Hi Andrea!
Welcome to planDisney.
As you have an overnight reservation at a Disney Resort hotel -
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - there is no longer a charge for parking, and it is complimentary for resort guests staying at that hotel.
Also, if you are simply visiting another Disney Resort hotel, maybe for dining, or shopping, parking is complimentary (
subject to capacity). At busier times this privilege may be restricted to guests with a dining reservation at that hotel. When you arrive at the resort, inform Security of your reservation (they will check the details and you may need to show ID) and you will be admitted. You can arrive up to 30 minutes before your reservation and leave your car there for around 3 hours while you dine. Unfortunately, parking at another Disney Resort hotel is not permitted for an indefinite amount of time.
I have some good news!
Parking is free at the four theme parks for Disney Resort hotel guests. Both Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort are within short walking distance from Magic Kingdom and EPCOT respectively, so you can park your car at their parking lots for the entire day with no charge. (Parking lots for Magic Kingdom Park are located at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), from where you'll need to take the monorail or ferry boat across Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom entrance. If you are heading to Disney's Contemporary Resort you can take the Resort monorail straight there from the TTC.)
Complimentary parking for all guests is available at the water parks - Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach (whichever is open) and Disney Springs.
Disney transport begins operating 45 minutes before park opening times, and up to an hour after park closing.
Please come back and visit us if you have any further questions, and if you need more specific clarification about travel times around the Resort you can
send me a direct question if you wish. We are always happy to help!
Sue