Sad that AAA diamond parking is going away...parking lot tips please!

[theyoungs07]

My family has used the AAA parking in the past and find it indispensable since we have lots of kids and many young ones (8 kids from 13 down to an infant).

We are going in May and splitting between onsite and offsite. No matter where we stay, we will drive since it is too convenient to not have to fold strollers...etc.

Now that AAA is going away, I am wondering if there are any good tips for parking lots if we aren't there at rope drop. We usually leave for a bit during the day and come back in the evening. In the past, this was easily possible because we could go to AAA lot even at 6/7pm. From what I understand, if you come to a park in the evening, they'll direct you to the back of the lot and not let you wander and look for closer spots...is this true? Any ways around this? I am not going to give the attendants trouble, so if there isn't a good way around it, then I'll just park way out. I don't want to "jump in line" but it seems like it would make sense to let people look for closer spots that have been vacated earlier in the day. In the past, we've stayed at the house in the afternoon and just came back for the parade/fireworks.

I would prefer to avoid the trams as we'd have to unload and fold our double stroller, so that's why I am looking for closer spots.

Can someone drop family off and then go back into the lot to look for parking?

We've been extremely spoiled with the AAA parking so I'm thankful that it was there for a while but am sad to see it go.

Obviously rope drop is the best option, but no one wants to see what my kids (or I) will be like if I have them there from rope drop to close for 10 days.

Thanks

 

[KTwiegs]

is this true!??!?!?!?
we love the AAA parking. it honestly is the only reason we still book with AAA.
We are planning a trip for the end of september.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

With the exception of MK--I don't think it is too much trouble to walk and avoid the tram at the other parking lots. MK is doable--just a but longer for late arrivals.

We have never had diamond and just walk per our needs (sleeping babies or just too much loading and unloading from the stroller).

In the evening, you can sometimes get lucky and talk to the parking attend and and they will let you through to park in some of the vacated spots. Not a guarantee though. We did that once last week as we kept getting stuck as the first car in a new row making for a bit of a walk to the tram. My husband asked nicely (I didn't ask him to) and the attendant let us through.

 

[Pembo]

Our last trip we had our AAA pass and never used it. I found better spots in the regular lots. We never had a problem with leaving the park and coming back later in the evening. We usually found a better spot...really close to the front. I remember one trip to the MK we parked closer than the tram stop!!!

 

[theyoungs07]

Our last trip we had our AAA pass and never used it. I found better spots in the regular lots. We never had a problem with leaving the park and coming back later in the evening. We usually found a better spot...really close to the front. I remember one trip to the MK we parked closer than the tram stop!!!

So the parking attendants let you hunt for a spot instead of going to the next spot that they are directing people to?

 

[CAS239]

So the parking attendants let you hunt for a spot instead of going to the next spot that they are directing people to?

Only after a certain time. Later in the day when there's no parking attendants you are free to park where you like. It's great when parking at MK. A lot of the morning people have left and there's usually a bunch of empty parking in the front

 

[Ronda93]

If they're no longer collecting tolls, it's usually self directed parking. Don't hold out for the very front though. A problem with hunting is you choose a row and it's a commitment. Unlike the mall, you can't easily go down the other side. It's one way and there's always enough action that it matters.

 

[Donald - my hero]

All of the parks do have a "passenger drop-off zone" just mention it at the gate and they will direct you to the correct lane. Drop off the strollers & whoever happens to be sitting in them along with a few helpers. You then have to loop back around and re-enter the parking lot. NOT the most ideal situation but it would avoid the need to lug the strollers on & off the trams. Just a thought

 

[cattywampus]

We went week of November 15th so crowds probably similar to May, depending on when in the month you are going. We did not do rope drop and generally arrived around 11:00am - noon.

Same situation with rental car and stroller. We did have an AAA pass, but the only park that had room was Epcot.

At AK and HS, we parked with the masses and just walked to the front gate with the stroller, instead of taking the tram. The distance was not a big deal.

 

[Pembo]

So the parking attendants let you hunt for a spot instead of going to the next spot that they are directing people to?

We never had a problem...of course our return time was usually 4 or later. We are rope drop people, afternoon rest, and return around dinner time.

 

[theyoungs07]

I figured that I should get back to this now that our trip is over. We survived just fine without Diamond parking, it was a longer walk...but not that bad at all.

We only had one time that they allowed me to park myself and that was a late arrival (7-8 when park closed at 11). Otherwise we were directed where to park, but nothing was so far that we felt it was a horrible walk. My wife took the tram once at DHS and us walkers beat the "trammers" by at least 10 minutes...just bad timing I guess.

 

[goodgodmrsmolly]

At MK, the direct you to the villains side in the afternoon. Just take a left like you were heading out and go down the hero side. You can get something closer usually. At AK, if you are going in the afternoon, at the stop sign, just go straight instead of turning. There are always empty spots up front.

The parking at most parks is absolutely ridiculous sometimes. They send you in back so they have something for the tram people working to do. But showing up after 5, so many spaces up front are empty and not as many cars are coming in, they should just let you park closer.

If I go in the morning, I always follow the attendants and go where they direst me. I try not to give anyone a hard time, or not follow directions, but in the afternoon and evening, I do what I can to get to the spots I know are open close enough to not have to take a tram.

 

[goofyernmost]

At MK, the direct you to the villains side in the afternoon. Just take a left like you were heading out and go down the hero side. You can get something closer usually. At AK, if you are going in the afternoon, at the stop sign, just go straight instead of turning. There are always empty spots up front.

