Parking Experience at DL

[jtl2411]

Being a Premium AP holder, we tend to only go to CA and DL in the late afternoon or early evening. We tried to go this past Sunday around noon and man was parking a big hassle. I don't know if this Sunday was extra busy or not, Friday and Saturday things were pretty light crowd wise. But we spent around an hour trying to find parking (i don't know the name of the lot). The one they wanted us to park at seemed like you had to take a bus vs. a tram to get to the parks.

So basically we just called it a day and gave up on CA on Sunda.

I told my DLGF that from now on its probably better if we go early in the am or in the early evening like we usually do.

Just thought I'd share my experience, this past weekend.

 

[Albort]

hmm, i do believe now that Simba is overflow lot #1, and then Timon is overflow lot #2 as SImba is now filled up first before Timon.

Tram services to Timon doesnt exist anymore. i dont know if they use buses or not but ive heard ppl had to walk around, which SUUUCKS.

 

[pixiewings71]

That's why we have just been heading straight to Mickey & Friends lately. It just seems to be easier that way. We always park, unless we are in a walking distance hotel. Actually we parked on Saturday May 23rd late in the evening and we actually got right into the Timon lot which did have the tram running. When we've been directed to the Simba lot we have had to walk to the parks, way too far to walk IMO!

 

[jtl2411]

We normally park at Mickey and Friends too, since it's free. But Sunday at like 12:30 it was closed and they were diverting everyone to some other lot off of Harbor. I know it wasnt the Timon lot (atleast I'm 90% sure of that). But some other lot that seemed like a long walk to DL.

Id just feel bad for ppl who had to park there especially if they had to walk other way over to the park.

 

[mechurchlady]

That is why I spend 45 minutes on a bus. I get dropped off a block and a half from my house and right at the taxi area on Harbor but out on the street. 90 minutes compared to the walking and lines.

 

[pixiewings71]

If the parking structure is full they reroute everyone. You probably were sent to the Simba lot. I'll still take my chances, if all else fails we just drive back to the hotel and either walk or take ART.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I recall some people saying they had to park at Garden Walk and take a bus back. Will this parking mess be going on all summer? We should be arriving early every day except for the day we arrive on a Wed. Hope the lot isn't full then. I would think it would be better than a Sun.

If we did decide to try ART one day, (BIG if! I hate trying to pack onto a bus full of people at the end of the night.) can you pay on the bus or do you have to buy a ticket somewhere else first?

 

[dara00]

we parked at mickey & friends and found it to be a big hassle. We were driving forever it seemed. then took a tram over. but on the way back we couldn't get onto the tram with the stroller - long wait - so we walked back. then there was a huge line for the elevator so we carried the stroller up the stairs. would have been faster just to walk to the hotel, as we did the other days. (we were there May 27-30)

 

[DisneyFairytale]

Again living in Canada I am also a premium pass holder so we make VERY good use of those passes as well as parking. I can only recall very few times when timed happened to be timed during super busy hours. As long as you go first thing into the day, you will do just fine even then, the warm summer nights, during the weekend tend to be the busy days.

For those nights, I would plan your day so you stay in the park later in the evening so you dont have to deal with it, or skip out going to the park on those days altogether and save for the week days. As you can imagine, if the parking is bad enough to be a pain in the rear, the inside of the park isn't going to be that much better.

Take care and stay safe out there!

 

[Boo Bear]

I recommend doing whatever it takes to park for free and to get out easily without having to invest too much time. If that means that you need to explore a couple plans of action, then so be it. I will probably try Mickey & Friends early in the morning and if that doesn't work I'll just go back to my resort and either walk to DL, DCA, or DTD or take an ART shuttle. As long as I have somewhere safe to park my car I don't really care that much. That's just my two cents worth though.

 

[jtl2411]

we parked at mickey & friends and found it to be a big hassle. We were driving forever it seemed. then took a tram over. but on the way back we couldn't get onto the tram with the stroller - long wait - so we walked back. then there was a huge line for the elevator so we carried the stroller up the stairs. would have been faster just to walk to the hotel, as we did the other days. (we were there May 27-30)

I hate to let tell you buy getting back to Mickey n Friends is almost always like that. Normally we walk to n from the structure on almost all our visits.

 

[mechurchlady]

The parking garage elevator has a been a pain in the neck for over 5 years. When they are loading two floors then the top floor loads and all the other guests cannot get their wheelchairs, disabled and strollers downstairs. There has been for 5+ years that circling around and around until they park you.

I recommended that they make one tram that was a stroller tram where guests could all roll up their strollers at once then board instead of this current having to wait at the front. If they are loading disabled guests then the strollers do not board, tough is the Disney philosophy.

I waited over 45 minutes to get into the garage because the far left lanes were fully staffed and people on the left could get out of line and move over. Those trapped in the right lanes waited 45 minutes while guests on the left got in the garage in under 15 minutes. That day a manager was out there chatting and not doing her job.

I would say it was the biggest sinking fiasco created by Disney in decades.

Disabled guests have to walk up to 2 blocks depending on how crowded it is. There is no way for a disabled guest to get from their car to the park to rent a wheelchair without walking a quarter mile each way. Disabled guests have to walk about a quarter mile from their car to the bathrooms also unless you argue with a CM and get to park in the bus parking area. No wheelchairs out there either and the disabled van never ever is running.

