Parking at MK?

[Robo]

My DH doesn't mind driving. I just like the control over my time vs waiting on a bus.

For Bongo's, you want to park in the "Orange" garage.
Follow the signs.

 

[gemduncan]

For Bongo's, you want to park in the "Orange" garage.

Thank you!!!

 

[NH-to-FL]

As others have noted, the Magic Kingdom is the one park where it is better to take the bus from the resort rather than drive.

If you do decide to drive, you will be directed by CM's to a parking spot. Depending on what lot they are using you might be close enough to walk to the TTC. Otherwise you will have to take the tram.

 

[Anal Annie]

Driving to MK and parking is very inefficient if you can use the onsite resort transportation. Definitely take the bus to MK.

 

[goofyernmost]

The monorail is totally unpredictable.
It may or may not be running on the morning(s) you are there.
The ferry is not "fast."

I take a slight exception to that answer, not big, but, first I agree with the unpredictability of the Monorail in the morning. Even if it is running on schedule, it could take quite awhile if the crowd is big. The ferry's on the other hand if both the Monorail and the Ferry's left at the same time, there wouldn't be a whole lot of difference in how long it would take to get to MK gates. It's almost the same. The plus for the ferry's is that they are big enough so that just about everyone in the queue will get on the first available ferry. I have never found it to be even the slightest hassle using the boat. I take the Monorails during the day when it is a lot less crowded. It is also a worthwhile view, on a clear morning, to take the boat. Far more relaxing and you have a 360 degree view of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The wildlife and the fauna. Plus you get to see the Castle getting closer and closer. To me it is as much of an attraction as anything else in the park.

 

[goofyernmost]

My DH doesn't mind driving. I just like the control over my time vs waiting on a bus.

Even when I stayed onsite, I always used my own car for all my transportation needs. I tried the bus once and almost felt that I could walk there faster. I also don't mind driving and am an X-bus driver (not Disney). I don't like waiting in lines at the end of the day, cramming into buses packed with sweaty, smelly, tired people when I can just take a couple of minutes, get to my car, sit comfortably on the seat and feel the AC hit my face. Unless, it's at gunpoint, I do not ride the bus.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Oh, so it's not like Disneyland? Is it faster to drive ourselves to MK or take shuttle from AoA to MK?

unless you really know where you are going resort bus is going to be faster plus you need to factor in the time on either monorail or ferry to get to gate. I would want to be parked and headed for tram or walking to TTC by 730 in case you have to wait for next ferry or monorail. you can not even see the castle from the parking lot, so it is not like Disneyland

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Even when I stayed onsite, I always used my own car for all my transportation needs. I tried the bus once and almost felt that I could walk there faster. I also don't mind driving and am an X-bus driver (not Disney). I don't like waiting in lines at the end of the day, cramming into buses packed with sweaty, smelly, tired people when I can just take a couple of minutes, get to my car, sit comfortably on the seat and feel the AC hit my face. Unless, it's at gunpoint, I do not ride the bus.

even if you drive to MK you will need to ride either the crowded monorail or crowded ferry back to your car at end of night. it will not be a couple of minutes until you are at your car, not walkable to the parking lot

 

[Robo]

you can not even see the castle from the parking lot, so it is not like Disneyland

Well, you CAN see the MK castle from TTC... but it's kinda "small" from there.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Well, you CAN see the MK castle from TTC... but it's kinda "small" from there.

I guess childhood memory of Disneyland not the best and I wont say how long that has been but it has been years as I now have grandkids

 

[Robo]

I guess childhood memory of Disneyland not the best and I wont say how long that has been but it has been years as I now have grandkids

They closed the Disneyland parking lot a lotta years ago.
They built an entire new Theme Park on it. (Disney California Adventure.)

The parking lots for Disneyland/DCA have been moved several blocks away from the parks.
They now have MAJOR trams ("Tramzillas") that truck the guests between the parks and the multi-story "off-site" parking.

Too bad they didn't run new monorail beams over to the new parking lots.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

They closed the Disneyland parking lot a lotta years ago.
They built an entire new Theme Park on it. (Disney California Adventure.)

