Hey there, Robin, and welcome to planDisney!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is
the place to visit during the holiday season. The wafting scent of the Christmas tree and life-sized gingerbread house is definitely something that you must experience if you’re at Walt Disney World Resort in November and December.
As long as the Grand Floridian’s parking lot hasn’t hit capacity and the parking attendant allows it, you are able to park at no additional cost at the Resort hotel. It is important to note that parking is only guaranteed for Guests who are staying at the Grand Floridian. You’ll have even better luck if you have an advance dining reservation for a restaurant at that Resort hotel.
The closer it gets to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the busier the Resort hotels on the
Disney Monorail loop get. So, sometimes saying that you want to view the gingerbread house, have drinks at somewhere like
The Enchanted Rose, or shop around at the gift store are not enough to be allowed to park. And if you are allowed to park, you may be given a 3-hour time limit placard that you can place on your car’s dashboard while you enjoy your afternoon on the grounds.
AN EXTRA GEM: A good back-up plan is to park at Magic Kingdom Park’s Transportation & Ticket Center. If you’re not staying on property or not an
Annual Passholder, you would have to pay for parking here. From there, take the Resort Monorail to the Grand Floridian. The good news is that you wouldn’t have to pay for parking again once you get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park because you can use the parking receipt from Magic Kingdom Park.
Robin, I hope that this helps you plan a practically perfect evening at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Please
revisit us here at planDisney if you have any other questions about your upcoming visit—and beyond! I am more than happy to help you along the way.
Magic always,
LeAndra