Everything You Need to Know About the TTC (Parking at Magic Kingdom)

If you’re driving to the Magic Kingdom, did you know you’ll ride your first Disney attraction before you even arrive at the park? The parking trams, monorail, or ferry boat will be your first ride of the day as you go from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the park itself. Here’s a walkthrough of what you can expect at the TTC on an average Magic Kingdom morning.

What Even Is the Ticket and Transportation Center?

Pulling up to the Magic Kingdom Parking is so exciting; your day of magic is finally here. You see the iconic sign that says Magic Kingdom, and you might assume that you pay the attendant, park your car, and head straight into the park! Well… not quite. The sign says Magic Kingdom, but you are actually at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Once parked, you’ll go through security and take care of any ticket needs you may have. Then you’ll head to the gates of the Magic Kingdom on the monorail or the Ferryboat.

The Ticket and Transportation Center is also where you’ll arrive if you’re staying at a non-Disney hotel that has bus service. Or if you’re taking an Uber or Lyft. Minnie Vans drop off directly at the gates of the Magic Kingdom.

Arriving at the TTC By Car

If you’re arriving by car, you’ll need to roll up (and through) the tollbooths and follow Cast Member directions to your parking spot. Then you’ll either walk or take a tram to the TTC “proper” where ticket and security are located, and where transportation to the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT departs.

At the Toll Booths

When you arrive at the Magic Kingdom parking tolls, you have fourteen booths to choose from, so typically, this process should take less than ten minutes. The gates generally open about an hour before the park opens.

If you’re staying at a Disney World Resort then standard parking at all Disney Parks is included in your room rate. A Cast Member will scan your MagicBand, Key to the World Card, or your phone/watch that has been set up with a MagicMobile pass. However, you may want to reconsider driving. Most guests staying at a Disney resort will find that Disney transportation or walkways is the easiest and fastest way to arrive at Magic Kingdom.

If you’ll need to pay for parking, there are two types of parking areas, regular and preferred. Currently, parking fees are $30 for standard parking, and the preferred pricing starts at $50 and goes up depending on the calendar. Keep your receipt if you plan to leave and come back, or park hop. Parking is good for all day at all of the Disney parks.

Parking Your Car

Disney’s logistics are impressive, one of the things that never fails to amaze me is how well they can move people, crowds, and cars.  If you follow the signs and go where the parking attendant tells you to, it’s so easy you don’t even have to think about it. As you pull into the parking area, several Cast Members dressed in yellow will direct you to where you need to go.

The parking lot is divided into two areas, Villains and Heroes. Both areas are further divided into named lots. Some of the lots have special uses. On the Villains side, Zurg is the medical lot reserved for guests with disabled placards or plates. Most of the Jafar lot (Villains side) and the Aladdin lot (Heroes side) are reserved for preferred parking. If you’re just “regular parking”, Cast Members will fill you into the other lots in an orderly fashion.

The My Disney Experience App has a function to help you remember your parking spot (see how to use it here). But just in case, remember to look at the end of your aisle to see what number you are parked in! My family either takes a picture or texts someone in the group.

A couple more pro tips. First, at each park, the numbers are unique. If row 420 is in Scar at the Magic Kingdom, there is no row 420 in any other lot on either the Villains or Heroes side. Second, if you’re arriving in a rental car, make a note – or take a photo – of the car’s make, model, and plate number.

Trams

A day in a Disney park always means you get your steps in, but many guests like to (or need to) save their steps for the actual park. The trams are a fun, easy way to get through the parking lot. But they aren’t always the fastest! Using the trams it should take you around ten to fifteen minutes to park and get through Security.

• You must fold up all strollers – yes, that means you need to take the kids out first.
• Most adaptive strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs do not fold small enough. (Trams do not serve the Disability Parking areas, so if you have a placard, this may not affect you.)
• Depending on how far away you are parked, the wait time and ride can take longer than just walking.
• The doors and seats are very tight. They aren’t comfortable for all guests.
• The front seat of each tram car is “double-wide” and has slightly more room if you have a double stroller.

The trams pick up at the end of the rows, and cast members will let you know where to wait. When you are headed back to your car, the loading areas for the two sides are separated. Villains trams are on the left and Heroes trams are to your right.

Arriving at the TTC by Bus or Rideshare

If you arrive on a bus that isn’t Disney Transportation, the bus stops are to one side of the TTC. As you leave the bus, follow the signs (and the crowd) straight ahead to Security. Shades of Green and Swan and Dolphin resorts are included in the buses that use the TTC.

Lyft and Uber, as well as taxis, also drop off at the side near where the non-Disney buses stop. When you are headed home keep to the left as you are leaving the TTC and turn left just past Security. If you take a Minnie Van – “Disney’s rideshare” – to the Magic Kingdom, you’ll be dropped off where the Disney buses stop at the Magic Kingdom gates instead of at the TTC.

