Parking in parks

[luvmytwins02]

We will be at Disney Aug 16-23
So this is our first time going and not using disney transportstion. I am stressing out about parking at the parks
We will plan on being there at rope drop everyday....so not so concerned about parking first thing in the am. We plan to leave the parks just after lunch and come back at night. How doable is this?
Also, how much time should we plan for getting out of the parks with our car after the fireworks shows?
Which park is it best to park at and then keep the car there and park hop?
Any tips to help us make parking easier/smoother?

 

[goofy4tink]

Obviously, it is going to be harder to find a 'good' parking spot when you return later in the day. But, the parking lots are huge, so you should find a spot fairly easily.
If you want to park and then hop to different parks, I would probably use Epcot. You can take the monorail to MK, and a bus to DHS and AKL. But it really doesn't make any difference. If you are staying off-site, and don't get free parking, be sure to hang onto your parking receipt from the first park. You only pay once a day to park...even if you move to a different park.

 

[Ronda93]

So this is our first time going and not using disney transportstion. I am stressing out about parking at the parks

It's not crystal clear that you've been to WDW before and this is merely the first time that you are not planning to use Disney transportation. I'm going with first time so this might be old news...


We will plan on being there at rope drop everyday....so not so concerned about parking first thing in the am. We plan to leave the parks just after lunch and come back at night. How doable is this?

Very doable. We've done it lots of times. Late afternoon/evening parking is often a find-your-own-spot as there's no one to guide you. Beware though, the lots are one way affairs. You can't easily get to the end of a row and head into another one. If you start down that aisle, be pretty sure there's a space waiting for you.

When you arrive at the MK parking lot, you are still a mile away from the MK. You have to take either the ferry or monorail to reach the entrance. I'd allow at LEAST 30 minutes from park to play.


Also, how much time should we plan for getting out of the parks with our car after the fireworks shows?

More than you want. And it's not the car part that chews up time. Again at the MK after you exit, you're now a mile from your car. Ferry/monorail back to the TTC and tram to your lot. Once you reach your car it's easy. At EPCOT it's not bad at all. Everyone shuffles out and the parking lot is RIGHT THERE. Unless we're really way out there, we walk to the car after Illuminations - skipping the tram. This is where the one way thing helps a bunch. All arrows point to the exit. The few merges are consistent and no one is trying to turn another direction.

Which park is it best to park at and then keep the car there and park hop?

The only ones I've tried to move between are EPCOT and MK. Joined by the monorail, it's simple. You can RD one, switch to the other and return for the evening. The EPCOT monorail ride is a nice break. However, it's not all that.

Any tips to help us make parking easier/smoother?

ALWAYS exit to the front of your vehicle. ALWAYS. Take a picture of the number at the end of your parking lot row. In the dusk of confusion it's easy to think row 68 was today and not yesterday or Friday ; )

If you're staying on site, you have a parking placard for the car's dash. Leave it there and they wave you through.

My first few times driving at WDW, I tried to read the map. It was miserable. Tried to make our own route. FAIL. Keep your head up and follow the signs. There's a smooth way to get everywhere and they've already figured it out for you.

 

[luvmytwins02]

Thank you for your response! This is not our first trip to DW, just our first trip not staying onsite and not using Disney transportation.
All of your tips are so helpful! Thanks!

 

[disnut8]

We've been staying offsite lately and drive to the parks. But, we are big evening Epcot people (two adults) so we will drive to Epcot and park if going to Magic Kingdom and using the monorail. If we are going to the Studios, we walk through Epcot (Annual passholders so park hopping is there), and then either walk to the Studios or take the boat, whichever we feel like. For Animal Kingdom, we drive there first, park, and then drive to Epcot for the evening.

I wouldn't stress out about parking at the parks. In the mornings, you will probably encounter the Cast Members directing you on where to park Follow their directions and you will have no problem. You might see a longer line of cars than what you want but it goes fast and it's easy once all the drivers of the cars in front of you get the clue to just do what they are supposed to do. The Disney parking system is one of the easiest I've ever encountered. Yes, you will be directed to park right next to the car on your right and there will be a car that parks directly to your left. But, Disney parking spaces are angled just enough that everyone from the cars can get out without a big hassle. Have your bags or whatever with you and then walk IN FRONT of your car. From there, make the decision to walk to the front of the park or take the tram. We've done both and it depends, for us, on the crowds and where we are parked.

MAKE SURE YOU NOTE THE PARKING LANE YOU ARE IN! The indicators are on the ground at the end of your row. WRITE IT DOWN OR TAKE A PICTURE OF IT. Trust me (can you tell I've been in a massive rainstorm when I just had the general area noted and not the actual lane?).

For fireworks shows, I think the worst would be from the Magic Kingdom since you would have to take transportation from the park to your car and then get to your car and then exit. The Studios would be next just because I think their parking lot is not that great. Epcot is a breeze.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We used to be Disney Transportation lovers - until we rented a car a few years ago. Now we will never go to WDW without one.

We will plan on being there at rope drop everyday....so not so concerned about parking first thing in the am. We plan to leave the parks just after lunch and come back at night. How doable is this?
Parking is as easy in the afternoon as it is first thing in the morning. You pull in and they will direct you to your spot. Regardless of the time of day, sometimes you get a great spot - sometimes you get the very last spot in the row (hate that! )


Also, how much time should we plan for getting out of the parks with our car after the fireworks shows?
Hard to say - Epcot is our favorite because we seem to get lucky and score a parking spot there within walking distance - so no trams. MK is a wait and a half regardless of your method of transportation.


Which park is it best to park at and then keep the car there and park hop?
Interestingly enough, we never leave our car anywhere and we Park hop a lot. I guess the easiest ones would be the TTC where you can go back and forth between MK and Epcot. We typically park at one place, leave for a break, then park at the second Park.

Any tips to help us make parking easier/smoother?

Nope! Disney is more than aware that gazillions of guests use their own cars and they make it super easy. Plenty of clear signs, plenty of people to direct you where you should go when you enter the Parks. The only piece of advice I have regarding parking - not sure if you are going to DTD, but it is a mess. We found that parking as far to the side with Cirque was the best way to find a spot.