Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[niccikatie]

Random thoughts (without trying to repeat all the excellent points already made):

1) These price increases really start to stack up, don't they? Following the 2018 increase in ticket prices and the parking fees alone, for example - a family of four driving to WDW for a 7 night onsite stay with 5-day tickets will now get to pay these additional amounts that didn't exist in January: Value - $231, Moderate - $273, Deluxe - $308. Earthshattering numbers? No - but those amounts aren't for any additional actual services beyond what was already provided eight weeks ago for $0.

2) Quite a few comments on parking fees charged by hotels in urban or congested areas. All very true - and I'd add that many of those hotels cater not only to tourists but to high volumes of business travelers, who expense those fees to their companies or clients because those travelers have to be there. Although many leisure hotels and resorts also charge parking fees, it's riskier since you're charging those to people who you ideally want to incentivize to visit and would have to pay those fees directly (rather than reimbursed via expense report). If you're going to do it (and not that I'd advocate any parking fee), why not a trial run of parking fees at the six resorts that offer convention services (GF, CR, BW, CSR, BC, and YC)?

3) A few comments about why the fees are different at Values, Moderates and Deluxes, when a parking space is a parking space. I suppose it's a progressive approach - while the Values are paying less in actual dollars, they are paying a higher percentage of fees relative to their stay. Assuming an average nightly rate for each tier (Value - $125, Moderate - $250, Deluxe - $400), the parking fee at the Values adds about 10% per night to the cost, versus about a 6% increase for the Moderates and Deluxes. Even though the Values have a lower fee, you could argue they are impacted more.

These are excellent, rational views on why this is so irritating. Especially #1! If you take the 88% occupancy figure in the article posted previously in this thread, those small numbers become HUGE numbers on the bottom line.

 

[Lisann]

Her response was that this is a standard in the industry...

I get so sick of hearing this response. It's total nonsense.

 

[Disneylover99]

If your trip was booked before March 21, it isn’t an issue.

It may be an issue if you need to modify your reservation after March 21st. That will be my question when I email them.

 

[HopperFan]

I wouldn't be too sure about that. It's not like they're showering DVC members with benefits, either.

Oh I didn't say they were treating DVC better, I am saying they want to make their money on DVC, sell sell sell, collect that annual money.

Only real investment I see in hotels is CSR and that is to bring in more conventions, not park guests.

SW hotel doesn't count, that is an experience they are going to sell.

 

[Donalyn]

Our upcoming trip is the first time that we are staying on-site and having a car at the same time. I will admit that I was initially surprised that I would not have to pay for parking at the resorts or the parks. But now, I agree, this is just one more example of why this next trip will be our last one formany, many years.

A WDW vacation no longer seems to have the value that it used to, or at least to justify the price tag.

And, while I appreciate that other may not agree, I don't know how anyone who is a long term WDW person could honesty say that the experience is as good as it used to be.

All of the comments like "a day at WDW is better than a day somewhere else" - I use to agree. I don't anymore. I also don't believe in giving WDW a pass based on its former glory.

My vacation time is precious, my vacation budget is limited and I refuse to continually pay more for so much less. (We aren't talking inflation here. We are talking take aways, lesser experience, smaller portions, being nickled and dimed, more time in lines. That is just plain and simple, less for more $$$.)

 

[kittyab]

I see families changing their vacation dollars, they will spend less on over priced food to pay for this park. They will spend less on parties and other hard ticket events. People only have so much money. I think people have a breaking point. I see some serious backlash over this.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Adding a parking fee to already high rates also makes the Bonnet Creek and Disney Springs resorts look way more appealing, especially since some of them even get the 60 day FP.

Exactly. This isn’t what I just said on Facebook. Some of those rooms are larger and half the price. You are technically still on property. So it’s a no brainer now.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Our upcoming trip is the first time that we are staying on-site and having a car at the same time. I will admit that I was initially surprised that I would not have to pay for parking at the resorts or the parks. But now, I agree, this is just one more example of why this next trip will be our last one formany, many years.

