Staying off Site-Downtown Disney Free parking?

[jbethel77]

We are staying off site for our first 2 nights of our trip. Checking in at AKL on day 3. For our first 2 days will we be able to park at Downtown Disney for free and use the bus service to get to and from the parks? Paying almost $40 for parking doesn't sound like much fun after we've spent so much already...

I'm sure this is frowned upon, but just wondering if it was even possible?

Thanks all!

 

[maxiesmom]

We are staying off site for our first 2 nights of our trip. Checking in at AKL on day 3. For our first 2 days will we be able to park at Downtown Disney for free and use the bus service to get to and from the parks? Paying almost $40 for parking doesn't sound like much fun after we've spent so much already...

I'm sure this is frowned upon, but just wondering if it was even possible?

Thanks all!

It is possible, but you will waste 3 hours a day doing it. No buses from DTD go directly to a park, they only go to the resorts. So you would be waiting for a bus from DTD, riding to whichever resort, and then waiting there for a bus to the park you want to be at. And doing the reverse when it is time to leave.

Also, the buses do not run early from DTD. So you wouldn't be able to make rope drop, or anything resembling it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Paying $40 to save potentially hours of my time sounds worth it to me, personally.

 

[Gracie09]

We are staying off site for our first 2 nights of our trip. Checking in at AKL on day 3. For our first 2 days will we be able to park at Downtown Disney for free and use the bus service to get to and from the parks? Paying almost $40 for parking doesn't sound like much fun after we've spent so much already...

I'm sure this is frowned upon, but just wondering if it was even possible?

Thanks all!

Let's do the math. Assuming parks open at 9. Buses from dtd probably won't start running until at least 9:45. Then you take it to a resort (10-15 minutes) then get off wait for another bus (10-15 minutes maybe more maybe less) ride that to the park. By the time you get there you have missed 90 minutes or more of prime park time. Then at the end of the day when you are cranky and tired do it all again. So 3-4 hours of bus riding to get to and from the parks. Paying $40 to park may not seem like fun but riding a bus for hours when you could be enjoying the parks seems like less fun.

 

[minnie mum]

Let's do the math. Assuming parks open at 9. Buses from dtd probably won't start running until at least 9:45. Then you take it to a resort (10-15 minutes) then get off wait for another bus (10-15 minutes maybe more maybe less) ride that to the park. By the time you get there you have missed 90 minutes or more of prime park time. Then at the end of the day when you are cranky and tired do it all again. So 3-4 hours of bus riding to get to and from the parks. Paying $40 to park may not seem like fun but riding a bus for hours when you could be enjoying the parks seems like less fun.

I agree. But I think you may have underestimated the return trip at the end of the day. At park closing the lineups for the resort buses are very long, and you rarely get on the first available bus. And the frequency of DTD buses is often annoyingly slow.

Its the old saying: penny wise but pound (£) foolish. Save a few bucks (very few when you look at the total price of a WDW trip) but waste hours of your time on those expensive park tickets. Let's do some more math.

I don't know the OPs group demographics, but let's take the prototypical Disney family of 4. 5day base tickets. That's somewhere around $1300 for tickets. About $260/day for the whole family.

Let's assume a park is open for 12 hours ( could be more or less depending on several factors). Those tickets cost somewhere around $22 per park hour.

If you lose only 2 hours per day by arriving late to the park, you've lost $44 worth of park time in order to save $17 (isn't that still the daily parking fee?). Doesnt sound either practical or budget wise to me.

 

[wdwrich]

I agree. But I think you may have underestimated the return trip at the end of the day. At park closing the lineups for the resort buses are very long, and you rarely get on the first available bus. And the frequency of DTD buses is often annoyingly slow.

Its the old saying: penny wise but pound (£) foolish. Save a few bucks (very few when you look at the total price of a WDW trip) but waste hours of your time on those expensive park tickets. Let's do some more math.

I don't know the OPs group demographics, but let's take the prototypical Disney family of 4. 5day base tickets. That's somewhere around $1300 for tickets. About $260/day for the whole family.

Let's assume a park is open for 12 hours ( could be more or less depending on several factors). Those tickets cost somewhere around $22 per park hour.

If you lose only 2 hours per day by arriving late to the park, you've lost $44 worth of park time in order to save $17 (isn't that still the daily parking fee?). Doesnt sound either practical or budget wise to me.

Bingo!

 

[keishashadow]

We are staying off site for our first 2 nights of our trip. Checking in at AKL on day 3. For our first 2 days will we be able to park at Downtown Disney for free and use the bus service to get to and from the parks? Paying almost $40 for parking doesn't sound like much fun after we've spent so much already...

I'm sure this is frowned upon, but just wondering if it was even possible?

