Extra occupancy price increase and Minnie Van = resort parking no longer a perk?

[tlmadden73]

It never makes sense to me to have ANY parking fees anywhere .. ESPECIALLY at a place that owns the parking lot associated with the venue you are going. Just bake it into the cost of a ticket. I mean I know why they do it .. all just mental tricks.

A hotel that costs $120/night with a $10/night parking fee looks (to most people who I guess just don't do math?) better than $130/night.

Places want you to get emotionally committed to something and then NOT CARE about all the extras once you get there. That's why you see $20 parking to park at ballpark (that owns the lots surrounding the stadium) and then charging $10/beer for something you could get at the store yourself for $2. (But you can't because you aren't allowed to bring in outside stuff).

I think at this point with the upcoming new stuff announced the bean counters at Disney are going to be salivating at the increased prices they can throw out there knowing people will come anyway.

 

[wilkeliza]

It never makes sense to me to have ANY parking fees anywhere .. ESPECIALLY at a place that owns the parking lot associated with the venue you are going. Just bake it into the cost of a ticket. I mean I know why they do it .. all just mental tricks.

A hotel that costs $120/night with a $10/night parking fee looks (to most people who I guess just don't do math?) better than $130/night.

Places want you to get emotionally committed to something and then NOT CARE about all the extras once you get there. That's why you see $20 parking to park at ballpark (that owns the lots surrounding the stadium) and then charging $10/beer for something you could get at the store yourself for $2. (But you can't because you aren't allowed to bring in outside stuff).

I think at this point with the upcoming new stuff announced the bean counters at Disney are going to be salivating at the increased prices they can throw out there knowing people will come anyway.

In some areas the ballpark may not actually own the parking lot. It is not uncommon for a team to lease the land form the city they play for. Also again you can never compare what you pay at the store to what you pay at a venue. The venue has to account not just the warehouse staff (like a store would) but all the other workers and then their own profit.

With parking I always figured the nightly rate is for the upkeep of the hotel itself i.e. your room. When hotels have facilities fees and parking fees it goes to the upkeep of the facility and lot and employment of anyone that deals with that part.

 

[zumfelde]

At in IG they should only allow guest staying at the Boardwalk or Yacht and Beach Club and Swan and Dolphin to enter. Could do this with the magic bands.

 

[amberpi]

It never makes sense to me to have ANY parking fees anywhere .. ESPECIALLY at a place that owns the parking lot associated with the venue you are going. Just bake it into the cost of a ticket. I mean I know why they do it .. all just mental

How much do you even travel, bro. (Teasing) Every Westin, marriott, and Hilton charges for parking, and then charges extra for valet.

What are these hotels that aren't charging for parking? Seriously?

 

[Roxyfire]

At in IG they should only allow guest staying at the Boardwalk or Yacht and Beach Club and Swan and Dolphin to enter. Could do this with the magic bands.

Eh, no. If I'm staying elsewhere but want to walk to any of those resorts or the Boardwalk from the IG, I should be able to return through there if I want to. Just because some people have issues with rules, doesn't mean it's a good idea to lock down those entrances.

 

[tlmadden73]

How much do you even travel, bro. (Teasing) Every Westin, marriott, and Hilton charges for parking, and then charges extra for valet.

What are these hotels that aren't charging for parking? Seriously?

Pretty much every NON-luxury travel hotel NOT located in a congested downtown area --- Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express, Courtyards, Comfort Inn and Suites, etc. Days INN, etc. Even Embassy Suites that aren't located in a downtown area. But that's because they own (I guess) the huge tract of land their hotel sits on.

My point is, I understand paying for parking in places that have "limited" space (like a downtown area where the lots are owned by the city or privately) ..., but for places that build parking lots because they are NEEDED to accommodate the people who want to come, I don't understand charging for parking.

I don't pay for parking to go to my local Applebees. I don't pay for parking to go shopping at Best Buy or Target. They bank in the cost of that parking lot into their operating costs. If those places didn't have enough parking to accommodate people who wanted to go there? Guess what? People wouldn't go there.

 

[adelaster]

Pretty much every NON-luxury travel hotel NOT located in a congested downtown area --- Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express, Courtyards, Comfort Inn and Suites, etc. Days INN, etc. Even Embassy Suites that aren't located in a downtown area. But that's because they own (I guess) the huge tract of land their hotel sits on.

My point is, I understand paying for parking in places that have "limited" space (like a downtown area where the lots are owned by the city or privately) ..., but for places that build parking lots because they are NEEDED to accommodate the people who want to come, I don't understand charging for parking.

