If I’m recalling correctly, the parking lot entry road had a gate with a couple of CMs. They were telling drivers they were too early - I can’t recall how early - and needed to come back.
I want to say drivers were arriving at 6 for an 8 am opening
Another trip - before covid - we were staying off property and drove to MK, where we were directed to a Villain lot. Scar, I think. We were early and close, so no tram yet. We walked to the ferry line.
About noon we left MK, took the tram to the parking lot and never saw the Scar section. I finally realized the tram was rolling around in the Heros lot. We left the tram back at the beginning, where a CM assured me they’d only been using Hero that morning.
We walked out to the Villains lot and finally located our cars - amongst a bunch of others. Our 80+ family member was not amused.
Really, the only way I like to drive to a park is being able to park in handicap.
Yikes that would stink to have to u-turn and possibly get back in line to get to the toll booth.
With what others have pointed out, it seems busses start 90mina before park open. And it was recommended to leave 1 hour and 20 minutes prior to rope drop if driving. That’s only a ten minute difference.
The plus would not have to wait for a bus on the back end or not have to worry about making the bus (due to occupancy or just missing it).
Also not having to lug the stroller on the bus would be key too.
If I could leave an hour before rope drop by car. I think I would be sold.
I think I’d experiment with this. Maybe about 6 am enter into your phone your resort and the park you’re going to and see what the trip length is. Definitely add 30 minutes in case the park opens early - as it does sometimes - add about 15 min for walking from parking to tap styles and then add the drive time. And subtract that from the official park opening. And that’s your time to leave.
Unless you’re ok to arrive about opening time, in which case you leave your resort with enough time to arrive at the park at opening time. Part of the experimenting.
Always take a Disney bus to MK.
DS can be excruciatingly congested - both in roads around it and in walkways within. Allow extra time. I’d do a bus.
These have not been difficulties for us. At end of day or even midday return to our resort not having to be alert to drive is priceless. I’ve not worried about missing the bus and the stroller hasn’t been a hardship - but maybe ours is light. It’s easy to close up.
If we’re in a park in the evening we head for the bus stop as the evening show - fireworks or whatever - starts. Less bus congestion. Or if we’re staying to watch the show we linger afterwards to let the bulk of the crush get way ahead. The busses run for an hour after park closing. Shop or find a chair or bench and enjoy the park emptying out.
We haven’t done a car in years, so what I say may no longer be correct. The one thing that I still remember being an enormous time saver was taking the car from Pop! to Typhoon Lagoon. So fast.
If you park hop, it is particularly good. If you are an early rope dropper it is less necessary. But my family hates walking, so on days we park hop it is fantastic.
I find parking at DS and security to be a lot. I prefer bus!
Here was my AK experience this morning (02/17, Presidents’ Day, CL 8)
Our goal was just to ride KS and for me to ride EE via the single rider line. My kids are a little young for FoP and have already risen NRJ on a previous trip and didn’t care to ride again.
I had hard time getting the family out of bed this morning, as EE was 7:30, We were in our car by 7:05 (about 20-25 minutes later than I planned). We arrived at the parking lot at 7:20. Not too bad. However, my wife was selected for secondary screening that took an additional 15 mins (I timed it because a lot of people were pulled to the side). It took another 5-7mins to make it through the taps. We went straight to KS and arrived at 7:53 to join the cue that extended out of the normal cue because the ride opens at 8:00. The normal cue opened shortly thereafter and we were on the Safari about 8:15-8:20.
This morning went ok, however the secondary screening really slowed us down. My wife had the same items last night in her lounge fly when we went to MK yesterday evening and had no issue. Maybe because we went through security at the GF Monorail station. No idea…
Also, I checked wait times for FOP at 7:40ish and it was already at 60mins. We obviously arrived too late to make good use of rope drop and early entry if you wanted to minimize wait times on multiple attractions.
Hollywood studios is up next for rope drop tomorrow morning. Wish me luck in getting the kiddos out of bed. Our goals are MMRR, TSMM, ASS, Muppets, and Beauty and Beast stage show.
Your experiences are why we try to be at the park at 7 am for a 7:30 opening.
