Hello there, Cornelia! Thank you for stopping by planDisney to ask us your question. I see that your trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth is only a short time away now. I bet you are getting so excited!
I, too, am a
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder and I love the perk of the complimentary standard theme park parking. I drive to Walt Disney World and have gotten accustomed to having my own vehicle to get around the resort so the complimentary
theme park parking really does save me quite a bit of money. If you'd like to upgrade to the preferred parking area, Cornelia, you only have to pay the difference in price. The preferred parking area are some of the closest parking spots that you can get and is available at all for Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Typically the preferred parking area is the first few rows of the parking lot. Depending on the time of day that you are getting to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks, it might be worth the upgraded fare. The only time I don't think it would be worth upgrading, Cornelia, is if you plan to arrive at a Walt Disney World Theme Park before it technically opens. If you are at the parks early, you are going to be in the first few rows right behind the preferred parking area so I don't think it would be worth it then. However, if you are arriving after the theme parks have been open for a few hours, you will be parking further back if you don't upgrade and the trams are not running to take people to the front so you will have to walk.
I hope this helps, Cornelia! If you have any other questions before your trip, please feel free to stop back by and
ask me. I'm here to help! Have fun!