Thanks all!

offsite hotels often have shuttles to the parks, free or for-fee

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree. But I think you may have underestimated the return trip at the end of the day. At park closing the lineups for the resort buses are very long, and you rarely get on the first available bus. And the frequency of DTD buses is often annoyingly slow.

Its the old saying: penny wise but pound (£) foolish. Save a few bucks (very few when you look at the total price of a WDW trip) but waste hours of your time on those expensive park tickets. Let's do some more math.

I don't know the OPs group demographics, but let's take the prototypical Disney family of 4. 5day base tickets. That's somewhere around $1300 for tickets. About $260/day for the whole family.

Let's assume a park is open for 12 hours ( could be more or less depending on several factors). Those tickets cost somewhere around $22 per park hour.

If you lose only 2 hours per day by arriving late to the park, you've lost $44 worth of park time in order to save $17 (isn't that still the daily parking fee?). Doesnt sound either practical or budget wise to me.

I'm putting you in charge of explaining this to everyone who asks! Excellent, non-confrontational explanation!!
Man, I love my posters...

 

[edbo77]

In my humble opinion, there are so many other ways to cut corners as opposed to not paying to park. Think of it as an investment in your day to ensure you get the maximum amount of fun at the parks.

 

[gdrj]

I agree that paying for parking is the right thing and makes the most sense.

I also think that the price for parking after paying 100's to 1000's for admission is just a bit of a slap in the face. I don't expect it to change except to increase in price but it is an irritant.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree that paying for parking is the right thing and makes the most sense.

I also think that the price for parking after paying 100's to 1000's for admission is just a bit of a slap in the face. I don't expect it to change except to increase in price but it is an irritant.

I don't understand that at all. Are you irritated when you go to concerts and have to pay for parking? Or to sporting events and have to pay upwards of $25 for parking?

 

[disneydude365]

we do it when we have day trips to orlando uslly we just factor in 45 min travel time

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree that paying for parking is the right thing and makes the most sense.

I also think that the price for parking after paying 100's to 1000's for admission is just a bit of a slap in the face. I don't expect it to change except to increase in price but it is an irritant.

Not sure why you feel that way. If I go to a Six Flags, or SW or US/IoA, I have to pay for parking. If you stay on-site, you get free parking...it's a perk of paying to stay at a WDW resort. You choose to stay elsewhere, and perhaps save money on housing, then you are also 'choosing' to pay to park. Just the cost of doing business, so to speak.

we do it when we have day trips to orlando uslly we just factor in 45 min travel time

That's really good timing. It usually takes me that long to walk to the DTD bus stops, wait for a bus and then get to a resort...forget the addtl time of resort to a park!

 

[KenDoll]

We are staying off site for our first 2 nights of our trip. Checking in at AKL on day 3. For our first 2 days will we be able to park at Downtown Disney for free and use the bus service to get to and from the parks? Paying almost $40 for parking doesn't sound like much fun after we've spent so much already... I'm sure this is frowned upon, but just wondering if it was even possible? Thanks all!

Theoretically it is totally possible to park there and then get to the parks if you aren't on a schedule or anything. Since you are staying on property starting day 3 I would either call your first two day off site resort and see if they offer a shuttle which they probably do or I guess park at DTD it can be such a Hassle sometimes thou. Another suggestion would be to just upgrade your passes. Not sure how big your party is or how long you have park tickets for but I made the jump to AP a few years ago and it has totally paid off for me. I got my original pass for I think 611 with tax( maybe less I can't exactly remember) t was either that or a 5 day hopper at the time which I think was around 400? I was staying for 5 days and I was off property in our family condo that we drive to from NJ so we have a car. Parking was 14 each day then and we have 5 days, it doesn't look like I saved on that occasion but I go to WDW about three times per year so in the long run half way through my second of three trips it was paid for. My younger sister did not get one and our third trip since I renewed last June in in 10 days and she's now spent 1300 on tickets for all the same trips and I get to park for free so I can come and go as I please and it makes life easier. Hopefully that helps, either way have a wonderful vacation!

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree that paying for parking is the right thing and makes the most sense. I also think that the price for parking after paying 100's to 1000's for admission is just a bit of a slap in the face. I don't expect it to change except to increase in price but it is an irritant.

They wrap the parking costs up in the hotels, it seems. Save money by not staying onsite and you don't get that benefit unless you have an ap.

we do it when we have day trips to orlando uslly we just factor in 45 min travel time

45! Wow. If only we had been so lucky. Cousins were to meet us at Epcot and it took something like 90 minutes for them to go through the process to save that, at the time, maybe $14. Such a pain for those waiting on them.

 

[gdrj]

I don't understand that at all. Are you irritated when you go to concerts and have to pay for parking? Or to sporting events and have to pay upwards of $25 for parking?

