Mickey & Friends or Toy Story lot?

[pharmama]

DD and I will be there on Sat-yay!!!

Thought I'd see people's thoughts on parking in the Mickey & Friends garage or Toy Story lot?

We will be coming from the 57 southbound. I am sort of programmed to get off on Ball since that's where I've gotten off to go to DL since I was a kid (and there was no DCA and the parking entrance was on Harbor) so that sort of turned into always heading for M&F once that opened. But I'm just wondering if that's really the best bet. The last few times I've been parked on the FAR side if M&F from the tram/escalators and it seems to take forever to get to the car at the end of the day, especially with tired kiddos.

How is parking at TS? Faster or longer to get to the esplanade than M&F? Frequent trams (buses?)? I would get off on Katella for TS right?

Thanks!!

 

[ImDMous]

We always park at Toy Story, but we come from the northbound 5 and just get off at Disney Way and go left on Harbor. The shuttles are always in constant fill-up and go, I've never had to wait for one even when it's really busy. The lot is on Harbor and Katella, but I think the main entrance is the Harbor side.

 

[Kilala]

I awlays park at the M&F it's alot easyer to park there.

 

[sonnyjane]

I've parked many times at both, but I have actually found I prefer Toy Story. There seems to "always" be a bus there, whereas I have had to wait a round or two for room on the tram from M&F.

 

[pharmama]

Thanks all-
I'm still undecided... But leaning towards trying toy story this time. We'll see if my autopilot kicks in on Sat morning and I still end up at M & F anyway

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Toy Story works better if you have problems with stairs, escalators, elevators (e.g. multiple strollers, wheelchairs, etc.). TS is one level and the shuttles run frequently. Our friends with multiple little ones like TS because it is easier for them.

M&F works well for the 57 Southbound because it is off the Ball Rd. exit. We like the extra exercise walking to the parks (more exercise = more treats!) and we like walking through DtD (especially now with the Christmas decorations). Also, going back on Ball to the 57, we pass the Starbucks on Harbor -- hot chocolate for the ride home.

 

[Huff]

We find Toy Story more convenient. The buses drop you off a bit closer to the front gates. At the end of a very busy night at DLR we've found it faster to get on a bus than wait in line for a tram to M&F.

Sometimes kids prefer riding the tram as their first 'ride' and its a bit more Disney'ish than a bus through city streets. Both parking options are good.

 

[pharmama]

In case anyone is curious, we did try Toy Story. Arrival was great- lots of buses waiting and parking spot close to the buses. Very smooth.

Going home was another story....we left about 10 minutes before DL closed (DCA closed an hour earlier) so almost midnight. There was a very long line for the TS buses and though it moved fairly quickly, we ended up standing on the bus which wasn't so fun. Especially since the bus left the loading area then sat on the road headed back out to Harbor for almost 10 minutes. I'm not sure what was going on but there was lots of chatter on the drivers radio. Finally we got going again and was smooth from there. I did appreciate how close our car was to the bus once we got to the lot.

Overall I'd probably try TS again sometime but it wasn't a marked improvement over Mickey & Friends for us.

 

[RebeccaLuvzDisney]

I like to park at Mickey and Friends. Especially Daisy floor!

 

[packedforadventure]

I've done both, but prefer Mickey and Friends. It always seems easier.

http://www.alwayspackedforadventure.com

 

[imalwayscrazy]

From someone disabled that has to use a scooter. I love the m&f lot. There is a lot of handicap on the bottom level. Also you don't have to be taken aside and made to wait for a bus. Then have to be locked in. It's a longer ride on the busses at toy story. Then when you get to the parks you have to wait to be unlocked by the bus driver. Scooter or wheelchair has to be locked regardless if you are transferring. With m&f all you do is ride up on the tram. Take out your scooter key. Or lock you wheelchair brake and XFER. And off you go. Also m&f has the shuttles for disabled. And it's the same thing. Ride on take you key and XFER to a seat and you are off!
Without a scooter or wheelchair I would still recommend the m&f lot because it is actually easier to get on the trams instead of being squished into a bus (some people forget their deodorant)

 

[starshine514]

From someone disabled that has to use a scooter. I love the m&f lot. There is a lot of handicap on the bottom level. Also you don't have to be taken aside and made to wait for a bus. Then have to be locked in. It's a longer ride on the busses at toy story. Then when you get to the parks you have to wait to be unlocked by the bus driver. Scooter or wheelchair has to be locked regardless if you are transferring. With m&f all you do is ride up on the tram. Take out your scooter key. Or lock you wheelchair brake and XFER. And off you go. Also m&f has the shuttles for disabled. And it's the same thing. Ride on take you key and XFER to a seat and you are off!
Without a scooter or wheelchair I would still recommend the m&f lot because it is actually easier to get on the trams instead of being squished into a bus (some people forget their deodorant)

Thank you so much for this info! I had been concerned about staying at a further hotel with the ECV. You don't happen to know how it works with ART, do you?

 

[Meghatron]

We got shunted to Toy Story for the first time ever last week and it was awful. They packed the bus--on a M&F tram you're guaranteed a seat--and the ride was much longer. I will not be doing that again by choice, ever.

 

[KPeveler]

From someone disabled that has to use a scooter. I love the m&f lot. There is a lot of handicap on the bottom level. Also you don't have to be taken aside and made to wait for a bus. Then have to be locked in. It's a longer ride on the busses at toy story. Then when you get to the parks you have to wait to be unlocked by the bus driver. Scooter or wheelchair has to be locked regardless if you are transferring. With m&f all you do is ride up on the tram. Take out your scooter key. Or lock you wheelchair brake and XFER. And off you go. Also m&f has the shuttles for disabled. And it's the same thing. Ride on take you key and XFER to a seat and you are off!
Without a scooter or wheelchair I would still recommend the m&f lot because it is actually easier to get on the trams instead of being squished into a bus (some people forget their deodorant)

I tried toy story once... I use a manual wheelchair in daily life and several buses just did not load me cause of my chair. The bus was empty, so there was room for me, they just fix not want to have to deal with it. Turns out the Toy Stor buses are contracted out, not do employees...

Now we always go to mickey and friends

 

[bouncycat]

I'm in a power chair, and our Halloween party night we ended up in the Puumba lot, with the charter busses, and it was HORRIBLE!! They didn't know how to load me, either way, and it took us an hour to get TO the car a little bit before the party was due to end. Bus was empty, but had an issue with the lift. I will try M&F this weekend when we go!

 

[alex881]

Time wise, my wife and I were parked in diff lots and it actually was dead even for both. Still, I prefer MandF for the "feel". The buses through the city aren't all that nice and being a WDW vet, it's really frustrating at the end of the night that they don't pack them. I would gladly stand on the bus vs waiting another 10 minutes as they put on just enough people to fill the seats. And that's with 3 kids + stroller.