Is Disney World castle visible from outside the park? (Orlando: how much, hotels)

[tricon7]

I'd love to get a photo of Disney World's Cinderella Castle, but since it's just me here for now, I don't want to have to pay just to get in and snap a photo of it. Is it visible from a publicly-accessible area anywhere?

[chopchop0]

Not really. You could pay for parking at the park and take the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom where you'd be able to see the castle.

[tricon7]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Not really. You could pay for parking at the park and take the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom where you'd be able to see the castle.

Hmm. How much is parking? I could get to the Magic Kingdom without actually having to pay to get in, then? (Not sure a single photograph is worth what I suspect to be an expensive parking fee).

[DavieJ89]

Originally Posted by tricon7

Hmm. How much is parking? I could get to the Magic Kingdom without actually having to pay to get in, then? (Not sure a single photograph is worth what I suspect to be an expensive parking fee).

Last time I check, it was $10 but that was in 2007, its probably around $15 now

The castle really isnt visible outside the park, unless you are on the monorail coming to or leaving the Contemporary Resort (the only Disney hotel I like)

Very few tall structures are visible due to Orlando's lack of elevation change

Downtown Orlando isnt visible from many places except heading in from the east side on the 408, coming in from the north on I-4, or from the SW on I-4

The only place in Orlando where the really is an elevation change is Pine Hills and its not enough of a change to really see anything

[brinkofsunshine]

Originally Posted by tricon7

Hmm. How much is parking? I could get to the Magic Kingdom without actually having to pay to get in, then? (Not sure a single photograph is worth what I suspect to be an expensive parking fee).

You could also just park at one of the hotels for free.

[DavieJ89]

Originally Posted by brinkofsunshine

You could also just park at one of the hotels for free.

Or Downtown Disney and then ride the bus to a hotel (if youre going to MK, take a Downtown disney bus to the Contemporary, Polynesian, or Grand Floridian and then hop on the monorail)

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by tricon7

I'd love to get a photo of Disney World's Cinderella Castle, but since it's just me here for now, I don't want to have to pay just to get in and snap a photo of it. Is it visible from a publicly-accessible area anywhere?

Some parks have what is called a "shopping pass" where you are allowed into the park for a short period of time (usually 1/2 hour) just for the purpose of going to buy something.

Call the customer service department and ask if this is available. If it is, go in, take your picture and BUY SOMETHING, (if they ask you what you want to buy, I suggest you have an answer ready).

They will probably keep something of yours as collateral to make sure that you don't decide to stay longer than the allowed time. And you will have to check back in with them. But *if* Disney has this option available, it would allow you to take the picture without paying full pop admission.

(Back a gazillion years ago, I know that Disney WORLD had a reduced price admission if you came in the last hour or so that the park was open. If they don't have a shopping pass, you might find out about this, although it will be dark - in the Winter- that late at night. But it wouldn't in the summer if you can wait to do it).

20yrsinBranson

[Mom2M&J]

You can see the top of the castle from Reams rd., but it's not good enough for a picture. Your best bet is what DavieJ89 said, go park in Downtown Disney for free, take a bus to one of the MK resorts, then take the monorail over to the park. You can get a picture from the monorail platform.

[doom1001]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

Some parks have what is called a "shopping pass" where you are allowed into the park for a short period of time (usually 1/2 hour) just for the purpose of going to buy something.

Call the customer service department and ask if this is available. If it is, go in, take your picture and BUY SOMETHING, (if they ask you what you want to buy, I suggest you have an answer ready).

They will probably keep something of yours as collateral to make sure that you don't decide to stay longer than the allowed time. And you will have to check back in with them. But *if* Disney has this option available, it would allow you to take the picture without paying full pop admission.

(Back a gazillion years ago, I know that Disney WORLD had a reduced price admission if you came in the last hour or so that the park was open. If they don't have a shopping pass, you might find out about this, although it will be dark - in the Winter- that late at night. But it wouldn't in the summer if you can wait to do it).

20yrsinBranson

No more shopping passes or reduced late admissions.The only thing similar to the reduced late admissions are convention passes only obtained from the convention itself.The best place to see the castle from outside the park is to go eat at the California Grill in the Contemporary resort as you can step outside into a rooftop balcony with an amazing view.

[TedTLPN]

Certainly not a place for a QUALITY shot of the castle, but there are spots on the 429 where you can get the castle with the city as a background.