Third parking garage coming to Disney Springs

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Not the people, the cars. But in regard to people, Also there is only one elevator on the Springs end of the pedestrian overpasses. Stroller and wheelchairs could que up on heavier traffic night and bummer when the elevator has down time.

But you can't have a lot of cars trying to exit at once if you can't get a lot of people into the garage all at once.
 

Disone

Well-Known Member
In my opinion, Disney Springs has outgrown the area it's in. I get a headache whenever driving by it with the utilitarian parking garages cramped up against the road. And the mall area itself is so crowded, it's hard to enjoy yourself. It's lost it's charm. I don't have much desire to go there anymore.
But you can't have a lot of cars trying to exit at once if you can't get a lot of people into the garage all at once.
Ohhhhh. Still... I don't think the pedestrian overpass is that tight. People will be able to walk back into the garage faster than you'll be able to drive out of it. :)
 

mm121

Well-Known Member
Not the people, the cars. But in regard to people, Also there is only one elevator on the Springs end of the pedestrian overpasses. Stroller and wheelchairs could que up on heavier traffic night and bummer when the elevator has down time.
Wow that's really dumb. That they only installed one elevator for an entire parking garage, when the interior of the garage has several.

The end of the walkway really should have had escalators and TWO elevators.
 

Disone

Well-Known Member
The end of the walkway really should have had escalators and TWO elevators.

Agreed. Bare minimum to elevators. Simply because elevators will have down time. What's going to happen when this one elevator goes down? "Oops, sorry, please go back to your car and try to park in one of the other two garages."

Or worst.... "take the elevators in the elbow of The Pedestrian bridges down to Buena Vista Dr. Follow Buena Vista Drive to the pedestrian bridge closest to the Hilton or by team Disney and cross there instead. It'll be fine....." ;)
 

Jon81uk

Well-Known Member
Hopefully many people who have access needs and want to park closer (ie wheelchair users etc) will go to the existing garages anyway.

Its been said before that the main aim for the new garage is to get staff to park there making more space available in the closer garages for guests. The majority of staff at Disney Springs should be able to walk over the bridge just fine.
 

Disone

Well-Known Member
Hopefully many people who have access needs and want to park closer (ie wheelchair users etc) will go to the existing garages anyway.

Its been said before that the main aim for the new garage is to get staff to park there making more space available in the closer garages for guests. The majority of staff at Disney Springs should be able to walk over the bridge just fine.
They built it to accomdate casting and partners building (which is more Disney offices then by day and Springs by night. I do not think they will be very success getting springs cast to park there. But hey...... Maybe.
 

mm121

Well-Known Member
Hopefully many people who have access needs and want to park closer (ie wheelchair users etc) will go to the existing garages anyway.

Its been said before that the main aim for the new garage is to get staff to park there making more space available in the closer garages for guests. The majority of staff at Disney Springs should be able to walk over the bridge just fine.
While that's the theory.

The way its labeled guests unfamiliar with the Disney Springs parking choices will probably just follow signs that say to Parking not knowing that Grapefruit is the LEAST desirable option.
 

mm121

Well-Known Member
They built it to accomdate casting and partners building (which is more Disney offices then by day and Springs by night. I do not think they will be very success getting springs cast to park there. But hey...... Maybe.
Somewhere in these threads there was talk of the garages getting entry exit liscence plate readers.

These could be used to track and then punish employees who park consistently outside of designated cast parking areas
 

winstongator

Well-Known Member
I like the garages, and hugely prefer Disney springs to downtown Disney. We went summer 2015 or 2016 and parking was a nightmare. The traffic flow seems improved too. I like that the garages shield the springs area from the road.

The extra space will help. We were there in March and it was packed, but not as packed as thanksgiving week when we parked way back in the partners lot.

What’s the total number of parking spaces difference from say 2014 to now?

For those that have it, DS is a neat spot to look at old satellite imagery.
 

Jon81uk

Well-Known Member
They built it to accomdate casting and partners building (which is more Disney offices then by day and Springs by night. I do not think they will be very success getting springs cast to park there. But hey...... Maybe.
Somewhere in these threads there was talk of the garages getting entry exit liscence plate readers.

These could be used to track and then punish employees who park consistently outside of designated cast parking areas
Don't forget a majority of Disney Springs employees/staff are NOT cast, they are employed by third parties. Therefore it would need to be Disney feeding back to tenants to ask their staff to not park in the closest location. It night happen but yes success may be difficult.

Also I would hope there is signage (as well as descriptions on the website etc) that state where the best place is for handicap parking. In theory there shouldn't be any wheelchair parking in the new garage due to the distance to the stores etc.
 

mm121

Well-Known Member
Don't forget a majority of Disney Springs employees/staff are NOT cast, they are employed by third parties. Therefore it would need to be Disney feeding back to tenants to ask their staff to not park in the closest location. It night happen but yes success may be difficult.

