Getting to Downtown Disney
Conveniently located a short walk from Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, Downtown Disney has its own monorail station, complimentary bus and tram transportation, and two parking lots.
If you're staying at one of the Disney-owned hotels, the easiest way to get around is to leave your car parked and walk or to take the complimentary bus or tram to Downtown Disney instead of driving. Some independent hotels, motels, and resorts also offer complimentary shuttle bus transportation to and from Downtown Disney.
If you are driving to Downtown Disney from Interstate-5 southbound, take the Disneyland Drive/Ball Road exit. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left on Disneyland Drive; then stay in one of the two right-hand lanes. Follow the Downtown Disney signs. After passing Ball Road, turn right on to Magic Way and get into the leftmost lane. As you approach the Downtown Disney North Parking Lot, turn left into the lot.
From northbound I-5, take the Katella/Disney Way exit. At the traffic light (at the end of the exit ramp), turn left on to Katella. Pass straight through the Harbor Boulevard intersection. The following intersection will be Disneyland Drive. Turn right at this intersection (on to Disneyland Drive), and take an immediate left into the Downtown Disney South parking lot.
If you're visiting Downtown Disney along with one of the theme parks, it's cheaper to park in the theme park's parking lot (for a flat rate of $11 per day).
If you're going just to Downtown Disney, you'll find two conveniently located parking lots off Disneyland Drive. For self-parking, the first three hours are free of charge, and you can get two more hours free with validation from the AMC Theatres or any sit-down restaurant in the area. After that, there's a $6 per hour parking fee (billed in twenty-minute increments), and a $30 per day maximum. Add $14 if you want valet parking service.
Bicycles can park for free any time, and you'll find guest drop-off areas at Magic Way and Downtown Drive (near Rainforest Café) and on Harbor Boulevard, just south of the Esplanade intersection.
If you're already in the Disneyland Resort, the Disney Tram service operates continuously, connecting Downtown Disney, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, and the theme park parking lots. The tram operates for two hours after the Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure theme parks close. After that, it's a ten-minute walk from Downtown Disney to the Mickey & Friends lot.
FAST FACT
When it first opened in 1959, the Disneyland Monorail was the only regularly operating monorail in the Western Hemisphere. Vice President Richard M. Nixon was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and guides on the “Walk in Walt's Footsteps” Tour like to tell the story of how Walt whisked Nixon into the train so fast that his Secret Service agents were left behind.
If you're in Disneyland and want to get to Downtown Disney the easy way, the Disneyland Monorail goes from Tomorrowland to the Downtown Disney station. You can get back into the park at the same monorail station, but you must have a valid Disneyland Passport to get on.
