Parking at Mickey and Friends

[Ali J Nenny]

Hi- We will be driving to the theme park while on vacation. We are thinking of parking in the Mickey and Friends lot. Does the actual lot not open until 6:30 or can we get in before 6:30 and just not pay until 6:30? Do cars que up to be the first to park at 6:30? Also, should we pay for parking ahead of time or just when we arrive? Do we go through security right there in the parking structure? This is new since the last time we visited.... any insights are appreciated!

 

[dina444444]

Security is at the structure if you take the tram over. Not sure what happens if you show up before the structure opens at 6:30 in terms of waiting. I do know the structure does close at some point overnight. Disneyland almost never unmans the toll booths like Disney world does and they do have arms they can place in front of each booth so cars can’t pass.

 

[DLgal]

Closed means closed. You can't enter until they open. Cars will just be lined up if you get there too early. I don't think you can pay in advance, can you? There's no reason to.

 

[dina444444]

Closed means closed. You can't enter until they open. Cars will just be lined up if you get there too early. I don't think you can pay in advance, can you? There's no reason to.

You can pre purchase parking online. The only thing it will do is slightly speed up getting through the toll booth.

 

[Deadp00l]

Before 6:30 AM, you can enter the parking structure... up to where the booth is. If you get there well before 6:30 AM, you will see few cars already lined up before the booth and everyone will pretty much have their cars turned off and be napping. When 6:30 rolls around, then they start letting cars go through after paying for parking (maybe pay for parking ahead of time to save some time here). Once you park, you go down the escalator into the main area that "splits" off in two direction: the left side is where you can walk (~10-15 min) to Downtown Disney (security right before entering DTD) or the right side where you loop back into the parking structure (security in the parking structure) before boarding the tram.

I've never done this before but I would think that if you wanted to be one of the first to enter the parks, you would drop some people off near the esplanade and have them line up at the theme park gates first while you go to the parking structure. Once it's 6:30 and you've park, you will simply just meet the rest of your party at the esplanade.