5 Parking Rules Tourists Break That Scream “This Is My First Time in Orlando”

Over the course of the year, millions of locals and tourists alike drive through Orlando when heading to Disney World, Universal Orlando, or the area’s other tourist destinations, and it is almost always easy to identify the latter if you watch them park.

This isn’t to pick on anyone — truth be told, I haven’t driven on any of my trips to the Orlando area over the last 30 years — however, according to the area locals on our team, there are simply certain “tells” exhibited by drivers as they’re trying to navigate parking in Central Florida.

They Don’t Use MDE

The Walt Disney World App (AKA My Disney Experience AKA MDE) provides a Car Locator tool that will let it remember exactly where you parked, which can be a lifesaver when trying to locate your car at the end of a long park day. Definitely something worth taking advantage of, which many guests seem to miss.  Speaking of park parking lots…

They Don’t Know About the TTC

When Walt Disney World was first built, Disney’s Imagineers — looking to avoid the cluttered look that had sprung up around Disneyland — decided not to build a parking lot next to the Magic Kingdom. Instead, they positioned the parking lot near a Transportation and Ticket Center, linked to the park via Monorail, ferry boat, or parking lot tram. This is certainly an ingenious design, but it’s also one many tourists — especially first-time tourists — don’t realize. In turn, they’re often caught off guard by the amount of time it takes to get from the parking lot to the park, and vice versa.

They Mix Up Trams

Speaking of the Magic Kingdom parking lots, it’s very important to remember which parking lot you’re in. Getting on the wrong parking lot tram will end up costing you over half an hour, as there’s no way to get on the ride tram other than heading all the way back.

They Pay for Preferred Parking

While preferred parking at Orlando venues may sound like a good idea on paper, often in practice, the spaces aren’t much closer than the “normal” and cheaper parking spots.

They Think that Disney and Universal are Close to Each Other

Many first-time tourists visiting the Orlando area may think that the theme parks of Walt Disney World or the Universal Resort are close to each other… or that Disney and Universal are overall close to each other! This can lead to a VAST underestimation of how long they’ll need to travel between them and park.

Next time you’re driving through Orlando, keep these rules in mind so you can park like a pro. Stay tuned to AllEars for more tips on visiting the area.

Why Magic Kingdom Doesn’t Have a Parking Lot: The History of the TTC

 

Have any Orlando parking tips? Let us know in the comments below.

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