Yes If I am going to a downtown stadium I can park for 10 bucks a few blocks away or pay 40 bucks to park at the stadium or take a train for 5 bucks, at least I have a choice. I find no value in a $20 parking space.
I'll pay the 12 to 15 bucks for a counter service meal or 10 bucks for a drink, because I have options to buy or not. Just parking prices rub me wrong.

With all that said I don't pay to park, we usually stay on property, or have AP, or DVC card.

Not sure why you feel that way. If I go to a Six Flags, or SW or US/IoA, I have to pay for parking. If you stay on-site, you get free parking...it's a perk of paying to stay at a WDW resort. You choose to stay elsewhere, and perhaps save money on housing, then you are also 'choosing' to pay to park. Just the cost of doing business, so to speak.

I understand, doesn't mean I like it. Just like the DTD "resorts" with parking and resort fees. Recently stayed at Dolphin, I saw value of resort fee with boats and Disney buses to parks and being able to walk to 2 parks. I see no value in paying 18 bucks to park there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I agree that paying for parking is the right thing and makes the most sense.

I also think that the price for parking after paying 100's to 1000's for admission is just a bit of a slap in the face. I don't expect it to change except to increase in price but it is an irritant.

I find it interesting that you seem to have no objection to paying any private/unrelated company to park at some proximity to a concert for which you've probably paid hundreds of $s (sorry, my key to the right of the K seems to be on strike), though.

Yes If I am going to a downtown stadium I can park for 10 bucks a few blocks away or pay 40 bucks to park at the stadium or take a train for 5 bucks, at least I have a choice. I find no value in a $20 parking space.
I'll pay the 12 to 15 bucks for a counter service meal or 10 bucks for a drink, because I have options to buy or not. Just parking prices rub me wrong.

With all that said I don't pay to park, we usually stay on property, or have AP, or DVC card.

How many people in your vehicle? The more people you transport, the better value per person.

I understand, doesn't mean I like it. Just like the DTD "resorts" with parking and resort fees. Recently stayed at Dolphin, I saw value of resort fee with boats and Disney buses to parks and being able to walk to 2 parks. I see no value in paying 18 bucks to park there.

Resort fee doesn't pay for boat transportation or the abiity to wak to two parks. If it did, no other properties in those two change woud be charging a resort fee. The value in paying the mandatory parking charge includes lower hotel rates, not being locked down to WDW property, flexibility...the DTD hotels, by the way - it's not clear why resorts is in quotes, not every property is a resort or caims to be, throughout the hospitality industry.

 

[goofy4tink]

'Value' is a relative term. Personally, I think paying $20 and being able to quickly get into a park, is a food value. And...if you hold onto that receipt, you can park at other parks the same day, without paying again. But, parking at DTD, trekking to the resort bus stops, waiting for the appropriate resort buts (the one that will get me to my desired park most quickly), riding to that resort, and then walking, boating, or busing to the desired park...well, that is most definitely not worth the $20 saving.

But.....that's just me. When I stayed at a US/IoA resort, I had to weigh the cost of parking at that resort. I could have stayed at a nearby resort/hotel, and walked, or driven my car and paid to park at parks, or stay at an official resort and walk or boat to the parks but pay to park at the resort. You have to make these choices in life.

 

[gdrj]

I find it interesting that you seem to have no objection to paying any private/unrelated company to park at some proximity to a concert for which you've probably paid hundreds of $s (sorry, my key to the right of the K seems to be on strike), though.
Unrelated companies I get, they aren't making money on my ticket and their business is a parking deck, and again I usually have options.

How many people in your vehicle? The more people you transport, the better value per person. Still my cost when thinking about admission price too and it being my family. If you are looking at a family of 4 with 7 day hoppers its almost $1600 bucks. Of course you could say whats another 20 bucks, my though would be its 1600 bucks why are you going to grab another 20 bucks.

Resort fee doesn't pay for boat transportation or the abiity to wak to two parks. If it did, no other properties in those two change woud be charging a resort fee. The value in paying the mandatory parking charge includes lower hotel rates, not being locked down to WDW property,I understand that the resort fee at the Dolphin and Swan is not really for the boats and buses but in my mind at least I am getting something of value. flexibility...the DTD hotels, by the way - it's not clear why resorts is in quotes, not every property is a resort or caims to be, throughout the hospitality industry.True but some of the hotels even if they are not resorts do seem to charge a resort fee or parking fee if not both. In my opinion none of them would be considered a resort worthy of add'l fees

I appreciate the conversation, (no battles here) as we all know there can be 100's if not 1000's of opinions on these boards. Just the parking and resort fees are things that bug me. Just like I'm sure others hate the $18.00 for a drink cup at a resort, or the pricing at some if not all Disney restaurants. Thanks for listening