:35 and we were about 7 or 8 cars back in our line. They weren’t open yet so we waited there. At 7:45 they let the first car through and we parked, went through temp check and security, and walked to the esplanade. No hold for us, we walked right into the line to enter DCA at 8:16. DCA was already open, not sure when it opened. The line looked longish but it moved very fast and we were through the turnstiles at 8:21.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

seeing how much of a frenzy the Harbor entrance has been lately I'm reconsidering my Gardenwalk-Harbor plan for this weekend. Would Mickey & Friends (arriving around 8:15) be a better/smoother experience?

I am copying and pasting from another thread. This was my experience parking yesterday (Tuesday, 6/8):

Prior to AC opening my plan was to park at the Anaheim Gardenwalk and walk to the Harbor security entrance but I changed my mind and parked at Mickey & Friends. We pulled up to the structure at 7:35 and we were about 7 or 8 cars back in our line. They weren’t open yet so we waited there. At 7:45 they let the first car through and we parked, went through temp check and security, and walked to the esplanade. No hold for us, we walked right into the line to enter DCA at 8:16. DCA was already open, not sure when it opened. The line looked longish but it moved very fast and we were through the turnstiles at 8:21.

I’m rethinking our plans too. We were planning on parking at Garden Walk, but the crowd reports on the Harbor side have me scared. Even with the longer walk & higher price, I’m wondering if parking at M&F is the better option. I had originally decided against it because of the late hour it was opening, but now that it’s opening earlier…

I don’t want to get up super early just to join a line. And we can eat/drink in our car while waiting for the parking garage to open.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I’m rethinking our plans too. We were planning on parking at Garden Walk, but the crowd reports on the Harbor side have me scared. Even with the longer walk & higher price, I’m wondering if parking at M&F is the better option. I had originally decided against it because of the late hour it was opening, but now that it’s opening earlier…

I don’t want to get up super early just to join a line. And we can eat/drink in our car while waiting for the parking garage to open.

I think it’s always a bit of a crapshoot because you never know exactly what time they will open and how many cars will be ahead of you etc. But it worked out fabulously for us on this day. There were hardly any people around us from the time we parked, walking through the temp check, no line at security, easy non-crowded walk to the esplanade, no waiting there, just walked right up to get in line and five minutes until we were in the park.

My friend was at Harbor and arrived the same time as me. She said it was a mobscene and they were all stressed even though I assured her via text that people have been reporting that it goes more quickly than you might think. It took them one hour to get through the turnstiles.

Looking at it time wise, it took them an hour and 15 minutes (if you include the walk from their hotel, which is close to GardenWalk). It took us 45 minutes from time we arrived at M&F, but only 35 minutes from the time they officially opened the structure until we were through the turnstiles. People who arrived to M&F from 7:45am onward probably had much longer lines to enter, park and get through security.

Overall, I was reallly happy with how it went for us and I’d do it again like that knowing that nothing is guaranteed. We walked into a virtuallly empty Pixar Pier and rode TS twice and Inside Out twice as walk ons, the played boardwalk games (big prizes awarded to winner!) the rode Goofy’s Sky school and Ariel all before the park officially opened at 9am.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I think it’s always a bit of a crapshoot because you never know exactly what time they will open and how many cars will be ahead of you etc. But it worked out fabulously for us on this day. There were hardly any people around us from the time we parked, walking through the temp check, no line at security, easy non-crowded walk to the esplanade, no waiting there, just walked right up to get in line and five minutes until we were in the park.

My friend was at Harbor and arrived the same time as me. She said it was a mobscene and they were all stressed even though I assured her via text that people have been reporting that it goes more quickly than you might think. It took them one hour to get through the turnstiles.

Looking at it time wise, it took them an hour and 15 minutes (if you include the walk from their hotel, which is close to GardenWalk). It took us 45 minutes from time we arrived at M&F, but only 35 minutes from the time they officially opened the structure until we were through the turnstiles. People who arrived to M&F from 7:45am onward probably had much longer lines to enter, park and get through security.

Overall, I was reallly happy with how it went for us and I’d do it again like that knowing that nothing is guaranteed. We walked into a virtuallly empty Pixar Pier and rode TS twice and Inside Out twice as walk ons, the played boardwalk games (big prizes awarded to winner!) the rode Goofy’s Sky school and Ariel all before the park officially opened at 9am.

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Thank you for this report! And you touched on the part I’m concerned about. I’m not so worried about what time we get into the parks (well I am, but know both are coming in about the same time), but I’m afraid it will set the mood for the day if we start in a mob scene like Harbor, even if it’s moving. And I’m loving your report from Pixar Pier!

My thought is we could get to M&F the same time we planned on getting to Gardenwalk and just sit in the car waiting if it hasn’t opened yet (at least I can drink my coffee there ).

 

[avalon451]

Some of the hotels across Harbor offer parking for the same price as M&F and would be substantially closer.

Does anybody know which hotels offer parking?

I'm staying at BWPPI. I called this morning to ask about parking. He said that hotel guests’ parking officially starts at 1 pm, but to call that morning, and if there is room I can park, but no guarantees.

On a side note, if you park your car, they want you to keep your bags in your car until your room is ready. Storage is for those who don’t have cars.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thank you for this report! And you touched on the part I’m concerned about. I’m not so worried about what time we get into the parks (well I am, but know both are coming in about the same time), but I’m afraid it will set the mood for the day if we start in a mob scene like Harbor, even if it’s moving. And I’m loving your report from Pixar Pier!

My thought is we could get to M&F the same time we planned on getting to Gardenwalk and just sit in the car waiting if it hasn’t opened yet (at least I can drink my coffee there ).

I very much enjoyed my coffee while comfortably sitting in my car unmasked waiting for the structure to open. And my son finished his breakfast sandwich from Starbucks. The whole entry experience was very leisurely and stress free. I really hate being in a huge sea of people stressing over when we are going to actually get into the parks. And not being able to eat or drink (especially with a child) would have made it extra stressful I think.

 

[nursemelis374]

I have seen on IG that the for the last few days Harbor has been a mess. I think now that the structure appears to be opening more reliably earlier that is a better option.

 

[DLgal]

I wouldn't attempt the Harbor side if you are arriving by car. There is no benefit. I do, however, recommend walking in via DtD. Just take the elevator down to level 2 and walk out via the bridge. It's less walking overall and they open the DtD security gate early as well.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I wouldn't attempt the Harbor side if you are arriving by car. There is no benefit. I do, however, recommend walking in via DtD. Just take the elevator down to level 2 and walk out via the bridge. It's less walking overall and they open the DtD security gate early as well.

Thanks for this reminder!

Is there any benefit to pre-paying parking?

 

[DLgal]

Thanks for this reminder!

Is there any benefit to pre-paying parking?

No. You'll still have to have them scan your phone and they will have to print out your parking receipt. Just as fast to run a credit card through. Literally takes like 10 seconds.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I wouldn't attempt the Harbor side if you are arriving by car. There is no benefit. I do, however, recommend walking in via DtD. Just take the elevator down to level 2 and walk out via the bridge. It's less walking overall and they open the DtD security gate early as well.

Also wanted to point out that there is a security entrance right when you arrive to DTD via the walkway that leads from the bridge (over by the old Rainforest Cafe building). But this is a CM security entrance only and you cannot enter here. (You CAN exit here at the end of the day, however.)

The DTD entrance is between the DLH and Earl of Sandwich, so you would need to walk past the CM security. Someone else reported DTD security doesn’t open until 8:30 or 8:45 though. I don’t have any experience to know if it’s open any earlier than that at this time. To be safe might want to walk through the tran route if you are arriving early.