Also I would hope there is signage (as well as descriptions on the website etc) that state where the best place is for handicap parking. In theory there shouldn't be any wheelchair parking in the new garage due to the distance to the stores etc.
I know DS is employees not cast, I should have said workers to encompass all.

Disney is still the property manager so like at other malls their personal can track and punish.

Simon malls will send warnings and tickets to employees at their malls through the mail when they are caught not parking in the proper zones and I'm sure repeat offenders could be reported to their employers as well.
 

PG 134

Active Member
I know DS is employees not cast, I should have said workers to encompass all.

Disney is still the property manager so like at other malls their personal can track and punish.

Simon malls will send warnings and tickets to employees at their malls through the mail when they are caught not parking in the proper zones and I'm sure repeat offenders could be reported to their employers as well.


1. Cast Members/Employees are allowed to park anywhere in new garage and all surface parking(excluding valet lots). I believe there is a rule allowing use of 1st/2nd floors of Orange if shift is before 2PM(memory is a little fuzzy on that one).

2. Disney does not have a vehicle registry for Cast Memebers/Employees(excluding company owned vehicles).

3. Disney cannot use the Florida state-related License/Registration system for something like CM/Employee parking lot enforcement. The company has to have a really good reason to look up plates. I have personally heard many requests denied.

4. Company Management will occasionally stand at Garage exits into Springs to find CMs/Employees who are parking in the garages. That is how they would audit staff. It is obvious when people are in costume, costume under clothing, and/or visible company IDs.

5. It is possible for the garages to use plate readers for crime prevention/apprehension reasons like any of the billion cameras on property.

Reality is that they would be losing a lot of staff if they went hardcore on parking enforcement. It has been a long time since I've been at Springs frequently but you're more likely to see a higher amount of non-Disney employees using the wrong parking location than Cast Members.
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
How was parking over the weekend with all the End Game AMC madness? Anyone have a first hand account if garages were at capacity?
 

DisneyCane

Well-Known Member
1. Cast Members/Employees are allowed to park anywhere in new garage and all surface parking(excluding valet lots). I believe there is a rule allowing use of 1st/2nd floors of Orange if shift is before 2PM(memory is a little fuzzy on that one).

2. Disney does not have a vehicle registry for Cast Memebers/Employees(excluding company owned vehicles).

3. Disney cannot use the Florida state-related License/Registration system for something like CM/Employee parking lot enforcement. The company has to have a really good reason to look up plates. I have personally heard many requests denied.

4. Company Management will occasionally stand at Garage exits into Springs to find CMs/Employees who are parking in the garages. That is how they would audit staff. It is obvious when people are in costume, costume under clothing, and/or visible company IDs.

5. It is possible for the garages to use plate readers for crime prevention/apprehension reasons like any of the billion cameras on property.

Reality is that they would be losing a lot of staff if they went hardcore on parking enforcement. It has been a long time since I've been at Springs frequently but you're more likely to see a higher amount of non-Disney employees using the wrong parking location than Cast Members.
I noticed today in Orange that the new guide light system seems to flash the light when a space is taken for a long time. I saw a few flashing with cars parked and others flashing where there was some equipment parked.

My guess is that this is how they track employee parking.
 

Disone

Well-Known Member
Honestly, with the addition of the third garage parking continues to be much easier than before. That said I was there last Saturday evening (during peak time) and it took me a good 10 minutes to get into Orange. I believe there was an accident earlier on BVD so that may have had an impact. But compared to this time just 4 years ago it is night and day.
I wonder how long it would have taken you to park if you had gone to grapefruit? But I like you would have gone into orange and regardless of what the signs say. Last time I was there I ignored the signs directing me to grapefruit. Went into orange. But I locked out more than you did. The sign said level three had one parking spot. I pulled into level 3 and thanks to the lighting system I found that one parking spot lickety-split. Bonus it was right next to the Coca-Cola side of orange garage. But even at 10 minutes, parking here is definitely light years better then it ever was. I remember the days you just driving to the surface lots and you'd have to drive in circles, doing the slow creepy crawl behind a pedestrian hoping they were going to a car.
 

Disone

Well-Known Member
Despite arriving to Springs via Hotel Plaza, and driving past Grapefruit, I still elected to park in Orange. Perhaps I am an"old" boy stuck in old habits but Grapefruit involves too much walking.
With you on that 100%. Like I said I ignored the signs directing me to grapefruit and went to Orange. Question for all: Coming from hotel plaza Blvd not sure grapefruit is even an option unless you pass it and double back. Correct?
 

mergatroid

Well-Known Member
But even at 10 minutes, parking here is definitely light years better then it ever was. I remember the days you just driving to the surface lots and you'd have to drive in circles, doing the slow creepy crawl behind a pedestrian hoping they were going to a car.

Indeed, done that many times. Used to be a pain when we were visiting the AMC for a movie having to get there extra early to get a decent parking spot.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom