:)
It may have been good timing, but our waits to enter the parking structure have been much shorter during our last two visits
(today Sunday, May 11, and--I forget which Sunday in April),
than they were during several earlier visits in 2008.

The staff seemed to be working harder
and
I think ALL of the lanes were open.
This got us in the park sooner and in better spirits.
Thanks, parking lot crew!

:)
It may have been good timing, but our waits to enter the parking structure have been much shorter during our last two visits
(today Sunday, May 11, and--I forget which Sunday in April),
than they were during several earlier visits in 2008.

The staff seemed to be working harder
and
I think ALL of the lanes were open.
This got us in the park sooner and in better spirits.
Thanks, parking lot crew!

HUH???

I had a LOUSY day at the structure...

First off, the scanning of AP's takes longer than the former policy of allowing a CM to just push a button.

The secondary entrance was closed, and is hardly ever used anymore (off Magic Way).

There was a big back-up on Ball Road going westbound to the left turn onto Disneyland Drive.

The Trams are much slower since the accident a week ago Friday, the new rules make you walk to the FAR loading areas from the structure, and they can't pass either other in most cases, and when they do, it has to be "super slow".

On the way back to the structure, we had to wait over 15 minutes to get onto a tram (around 6 PM), they only had one loading area open, even though the DCA Pixar Play Parade just ended, and it was not a good scene.

Too bad Pummba wasn't open!

We arrived at about 8:00 and pulled right in, no line at all. Many booths open and very swift scanning of the AP. Yes, we had to walk to the far loading area, but once there we got on a tram very quickly. Left about 2, again, got a tram very quickly. I was impressed with the improvement over recent visits.

my only complaint is they don't have enough CMs directing cars to spaces. When cars go down an aisle without guidance at the end, people park crooked, and skip spaces, or park right at the top of the aisle and walk down blocking traffic, or a car will skip past parked cars looking for a free space further down. It ends up chaos. But a good CM that fills in every space makes things go so smoothly. Today, they sent too many cars down the aisle, and so about 7 cars had drive down to the end of the aisle, avoiding pedestrians, only to have to loop around and merge with the ramp traffic. Not good for anyone.

I had good parking kharma yesterday (Sunday). Got there at about 11:30 AM. Easy entry at the booth, although not all lanes were open. Parked on Donald 10E which is the row closest to the escalators.

Is this a permanent thing to load trams at the far end of the plaza? And are they now going to continue to load on both sides of the plaza? It was a bit confusing, and there really wasn't a CM present on the plaza to ask questions. I asked a CM at the crosswalk. The tram on the west side took a very long time to load, while guests were waiting several trams deep on the east side.

Is all of this because of the accident? Guest safety should be the top priority, and I'm not sure these choices are the best.

I didn't deal with the structure directly yesterday, but there was a big backup on Disneyland Drive between Ball and the exit off the 5. The overpass directly into the structure was closed to incoming traffic, so everyone was on Disneyland Dr. This was about 1:45. It took me 7 minutes (half of my usual entire commuting time) to go that one little block (which really stunk because then I had to run to make it to work on time). I have no idea if the backup was related to the structure not having enough lanes open, but it sure appeared that way.

We arrived at about 8:00 and pulled right in, no line at all. Many booths open and very swift scanning of the AP. Yes, we had to walk to the far loading area, but once there we got on a tram very quickly. Left about 2, again, got a tram very quickly. I was impressed with the improvement over recent visits.
Although my two-year-old is a bit disappointed, I've been skipping the tram and walking. It's funny how quickly time passes when you're walking to Disneyland. It's energizing and probably makes me a little calmer and less demented. (I am a true Disney freak.)

Can someone tell me what happened in "the accident" that everyone is referring to?

Thanks.

What time do the parking lots open at Disneyland? Especially on Early Entry days?

What accident?

It is actually faster to walk then to take the tram. We time this frequently and even if you are first in line to get onto the tram walkers will still arrive before you or at the same time.

The accident was on May 2nd, around 11 AM, ironically around the same time a Dentist jumped to his death at the Disneyland Hotel. (The two had NOTHING in common).

Basically if you know the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure Tram Loading area, think about the 4 load/unload stations. The first one is nearest the Elevators, then the second one just past it, then the trams make the 180 turn, then station 3 is the main one used for Wheelchair loading (has the ramp) and then the fourth was the most used one, and nearest the escalators.

What happened is a Tram loaded at Station 3, and the Tram at Station 4 was still loading. So the driver of the Tram leaving Station 3 tried to go around the tram in Station 4, passing on the right. Well, the turn was a bit wide, and the back of the Tram hit one of the three billboards that is built in the Shrub wall that blocks Disneyland Drive. A few people got hurt, but nothing major.

But this has required a bunch of new procedures in loading and passing that has slowed down the amount of trams that can be loaded per hour.