Security

Whether you’re walking or riding the tram, you’ll go through a small tunnel (my brother-in-law from Buffalo, NY, insists it should be called an overpass, not a tunnel), and then you will see the security screening area.

In 2020 all Walt Disney World Parks moved from physical bag checks to metal detectors. Thankfully this moves Security along pretty quickly. Even when the lines appear long you should be through security in around five minutes or less. If you have to go through the second screening, or you need the stroller/ wheelchair line, you will probably add up to five more minutes.

• Line up single-file to pass through the scanners.
• Guests with wheelchairs or strollers have a separate line.
• There is no need to remove phones, keys, and other items from the bags. However, see below for a list of items that you should take care to remove.
• Keep on swimming and walk at a nice pace as you go through the scanners. There is no need to stop or slow down unless security asks you to.

If you have nothing that triggers the scanner, you go straight through. If you are flagged, you’re asked to enter an additional, separate line to be checked in person. If you have umbrellas, magnetic eyeglass cases, phone stabilizers, tripods, or really anything that is a solid metal or magnetic item, these are items that you should take out of your bags to avoid being flagged. Hold them out in front of you as you walk through. Tip- stretch that arm holding the umbrella out as far away from your body as you can to avoid being flagged for extra security.

For strollers and wheelchairs, only the guest pushing the stroller should get in the stroller line. The rest of the group lines up with the majority of the guests and meets you on the other side. The guest in the wheelchair can have one guest accompany them if they need to. It helps everyone if you plan to meet back up with your group past the mob of people who are waiting for others.

Tickets

If you have any ticket needs, please stop at the ticket counter. If you have all of your ticket needs covered, keep on swimming to the next step.

Here are some reasons that you may want to stop at the ticket counter.

• You need to purchase tickets
• Your tickets are still a barcode, and not in MagicMobile
• All of your group’s tickets are on one phone
  • The cast member will give each of you a physical ticket (it’s a cute card). These cards make it easier to use the touchpoints and tapstiles, especially if you will be using Genie+, Individual Lightning Lanes, or DAS.

From the TTC to the Magic Kingdom

Now we’re at the fun part! Your first ride of the day will be either the monorail or a Walt Disney World Ferry. They will transport you to the gates of the Magic Kingdom in style. When TouringPlans has tested, we’ve found that either one takes about the same amount of time, which means once your group is through Security you should arrive at the Magic Kingdom in approximately fifteen minutes.

If you opened strollers and put your kids back in them, good news! The children and or all of your belongings can stay in the stroller. You don’t need to fold it for either the monorail or the boat.

If you use a wheelchair or ECV, the middle cars of the monorail have ramps that a cast member will set up for you. You do not have to transfer out of your chair or ECV, although I recommend using the elevator as the ramps to the platform are quite steep. For the boat, you can just roll right on; it’s only a slight incline. The ferry is easier to navigate than the monorail for wheelchairs and ECVs.

If the monorail or ferryboat are not operating due to weather or technical issues, there will be Disney buses that drive you over to the Magic Kingdom. These are usually faster than both of the other options if they’re running. But, they’re definitely not as friendly to those with strollers or wheelchairs.

Monorail

When you see a Walt Disney World Monorail, it just feels like you have made it to Disney. For so many guests, it’s really the only choice.

The TTC has three different monorail tracks. Look for the signs overhead at each entrance and make sure you board the right one.

• Magic Kingdom Monorail – This is the express. It goes directly from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom with no stops at resorts.
• Resorts – This one goes around the Magic Kingdom area loop and stops at each resort, the Magic Kingdom and the TTC.
• Epcot- This monorail goes to EPCOT. Resort guests and park hoppers are who typically ride this one.

During busy times of the day, the monorail can be crowded, and it’s possible you will need to stand for the duration of the ride.

Ferry Boat

The Ferry is an enjoyable boat ride with Disney music playing and has fantastic views of the Magic Kingdom as you approach. There are two levels, and each has a few benches. But unless you happen to be one of the first groups on, prepare to stand. Tip- views are better on the right side.

Restrooms, Merch, and Meeting Spaces

Many groups go directly from Security to the Ferry or Monorail to get to the park while lines are still short. But if you’re meeting another group, you can wait in “comfort”. When you go past the ticket booths, there is an open area with benches, restrooms, and a merchandise kiosk with park day essentials like sunscreen, autograph books, and ears. And if you haven’t had a moment to grab your morning coffee, no worries, Joffrey’s is available too.

This area is not very crowded, and I suggest planning with your family that everyone meets on the other side of the ticket space if you get separated in Security or you don’t need everyone from your group to be in line at the ticket booth. I hope this is obvious, but I don’t mean that you shouldn’t stay with your children.

When I was a kid, I loved the TTC. As an adult, I realize the Imagineers could have made it easier to get in and out of Magic Kingdom. What are your thoughts and experiences with the TTC? Let us know in the comments.