A WDW vacation no longer seems to have the value that it used to, or at least to justify the price tag.

And, while I appreciate that other may not agree, I don't know how anyone who is a long term WDW person could honesty say that the experience is as good as it used to be.

All of the comments like "a day at WDW is better than a day somewhere else" - I use to agree. I don't anymore. I also don't believe in giving WDW a pass based on its former glory.

My vacation time is precious, my vacation budget is limited and I refuse to continually pay more for so much less. (We aren't talking inflation here. We are talking take aways, lesser experience, smaller portions, being nickled and dimed, more time in lines. That is just plain and simple, less for more $$$.)

Couldn’t agree more. We are in that group too that have been going for a long time and get less and less and we can’t afford any more. I’m done.

 

[fla4fun]

Question - if all guests don’t arrive or depart on the same dates, but are on the same reservation, do they pay parking only for the nights they use the lot, or for the entire stay? For example, if I am there ten nights, but joined by the other party on the reservation for only five of those nights, is the second person on the hook for five nights parking or ten, since both names are on the booking? If you wait to add them until they arrive, but they are still departing before the end of the reservation, are they still on the hook for more nights than they actually use? My sister and I are almost always both on the reservation, but she is only there for two or three nights mid-trip since I get more vacation time than she does. This would definitely factor into our decision whether to continue giving Disney any business in the future. It’s bad enough to charge for parking, but no way would we pay for parking we weren’t actually using.

 

[Carl4628]

We usually fly and do not use a car, but the money grabs are getting old. Less for more is not a smart business model. When the economy takes a downturn Disney will be in trouble.

We have stayed at the Poly nearly every year from the early ‘80s until a couple of years ago when room prices quickly doubled. We find ourselves spending more and more time at Universal because you get so much more for your money. The deluxe hotels are much nicer and are half the price. Plus, the customer service and cast members are increasingly superior both at the hotels and parks.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

One of the reasons why I haven't stayed at the Swolphin is the resort fees. The resort often looks cheaper than the Epcot resorts, but when you factor in the resort fee, it's often on par. Plus you don't get DME.
But now, if Disney is going to charge another $34/night for parking and not drop their rates, Swolphin looks much more appealing, and probably would work out to being cheaper.
Although I'm not sure about the $34... Valet parking, I believe, is only $25. So non valet parking will be cheaper? That seems rather odd.

Oh yes, the "fees" argument. I have never been able to make that work. Just checked for an upcoming weekend in May. Beach Club was $128 a night more than Swan. Having stayed at the Swan/Dolphin a lot I can assure you I never paid $128 a night in "fees"

Stupidly, the only ones having to pay the fee are overnight resort guests. People who want to come use the resort dining or shopping do it for free.

Oh so "I am just driving in to go have dinner at the food court" = Free Parking! Got it! (And yes it will be done! Disney will have to go back to parking tickets and actually enforce it. Can't wait until they boot a guest who was paying the fee


I won't have to pay because I own DVC, but I don't get it. Disney hotels are DRAMATICALLY overpriced and now this???? There's a reason I don't stay at a Disney hotel if I am not using my DVC points!

 

[DisBuckMan]

Question - if all guests don’t arrive or depart on the same dates, but are on the same reservation, do they pay parking only for the nights they use the lot, or for the entire stay? For example, if I am there ten nights, but joined by the other party on the reservation for only five of those nights, is the second person on the hook for five nights parking or ten, since both names are on the booking? If you wait to add them until they arrive, but they are still departing before the end of the reservation, are they still on the hook for more nights than they actually use? My sister and I are almost always both on the reservation, but she is only there for two or three nights mid-trip since I get more vacation time than she does. This would definitely factor into our decision whether to continue giving Disney any business in the future. It’s bad enough to charge for parking, but no way would we pay for parking we weren’t actually using.

