Parking Ideas for Shades of Green Guests
How to avoid paying $25 per day to park at Disney theme parks
Shades of Green guests, unlike other on property guests, are required to pay daily for parking at Walt Disney World Theme Parks. The current cost is $25.00 per day. The daily parking fee allows you to park all day long at any of the Disney theme parks. Just show your parking receipt if you decide to switch to a second park during the day.
While parking is free for everyone at Disney resorts, Disney Springs, the water parks, and Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Some Disney resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Beach Club) have a 3-hour parking time limit for dining/shopping.
During a long stay at Shades of Green these daily parking fees can add up. Below are some ways to get around without paying for parking.
Shades of Green has it’s own buses that take guests to the theme parks, water parks, and Downtown Disney. They are pretty reliable and most people are quite happy with the service.
Driving to the Magic Kingdom directly from Shades of Green is the one exception to having to pay for parking, as only direct route does not go through the parking toll plaza.
To get to the Magic Kingdom parking lot turn right as you exit the Shades of Green driveway. After passing the Polynesian Resort, you’ll yield to traffic coming from your left (from the Poly and Magic Kingdom area). Keep going straight, you will eventually merge into a three lane road.
Read about the best route back to Shades
Rather than driving to Epcot, a good option is to walk to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and catch the monorail. You can even catch Shades of Green’s Shady Shuttle to the end of the Shades driveway, which more than halves the walk. Once on the monorail get off at the second stop for the Magic Kingdom, or the Transportation and Ticket Center (the fourth stop) to transfer to the Epcot monorail line.
Driving back to Shades of Green from Epcot
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort Entertainment Area is conveniently located near both Disney Hollywood Studios and Epcot. You can walk or ride on Disney’s transportation boats to either park. Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and the Yacht and Beach Club are located at the Boardwalk entertainment area. Disney’s stated policy is that guests can’t park at their resorts and then visit the theme parks.
There is no transportation method to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom other than taking Shades of Green or Disney busses, or driving and paying the $25 to park.
Buses do not run from Disney Springs to the theme parks to prevent people from parking there and then gooing to the theme parks.
It’s a shame that guests at Shades of Green have to pay to park at the theme parks. Years ago they parked for free just like the other on-property Disney guests do.
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Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See our:
Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. For where to stay see our Resorts/Hotel Overview Page. Disney doesn’t discount dining for the military, but there are a few places on property that do, see the Dining Overview Page to learn where plus more dining info. You can also learn about Transportation Options. Be sure to check out our Technology Overview to learn about Magic Bands and My Disney Experience to see how they work with military tickets. Walt Disney World visitors might be interested in staying at Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort.
See: Top 8 Reasons to Use An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
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