Can I park in Downtown Disney for the day?

[Mugglemama]

This is the only time DH and I have EVER surprised the kids with a trip to Disneyland. (we are going to Disneyland ONLY, and just doing 1 day - DH only has a few days off of work).

If we pull up to the M&F garage, my kids are going to figure it out, instantly. They are 6 -13, and have been to the parks many, many times. The only way DH and I are thinking we *might* be able to keep them in the dark until the very last minute is this:

First off, they think we're going to an event at Angel Stadium (it's a real event, that takes place every August), so that explains why we'll be in Anaheim. This morning we were thinking...maybe we should just walk in (we have to be there very early to get in line, anyway). But then, walking back to our hotel super late after 14-16 hours in the park (we're not taking a midday break because we only have the 1 day) will be probably more than the 2 youngest could handle.

So, we were hoping, hoping, hoping..that we could park over at the Disneyland Hotel (where DH usually drops the kids and I off to go wait in line while he parks), telling the kids we're going to get breakfast in Downtown Disney. Then, when we pretend that we didn't know everything would still be closed, we could say, "Oh, wellll....let's just go get in line, then!"

Obviously, this will only work if we can park there for the whole day. Does anybody know if this is allowed...and if the daily parking fee would be the same as it is in M&F?

Thanks for any info!!!

ETA: I'm looking around the Internet for the answer but haven't found it yet. Figured somebody around here might already know the answer!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I never park at DL, so I don't know the distances, but how about if he drops you off, like you say he always does while he parks, and then he can go park in the M&F lot?

 

[Mugglemama]

I never park at DL, so I don't know the distances, but how about if he drops you off, like you say he always does while he parks, and then he can go park in the M&F lot?

Because the kids will wonder why we're paying $15 to park for breakfast (like I said, they help me plan every trip, so they will know where he's going and how much it costs). But if we can park together somewhere that they're not used to parking (and DH can sneak off to pay for parking), then we should be able to pull it off.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I did some research a little while ago, and I am pretty sure you can only park there for 3 hours.

What if you parked there initially, and after you've told them the surprise, then your husband can go park the car at M&F?

 

[bumbershoot]

From the Disney website:

Downtown Disney District Parking

Parking is free for the first 3 hours in the Downtown Disney District parking lot. An additional 2 free hours can be added with validation at AMC Theatres or at select table-service dining restaurants. Each additional hour costs $6, charged in 20-minute increments. The maximum parking fee is $30.00.

Valet parking is available from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. for $6. The valet price is in addition to any parking fee, bringing the maximum fee with valet up to $36.

Remember....whenever they find out, it's still going to be a surprise. So if they don't get it until you're walking through bag check, it's a surprise. If they figure out while you're parking, it was still a surprise. If they figure it out while you're on the road...still a surprise! Just remember that.


And just as a "this was my experience"...DS and I were supposed to do a one-day blast in March. We went into DTD for Legoland and dinner the night before, and the ONLY way it was at all enjoyable for DS was that he knew we'd be going to the parks the next day. He kept forgetting that we were going the next day and was miserable to be there for that moment until I reminded him again.

(and then he got massively belly-sick at 2am and we couldn't go to the park....)

 

[TeddiBarra]

You can park there for longer than three hours, you get another 2 hours free with validation from one of the disney hotel rest or a dtd rest. I'd think you're plan would work fine, but you're going to have to remember to have DH leave (plan it so after 2 1/2 hours you're near tomorrowland) so he can hop to the monorail and repark the car.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Do you have AP's? Maybe explain that you can do free parking at DL, so why not take advantage of the parking lot and do breakfast there before taking the ART to Angel Stadium. It's always a logistical nightmare getting out of a parking lot after a big event because everyone leaves at the same time, so it makes more "sense" (haha) to do ART from the ballpark back to your car than to drive out from Angel Stadium to home in all that traffic.

 

[LavenderPeach]

You can park there 3 hours for free or 5 hours for free with validation from a DTD restaurant. After that I think it's $6 (?) an hour and you're charged $2 every 20 minutes.

You could have your DH drop you and the kids off at the drop-off parking long that's along harbor and then he could go park the car. Or you could try parking in the toy story lot (same price as M&F) since maybe the kids don't know about that parking lot? You could tell them that's where you have to park to go to DTD.