The parking at most parks is absolutely ridiculous sometimes. They send you in back so they have something for the tram people working to do. But showing up after 5, so many spaces up front are empty and not as many cars are coming in, they should just let you park closer.

If I go in the morning, I always follow the attendants and go where they direst me. I try not to give anyone a hard time, or not follow directions, but in the afternoon and evening, I do what I can to get to the spots I know are open close enough to not have to take a tram.

I don't think I understand what you are saying. If you watch how the trams work you would easily see that they have designated stopping area and points where the pick people up, especially in the morning. If they didn't do that, the trams would never get to the parks, it would be stopping constantly to pick up random people along the way. You talk about not being efficient, that would be it.

They do let you find places later in the day and will pick you up, but by then the traffic is really light. In the later hours of the day come around they stop at the early filled parking spots because that is where the guests are parked, but they will pick up from there as well, if I remember correctly. If there is anything that is a well oiled machine it would be the parking lot trams. It's like a science and it has been basically the same since WDW opened.

I guess I will never understand the problem that people have with the trams. To me they are as much a part of the entertainment as the any other attraction in the parks and as important to my enjoyment and start of the day then anything else, especially at MK.

 

[goodgodmrsmolly]

I guess I will never understand the problem that people have with the trams. To me they are as much a part of the entertainment as the any other attraction in the parks and as important to my enjoyment and start of the day then anything else, especially at MK.

And I will never understand people who think being sent to the furthest away lot when hundreds of spots in the front walking distance are open, to go wait for a loud smelly tram that sits for 6 minutes while it fills up, then listen to a 2 minute safety message only to then finally go and then get left off in a crowd of people fighting to get situated and rush to the entrance and call it entertainment. Enjoy it all you want, I dislike the trams and think the parking situation, especially in the evenings, can be improved upon.

 

[goofyernmost]

And I will never understand people who think being sent to the furthest away lot when hundreds of spots in the front walking distance are open, to go wait for a loud smelly tram that sits for 6 minutes while it fills up, then listen to a 2 minute safety message only to then finally go and then get left off in a crowd of people fighting to get situated and rush to the entrance and call it entertainment. Enjoy it all you want, I dislike the trams and think the parking situation, especially in the evenings, can be improved upon.

Well, whatever, I guess! I went to WDW when all that existed was MK. There was no alternative. It became a lasting memory and was just the beginning of all the great things we would experience. Sorry, you are not able to have had that feeling, but, it's OK because I still think it is great. I don't feel the need to be deposited at the front gate. Half the fun, can be getting there. As long as you usually have to ride those "smelly trams" anyway what possible difference does it make if you are at the back of the lot or the front. Curious though, I have ridden them, literally, hundreds of times, never noticed anything smelly about them.

 

[CAS239]

And I will never understand people who think being sent to the furthest away lot when hundreds of spots in the front walking distance are open, to go wait for a loud smelly tram that sits for 6 minutes while it fills up, then listen to a 2 minute safety message only to then finally go and then get left off in a crowd of people fighting to get situated and rush to the entrance and call it entertainment. Enjoy it all you want, I dislike the trams and think the parking situation, especially in the evenings, can be improved upon.

It's all about order and keeping everything flowing. They don't send you to the furthest away lot. They fill the front and work their way to the back. They can't just let people free roam when there's a bunch of cars driving around and letting you find spots up front. You'd have people blocking others, danger for pedestrians, people driving around row after row hunting for a spot. It's a lot better to have a system. A system which some people can't even manage that. I've seen countless drivers not knowing what to do when their being directed to a specific parking spot. I don't know how some of these people function out on the road lol.

They let you park wherever after a certain time because by then spots have emptied near the front and the vehicles coming in has dropped drastically

 

[CAS239]

At MK, the direct you to the villains side in the afternoon. Just take a left like you were heading out and go down the hero side. You can get something closer usually. At AK, if you are going in the afternoon, at the stop sign, just go straight instead of turning. There are always empty spots up front.

For MK to go left to try to park on the hero side, they normally have it blocked off after the they've filled it. And if you go further to the left and enter on the other side of heroes then you're in CM parking.

And for AK as of right now that won't work. They have construction going on in the parking lot and to go straight it's strictly for taxi, handicap, and drop off. They have a CM standing down there talking to every car and making sure they're suppose to be there.

But AK is just like the rest of the parks. After a certain time, you're free to park wherever you like if you find an open spot

 

[bumbershoot]

As long as you usually have to ride those "smelly trams" anyway what possible difference does it make if you are at the back of the lot or the front.

But she says in the afternoon/evening she *doesn't* take the tram.

in the afternoon and evening, I do what I can to get to the spots I know are open close enough to not have to take a tram.

And EVERY time we have hopped to MK in the afternoon (not evening, and I don't remember EVER going through a parking lot entrance without CMs there) we have not been waved anywhere; we can easily and without being sneaky go up to the front, and park there. And we walk to TTC easily.

I don't think DH or DS have ever ridden a tram at MK, be we are there early enough in the morning to be walking distance to TTC, and when we hop there in the afternoon it's the same situation.

 

[Jeannie in NJ]

Back when we used to stay off site, I always liked riding the trams. Now I like riding the monorail, buses and boats. I am happy knowing where they are taking me (the parks) or maybe I am just happy that I don't have to be driving.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Drat--resurrected thread.