Parking car at Parks if staying onsite?

[3Charbys]

Hi'ya,

Hoping this is the right thread to get me a response...

Can you tell us if we are staying onsite, if we rent a car to get around (to avoid waiting for buses), Are there designated parking lots or areas for onsite guests, or are you just parking with everyone else?

I have also heard/read that also the parking fee is waived if you are staying onsite, is that correct?

Thanks in advance for any responses!
Wanda

 

[WizardLarz]

Hi'ya,

Hoping this is the right thread to get me a response...

Can you tell us if we are staying onsite, if we rent a car to get around (to avoid waiting for buses), Are there designated parking lots or areas for onsite guests, or are you just parking with everyone else?

You will park with everyone else!
I have also heard/read that also the parking fee is waived if you are staying onsite, is that correct?

Yes, this is correct. There should be a parking pass with your paperwork when you checkin at the Resort. It goes on the front dash of your car so when to pull up to the parking tollboth they will just wave you right in!
Thanks in advance for any responses!
Wanda

Enjoy your Trip!

 

[3Charbys]

Thanks WizardLarz!

 

[Elmo007]

One other thing to note. In my experience it is usually better to take a bus to Magic Kingdom than to drive. The other parks are usually faster to drive as opposed to taking the Bus. However, at MK, you need to park and then take a tram to the TTC and then take a ferry or monorail around the lake. the bus stops on the other side of the lake avoiding that trip.

Last time i went from MK to POP, i sent the family by bus and i went to get the car and they were all back in the room resting by the time I walked in. I think they beat me by about 20-25 minutes.

 

[3Charbys]

WOW! Thanks for that insight Elmo007! WE never thought about the trek from the parking lot to the MK would involve shuttles and such....it is our main attraction if you KWIM... so great advice...Thanks!

 

[luvndizny]

We've done both- park the car and rode the bus. We personally prefer the bus because they drop you right off at the front AND, at the end of a long day you're not making that trekk back to middle-of-nowhere land to find your car. Plus, we drove down (to Orland) and it was nice to have that break. Depending on where you're staying, you can 'sight see' a short bit while on the bus since you're not worried about driving and can get glimpses of other resorts, etc. I also like the added anticipation of watching other people who are headed do Disney their first time when riding the bus. I just loved a conversation I was overhearing between a, guessing, 4 year old and her Mom. It made me tear up a little bit.

If you do decide to park your car, take a picture of where you're parked (you'll see signs for the different sections like Donald Duck, Goofy, etc. and your row number) and I always just do the alarm honk on my car to find it... And/or buy a car antenna topper to help too if it is a smaller vehicle.

And don't forget, you don't have to schlep all your souvenir goodies with you, regardless of car vs. bus- they'll send it to your hotel for you! (Onsite hotels only.)

 

[3Charbys]

Thanks Luvndizny! I forgot about the delivery system they have... we will probably be making use of that!
I think it is a super tip as well to take a snap of where the car is!! I should do that even when I am at the mega mall here at home!!

 

[LGH1946]

But you do agree that it is better to drive your car to all parks except the MK. right? I have a handicapped sign and will have to rent an ECV in the parks. ( knee surgery) So I hope to be able to park pretty close to the entrance. It seems to me that Epcot and Animal Kingdom buses are sooooo far out. Besides, we have to spend so much on a cab, you can just about rent a car for what they cost. Magic Express is ok if you have a lot of time. But I don't like having to stop at a lot of other resorts. Can't wait for Oct.

 

[clkelley]

But you do agree that it is better to drive your car to all parks except the MK. right? I have a handicapped sign and will have to rent an ECV in the parks. ( knee surgery) So I hope to be able to park pretty close to the entrance. It seems to me that Epcot and Animal Kingdom buses are sooooo far out. Besides, we have to spend so much on a cab, you can just about rent a car for what they cost. Magic Express is ok if you have a lot of time. But I don't like having to stop at a lot of other resorts. Can't wait for Oct.

Quite honestly, I would rent an ECV from an offsite company. They deliver it to your resort and you have it for your entire stay!!! Then use the buses with the ECV!! That way you don't have to worry if all the ECVs are gone when you get to the park.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

We've driven our car twice and because we've bought one of our park tickets from our local AAA office, we've park in the first or second row - next to Handicapped! It's called a Diamond Parking Pass! (Just don't laugh when I tell you I've missed following the BLUE line to the parking lot more than once! But I did get to visit a part of the resort that I had never seen! The parking attendant didn't laugh at me when I had to get back in line to show my parking receipt! We've only stayed offsite!

 

[Magicbus]

In my experience it is usually better to take a bus to Magic Kingdom than to drive.

As you said, usually better to take the bus to the MK, but Pop is not your typical resort as far as buses go. You will save some time, but the difference will not be as dramatic if you're staying at a resort with multiple stops and have the max bus wait times on both ends.

Riding the tram, then taking the ferry or monorail over to the MK on a nice sunny day and seeing the castle and train station off in the distance is worth the time. I like the build up and anticpation of getting there. And if you leave when it's dark, you get some nice views looking back. You'll miss out on all that if you bus it. Ya, you'll save some time and you might have to deal with some crowds, but if you time it right, you can avoid that as well. IMHO, experiencing the little things adds to the overall WDW experience.

Now if you've been there, done that many times, then maybe it's not as important.