Definitive Guide to Guest Drop-off/Pick-Up - Options pros/cons

[JPKnapp]

Whether staying on or off property, you may have a need to be dropped off at any of the Disney parks. Of course Uber or taxi is an example, but in my case, it was my parents staying at an off-site condo. Since they aren’t park goers, they offered to drive us and pick us up each day. So I had an opportunity to really experience every angle of guest drop off and pick-up possible. There are a surprising number of options (especially for Magic Kingdom) and I took them all. Here is the process and pros/cons of each approach.

For Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom:

Tell the parking lot attendant that you are dropping off or picking up a guest. They will not charge you for parking. They will point you toward a blue line painted on the road which leads to handicap parking area. That is the same area for guest drop off / pick up. For all 3 of these parks, it was very close to the main gate of the park and there was no need to take any additional transportation to the main gate.

For Magic Kingdom:

This is where the many options arise and I’ll lend my opinion which I think is best.

Pulling up to the main entrance (where you pay for parking) there will be signs for Guest Drop Off Right Two Lanes. These are the same lanes that the resorts use. Just let the attendants know you are dropping off or picking up a guest, and they will direct you the Guest Drop Off area.

MK Option 1: Officially designated Drop-off area

This is located at the TTC. You are dropped off right next to Ferry and Monorail entrance areas for approach into Magic Kingdom. It’s a short walk to those options.

MK Option 2: Grand Floridian (recommended for Drop-Off)

Tell the person at the parking gate that you are dropping off or picking up guests. They checked ID 50% of the time, but always let us through. GF is nice because the next stop on the monorail is the MK. It’s never crowded because it’s a resort monorail and the elevators are right inside the lobby.

MK Option 3: Contemporary (recommended for Pick-Up)

The walking path between Contemporary and MK was fantastic. We would get picked up in the parking lot of Bay Lake Tower (just to left of guard shack). No wait for Ferry, Monorail, or anything. It’s about an extra 0.4 miles, but after 7+ miles a day, what’s the difference?

For pick-up, we also took the monorail for testing. Since the next stop on monorail ride after MK is Contemporary Resort, it’s a short ride. However, with the way the elevators work, you need to take two different elevators to get to front entrance, so it really wasn’t that much more convenient. Between double backing after exiting the park for the resort monorails, wait times for monorail to arrive, and walking in/around for elevators, it didn’t seem shorter.

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[joelkfla]

For Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom:

Tell the parking lot attendant that you are dropping off or picking up a guest. They will not charge you for parking. They will point you toward a blue line painted on the road which leads to handicap parking area. That is the same area for guest drop off / pick up. For all 3 of these parks, it was very close to the main gate of the park and there was no need to take any additional transportation to the main gate.

Don't know when you visited, but the Guest drop-off location for Epcot was relocated a month or so ago. It's now located in the parking lot behind resort bus stop #2.

To get to it by car, after passing thru the toll plaza, you move to the far right lane which used to be restricted to buses. The lane will turn to the right, then you continue straight and turn left at the first stop sign.

To get to it by foot, you go to the left towards the buses after exiting Epcot's main gate, and walk behind bus stop #5 out to the parking lot.