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What Time Do Magic Kingdom Parking Lots Open?

Magic Kingdom is the busiest theme park at Disney World, so arriving early is recommended to make the most out of your day.

If you’re driving yourself to the park, you’ll want to arrive before opening to have ample time to park your car.

The parking lots at Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) open two hours before the park does. You’ll have to pay for parking at an attendant booth to access the courtesy tram from the parking lot to the TTC.

From the TTC, you can hop on a ferry or the monorail, which will take you to the entrance to Magic Kingdom.

How Do I Get to Magic Kingdom?

Disney's monorail system passing over a body of water with floating flowers

A few different transportation options will take you straight to Magic Kingdom’s entrance, depending on which Disney Resort you’re staying at.

If you stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower, or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, your trip to Magic Kingdom is shorter than from anywhere else.

Guests at these hotels can easily walk to the park.

The monorail system also connects these resorts to Magic Kingdom, so walking is not your only option if you stay there.

Polynesian Village is somewhat close to Magic Kingdom, but you need to take the monorail as it’s too far to walk.

If you stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (including the Boulder Ridge/Copper Creek Villas) or Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, a boat or bus can take you to Magic Kingdom.

If you stay at any other Disney World Resort, the complimentary bus service is the best way to get to the park. 

If you aren’t staying at a Disney Resort, you’ll have to contact your hotel to see if they offer a shuttle to Magic Kingdom. Otherwise, you’ll have to arrange your own transportation to the park.

How Do I Get to Magic Kingdom if I’m Driving?

If efficiency is your priority, a taxi or rideshare like Uber or Lyft gets you to the park faster than driving yourself.

These services don’t take you to the park’s entrance, but you can ask them to drop you off at one of the hotels closest to Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort are your best bet, and you can either walk or take the monorail from there.

If you choose to drive, you’ll leave your car at the parking lot, take a tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and board a ferry or monorail to Magic Kingdom.

The differences between the two seem minimal, but remember that you have to deal with the hassle of parking at Disney World’s busiest lot.

You also wait in line to pay the parking fee, which starts at $25 and isn’t much more affordable than taking a taxi or rideshare.

All this makes driving to Magic Kingdom the least efficient way to get there.

Furthermore, when coming from the Contemporary or Grand Floridian, the security checkpoint has shorter lines, so you have nothing to lose.

When you want to leave the park, just reverse the route to get yourself back to your hotel.

What Time Do the Gates at Magic Kingdom Open?

People walking towards the castle at Disney World

Opening times at Magic Kingdom vary, but they generally fall between 8 and 9 am.

Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom opens an hour before the park, giving you an idea of the opening time.

If the turnstiles at Main Street open at 7 am, you’ll know the Magic Kingdom gates open at 8.

Main Street opens earlier to allow guests to enjoy the pastries and coffee at the Main Street Bakery or buy the stuff they might need throughout the day.

What Time Should I Get to Magic Kingdom?

It’s best to arrive at Magic Kingdom 30 minutes to an hour before opening.

Lean towards an earlier time if driving to account for parking and transport from the parking lot to the entrance (less than thirty minutes).

If you stay at a Disney World Resort, you can also take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry.

The perk allows you to enter the park half an hour before opening, saving time at the Magic Kingdom’s most popular rides.

I recommend arriving thirty minutes before Early Park Entry to account for protocols like security checks.

Rides at Tomorrowland and Fantasyland open the earliest, while those at Liberty Square, Adventureland, and Frontierland start running when the park’s about to open.

How Much is Parking at Magic Kingdom?

Parking rates at Disney World are the same at every park. The price can change without notice, but currently, the rates are:

  • $25/day for standard parking (car or motorcycle)
  • $30/day for oversized car parking (shuttles, RVs, buses, etc.)
  • $45/day for preferred parking (closer to the entrance)
  • $50/day for preferred parking (peak season)

Your parking receipt is valid all day at all the theme parks, so you can park hop without worrying about paying again.

If you hold an Annual Pass or stay at a Disney World Resort hotel, your reservation includes complimentary standard parking.

You park your car for free, but if you want to upgrade to preferred parking, you’ll need to pay the $20-$30 difference.

Can I Walk to Magic Kingdom From the Parking Lot?

Aerial view of Disney World parking lot with the castle far away in the background

You can walk from the parking lot to the gates at Magic Kingdom, but you probably shouldn’t.

The distance from Magic Kingdom’s parking lot to the park itself is quite far, hence the need to board a ferry or monorail.

The walking distance is shorter if you arrive early, but it still isn’t worth it.

It takes 10-15 minutes to get to the TTC from the lot and another 10-15 minutes from the TTC to the park’s entrance, taking you at least half an hour to walk.

Unless you’re doing it for fun, I don’t recommend it.

Conclusion

The parking lots at Magic Kingdom open two hours before the park. 

Once you’ve parked your vehicle, you’ll have to pay for parking at the attendant booth and catch a tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there, you can jump on a ferry or the monorail, which takes you to the gates. 

I usually recommend either the complimentary Disney transport options or taking an Uber or Lyft, but I understand that others prefer to drive themselves.

If so, plan to arrive at the park for Rope Drop to save time. You’ll probably need to allocate an hour from the time you leave your accommodations to the time you get to the entrance at Magic Kingdom.

Finally, if free parking isn’t included with your hotel room, remember to include parking fees in your budget.