Hi there, Peggy!
Welcome to planDisney. We love helping fellow guests find their path to the magic in planning their next Disneyland Resort visit. Lucky you! You are just three days away from strolling down Main Street!
When I'm taking a day trip to the parks, I like to arrive as early as possible to get a jump start on the magic. This usually means pulling into the
Mickey and Friends parking structure just as it opens, which is 60 minutes before the standard park opening. You can check
park opening times in the Disneyland Mobile App or on the website to help map out your day. Whether you are parking at Mickey and Friends, Pixar Pals, or the Toy Story Parking area, the trams and busses usually start running one hour ahead of park opening as well.
There are a few tips and tricks to make for a smooth arrival that I'd love to share. I often pre-purchase my
parking either when I buy my
theme park ticket or closer to my park day on the Disneyland Website. You can easily search for "Parking" then scroll down to see a link to "Purchase Now". When you drive into the lot or structure, just pull up the barcode on your phone and a Cast Member will scan it. You'll be off to the park faster than Lightning McQueen. If you're looking for an even speedier arrival, preferred parking is also available at the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures as well as the Toy Story Parking Area.
If you can hold your excitement for just a minute before you jump out of your vehicle, I highly recommend using the
Car Locator function in the
Disneyland Mobile App. Head into the app, tap the three-line icon in the bottom right-hand corner, and scroll down to "Car Locator". If you have "Location Services" turned on, you can simply select "Save Vehicle Location" or you can manually enter it. Trust me, I have been blinded by pixie dust many times, not taken the time to note my parking location, and found myself wondering the parking structure looking for my car after a day in the parks. The Car Locator is truly a magical addition to my Disney day!
Peggy, I hope you found some helpful information here. If you have any additional questions, you know where to find us here at
planDisney!
Magic awaits,
Tara