how bad is driving to downtown disney and parking?

[disney_girl125]

I'm driving down and I think i'm leaving earlier then I had planned. I will be staying offsite for 1 night. How much of a hassle is it to drive to downtown disney and park? I always stay onsite and use busses. I figure since we're arriving early we can go shop at downtown disney. The hotel said they are about a 10 minute drive to downtown disney.

 

[Disworldluv]

No problem. All of the roads are well documented to any and all points of interest of Disney property.

 

[disney_girl125]

Thanks. How is parking? Will I find a spot? Lol. I'll probably arrive there late afternoon/early evening.

 

[staceyrhood]

I went on Friday to DTD and the construction is horrible! The roads are awful and were blocked off in Many places. If you get there at opening it is a little better, but afternoon was just miserable.

 

[Safari Queen]

Parking at DTD is really miserable and the waits to get into the entrances that are open can be long. Be prepared.

 

[mollymackenzie4]

DTD is just a headache to get to and park. I was down there for the college program this spring and I avoided DTD at all cost because it is a pain to get to and find a parking spot at! Once they finish the construction it will be much better though.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

With the construction taking place much of the parking is a nightmare. Unless you go first thing in the morning when they first open.

 

[pepe of ohio]

51 trips to WDW, and each trip involved getting to DTD at least once during... Would never think of driving there at all...

Have you seen the parking lots...? No matter what time, they are huge and packed... Getting there is no problem, we'll define signage but it's the parking that's the bit&h....why put up with that when you can easily get there buy resort bus or resort boat...

We've bused to POFQ, from WL to enjoy a sandwich at their food court and then taken a boat to DTD, then enjoyed DTD and taken the bus back to WL sent our packages ahead to WL to pick up later... less hassle, no long walk around the parking lots...

 

[lovewdwdvc]

Parking in DTD was terrible in March. My guess is that it is even worse now.

 

[ZoZo]

OP, since you're staying offsite, maybe you could park at the TTC and then take a bus to DTD? Sounds like parking is a nightmare right now.

 

[Phillips Family]

They need a 10 level parking garage at downtown disney, I'm being serious

Its my least favorite place to go at Disney World

They need to take some notes from Universal

 

[cinderkelly]

Is it even worth it to go to DTD right now? We were planning on going our first night "in town" because we have a non park day our first day. Better to take the bus from AoA where we are staying than try to drive?? Our main focus was to go to the mega Disney Store and just walk around. Is the Boardwalk worth doing in the evening as an alternative?

 

[staceyrhood]

.

 

[staceyrhood]

Is it even worth it to go to DTD right now? We were planning on going our first night "in town" because we have a non park day our first day. Better to take the bus from AoA where we are staying than try to drive?? Our main focus was to go to the mega Disney Store and just walk around. Is the Boardwalk worth doing in the evening as an alternative?

If you do go, the bus would be better than driving right now, parking is a mess. I would go to boardwalk instead in my opinion. Great food and a nice store without the construction craziness

 

[Alesia]

We were there on Sunday, June 1st. I was really worried because of all of the reports about what a nightmare it has been. We arrived around 1:00 in the afternoon and it took us literally 25 seconds to find a parking spot. We parked in the lot by La Nouba.

There is valet parking, as well.

 

[MickeysPal49]

Parking is still awful so we met our friends at their resort and took a Disney bus. We waited over 45 min. for a bus from All Star Movies. When it arrived, it was packed, but a second bus right behind it was able to take us and the rest of the guests waiting. Coming back, we barely had to wait 5 min, but the bus was again at capacity when they dropped us off. The good news...DTD was not real busy. There are many construction walls and you tend to feel like a mouse in a maze walking from Market Place to Pleasure Island.

 

[dae3dae3]

We went a couple weeks ago in the afternoon and we didn't have any trouble finding a parking space. We were in Orlando on a non-Disney trip and wanted to check it out. The whole place was under construction and I don't understand why people like it so much but that wasn't your question.

I do think it is funny the people who will drive someplace else and take a bunch of extra time taking a bus to prevent wasting time finding a parking spot. Even if you drove around for a half hour before finding a spot it would still be faster than going someplace else and then taking the bus. I would guess that unless it took more than an hour to find a parking space it couldn't possibly be faster. Plus, when you're done you just go back and get in your car and drive off. If you took a bus you would have to go wait for the bus and then the travel time and then walk to your car.

How could taking a bus possibly be faster if you're starting from offsite? I could understand if you're in an onsite resort but that wasn't the original question.