Staying Off Site

[Katmat75]

Need some suggestions!

I just won a trip to High Point World Resort which is a time share and was donated by the owner as a prize. I wasn't intending on going to WDW this year due to finances but now I have this. I have never stayed off property before so I am a first timer. I have no idea how parking works as there is no shuttle from this resort. We are going to drive from NJ and I will have to purchase tickets. I have always done a vacation package through Disney. Parking - Is it far off from where the buses drop you off? How expensive is it? How do I go from park to park? Do I get charged for parking if I go to different parks on the same day?
I'm a little leery about staying off property but at least I get to go to WDW!!

 

[Stumpy]

Parking costs $14 per day right now, I believe, and the signs to and from each park are well marked. They give you a placard that allows you free admission to drive to any other park that day and when you get there, they have a fairly orderly system to get you into parking and "reminders" such as section "Pluto", row 29 to help you find your car.

It is a large parking lot far from the bus drop-off, but they have trams that you can ride to avoid the long walk.

 

[amw]

It's only at MK where parking is a pain ... You have to park first at the TTC and then use the monorail or ferry to get across to MK. The buses skip the TTC and bring you right to the gates.

At the other parks, if you go at park opening I found that you can usually park pretty close to the front gates. Sometimes closer than the buses! We usually walk to the gates and skip the tram.

You'll see... you'll be spoiled by walking out the parks and hopping into your car without waiting in a bus line. You won't want to go back!

 

[Malela9]

It's not bad staying off property. You do go away from the "magic", but that is not always a bad thing right?
You also, have to drive more to get where you are going. ( We don't take Disney transportation.)
No Magic Hours. That is not always a bad thing. We tended to exhaust ourselves going those extra hours.
We are not staying on property this year. We have stayed at deluxe properties the past 5 visits. I am a little bummed, but the difference in price was huge!
You will still have a great time! Enjoy the extra money for other things!

 

[Upatnoon]

In addition to driving from park to park, if you want you can take the Disney bus, boats and monorail. Sometimes I park at Epcot if I am going to Magic Kngdom in the morning and plan to return to Epcot in the evening.

While you do have to pay for theme park parking, you park for free at Downtown Disney, the water parks and the Boardwalk. If you are going to dinner at a Disney resort, they will let you park there for free, but you may be limited to 3 hours.

Since you aren't being held captive by Disney for this trip, you should consider visiting some non-Disney parks. Just a thought.

 

[Katmat75]

Thanks for all your expertise. I know I shouldn't complain, at least I'm going!!!
I'm just going to miss staying at CBR, I just love it there!!! WDW, especially Mickey, being seeing you real soon!!!!

 

[TheKatie]

Thanks for all your expertise. I know I shouldn't complain, at least I'm going!!!
I'm just going to miss staying at CBR, I just love it there!!! WDW, especially Mickey, being seeing you real soon!!!!

I used to be an onsite snob - NO More - had my best trip EVER last week off site -- 13 minutes door to door from our resort to the Polynesian for spirit of Aloha, 15 minutes from getting off Space ship earth to swimming at our pool -- I LOVED the freedom to come and go as WE chose not the bus -- and to sit cool and calm in our car rather than stand on a bus. We went to AAA before we left to buy our park hoppers and got the AAA Diamond parking pass that allowed us to park in the closest lots -- only took a tram one day -- it was great --

you don't pay again on the same day if you go from park to park - just show your dated parking pass and you're in.

have a blast _ bet you come back telling us how awesome it was! ;-)

 

[Katmat75]

I used to be an onsite snob - NO More - had my best trip EVER last week off site -- 13 minutes door to door from our resort to the Polynesian for spirit of Aloha, 15 minutes from getting off Space ship earth to swimming at our pool -- I LOVED the freedom to come and go as WE chose not the bus -- and to sit cool and calm in our car rather than stand on a bus. We went to AAA before we left to buy our park hoppers and got the AAA Diamond parking pass that allowed us to park in the closest lots -- only took a tram one day -- it was great --

you don't pay again on the same day if you go from park to park - just show your dated parking pass and you're in.

have a blast _ bet you come back telling us how awesome it was! ;-)

Thanks! I'll have to let you know when I get back! Can't wait to get there though!!!!