Is Preferred Parking worth the cost for UK visitors?

When it comes to parking costs in Disney World, no one wants to spend more than they have to. That’s why the debate between paying for Standard vs Preferred parking is usually a short one. You look at the price, and the decision is made. If you want to seriously consider it during your holiday, this guide is looking at the pros and cons of standard vs preferred car parking.

What’s the difference between Standard and Preferred parking?

The differences between standard and preferred parking are:

• cost

• where you park your car

• how far you walk to the parks

Preferred parking is in a section closer to the theme parks, so you are within walking distance of the parks security areas rather than needing to use the free tram service. Standard parking spaces take up the largest amount of the car park and start further back. That means you can end up parked a long way from the entrance to the parks. Disney World offer a free tram service in all paid car parks to take you to security at the park entrance, which is the Ticket and Transportation Centre in Magic Kingdom.

Preferred parking is also charged based on the time of year, whereas Standard parking is a flat fee no matter when you visit. This means that at certain types of year, like Christmas, you pay 20% more per day for preferred parking in comparison to parking in early May for example.

Preferred Vs Standard parking: the cost difference

Cost is often the deciding factor. If you choose preferred parking, you’ll walk a bit less, parking nearer to security at the park entrances, and you’ll pay between $15 (£11.03) - $25 (£18.38) more per day.

Here is how much extra you will need to budget if you add on preferred parking:

Why the time you park matters

The time of day you park your car makes a difference to where you park, even with Standard parking. We have driven in early for Early Entry when staying on-site and been parked on the row immediately behind Preferred parking. The distance we were walking was near identical to the distance people paying for preferred parking were walking.

In the middle of the day, when you choose Standard parking you end up further back and the distance to the entrance area is largest. From about an hour after opening time, this is when you want to consider Preferred parking as it has the most value. At this point you’ll get into parks quicker, and you won’t walk as far on the way out.

After about 6pm car park Cast Members go home and you pick your own car parking space. By this time you can park on the row next to the preferred spaces. This means if you’re heading in late, or park hopping, you walk the same distance as people who have paid for Preferred parking.

Park-by-park: where IS Preferred Parking most worth the cost?

If you pay for preferred parking you park in the section of the car park nearest to the park’s security and entrance at Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, and the Ticket and Transport Centre for Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom: This is the car park where everyone has to walk. Even from most of the preferred parking spots, you may still find yourself wanting to use a parking lot tram. Preferred parking spaces, and those standard spaces immediately adjacent are the only spaces you would consider walking from in this park.

Worth it?: Only on a busy day if you have young children or tire easily, it is worth thinking about.

EPCOT: Skipping the car park tram and walking straight into the park is easy to do on most days, even at Christmas.

Worth it?: No

Hollywood Studios: You can walk into the park easily from most of the car park, but the car park tram is there and easy to use if you don’t want to walk.

Worth it?: No

Animal Kingdom: This car park feels big, especially if you end up at the back, but in general the car park tram system works well no matter where you park.

Worth it?: If it’s a busy day and you tire easily, then possibly, as you will walk a lot of steps exploring the park.

Is Preferred Parking worth the cost?

Preferred parking spaces are the same size as standard spaces and the extra cost can best be described as a convenience tax. Justifying the extra cost is nearly impossible for many UK visitors, especially if you are considering using Preferred parking for 14 days.

Here are the amounts a UK family would need budget on top of the cost of Standard parking:

Visitors staying on-site in Disney hotels would need to budget the same amounts to upgrade their free standard parking to preferred parking when visiting the theme parks.

Save $210 (£154.41) by choosing standard parking

The price coupled with value is why we don’t recommend Preferred parking. Preferred parking is not worth the cost when there is a free car park tram at all four theme park car parks that will take you to security. The additional $15 (£11.03) - $25 (£18.38) cost saves you steps, (maybe), and about 15 minutes. In our opinion it is not a cost you need to pay, and we always just use standard parking.