Welcome to planDisney, Nadia!
Oh, what an adventure you have in store as you drive from Ohio to
Walt Disney World!
After that long set of hours in the car, you'll have such a treat with breakfast at the always outstanding
Chef Mickey's. It will be as if the Big Cheese himself is your very own welcome committee!
Now, for parking. Lots at the Transportation and Ticketing Center generally open about one hour prior to the earliest park open. On the morning of your arrival,
Magic Kingdom Park offers
Early Theme Park Entry for guests of select resorts at 8:30, so parking will likely open at 7:30. Monorails typically begin about 30 minutes prior to that early park open, so they may not begin running until closer to 8:00.
Instead, I suggest that you park at
Disney's Contemporary Resort so that you can stretch your legs, use the bathroom, and arrive at the Grand Canyon Concourse entrance to Chef Mickey's without any stress. When you pull in, security will confirm your dining reservation, then will direct you where to park. After you've done that, head into the main lobby, then go straight to the escalators and head to the fourth floor. The restaurant's easy to find, but you'll want to take a moment or two to soak in the magic of this super-special resort on the way.
After lingering over your all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast--and snapping some great photos with Chef Mickey and pals--it's a super-quick drive over to the TTC. Then, hop onto the Express Monorail or take a gorgeous ride on a
ferryboat to Magic Kingdom Park. You'll be so glad that your car will be waiting for you after your day of park fun, too, Nadia. Just another easy ride back to the TTC and your chariot awaits.
As you plan all the last details of your visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth, be sure to send additional questions our way. We love to help!
Andrea H