Parking at parks

[New England]

I know this is probably the incorrect board but I am focused right now on where to stay. When you are not staying on Disney property do you have to pay to park at the parks and is parking horrible or not a big issue?

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

It's $12 to park - but you can go to more than one in any day. Parking is normally ok - it's just if you are loaded with stuff that getting on and off the trams can be tricky.

 

[outahere]

I know this is probably the incorrect board but I am focused right now on where to stay. When you are not staying on Disney property do you have to pay to park at the parks and is parking horrible or not a big issue?

If you are not staying in a Disney hotel, yes you do have to pay to park. I think they just raised the rate to $12 per day. Parking at Epcot and the Hollywood Studios isn't too bad, but the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom is HUGE. They run shuttles (trams) constantly from the parking lot to the Ticket and Transportation Center, but if you end up at the far end of a row, it is a long walk to the shuttle lane.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Wanted to add.....even if you stay offsite, if you have an annual pass, then parking is free. I agree....MK parking lot is the toughest.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Even though the parking lots are huge, it is so well organized. First, safety cones create lanes to bring you to the open section, then a CM directs you right into a parking space and everyone entering must park right next to each other so people are not circling aroung looking for empty spaces. This is how it is in the am. Maybe if you park hop and arrive at 4 pm it's different. I didn't want you to have an image of chaos in a huge lot. (That would be Philly airport parking. lol!)

Disney is extremely organized with this; like no other park/place I've been to.
From the MK lot you walk to the end of your row and a tram car picks you up and takes you to TTC. From there you take either the ferry or monorail to MK. Some feel this is a hassle of staying offsite but we don't mind it at all and just love being in WDW. We prefer the ferry for the fresh air/breeze and a little more personal space. Monorail gets packed at peak times (park opening/closing, not just peak seasons) but then again so do WDW buses if you're staying onsite.

The lots all have names and each row is numbered so when you go home at night, you know exactly what row to look for, like Goofy 15. We usually take a dig. photo so we remember it.

 

[dissy_dee]

So parking is free with an annual pass?

Do you have to pay to park at Downtown Disney? Is it hard to find a parking spot at Downtown Disney?

 

[KayR]

Unless they have changed it recently, parking is free at downtown disney. I have never had a problem getting a parking space, but I will say that I don't mind walking, so I tend to park at the end with the Cirque tent (huge white tent thing!! You can't miss it!) and walk along DTD to wherever I want to go. Its a pleasant walk.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Parking is free at DD. There are times when it is pretty tough to find spots. I just left WDW. I'm at Vero Beach now. Three times visited DD/Marketplace. Easiest time to find parking was around 1 pm. The evening attempts were BAD ! We had to drive around for 15 min to a spot. We almost missed our movie.