Your Guide To Disneyland Parking 2020 • Military Disney Tips Blog

Special Info for these Crazy Times:

Disneyland Resort provides three official parking options for guests: the Toy Story Parking Area, the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure and the new Pixar Pals Parking Structure.

(Updated June 2019) Though these three parking areas are the official lots designated for guest use, Disneyland may open Cast Member lots such as the Pumbaa Parking Area (across the street from the Disneyland Resort) and the Simba Parking Area (near the Disneyland Hotel). Below, I’ll explain in greater detail about the Cast Member lots.

There is also a separate area for Downtown Disney parking, though you’re not able to park here if you’ll be spending the day in the Disneyland Resort or the Disney California Adventure Park (DCA).

General Parking Information

There are several areas to park your vehicle for the Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. No matter which area you choose to leave your car in the price will be the same.

Parking Rates:

General Parking – $25
Oversized – $30
Bus Tractor Trailer – $35
Preferred Parking – $40

Disneyland Parking Areas open one hour before posted park operating hours, and close one hour after. This means that if you’re taking advantage of Main Street’s late-night shopping hour (Main Street, U.S.A. shops stay open one hour after the park closes), you may want to send a runner to get the car.

On Magic Morning Early Admission days, the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure will open 90 minutes before the published park operating hours.

The best part about these Parking Areas is that Disney offers what I like to call “guided parking.” Cast Members will be stationed around the lot or garage showing everyone where to go and continually filling in the next available spot.

This means you won’t have to drive in endless circles searching for a parking space; you won’t have to sit behind a car parked in the middle of the lane with it’s blinker on, waiting for that one coveted front-row spot. We’ve all been there; it’s not fun. This “guided parking” method is both efficient and necessary to quickly get you out of the car and on your way into the parks.

Though the all of the Parking Areas are for the same resort, each one provides a very different experience and one might work better than the others for you and your party.

The Disneyland Parking Experience

Disneyland Parking Toy Story Shuttle - (C) Disney

Disneyland Parking Toy Story Shuttle Bus (C) Disney

Toy Story Parking Area: 1900 South Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92802

This is the newest lot that Disneyland has to offer and is easily accessible from Harbor Boulevard.

This simple parking experience is just a quick stop at the ticket booths (even quicker if you’ve pre-purchased your parking pass online), guided parking through the large, open lot, and a short shuttle ride to the Disneyland Esplanade where you’ll find the entrances to Disneyland, DCA, and Downtown Disney.

Mickey & Friends Parking Structure: 1313 S Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802

This parking garage is the most popular parking area, which also means that it’s very busy. Don’t get me wrong, the other parking areas are busy as well, but since you won’t be driving through floor after floor of parking garage, you may feel like you’re able to park your car and get to the parks quicker in one of the other lots.

Once parked in the structure, you’ll be able to take the stairs, an escalator, or an elevator down to ground level (if you’re not there already) to board the tram.

Want closer proximity to elevators and escalators? You may opt to park in designated Preferred Parking spaces—available only at the Parking Structures. Upon arrival, purchase Preferred Parking and a Cast Member will direct you to the appropriate parking spot.

The great thing about the tram for this structure is that you’ll go through a security screening before boarding, and be able to get it over with. Depending on the time of day, these security lines may be much shorter than those to get into the Disneyland Resort, which you’ll be waiting in if you choose the Toy Story Parking Area or a Cast Member lot.

The trams load quickly, but loading may seem to take longer than a shuttle bus because of the amount of people they can hold on each tram.

The open-air tram will embark on a short 5-7 minute ride down the backside of Downtown Disney and drop you off just outside the Disneyland Esplanade.

A quick tip: when boarding the trams to go back to the parking garage at the end of the day, there are two trams loading; the second is usually less busy.

Pixar Pals Parking Structure

Pixar Pals Parking Structure

This brand new structure (opened 30 June 2019), features familiar friends from Disney and Pixar films such as “Coco,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Inside Out.” Pixar Pals adds more than 5,000 parking spaces to the west side of the Disneyland Resort. With additional entry lanes and a new electronic inventory system, the new parking structure will expedite Guest parking and reduce traffic around the resort.

Cast Member Parking Lots

On busy days, Disneyland may open the Cast Member parking lots for guests use. This usually happens in the early afternoon, but may happen sooner.

Pumbaa Cast Member Lot: 1653 Hotel Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

There is a shuttle available for this lot, but the walk to Disneyland is not far; in fact, it’s less than a mile! If you choose to walk, you may be able to beat the shuttle to the Disneyland Esplanade and skip the shuttle loading line, traffic lights, and the unloading crowd!

Simba Cast Member Lot: 1717 S Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802

From Simba, you’ll embark on a somewhat lengthy walk behind the Disneyland Hotel and through Downtown Disney. Because of this walk, this lot may not be advised for parties with young children, or people who just don’t want to add all the extra steps to their Disneyland adventure.

If you already have your Disneyland Park Tickets, you may be able to catch a Monorail ride into Tomorrowland and skip the walk through Downtown Disney! However, if your park ticket is only for the Disney California Adventure Park, and not for Disneyland itself, you won’t be able to board the Monorail.

You’ll also be able to ride the Monorail out of the park at the end of the day, but be advised: the Monorail does not run around the time of the fireworks spectacular, and will close when the rest of the park does.

Theme Park Disability Parking

There are a limited number of designated parking spaces for Guests with disabilities at the Toy Story Parking Area and the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure. A valid disability parking placard or license plate is required and standard parking rates will apply. Simply follow the signs or ask a Cast Member for directions to disability parking. For your convenience, transportation is available from these parking locations to the Main Entrance.

Wheelchair and ECV Accessibility on Disneyland Resort Transportation
Select Disneyland Resort buses and trams can accommodate some types of wheelchairs and Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs). Wheelchair lift-equipped vans are available to transport Guests between the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure and the Downtown Disney District, close to both theme park entrances.

Wheelchairs and ECVs must fit easily on all Disneyland Resort transportation lifts, ramps and designated wheelchair spaces—without being forced. Once inside the vehicle, wheelchairs and ECVs must be securely fastened via restraints.

How Do I Choose Which Parking Area Is Right For My Party?

Well, now that you know the details, just pick your favorite!

Would you rather experience stress-free parking and a shuttle ride to the parks? How about the shelter of a parking garage and a short tram ride through Downtown Disney to the Disneyland Esplanade? Do you want to skip shuttling altogether? Shoot for a Cast Member parking lot (only on busy days) and a short walk to the Happiest Place on Earth! And if you love the Monorail, park in the Simba lot and enjoy a short ride to the land of tomorrow.

Do you have a favorite place to park for your Disney adventures? Has your experience with the Disney Parking Areas varied from the ones above? Let us know in the Comments Section below!

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