Day trip: Mickey or Toy Story for parking?

[PHXscuba]

We've always parked in the Mickey and Friends garage when we've come for day trips in the past. We stay in Huntington Beach so we come north and then across Ball Road to come in the "back way."

Now I am contemplating using the Toy Story lot south of DLR. I would still come north and then cut across Orangewood or Chapman to Harbor. Both lots seem equidistant on the map.

I guess this is my question: once we enter the Toy Story lot, will it be a quicker time to the ticket booths than the Mickey garage? We will hopefully be entering around 7:15 a.m. on a Friday in a couple weeks. Is the Toy Story lot even open that early with a bus to the gates?

This is new enough that there's not a lot of info about it on DIS.

Thanks,
PHXscuba

 

[barefootmomma]

I'd stick with Mickey and Friends if it were me. I've found that parking in the Toy Story lot, buses aren't frequent enough and transport less people than a tram causing longer wait times. I've never tried first thing in the morning, but even just after opening when we parked TS, we chose walking from the TS lot versus waiting in the huge bus lines. I absolutely always choose Mickey and Friends if at all possible. Hope you can get more helpful input as well!

 

[jtown]

Lines can be long at M&F, too. I had to wait through 5 loads the one time I went near opening. At TS, (snicker, TS) you can buy tickets in the parking lot, skipping the ticket line at the park. But I have no idea how early they open or what that lot's like in the morning.

When it's all said and done, I wouldn't get too obsessed with trying to save 5 minutes. They'll both get you to the same destination.

 

[PHXscuba]

I still have to go to a real ticket window to exchange our GAD vouchers for tickets, so that wouldn't save me any time in Toy Story. We'll probably stick with Mickey -- at least that way I know what to anticipate.

PHXscuba

 

[cats mom]

We've parked at the Toy Story lot a couple of times, and both times there was a long line of busses waiting to to take people both to and from the park. It was very quick & easy, at least for us. I've definitely waited longer for a tram.

I think they used to like to get the structure somewhat filled before using the TS lot, but I don't know if that's the case any more. It seems to be in use pretty much full time now. No personal experience with early mornings though.

Just my impression - but it seems to me that even if you got stuck in the farthest spot in the TS lot, the walk to/from the bus shelter would be shorter than if you got stuck in a far corner of the Mickey & Friends garage. Maybe something to think about for when you're heading back to the car after a long day at the parks.

My favorite is actually the Pumbaa lot across from Gardenwalk, but whether it's open or not is incredibly hit or miss.

I agree that any lot gets the job done though.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I parked in the TS lot once and it took FOR.EVER to get to the gates.

An option if you park at M&F and you think you're going to have to wait a while for a tram is to just walk. I did this on my last visit and it wasn't bad. I don't know exactly how long it took, but I'm sure it was less time than waiting for the tram that day.

I walked back to M&F that evening during the fireworks and had a great view!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

We did the TS lot on Mother's Day which was a pretty busy day. We were surprised at how quickly we got on a bus and were in the park- definitely faster than our usual M&F experiences. Maybe because it was a busy day they had a ton of busses? I will definitely use TS again.

 

[CindyH]

Would the car being shaded in the M&F garage have any advantage over the TS lot?

 

[barefootmomma]

I parked in the TS lot once and it took FOR.EVER to get to the gates.

An option if you park at M&F and you think you're going to have to wait a while for a tram is to just walk. I did this on my last visit and it wasn't bad. I don't know exactly how long it took, but I'm sure it was less time than waiting for the tram that day.

I walked back to M&F that evening during the fireworks and had a great view!

Walking is such a great option! We do it almost all the time to avoid the craziness of getting on a tram, and so that we don't have to unpack the stroller to fold it. It definitely feels a lot shorter than the walk from the TS lot.