Disney World preferred parking currently costs $50, $55 or $60 per day, compared with $35 for standard parking. What you’re paying for is a parking space closer to the theme park entrance, not a different entrance, faster security line or special park access.
For me, that makes preferred parking a very situational upgrade. I’d consider it on a long park day when I know the shorter walk back to the car will matter. On a normal day when I’m happy to walk or use the complimentary parking tram, I’d usually keep the extra $15 to $25.
That price difference is really the number I use when deciding whether Disney World preferred parking is worth it.
What Is Preferred Parking at Disney World?
Preferred parking is Disney World’s closer-in theme park parking option.
Disney has preferred parking areas at all four Walt Disney World theme parks:
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The benefit is location. Preferred spaces are positioned closer than standard parking, reducing how far I have to walk or how much I depend on a parking tram.
Everything else about my park admission is the same. Preferred parking does not include park admission, Lightning Lane access, a separate security entrance or any sort of VIP treatment inside the park.
Disney’s official parking page describes these as parking areas conveniently located close to the theme park entrances.
The Current Price Difference Is $15 to $25
Disney currently charges:
- Standard parking: $35 per car or motorcycle
- Preferred parking: $50, $55 or $60 per car or motorcycle
- Oversized vehicle parking: $40
Preferred parking pricing is seasonal and varies by date.
So I don’t really think of this as a $50 or $60 decision. If I was already going to pay $35 for standard parking, I’m deciding whether a closer parking space is worth an additional $15, $20 or $25.
That’s a much more useful way for me to look at it.
When I Would Pay for Preferred Parking
I think preferred parking makes the most sense when the physical convenience has real value to someone in my group.
One example is a day when I’m arriving later. Standard parking generally fills outward as guests arrive, so the closer location can become more appealing when I’m not showing up around park opening.
I also consider it more seriously if I have young children, a stroller or a lot of gear. The difference isn’t so much the morning. It’s the end of the night when everyone is tired and I’m trying to get everything back to the car.
And if somebody in my group simply finds long parking-lot walks difficult, spending another $15 to $25 can be one of the more practical upgrades I make that day.
Disney also has designated parking areas for guests with disabilities who have a valid disability parking permit, so I wouldn’t treat preferred parking as a replacement for Disney’s accessibility parking options.
When I Don’t Think Preferred Parking Is Worth It
If I’m arriving early, traveling light and don’t mind walking, I usually don’t see enough value in upgrading.
Disney currently runs complimentary parking trams at all four theme parks. At EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, those trams take guests toward the park entrance. At Magic Kingdom they take guests toward the Transportation and Ticket Center.
That makes standard parking perfectly workable for me most of the time.
I also wouldn’t upgrade because I think preferred parking will save a huge amount of park time. I’m shortening one portion of the arrival and departure process. I still go through security, enter the park normally and deal with whatever transportation or lines are part of that park.
For me, this is much more about saving steps than saving significant time.
Magic Kingdom Is the One Park Where I Think About It Differently
Magic Kingdom parking has an important catch.
Even with preferred parking, I am not parking next to the Magic Kingdom entrance.
The Magic Kingdom parking area serves the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there, I still need to take the monorail or ferryboat to Magic Kingdom.
Preferred parking can reduce the distance between my car and the TTC, but it doesn’t eliminate that second transportation step.
That makes me slightly less likely to think of preferred parking at Magic Kingdom as a major time-saving upgrade. If I’m driving there, my Magic Kingdom parking guide explains the entire car-to-park process.
Preferred Parking at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
The upgrade feels more straightforward at the other three parks because the parking lot serves the park entrance directly.
At EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, preferred parking simply gets my car into one of Disney’s closer parking sections.
That can make the biggest difference when I’m leaving. After walking around a theme park for an entire day, cutting out one final long trip through the parking lot can feel considerably more valuable than it did when I arrived that morning.
Disney Resort Guests Don’t Pay the Full Preferred Price
Registered guests staying at Disney Resort hotels currently receive complimentary standard theme park parking.
If I’m a Disney Resort guest and want preferred parking, Disney allows me to pay only the difference between standard and preferred parking.
With current prices, that means an upgrade of $15 to $25 per day rather than paying the entire $50 to $60 rate on top of my hotel stay.
This actually makes preferred parking more tempting to me. Once standard parking is already included, I’m looking at a relatively modest upgrade rather than another full parking expense.
Annual Passholders Can Upgrade the Same Way
Standard theme park parking is also included with Walt Disney World Annual Passes.
Disney says Annual Passholders who want preferred parking simply pay the difference between the posted standard and preferred parking prices.
Again, that’s currently another $15 to $25.
For a Passholder who drives frequently, I wouldn’t automatically upgrade every visit. But having the option to decide day by day is useful.
What Happens If I Park Hop?
Disney charges one theme park parking fee that is good for all four theme parks for the day.
So I don’t pay another standard parking fee simply because I drive from one Disney theme park to another later that day.
Parking is still subject to availability, though. Disney specifically says paying a parking fee does not guarantee a space if I leave and return or drive to another park.
I keep my parking receipt or other proof of payment available when moving between parks.
“Premium Parking” Usually Means Preferred Parking Here
I sometimes see people searching for “Disney premium parking.” Disney’s official name for this option is preferred parking.
So if somebody tells me to buy premium parking at Disney World, I would verify that they’re talking about Disney’s preferred parking option rather than assuming there’s another higher parking tier.
My Decision Is Usually Pretty Simple
I wouldn’t pay $50 to $60 solely because the word “preferred” sounds better.
I look at what standard parking already costs and ask myself whether I’d pay another $15 to $25 today to have the car closer when I leave.
If it’s a long park day, I’m arriving late, I have small kids or somebody in my group will genuinely benefit from less walking, I can see the value.
If I’m there early, traveling light and happy to use the tram, I keep standard parking and spend the difference somewhere else.