The parking lots for Disneyland/DCA have been moved several blocks away from the parks.
They now have MAJOR trams ("Tramzillas") that truck the guests between the parks and the multi-story "off-site" parking.

Too bad they didn't run new monorail beams over to the new parking lots.

grew up in Southern Cal but moved to Pa as an adult. have not been but once since I moved to Pa and that still had the parking lot

 

[Robo]

grew up in Southern Cal but moved to Pa as an adult. have not been but once since I moved to Pa and that still had the parking lot

I envy that you grew up with Disneyland as your "local" park.

My family and I LOVED that park back in the 60's and beyond, but we were living in the middle of the country,
so it was a plane-ride away.

I still like Disneyland as a unique park, with the attractions that are in-common with WDW actually being better at the Anaheim park.
And, Cars Land (at California Adventure) is just about THE most entertaining and immersive land of any
domestic Disney park!

But, over all, WDW is our choice much more often... with it's multiple days worth of parks.

 

[goofyernmost]

even if you drive to MK you will need to ride either the crowded monorail or crowded ferry back to your car at end of night. it will not be a couple of minutes until you are at your car, not walkable to the parking lot

Yes, I am aware of that. Some of you look at that as a problem. To me it has always been part of the experience. I love the ferry ride and it is no more crowded then the bus and I am there faster then the bus will get you from your resort to the entrance of the park. Coming or going!

I tested it once with some relatives. We left MK at the same time. They were onsite, so they headed over to the bus stops. I was staying offsite on 192. I got across the lagoon via ferry, to the trams and to my car, drove from the parking lot to my hotel and when I arrived I called them and they were still waiting for the next bus to arrive at MK to take them to their resort. Standing room only on the bus. The same thing happened to me the one time that I used the bus when I was staying onsite. I felt like I was stuffed in a sardine can. The driver played games and told jokes, but, at one point I didn't think I would ever get back to my room at POP.

 

[baloo's girl]

We also prefer to drive to the parks, include MK. We also tested out which was faster. We traveled with friends who were staying at the same resort as us (Pop). We left MK at the same time, and we were back to the hotel and in the pool for an hour before they showed up, having traveled by bus. We also like the peace and calm of getting in our own car for the ride back to the hotel. (we usually stay a mod)

 

[gemduncan]

We also prefer to drive to the parks, include MK. We also tested out which was faster. We traveled with friends who were staying at the same resort as us (Pop). We left MK at the same time, and we were back to the hotel and in the pool for an hour before they showed up, having traveled by bus. We also like the peace and calm of getting in our own car for the ride back to the hotel. (we usually stay a mod)

Thank you Baloo and Goofyernmost! My DH will be driving but he said it's up to me how we get there. I guess I'll make my decision once we arrive there in a couple more days!

 

[KittieKat]

.

What would you do for driving to TTC for an 8am opening? We are in town next weekend and are doing one day at magic kingdom next Sunday, staying off property. The real question is how early us my husband and toddler going to lei me leave without thinking I'm insane ...

 

[mshanson3121]

What is the cost for parking now? (not premium), still $20 per day?

 

[gemduncan]

What is the cost for parking now? (not premium), still $20 per day?

If you were staying on property all parking is free.

 

[Robo]

What would you do for driving to TTC for an 8am opening? We are in town next weekend and are doing one day at magic kingdom next Sunday, staying off property. The real question is how early us my husband and toddler going to lei me leave without thinking I'm insane ...

Insane. Yup.

The real question is, "How busy will MK be on your date?"

For instance, on and around Easter, Christmas, New Years Day, and July 4th, the (rather massive) MK parking lot/TTC can actually FILL COMPLETELY and be closed to further parking at some time in the MORNING.
And, that also means that the roadways leading to the MK lot can be clogged with cars and running very, very slowly
(think rush hour traffic) in the early mornings.

So, there is no blanket answer that covers all morning arrival situations.
Next Sun. is part of President's Day Weekend, so the crowds will be "heavy" but not as bad as Easter, et al.

I'd want to be in the MK parking lot by 7AM.

But, I can't say how early you'd have to be up and on the road from wherever your off-site room is located.