Preferred parking comes to Disney Springs from June 1

May 31, 2017 in "Disney Springs"

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Posted: Wednesday May 31, 2017 5:33pm EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Beginning June 1 2017, Disney Springs will offer a preferred parking option for guests.

For $10, you can park in the Grapefruit lot on the West Side near to Cirque du Soleil, or the Lemon lot near to World of Disney in the Marketplace.

Both preferred parking locations are surface lots, with parking in the garages and other lots remaining free of charge for all guests.

Orange Parking Garage planters

Disney also offers valet parking at Disney Springs, at a cost of $20 plus gratuity. Valet is located on the West Side near Cirque du Soleil, Town Center near the entrance to the Orange Garage, and the Marketplace in front of Basin.

The introduction of preferred parking began at the main theme parks in March 2016, where it costs $40 per day. Disney later added to the main parks with preferred parking at the water parks.

With the addition of preferred parking at Disney Springs, only the resort hotels remain as an additional parking revenue source, and speculation suggests that changes to parking at resorts is planned.

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pax_65Jun 05, 2017

I hear ya. But in all honesty, if I could have the same overall experience and value I had on my vacations around 2010 or before, I'd go back to 2-3 trips a year. I'm not burned out on Disney, I'm disappointed with how the Disney experience has changed over the past 5 years or so. I don't feel I'm getting anywhere near the value I used to get - and that's with DVC membership, so the hotel piece is not part of my issue. It's all about the parks. As I said, I'm pleased that they are FINALLY investing some money into the parks. I'm taking 2017 off but planning a trip for 2018 and hoping things get better.

21stampsJun 02, 2017

I just read the last 3 pages.. It's OK to say "I'm burnt out on Disney World ""I've outgrown Disney World " Seriously, it's ok.lol

pax_65Jun 02, 2017

We're heading into Summer and it's a busier time of year in the parks so this isn't surprising. I'm sure more is available last-minute at slower times of the year (whenever that is!). But still, it makes my point - an AP isn't worth what it used to be, because I could walk into any park on any day and have the same opportunity to enjoy any attraction as any other guest. That's not necessarily true any longer.

Kman101Jun 02, 2017

Usually that's true. For the most part.

Kman101Jun 02, 2017

And unfortunately I'm blocked out after today so I won't be able to check LOL. But I do find stuff like this interesting, checking availability. I know, total nerd ...

RustySporkJun 02, 2017

If it isn't tier 1, it's not hard to get (which is what I said before). :joyfull:

Kman101Jun 02, 2017

Eh, we can probably go back and forth on availability. Night of/day off ... sort of splitting hairs. I speak from experience that it's not impossible to score almost anything (although like Rider said it could depend on amount of people in your party; I always have just 1 so that probably helps my chances, which I fully acknowledge my situation isn't the same as most). Days/hours can vary. It's like the back and forth on restaurant reservations. I've listed at times almost every restaurant that had availability and one person argued back it was a slow time. So those points get negated quickly. Check in the morning and see then. Just a thought ...

RustySporkJun 02, 2017

There is only one Tier 1 in the list, and that's TSMM. For tomorrow, everything is available at HS. @pax_65 said last minute day trip, not last minute tomorrow trip. What's not available for tomorrow for a party of 2: For that last minute day trip, party of 2 the following FP+ are sold out at each park: @ MK: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Enchanted Tales with Belle Meet Ariel at Her Grotto Meet Cinderella and Elena at Princess Fairytale Hall Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater Meet Rapunzel and Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater Peter Pan's Flight Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Space Mountain @EP: Frozen Ever After IlumiNations Reflections of Earth Soarin Test Track Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot Mission: SPACE @HS: Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage Fantasmic Disney Junior - Live on Stage! Indiana Jones Star Tours There are two times for ToT, two times for TSMM, and one time for RnR. @AK: Avatar Flight of Passage Na'Vi River Journey Expedition Everest Festival of the Lion King Finding Nemo Kali River Rapids Kilimanjaro Safari There are two slots available for RoL right now.

RiderJun 02, 2017

Pretty much the only thing you can't get the night before is 7DMT (although I have seen those more often recently), FEA, and now both Pandora attractions. Anything else I can usually get on Friday night if I decide I want to go on a Saturday. For example right now for tomorrow May have different results if you have a big group

Kman101Jun 02, 2017

I really enjoyed using Express Pass for the first time last month at Universal. Even though crowds weren't bad and wait times were decent. I guess I pick good times to go to Disney, I really don't have much trouble scoring FPs for most everything. I know that goes against the narrative but it's true (and granted it's not always true). The only ones I can't score day of for are Mine Train or Frozen, but Frozen seems to have gotten a little better. And I'd imagine the Avatar rides are also difficult. And sometimes Peter Pan. It just depends. You can often check (I know some are going to argue you shouldn't be on your phone, blah blah ...) and score something. I usually know the night before if I'm going so I can score 'em then. It's not as impossible as it's made out to be :)

RustySporkJun 02, 2017

LMAO! That's why I made the comment about the value of Disney offering an express option to the platinum AP being something I'd throw money at. :joyfull: We're over on the chit chat board -> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/uoap-and-wdwap-discussion-thread.927657/

pax_65Jun 02, 2017

RustySporkJun 02, 2017

Last minute day trips are a bad time if there's an expectation of getting a fastpass for anything that's a headliner or tier 1. We just accept that we probably won't get anything decent and plan our rides as far in advance as we can. I have a couple of passes for FoP but they're 29 and 30 days away, and even then I had to try for about 15 minutes each day before one popped up as available. They're not even good times, but we take what we can get. If there's no expectation of riding a ride, or we plan to ride something via standby it's fine.

pax_65Jun 02, 2017

Off topic but I'm curious how it works for locals these days since you must have some difficulty getting FPs for the most popular attractions if you decide to take a last-minute day-trip.