Disneyland Parking | Tips & Info to Make Your Arrival Smooth

Disneyland has always been one of those special locations for travelers and Disney lovers – whether you’re alone, on a couple’s trip, or on a family outing. The Disneyland Resort in California is the perfect location for a holiday or excursion.

And the reality is there is no best time to go to Disneyland – it’s a place for fun and enjoyment all year round. However, there are a few things you need to know about Disneyland parking before you go, like prices, locations, tips, and tricks. You name it, and this guide has got you covered. 

Planning your trip? We’ve got tons of helpful Disney planning guides from our awesome list of 40 essential tips, to how to get to Disneyland, where to stay near Disney, what to pack, what to wear, where to park, and what to eat in both Disneyland and California Adventure.

The Different Disney Parking Lots

There are several official Disneyland parking lots in the Disneyland Resort area. Keep in mind that each parking location follows the same pricing conventions and open hours, which will be looked at later. Here is a brief rundown of each site and parking structure.

Mickey and Friends Parking Structure

The Mickey and Friends parking structure is considered one of the more accessible parking locations. While it is separate from the Pixar Pals parking, they are only separated by a few steps and utilize the same main entrance. 

You can walk from the parking structure toward the resort itself or use the tram system that will take you to and from the main entrance esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, near Downtown Disney. You can access this parking structure via the South 5 freeway and exit onto Disneyland Drive after your visit.

Top Tip: If you are bringing a pet, the Mickey and Friends parking structure is one of the best, as it offers pet-friendly transport to the kennels at the Disneyland Kennel Club.

Pixar Pals Parking Structure

The Pixar Pals parking structure shares the same entrance and exit as the Mickey and Friends lot, with the entry on the South 5 freeway and exits onto Disneyland Drive. You can walk from the parking structure toward the resort itself or use the tram system that will take you to and from the main entrance esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, near Downtown Disney.

This addition was added after Mickey and Friends and helps accommodate more cars, doubling the capacity.

It shares a security checkpoint and walkway to the Disneyland entrance with Mickey and Friends, so it has some of the same benefits, like easy access to the tram system. Between the two parking structures, there are around 17,000 parking spaces available. 

Pro Tip: Use Mickey & Friends or Pixar pals parking if you are travelling South on I-d, East on CA-91, from LAX, Long Beach airport, or Bob Hope Burbank airport.

The Disneyland Resort tram service conveniently transports guests from the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures to the Main Entrance Esplanade, between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

Toy Story Parking

You will find the Toy Story parking area, a few blocks away from the Disneyland entrance on Katella Avenue, easily accessible if you are traveling on the North 5 freeway. It is a single-layer, uncovered parking area with around 5,300 parking spaces. 

You can catch a bus from the parking area that will drop you off across from the main entrance esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, near Downtown Disney. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to walk the 15-minute journey to the entrance to the theme park.

Pro Tip: Use the Toy Story parking if you are travelling North on I-5, West on CA-91, on CA-22, from John Wayne airport, or from Ontario airport.

Downtown Disney Parking

The parking at Downtown Disney uses the Simba lot, separate from the official theme park parking areas. It is located between West Katella Avenue and Paradise Pier Hotel. Since it isn’t explicitly designated as a theme park parking area, the rates are charged differently.

The Downtown Disney District itself is filled with excellent restaurants and shops and is accessible whether you’re visiting Disneyland itself or not. Either way, this is a good parking option to see the park and the shopping area.

Accessible parking spots for guests with disabilities are available in Downtown Disney with a valid parking placard or license plate. Standard paring fees apply.

After you park, you can take a bus or a tram to the park entrance. You can also make use of the walkway.

Where to Park at Disneyland 

Where to park at Disneyland depends on your needs and wants. Most people use the standard parking in the designated areas in the Resort, namely Pixar Pals, Mickey and Friends, and the Toy Story lots. These spots are the easiest to access and cost the least. However, you can opt for preferred parking for an upgrade.

Preferred parking spots are close to elevators and escalators for easier and quicker access to the tram systems and park entrance – saving you a decent amount of walking time. These spots are in the Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures. You can expect to pay around $50, but you can upgrade from standard parking (for cars and motorcycles) for an extra $20.

Disneyland also offers accessible parking spots for guests with disabilities. These are available at Mickey and Friends, Toy Story, and Pixar Pals parking structures and are charged at the same $30 price as standard parking.

A valid disabled parking placard or license plate is required. If the designated parking spots are full then a cast member can direct you to an available parking option.

How Much is Parking at Disneyland? 

Disneyland parking prices vary depending on what you’re looking for. Parking costs are charged as daily rates and include in-and-out privileges should you need to leave the park and return later.

Here is a brief look at Disneyland parking costs:

• $30 – Cars and motorcycles (standard parking)
• $35 – Oversized vehicles without extension trailers (Toy Story lot only)
• $40 – Buses or tractors with extension trailers (Toy Story lot only)
• $50 – Preferred parking (Mickey & Friends, Pixar Pals, and Toy Story lots)

The oversized vehicles category includes buses, motor homes, dually trucks, RVs and RV campers, tractors-trailers, and passenger vehicles with trailers.

