Preferred parking at RD?

[bomby4444]

Is it necessary to upgrade to preferred parking at Epcot and HS if parking early before EE rope drop? I'm not sure if the lot will be getting full that early or if they park people early far away anyway. We are capable of walking and will be pushing a stroller and wheelchair, but if it is really far then we will spend the extra money. I just hate to pay then we get in and are so close to preferred that it was a waste of money.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you have a wheelchair, do you have a disability placard or license plate? If so, you'll be parking closer than preferred anyway. But if not, I would not think you need to upgrade at that time of the morning.

 

[bomby4444]

If you have a wheelchair, do you have a disability placard or license plate? If so, you'll be parking closer than preferred anyway. But if not, I would not think you need to upgrade at that time of the morning.

Thanks, no we dont have a placard. We could qualify for one but my child only needs the wheelchair or short walking when its hot and we live in an area where its usually always cold so we dont bother with the placard. Im glad to hear we can save the money at that time of day. I plan on being there as soon as the parking opens.

 

[Micca]

Do you have a handicap tag? That is probably even closer than preferred parking. You can also pull into the regular lot and tell them you have a wheelchair guest. With the chair I'd ask your doc for a temp tag if you don't already have one

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks, no we dont have a placard. We could qualify for one but my child only needs the wheelchair or short walking when its hot and we live in an area where its usually always cold so we dont bother with the placard. Im glad to hear we can save the money at that time of day. I plan on being there as soon as the parking opens.

When you enter the parking lots, tell the first CM that you see that you need "medical" parking. We did this when my BIL ended up in the ER on our first night a couple of years ago. As a result, we didn't have a HA placard or license plate. He was on crutches for the entire trip.

You may need to mention this more than once with each CM you encounter on the way to your parking spot. Medical overflow parking is near the handicap parking but it is not HA parking.

 

[bomby4444]

When you enter the parking lots, tell the first CM that you see that you need "medical" parking. We did this when my BIL ended up in the ER on our first night a couple of years ago. As a result, we didn't have a HA placard or license plate. He was on crutches for the entire trip.

You may need to mention this more than once with each CM you encounter on the way to your parking spot. Medical overflow parking is near the handicap parking but it is not HA parking.

Oh I didnt know this existed. We used to get that special AAA parking years ago so no need for preferred but they did away with all of that. Thanks for the tip. I am glad they have things like this. My son has an invisible disability/illness so of course you cant tell what's up unless you see his scars from surgeries.

 

[bomby4444]

Do you have a handicap tag? That is probably even closer than preferred parking. You can also pull into the regular lot and tell them you have a wheelchair guest. With the chair I'd ask your doc for a temp tag if you don't already have one

We should of done that but this was more of a last minute trip. We usually just put him in the stroller but he is way too big for that so first time using the chair. We will see how it goes.

 

[buzzrelly]

Our experience with EPCOT parking last month was absolutely atrocious, no matter what time we got there. When we got there super early for EE, they STILL parked us way back and allllllllllll the way down the end of a row. We remarked that the people who got there after us would actually have better parking because they'd be at the beginning of the row. It was easily a mile (maybe more) from our parking spot to the entrance, which may not seem like a big deal until you're heading back to the car at the end of the day. It was exhausting. Next time I would definitely consider paying for preferred parking.

DHS parking was not bad at all at EE, so I wouldn't pay to upgrade there.