Parking rates and park hopping

[Eric in Canada]

Hi I apologize if this question was already asked.

We are thinking about doing a split stay for our next WDW trip this Feb. The first half will be off property because we are travelling with my daughters team. And the second half we're thinking about staying on property.
We'll be definitely renting a car for the first half of our stay.

Question #1
My question is, is the parking fee of $20 a flat fee rate? can I park my car at Animal Kingdom in the morning, then drive to Epcot in the afternoon paying only $20 or would it cost me $40 for the day? and/or,
Can I park at Animal Kingdom in the morning and take the on site busing to Epcot in the afternoon and take a bus back to Animal Kingdom at the end of the day to pick up my car?

Question #2
If we decided to keep our rental car for the whole duration of our stay (for cost and logistical reasons) and we end up staying onsite. Do I still have to pay the $20 if i take my car to the parks? If we leave the property to spend the day at either USO or the Space Center and decide to go straight to a park on our way back would we have to pay the parking fee? even though we've checked into a WDW resort?

Thanks in advance
Eric

 

[Pkltm]

You can transfer the parking when you park hope, just show your receipt.

The buses will not run to AK after they close so moving your car is best.

 

[disney world dreamer]

parking fees are PER DAY.
meaning yes you can pay for parking at AK and then head to epcot later in the day and park there with no additional fee as long as you have your parking receipt.

and yes you can use onsite transportation even if staying offsite.

 

[cranbiz]

You can transfer the parking when you park hope, just show your receipt.

The buses will not run to AK after they close so moving your car is best.

The above is incorrect. If you park at AK and bus to EPCOT, you will be able to take a bus back to AK even if it's closed.
However, you may have to wait a bit more as the buses are not as frequent once AK has closed.

 

[Eric in Canada]

You can transfer the parking when you park hope, just show your receipt.

The buses will not run to AK after they close so moving your car is best.

Awesome, Thanks

 

[Eric in Canada]

parking fees are PER DAY.
meaning yes you can pay for parking at AK and then head to epcot later in the day and park there with no additional fee as long as you have your parking receipt.

and yes you can use onsite transportation even if staying offsite.

Awesome Thanks

 

[Eric in Canada]

The above is incorrect. If you park at AK and bus to EPCOT, you will be able to take a bus back to AK even if it's closed.
However, you may have to wait a bit more as the buses are not as frequent once AK has closed.

Excellent, Thanks

 

[Pkltm]

The above is incorrect. If you park at AK and bus to EPCOT, you will be able to take a bus back to AK even if it's closed.
However, you may have to wait a bit more as the buses are not as frequent once AK has closed.

So you are saying that if AK closes at 5, the buses will run there until 11. We asked in 2013 and were told by guest relations they they run as per the Disney website so we could not reasonably expect to be able to get back to AK at night:

Complimentary transportation is available from 45 minutes prior to Disney Theme Park opening time up to one hour after Disney Theme Park closing time. Additionally, buses operate until 2:00 a.m. from the Downtown Disney Area. Certain areas of Walt Disney World Resort are also connected by well-lit, paved, low-grade walking paths

 

[richmo]

Just a couple more things:
- If you're going to the parks on the second half of your trip, when you're on property, you won't need to pay for parking at all.
- As others have mentioned, if you pay for parking at one park, you're good for the day. Just show the receipt at park #2.
- If you didn't want to move the car during the day, I'd be more inclined to drive to Epcot in the morning, then take the bus to AK, then bus back to Epcot.

 

[cranbiz]

@Pkltm, Yes, I am saying that. Published information and actual practices frequently contradict each other. When in doubt, don't trust anyone except a transportation CM. In the case of buses, a bus CM.

Take for example this:
Complimentary transportation is available from 45 minutes prior to Disney Theme Park opening time up to one hour after Disney Theme Park closing time.

It is well known that actual practice is that buses to theme parks start at 6:30am every day and that buses run from theme parks at closing until the park is clear of day guests. That may be several hours after closing.

Buses will run to closed parks as many guests park at one theme park and then hop via Disney transport to another park. Buses won't take anyone but guest that have stated that they left a car at the closed park.

Many a night I spent shuttling guests to closed parks to get their car. This includes the DS/DTD buses as well. In some cases, I have been known to take the guest right to their car at AK or Studios. Probably doesn't happen now but you never know. Disney magic does work in strange and mysterious ways.

 

[Pkltm]

That is gr

@Pkltm, Yes, I am saying that. Published information and actual practices frequently contradict each other. When in doubt, don't trust anyone except a transportation CM. In the case of buses, a bus CM.

Take for example this:
Complimentary transportation is available from 45 minutes prior to Disney Theme Park opening time up to one hour after Disney Theme Park closing time.

It is well known that actual practice is that buses to theme parks start at 6:30am every day and that buses run from theme parks at closing until the park is clear of day guests. That may be several hours after closing.

Buses will run to closed parks as many guests park at one theme park and then hop via Disney transport to another park. Buses won't take anyone but guest that have stated that they left a car at the closed park.

Many a night I spent shuttling guests to closed parks to get their car. This includes the DS/DTD buses as well. In some cases, I have been known to take the guest right to their car at AK or Studios. Probably doesn't happen now but you never know. Disney magic does work in strange and mysterious ways.

That is great to hear, we were told to expect to take a cab

 

[Eric in Canada]

Just a couple more things:
- If you're going to the parks on the second half of your trip, when you're on property, you won't need to pay for parking at all.
- As others have mentioned, if you pay for parking at one park, you're good for the day. Just show the receipt at park #2.
- If you didn't want to move the car during the day, I'd be more inclined to drive to Epcot in the morning, then take the bus to AK, then bus back to Epcot.

I've updated my original question,
If we decided to keep our rental car for the whole duration of our stay (for cost and logistical reasons) and we end up staying onsite. Do I still have to pay the $20 if i take my car to the parks? If we leave the property to spend the day at either USO or the Space Center and decide to go straight to a park on our way back would we have to pay the parking fee? even though we've checked into a WDW resort?

 

[richmo]

I've updated my original question,
If we decided to keep our rental car for the whole duration of our stay (for cost and logistical reasons) and we end up staying onsite. Do I still have to pay the $20 if i take my car to the parks? If we leave the property to spend the day at either USO or the Space Center and decide to go straight to a park on our way back would we have to pay the parking fee? even though we've checked into a WDW resort?

If you are staying at a Disney resort, you do not pay parking at all.

 

[Eric in Canada]

If you are staying at a Disney resort, you do not pay parking at all.

Sweet. Thanks.
I might as well take the car from the resort to the parks instead having to deal with the bus transportation.

 

[tinka-belle]

Just be aware that the parking lot for MK is by the Transportation & Ticket Center. You'll have to park, then take a ferry or monorail to the MK entrance. If you take your resort bus to MK, the bus stops are close to the entrance, no ferry or monorail needed, just a short walk.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sweet. Thanks.
I might as well take the car from the resort to the parks instead having to deal with the bus transportation.

Absolutely. That's what we do.

If you take your resort bus to MK, the bus stops are close to the entrance, no ferry or monorail needed, just a short walk.

A walk, a wait, a wait, where are the buses, get on the bus, and then a long bus ride when all you want to do is be in your air conditioned (or heated...we have now had 3 trips when it's cold cold cold) car on your own!

My experience, my feelings.