Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[KrazeeK120]

The population of the metropolitan Orlando area is around 2.4 million people. That's an order of magnitude larger than your hometown. There's nothing that requires downtown hotels in large cities to charge for parking either... but they often do. Don't like it? Then you have the option to stay elsewhere, take a shuttle, or take a Uber/taxi.

I'm not saying that you have to be "happy" about the change, nor is it a move that I endorse, but I don't think it's an outrage either.

Disney is not in the metropolitan Orlando area, though. Space is plain and simply not an issue there.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I also read that if you already have an existing reservation made before March 21 the parking fee does not apply. I hope that is true.

Where did you read this? It would make me happy as I already have a trip booked for this year.

 

[msb578]

Disney is not in the metropolitan Orlando area, though. Space is plain and simply not an issue there.

In some ways, Disney created the metro Orlando area.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes with the mind set of " this too shall pass " Disney will continue to nickle and dime every guest forever because we can just " sit back and take it "

That's not a mindset that I have.

To each his own

I guess I’m just a believer in the free market; companies charging what the market can bear, and seeking to maximize profits. These vacations are true leisure spending at any price tag. Not a necessity. When the cost of leisure spending goes up, usually means the economy is doing well and maybe I pick a different thing to do with my time and money if I am personally priced out. Not something I can personally get worked up about.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Disney is not in the metropolitan Orlando area, though. Space is plain and simply not an issue there.

Relevant is demand, not space IMO.

 

[kslo69]

on the chip and co facebook page.

 

[tlmadden73]

I just wonder how they will spin this.

"Due to guest demand"?

"For guest safety and convenience"?

I don't mind Disney raising prices or charging for extra events and nickel and diming us that way ... I just personally have always hated paying for parking because you don't really get anything out of it. Whether it is downtown or at a sporting event. It just always boggled my mind to charge someone (A LOT OF MONEY) to come to your event where you want them to spend money. It's like charging for parking at a mall .. or at your local grocery store.

I also read that if you already have an existing reservation made before March 21 the parking fee does not apply. I hope that is true.

That's good at least.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

I fumed about this all night last night and finally came to a conclusion. We will NEVER stay onsite again unless its a DVC points reservation. PERIOD. Thanks Iger.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I just wonder how they will spin this.

"Due to guest demand"?

"For guest safety and convenience"?

I don’t think they need to spin it.

 

[PrincessV]

So what happens when the next economy crash happens and all those "once in a lifetime" guests don't happen and they have priced out the repeat guests?

Same as every other time it's happened: start offering a bunch of incentives to Floridians and Georgians - we take the bait (because DUH! of course!) - prop up WDW until the recession fades, and then we get kicked to the side in favor of those willing to spend more. The Circle of WDW Economics!

 

[RN2003AZ]

I have a reservation in June made on points rented from a DVC member. We always rent a car, both for grocery shopping, off site touring and when the kids were small, not having to fight the buses. Will I be considered a DVC member and not be required to pay for parking at our resort?

 

[Skippyboo]

When do they start charging for Magical Express, parking at Disney Springs, Fast Passes?

 

[mikebb]

Not crazy.

Aulani:
View attachment 308869

Thanks for the info.

So making the jump and assuming Disney might follow the Aulani model, my next question would be - does anyone with knowledge of Aulani know how the parking lots are situated there? Do they segregate parking for resort guests vs. day visitors, so as to give priority parking to people staying onsite? Or is it one lot for everyone? And how is parking availability?

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/breaking-...charging-resort-guests-for-overnight-parking/

“Disney Vacation Club guests staying using their points would not have to pay for parking as part of a new membership perk.”

Yea, it isn't a perk.

We already pay for the lot and everything associated with it through our maintenance fees.

That is why they won't be charging Vacation club guests.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

What confuses me the most is why they are not going to charge people that visit the resort during the day? Seems to me they should do the opposite and charge dining/shopping/people-watchers and not the folks paying 400+ a night stay there already. OR, at least charge both. OR, if they're really going to only charge resort overnight guests, it should the closest parking spots and everyone else visiting day only for free should have to park in the farthest back lots.

I'm sure they've done their research, but for us, one of the reasons we stay at BWI instead of Swan is because BWI includes perks that Swan doesn't like free parking, free wifi, magical express, etc. And Swan has the resort fee. If Swan is 250/night + resort fee + parking fee, etc, the math makes it comparable in price to BWI with a 20% discount. If they start charging comparable fees as Swan, it will make Swan a better value since Swan's nightly rate is cheaper than BWI. I'm sure the area hotels that aren't Disney owned are thrilled by this dumb move.

 

[jknezek]

My favorite part of all of this logic: Spending $100 at a restaurant or $50 at a gift shop earns you $30 in free parking. Spending $300 a night for lodging does not.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

My favorite part of all of this logic: Spending $100 at a restaurant or $50 at a gift shop earns you $30 in free parking. Spending $300 a night for lodging does not.

Or even worse, people that park at the POLY just to walk around and watch HEA! Spend no money (maybe $5 on a Dole Whip)

 

[KrazeeK120]

I just wonder how they will spin this.

"Due to guest demand"?

"For guest safety and convenience"?

I don't mind Disney raising prices or charging for extra events and nickel and diming us that way ... I just personally have always hated paying for parking because you don't really get anything out of it. Whether it is downtown or at a sporting event. It just always boggled my mind to charge someone (A LOT OF MONEY) to come to your event where you want them to spend money. It's like charging for parking at a mall .. or at your local grocery store.


That's good at least.

I think that’s what’s really bugging me about this.

At least with all the upcharge “opportunities” (dessert parties and the like), you at least get something for your $. It’s still overpriced, but it’s something at least. In this case, it’s an unnecessary charge and the person paying the money gets nothing.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

I guess I’m just a believer in the free market; companies charging what the market can bear, and seeking to maximize profits. These vacations are true leisure spending at any price tag. Not a necessity. When the cost of leisure spending goes up, usually means the economy is doing well and maybe I pick a different thing to do with my time and money if I am personally priced out. Not something I can personally get worked up about.

Ah, all goes back to Walt's dream where anyone can go to Disney, regardless of price. Since hes not here, I guess it doesn't matter to those higher ups anymore

 

[BOST99]

If true, let me get this straight - As a paying hotel guest, I pull into the lot to start my stay and have to pay $20-50/day for the privilege of parking. If that wasn't enough, I have to fight for a spot alongside day guests who AREN'T PAYING for the exact same thing! Imagine all the people paying for parking who have to lug their bags from the back of the lot because another family wanted to "visit" a resort for a few hours to walk around and get an ice cream cone - and they did it for free.

Im staying at BWI this summer. If I'm paying for the luxury of having a parking pass, to me that is guarateeing me a spot not someone coming to buy an ice cream with a side trip to EPCOT. I'm not generally one to complain but if I'm paying I expect to get what I paid for.

There are so few details so holding out hope but this sounds like a potential disaster. They will have to monitor cars, either hourly or at least nightly? or will every guest just be "visiting"?