Whether you’re planning a road trip to the world’s greatest theme parks or renting a car at the airport, you’ll need to think about parking at Disney World. While finding space at theme parks and resorts is usually not a problem, there are things to know before you head out.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when parking at Disney World.
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Parking at Disney World Resorts
Guests who stay at Disney World resorts will find a variety of parking arrangements, and your magical journey into the world of Disney World parking begins at the not-so-magical security check point. Actually, there is very little to fear about this process. If you are a resort guest staying at the hotel, it’s all quite easy.
When checking in for the first time, the security officer will scan your MagicBand and send you on your way. If you aren’t using a MagicBand, you can provide your name or room number until you pick up your room keys from the hotel lobby guest services.
Many resorts will also offer a self scan gate. Once you’ve checked in with security for the first time, you can scan your MagicBand or room key at the self scan gate to enter your resort compound.
If you’re heading to the resort for a dining reservation, simply let the guard know this at the checkpoint. They will be happy to let you pass through.
Once you’ve driven through the gate, you should find ample parking, but be aware that spots may not always be close to your room or restaurant.
Parking at Disney World Deluxe Resorts
Disney World deluxe resorts typically have one main parking area in front of the resort. While this arrangement allows for a totally immersive experience once you pass through the lobby, the centralized parking can create a long walk to and from your car.
An example is the Polynesian Village Resort shown below. With one central parking lot at the front of the resort, and rooms scattered across multiple buildings, it’s easy to see that some areas of the hotel will have a longer walk than others.
To avoid schlepping back and forth between the car and hotel room each day, many guests utilize the complimentary Disney World transportation system when visiting the parks or Disney Springs. With multiple ways to travel and nearby access points to catch your ride, it may save you time over walking to your car.
Parking at Disney World Resort Villas, Moderate Resorts and Value Resorts
Parking at Disney World resorts that fall into the moderate or value category, as well as some Disney Vacation Club Villas (Saratoga Springs and Old Key West), is easy and convenient. While many hotels house rooms across multiple buildings spread out over several acres, you’ll usually find convenient parking close to your room if not right outside your door.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach is just one example. As demonstrated in the image below, hotel rooms are spread across the resort, but related parking is easy to access from each housing section.
How Much Does It Cost to Park at Disney World Resorts?
There are no parking fees for guests staying at a Disney World Resort. Keep in mind, however, that there are a few resorts located on Disney property that are not owned and operated by Disney.
Both the Disney Swan and the Disney Dolphin charge parking fees for guests staying at their properties. As of 2024, these rang in at $36 a night. It’s definitely worth keeping it in mind when comparing prices with a Disney resort hotel.
There are no parking fees for Disney World Vacation Club members when using points to stay at a DVC property. Likewise, parking fees are also waived for guests who are using the points of a friend or family member to cover their stay.
Will I Need to Pay to Park When Visiting a Disney World Resort Restaurant?
Some of the most popular Disney World restaurants are located inside Disney’s resort hotels. As such, you may find yourself driving to one of Disney’s resorts for dinner or breakfast.
Fortunately, for guests visiting Disney’s resort restaurants, parking remains free. Simply give your name to the cast member at the security point and let them know you have a dining reservation. They may ask for I.D., but will let you park in the regular Disney World resort parking lot with no fee.
Guests who opt to use the Disney resort valet service, will need to pay for the privilege. The current going rate is $39 per night, but you’ll avoid the walk to and from your car.
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Parking at Disney World Theme Parks
Unless you’re visiting a Disney World theme park during peak travel seasons, you should have no trouble finding a spot to park. There are, however, a few tips to heed and some general information to understand before heading out.
Know Where You’re Going
If you plan to drive a vehicle to any of Disney World’s theme parks, it’s a good idea to know where the parking is located before heading out. One question we get quite often is how to find Magic Kingdom parking. This is a valid question, because the Disney World parking lot for Magic Kingdom is located at the Transportation Ticket Center. Guests must park at the TTC and then take the monorail or steamboat to the main gate.
Finding the TTC for many guests can be a challenge. If you use any of the popular navigation apps and search for the Transportation Ticket Center, you’re often directed to a location with no entrance. Likewise, searching for Magic Kingdom usually identifies a location within the park. We’ve had the best luck in navigating when we search Magic Kingdom parking and use Apple Maps.
A similar parking conundrum occurs when guests try to drive to Disney Springs, not realizing there are multiple lots. Guests may park in the Lemon, Lime, Orange, Watermelon or Mango lots. Having multiple lots makes it easier for guests to access the exact location they’re seeking, but to get where you’re going, it’s a good idea to scope out the lay of the land before you head out.
Know Where You Want to Park
If you plan to arrive at a Disney World theme park during the first part of the day, you can expect friendly cast members to efficiently guide you to the first available parking space in the general Disney World parking lot for this location. While this approach makes it easy to find the closest spot, it doesn’t always mean you’ll be right outside the park gate.
Disney reserves the closest parking spaces for those guests who are willing to purchase a preferred parking space. All other guests can expect to walk or take a tram to the front gate.
Since a preferred spot does require a fee, be sure you have an idea of whether you want to park with the masses or pay for the spots that are closer to the park gates.
Is Parking at Disney World Free?
Guests who stay at hotels located off of Disney property, will be required to pay a fee when driving to any of the theme parks. Disney World Parking fees are currently $30 a day for cars and motorcycles. Oversized vehicles, such as shuttles, limos and RVs are assessed a $35 per day fee.
Keep in mind that the daily fee covers parking across all Disney parks that you may visit on that particular date.
This is where Disney World resort guests can find a bit of a perk. Guests of Disney World properties are not required to pay a daily fee to park at any of the theme parks, when using the standard lot.