 

[cyclenut]

Your thread title states DTD but you wrote something about DL Hotel so I'm not exactly sure which you are referring to.

DTD parking charges you a good deal for all day parking. You *can* do it but it will cost you $30 (maximum parking fee).

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/plan/guest-services/parking/

I have an idea for you though.

Why not go to the 15 minute lot on Harbor Blvd and have DH drop everyone off there. Tell the kids DH is going to go and park the car and you and the kids can walk over to the Disney Store and meet DH there. You'll have to walk right through security and the entrance plaza so you'll walk past the park. Any thoughts the kids had about going to DL will be dashed when you keep walking.

If they ask where he is going to park, tell them you heard the DTD lot was closed so he is going to find another place and didn't want to make all of you walk that far. You'll be in the store when he gets off the tram so they won't see that part. Then, while in the Disney Store, you and DH can decide you want to walk over to Mimi's (or pick some other place for breakfast) instead of DTD. That means you've got to walk back across the entrance plaza.

I know it sounds a little but funky, but it just might work. You'll throw the kids off if you make it all sound "matter-of-fact" and "unplanned". Lot being closed in the morning for re-striping or maintenance may sound plausible for a younger kid and that change would explain a lot of that unplanned feeling.

 

[Mugglemama]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas and help!

@Bumber - Thanks a lot for finding that info for me!...(I must be blind because I scoured the Disney site for that info, lol). And you're right...no matter when they find out, it will still be a surprise.

@KittySkyFish - Nope, no AP's till next year. That was a good plan, though!

@LavenderPeach - I'm curious about the Toy Story Lot idea...when you say, "try to park there", what does that mean, exactly? Is it usually difficult to get a spot there? If we got there by 7am on an 8am opening, non MM day, should we be able to get a spot?

@CycleNut - thanks for the idea! I'm trying to avoid making DH run all over the place to park, etc. on this trip (he always has to do that). I'm trying to make it relaxing for everyone...so it may turn out that we just have to let the surprise hit them a little sooner than I'd hoped. That's okay...they all love riding the tram anyway, lol.

Thanks again everybody, I sure appreciate it!

 

[LavenderPeach]

@LavenderPeach - I'm curious about the Toy Story Lot idea...when you say, "try to park there", what does that mean, exactly? Is it usually difficult to get a spot there? If we got there by 7am on an 8am opening, non MM day, should we be able to get a spot?

Lol, sorry, I just meant, you could try that parking lot out. I don't think you should have any trouble parking there. I've actually never tried it myself ( i wasn't sure exactly how to get there and now our APs are expired) but i've heard good things about it. I've heard it's easy to get in and out of and they have buses instead of trams to take you to DLR - lots of buses with minimal wait - not like the trams that, to me, seem to take forever.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas and help!

@Bumber - Thanks a lot for finding that info for me!...(I must be blind because I scoured the Disney site for that info, lol). And you're right...no matter when they find out, it will still be a surprise.

I seem to have a gift for finding info for other people. DH will try to google something, he'll spend 20 minutes searching, then ask me and I have it in 2 seconds. I just googled DTD parking or something like that, and the first non-sponsored link was the Disney page that had it. Crazy. But at least I have ONE thing that goes right for me, LOL.

And I'm glad it helped. Maybe you could park there and a couple hours later send hubby off to park the car at MK? But...if it's only $30 maximum, that's just 15 more, and maybe your time or your husband's time in the park with the kids is worth the extra money?

 

[Huff]

@LavenderPeach - I'm curious about the Toy Story Lot idea...when you say, "try to park there", what does that mean, exactly? Is it usually difficult to get a spot there? If we got there by 7am on an 8am opening, non MM day, should we be able to get a spot?

We use Toy Story lot most of the time lately. Never had any trouble parking there and usually tons of spots. Much faster and easier than M&F. First thing in the morning very few seem to use that lot so its wide open. After parking you'll take a bus to the Disney enterance off Harbor. The buses are clearly marked with a Disney paint scheme so that might tip off kids. Cost to park is same as M&F.

 

[Mugglemama]

Got it, thanks!