How Does Parking at Disney Springs Work?
Our family visits Disney Springs regularly, and although parking is fairly straightforward, we’ve learned a few things over the years while visiting with young kids. Some of those little details can be helpful to know before planning your own trip.
In this post, we’ll share more information about the parking options at Disney Springs, including how long the process can take from finding a spot to actually entering Disney Springs, and some practical tips we’ve learned along the way with our two kids, currently ages 5 and 3.
Where Can You Park at Disney Springs?
Disney Springs offers a number of complimentary, self-parking locations. There are three multi-level parking garages called the Lime, Orange and Grapefruit garages, as well as three parking lots that Disney refers to as “surface parking.” These are the Mango, Strawberry and Watermelon parking lots.
Parking locations are around the perimeter of Disney Springs, and depending on what your plans are while visiting, there can be some advantages to where you choose to park. We’ve visited Disney Springs both during the day and at night and have found the garages and lots to be well-lit and we’ve always felt safe making our way to and from our car.
The parking garages utilize a parking spot tracking system that makes finding an open spot a little easier. There are digital signs as you enter the garage and pass each floor that tell you how many available spots there are. Each row also has a sign showing the number of available spots, and individual spaces have indicator lights that are green when a spot is open and red when it’s taken. During peak times when there are a lot of people searching for parking, we’ve found this to be really helpful because you can avoid wasting time looking for spots where there aren’t any.
Once you park, the garages have both escalators and elevators to help you get from one floor to the next. There is a pedestrian walkway connecting each garage to Disney Springs. There will be signs directing you as you enter, but we’ve found that the floors with pedestrian access tend to be busier than the others.
If you have a stroller, keep in mind that you can’t take it on the escalators and will need to use an elevator instead. Depending on which floor you park on, this can add a little extra time to the process of getting from your car into Disney Springs.
Where Do We Usually Park at Disney Springs?
Given the option between the parking lots and garages, we almost always choose one of the garages. The main reason is convenience and proximity to the places we visit most while we’re at Disney Springs.
The Lime Garage is our first choice. You’ll enter Disney Springs near The Polite Pig, and it’s a short walk to the World of Disney Store and T-Rex, two of our most visited places at Disney Springs. This area is referred to as the Marketplace and has a lot of other great spots for families visiting with young kids. We have a separate post where we go over some of those stops in more detail if you’re looking for ideas on how to plan your time at Disney Springs.
The Orange Garage is usually our second choice. It’s farther from the Marketplace, but still fairly close to shops in the Town Center, like the popular Disney Ever After, where you can create your own customizable headbands. It also puts you close to the West Side, where you’ll find places like Disney’s Candy Cauldron and Super Hero Headquarters.
The Grapefruit Garage is the farthest away. It’s located on the opposite side of the street, so you’ll need to use an elevated, covered walkway to cross the street and enter Disney Springs. You may be more likely to find open spots there, but since we’re visiting with young kids and a stroller, it puts us farther away from the places where we typically spend our time.
The parking lots are all located near the West Side of Disney Springs. They may be a convenient option if you’re planning to spend most of your time in that area, especially if you’re seeing a show, going to a movie at the AMC Theater or have a dinner reservation nearby.
My best advice is to take a look at the interactive Disney Springs map online or in the My Disney Experience app before deciding where to park. If there’s a particular area where you plan on spending most of your time, or you know where you’re likely to end your night, choosing your parking location accordingly can help minimize the walk back to your car.
What Happens After You Park?
Once you’ve found your parking spot, it’s time to unload and make your way toward Disney Springs. We typically bring our diaper bag and just one stroller for my toddler. However, if you plan on spending the whole day exploring Disney Springs, younger kids may appreciate having a place to relax as well. You can rent strollers at Disney Springs, just like you can at the parks, and we have a whole post about the process you can check out here. If we’re visiting during the holiday season and completing the Christmas Tree Trail, which is a free scavenger hunt around Disney Springs that our kids love, we make sure my older son has a stroller too because there can be a lot of walking involved.