I don't pay for parking to go to my local Applebees. I don't pay for parking to go shopping at Best Buy or Target. They bank in the cost of that parking lot into their operating costs. If those places didn't have enough parking to accommodate people who wanted to go there? Guess what? People wouldn't go there.

I understand this philosophy, but I also think it matters what you are used to. People from larger cities have the expectation to pay, people from more rural areas don't. I've been to a lot of places where free parking is either extremely limited or unavailable. Disney is also located in a touristy area, and draws large crowds. Most places like that charge or require validation for parking. Personally, I think more guests will prefer the validation route if they go in that direction.

I sincerely hope there's a "halfway" solution and they don't charge everyone. At the minimum I hope resort guests can still park at their resorts. On the flip side I'm starting to see where it might be worth it to a deluxe guest at the Polynesian or Boardwalk to pay for a guaranteed spot. Or how some would support a change that prevents the resort lots from filling with guests not staying at that resort. Not ideal, but it sounds like parking is a real issue.

Do people want them to start building garages? If they did, where does that money come from? How do you handle the aesthetic disruption? IMHO less people should be needing to drive and park everywhere. If there was better transit it wouldn't be necessary. I wonder what it would take for the drivers to relinquish the cars?

 

[PrincessV]

What are these hotels that aren't charging for parking? Seriously?

The ones I know of near WDW? Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, the new Flamingo Crossing properties, Galleria Palms, Embassy Suites, Wyndham Bonnet Creek...

 

[Doberge]

The reason parking is not built room into the price is because not everyone is bringing a car. Why should guests without cars subsidize the costs for guests with cars to park for free?

The fees that bug me (non Disney) are resort fees that *are* charged evenly to guests or rooms. When a fee applies to everyone, bake it into the room quote/rate. When a fee doesn't apply to everyone, like parking, it should be added separately.

If my bill is $225 with free parking or $210 + $15 parking, I'm going to sleep the same at night.

 

[wilkeliza]

Pretty much every NON-luxury travel hotel NOT located in a congested downtown area --- Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express, Courtyards, Comfort Inn and Suites, etc. Days INN, etc. Even Embassy Suites that aren't located in a downtown area. But that's because they own (I guess) the huge tract of land their hotel sits on.

My point is, I understand paying for parking in places that have "limited" space (like a downtown area where the lots are owned by the city or privately) ..., but for places that build parking lots because they are NEEDED to accommodate the people who want to come, I don't understand charging for parking.

I don't pay for parking to go to my local Applebees. I don't pay for parking to go shopping at Best Buy or Target. They bank in the cost of that parking lot into their operating costs. If those places didn't have enough parking to accommodate people who wanted to go there? Guess what? People wouldn't go there.

I guess it is a different experience thing. I do actually have to pay to park at Target, Best Buy, Applebees etc in both cities I frequent. Neither has true public parking so you pay for anywhere you want to go. Some places chose to have lots for their clients only and others you pretty much have to pay city parking.

 

[Wonder05]

The reason parking is not built room into the price is because not everyone is bringing a car. Why should guests without cars subsidize the costs for guests with cars to park for free?

The fees that bug me (non Disney) are resort fees that *are* charged evenly to guests or rooms. When a fee applies to everyone, bake it into the room quote/rate. When a fee doesn't apply to everyone, like parking, it should be added separately.

If my bill is $225 with free parking or $210 + $15 parking, I'm going to sleep the same at night.

Wait tho, what about that "magical express" from airport that guest who drive won't be using? Then with that logic they should not be charged for that then right?

 

[AnnaKat]

I understand this philosophy, but I also think it matters what you are used to. People from larger cities have the expectation to pay, people from more rural areas don't. I've been to a lot of places where free parking is either extremely limited or unavailable. Disney is also located in a touristy area, and draws large crowds. Most places like that charge or require validation for parking. Personally, I think more guests will prefer the validation route if they go in that direction.

I sincerely hope there's a "halfway" solution and they don't charge everyone. At the minimum I hope resort guests can still park at their resorts. On the flip side I'm starting to see where it might be worth it to a deluxe guest at the Polynesian or Boardwalk to pay for a guaranteed spot. Or how some would support a change that prevents the resort lots from filling with guests not staying at that resort. Not ideal, but it sounds like parking is a real issue.

Do people want them to start building garages? If they did, where does that money come from? How do you handle the aesthetic disruption? IMHO less people should be needing to drive and park everywhere. If there was better transit it wouldn't be necessary. I wonder what it would take for the drivers to relinquish the cars?

