Parking with an AP voucher?

[Swimmergirl]

Can someone please tell me how free parking with an AP works? My hubby and I are thinking of driving straight to a park when we get into Orlando and checking in later. We have bought APs and will have the vouchers with us. We will be activating the APs when we arrive at the Animal Kingdom gate. Will we have to pay for parking at AK? Can we show them the vouchers and get free parking?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think so, but could be wrong.

 

[breezy1077]

Good question! If you can't park free until your voucher is activated then is there anyplace to activate without parking first (like someone wait in car while you get out to activate)?

 

[aquaticmom]

I had this same problem in January. I was told when I called Disney that it would be handled in one of two different ways. First - the parking attendant may let you enter the park on your voucher if you tell them you are redeeming it that day for your AP. Or second - if the attendant makes you pay for parking, keep your receipt and you will get reimbursed. The attendant allowed us to enter the first day on our vouchers.

 

[DVC-Don]

You could activate the AP at Downtown first.

 

[Uncleromulus]

That's what I always do anyway--it's almost never crowded there either.

 

[prov3v56]

When we went last November, we just showed our vouchers to the parking attendant at the TTC and they let us in without paying. We told them that we would be activating our passes at the ticket window and we had no problem at all.

 

[aribelle]

Yep....been there, done this. I tried showing them the vouchers just like others have suggested, but the guy said sorry, you'll have to pay me but then take the receipt to Guest Services and when you activate your AP they'll give you a refund of the parking. Worked fine, got my $11 cash back in hand. A little inconvenient to have to dig up $11 and then get it back 30 minutes later, but oh well, better than not getting it back at all!

An alternative is to go to DTD where they have free parking and get it activated there. Lots of people seem to do this when they arrive so they're all set and can be at rope drop that next morning without having to deal with the AP activation. Guest Services at DTD is in the Marketplace....to the right of World of Disney (go through Arribas Brothers, or just past Ghiradelli).