Before you leave your car, it’s also a good idea to make note of where you parked. It can be difficult to remember exactly where your car is, especially if it’s your first time visiting Disney Springs. I recommend taking a picture of your parking location or using the Car Locator feature in the My Disney Experience app. That way, after a fun day at Disney Springs when everyone is tired and ready to head out, you’re not walking around trying to find your car.
Depending on the garage you chose and the level you parked on, you may need to take either an escalator or elevator to reach the floor with the walkway. There are plenty of signs letting you know which floor you’ll need to head toward. In the Lime and Orange Garages, for example, the walkway is on the second floor. If you brought a stroller, you’ll need to use an elevator, while those without strollers can take the escalators.
The security checkpoints typically only take a few minutes, but you may experience longer lines during peak times, like an afternoon on a busy weekend. It’s also a good idea to review Disney’s policies ahead of time to see what can and can’t be brought into Disney Springs to hopefully avoid any unnecessary delays.
Once you’re through security, you can make your way into Disney Springs. If you parked in a garage like Lime or Orange, you’ll need to take another elevator down to the first floor. Those without strollers can also use the escalators or stairs. These elevators are smaller and there are only two, so there have been times when we’ve had to wait a few minutes before getting on one.
Will Your Child Have to Get Out of the Stroller at Security?
In our experience, infants and young babies can typically stay in their strollers. So if you managed to get your baby down for a nap and successfully transferred them out of the car, don’t worry too much about reaching security. When our younger son was still an infant, we were usually able to leave him in his stroller as we went through the checkpoint.
Toddlers and young kids who can walk comfortably on their own, however, may be asked to get out of their strollers and walk through the security checkpoint with you. During one of our very first visits to Disney Springs with our older son, who was a toddler at the time, we spent a few minutes trying to convince him to get into the stroller. He finally agreed, only for us to realize a few minutes later that he needed to get right back out at the security checkpoint.
Our kids have gotten used to the process now, and we typically don’t have any issues getting my toddler to sit back down afterward. But it’s something to keep in mind before trying to get a reluctant toddler into the stroller as soon as you get out of the car when they may have to get back up again a few minutes later. It might work out better to let them stretch their legs for a few minutes and try again after you make it through security.
How Early Should You Park for a Dining Reservation?
Disney recommends arriving at least one hour before a show or dining reservation in order to leave yourself enough time to navigate parking and security. During the busy holiday season, they actually increase that recommendation to two hours.
We’ve visited Disney Springs dozens of times over the years, mainly on weekends, but also during the peak holiday season, and we’ve found that to be a realistic timeframe. Sometimes, you’ll get lucky, find a spot right away, see there’s no line at security and be inside Disney Springs in just a few minutes. Other times, the process can take much longer.
Last year, we visited the weekend before Thanksgiving, and it took us almost an hour just to find a parking spot. The garages were so full that we ultimately ended up parking in one of the parking lots. When it was time to leave, we sat in traffic for more than an hour just trying to get out of the lot.
You’re much better off arriving with more than enough time than rushing around trying to make a reservation. There’s plenty to do at Disney Springs if you end up with some extra time.
Quick Parking Tips for Families
Review the interactive map of Disney Springs before your visit to decide which parking location makes the most sense for your plans.
Leave plenty of time before a show or dining reservation to park, get through security and walk to your destination.
There are digital signs on the roads leading into Disney Springs that indicate when a parking location is full. You may still be able to find an open spot as someone is leaving, but be prepared for parking to take longer during busy times.
The garages have a parking spot tracking system, while the parking lots don’t. During busy times, we find this helpful because you can more easily see where open spots are available.
Take a photo of where you parked or use the Car Locator feature in the My Disney Experience app so you can easily find your car later.
Bring a stroller for little ones. If you’re planning a full day at Disney Springs, younger kids may appreciate having a place to sit and rest as well.
Toddlers and young kids may be asked to get out of their strollers at security. If your child is reluctant to get in, it might be worth saving that battle until after you’ve made it through the checkpoint.
Parking at Disney Springs is complimentary and open to everyone. You don’t need to be staying at a Walt Disney World Resort to park there.