Best place to park for the day?

[KeriWDE]

We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista and driving a rental car to the parks. We are considering parking at Epcot the days we plan to go to MK. Would it be as efficient to park there and take buses to AK and DHS? I know DHS is right there near Epcot, but we usually parkhop when we go to DHS, so I'm thinking using the Epcot lot would be easier even if we go to AK or MK after DHS.

Also, what if we have breakfast at a resort? Should/Can we leave our car there all day and just take a Disney transportation back when we leave the park?

Thanks!

 

[3Gsandme]

Im not following your logic. Yore parking at EPCOT and then taking the monorail to the TTC and then taking the monorail to the MK? I'm not sure why you would want to add time to your day by commuting around to different parks via bus when you have your own car. What am I missing?

 

[KeriWDE]

The last time we drove to the parks from somewhere off-site (my in-laws, I think), we parked at Epcot and was able to park close to the monorail and got to MK without much hassle.

I just don't remember where the monorail stops.

That's why I'm asking.

 

[hakepb]

Resort self parking is only for current resort guests (including parking while dining or shopping) and not for theme park guests. You can only day park at a Disney resort if you pay for Valet parking (which, minus tip, has about the same rate as theme park parking)

Parking at your planned last park of the day makes some sense, but I would only ever park at EPCOT on a MK only day if the MK parking lot was already in a phased closure due to capacity.

 

[rwdavis2]

Drive everywhere. IMHO, it will probably be faster than buses.

 

[Alesia]

We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista and driving a rental car to the parks.
1. We are considering parking at Epcot the days we plan to go to MK.
2. Would it be as efficient to park there and take buses to AK and DHS?
3. I know DHS is right there near Epcot, but we usually parkhop when we go to DHS, so I'm thinking using the Epcot lot would be easier even if we go to AK or MK after DHS.

4. Also, what if we have breakfast at a resort? Should/Can we leave our car there all day and just take a Disney transportation back when we leave the park?

Thanks!

1. That's a terrible idea. Why would you not just park at MK? Why add travel time when it's not necessary?
2. Another terrible idea. You're talking about adding 20+ minutes of travel time each way. Just park at the park you're visiting.
3. No. The easiest thing would be to park at DHS and then drive to the second park. Or, if you really don't want to do that, park at DHS and then take the bus to the second park, the problem with that is that if DHS is closed when you're finished, it's going to be harder to get back there.
4. You cannot leave your car.

 

[Robo]

This one time at Disney, I took a bus.



But, they caught me and made me put it back.

 

[Figmentmommy]

We stay on site and we drive our own car to all of the parks - and we park hop too. From what you have posted it sounds like you are adding significant travel time to your day that is not necessary. Park at the theme park you are going to and move your car when you park hop. We do this and it is really no big deal.

As far as parking all day at the resort you are visiting....you can't do this. The only way this is ever possible is if you pay to valet your car. You will be permitted to park for your ADR but then will need to move your car.

 

[Tomh]

Agreed, no point in parking at EPCOT to go to MK or any other park, just park at MK.

IF you have a breakfast ADR at a resort, you COULD pay the $15 (last I knew) to valet park (plus a tip) and leave the car there all day. We have done this at the contemporary for breakfast at Chef Mickeys, then took the monorail to MK. It works out very nicely, but you are still paying $20 to park for the day.

 

[Alesia]

Agreed, no point in parking at EPCOT to go to MK or any other park, just park at MK.

IF you have a breakfast ADR at a resort, you COULD pay the $15 (last I knew) to valet park (plus a tip) and leave the car there all day. We have done this at the contemporary for breakfast at Chef Mickeys, then took the monorail to MK. It works out very nicely, but you are still paying $20 to park for the day.

It's now $20 plus tip.

 

[chartle]

The last time we drove to the parks from somewhere off-site (my in-laws, I think), we parked at Epcot and was able to park close to the monorail and got to MK without much hassle.

I just don't remember where the monorail stops.

That's why I'm asking.

You have to take 2 monorails, or a monorail and ferry, to get to the MK transferring at the TTC. The TTC is where you take either the monorail, the same one you transfer to from the Epcot monorail, or a ferry.

I'm with the others, except for maybe a park hopping day, you just drive to the park you are visiting.

Now if maybe I was going to DHS in the morning, hopping to Epcot and maybe eating at B&C, I may think about parking at Epcot and bussing to DHS the time spent maybe a wash.

 

[Lucius Best]

If I was staying offsite, I might park at Epcot for a MK day if I knew I was going to be park-hopping back to Epcot later in the day. Other than that, I would drive directly to the park I was going to be visiting. If hopping, it is very quick to drive from one park to another. Buses between parks often don't run as often as buses to/from resorts.

And regarding hopping, as far as I know, when you drive in and pay $18, that is good for the day. If you decide to hop to another park and drive there, you won't have to pay again.

 

[Robo]

And regarding hopping, as far as I know, when you drive in and pay $18, that is good for the day. If you decide to hop to another park and drive there, you won't have to pay again.

Correct.

 

[robinb]

Drive everywhere. IMHO, it will probably be faster than buses.

Yup. I might even drive if I were park hopping and returning to the original park except if I started at the MK. The busses are probably faster than going through the TTC on the way out and then back again.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

Like others have said, don't try to over think the parking options. Typically the most efficient way to get to a park is to drive there and park. Also, the idea of parking at a resort and going to a park has been known to start a flame war from time to time. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[3Gsandme]

The only possible way this makes sense is parking the car at your last park if you plan to hop. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense at all and adds a lot more time and effort to your day. Additionally, it may be easier and faster for you to drive your own car between the parks you're hopping between.

 

[robinb]

Also, what if we have breakfast at a resort? Should/Can we leave our car there all day and just take a Disney transportation back when we leave the park?

I missed this one. yes, you can do this if you valet park the car. You may leave it there all day as you paid for parking. It's slightly more expensive than paying to park in a theme park lot.

 

[kj2mom]

And regarding hopping, as far as I know, when you drive in and pay $18, that is good for the day. If you decide to hop to another park and drive there, you won't have to pay again.

Stupid question but is parking now $18? I have all of my parking envelopes with the $$ ready to go for our trip in July but I put $17 in each. Thanks!

 

[mdb78]

Stupid question but is parking now $18? I have all of my parking envelopes with the $$ ready to go for our trip in July but I put $17 in each. Thanks!

I was there last week and paid $17.

 

[ghtx]

Maybe OP has in mind to hop to Epcot to eat dinner and end there each day. Otherwise, as PPs said there is no point in not parking at the park that you plan on going to.