Guests of Disney World hotels also receive a break on preferred parking. By paying the difference between fees charged to offsite guests for standard and preferred parking, patrons of Disney World resorts can access the reserved parking closest to the gates. Of course, spaces are limited, so the early bird will get the worm on this deal.
Is Preferred Parking at Disney World Worth It?
It may be hard to justify the cost of preferred parking, particularly if you are a guest of a Disney World resort and entitled to free parking at theme parks. However, there are some instances when you may want to pay the fee for an up close spot. At other times, the cost may be hard to justify.
When It May Make Sense to Pay for Disney World Theme Park Preferred Parking
- Arriving midday: Many guests don’t mind paying for parking if they’re planning a midday arrival. By this time, most spots up close to the entrance gates have been taken. Since trams run less frequently at this time, you could find yourself waiting a bit for a ride or facing a long walk with standard parking.
- Hot and muggy days: If you find yourself sweating just standing in the Florida shade, imagine how you will feel walking from a far off space in the standard lot or melting in the sun while you wait for a tram. Paying to park in the preferred spaces will put you closer to the park entrance and provide for a cooler experience – until you get inside the parks.
- You need a quick exit: If you’re planning to hit the parks in the morning before an afternoon or evening flight, you may want to park in preferred parking to help you get on the road a little faster.
- You’re arriving for a dining reservation: If you’re visiting a park simply to eat at a restaurant and leave, you migh find a preferred stop saves you a lot of hassle when trying to make your advanced dining reservation.
- Park hopping or taking a midday break: Some guests like to park up close if they know they will be leaving midday to visit another park or to take a break back at their hotel. The biggest advantage here is that you get to use the preferred parking pass again when visiting another park or returning to the same park later in the evening.
- When traveling with young children or older adults: Folding up strollers and carrying them on trams isn’t a fairy tale dream for some parents. Likewise, traveling with older, slower adults can impact your ability to get to the magic, particularly if you’re intent on making rope drop. Opting for preferred parking can ease some of the stress in both situations.
When It May Make NOT Sense to Pay for Disney World Theme Park Preferred Parking
- You’re on a tight budget: If you’ve already met the limits of your budget planning your trip, paying for preferred parking is really not worth it. There are far better ways to spend a little leftover budget.
- You’re arriving to rope drop Early Theme Park Entry: We usually arrive around 30 minutes prior to park opening when using Early Theme Park Entry, and there are plenty of spaces up front available. It might not get you as close as preferred parking, but it isn’t far off.
Is There Electric Vehicle Parking at Disney World Theme Parks?
Disney World continuously strives to protect the environment where possible and readily welcomes electric vehicles. While ChargePoint charging stations are currently only available at select resorts, it’s likely that the number will rise according to demand.
Guests driving electric vehicles can find charging stations in the following locations:
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: 6 spaces in general parking near ADA spaces
- Disney’s Riviera Resort: 2 spaces in general parking near ADA spaces
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: 2 spaces in general parking near ADA spaces
You will also find ChargePoint charging stations at all 4 Disney World theme parks as well as Disney Springs. Spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis:
- EPCOT: 4 spaces at the front of the Journey Parking Lot
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: 4 spaces in the Medical Parking Lot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 4 spaces at the front of the Mickey Parking Lot
- Disney Springs: 9 spaces—3 on the 5th floor of the Orange Garage, 3 on the 5th floor of the Lime Garage and 3 spaces on the 3rd floor of the Grapefruit Garage
Guests may also find electric vehicle charging at all 4 theme parks, with 13 spaces available at Disney Springs.
- Magic Kingdom park: 5 spaces are available—one space at the front of the Medical Parking Lot and 4 spaces at the front of the Zurg Parking Lot
- EPCOT: 4 spaces are available at the front of the Journey Parking Lot
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park: 4 spaces are available in the Medical Parking Lot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 4 spaces are available at the front of the Mickey Parking Lot
- Disney Springs: 13 spaces are available—3 on the 5th floor of the Orange Garage, 3 on the 5th floor of the Lime Garage, 3 on the 3rd floor of the Grapefruit Garage and 4 in the Watermelon Lot near the Cirque du Soleil theater
Use of a ChargePoint charging station at either a Disney theme park or Disney World resort requires a credit card or a preordered ChargePoint card to pay the fee of 35 cents per kilowatt hour.
Disney World Parking for Guests with Disabilities
Guests with a valid disability parking permit are fee to park in any of the reserved spaces across Disney World theme parks, hotels and other areas. While guests who can walk short distances are asked to request parking at the end of a row where they can easily pick up a Disney World parking tram, guests with mobility issues are offered a dedicated lot.
Disability parking lots at Disney World can be found a short distance from the main entrance at each of the four theme parks. Guests who are using personal wheelchairs, electric scooters or other mobility devices are eligible for parking in these Disney World parking lots.
How Can I Find My Car in a Disney World Parking Lot?
Disney World parking lots are vast locations filled with multiple vehicles of varying sizes and colors. However, it isn’t uncommon to leave the park after a long day and see multiple vehicles exactly matching your make, model and color.
One tip for finding your car is to notice the section of the lot where you parked before walking to the park entrance. However, even when you religiously make note of your parking section, it can be difficult to find your vehicle if it is a popular color or if you’re driving an unfamiliar rental car.
To make it easier for guests to get on their way at the end of a long day, Disney now offers a car locator service. This complimentary offering is part of the My Disney Experience app and utilizes location services to mark the exact location where you park your car.
Simply open the My Disney Experience app before leaving your car, click the hamburger icon and scroll down until you see “Car Locator.” Click through to the next screen and select “Save Vehicle Location.” Repeat the process when you are ready to leave the park for hassle free guidance to your parking spot.
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