Where to park when visiting the parks?

[lkohawaii]

I will be renting a car just because we don't want to feel like prisoners without one. I know the parking lots are far from the parks sometimes. I will have a AAA Diamond pass if that matters. I will be staying at All Star Movies. Should I drive to the parks and park the car or take the Disney bus (which I hear can be quite crowded). I also have many ADR's at the hotels. Can I park at the hotels and just take another form or transportion to the parks? If I do do I have to eat at those hotesl....or can I just pay for parking or use my parking pass. All this is new to me, so excuse me if I'm breaking some rules. Just trying to get my family to the closest parking to the parks.
Oh, and I also heard that you can just Taxi it over to the parks. Are there certain ones that you would just pay the taxi fare to get closer?
Sorry for so many questions.

 

[betterlatethannever]

I will be renting a car just because we don't want to feel like prisoners without one. I know the parking lots are far from the parks sometimes. I will have a AAA Diamond pass if that matters. I will be staying at All Star Movies. Should I drive to the parks and park the car or take the Disney bus (which I hear can be quite crowded). I also have many ADR's at the hotels. Can I park at the hotels and just take another form or transportion to the parks? If I do do I have to eat at those hotesl....or can I just pay for parking or use my parking pass. All this is new to me, so excuse me if I'm breaking some rules. Just trying to get my family to the closest parking to the parks.
Oh, and I also heard that you can just Taxi it over to the parks. Are there certain ones that you would just pay the taxi fare to get closer?
Sorry for so many questions.

First, you do not pay for parking if you are staying on site.

Second, resorts typically give you a three hour parking pass so you can't go to the parks and leave your car in the resort lot.

The rule of thumb is to take the WDW bus to MK. Nothing else can get you closer to the front.

You can take your car to the other parks. The AAA parking pass will allow you to park close to the front. HOWEVER, the trams don't stop near where you park so you will have to walk. Even though the regular lot is farther away, there could be less walking if you park in those lots because of the trams.

Ed

 

[Uncleromulus]

We always have a car and use it--even to the MK. If going to any of the parks, just use the lot--that AAA pass will get you up close. If going to a resort hotel for an ADR, park at the resort--it's free and most often you'll get a 3 hour parking pass.
But I would NOT park at a resort hotel and leave the car there to get to a Theme Park.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Just want to add that the buses can be crowded at times. However this is normally true only for park openings and closings. Any other times the buses are not crowded at all. For park closings we simply wait for 15-20 minutes while everyone storms out of the park and then head out. Last June after Wishes we just sat on a bench across from the castle and then took our time exiting the MK. When we got to the bus station it was really quiet. Disney does a very good job in moving around a lot of people daily. Personally I cannot imagine it being any easier trying to drive out of any park at closing with hundreds or thousands of other people.

All WDW resorts have taxis waiting outside. If one is not there a Cast Member will get one for you right away. I don't know of too many people who do this to get to one of the parks. It is a popular and easy way to get to another Disney resort. For the Magic Kingdom only Disney buses are allowed near the entrance. So even if you took a taxi it would drop you off at the TTC where everyone heading to the MK from off-site must go. From there you need to boat or monorail over to the MK. You could also go to one of the MK resorts and walk (from the Contemporary) or monorail over to the MK. Bottom line for the MK is the Disney bus is the only way to go. For the other parks I don't know how close a taxi can bring you. The Disney buses are normally the closest to all the park entrances.

 

[safetymom]

I have never found it bad parking in the lots at the parks. We like the tram ride from the parking lot to the entrance. I would drive yourself except for MK. The bus gets you closer to the front of the park.

Don't park at another resort, those spots are for that resorts guests.

 

[lkohawaii]

Thanks everybody. I think I got the idea of parking. I just keep hearing about how the parks are so huge compared to DL that I was a bit worried. I have one more question. On 2 nights I have ADR's at Chef Mickey's and 1900 Park Fare. They are for dinner. So, I was planning on driving to the resorts ( I think that's the best way to get from ASM to those resorts). The plan was to got to MK after dinner. Should I take my car back to ASM and catch the bus to MK?

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks everybody. I think I got the idea of parking. I just keep hearing about how the parks are so huge compared to DL that I was a bit worried. I have one more question. On 2 nights I have ADR's at Chef Mickey's and 1900 Park Fare. They are for dinner. So, I was planning on driving to the resorts ( I think that's the best way to get from ASM to those resorts). The plan was to got to MK after dinner. Should I take my car back to ASM and catch the bus to MK?

You can take the bus to MK and walk to Chef Mickey's or monorail to Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Fare.

OR

You can park at the TTC and take the monorail to both places.

I don't drive everywhere. It depends on where I'm heading and how crowded the bus stop looks.

I never drive to MK because the bus brings you so close and parking at the TTC can be a pain rather then just taking the bus to MK.

I sometimes take the car to Epcot, AK and MGM, again depending on my mood and how crowded the bus stop looks.

I always take my car to DTD.

 

[lkohawaii]

Thanks never thought of taking the bus to the TTC and then going to a resort. DUH!!! I'm getting the hang of transportation..I think.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Thanks never thought of taking the bus to the TTC and then going to a resort. DUH!!! I'm getting the hang of transportation..I think.

Did you mean taking the car to the TTC?

The only busses that go to the TTC are from MGM and AK.

What the previous poster said was to park your car at the TTC and then go to the other resorts.

... So, I was planning on driving to the resorts ... Should I take my car back to ASM and catch the bus to MK?

Whatever you do, do not take the car to the resort and then go back to ASM to take the bus.

Ed

 

[tor]

I usually only drive to the water parks because the buses are easier for the other parks but when we have dining we will drive to the contemporary and have left the car for the day on a 3 hour pass and even overnight once and never had a problem

 

[lkohawaii]

Got it Ed. I will take the bus to MK and get to the resorts from there. I won't drive back to ASM and then go back MK. I think I kind of have an idea about transportation now so once I get there I will ask a CM for specifics. At least I'm not too lost now.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Got it Ed. I will take the bus to MK and get to the resorts from there. I won't drive back to ASM and then go back MK. I think I kind of have an idea about transportation now so once I get there I will ask a CM for specifics. At least I'm not too lost now.

You are getting the idea now.
Just take the Magic Kingdom bus. When you exit at the MK walk towards the main entrance and you will see the monorail in front of you. The boats will be on your left side and the MK entrance on your right. You can simply take the monorail over to the Contemporary for Chef Mickey's and to the Grand Floridian for 1900 Park Fare.
When you are finished eating you may want to look around the resort and then head over to the MK. Just hop back on the monorail.
Also note that you can easily walk to the Contemporary from the MK bus station. When you get off the bus and face the MK just turn right (away from the MK entrance and the monorail entrance) and keep walking. It is about a seven minute walk to the Contemporary.
Have a great trip!

 

[Coastercameron]

If you park at one park, then park hop, and in the meantime, the park where you parked closes, will the hopper busses and parking trams still be running when you are done?

 

[betterlatethannever]

If you park at one park, then park hop, and in the meantime, the park where you parked closes, will the hopper busses and parking trams still be running when you are done?

There will be busses to take you back to the park you parked at. But there will be no trams and probably no parking lot lights.

You won;t be stuck but it is always better to park at the park you are ending the day at and park hop from there.

Ed

 

[manning]

I usually only drive to the water parks because the buses are easier for the other parks but when we have dining we will drive to the contemporary and have left the car for the day on a 3 hour pass and even overnight once and never had a problem

I think I overheard someone say Disney has added a new feature....towing.

I haven't seen it myself, just overheard it.