Okay, so this is NOT the news anyone wanted to hear, especially after the crazy month Disney Springs just had. If you’re planning to hit up your favorite restaurants or do some shopping at Disney Springs over the next couple months, you need to know about this RIGHT NOW because it’s going to affect literally everyone who drives there.
The Lime Garage at Disney Springs is closing TODAY (January 12) for maintenance, and it’s not just a quick weekend thing. We’re talking about a LONG closure. Actually, make that TWO long closures with a weird break in between. Because apparently one extended closure wasn’t enough!
Here’s the deal: The Lime Garage will be closed from January 12 through February 11. Then it’ll reopen for like five days (yes, just FIVE DAYS), and then close AGAIN from February 17 through March 13. So basically, if you’re visiting Disney Springs anytime between now and mid-March, you need a new parking plan. Period.
The Closure Timeline Is WILD
Let’s break this down because the schedule is honestly kind of confusing:
Phase 1: January 12 – February 11 (that’s a full month!) Brief Reopening: February 12 – 16 (literally less than a week) Phase 2: February 17 – March 13 (another 25 days)
So over the next 10 weeks, the Lime Garage will be unavailable for roughly TWO MONTHS total. Like, why even bother reopening it for five days in the middle? That’s barely enough time for people to remember it’s back before it closes again!
If you’re someone who ALWAYS parks in the Lime Garage because it’s close to your favorite spots, you’re going to have to completely change your routine for the next two and a half months. Sorry!
Where Are You Supposed to Park Now?
Don’t panic! Disney Springs still has other parking options. They’re just going to be WAY more crowded than usual.
Your alternatives are:
- Orange Garage (this is going to be PACKED)
- Surface lots (good luck finding a spot on weekends)
The good news? All parking at Disney Springs is still FREE. Disney didn’t suddenly decide to start charging during this closure (thank goodness, because that would be adding insult to injury).
The bad news? With one entire garage offline, the remaining parking is going to fill up SO much faster than normal. Weekend evenings? Forget about it. You’re going to need to arrive way earlier than you usually would, or you might be circling for ages looking for a spot.
This Comes at a Really Weird Time
Can we just talk about the timing here for a second? The Lime Garage closure is happening right after Disney Springs had some seriously tragic incidents at the Orange Garage in early January. We’re not going to get into all the details because that’s heavy stuff, but there was a major law enforcement presence there for multiple days.
So now everyone who would normally park in the Lime Garage is being redirected to the Orange Garage, which is the same place that just had all this security activity. The timing is just… awkward. Like, really awkward.
To be clear: The Lime Garage maintenance has nothing to do with the January incidents. This was planned way before all that happened. It’s just unfortunate coincidence that they’re happening back-to-back. The Orange Garage is totally safe to use, but you might see more security presence than usual, which honestly isn’t a bad thing but it does feel different than normal Disney Springs vibes.
Use the App to Check Parking Before You Go!
Here’s something a lot of people don’t know: The My Disney Experience app actually shows you Disney Springs parking availability in REAL TIME! This is seriously a game-changer during the Lime Garage closure.
Here’s how to check:
- Open the My Disney Experience app
- Go to Disney Springs operating hours
- Look beneath the hours for parking status
- If you see a RED message, that means parking is at capacity
If parking is full, DON’T DRIVE THERE! Seriously, save yourself the frustration. Either wait a bit and check again, or use alternative transportation (more on that below).
This feature is going to be your best friend over the next two months. Check it before you leave your resort or hotel. Check it before you leave home if you’re a local. Don’t just assume there will be parking available because there might not be!
Your Game Plan for the Next Two Months
Alright, so how do you actually deal with this closure without losing your mind? Here are some strategies:
Arrive Earlier Than Normal: If you usually show up at Disney Springs around 6pm for dinner, try arriving at 5pm or even earlier. The later it gets, especially on weekends, the worse parking becomes. Give yourself extra buffer time!
Visit During Off-Peak Times: Weekday afternoons are your friend! If you can visit Monday through Thursday before the dinner rush, you’ll have a much easier time finding parking. Weekend evenings are going to be BRUTAL.
Use Disney Transportation: If you’re staying at a Disney resort hotel, just take the bus! Why deal with parking stress when you can let someone else do the driving? Disney buses run regularly to Disney Springs, and you don’t have to worry about finding your car in a crowded garage at the end of the night.
Consider Rideshare: Uber and Lyft can drop you off right where you want to be at Disney Springs. Yeah, it costs money, but so does your sanity. If parking is a nightmare, spending $15-20 on a rideshare might be totally worth it.
Plan Your Backup Plan: Don’t assume your first parking choice will work out. Have a mental list of alternative spots and be flexible. If the Orange Garage is full, head straight to surface lots without wasting time circling.
What’s the Maintenance Even For?
Disney hasn’t given us all the juicy details about exactly what maintenance they’re doing (typical Disney, keeping everything vague). But parking garage maintenance usually involves stuff like:
- Concrete repairs
- Structural inspections
- Lighting upgrades
- Painting and general upkeep
- Safety system updates
Basically, all the boring but necessary stuff that keeps parking garages from falling apart. It’s not exciting, but it’s important. Nobody wants to park in a sketchy, falling-apart garage, so we get why it has to happen.
The two-phase thing probably means they need to do work that requires curing time or they’re doing different sections that can’t all happen at once. Or maybe they just want to torture us with that five-day reopening window that serves no real purpose. Who knows! 🤷♀️
Pro Tips from Someone Who’s Been There
Look, we’ve dealt with Disney Springs parking chaos before, and here’s our honest advice:
- Download the My Disney Experience app NOW if you don’t have it already
- Set realistic expectations about parking during this closure
- Be patient because everyone else is dealing with the same problem
- Don’t take out your frustration on Cast Members who have zero control over the garage closure
- Consider if you even NEED to visit Disney Springs during peak times or if you can reschedule
And here’s the most important tip: Remember that parking is free! Yes, it’s inconvenient. Yes, it’s annoying. But at least Disney isn’t charging you $30 to park in a crowded garage like some places would. Small victories, people!
Are you visiting Disney Springs during the Lime Garage closure? Tell us your parking survival strategy in the comments! And if you’ve got tips for finding spots during busy times, PLEASE share them because we’re all going to need the help.
