Parking at MK?

[dreiwhit]

I've never stayed offsite, so this is first time driving. So...do you pay the one fee for the day and can drive to all the parks? They don't charge you again for changing parks do they? Also, there is a courtesy shuttle at the place we are staying but it leaves at weird times, never before 10:30 a.m. and you have to coordinate where you are and where you have to be to get back, it doesn't go to every park. I'm thinking it may be really challenging to figure it all out and not compromise your day. So, if we have to drive, what should our strategy be?

We always stay off property - we can get a week in a condo for free from my father-in-law or for a very low price through my company. We've never had a problem getting to the parks from offsite since the road signs are so good - you don't need a GPS. It does get a little tricky where they are doing road construction at Epcot Center Drive and Buena Vista Drive and trying to go to DHS, but that's only temporary. IMHO, driving to the parks while on Disney property is a lot easier than driving in Orlando outside of Disney property!

As other's have said, you pay $20 a day to park and its good for all parks if you hop or want to go back to your room and take a break. And Disney parking is the best. I wish all other events had parking lots as good as Disney's. Simple to get in, simple to get out.

Driving gives you way more flexibility in what you want to do when. If you want for a shuttle, you are waiting for them and having to base your arrival and departure on someone else's time. We drive because we want to maximize our time each day in the parks, so we get there before RD. And, if you want to go back to your room to rest mid day, you get in your car and go without waiting on a shuttle.

Give driving a try. You'll find out that its easy and you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[goofyernmost]

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

Yes, $20.00 is still the rate.

It is getting fairly easy to see who were going to WDW before the addition of all those resorts. Just about everyone drove there and you had to go through TTC, no other options. If I remember correctly you even had to go there when they started expanding before they built the bus stops near the MK gate.

I feel that if I don't enter MK via the TTC, that a huge part of my experience is missing. It was how we got there for many years since I have almost always stayed offsite and always had a vehicle. I love the tram ride, the monorail or ferry ride over especially on a clear, sunny day. The Ferry affords the best view of the Castle as it gets closer and closer, it also is fun to ride it back at night during the fireworks show. To me, the first two attractions that I experience at MK are the trams and the ferry or monorail. All of you that wish to run by the roses instead of enjoying them... more power to ya. I'll slow up my pace a little.

 

[mshanson3121]

Yes, $20.00 is still the rate.

It is getting fairly easy to see who were going to WDW before the addition of all those resorts. Just about everyone drove there and you had to go through TTC, no other options. If I remember correctly you even had to go there when they started expanding before they built the bus stops near the MK gate.

I feel that if I don't enter MK via the TTC, that a huge part of my experience is missing. It was how we got there for many years since I have almost always stayed offsite and always had a vehicle. I love the tram ride, the monorail or ferry ride over especially on a clear, sunny day. The Ferry affords the best view of the Castle as it gets closer and closer, it also is fun to ride it back at night during the fireworks show. To me, the first two attractions that I experience at MK are the trams and the ferry or monorail. All of you that wish to run by the roses instead of enjoying them... more power to ya. I'll slow up my pace a little.

I remember the feeling of driving under that welcome sign for the first time as a kid, and I cried driving under it taking my kids for their first time. We all loved the monorail and ferry, the kids truly enjoyed it, it was definitely part of the experience!

 

[ThistleMae]

Now that they have the new security at the TTC, would it be best to drive and park at Epcot and take the Monorail to MK? I'm just trying to figure out the least crowded way to get to MK?

 

[Robo]

Now that they have the new security at the TTC,
1. would it be best to drive and park at Epcot and take the Monorail to MK?
2. I'm just trying to figure out the least crowded way to get to MK?

1. No.
2. That's not it.
There is no monorail that runs directly from Epcot to MK.
The Epcot monorail runs to TTC.
Then, guests must exit that train and walk around to board another monorail to MK.
Same situation as parking at TTC to begin-with.

 

[ThistleMae]

1. No.
2. That's not it.
There is no monorail that runs directly from Epcot to MK.
The Epcot monorail runs to TTC.
Then, guests must exit that train and walk around to board another monorail to MK.
Same situation as parking at TTC to begin-with.

So, is what your saying no matter which park you go to, you are going to have to go though security at the TTC? And...just to be clear, you have to park at the TTC to get to MK?

 

[Robo]

1. So, is what your saying no matter which park you go to, you are going to have to go though security at the TTC? And...just to be clear,
2. you have to park at the TTC to get to MK?

1. I don't know if they will screen for Epcot at TTC.
2. TTC is the MK parking lot.
But, there are other ways to get to MK.

 

[scrapquitler]

So, is what your saying no matter which park you go to, you are going to have to go though security at the TTC? And...just to be clear, you have to park at the TTC to get to MK?

If you arrive at MK via resort bus, you go thru security at the end of the bus loop.
If you arrive at the MK via Ferry or TTC monorail, you go thru security at the TTC.
If you board the monorail at a monorail resort stop, you go thru security at the monorail resort stop.

