Off Site Help

[mermaid&cinderella]

The last four years we have stayed on site but this time we rented a condo just outside of the Disney grounds. Does anyone have any off-site tips? Any parking tips? How is parking at the parks? I have always used the Disney transport so I have no idea what the parking is like Also we have a ressie at Chef Mickey, can I park at the Contemporary for the day or am I better parking at the TTC and monorail over and then over to MK for the day? Sorry I am a total off-site virgin....LOL I did it when I was a kid but don't remember it

Thanks

 

[phphantom]

We have a timeshare in Orlando and stay off site more often than not. I have no problem driving to the parks and parking. If you intend to be at rope drop when the parks open you should plan on being in the parking lot 30 minutes before that (maybe even 40 minutes at MK).

If you are at the parking lot 30-40 minutes before rope drop you will get a parking spot close enough that you can walk to the front gates (or in the case of Mk to the TTC)

AS for Chef Mickey you can drive to the CR but they will give you a parking pass that is time limited (3 hours i think). having said that there has recently been a thread/debate about whether that 3 hour limit is actually enforced.

Depending on what time your ressie at Chef Mickeys is (and your plans for the day) you might simply park at MK and take monorail to CR if you are going to MK that day. If you're going elsewhere i think you'll want to park at CR

 

[Sue M]

I've heard of cars being towed. CR has a few very popular restaurants in it, not to mention the people who are staying there who need to park. I would park at TTC and use the monorail.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Thanks! I will definately be at TTC 40 mins before rope drop and I will just park there for our Chef Mickey ressie!

We leave on tuesday....woohoo

 

[Kat&Dom]

Thanks! I will definately be at TTC 40 mins before rope drop and I will just park there for our Chef Mickey ressie!

We leave on tuesday....woohoo

Have an awesome trip!

Parking at Disney is so easy - it is a very organized, efficient process - the trams are right there for you to hop onto to get to the park entrance - very simple and very easy.

Also, since it is your first off-site with parking experience - keep your parking ticket that you get and just show it for the other parks if you do any park hopping - you only have to pay once per day. Although, if anyone in your group has an AP, you just have to show your AP card and parking is free.

Have fun!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Just a tip for when you park in the various lots - either take a picture of the row you're parked in or write it down ... it'll be much easier to remember where your car is parked when you're leaving the park, especially since all the lots look the same, and you'll find there are tons of rentals that look just like yours!!

 

[MamaLema]

I love Disney parking...it is so organized. Keep in mind that we get there early for rope drop every single time, but there is a CM helping people park by telling them exactly which spot to park in, very efficient!

 

[Sue M]

Just a tip for when you park in the various lots - either take a picture of the row you're parked in or write it down ... it'll be much easier to remember where your car is parked when you're leaving the park, especially since all the lots look the same, and you'll find there are tons of rentals that look just like yours!!

I did this on a Universal trip. It works quite well! Took a pic with cell phone.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I love Disney parking...it is so organized. Keep in mind that we get there early for rope drop every single time, but there is a CM helping people park by telling them exactly which spot to park in, very efficient!

They do this until much later in the day, then they only have one CM at the end of the aisles directing you to a certain row.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I did this on a Universal trip. It works quite well! Took a pic with cell phone.

We find Universal is harder to remember because not only do you have to remember what row and area you are in but what level too ... so taking a picture definitely helps!