And we’re all on board with rope drop which makes a difference. We’re ready and able to be at the bus stop slightly before 6 for a 7:30 opening. All the while figuring we’re more than a little crazy.
Others are mored experienced than I and might be able to give better advice, but I think MMRR lines get inflated a bit in the morning because it’s the first ride you come across and a lot of people just jump in line.
I hope the animals were active for you on your early Safari ride!
In February 2023, we showed up by car to HS 90 minutes before EE. The toll booth lanes were all blocked with cones shortly after rounding the curve, pushing cars to the left to exit, without entering the parking lot. CMs were there telling people they couldn’t wait. There was not free parking, at least not if arriving 90 minutes before EE! We waited at Speedway!
HS parking lot opens 60 minutes before EE. I presume this is the same for AK, and Ep, too.
For MK, the parking lot opens 90 minutes before EE.
Since then, we have showed up by car 60 minutes or 90 minutes before EE, depending on the park! Also, early arrival doesn’t guarantee parking in the closest lots! Sometimes, I have parked closer coming later.
Please don’t make the CMs life difficult! Park where the CMs direct you.
Even though I always have a car (I drive to WDW) I typically never use it once I’m there. I don’t especially like driving, and after the 7.5 hours it takes me to get there, part of my “vacation” is NOT having to drive. But I know I’m kind of the “odd man out”. I won’t comment on travel times to the parks or when the lots open (because I really have no personal experience), but I will say TAKE THE BUS TO DISNEY SPRINGS. I’ve driven to it a couple of times and the parking is a nightmare - and you can have a long walk between the Springs and the lot. Also, if you plan on enjoying some adult beverages, you don’t have to worry about driving back.
We have always had a car at WDW since we are crazy and drive there. We drive to the parks for the most part, even magic Kingdom. (I know, we are crazy). We have sometimes left the car parked when we have left for a midday break and have taken buses back to the hotel. We have also used buses when we have split up into smaller groups.
We leave the hotel about an hour before park opens and have always made EE. We are not the front of the pack but early enough to still get on attractions prior to official park opening.
Our first trip we rode the buses and after 2 days realized we liked the convenience of having our car. We could load our children at our own pace, leave the stroller in our car at the hotel and not have it taking up space in the room. Not have to carry a sleeping child and a stroller off the bus at the same time. Not have to stand with a sleeping child in my arms. All of this happened in the first 2 days of riding the buses so after that we drove and enjoyed ourselves much better. We don’t drive if walking, monorail or a boat is an option. No stroller folding for those! We have had a stroller or a wheelchair (or both) for all of our trips so that may jade our perspective.
Hollywood Studios was a little more successful this morning. The family had ample rest and were ready to go, (02/18, CL 9)
We were in our car at 7:20 and arrived at HS at 7:35. We had a great parking spot and were at security at 7:40. No hiccups today with secondary screening. We were in line for the taps about 7:43-7:45 with about 30 people in front of us in our respective line. Taps opened at 8:00 and we were off to MMRR. However, the ride was not going to open for EE due to technical reasons. Kind of a let down. We went to TSMM and arrived at 8:05-8:10 and had about 15 people in line ahead of us. They let us in the cue at 8:20 and we were on the ride at 8:25. Our bad luck continued and the ride broke down in the third game and we were evacuated off. We were given a MEP for basically Tier 2 rides.
We then rode Alien Swirling Saucers twice and watched Muppets 3D. While we were in Muppets, MMRR came back online at about 9:30am and jumped to a 60min wait.
I decided to talk to a Guest Services to see if I could get the MEP eligible for MMRR, but no luck. However, she was able to get us Soarn’ for the same day as we were hopping to EPCOT in the evening. (We elected to not wait the 60mins for MMRR as we have rode a few times on previous trips)
Had MMRR opened on time we should have completed our goals of MMRR, TSMM, ASS, and Muppets by 10:00am at the latest.
Allowing 15-30 minutes to drive to the park for rope drop has seemed to work. And, leaving 60-76 mins before EE should get you in the top 25-50% of the rope drop crowd.
Sometimes, I have parked closer coming later. 