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How to avoid paying $14 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 $14.00 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.

Parking is free at Disney resorts, Downtown Disney, the water parks, and Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Some Disney resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Beach Club) have a 3-hour 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.

If you are going to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot a good option is the walk to Disney’s Polynesian 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.

Disney’s Boardwalk entertainment area is conveniently located near both Disney 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 $14 to park.

Disney busses run to all the theme parks from Downtown Disney, but it would be rather inconvenient to drive there park and then ride the buses.

It’s a shame that about a year ago guests at Shades of Green had to start paying to park at the theme parks. Prior to that they parked for free just like other on-property Disney guests do.