When Do Park Parking Lots Open?

[wmjeffer]

I'm thinking of renting a car for my upcoming trip to Disney World in November (mainly because I'll have a massive stroller and a pretty impatient toddler on my hands!). Our touring plan includes getting to every park before rope drop WITH early extra magic hours (so we should be able to get in at 8am instead of 9am). One of the touring books I've read mentioned that parking lots may not be open much earlier than park opening (this was said specifically about Animal Kingdom). We were hoping to get to the parks at least 30-45 minutes before the early opening time. Will we have any issues with the parking lots not being open then?

 

[Alesia]

The Animal Kingdom lot is the only one that ever really closes. Sometimes it doesn't open until an hour before the park opens, sometimes it opens earlier. Every other lot will be open no matter how early you get there.

 

[wmjeffer]

Ah, ok, thank you! Just to clarify - would the AK lot be open an hour before EMH? Or just an hour before regular rope drop?

 

[Alesia]

Ah, ok, thank you! Just to clarify - would the AK lot be open an hour before EMH? Or just an hour before regular rope drop?

I've never heard of it not being open for EMH.

 

[wmjeffer]

Great - thank you! The info seemed off, but since this would be my first time renting a car, I didn't know much about the parking info.

 

[Alesia]

Great - thank you! The info seemed off, but since this would be my first time renting a car, I didn't know much about the parking info.

There are sometimes issues for people who are driving getting into the lot for pre-opening ADRs.

 

[gatormom2tots]

Twice in 2012 we entered a parking lot so early there was no attendant! I believe it was about 90 minutes before opening and it was HS both times. Not sure if this is the norm or what...it was the one trip we stayed off site so HAD to pay for parking, yet there was no attendant. We waited about 5 minutes at the both and then went in. We have entered other parks VERY early but have never run into this except this one week.

 

[wmjeffer]

Oh, so weird! This is what I'm afraid of, but at least you got to park, I suppose We're staying onsite, so we won't need to pay, but I was worried about sitting there forever with a closed parking lot! Sounds like that probably won't be the case, even if we're super early.

 

[seashoreCM]

Once in the evening I drove to a park, found the toll booth closed, and just drove on. Seriously, the parking lot should not actually be closed in the morning.

At one time I suggested that someone with an early Restaurantosaurus breakfast go to Animal Kingdom Lodge, tell the attendant he was eating at Boma, then parking himself and taking the bus. However that has to be done early, like an hour and a quarter before the ADR.