Minnie Van rides included as a perk for Deluxe Resorts. Like 2 FREE rides per stay night

 

[amberpi]

Pretty much every NON-luxury travel hotel NOT located in a congested downtown area --- Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express, Courtyards, Comfort Inn and Suites, etc. Days INN, etc. Even Embassy Suites that aren't located in a downtown area. But that's because they own (I guess) the huge tract of land their hotel sits on.

My point is, I understand paying for parking in places that have "limited" space (like a downtown area where the lots are owned by the city or privately) ..., but for places that build parking lots because they are NEEDED to accommodate the people who want to come, I don't understand charging for parking.

I don't pay for parking to go to my local Applebees. I don't pay for parking to go shopping at Best Buy or Target. They bank in the cost of that parking lot into their operating costs. If those places didn't have enough parking to accommodate people who wanted to go there? Guess what? People wouldn't go there.

So, let's take the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - they have LOADS of space, miles of hiking, an "old time" village, etc. tons of space for parking, they still charge for it, because that land is valueable. I will admit to having not stayed at a lot of those places, but I also don't care for road trips. I do spend hundreds of nights a year in a hotel.

I would think that space close to WDW would be very spendy, ergo, you'd pay for parking. Or like in Vegas, there's a resort fee of say $35 most places I've stayed and I know parking is outrageous on the strip. I'm sure if you go outside of that, its not as pricey, but it seems, *to me*, incredibly normal.

I pay for parking at the mall...Not at Target. I don't eat at chain restaurants, but I eat out all the time and valet is more expensive to most places than Uber is, so paying for parking is certainly a thing on a normal evening.

In short, *I* don't get the outrage. I hate that they're charging more, but being upset about itemizing the increase seems like splitting hairs. If you want to say the Swolphin was X for me total and the BC was Y for me total seems fair, but being upset about the way in which they charge (resort fee vs. base cost) is just *shrug*...again, TO ME. I don't have the same experience on these boards that everyone else does, and ya'll don't have mine. These boards sure would be boring if we did! Also, I couldn't get reservations at Bluezoo, Swan, and Spice Road Table nearly as easy...

 

[Wonder05]

Is the $25 per extra guest at all the resorts or just the deluxe? We had 4 in our room at Pop earlier this month for a 4 night stay and I don't think we were charged anywhere close to an extra $200.

I'm not sure. I know the deluxe charge it.

 

[amberpi]

Minnie Van rides included as a perk for Deluxe Resorts. Like 2 FREE rides per stay night

What?!

 

[amberpi]

I guess it is a different experience thing. I do actually have to pay to park at Target, Best Buy, Applebees etc in both cities I frequent. Neither has true public parking so you pay for anywhere you want to go. Some places chose to have lots for their clients only and others you pretty much have to pay city parking.

Where I lived previously, I had to pay to park at Target and Whole Foods.

 

[amberpi]

Pretty much every NON-luxury travel hotel NOT located in a congested downtown area --- Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express, Courtyards, Comfort Inn and Suites, etc. Days INN, etc.

FWIW, I wasn't referring to luxury brands, just standard hotel chains, using that as a mid point. I don't think that anyone thinks the Hilton in downtown Nashville is a luxury stop. They charge for $30-40 for parking and we're not a huge city...

 

[Dean Marino]

Deleted - no wish to offend anyone....

 

[adelaster]

FWIW, I wasn't referring to luxury brands, just standard hotel chains, using that as a mid point. I don't think that anyone thinks the Hilton in downtown Nashville is a luxury stop. They charge for $30-40 for parking and we're not a huge city...

Nashville is presently the 24th most populated US city. I live in the 14th- but would consider Nashville more touristy/hip. Certainly neither city compares to NYC or Chicago, but I think tourist draw is certainly a factor in parking demand.

 

[amberpi]

Nashville is presently the 24th most populated US city. I live in the 14th- but would consider Nashville more touristy/hip. Certainly neither city compares to NYC or Chicago, but I think tourist draw is certainly a factor in parking demand.

I get it, but I was just saying, we're not exactly NYC by a long shot (worse pizza, WAY better chicken), and we pay for parking. Its just like...life. I would think that this would be viewed as a normal increase in pricing which we all understand, its just a different way of slicing the p&l.

Lord knows Orlando is more touristy than we are - ergo parking would be way more, right? Personally, my neighborhood is, admittedly FAR hipper than I am though.