One of the tricks to navigating the Disneyland Resort when it's busy (which is almost all the time) is to walk between the Mickey and Friends parking structure and the parks, rather than wait for the trams.
Granted, this assumes that you are physically up for the approximately one-mile walk. But with many people able to make that walk in about 20 minutes, the journey through Downtown Disney can save you time over what often can be a longer wait for the trams.
The construction of Disneyland's new parking structure next door to Mickey and Friends has complicated this strategy, as the walking route to the parks has changed several times during the construction. But once the new garage is finished, walking to the parks should be even easier, thanks to Disney's announcement today that it is adding an elevated pedestrian walkway over Magic Way.
The skywalk will keep pedestrians safely off the street while avoiding the wait to cross Magic Way at the Downtown Disney surface parking entrance, which should shave a little time from the journey, too.
The addition of the 6,500-space parking garage will provide a net gain of several thousand parking spaces at the resort when it opens next year, hopefully alleviating some of the expected crush of fans when the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge land opens next summer. The completion of the construction project also should restore some capacity to Mickey and Friends, which has been filling on an almost daily basis over the past weeks.
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It's a long walk. I wish they will add some path shortcuts because walking to the west of the former Rainforest Café building will add unnecessary distance. They should add some moving walkways to make it easier for tired feet. I'm glad they didn't cheap out of this bridge. It already looks better than the Eastern Gateway bridge. It appears to have a cover.
I guess the moving walkways were cut from the budget again, or not even considered this time. Disney should reduce the parking fee, and make the tram cost money for the difference. Those that don’t mind walking would save a few dollars. And for people that don’t mind paying a premium, they can use they cancelled hotel site at Downtown Disney and add a premium parking lot, and charge $70 a spot.
The walk from the Mickey parking structure was already easy. I always see seniors, small kids and even self propelled wheel chairs walking to the park entrances with ease. The bridge will just make it more convenient.
I always suggest, grabbing the part of your stomach hanging over your waist line or love handles before complaining about walking.
They should find a way to reclaim or add back the 1000+ parking spaces from the 1st floor of the Mickey & Friends structure by finding a more efficient route for the tram. Why add 6500 spaces when you could have 7500 +? Consolidate parking to that campus and lower your costs of shuttles for the off campus parking.
The tram loading in Mickey and Friends is only temporary. While it will be an overpriced cash grab only for the elite, I stand by a new parking lot where the hotel was going to go.
I always walk from Mickey & Friends, so the walkway will be great!
Randy Keith is RIGHT!
Preferred Parking should come with a PREMIUM price, based on supply and demand.
The greatest thing about capitalism, you can pass on any offer.
I really like the way it is set up right now. The huge "Bankers" queue before the inspection tables means that once you get to security there is hardly ever a line to get your bag searched. Plus, since this new set up, I've never not gotten on the next available tram. And - it's in the shade. I hope they have learned from this set up and replicate it as closely as possible for the permanent solution.
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Will they create a WALK TO PARK lane for the toll booths?
So those guests who will definitely walk to the park don't park in the corner above the Holiday Inn furthest from the park?