On my last day, a Saturday, I have to check out of my hotel by 11ish. I was looking at the ART route line, and it looks like it goes right by Target, stopping at a hotel across the street or. Homewood suites or Marriott. I was thinking I could drive to Target in the morning, Park then take ART back to the resort until I have to leave at about 5 to go back to SNA. Bad idea?? I am trying to avoid parking in the parking garage at DL because I always get turned around and lost coming out of the place etc. Good idea? Bad idea? Should I park at the Block at Orange instead??


any ideas??

Personally I would be very nervous to leave my car in that lot all day unattended, for fear of theft.

Personally I would be very nervous to leave my car in that lot all day unattended, for fear of theft.

I could park at the Embassy Suites just as easily. My goal is to avoid the parking garage. It would be about 11am to about 4:30. Just a thought

Why not keep your car parked at your hotel? There may be an additional charge so check with your hotel before or at check-in.

When I've been in your situation, our group has stored bags with the bellmen, left the car at the hotel parking lot (after notifying the front desk in case they tow cars of non-registered guests :eek:) and taken the shuttle or walked back to the parks for an awesome last day.

My particular prejudice is that I'm all about convenience. I am willing to pay for services that make life easier for me and my fellow travelers. Having additional time in the parks or to spend with family and friends without stress is worth it to me. Public transit on weekends usually has less staffing, which means fewer buses and longer wait times for you. Don't spend your holiday standing on Harbor Blvd! Wouldn't you rather be in the parks with us? :)

I know I can stay parked until at least 2pm. I will ask if I can stay parked until 5 and would be totally willing to pay $10 to stay until I have to leave. I get so turned around in the parking garage, and I just dont' want to wonder around Anaheim looking for the freeway. The hotel is on Harbor (Desert Inn) right off the freeway it's so easy and that's what I need.

It sounds like you have found a solution you can live with, Leofoenget. But, in case you haven't, and for other lurking visitors who may be thinking of remote-parking their cars, I thought of a few other concerns.

DizneyMommy brings up the very real possibility that an unattended car may attract thieves. It's a bummer to get back to your car and see broken glass and/or assorted foolishness (tm Niecy Nash) done to your car. There is also the likelihood that the store itself will have your car towed. Big stores with roomy parking lots often have a time limit for shoppers. You're limited 60 or 90 minutes, usually, with the warning that unattended cars will be towed.

Ask me how I know that they're not kidding around with that! :(

I love Niecy Nash................

If I park off site, I think I'll do Embassy Suites

Just a question: Are the signs directing you to the freeways out of the parking garage pretty easy to follow? I have visions of getting totally turned around and lost. IF they are pretty clearly marked and easy to follow signs to the I-5 maybe I will take my chances and park in the garage...as much as I dont' want to.

The signs coming out of the garage are SO easy to follow. Basically, it is a reversible ramp that takes you into the garage from the 5 freeway in the AM and straight back onto the 5 freeway from the garage at night. If you'd rather get back on Ball and take a different freeway, then you just keep right, super easy and lots of signs to tell you which way. Just go slow and ignore the people who want to race out of the garage around you, and you'll have plenty of time to be in the correct lane. If you accidentally end up on Ball, you have the choice to go right to Harbor Blvd and you know your way from there it sounds like.

You another option, if you go in the AM, is to try and get a spot in the Timon lot by entering off Harbor Blvd through the original Disneyland entrance. If you get lucky and get a spot there, then you are still on Harbor Blvd and won't get turned around, and if it is full, they'll just send you through to the garage.

Ok so to get back on Ball to get to Harbor stay right? Once on Harbor I can figure it out.

thanks

It really is easy to get out of the parking garage, they purposely designed it that way. I would also second missmonkey and say that you really shouldn't leave it at Target or a hotel parking lot. It probably won't be there when you get back because it will most likely get towed, especially at a hotel.

You can park across the street from Target at the Marriott Suites. They have free parking and never ask for licence numbers. The ART picks up right up front. The Crowne Plaza shares the same parking lot, however, they do charge. Strange how they share the same parking lot but whatever.

The Crowne Plaza has their own shuttle and they do not check room keys.

hope that helps.

I also recall that if you stay at a hotel you can check with them and sometimes they will let you just keep your car there all day long.

You can park across the street from Target at the Marriott Suites. They have free parking and never ask for licence numbers. The ART picks up right up front. The Crowne Plaza shares the same parking lot, however, they do charge. Strange how they share the same parking lot but whatever.

The Crowne Plaza has their own shuttle and they do not check room keys.

hope that helps.

I also recall that if you stay at a hotel you can check with them and sometimes they will let you just keep your car there all day long.

I callled and asked my hotel how long I can stay parked in their lot, they said 2pm but if it's not busy 5 but I won't know until that day. I may try for Timone then Mickey and Friends if I can't get Timone. How does Timone work? I will NOT park in Simba did that once what a pain. Does it open up real early? I mean I am willing to get up early and move my car if it means a good spot. I know some MiceChatters consistantly park there but I have heard others say DL moves them to Simba. Sick of being confused.

If you get put in Simba, just exit and go back to Mickey and Friends, you get in and out parking priveledges and there will be signs everywhere plus you can SEE the garage at that point. They don't usually start in Simba though, and they don't park it unless the park is extremely full, if you get there in the morning and it is reasonably off-season or mid-week, you should not ever get stuck in Simba. Another thing you can do, once you pay and then they send you off to Simba, turn right at the signal where you have to cross over the street to get from Timone to Simba, then the garage is on your left. Easy! Techinically you are not supposed to do it, I think, but I see people do it ALL the time.

Sick of being confused.

ha ha! then don't go to DL or take ANYONE'S advice if you do go!
Things can change per minute or whom you are dealing with there!

the garage to the freeway a blonde sorority queen could actually figure out!
you shouldn't have any problems!

ha ha! then don't go to DL or take ANYONE'S advice if you do go!
Things can change per minute or whom you are dealing with there!

the garage to the freeway a blonde sorority queen could actually figure out!
you shouldn't have any problems!


Thanks. nice to know. I will probably brave the parking garage. I dont have to be to the airport until about 6ish so I think I'm fine. I'm going to try for Timone first then the garage. I will NOT park in Simba.

Not blonde never been in a sorority... but I was a cheerleader does that count??