Disney also offers a magic key pass program for customers to take advantage of, allowing them to enter the park at any time of year, so long as the pass remains active. Parking prices are also affected if you are a magic key pass holder. Each pass has different benefits:

• Enchant key: 25% off standard parking rates
• Imagine key: 25% off standard parking rates
• Believe key: 50% off standard parking rates
• Inspire key: Free standard parking included

But now you might wonder – how much is Downtown Disney parking? It’s important to note that parking here is priced differently than the other parking lots and structures available – it’s a bit more complicated than a daily rate.

The first hour of parking is charged at $10 without validations. After that, you will be charged every 30 minutes at $7, up to a maximum of $66. That means that parking here can be secured for a maximum of five hours.

Validations are required after the first hour and can be secured through any purchase (minimum $20) at official Downtown Disney locations or restaurants.

How Do I Pay for Disneyland Parking?

Daily parking for cars and motorcycles can be purchased through the Disneyland app before your arrival. Simply add it to your cart when you are purchasing your park tickets. For all other vehicle types you must pay when you get to the lot.

Here is a list of all accepted payment methods:

• Cash
• Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diner’s Club, Discovery, and American Express cards
• Disney gift cards
• Disney rewards visa card
• Disney Dollars
• Pre-paid parking vouchers

Disneyland Parking Hours

All parking locations at Disneyland, including Pixar Pals, Mickey and Friends, Toy Story, and Downtown Disney parking locations, open an hour before the earliest park opening time. So, if the park opens at 08:00 am, the parking will open at 07:00 am.

This allows visitors time to find a good spot and get ahead of the lines, so be sure to check the opening times for the days you plan on visiting.

Disneyland Hotel Parking

Parking at a Disneyland hotel requires overnight guests to pay extra parking fees. Although, even if you aren’t staying at a hotel, you can secure parking at nearby spots, especially when you are dining. There are extra fees to think about, though.

For overnight hotel guests, parking costs are:

• $35 per night (self-parking) per vehicle
• $40 per night per oversized vehicle
• $65 per night (valet parking) per vehicle

For non-hotel guests, parking costs are:

• $35 for the first hour (self-parking) per vehicle, with an additional $10 per hour (maximum rate $75)
• $40 for the first hour for oversized vehicles, with an additional $10 per hour (maximum rate $80)
• $65 for the first hour (valet parking) per vehicle, with an additional $10 per hour (maximum rate $135)

Off-Site Disneyland Parking

If you want to skip the fuss and stress of waiting in long lines and traffic, a few areas offer parking in the general area near Disneyland. Hotels along Harbor Boulevard, like the Anaheim Hotel or Clarion Hotel, offer daily parking rates, even if you aren’t an overnight guest.

These parking rates here usually range between $20 and $30 for the day. You can park at one of these locations and then walk to the park’s entrance.

Can You Re-Enter Disneyland? 

Yes – with standard and preferred parking locations in the three central parking locations, i.e., Mickey and Friends, Toy Story, and Pixar Pals parking structures. You can drive out and come back as many times throughout the day as you need to, as long as you make sure to keep your parking ticket with you.

Disneyland Car Locator

If you’ve ever struggled with finding your car in large parking lots, don’t worry. Disneyland has an official app that has a new feature allowing you to track your car’s location. Using the My Disney Experience app, you can manually enter your car’s location or use your phone’s GPS to pick it up.

It is available in select parking locations:

• Mickey & Friends Parking Structure
• Pixar Pals parking Structure
• Toy Story Parking Area
• Simba Parking Lot

Disneyland Drop-Off and Pick-Up

If you don’t want to take your own car and you’re looking for a more cost-effective transport method, then carpools and drop-offs are an excellent choice.

There are two official drop-off and pick-up locations at Disneyland Resort – one in Downtown Disney (parking rates apply after a 15-minute grace period) and the other on Harbor Boulevard. 

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Electric vehicle charging stations can be found in all three main parking areas. Feel free to approach a Cast Member for their assistance in located them as there are only a limited number available.

If you are staying at an on-site hotel there are charging ports located in the Fantasy self-parking lot at the Disneyland Hotel and on the ground floor of the Paradise Pier Hotel self-parking structure. For Grand Californian guest, ask a valet attendant for availability or for self-parking guests the Paradise Pier charging spots are available.

They are ChargePoint charging ports and require a ChargePoint card to access. If you require directions to a charging port, feel free to approach a Cast Member for their assistance.

Read next: What to Take to Disneyland.

Before You Go

The best way to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip is to know as much as you can before you go. Since you made it to the end of this article, you’re probably pretty interested in all things Disney. Here are a few more articles we think you might enjoy.

• Airports Near Disneyland
• 7 Best Disneyland Hotels Within Walking Distance
• Disneyland vs California Adventure: Which One to Choose
• Is Disney Genie+ Worth It?

» Looking for more inspiration along the route? Check out all our guides to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Find the best beaches in Monterey, waterfalls in Southern California, and national parks.

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March 11, 2024