Getting into the Disney World Parks is actually a little more complicated than just walking up to the gate and waltzing in. Years ago, it was a simple endeavor where you walked up with a ticket and were allowed in. Then they added fingerprints and bio metric signature entry. They ramped up security, then added security checkpoints and bag checks. Now there’s bag checks and metal detectors.
It all sounds complicated, and it can be the first time you enter, but once you’re through – it’s a breeze.
Parking
First things first. Parking. If you’re staying off property and not taking Disney Transporation, Minnie Vans, Uber, or some other transportation, you’ll have to park.
Parking is complementary for passholders; however, it’s $25 for standard parking per day. $45-$50 for preferred parking (which lets you park slightly closer, often just past handicapped parking). If you’re bringing an over-sized vehicle, like an RV or a Limo, parking is $30.
Don’t forget: Disney has recently added resort parking fees ranging from $13-$25 per night, depending on the level of resort and when you made your reservation.
The time of day makes a huge difference on parking availability and distance from the entrance. The later you are, the farther back you’ll be in the parking lot. There’s trams at the park to take you towards the entrance, but due to construction at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom the trams still leave you with a bit of a walk to the security checkpoint.
Security Checkpoint
At each park, before you get to the entrance, there’s a security checkpoint entrance. There’s a “Guests with bags” and “Guests without bags” entrance. The Guests without bags entrance is usually just a walk through, then through a metal detector.
These lines are always a table with 2 sides, and a guard checking both sides. They alternate between the left and right side of the tables. Find the shortest line (which is usually the farthest line) and just wait. Have your bags zippers open.
Our advice is to look for a short line without strollers. Strollers often have tons of bags and compartments that need to be checked, not including diaper bags, backpacks, and whatever else. These are a big slowdown.
Remember to leave your selfie sticks, pepper spray, and whatever else in the car. It would suck to get all the way there and be sent back to put it in your car.
Have any bags inside your bag open, or in clear ziplocks or something so they can easily view it when they check your bag.
Review the official Disney Park Rules and make sure you don’t bring anything not allowed, and anything you want to bring that is allowed fits in the specifications stated.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/
Tickets
The Ticket Windows/Will call area is after the security checkpoint at each park. If you’re picking up your tickets or passes from the will call area, try and pick a less crowded park to go to on your first day.
We went to Animal Kingdom in the afternoon on our first day to get our passes. We didn’t have to wait and it only took a few minutes. I’ve seen wrapped around lines at Magic Kingdom, which can be a real bummer. Especially if you tried to be there at Rope Drop.
Also: Buy your tickets in advance, seriously. Don’t be one of the suckers there buying them day of.
Magic Kingdom Specifics
The Magic Kingdom has a really unique theme park entrance. The park is across a large lake, and the castle is visible in the distance. Hotel buses drop you right at the gate, as do river boats and other hotel oriented transportation. The parking lot leaves you at the Transportation and Ticket Center which gives you 3 options for getting to the park.
The Riverboat, the Direct Monorail, and the Hotel Line Monorail.
The Riverboat is our favorite, sometimes. It’s often the longest method of getting to and from the parks. It can feel a like being in a herd of cows. The fastest way off the ship is to board, stay on the first floor, and head for the rope on the opposite side of the boat. There’s usually 2 boats running at a time, but it can still take up to 30 minutes or sometimes even more, depending on the amount of people waiting to go. At least you get a view, a breeze, and you can wave at the people on other boats.
The Transportation and Ticket Center monorail has 3 lines. An Express to the Magic Kingdom, an Express to Epcot, and a hotel loop that stops at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, and at the park entrance.
With no line, the express to Magic Kingdom is the fastest way to get to the park. It’s about a 10 minute trip. You board on the left side of the train, and exit on the same side. Unfortunately, the monorail has frequent issues, and often long lines. It’s a different experience than the ferry boat. We’ve been trapped on it, standing, in humid conditions for close to an hour.
The monorail that stops at the hotels can be a good choice. On the way back from the park, it only stops at the contemporary before reaching the transportation and ticket center. This is often faster than waiting for 1 or 2 of the express monorails. On the way to the park, it stops at both the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian and is usually a slow option.
The “Tap Styles”
At each park entrance, you’ll see the Mickey Mouse Tap Styles. Have your ticket or Magic Band ready.
How to pick your line: Similar to the security entrance, there’s a series of lines leading up to the Tap Styles. Each section has 2 areas for you to badge in. Look for the shortest line with the least amount of children. Children often take longer than adults to scan into the park.
When you reach the area and can scan in, move to the forward tap style if its available. That helps the line move behind you.
There’s a Mickey Mouse area that will light up and turn green when you can go in. There’s also a fingerprint scanner. Remember which finger you use. Most people use their right index finger, and wear their magic bands on their left wrist. This is also the easiest configuration since the fingerprint scanner is always on the right.
The fingerprint scanner takes an image of certain points of your finger on your first use. It keeps this image for a year or so, and compares your scanned finger to the image they stored. Try and hold your finger the exact same way each time. you do it.
The fastest way in is to hold your magic band, and your finger on the scanner. When Mickey turns green, you’re good to go.
You’re in
Have a magical time. You’re basically a pro now. Once you see how it works, you’ll have your bags open and will be ready to go through security in the shortest line possible.