A guide to parking prices and options at Walt Disney World

Parking at Walt Disney World is a necessity for many guests. Whether you’re driving to Orlando, or you’re renting a car, it’s good to know what to expect when parking at Walt Disney World. There are a few options for the type of parking available, and prices do change about once a year. Here’s a quick guide to parking, including prices and options, at Walt Disney World.

walt disney world
Photos by Dani Dennison Meyering

By Dani Dennison Meyering

Parking Prices at Walt Disney World

It’s an annoying additional cost that can add up. Parking at all four Walt Disney World theme parks is charged per day. You can park hop if you have park hopping privileges on your ticket, and you do not pay for parking again that same day.

  • Preferred parking – $45-$50 per day depending on seasonality
  • Standard parking: car or motorcycle – $25 per day
  • Oversized Vehicle Parking: Shuttle, Limo, Camper Trailer, RV, Bus or Tractor Trailer – $30 per day

Sales tax is included in the above parking prices. Annual passholders received complimentary standard parking. Passholders receive a discount on preferred parking. They can pay the difference between standard parking and preferred parking.

Guests of Walt Disney World Resort hotels receive complimentary parking at the theme parks. They do, however, have to pay for parking at their hotel. Parking prices vary by hotel class:

  • Disney Value Resorts – $15 per night
  • Disney Moderate Resorts – $20 per night
  • Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts – $25 per night

Disney Vacation Club Members are not charged for resort parking when staying at a Disney Vacation Club Deluxe Villa or Resort Hotel using their Vacation Points.

Parking is free at both of Walt Disney World’s water parks. Standard parking is free at Disney Springs, with valet parking available for $20; gratuity is not included in the price. There are three valet parking locations for Disney Springs:

  • Near Orange Garage from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
  • On West Side in front of Cirque du Soleil from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
  • In the Lemon Parking Lot near World of Disney from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

What is Included in Preferred Parking at Walt Disney World Theme Parks

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When preferred parking first rolled out at Walt Disney World, it included a few bottles of water, chilled and ready to cool you off. A Cast Member would direct you to the preferred parking, provide the water, and see if you had any questions.

Those extra touches are not very common nowadays. For the most part, preferred parking just gets you closer to the park entrance. With the lack of parking trams right now, it’s not a bad deal if you get to the parks later in the morning and into the afternoon. First thing in the morning, however, you’ll usually be parked right behind the preferred parking section. Overall, it’s just not as special of an enhancement as it once was when it first rolled out.

Also, be aware the pricing for preferred parking can go up in busier seasons like spring break, the winter holidays, and much of summer.

Other Information About Parking at Walt Disney World

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Currently, cast members are parking cars at every other spot, then backfill the empty spaces later. This enables social distancing and many guests have expressed their wish that Disney would keep this practice moving forward. It makes things easier when unloading the car, especially with kids, strollers, and bags.

At this time, parking trams are not running at any of the Disney theme parks. All guests will need to walk from their parking spot to the park entrance.

Guests with disabilities can utilize designated parking areas near the front of each parking lot. Disney does require a valid disability parking permit.

Electric vehicle charging stations are available at each theme park, Disney Springs, and select Disney hotels. Overall, the amount of spaces for charging electric vehicles is fairly limited.

The parking gates usually open about one hour before the published park opening time. For example, if Magic Kingdom is scheduled to open at 9 a.m., then parking is usually open by 8 a.m. 

If you are entitled to free parking, you’ll need to present your MagicBand or other media that contains your credentials, such as your Annual Pass or your Disney Resort hotel information. The cast member will scan this media and will need to see photo identification.

If you need to pay for parking, it will save you time to have your form of payment out before pulling up to the window. With Disney Park Pass Reservations being in place, cast members will usually ask if you have a reservation for the day.

If you need to depart the parking area before fully entering the parking lot, each theme park has a lane all the way to the left that will enable you to turn around or turn out of the parking area.


To learn more about parking at Walt Disney World Resort, visit DisneyWorld.com.

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