If you are driving to the MK and don't valet park at a resort on the monorail loop, you have to park at the TTC or another one of the parks.

 

[gap2368]

So, is what your saying no matter which park you go to, you are going to have to go though security at the TTC? And...just to be clear, you have to park at the TTC to get to MK?

If you are staying on site and not at one of the resort monorail. and you are trying to get to the MK as fast as you can take the bus 9 times out of 10 it will be faster fro you. ( I think the boats that go from resorts to the MK, Not the TTC might be faster too)

 

[ThistleMae]

If you arrive at MK via resort bus, you go thru security at the end of the bus loop.
If you arrive at the MK via Ferry or TTC monorail, you go thru security at the TTC.
If you board the monorail at a monorail resort stop, you go thru security at the monorail resort stop.

If you are driving to the MK and don't valet park at a resort on the monorail loop, you have to park at the TTC or another one of the parks.

Very clear and tremendously helpful. Thank you. First time driving, so didn't know what the parking is like.

 

[ThistleMae]

Do any of you think this is a good idea. Drive to AK. Buy express transportation pass. Take that bus to MK, it lets you off inside the park. We want to end at AK, so thinking even though it may be the long way around, it may save the time of parking in MK, and waiting in all those lines. What do you all think?

 

[gap2368]

Do any of you think this is a good idea. Drive to AK. Buy express transportation pass. Take that bus to MK, it lets you off inside the park. We want to end at AK, so thinking even though it may be the long way around, it may save the time of parking in MK, and waiting in all those lines. What do you all think?

I love the express buss,

with this said, the buss starts running at 10,

and if you are only going to use it one time It is very price for one trip, if you are going to use it for a few days then I think it is worth it, exspasily if you are going to d all 4 parks in one day

 

[ThistleMae]

I love the express buss,

with this said, the buss starts running at 10,

and if you are only going to use it one time It is very price for one trip, if you are going to use it for a few days then I think it is worth it, exspasily if you are going to d all 4 parks in one day

Oh, yes, would use it five days. And 10 is perfect, we don't get to parks for RD. And we always park hop, so we would be going back and forth at least twice to three times a day. So my plan was only for day one. Do you think it sounds good?

 

[gap2368]

The

Oh, yes, would use it five days. And 10 is perfect, we don't get to parks for RD. And we always park hop, so we would be going back and forth at least twice to three times a day. So my plan was only for day one. Do you think it sounds good?

I have use it for one day it is pricey and only you can decide if it is worth the price for you

 

[ThistleMae]

It's not about the price, it's about saving time and avoiding long entrance lines at the TTC. I don't know if Parking at AK and using the bus to get to MK, even though it's further away, and because of Pandora whether I'll be adding time traveling but shorten my wait time to get into MK.

 

[Robo]

It's not about the price, it's about saving time and avoiding long entrance lines at the TTC. I don't know if Parking at AK and using the bus to get to MK, even though it's further away, and because of Pandora whether I'll be adding time traveling but shorten my wait time to get into MK.

I can pretty much guarantee that doing THAT particular procedure to "save time" would be a misfire.

 

[gap2368]

It's not about the price, it's about saving time and avoiding long entrance lines at the TTC. I don't know if Parking at AK and using the bus to get to MK, even though it's further away, and because of Pandora whether I'll be adding time traveling but shorten my wait time to get into MK.

If you are not already doing AK then this would take more time as both parks you have to go thoug severity and then at AK walk to the back to get on the bus.

It would save you time if you want to go to AK do a few things then go to MK

 

[gap2368]

avoiding long entrance lines at the TTC.

from what I have seen and heard there really is not long lines maybe 5 people deep at the TTC. You may find longer lines getting thought security at the other parks then you will at MK since MK security is spread out more now.

 

[ThistleMae]

from what I have seen and heard there really is not long lines maybe 5 people deep at the TTC. You may find longer lines getting thought security at the other parks then you will at MK since MK security is spread out more now.

Okay....you all have convinced me my plan sucks...LOL. But watching the video's it seems like a mob scene at TTC to me, then again maybe everywhere is a mob scene.

 

[gap2368]

Okay....you all have convinced me my plan sucks...LOL. But watching the video's it seems like a mob scene at TTC to me, then again maybe everywhere is a mob scene.

what video have you seen all of the ones I have seen there is only about 5 deep unlike how MK was where if you go there at the wrong time you might have had to wait 45 minutes just to get any where close to bag check, ( It one time took me an hour and 15 minutes to get in to the MK from the time I got off the bus at MK buss stop. from all of the people I know that have been down in the last week ( and I know 3 different family that have been down in the last week) they have all said bag check is much better only take 5 to 10 minutes at most.

I would not stress out too much do what you would normally do either driving or take the bus to MK one way might be 10 minutes faster, ( I really think the bus is) but the rides will still be there and you said you are not a RD person the only time 10 minute will really make is at RD for maybe one ride.