Accessible Parking at Disney World: What to Know

My mom just started to need a parking placard, and on our first visit to the parks with the handicap tag, we realized just how different the medical parking is at Disney World compared to anywhere else. In this article, I’m going to cover what I’ve learned and what you should expect when using accessible parking at Disney World. I’ll break down where the handicapped parking is at each of the main parks, Disney Springs, and the resorts. And I’ll also cover more general tips that apply to all of the medical lots at Walt Disney World.

Handicapped Parking at Disney World – General Info

Signage: first, it helps to know that Disney calls the handicapped parking areas medical parking or medical lots; occasionally they are referred to as accessible areas. Although the term “handicapped parking” is not used on the signs, Cast Members will know what you mean if you use it.

As with accessible parking elsewhere, you must have a valid permit from your state to use these spaces. (International disability permits are also accepted for medical parking at Disney World.) If you have an injury or forgot your disability parking placard, let the Cast Member know, and they will let you know how they can help.

At the parking booth, let the Cast Member know you have a valid permit, and they will direct you to the reserved area for the park or resort that you’re visiting. As you are driving towards the parking areas, look for the black signs that say medical – they will have an arrow pointing you to the correct area. Medical lots at the parks pay the standard parking rate, which is currently $30, or free if you are a guest of a Disney resort. At the resorts and Disney Springs, parking is free.

One big difference in the accessible parking experience is that the parking lots at Walt Disney World are huge. The Transportation and Ticket Center, which is where Magic Kingdom parking is, is the fourth largest parking lot in the world – most larger lots are at airports. When you have huge parking lots, the accessible area is also very large – it’s not just a few spots close to the door or ramp. So there are some extra notes for managing the size of these lots.

⭐ Not all of the spaces in the medical lots have van access. If you do not need the extra room for equipment, please be kind and park in a different space.

⭐ If you plan to rent a wheelchair or ECV but need assistance until you can get to the rental area at the front gate, there are convenience wheelchairs in each of the park’s medical lots. You can borrow these to get you to the park entrance.

⭐ Although the lots have trams to help guests navigate the large distances to the gates, the trams do not go to the medical lots. The accessible lots are fairly close to security, and many devices for physical disabilities do not fit in the trams, including most adaptive strollers.

Parking in the Medical Lots at the TTC (Magic Kingdom)

Medical parking at the Ticket and Transportation Center is in the Villains area in the Zurg lot. After you pass through the parking booths the road curves, and drivers are directed either straight ahead to the Villains lots or to the right for the Heroes area. For accessible parking, you will always go straight ahead towards the Villains lots. Then Cast Members will direct you to go all the way down and to the right.

My parents felt like they must have ended up in the wrong area because it was still quite a distance from the front. Unfortunately, it just needs to be very large to accommodate everyone. The complimentary wheelchairs are next to the umbrellas just before the bridge.

Once you’ve left your car, the design of the TTC itself is challenging for guests who need medical parking. After leaving the parking area, you walk under a bridge that has a pretty decent incline as you move toward security. And once you’ve arrived at the TTC proper, you must take a monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom. The monorail ramps are very steep; I suggest using the elevator to reach the monorail or choosing the ferry.

Medical Parking at EPCOT

Epcot’s medical parking area is in the Moana lot, one of the “Earth-themed” lots. Follow the traffic pattern as you come out of the parking booths, then look for the first turn. If it’s early in the morning, you will turn right before most other cars as they fill the “Space-themed” lots further down. Later in the day, you’ll need to look more closely at the signs because most cars will be turning into the Earth lots. Once you’ve turned into the Earth lots, accessible parking will be the second turn towards Moana.

The complimentary wheelchairs are in the front of the lot towards the right-hand side. After you have parked, it’s pretty simple and flat as you move towards security.

Medical Parking at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios parking lot is the smallest and easiest to navigate. Their accessible parking is in the Minnie lot, straight ahead and right in front of security. The complimentary wheelchairs are located in the middle of the parking area, facing the tram drop-off.

When the parks are very busy Hollywood Studios extends the preferred parking area and uses it as overflow for the accessible lot. It’s a little bit more of a walk (or wheel), but not much.

Medical Parking at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has a very large parking lot, but the medical lot is close to the entrance and easy to navigate. After you pass through the parking booth area, stay to the right. You will follow the road all the way around and park in the portion of the Peacock lot that is past the third-party bus entrance. There is a space for complimentary wheelchairs on the left. It’s a pretty far walk, but the wheelchairs for use by those arriving at the Disney bus area can also be reached from the lot.

Medical Parking at Disney Springs

Disney Springs is basically a shopping mall. Parking there is very similar to anywhere else in the US; there are accessible parking spots marked with a sign near every elevator in the garage. There are also surface lots on the outer edges, but the garages are more central.

The difference here is that the security that clears you to enter Disney Springs is built into the parking garages, so it helps to park on the correct level. This will save you an extra elevator or escalator ride. The Orange and Lime garages both have security on the second level. The regular lots also have security checks.

We locals definitely have OPINIONS about our favorite garages, I’m Team Orange, but there are a couple of things to consider if you have limited mobility.

Location – The Lime Garage is located closer to the Marketplace (original shopping area), and the Orange Garage is more central to both sides. If you’re just headed over to the Springs for a meal, see Where to Park for Your Disney Springs Dining Reservation to see which garage will be the closest to your restaurant.

Wheelchair rental – Both the Lime and Orange garages have convenient wheelchair or ECV rentals. The Lime garage has a kiosk for renting wheelchairs and ECVs as you exit the garage. The Orange Garage has the Sundry Shop nearby where you can rent wheelchairs and ECVs.

Size – The Lime Garage fills up quickly, and my husband’s strong opinion (that I actually agree with) is that it’s a little tighter and harder to maneuver in than the Orange Garage. If you’re driving a van or larger vehicle for accessibility reasons, this could be something to be aware of.

Accessible Parking at the Disney Resorts

There are spaces marked with signs in all of the predictable places near entrances and ramps at the resorts. Standard parking for day guests and overnight guests is free. Valet parking is available at the Deluxe Resorts, and for guests with a valid disability parking permit, there is no charge for valet parking. Just don’t forget to tip!

Do you have any observations or tips for guests who will need the medical lots? Please ask any questions you may have or share your experience in the comments.