Driving to the Parks

[angela2679]

We plan on driving to the parks this go around, instead of taking the shuttle buses from our hotel, is there a charge to park?

[kathleen.talamantes.7]

I believe that is you are staying on property you can park without a charge. If not then they charge around $20.00 daily


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[TiggerGuy]

I think you pay regardless if you are a Disney resort guest. I know annual passholders get free parking but pretty sure everyone else pays

[BrerGnat]

I think you pay regardless if you are a Disney resort guest. I know annual passholders get free parking but pretty sure everyone else pays
No, Disney resort guests get free theme park parking, as do guests of the Swan and Dolphin. You will get a parking pass to put on your dash.

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[magicofdisney]

No, Disney resort guests get free theme park parking, as do guests of the Swan and Dolphin. You will get a parking pass to put on your dash.

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The parking passes are not automatically given anymore as of our November 16' stay. I believe the way they do it is to scan the magic band and it will either link you to a current reservation (free parking) or not (paid parking). Hopefully a recent vacationer can verify this.

[Fangorn]

My understanding is that they have stopped issuing the parking passes, and now scan your magic band to show you are a resort guest. That was certainly the case last December and we had a split stay with 3 different resorts. I asked about it at the Beach Club, and that was the response I got. But they also indicated that each resort implements changes of that nature on their own schedules, and they weren't sure if all the resorts had implemented that process yet. BC, AKL and Poly had for sure.

Steve

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

That is the experience I had at POP and POFQ a few weeks ago. No parking pass, just scan the MB at the parking entrance to each park.

It worked very well, EXCEPT when we tried to go to MK on our first day and the parking attendant could "see" our resort reservation on our bands. In that case, we had to show him the resort reservation on MDE (on our iPhone). Otherwise though, no slow-down, no issues.

I recommend driving (if you have a car) to all the parks, except (usually) MK, since you still have to take the ferry/monorail from the TTC and the bus drops you off at the front of the park.

[mrte62]

Our experience the first week of May:

BWV - when you were arriving back at the front gate, the guard either scanned your paper parking pass or your magic band. That parking pass was shown at the parking entrance of each park - there no fee for parking.

Swan - your room key opened the gate to the parking lot. A 24 parking fee was assessed at check out. You showed your room key at the parking entrance of each park - there was no fee for parking.

[angela2679]

Thanks y'all! :)

[mandaep]

That is the experience I had at POP and POFQ a few weeks ago. No parking pass, just scan the MB at the parking entrance to each park.

It worked very well, EXCEPT when we tried to go to MK on our first day and the parking attendant could "see" our resort reservation on our bands. In that case, we had to show him the resort reservation on MDE (on our iPhone). Otherwise though, no slow-down, no issues.

I recommend driving (if you have a car) to all the parks, except (usually) MK, since you still have to take the ferry/monorail from the TTC and the bus drops you off at the front of the park.


yeah, when we decided to drive to the parks a couple years ago I didn't anticipate that. Such a PAIN and not worth driving my own care waiting for a ferry/monorail to get there AND back especially at the end of the dayyyy.. the busses are never no where near as busy as the monorails and ferries at the end of the day.

[azcavalier]

To each his (or her) own, I know, but we became converted to driving years ago. Simply put, it's just faster than Disney Transportation 95% of the time. Especially at the end of the day. One time, we stayed for fireworks at Epcot and then tried to board a bus. 45 minutes later, we got on a bus with exhausted kids. When we drive? We walk out to the car (five to ten minutes), head out, and are at the resort in ten minutes or less. 45 minutes from the end of fireworks and our kids have been asleep for 20 minutes. To us, it's a no-brainer.

[texas211]

I put my MB on my lanyard, easier to get it scanned, etc.. Plus, have large wrists and sweat like a pig. The rubber bracelet doesn't help. So, I had them my lanyard and scan it. Works well w/ FP usage too.

I haven't had issues using the free parking w/ my MB when staying at a resort, and I usually rent a car.

[#1donaldfan]

I'd like y'all to know that my DD has been there the past month or so working and tells me the traffic is terrible, worse she has EVER seen on property. She tells me the construction is everywhere and slows things down horribly !! We typically jump in the car but this time we may use the busses ....

[azcavalier]

She tells me the construction is everywhere and slows things down horribly !!

When we were there in March, construction really messed up traffic along Buena Vista Drive where it intersects with Epcot Center Drive, especially heading east towards Disney Springs. Also, they had closed one of the entrances to DHS. But those were the only places it was an issue on-property. The new and improved Buena Vista Drive at Disney Springs is awesome, as are the parking garages. But they are already at capacity, and they still have to park people across the street! They need another two of those parking garages.

Is there road construction in other places at this point? I remember hearing/reading about changes to the Magic Kingdom entrance gate, but don't know if that has started or not.

[texas211]

Might need to rent 4 wheel drive vehicles :)