Parking

[Lomky]

Hey all, planning very first trip to WDW in May!!


Just wondering about parking strategies. I am stating off site and renting a car, so I'll be driving to the park.

Is it best to park at a central parking lot and use the WDW transportation, or should I use the parking lot at the individual park I'll be at for the day (or most of the day).

I've been to DL twice, but I'm finding the size of WDW to be rather intimidating. I plan on going early to the parks each day I am there, but I don't want to spend all my time stuck in traffic and searching for a parking stall.

Any advise would be appreciated!

 

[ucfknight]

If you have your own car, do not rely on Disney transportation. It is typically very slow.

Just park in the lot for the park you are going to each day. If you arrive early you should be parked close enough so you don't even have to use one of their horribly inefficient trams.

 

[Lomky]

Thanks for the reply!!

Yes, I will have a rental car.

Is there a map of all the parking areas for each park?

 

[ucfknight]

Thanks for the reply!!

Yes, I will have a rental car.

Is there a map of all the parking areas for each park?

With the exception of Magic Kingdom, the parking lots are right at the entrance plaza for all theme parks and water parks.

At Magic Kingdom, you park over a mile away from the entrance plaza as a large lake called the Seven Seas Lagoon separates the parking area from the actual park. You have to take a ferry boat across the lake or a monorail around the lake.

Once you are on Disney property there are dozens of signs directing you where to go.

 

[Polydweller]

Thanks for the reply!!

Yes, I will have a rental car.

Is there a map of all the parking areas for each park?

Driving to and from the lots is quite easy. Just follow the signage. Basically you use World Drive for MK, Osceola Parkway for AK, Buena Vista Blvd for DHS, and Epcot Dr or World Dr for Epcot. They all interconnect so it's hard to get lost.

As per map, someone likely has one but you can see them easily on satellite or hybrid view in google maps.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Also understand that, unless you arrive very late, you do not park where you want to park in a given lot. There are CMs to guide you to your parking spot. You park where they tell you to park.

This is a good map to get you around the world: WDW Property Map

 

[Lomky]

This map looks great, and sling with google maps this is going to be very helpful.

Thanks much!

 

[AandJsMommy]

With the exception of Magic Kingdom, the parking lots are right at the entrance plaza for all theme parks and water parks.

At Magic Kingdom, you park over a mile away from the entrance plaza as a large lake called the Seven Seas Lagoon separates the parking area from the actual park. You have to take a ferry boat across the lake or a monorail around the lake.

Once you are on Disney property there are dozens of signs directing you where to go.

Does either the monorail or the ferry option tend to be inherently better?

 

[mesaboy2]

Does either the monorail or the ferry option tend to be inherently better?

Not in my opinion, but I suppose that depends on what you mean by "better".

 

[AandJsMommy]

Not in my opinion, but I suppose that depends on what you mean by "better".

Quicker, less hassle. Otherwise, it will probably come down to whichever DD7 thinks looks like more fun.

 

[mesaboy2]

Quicker, less hassle. Otherwise, it will probably come down to whichever DD7 thinks looks like more fun.

No appreciable difference in hassle or time.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Hey all, planning very first trip to WDW in May!!


Just wondering about parking strategies. I am stating off site and renting a car, so I'll be driving to the park.

Is it best to park at a central parking lot and use the WDW transportation, or should I use the parking lot at the individual park I'll be at for the day (or most of the day).

I've been to DL twice, but I'm finding the size of WDW to be rather intimidating. I plan on going early to the parks each day I am there, but I don't want to spend all my time stuck in traffic and searching for a parking stall.

Any advise would be appreciated!

Driving into the parks is easy, and I'm someone who gets nervous and frequently lost when driving new places. The signs are very clear and the traffic isn't bad. In the mornings, they direct you to a spot and at night it's easy to find your own spot. I will never take a Disney bus again after we spent one hour getting from Downtown Disney to Port Orleans. (DH thought it would be faster than taking the boat back, and I decided to prove him wrong. )

Going into MK from the parking lot, we like to enter the park on the monorail and leave by ferry, but it's a personal preference.

 

[POOHsie]

Lomky, there's a couple times we park one place if we have plans to visit 2 specific parks in one day. You have to have Park Hopper tickets to do this. If you don't have PH, the following is mostly irrelevant.

First, there might be a day visiting MK and EP. I would park at the MK TTC lot and use the Monorail to travel back and forth to Epcot.

Second, on a day that includes EP and HS I would usually park at EP. I'd go through Epcot to the International Gateway entrance, then over to HS and back by Friendship boat, and back to EP for Illuminations. If your day involves watching Fantasmic! at HS at the end of the night, you might get out of HS lafter EP has closed. and there won't be a practical way to get back to your car at EP (except by taxi). So you have to know the park hours of the two parks involved, and plan accordingly.

Getting from the MK TTC lot to the Epcot lot is very easy if you just want to drive to each lot. Keep your parking toll receipt and you can change car lots for no additional charge all day. It's also easy to move your car from EP to HS.

There's no strategy for AK parking except if you choose to eat/visit at AK Lodge during the day. In that case you might want to leave your car at AK, take the AKL bus (5-7 min ride), then return by bus to AK. It's not likely you'll do this bc AK park usually closes at 5pm.

I'm always excited when people are coming to WDW for the first time. Hope it's a wonderful and memorable visit!

 

[Lomky]

This is some great info! Thank you sooo much.


First trip to WDW and first solo trip + SWW = an awesome time to tour at my own pace (rather briskly, haha)