Parking at DLR

[LisaCat]

I am driving, for the first time ever, from the airport to DLR. I am armed with my Garmin, but I need to know where the best place is to enter and park. This is a day trip and we will be needing to make as quick an exit as possible after the holiday parade is over to head back to the airport. Where should I park for fastest access? If it matters, I have free parking with my AP. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Funball]

I suggest the Parking structure….it’s easy in and easy out! Plus the freeways are accessible from ball road! It’s the only parking lot to me that is the easiest!

 

[LisaCat]

I suggest the Parking structure….it’s easy in and easy out! Plus the freeways are accessible from ball road! It’s the only parking lot to me that is the easiest!

That's "Mickey & Friends"? The one in the back behind the hotels, right?

 

[Raindown]

There are some good area maps here: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/maps/

Your probably looking at either M&F or the Toy Story lot.

 

[LisaCat]

There are some good area maps here: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/maps/

Your probably looking at either M&F or the Toy Story lot.

I was just opening that in my browser! LOL! Thanks!

 

[ConnieB]

We're here right now and have parked each day in the Toy Story lot....plenty of spaces as it seems it's not as well known as the M&F....LOTS of buses so we've never had to wait for the next bus to come along because it's there waiting. What I like about this one over M&F (which we used to use on previous trips) is that getting out to the street is easy because it's not crowded into other parts of the park so there has never been a bottle neck to get away from the parks, even when we've stayed until after closing.

 

[Funball]

That's "Mickey & Friends"? The one in the back behind the hotels, right?

yep that is the one!

 

[skiingfast]

Though not many people have taken advantage of it, T&S tends to be faster to get to and from the gates. PP is right too traffic flows a little quicker in and out of it to the surface streets but M&F has a strait shot out with one stop light to I-5 and it puts you right onto I-5North.

Also so you are aware, when you come up or down I-5 you will be directed to the one which is closer to you. There will be obvious signs directing you to the parking.

 

[cmwade77]

I would strongly suggest the Toy Story lot, the shuttles come much faster and there will be A LOT of people leaving right after the parade. I would recommend watching it from the Main Street end. They load 3+ busses at a time and they come continuously, you can wait for 10+ minutes between trams (I have timed it) and with the number of people, it could be 3-4 trams before you get on one to the Parking Structure.

The Toy Story lot is at Harbor and Convention Center Way.

 

[Funball]

BUT those buses only run till a certain time not an hour after the park closes.... they run till 10 pm i think i remember the bus driver saying, cause i remember it was an odd time and they do not run as long as the trams or an hour after the park closes like the trams do.. i asked cuase it was a late night and i wanted to make sure i got back to my car ok.

 

[pixiewings71]

The Garmin will direct you to the Mickey & Friends lot, we've never had any problems getting there so following the Garmin is my best advice.

 

[Funball]

i found this on trip advisor. posted from a fellow member i know from another board -darkbeer-(i think he is also on here also)....anywhoo! some info on the Toy story lot

Yes, you can walk and ride the bus for free, they are usually backed up, so once a bus is full (or a few minutes have gone by), they get dispatched. The walk is somewhat long (1/2 of a mile), here is a marked map (note, the photo is out of date, I am showing the path from the Front Lobby of the DoubleTree to the loading area of the buses.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4062291

Also note, there is no guarantees that the Toy Story Lot will be open, due to agreements with the Convention Center, and also on expected very slow days at Disneyland, Disney will opt to not open the lot, and send everyone to the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure

The ART system goes to the DoubleTree, and is $4 a day for adults and runs on a regular basis. I would just pay the money and enjoy my vacation..

 

[skiingfast]

Here is some official disney information. This is from the Disneyland.com site if you select directions tab after picking maps and directions off the parks drop down menu. Again Disney will not direct you to a closed lot. T&S is always open and functional just like the M&F garage.

Traveling North on I-5

"Disney's California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park

•Take the Katella Ave / Disney Way exit.
•Proceed on Disney Way for approximately 0.5 miles to Harbor Boulevard and turn left (South).
•Proceed approximately 0.5 miles on Harbor Boulevard and Disney parking will be on your left."



"Traveling South on I-5

Take I-5 south. Exit Disneyland Drive and turn left (South). Then for...

Disney's California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park:

•Proceed across Ball Road. Use the left three lanes to access the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure."

 

[cmwade77]

BUT those buses only run till a certain time not an hour after the park closes.... they run till 10 pm i think i remember the bus driver saying, cause i remember it was an odd time and they do not run as long as the trams or an hour after the park closes like the trams do.. i asked cuase it was a late night and i wanted to make sure i got back to my car ok.

Actually, the toy story lot busses do run until one hour after the park closes, then if there are still cars there, they have Disney owned vans (wheel chair accessible) that run until the last car is gone.....don't ask how I know this, long story.

The ART buses stop no later than 30 minutes after park closing or when the bus that is designated as the last bus is full, whichever is first!

I would recommend public transit over the ART busses, it runs harbor 24 hours a day and is cheaper.

 

[uneekstylez]

While we were there, we parked at Mickey & Friends. The trams are a big pain to wait for on the way out of the parks, specially for the lines for people with strollers that they're not gonna fold up. But it's a nice option for if you have alot of stuff in the stroller baskets and stuff. And when you exit the parking lot, it takes you to Ball Rd, I think and there's a direct ramp taking you to I5 (both North or South.)

We tried the Toy Story lot, but we didn't like it. It was alot further away from the parks. And you can't put your stroller in unless it's folded. And DH noticed that the bus drivers aren't from Disney. Their shirts said "Anaheim Resort Transit" on them. And when we exited from the Toy Story lot, it seemed like it took a long time to get back to our hotel which was on Disneyland Dr.

 

[DoomBugger]

Just head down the 5 and follow the signs, don't even worry about it!