Disney bus service to/from Downtown Disney....
Walt Disney World: Could you just park your car at Downtown Disney and take Disney transportation from there to save on parking?
I was wondering if it is possible to park your car at Downtown Disney and then just pick up the Disney buses to the parks from there, even if you are not a resort guest? They do not appear to check for any type of identification that you are a resort guest when you ride the buses, and this would be a great way to save on parking, if you could do it. I can't remember off the top of my head if buses travel from Downtown Disney to the parks or not? Does anyone have any info on this or has anyone ever done this?
You can...but it can take a bit of time to get from Downtown Disney to the parks and back. I know to me it was worth it just to be able to get back to my car fast after being in the park all day.
It would take a while. There are no buses that go directly to the parks from Downtown Disney, just because people try to get out of paying the parking pass. So you would have to catch one to a resort, and then from resort to the gate.
I rarely get park hoppers, so my other question would be, if I have a park hopper and want to drive over to another park, do I have to pay to park again, or is my parking pass for the first park I visited that day good for all the parks?
Your parking pass is good for the entire day. However, I would part at the Transportation and Ticket Center (Magic Kingdom's Parking) because it goes to every park from there via bus, boat, or monorail.
If you want to pay, you might check with AAA about the Disney Diamond Parking Pass. Some are also sold on eBay.
As a mass transit fan, it pains me to write this, but I'd recommend driving to the park you wish to visit and parking there -even if you are staying on site (unless you are on the monorail circuit and going to the MK or at the Epcot resorts and going to that park).
Disney's transit system is too slow, on average, to be worth the time lost in the parks. While it's nice to hop from one park to another on Disney transportation, you lose that time advantage when you need to return to get your car.
I avoid Disney buses at all costs and use Disney's boats simply as a destination unto themselves - I love taking the boat from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney and back, for example. That's a great, relaxing ride.
From Carlos M
Posted October 3, 2010 at 7:14 AM
I have heard of people going to the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary and parking there. No you don't pay every time you enter a park's parking if on the same day. Just show your receipt. If you're visiting MK and Epcot, park on the one you would like to visit last and use the monorail. Don't bother moving your car unless you're in Animal Kingdom or Hollywood studios.
You don't need to move your car if you park in Holywood Studios as you can catch the boat to Epcot and then the monorail to MK, but this won't work if you don't have a park hopper.
There is no direct bus service from/to Downtown Disney to/from other theme parks. You must transfer at a resort.
However, you can get dropped off at the Contemporary or Polynesian Resort which are a monorail trip away...
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