Parking options for a short trip?

[Epicnemesis]

This used to be a non issue when I had signature, but with the flex pass I don’t have parking included anymore.

Does anyone have any good options for parking for a few hours that isn’t 25 bucks? For like 3 hours or so.

 

[lalasmama]

Will you be spending at least $50 in Downtown Disney? I believe they will validate. I believe I've heard that Tropicana lets you park in their lot for a little less, if they have room, but I have no idea what their prices are, or how often they actually allow it.

 

[mentos]

Park at the Outlets at Orange (aka formerly The Block) and take the ART in? Just be sure to pretend to go shopping.
Might be a big time sink, though.

 

[Epicnemesis]

I’ve done Tropicana before. It’s our go to when going to the day at $22 bucks.

The outlets thing is intriguing. I wonder how long it takes for the ART to get from there to Disney.

 

[socaldisneylover]

My new go to spot when I am there during the day, is on S. Zeyn Street, in front of the Worldmark Hotel. They have open street parking there, with the only restriction being No Parking between 9:00 PM & 4:00 AM. From there, it's an easy 1.1 Mile, 15 minute walk to the esplanade. Or you could take the ART bus from the Worldmark for $6 with a Day Pass, or Lyft tends to run around $6-$8 each way.

I've had the Flex Pass since last May, and have not paid for parking once, even though I've gone to the parks countless times. It makes it so much better on days like today, when I had to leave for an appointment after spending less than 4 hours at the parks this morning. I consider parking to be the biggest ripoff, especially because you're not even parking right by the entrance. You have to wait for the tram, and then it takes several minutes for it to travel to the entrance. It almost feels like there's almost as much walking involved with parking in the lot, and walking to the trams, as I have walking the 1.1 miles from my car.

 

[Epicnemesis]

My new go to spot when I am there during the day, is on S. Zeyn Street, in front of the Worldmark Hotel. They have open street parking there, with the only restriction being No Parking between 9:00 PM & 4:00 AM. From there, it's an easy 1.1 Mile, 15 minute walk to the esplanade. Or you could take the ART bus from the Worldmark for $6 with a Day Pass, or Lyft tends to run around $6-$8 each way.

I've had the Flex Pass since last May, and have not paid for parking once, even though I've gone to the parks countless times. It makes it so much better on days like today, when I had to leave for an appointment after spending less than 4 hours at the parks this morning. I consider parking to be the biggest ripoff, especially because you're not even parking right by the entrance. You have to wait for the tram, and then it takes several minutes for it to travel to the entrance. It almost feels like there's almost as much walking involved with parking in the lot, and walking to the trams, as I have walking the 1.1 miles from my car.

That’s brilliant! How readily available is street parking there? We walk from Hilton whenever we stay and it’s not that bad. This looks equidistant.

 

[starry_solo]

This used to be a non issue when I had signature, but with the flex pass I don’t have parking included anymore.

Does anyone have any good options for parking for a few hours that isn’t 25 bucks? For like 3 hours or so.

If it's only 3 hours and you're sure that's all you're going to spend is that time, park at the DTD lot and on the way out, buy a $20 gift card from the World of Disney or the Pin Trading Store in DTD; either one of those should validate it. Then you can use the gift card in the future.

 

[socaldisneylover]

That’s brilliant! How readily available is street parking there? We walk from Hilton whenever we stay and it’s not that bad. This looks equidistant.

On weekends, I try to get there by 7 AM, and it's wide open. Because parking is restricted overnight, nobody is parked there early in the morning. There is usually still a spot or two open when I leave. Today I left at 11:30 AM, and there were a couple of spots on the street.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If it's only 3 hours and you're sure that's all you're going to spend is that time, park at the DTD lot and on the way out, buy a $20 gift card from the World of Disney or the Pin Trading Store in DTD; either one of those should validate it. Then you can use the gift card in the future.

Agree with this. Also works with Starbucks reloads and gift cards. Those gift cards come in very handy as birthday and holiday gifts throughout the year!

 

[MillauFr]

I would just park on a side street off of Harbor and take the OCTA #43 bus to the front gate.

 

[DharmaLou]

by the time you've spent enough at DTD, you could have just paid parking.

 

[mentos]

by the time you've spent enough at DTD, you could have just paid parking.

that’s why you get a sbux or DIS gift card, you’ll eventually use it later