 

[LuLusApple]

I recall some people saying they had to park at Garden Walk and take a bus back. Will this parking mess be going on all summer? We should be arriving early every day except for the day we arrive on a Wed. Hope the lot isn't full then. I would think it would be better than a Sun.

If we did decide to try ART one day, (BIG if! I hate trying to pack onto a bus full of people at the end of the night.) can you pay on the bus or do you have to buy a ticket somewhere else first?

I didn't see where you got an answer re: the ART
Yes you can pay as you get on the bus with cash or pre-purchase the tickets at your hotel.
We bought the family pass 48$ 5 of us for 6 days. I found it convenient to use the ART

 

[PinkBudgie]

I didn't see where you got an answer re: the ART
Yes you can pay as you get on the bus with cash or pre-purchase the tickets at your hotel.
We bought the family pass 48$ 5 of us for 6 days. I found it convenient to use the ART

Thank you. Like I said it is a big "if". But it is nice to know it is there to fall back on.

Everytime we have driven there, we park at M&F parking. We get there around 7am and have always parked outside of the structure. We then were able to hop on the very uncrowded tram (summer). Parking was not a pain at all. I just hope it still goes smooth with all these parking lot closures.

 

[LavenderPeach]

We often go on Sundays around 11am (including this past sunday) and park in the M&F parking lot. It is always a little crazy but this past sunday wasn't as bad as it was one time several months back. We went one time and traffic was backed up all the way to the overpass bridge on Ball Rd. It took us forever to actually get into the parking garage, let alone get a parking spot. This past sunday when we went I did notice that the parking seemed to be somewhat disorganized for some reason. Usually they show you exactly which spot they want you to park in but this time they directed us down a row that already had a lot of previously parked cars and then it was a free-for-all. It is much better to get there first thing in the morning but that isn't usually possible for us so we just go expecting it to be a little crazy.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I've been hearing parking has been a mess lately. We always park in M&F and haven't had a problem, even when going to the park later in the day. But we haven't gone during summer yet. I know another over flow lot is over at Garden Walk, like a PP said. They have shuttles running to take you to and from the Garden Walk parking.

 

[Disney Dreams]

At risk of getting stoned, I like M&F plot. For as many people that are at DL, those trams fill and move on very quickly. Yes, at the end of the night when you are tired, and cranky, and want someone to carry you home (and I am not talking about the kids ), none of us want to wait, but if you really think about it - there are 1,000s of people all getting back to their car at the same time. It goes pretty smoothly.

I DO watch people with strollers constantly seem to struggle as they seem to have the idea that they are going to just lift the stroller (uncollapsed) right up on to the tram. Can't do it. So if you have a stroller, just know that and collapse the little contraption and hop on the tram.

As for the round and round parking structure, I actually like it. If you don't like where you park, exit and try again.

And you cannot get better access to the Freeway than when you exit M&F.

I read here once that someone's child's favorite ride in all of Disneyland is the tram ride from the parking structure. I thought that was cute because I think of the time on the tram as my "Here comes Disneyland" lead in time.

- Dreams

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

I agree with the PP. We have always enjoyed M&F structure too. It's right off the 5 freeway and there are always a lot of trams running. I agree that at the end of the night, it can be annoying to wait, but that rarely happens because we tend to leave at what must be "off" times.

I remember being a little kid and taking the tram and my parents always telling me that was our first ride. I would get sooo excited to ride the tram. Although, those were the days when it was huge flat lot where DCA is now.

 

[disneydreamer74]

The parking garage elevator has a been a pain in the neck for over 5 years. When they are loading two floors then the top floor loads and all the other guests cannot get their wheelchairs, disabled and strollers downstairs. There has been for 5+ years that circling around and around until they park you.

I recommended that they make one tram that was a stroller tram where guests could all roll up their strollers at once then board instead of this current having to wait at the front. If they are loading disabled guests then the strollers do not board, tough is the Disney philosophy.

I waited over 45 minutes to get into the garage because the far left lanes were fully staffed and people on the left could get out of line and move over. Those trapped in the right lanes waited 45 minutes while guests on the left got in the garage in under 15 minutes. That day a manager was out there chatting and not doing her job.

I would say it was the biggest sinking fiasco created by Disney in decades.

Disabled guests have to walk up to 2 blocks depending on how crowded it is. There is no way for a disabled guest to get from their car to the park to rent a wheelchair without walking a quarter mile each way. Disabled guests have to walk about a quarter mile from their car to the bathrooms also unless you argue with a CM and get to park in the bus parking area. No wheelchairs out there either and the disabled van never ever is running.

Now what is this about waiting up front for the tram if you have a stroller? I plan on parking at Mickey and friends also and will have a stroller? Is there an issue with strollers? Last time I was at WDW there was no issue for tram riders with strollers.hmmm...

 

[mechurchlady]

Most people can fold their strollers and put them on the seats of the trams. Some people cannot lift the stroller especially some of the large ones and some cannot fold the stroller thus they have to wait for the front of the tram. If you can you should fold the stroller and stand at the front of any of the tram cars but not the front one.

I have seen people with a herd of kids trying to corral kids while folding a stroller. If you get a big stroller how do you even lift it on a tram. It is a major problem there especially for parents with tandem strollers. As I said this has existed since the parking garage opened and is nothing new. Corporate office and upper management know that there are major problems with parking and that being disabled or with a stroller can be a nightmare. They do nothing at all.