? Having someone drop you off? Best place?

[Caitsmama]

If you want to spend the day at DL or CA park, but your family doesn't - Where is the best place that they should drop you off without having them have to pay to park? Is it possible? TIA.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Downtown Disney Parking Lot. Its free for the first three hours anyway. Just take a ticket when you enter. . .voila. . .You will be right there.

 

[Caitsmama]

Ok, and from the DTD parking lot, its easy to walk to either park?? It will probably be me and my 6 yr old dd.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

There is a spot on Harbor Blvd that is a drop off area. It is directly across the street from IHOP. It's a much easier walk from DTD. You don't have to pay to park.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would recomend the 30 minute lot (or maybe its a 15 min lot?) on Harbor. Its right next to where the buses and shuttles pull into, near the cross walk where everyone crosses Harbor. They could pull and drop you off and then pick you up right there when you are done. Its just a couple minutes to walk to the gates from there and easy for them to be back on their way. Getting in and out of the dtd lot is a little more time consuming.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with Spaz and Linda. I can't remember either if it is 15 or 30 minutes, but it is common for people to do dropoffs there. I did it last year myself. DL opened at 8AM and we were there on a day trip. I dropped my DS13 off at this lot at 7AM, walked him to the security line, and then went to park at Mickey & Friends.

 

[kuusimo]

The parking lot off Harbor is 15 minutes. It is pretty empty all the time though and they have benches there to wait as well.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Wow, so many votes for the Harbor Parking Lot. I prefer the Downtown Disney Parking lot because you are immediately immersed in Disney. It is a 5-10 minute walk through DTD to the main turnstils at either park from this location. . .I like to just stroll through the area. . .its beautiful. . .

 

[Caitsmama]

Is it a shorter walk across Harbor to Disneyland? Versus the DTD lot?

 

[nurse.darcy]

Probably, because you only have to cross the street and then go through the transportation area to the turnstills. . .but at DTD you get to walk past ESPN, AMC Theatres, Rainforest Cafe, the Lego Store, Brennans, Build a Bear, Libby Lius, World of Disney and, ultimately, the security checkpoints to the main turnstils. . .

Oh, also, if you have your park tix already you can just stop around the corner from Rainforest cafe (a one minute walk from the DTD parking lot) and ride the monorail into DL. That is a favorite of mine if I want to get into the parks early. . .its usually pretty empty first thing in the A.M.

 

[AQW]

I dropped off friends yesterday by pulling into the Mickey & Friends structure and letting the parking attendant know I was dropping off. They put a tag under my windshield wiper and gave me a $0.00 parking pass to use upon return, then had me drop my guests off at Chip & Dale - row 10 I think? - the closest row to the trams. There were several parking spaces available to pull in and figure out strollers, etc, then my guests just hopped on the tram. Pick up was similarly easy - same thing.

 

[Albort]

I dropped off friends yesterday by pulling into the Mickey & Friends structure and letting the parking attendant know I was dropping off. They put a tag under my windshield wiper and gave me a $0.00 parking pass to use upon return, then had me drop my guests off at Chip & Dale - row 10 I think? - the closest row to the trams. There were several parking spaces available to pull in and figure out strollers, etc, then my guests just hopped on the tram. Pick up was similarly easy - same thing.

but the line for Mickey and Friends is super long in the morning. i would rather go to the harbor lot.

 

[funnygarcia]

The 15 minute lot is much closer to gates than DTD lot.
Her's a map.. the lot is right next to the bus entrance.. just a short hop to security and to the gates

http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/disneyland/l/bl_camap_dl.htm

Look for "drop off " this is where the busses drop off, the parking area is near where the red line and blue line intersect, the park entrance (gate) is the plaza area between DL and DCA.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Is it a shorter walk across Harbor to Disneyland? Versus the DTD lot?

You don't have to cross the street at all. You walk through area where the shuttles drop people off for the park. It's not a long walk at all. Whoever drops you off will have less traffic and mess to deal with after you get dropped off.

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks so much guys!! I just want to make this as seemless for my mom as possible.. however, i don't want to have to do a TON of walking before i get in to the parks, as i will have my dd (then 7) with me.. -- you know.. little legs! LOL