Downtown Disney and Parking

[harrowgirl]

We fly in on Friday afternoon. We are headed straight to downtown Disney to activate our annual passes at Downtown Disney Guest Services and for dinner at T-Rex.


I know parking down there can be a disaster, and last time we were at DTD there was a ton of construction. Looking at the map, it looks like we want to head to the "marketplace" area - and park at B, C, D or E?

Any tips or things I should keep in mind?

 

[yulilin3]

those parking areas don't exist anymore.
Park in the big parking garage, right on front of Splitsville and you will do less walking

 

[OKW Lover]

There are two guest service windows at DTD. One is over near the Team Mickey store and the other is outside of Disney Quest.

 

[jimmykitefan]

If you don't want to walk over to the marketplace, head down to the waterfront and catch the water taxi. It makes stops, Westside, The Landing & Marketplace.

 

[puffkin]

Depending which direction you are coming in from, they might not let you in the garage. They didn't have it marked Saturday, but we parked at Team Disney and walked over the new pedestrian bridge and that worked really well. They had attendants back there but no signs so you had to know it was there. The whole area is still a mess though!

 

[lubob]

Are you staying on disney property? If so taking the bus at the resort would be a lot easier with the construction going on.

 

[MillauFr]

Are you staying on disney property? If so taking the bus at the resort would be a lot easier with the construction going on.

Sounds like the easiest would be skipping DTD all together. After visiting there I guess I really don't understand the draw. Taking 90 minutes bus rides to eat at chain restaurants? What am I missing?

 

[Jarmo]

Labor Day week we had no issues getting in and out of the garage. Only one day was there any real traffic backup, and that added about an extra 10 minutes.

Any time we went was midday though, not sure how much traffic increase there is in the evening.

 

[lubob]

Not going would be a big mistake. The atmosphere there can't be beat. And it's not chain restaurants . What do you think it's Applebees olive garden and tgi Friday's there lol..

 

[OKW Lover]

Taking 90 minutes bus rides to eat at chain restaurants?

I'd hardly call them chain restaurants. I suppose Rain Forest would fit that description, but there are so many more unique places at DTD.

 

[DLM1980]

Not going would be a big mistake. The atmosphere there can't be beat. And it's not chain restaurants . What do you think it's Applebees olive garden and tgi Friday's there lol..

There are a few chains like rainforest and earl of sandwich and I suppose you could call giradellie, wolf gang puck, house of blues, planet Hollywood chains too as they have other locations

At what point do u consider a place a chain? More the. 5 locations?

 

[Jaime4004]

We went last month three times, once during the day and twice at night. No parking issues at all for us, found a spot immediately each time (twice in garage, once behind La Nouba area). I actually dreaded going, especially at night, because in the past we'd have to drive around in circles trying to find parking. Add in all of the horror stories of traffic and parking lately. However for us, it went way better this time.

 

[puffkin]

Sounds like the easiest would be skipping DTD all together. After visiting there I guess I really don't understand the draw. Taking 90 minutes bus rides to eat at chain restaurants? What am I missing?

I do enjoy parts of Disney Springs and am hopefull it will be awesome once it is finished....but I do agree, I don't quite get the draw at the fever pitch it seems to generate. I always tell my husband the last thing I want to do on vacation is get all dressed up (especially in the florida heat) and walk around in heels and go through super expensive luxury shops. I do enough of that for work and events. I am more of a fun/relaxed type of vacationer...I enjoy the theme places like Rainforest, T-Rex, etc. But that's just me, to each their own.

 

[lubob]

If you think you have to go to dtd in heels and fancy dresses , you haven't been to dtd at all. I see people dressed in shorts flip flops t shirts or jeans. And alot of girls wear summer type dresses. Ghirardelli might be a chain restaurant, but in my area there are no locations for me to go too other than dtd . Yummy

 

[goofydisney2015]

those parking areas don't exist anymore.
Park in the big parking garage, right on front of Splitsville and you will do less walking

those parking areas don't exist anymore.
Park in the big parking garage, right on front of Splitsville and you will do less walking

We will be arriving Sat after Thanksgiving. Want to DTD upon arrival, , as we have the Water Parks and more voucher for Disney Quest . Thinking we'll just drive straight there since its right off interstate . Where is best place to park closet to Quest?

 

[yulilin3]

We will be arriving Sat after Thanksgiving. Want to DTD upon arrival, , as we have the Water Parks and more voucher for Disney Quest . Thinking we'll just drive straight there since its right off interstate . Where is best place to park closet to Quest?

The big parking garage is great for all of the West Side (Splitsville, Disneyquest, House of Blues, AMC movie theaters)

 

[Cv611]

Is there any handicap parking near the marketplace? My grandparents who live in Orlando can't make the walk from the garage. They did it once and said they can't do it again. Where do The resort but buses drop you off? Is there only one downtown Disney bus stop of spot? Thanks for the help!

 

[OKW Lover]

Is there any handicap parking near the marketplace?

Yes, Disney complies with all ADA requirements in the re-imagined Disney Springs. Just follow the signs for handicap parking.

 

[yulilin3]

Is there any handicap parking near the marketplace? My grandparents who live in Orlando can't make the walk from the garage. They did it once and said they can't do it again. Where do The resort but buses drop you off? Is there only one downtown Disney bus stop of spot? Thanks for the help!

there's only one stop for buses at the entrance of marketplace, the bus drops you off right behind the Christmas store and Art of Disney. The parking closer to Marketplace is still a walk away, you have to park next to the gas station and then cross the overhead cross walk. If they want they can park at the garage and take the boat over to marketplace