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Beware This Disney World Parking Problem


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We spend an unreasonable amount of time in Disney World parking lots.

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EPCOT Parking Plaza

We have a team of local Central Florida residents who visit the theme parks nearly every day, and that means we’re doing a LOT of driving and parking. Over time, we’ve become pretty familiar with the pros, cons, and pitfalls of the Disney World parking lots, but recently, we were reminded of one very big problem for a select group of people.

Planning guide for the ultimate Disney vacation

Disney World’s theme park parking lots are absolutely massive, and they each come with three separate sections — regular parking, preferred parking, and handicap/disability parking. Regular parking is included with Disney World Annual Passes or Disney World Resort stays, while preferred parking is an upcharge. And in order to park in the handicap section, a valid disability parking permit is required.

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Parking at Hollywood Studios

Recently, one member of our team went to the parks with her friend, who has a disability parking permit. They did a breakfast dining reservation, then headed to Animal Kingdom late in the morning, around 11:30AM. By the time they got there, all the disability parking spaces were full, and they drove laps for 15 minutes before finally giving up and heading to standard parking.

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Wall-E Parking Lot

The positive thing here is that all four theme parks have parking lot trams that run all day until an hour and a half after park closing time. So even if you have to park outside of disability parking, you can walk to the end of your row and board the parking lot tram, which will then drop you back off when you leave. Each tram has a loading and unloading area near the park entrances, so you typically cut off a significant portion of the walk from the parking lot.

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Parking lot tram

After having this experience, we’re recommending that if you have a disability parking pass and want to get good parking, then you’ll need to arrive close to the time that the park opens. Those parking spots fill up quickly, and they stay full for most of the day (you may have some luck after people have Park Hopped midday or toward the evening when some people have left already).

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Parking lot

And if you miss out on one of those spots? ECVs can’t get on the trams, and wheelchairs or strollers would need to be folded before boarding. Disney parking lots do offer complimentary wheelchairs for helping those with mobility issues to get to the park entrance, but you might need to send a member of your party to go grab one and return. That could be a pain if you’re parked far away.

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EPCOT Parking Lot Sign

So you’ll definitely need to prepare yourself if you need these parking accommodations in Disney World. Make sure to arrive early to get the best parking! And if you’re in need of more Disney transportation tips, check out our video below.

Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World and all the tips you need before your vacation!

When Is Disney Going to Fix This Glaring Transportation Problem? Click Here.

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.


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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

Have you ever experienced this problem in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!

The post Beware This Disney World Parking Problem first appeared on the disney food blog.

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