Hiya Amy! Welcome back to planDisney. Thanks for cruising by with another great question. Our pit crew is always ready to lend a hand with all of your motor-related inquiries!
My fellow passengers and I are your neighbors to the north in Maryland, and we frequently journey by car to Walt Disney World. Just last week we loaded up our minivan and trekked to the Most Magical Place on Earth for some end-of-summer fun! We loved being able to bring the comforts of home without worrying about our luggage being flight-friendly. We brought everything from cases of bottled water to games and puzzles for our Mouseketeers to play with on rainy afternoons.
Driving your vehicle around Walt Disney World is simple, and as a Guest at an
onsite Resort Hotel,
parking at the theme parks is complimentary. Ka-chow! Currently, parking at the Resort Hotels is limited to Guests staying at the resort and
visitors with table-service dining reservations. Want to catch a glimpse of the recently opened
Disney's Riviera Resort? Make sure to book a table at
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera. You'll leave with your engines fully recharged and revved up for more vacation fun!
Now when it comes to hitting the open road, I recommend an early departure. We tend to leave before the sun comes up to avoid traffic and get some miles in while our little ones are still asleep. When they wake up, each kid has his or her own snack bag for refueling throughout the trip. I fill these before the vacation with a combination of healthy snacks and favorite treats, and they are always a hit. Additionally, we make a big deal out of crossing state lines, and I pull out a small surprise (things like new coloring pages, sticker books, Disney trivia books, etc) each time we pass a new marker. We also bring a tablet with a few movies from Disney+ downloaded and ready to view. Do you listen to any family-friendly, Disney-themed podcasts? I have a few favorites, and I like to save some episodes for the ride. Be sure to pack plenty of car-compatible chargers to power up those essential devices!
I hope this gives you some ideas for your upcoming Disney adventure. Best wishes for a relaxing drive, and say hi to Mickey for me!
Safe travels,
Betsy