Parking - how early to arrive

[TourEiffel]

Hello,
we're going only one day, and we'll do Disneyland, so I'm hoping that we'll be there when the park opens at 8 a.m. - that day they don't have Early admission hours.

I think I read somewhere parking opens 1 hour prior - how long does it take to park that early in the morning and how long does it take to go from the Parking to Main Street?

our Hotel is a 10 mn car drive from DL,

Thanks!

 

[elaw]

Hello,
we're going only one day, and we'll do Disneyland, so I'm hoping that we'll be there when the park opens at 8 a.m. - that day they don't have Early admission hours.

I think I read somewhere parking opens 1 hour prior - how long does it take to park that early in the morning and how long does it take to go from the Parking to Main Street?

our Hotel is a 10 mn car drive from DL,

Thanks!

It'll probably take about ten minutes max to park (Mickey and Friends Parking Lot) from the time you enter the parking lot until you're in a parking space if you get there around 7:00am. The tram can take a little bit longer ... but you can also walk if you prefer ... so I'd say another 15-20 mins or so to actually be at the gates (it depends on how long the line at the security checkpoint is).

 

[TourEiffel]

Thank you - i completely forgot about the Security line adding time on... I hope we'll be there when the park opens up!

I need my DH to be onboard - the soonest we're there, the best it is for everyone!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I need my DH to be onboard - the soonest we're there, the best it is for everyone!!!

Yes it will be.

It's been some years since we parked at Disney, but each little step of the way takes time. Get up, get out, get on road, get to lot. When we parked in the mornings we were not allowed to choose our parking spots, but were told exactly where to park. So if you're in Mickey and Friends, you might end up *having to* go all the way up to the top and all the way away from the escalator/elevator, instead of just parking at the bottom. So that takes time, too. Then get to the escalator/elevator, waiting for people to figure out their universes in front of you. Get in line for the tram, wait for tram, hope there's room on the tram. Get off of tram, deal with traffic jam, get to bag check, get to gates. Oh I hope you have a ticket already, or get there EVEN earlier, because if you think getting yourself ready for the escalator takes people time, working out ticket transactions is even worse.

If you choose to walk instead of tram it, that sometimes saves you time because you don't have the waiting part of the tram ride. At the very least, you feel like you're *doing* something.

So each and every part of the driving and parking experience takes time, and in my experience it takes more time than you expect, and all those little bits of time add up. It will end up being far earlier than you expect, that you should be getting out of your hotel room, but in the end you will, hopefully, be properly early with time to relax, instead of rushing around everywhere. And for one long day in the parks, you don't want to be frantic to start off with!

 

[LBIJim]

I'd say try to enter the parking garage about an hour before park opening. Like the PP said, it takes time to get to the tram loading area, wait for the tram, go through security, buy tickets, etc. They started letting guests in about a half hour before opening and that takes some time as well. You want to be IN the park when they drop the rope at opening.

Jim

 

[TourEiffel]

Thanks
We will do our best ... i ve never been to disneyland, i've been warning my dh and the kids that'll be an early start... since we're from illinois we'll be 'jetlagged' so that might help.

I have the tickets and parking pass purchased online, i am so ready!!!!

 

[Baliezer]

I would aim to be the first car in line when the parking garage opens. That way you can floor it all the way to the roof and people will know to stay away from you all day long.

I drink shots of espresso the entire 2 hour drive from my house to Disney. By the time I get there, I am walking 10 times the speed of other people around me.


If you want to be first, I totally recommend this.










I am of course joking about everything except being in line for when the parking garage opens.

 

[TourEiffel]

you're so funny