Disneyland Parking Lots questions

[rlp]

How much earlier than the parks do the parking lots open up? Does Mickey and Friends open sooner than Toy Story? If one arrives before park opening, is it easy to get a spot at Mickey and Friends? How about later in the day around 4 pm, would you have to go to Toy Story?

We have always either walked to the parks or walked to a parking lot and have taken the shuttle to the parks, haven't actually parked a car there yet. This past spring, we walked to Toy Story from the Clarion and it was alway open by the time we got there and we usually got there over an hour earlier than when the parks opened but this past summer trip, Toy Story only opened at 8 (parks opened at 9). Our next trip we will be staying much further away and am trying to figure out the parking. Thanks!

 

[Lesley Wake]

For Mickey & Friends, it opens 60 min before park opening. If there is a magic morning hour, then 30 minutes before that (so 90 min before official opening). If you show up at opening they will have you park in Pinocchio Lot, next to the structure. There is a walkway back thru the structure and crosswalk at the tram crossing, which gets you to main parking plaza and security. It is not super long, but can be annoying as it feels like you are making a huge u-turn (though it is probably just as long as if you parked in far corner of one of the levels).

It is easy to get a spot at most times. Rarely do they need to actually close the structure. Sometimes as you drive up there is a notice directing you to Downtown Disney and only oversized and ADA vehicles should go to structure, but that isn't enforced. I have shown up at all times (pre opening, morning, noon, afternoon, evening), and if I want to park there I have always been able. My sister did have one circumstance when it was closed, but in all the years we've had APs that was the only time. But she was actually sent to the convention center, not Toy Story, which was very inconvenient.

For Toy Story, I believe there are the same opening hours but it may not have the 30 min for magic mornings.

Between M&F and TSL, I find each has its positives. M&F is extremely easy to get to when I'm driving south on the 5, and vice Versa when I'm leaving and driving north. TSL requires lots of surface streets which can get congested, especially with pedestrians leaving the parks. M&F is more crowded, including the car lineup to pay, drive to get a spot, security, wait for a tram to the parks and at night when leaving the parks. TSL is usually super fast from pulling into the lot, parking, and walk right onto the bus; evening the bus isn't walk on but at least it's a short and organized line not the crowds for the trams. But I also prefer the trams, as it is a shorter drive and more of a Disney feel; the buses are longer and have to wait at red lights; if you aren't sitting it can get annoying with stop/start.

 

[rlp]

For Mickey & Friends, it opens 60 min before park opening. If there is a magic morning hour, then 30 minutes before that (so 90 min before official opening). If you show up at opening they will have you park in Pinocchio Lot, next to the structure. There is a walkway back thru the structure and crosswalk at the tram crossing, which gets you to main parking plaza and security. It is not super long, but can be annoying as it feels like you are making a huge u-turn (though it is probably just as long as if you parked in far corner of one of the levels).

It is easy to get a spot at most times. Rarely do they need to actually close the structure. Sometimes as you drive up there is a notice directing you to Downtown Disney and only oversized and ADA vehicles should go to structure, but that isn't enforced. I have shown up at all times (pre opening, morning, noon, afternoon, evening), and if I want to park there I have always been able. My sister did have one circumstance when it was closed, but in all the years we've had APs that was the only time. But she was actually sent to the convention center, not Toy Story, which was very inconvenient.

For Toy Story, I believe there are the same opening hours but it may not have the 30 min for magic mornings.

Between M&F and TSL, I find each has its positives. M&F is extremely easy to get to when I'm driving south on the 5, and vice Versa when I'm leaving and driving north. TSL requires lots of surface streets which can get congested, especially with pedestrians leaving the parks. M&F is more crowded, including the car lineup to pay, drive to get a spot, security, wait for a tram to the parks and at night when leaving the parks. TSL is usually super fast from pulling into the lot, parking, and walk right onto the bus; evening the bus isn't walk on but at least it's a short and organized line not the crowds for the trams. But I also prefer the trams, as it is a shorter drive and more of a Disney feel; the buses are longer and have to wait at red lights; if you aren't sitting it can get annoying with stop/start.

Thanks for all that! Specially the heads up about the Pinocchio lot. I have used the trams at M&F when you could take the shortcut from hotels near Ball/Disneyland Drive to the parking lot (shortcut now closed) during one 4 day visit. It seemed like the security lines were shorter there than those on the Harbor side (we usually enter on the Harbor side) and I much preferred the route the trams took compared to the Toy Story lots, much more pretty and fun. Though there was a longer wait for the trams compared to the busses from TSL. I have never parked at the lots though and want to know what to expect since we'll have to either drive to the parks or take the ART. I think I would rather drive and park. Cost wise both alternatives seem about the same since there are 4 of us and driving seems like a bit less time than having to wait for the ART to make all those stops and wait for it to come if you just miss one. Plus if we took the ART we would be dropped off on the Harbor side and I like the Disneyland Drive side so much more. I get annoyed on the busses but really enjoy riding on the trams. It does seem more Disney! We'll have to drive around to get to M&F but I don't think that'll take that much extra time.

