Disability Parking At Walt Disney World
7 min read
Disability parking at Walt Disney World is necessary. Many Disney World visitors depend on it. In addition, Disney must comply with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. Accordingly, its infrastructure and policies for Guests with disabilities are well defined.
I’ll address a particular issue in this post. It’s all about disability parking at Walt Disney World. I’ll also insert some of the other facts about Walt Disney World parking into this article. I hope you’ll find these helpful.
In the United States, sixty-one million or approximately 26% of adults live with some form of disability. Almost 14% of those adults have a mobility disability, such as difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Accessible parking is essential to those with these disabilities. Disney does its best to provide for them.
Disability parking spaces are abundant at Walt Disney World. You’ll find them at all parking lots or garages where Guests could park. They are closest to the entrances of all theme parks (except for the Magic Kingdom). Also, you’ll find them at all Resorts and other Disney facilities. Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom have to park at the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC).
The Magic Kingdom Does Not Have Tram Service Directly To Or From The Park Entrance
The Magic Kingdom does not have tram service directly to or from the park entrance. However, trams servicing the Magic Kingdom bring guests from the parking lots to the Transportation & Ticket Center. From there, you would choose to ride the Monorail or ferryboat to the park’s main entrance.
Occasionally, Disney may provide bus service to the Magic Kingdom from the TTC during times with the highest crowd levels. It gives Guests three methods for getting to the park. When you head back to the parking lots after leaving the Magic Kingdom, reverse the procedure you originally came in on. You’d be heading back to the Transportation & Ticket Center and to the parking lots.
Look at the sign below and the red arrow. The disability parking area is near the Transportation & Ticket Center entrance. The other theme parks will have their disability parking locations indicated too. Also, note “Trams Do Not Service Disability Parking” on the sign.
Disability Parking Permits/License Plates Are Valid At Walt Disney World
Disability parking permits from any US state are valid at Walt Disney World. Also accepted are those from the UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and any EU country. You must have a valid disability parking permit to park in disabled spaces at Disney World. This permit can be a hanging disability placard, license plate, or any identification denoting your disabled parking authorization.
If you do not have a valid disabled parking permit, you can request to park at the end of a lot. Disney parking lot personnel will attempt to accommodate your request. I’ve heard these areas referred to as the Medical Parking section and are nearer to the entrances.
Random Examples Of Hanging Disability Placards And License Plates
Here are some random images of hanging disability placards and license plates. They are all different but universal in their meaning. Many states have reciprocal agreements for accessibility permits. With an authorized permit, you can park in handicapped parking anywhere when that convenience is needed.
Those with mobility-limiting disabilities making walking painful or difficult rely on their disability parking privileges. With a valid permit, accessible parking near the entrances of buildings is readily available. It helps those individuals who need it save time and energy.
I don’t want to get off subject, but please make sure you display any permit correctly. Most importantly, don’t try to borrow or use someone else’s so that you can park closer to the front. It’s illegal, you may incur a fine, and it’s just plain disrespectful to those who need it.
Resort Overnight Parking Is No Longer Free
Resort parking was free up until March 2018. It isn’t any longer. Here’s a list of the current overnight parking fees.
- Value Resorts: $15.00
- Moderate Resorts: $20.00
- Deluxe Resorts & Deluxe Villa Resorts: $25.00
- Campsites at Fort Wilderness: Complimentary; each site provides parking space for one motorized vehicle.
Resort parking fees are varied. For example, Value Resorts is the least expensive at $15.00 for overnight parking. But then, it goes up to $25.00 for Deluxe Resorts and Villas. I can’t figure out the logic. The more you pay for the room, the more you pay for parking!
I guess Disney deems that you can afford to pay more for parking if you can afford a more expensive resort. Unfortunately, these fees could wind up being costly. It depends on how long you stay and park overnight. Granted, these guests can still park at the parks for free. However, the cost of overnight Resort parking offsets that.