I am mourning the Timon lot already. I can't imagine what horrors await us upon its closing. Does anyone know if there are ANY contingency plans in place, or if everyone is just going to have to deal with the influx into an already crowded garage?

The current plans are to use Pummba more often (no tram service).

And move the Cast Member/Downtown Disney Employee parking out of Simba to Katella CM lot, and use that for more guest parking. Also, more of Simba will open up when the Grand California addition is available to have cars park underneath it. (Rooms don't have to be done, but the main construction needs to be finished.

Simba is another lot that does not have Tram service (since trams can't cross public streets). More than likely the current policy of having to walk to the park going past the Disneyland Hotel and Downtown Disney will remain.

All "ADA" parking will be referred to the Main Parking Structure.

And if need be, they will open Buzz Lightyear (the old Strawberry Field). That will offer shuttles, but they will be run by Coach USA (the same folks who run ART and Gray Line), as they have to be "Street Legal" vehicles. This is why Disney will use other lots, including even moving the CM parking North of the Parking Structure elsewhere (more than likely, the Katella CM Lot) and use it, as they will expect guests to walk to the Main Tram Loading area. They have had surveys taken about this option. The main drawback, you have to walk up a flight of stairs to cross from the north side of the structure to the south side, where the Tram loading area is located.

I know of no new Parking structure/area being planned by Disney at present, other than the underground parking for valet parking at the Grand Californian (under the current construction).

Now, the City of Anaheim has an parking issue also, as they are looking to remove the current Parking Structure for the Convention Center that is accessed from Katella for a new Hotel and more Convention space. (This lot has been used by Disney as overflow parking in the past). Most folks in the know expect a new Parking Structure to be built behind the Convention Center, where there are currently 2 other structures, basically next to West

Since we have a nice parking thread going here, can someone clarify recent exerience with magic morning parking? I have heard park at DD and the move to M&F's later.

Since we have a nice parking thread going here, can someone clarify recent experience with magic morning parking? I have heard park at DD and the move to M&F's later.

Pretty much, that is the best option, other than not driving at all (use the ART or other type of transportation if you are staying at a nearby hotel.) The OCTA is pretty good, and has 24 hour service going up and down Harbor, as many Cast Members use it to get to work.

www.octa.net (http://www.octa.net)

But the current policy (last time I checked) is that the Parking Lots open at the same time Magic Mornings start (aka Early Entry).

But let's take the example of an 8 AM scheduled opening for Disneyland. That would make Magic Mornings start at 7 AM.

The first problem is that in most cases, the CM's scheduled to start leave the nearby CM office/break area at 7 AM, so the Toll booths don't open until around 7:05 AM. So where are you in line?, it might take a few minutes to just be able to pay (or show your pass) and get by the Toll Booths.

Then which entrance? The Main Parking Structure will more than likely send you to the Pinocchio parking lot, which is the overflow area just to the south of the actual structure. (This is done for labor savings, you need less CM's to park Pinocchio than in the structure itself).

If you opt for the Harbor Blvd (Timon) entrance, more than likely, they will collect your money, and then hand you the paid receipt, and directions to the Parking Structure, where you have to wait a second time for the Toll Booths, this time, you just show your paid receipt, but you have spent a LOT of time to just get to a parking space.

Then you park, and walk to the Tram loading area, which can take a few minutes, as the parking is on the far (west) end of Pinocchio.

You get to the Tram, but they will wait for the Tram to get full before they dispatch it.

And then going thru security to get to the Main Entrance Plaza and the turnstiles.

The scenario is about 20 to 30 minutes, or half the Magic Morning! Maybe even longer!

Disney thinks that Magic Mornings are for TOURISTS that are staying in the Anaheim Resort Area.

So if you NEED to park, the best option is to park at the Downtown Disney lot, which is open 24 hours a day, and you get 3 hours free parking, and then move it after the Magic Morning is over, and relocate the car to the Main Parking Structure.

All "ADA" parking will be referred to the Main Parking Structure.



So, do you think they will be repainting more of the spots blue? Sometimes it seems that they are too short already in M&F.

Also, if there are a bunch of non-tram lots open, does that mean that they will be running more trams from M&F now that they are free? Lots more people mean lots more people to get on the trams, and LOTS more strollers. People with little bitty kids are not going to want to walk the whatever distance from Pumbaa or Simba, and it will make the ONE elevator in M&F, which is already a pain into a nightmare. The waits to get into the stroller sections of the trams are going to be many tram-waits deeper than they already are.

Did I mention that I am mourning Timon already?

<sigh>

Sorry if I sound like I am just whining. It is just that I feel like I have no other option than to be shoehorned into M&F and trams (due to physical issues and double stroller, etc.) and if it gets TOO much harder than it currently is, it might push DL completely out of my limits to do with just me and my kids. Very frustrating.