 

[SteveMP]

Usually when we drive up after school when kids have early days, we get there around 3:30-4 and usually get directed to Toy Story by the signs.

 

[Jperiod]

We've flipped back and forth on this. We used to do M&F (the booth just outside it?) when they'd let us in the Pinocchio lot. We hated dealing with the structure with the stroller and it took so long to get in and park. Pinocchio was fast, so the fight for the tram was worth it.

Then they stopped Pinocchio because of construction, so we did Toy Story for a long time until the security lines seemed too long at that side, as well as the line to get back on the bus at night (sometimes 30 minutes last December). I tried to do M&F one morning instead, but they were making everyone go to TS unless they were coming direct off the freeway from the north!

So this summer, I tried M&F a few more times (did a u-turn and came north from the freeway to avoid the shenanigans). The lines for the booths were LONG and with the new preferred parking, we had to park at the end of the garage every time! That walk from the tram to the end of the garage is LONG! Then the fight for the trams (especially at the end of the night) with a stroller sucks.

So I went back to TS. Hardly a wait to get in, don't have to walk forever to get to the bus, and while there is a line, it's an organized line! They count the people going on the bus and it isn't survival of the fittest. The security lines have improved drastically and we found that the lines at the end of the night go faster if we wait to leave when fireworks end (not before) because they put more buses in service.

So if you can get into Pinocchio, that'd be my top, otherwise, TS is the lesser of two evils. Both lots took me probably 45-60 min to get from entering the lot to the turnstyles it seemed. Though I was never there before park open.

That said, we finally decided to buy DVC while standing in line for the bus this summer. We close on Grand Californian points next month. I decided I've spent way too much time waiting for buses and parking these last 20 years and I hope I never wait for a bus again!

 

[Claireywalsh]

Sorry if this is a daft question - are the hotel parking lots different to the above rule or do all the parking lots operate the 1 hour before rule? First timers arriving in 3 weeks and planning on getting there early so didn't want parking to be an issue

 

[Lesley Wake]

Sorry if this is a daft question - are the hotel parking lots different to the above rule or do all the parking lots operate the 1 hour before rule? First timers arriving in 3 weeks and planning on getting there early so didn't want parking to be an issue

I believe hotel parking lots are open all the time, but not a good idea if you are going to the parks. It is $20 for first hour, then $10/hr after that up to $60 (if you are just eating at a restaurant they do have validation for a few hours).

Just show up 1-1.5 hrs before park opening and you'll be fine. They let cars line up in the structure before the pay booths. If you absolutely have to get there earlier than that, maybe look into someplace to get breakfast and hang out there for a bit.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Sorry if this is a daft question - are the hotel parking lots different to the above rule or do all the parking lots operate the 1 hour before rule? First timers arriving in 3 weeks and planning on getting there early so didn't want parking to be an issue

Are you staying at one of the on site resort hotels?

If so, you can check in as early as you want on check in day...even 6am, park, check in, get your room key for EMH access, drop your bags at the bell desk and go hit the parks even before your room is ready. They then text you your room # when it is ready later in the day. You get 2 FULL day of parking for the one night charge. Hotel lots are open 24/7.

If not staying on site, it is ridiculously expensive to day park at the hotels for day parking but they are open 24 hours..

 

[Claireywalsh]

Are you staying at one of the on site resort hotels?

If so, you can check in as early as you want on check in day...even 6am, park, check in, get your room key for EMH access, drop your bags at the bell desk and go hit the parks even before your room is ready. They then text you your room # when it is ready later in the day. You get 2 FULL day of parking for the one night charge. Hotel lots are open 24/7.

If not staying on site, it is ridiculously expensive to day park at the hotels for day parking but they are open 24 hours..

Brilliant - yes we are staying at the DH so this will work perfectly for us to get there early and get started with the magic!!

 

[Nonsuch]

Brilliant - yes we are staying at the DH so this will work perfectly for us to get there early and get started with the magic!!

Onsite hotel parking is charged per night (like a room). A guest staying 1 night at DLH could arrive before parks open and depart after parks close the next day, and will be charged for 1 night. Self-parking is $20/night, Valet $30/night.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Not sure how far away you are staying but price uber. It might be Cheaper than parking and is certainly easier!