I don't think it's been clarified if it's "per car" or "per room". Regardless, I'm sure there will be a "per night" charge, which means AT MINIMUM there will be a 10 night charge for at least ONE car on your reservation.

 

[wdw4rfam]

It may be an issue if you need to modify your reservation after March 21st. That will be my question when I email them.

I just emailed my sister this same thing. They are currently booked but waiting for free dining for September. I just told her she better figure out if it’s worth it to modify to free dining after March 21 since they are driving. They already know they will have to go up to hoppers. So now they will be made to get hoppers and have to pay parking. At a value so 5hat just for quick service. Totally not worth it.

 

[CaptHomer]

Four Seasons gets 30 day fastpass, not 60.

They get EMH

 

[gratefulfred]

This should all be covered parking now since we have to pay for it

 

[StageTek]

I just dont understand Disney's end game.

Profit.

This parking charge is Disney's way of reducing crowd levels.

In order to reduce crowd levels roughly 20,000 to 30,000 people each day would have to NOT go because of the resort parking fee.
According to 2016 numbers about 120,000 visit WDW each day.
I suspect that not even 5,000 people in a YEAR will avoid staying on-site because of the parking fee. And all of them will still go to the parks...

And why would Disney want LESS people in the resorts and parks?

 

[Iya]

They get EMH

Yes.

 

[minorthr]

I would say if your renting a car or driving down and are planning on staying at a value or moderate resort just stay off property. Especially if your going moderate. If you look at the pricing between say the hilton buena vista palace or double tree by disney springs and even caribbean beach which no one should stay at right now you save $400-500 parking fees and resort fees included, vs POR you save almost $800 if your willing to prepay. You still get 60 day fast passes and extra magic hours. Value resorts the pricing comes out pretty much the same but the Hilton and especially the doubletree have rooms that are much larger than values and have 2 queens. This was for a random week in July the 15th-20th. Should add you would have to pay to park at the parks if you don't have an AP.

 

[bairdbeth]

I'm trying to follow this, they are exempting persons from the parking fee if they have an accessible parking tag for mobility-related disabilities. Which the holder can present at the resort to show that they have one.

The question now is why they will require parking payment for non-mobility-related disabilities. Which don't have anything do to with parking. I think the exact question was "if I have a disability that precludes me from using the resort transportation, because of crowding, etc., my parking should be free too."

But, a person who doesn't have a mobility related disability does not have a parking permit to present, the resort would have to take their word for it. The guest is also presenting the car as a tool they need to assist with their disability - when a person gets an accessible parking permit, it's just the closer or larger parking space they need, not the car itself. And it's up to each state who qualifies for a parking permit, not up to WDW.

I would have to wonder if the above poster could argue at the resort that the car is necessary to assist with her disability and she shouldn't be charged for it.

We drive to Disney and need accessible parking not because of a closer space. My son has a progressive neuromuscular Disease. He uses a power wheelchair for distances and we have to bring his manual chair as a backup should the power chair malfunction. In the near future we will also have to bring a rolling commode/shower chair. So I respectfully disagree with your statement that it is about the space and not the car. For my family and many others it is about the car as we need a wheelchair accessible vehicle with the room to transport equipment needed for daily living. We could not bring the needed equipment on an airplane or bus. I don’t like the parking charge for anyone though. When we travel I choose hotels that don’t charge parking. I have never understood why I should have to pay parking in order to pay to stay in a hotel room.

 

[Stitch_Is_King]

Well just got another phone call from the office of George Kalogridis in resposne to the letter I sent. Surprised it came so quick. Again nice professional conversation with the gentlemen I spoke with. Standard in the industry, the resorts outside of our gates charge for it. Told him I feel we pay a premium to stay on Disney property already and with the reduction in value it was a breaking point to have to swallow another fee. In regards to it being the "standard in the industry" I just told him that when Disney World was first built Walt was the trendsetter. How about Disney continue to set the trend and not charge onsite guest parking at their resort just because others do it.