What time do parking lot fees end at night?

[spiderann]

Any former or current CM know if there is an official/unofficial time when they stop charging for parking at night? I've read it's usually between 1-2 hours before the parks close. May 2013 (stayed offsite) left and returned to MK about 8:45pm and no one was at the booths. However, we were in the park until midnight with no EMH! (The park either closed at 11p or 12a that night. We stayed for the 11p Electrical Parade and bit of shopping afterward.)

I'm trying to plan ahead to see if I want to get DH and I any extra days on our tickets. I may want to pop over to MK at nighttime to ride some rides, but I hate to have to pay $17 in parking for just a couple hours.

 

[Robo]

There is no set time.
It can vary any evening.

It can be later on nights with later hours and/or hard ticket parties.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

It definitely seems random. If we are on our way home from EPCOT we pass thru there to get back home. Sometimes we pass right thru, sometimes we have to stop and show ID. I've never noticed a set time.

 

[MrKnight]

There is no official set time, it is really up to Parking Management and it normally depends on different factors such as how late the park is open, how busy the park is, the time of year, etc.. Typically most of the parking booths close an hour or two before park closing, but once again this varies and is not always the same..

 

[North of Mouse]

In other words you can't 'bank' on it!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . it is really up to Parking Management . . .

1) Basically, is there enough parking fees to overshadow the labor costs.
2) Strictly a judgment call by the on-duty manager.
. . . sometimes toll booth folks leave 2-hrs ahead of park closing
. . . sometimes toll booth folks leave 1/2-hr ahead of park closing

 

[Robo]

1) Basically, is there enough parking fees to overshadow the labor costs.

2) Strictly a judgment call by the on-duty manager.
. . . sometimes toll booth folks leave 2-hrs ahead of park closing
. . . sometimes toll booth folks leave 1/2-hr ahead of park closing

So, on Christmas and July 4th

. . . sometimes toll booth folks leave 2-hrs after of park OPENING.

 

[coolbrook]

I always thought you only had to pay once to park for that day and could park hop to another park and just show your receipt or tag or card thing and park there without paying any extra. Am I wrong? It sounded like the op was talking about being at a park then leaving and returning the same day.

 

[North of Mouse]

I always thought you only had to pay once to park for that day and could park hop to another park and just show your receipt or tag or card thing and park there without paying any extra. Am I wrong? It sounded like the op was talking about being at a park then leaving and returning the same day.

You 'do' only have to pay to park once, but our understanding of the OP's post was just coming into the MK for the evening hours only.

 

[spiderann]

You 'do' only have to pay to park once, but our understanding of the OP's post was just coming into the MK for the evening hours only.

yes, that is what i was thinking about doing. hotel or water park day, then popping over to MK or HS for the evening. well, it appears i should plan on paying for parking and hope i luck out!

 

[Ronda93]

Disney collects as long as it pays.

Once it's a loser, they'll stop.