How the Parking Trams Work at Disney World (For Each Park)

Courtesy parking trams serve all four of the theme parks at Walt Disney World. Typically, you’ll find two to six trams servicing the parking lots, depending on which park you visit. When it’s hot outside, you’re probably going to want to take the tram. For the record, it’s hot most of the time at Disney World.

Most guests, especially first-time visitors, will want to take the tram. Additionally, for those traveling with a multi-generational group that includes elderly guests or small children, the tram is a lifesaver.

When you first arrive at a theme park, you’ll stop at the main gate to pay for parking. Select guests will have parking included. For example, we’re annual passholders, and parking is included with our admission. Also, parking is included if you’re staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. Of course, if you’re staying at a resort hotel, it is often simpler to take complimentary transportation to and from the parks. But some prefer to drive to the parks, which is also understandable.

As far as parking at Disney World, after passing through the gates, you’ll follow along with other cars. Eventually, you’ll run into a parking lot cast member who will direct you to a row. Once you turn down that row, you’ll usually see four to five more cast members directing you to the next available parking space. You’ll park where directed, gather your belongings, and continue to the front of the row. (Make sure to walk in the row in front of your car. Other guests will likely still be parking in the row behind your car.)

Two cars are parked per space, one on the front and the other behind. I always like to note whether I park in the front or back of the parking space. Then, when I reach the end of the row, I take a photo. You can also use the Car Locator in the My Disney Experience app. The most important thing is that you take note of the location. After the end of a long day, you might not remember it. For example, here is a photo of when I parked in row 204 of the Crush section of Epcot’s parking lot.

Once you get to the end of the row, you’ll see the tram’s loading area. You’ll want to use caution because you’ll have to cross the road that runs through the parking lot. You can board the tram as long as cast members are still loading it. If they are no longer boarding, you will hear them say over the speaker, “We’ve called for no further boarding. Please wait for the next tram.”

Sometimes, you might have to wait for the next tram to arrive. They typically run every couple of minutes. So it shouldn’t take long. If you do not want to wait, you can continue on the marked walking path to the park. It runs adjacent to the tram’s route.

However, things work a little differently at Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom has two large parking lots: Heroes and Villains. The lots are easily identifiable because they are named after Disney heroes and villains. For example, the hero sections are named: Rapunzel, Mulan, Peter Pan, Simba, Aladdin, and Woody. The villain sections are named after Cruella, Ursula, Scar, Hook, Jafar, and Zurg.

While all the other parking trams drop you off at the park’s main entrance, the Magic Kingdom trams drop you off at the Transportation and Ticket Center. You’ll walk through security when the tram drops you off at the TTC. After that, you can board the monorail or ferry to Magic Kingdom. You will remain in a secured area, so you don’t have to walk through security again to enter the park.

At the end of the day, when you return to the Transportation and Ticket Center, you’ll notice there are separate trams for heroes and villains. If you parked in the villain’s section, you’ll want to board the villain’s tram. They are clearly marked. (It’s also important to note that trams do not service the disability parking lots. If you park in preferred parking or a disability lot, you’ll have to walk to the entrance. However, they are pretty close.)

Once you board the tram from the theme park, you’ll want to listen for the bus driver to call your stop. The tram driver will alert guests and let them know not to exit until the tram comes to a complete stop. They will then remind you of the sections. If, for some reason, you don’t remember where you parked, you can ask a cast member for assistance. They keep a list of times when the rows were parked. So, if you have a ballpark idea of what time you got to the park, they should be able to get you pretty close.

Key Takeaway for Disney World’s Tram Service

Parking trams are available at:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Trams run approximately every 5-10 minutes. Each tram car has five rows, with the front row being a double row. Rows can accommodate about five guests. The tram driver will remind you where you parked when you depart the parking area. During the ride, they will also share valuable information about the park’s operating hours for the day, times for the nightly fireworks, and how long the trams will run on that specific day. Those who listen will likely benefit from the information provided.

Accessibility: Strollers and wheelchairs must be folded or collapsed before boarding the tram. Trams are not accessible for guests who must remain in wheelchairs.

Final Thoughts

We hope you found this guide helpful as you learn your way around Walt Disney World. If you would like to learn about other travel methods, you might enjoy the following:

• How to Get to Disney Springs From Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Unfortunately, there is no direct bus service from the theme parks to Disney Springs. This guide outlines a method for getting from Animal Kingdom to Disney Springs. It requires a transfer.

• How to Get to Disney’s Blizzard Beach: This guide explains how to get to Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Options include free parking at the water park, or resort hotel guests can use complimentary transportation. Some routes require a transfer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

• How to get to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: This guide explains how to get to Typhoon Lagoon water park. Options include free parking, or resort hotel guests can use complimentary bus transportation. Some routes require a transfer at Disney Springs.

• Disney’s Friendship Boats: These boats travel between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The route services all of the Epcot Resorts.

If you’re new to getting around Disney World, you might like our beginner’s guide to getting around Disney World. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.

In the Comments

Have you ever taken a parking tram at Disney World? Let us know below in the comments.