Preferred Parking Beginning 21 November - Mickey & Friends Parking Structure

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Beginning on Monday, 21 November, through mid-January, Disneyland is going to try preferred parking at the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure. They want to gauge guest interest and see if it's something they want to do long-term.

For an additional $17 guests can park closer to the elevators and escalators on the 2nd through 6th floors of the Mickey & Friends parking structure. So, it would be $35 for Preferred Parking, and for Annual Passholders with parking included it would be $17 each time.

 

[Nonsuch]

Universal Orlando has similar premium parking, and also valet.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Universal Studios Hollywood has 4 levels...

General
Preferred
Front Gate
Valet

http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/parking-and-transportation/

Six Flags does General and Valet at Magic Mountain

Knott's has just the basic, though there is the Marketplace parking that is closer, but can get expensive after a couple of hours.

SeaWorld San Diego has preferred, and those with the highest Annual Pass get it free.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I'm wondering how they are going to keep track of the preferred parking on each level as opposed to standard parking.

 

[Darkbeer1]

And of course, near the escalators and elevators, I guess a colored slip of paper placed on the windshield will let the CM Parking folks know, and the farthest 2-3 rows from the entrance ramp (south side) will be reserved fo the "preferred" parking,and it will depend on what active level they are parking at the time.

But I can see a bit of a mess with folks trying to walk through the area to use the escalators and elevators, and those who paid for "Preferred" parking getting upset that they are being delayed to get to the parking space.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Also, can you imagine when the preferred is full on one level, and they are still filling in the standard parking, so they'll need to direct people to different ramps depending on the type of parking they have. This Thanksgiving will be interesting with the crowds and the new parking structure in effect.

 

[wingednike]

It would be interesting to see the results considering the parking doesn't really being you that much closer to the park.

Universal Studios' preferred/Front Gate parking is really worth it. Take an escalator up and you are literally next to the entrance gate.

Where is the new parking structure they are building supposed to be? Maybe if this concept takes off, the new structure or Toy Story will be "regular" and Mickey and Friends will be "preferred"

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The new parking structure will be at the Pumbaa lot.

 

[DLgal]

Hate this idea.

 

[SMD]

I don't care if people want to pay more to be closer. I've been in the far corner of the lot and survived it. But the longest waits in the parking lots are to pay, to get up the ramp and to get to the row. I wouldn't pay more for a closer spot unless it somehow reduced at least one of those waits.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Basically, right now, for those going south down the I-5 (LA area),use Mickey & Friends, while those going North on the I-5 (say San Diego and South Orange County) use Toy Story.

The new Pumbaa Parking Structure will be focused on those using Northbound I-5 and exit Disney Way. I presume this "test" will help Disney decide if they want to add Preferred Parking at the new Structure, to help the final design decisions.

But they want the two structures to be used by different people, and the on-off ramps clearly show that.

As for Universal, the Front Gate doesn't require an escalator, it is the spaces next to the rotating globe and the security check.

Preferred parking moves around, and also depends on which entrance you use. Valet depends on the entrance used.

 

[ashley0139]

I hate this idea. And I also agree that it really doesn't help that much to be slightly closer.

 

[Albort]

Universal Studios Hollywood has 4 levels...

General
Preferred
Front Gate
Valet

a Preferred shuttle would be nice to have to get to the gates... I know Universal has this... @ $35, that should be a good deal! lol

 

[Darkbeer1]

a Preferred shuttle would be nice to have to get to the gates... I know Universal has this... @ $35, that should be a good deal! lol

Front Gate at USH are the parking space next to the Rotating Globe and Security Check, no trams, escalators, etc. Just park and walk a very short distance.

Same price as the new Disney option - $35

 

[Epek]

People ignore the parking attendants quite often as it is, I imagine this will be a huge headache for them!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I'm looking forward to any updates from anyone who is parking today. I'm curious to know how this will work.

 

[summerw]

It would be less annoying if they did just do it in the new structure, but I'd be annoyed to pay that much and then walk the montosity of a walk that new structure will require to get to the park. Mickey & Friends is already overwhelmed. Savings spots for preferred will not make that any better. Every time I think of Disney lately, I think they should have called 2016, Year of a Million Upcharges.

 

[SMD]

Now if they offered covered parking in Puumba and a dedicated security line, that would be a good premium charge.

 

[Rabb it]

Yeah, not a fan

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Parking at Disneyland is a nightmare.

But the parts of parking that are a nightmare won't be alleviated by this; they'll be worse! How much longer will the payment part take with people now asking "what's preferred?" and all the resulting discussion? How much more confusing will the ramp section/traffic directing get? And all this is for what - to shave a minute or two off the time spent walking across the structure?

I think some people absolutely would pay for an actually better parking experience. This sounds like it will be worse for everyone - no one wins here. If they want to figure out a way to sell a quicker parking experience, that might be worth it, but this seems dumb.