Walt Disney World Parking Fees Explained
Let me clarify. Standard Parking fees at the theme parks are $25.00. If you paid the overnight parking fee at a Value Resort, it would be $15.00. Since you’re allowed to park at the theme parks for free while staying at a Resort, you would save $10.00 in this example.
If you qualify for complimentary Resort parking because you have a disability permit, it would cost nothing to park at the theme parks. Confusing, yes? Think about how I feel trying to find a way to explain it.
Also, there is Preferred Parking at the theme parks. The fees range from $45.00 to $50.00 per day based on seasonality. It complicates the equation even more. Again, I’ll refer back to my example above. Suppose you paid the overnight parking fee of $15.00 at a Value Resort. Then if you wanted to park in Preferred Parking at the TTC, you’d have to pay an upcharge of $30.00 to $35.00.
However, there is no charge for Standard Parking at the two water parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Additionally, Standard Parking at Disney Springs is also free. Valet Parking is available at Disney Springs, but there is a flat fee of $20.00 for that service. It doesn’t matter if you have a disability permit or not; you’ll still have to pay.
Parking Benefits Of Staying At A Walt Disney World Resort
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels receive complimentary Standard Parking at Disney theme parks. So once you’ve paid to park overnight, you can park at the theme parks for free for the length of your Resort stay.
One of the most important benefits of staying at a Walt Disney Resort is the Disney transportation system. I like leaving my car parked at the Resort hotel and using the complimentary Disney transportation services. It allows me to travel anywhere I want on Disney property. Yes, I’m aware that I’m paying a premium by staying at a Disney Resort hotel. However, the convenience far outweighs the extra Resort expense.
Valet Parking Is Free For Disability Parking Permit Holders
At Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts and Villas, Valet Parking is free for disability parking permit holders. Valet Parking is $33.00 per day without a disability parking permit. Free Valet Parking still requires a dining or room reservation at the Resort. It’s not required, but you should tip the Valet Parking attendant too.
Valet parking did not return to Walt Disney World Resort hotels when they reopened. However, the service continued to be available for Guests with disabilities who required parking assistance. The Disney Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was the first to offer Valet Parking to all Guests again at the beginning of May.
All Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts are now offering Valet Parking again. I spoke with Guest Services today. The Guest Services Cast Member indicated that Valet Parking would soon be available at all Moderate Resorts. The Coronado Springs Resort is already offering this convenience. I guess it’s due to being a convention hotel.
There Are Three Types Of Disabled Parking Spaces At Walt Disney World
- Accessible parking spaces for cars are for standard vehicles without a wheelchair ramp or lift. These are marked spaces with the International Symbol of Access (ISA) (blue and white wheelchair symbol). They have at least a 60-inch-wide aisle. It allows a person in a wheelchair ample room to enter and exit the vehicle.
- Accessible parking spaces for vans (one-sided entry) are for vehicles that have a ramp or lift. They have a striped access aisle on the driver’s side at least 96 inches wide. These are also marked spaces with the International Symbol of Access.
- Accessible parking spaces for vans (two-sided entry) are similar to those with one-sided entry. The only difference is an access aisle on both sides.
Complimentary wheelchairs are available in the parking lots. Use them to get to the theme park entrance. However, once you get to the park entrance, you’ll need to rent a wheelchair or ECV. As of this writing, a wheelchair is $12, and an ECV is $70.00 per day.
Get To The Park Entrance From The Parking Lot
I’ve Tried To Make My WDW Disability Parking Post As Complete As Possible
In conclusion, I’ve tried to make my Disney World Disability Parking post as complete as possible. However, I may have missed something along the way, and I apologize. Hopefully, the information I’ve provided will prove to be helpful during your visit.
Click this link, Parking At Walt Disney World, for more information. In addition, you could contact Disability Services at (407) 560-2547 or send them an email at disability.services@disneyparks.com.
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