A Walt Disney World Resort guest sparked controversy on social media this summer after sharing a “hack” for free parking at the Magic Kingdom.
Let’s face it: a Disney Parks vacation is expensive. On top of the theme park tickets, the food, the souvenirs, and the Disney Resort hotel room, it can feel like being nickel-and-dimed to pay $30 for standard parking (and as much as $55 for preferred parking) at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
This summer, TikTok user Maria J Lane (@mariajlane) shared her “hack” to save money on parking at Walt Disney World Resort. The video amassed thousands of views and hundreds of comments arguing about Lane’s tip.
@mariajlane Follow along from more Disney tips and tricks, I love parking at grand Floridian, and taking the monorail to Magic Kingdom. #disney #magickingdom #disneytok #disneymom #disneyworld #disneyadult
“I’m going to show you how to get free parking at Disney,” Lane said. “If you have accessible parking, you get free valet at any of the resorts…My pro tip is to park at one of the Monorail Resorts and take it straight to the Magic Kingdom.”
The video garnered immediate backlash. Many Disney Parks fans claimed it was inappropriate to use a disability parking pass to get free parking at Walt Disney World Resort–paid, convenient handicap parking is available at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“Don’t park at the resorts if you’re going to the parks, the resort parking is for guest staying,” @witchxstitch commented. “EVERYONE HAS TO PAY FOR PARKING, YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL OR ENTITLED TO FREE THINGS.”
“That’s why the resorts are filled with a bunch of streamers that aren’t actually staying there,” @distok100 replied. “Inconsiderate to people actually paying to be there.”
Some commenters tied this behavior to the recent crackdown on Disability Access Service (DAS), which locked many previous users out of the accommodation at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.
“This type of stuff is why DAS is so heavily policed now,” said @mattmcdaniel527.
“Taking advantage of yet another thing and Disney will have to redesign this so people who actually need it can’t use it,” @rissmy echoed.
In the past, Walt Disney World Resort has cracked down on guests for using other loopholes to get free theme park parking. For example, parking at Disney Springs is free, so guests would park there and take a bus to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Now, Disney doesn’t offer bus transportation from Disney Springs directly to the four theme parks.
Parking at the Disney Resort hotels is free for overnight guests, but security has cracked down on Resort-hoppers who make dining reservations or Mobile Order food just to get free hotel parking and take Disney transportation to the theme parks. At the most popular hotels (especially the Monorail Resorts), day guests who want to shop and dine at the Disney Resorts are sometimes forced to pay for parking at the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) and take free transportation to their destination.
Was this Walt Disney World Resort guest wrong for sharing her free parking “hack?” Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
