Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[Rich M]

This fall I am planning my longest WDW trip yet - 6 nights.

Luckily it is booked and I don't have to worry about the additional $156 (for two cars). The rooms (All Star Music) (because I am going over Veterans Day ) aren't what I consider cheap on average (compared to a "normal" hotel of similar size/shape), but I want the kids to have fun seeing the giant character statues and I want to be in the Disney bubble again.

IF I had to pay the parking fee, that would increase my total hotel cost by about 9-10%. That is significant. We love it when Disney offers a 10-20% DISCOUNT on rooms. Why wouldn't we be upset when prices increase that much overnight?

I already have tickets, but I was actually going to save them for a later date and get an AP for the first time so we could go now . .and again in October of 2019 for my daughter's 3rd birthday.

But, At this point .. based on how aggressively Disney is raising prices EVERY year, I don't know if I want to go on two big trips in 11 months like I was planning anymore. Disney's actions have just put a bad taste in my mouth about the parks. Maybe the trip will wipe all that away. or Maybe I put the brakes on and just go in 2021 or beyond when everything new is finished.

Its great you get to do a 6 night trip. We did 10 days a couple years ago and we had a great time but thought it was a bit too long. 6 to 7 is perfect for us.

 

[mshanson3121]

If this were true, they would sit empty, by definition. I think they have pretty decent vacancy rates these days.

Not if. It is true. Why do they still get so many people? Because of the "perks" - EMH, FP+ and the free transportation. The latter being likely the biggest draw since off site hotels have notoriously lacking shuttle service. And then of course, to be in the bubble.

 

[bgraham34]

Fair enough! Not a term I just throw around, but at the moment, I can't think of anything else to call it. Suggestions?

I don't agree calling those cash grabs either. Charging for parking is blatant cash grab because it was once free. Those others are Disney finding alternative cash flow. Maybe alternative grab.

 

[dreiwhit]

Maybe then they will have some real toilet paper.

They will, but they will sell it by the square......

 

[loveshak22]

If this were true, they would sit empty, by definition. I think they have pretty decent vacancy rates these days.

I'm not sure I understand? Sorry! Are you saying if it is true that the rooms are priced above market rate they would sit empty? I don't necessarily agree with that. I think people believe they are market rate for Disney and will pay for that Disney experience but they are much higher than a comparable hotel room 10 minutes away. And I think people believe there are benefits included in that price outside of just it being Disney for Disney-sake - like parking, etc.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Fair enough! Not a term I just throw around, but at the moment, I can't think of anything else to call it. Suggestions?

Changes Disney has made that you don't like. All totally fair not to like! But they're not all cash grabs -- they're not even all things that are objectively bad to all -- I like many of them!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't agree calling those cash grabs either. Charging for parking is blatant cash grab because it was once free. Those others are Disney finding alternative cash flow. Maybe alternative grab.

Maximizing Revenue

 

[dreiwhit]

... but a family of 4 with basically no deals or anything that wants to stay onsite, I think pretty tough to get through the week for a ton less than $5k

We were quoted $4400 for a week in a value resort, four six day non-hopper tickets and "free" dining. That was back in the summer of 2016 when we were planning our week after Thanksgiving 2016 trip.

Instead, we stayed offsite at a condo I booked through work for $319 for a week, plus $63 resort fee (internet access), bought sandwiches for Subway to eat in the park, ate in the room, and got six day non hopper tickets through a discount place. The total cost for the trip was around $2400, including a night at Comfort Inn on our way down (we drive.)

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Not if. It is true. Why do they still get so many people? Because of the "perks" - EMH, FP+ and the free transportation. The latter being likely the biggest draw since off site hotels have notoriously lacking shuttle service. And then of course, to be in the bubble.

Nope. The market rate is what people are willing to pay. If they weren't willing to pay it we'd see a high vacancy rate. We don't. So Disney resorts are not "well above market rate". Market Rate Definition from Financial Times Lexicon

 

[Madame]

If this were true, they would sit empty, by definition. I think they have pretty decent vacancy rates these days.

Sure. They convert the empty rooms to DVC. Look at WL.

 

[Monykalyn]

If they are trying to get people to stay onsite then why did they give more benefits to the good neighbor hotels? It doesn't add up.

People predicted this some time ago. I'm impressed but I think that I'll stick to offsite.

Good point

As an aside, the real question will be what happens during the next economic downturn (and its coming, its due already really)

Hey-then they can offer the "discount" of a "free parking" pin code!

I think a lot of local businesses will pop up due to this. Parking lots with shuttles (like at the airports).

I'd not be surprised to find more of these places now waive their parking/resort fees to attract that business back as well.

The mousesavers newsletter is offering waived parking fees at DS Doubletree. For a 2 queen 1 bed suite, NO FEES, it is ~$400 less than our onsite BB. I am tempted to make a reservation there and then decide later whether to keep the onsite reservation. We have AP's and we are going to have our car anyway...we stayed at Doubletree a few days in January and really like the hotel. Huge rooms/suite!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Nope. The market rate is what people are willing to pay. If they weren't willing to pay it we'd see a high vacancy rate. We don't. So Disney resorts are not "well above market rate". Market Rate Definition from Financial Times Lexicon

Definitely - I think the other posters point is that the hotels themselves are not really at market rates because if they weren't on Disney property they wouldn't be able to charge what they are charging - so for what you get from the hotel itself isn't really worth the market rate

It is the location and being in the Disney bubble - and the additional perks (which seem to be lessening) that make it "worth" what people are willing to pay, not the room/lobby/etc itself

 

[jsand99]

https://www.change.org/p/walt-disne...-policy-of-charging-hotel-guests-parking-fees

Petition has been started on change.org

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Sure. They convert the empty rooms to DVC. Look at WL.

OK.. And they get their revenue stream in a different form. They're building more hotels, so presumably they believe there's demand to justify.

 

[Hootenany]

I don't agree calling those cash grabs either. Charging for parking is blatant cash grab because it was once free. Those others are Disney finding alternative cash flow. Maybe alternative grab.

Changes Disney has made that you don't like. All totally fair! But they're not all cash grabs -- they're not even all things that are objectively bad to all -- I like many of them!

Changed it to "fund-raising opportunities".

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Definitely - I think the other posters point is that the hotels themselves are not really at market rates because if they weren't on Disney property they wouldn't be able to charge what they are charging - so for what you get from the hotel itself isn't really worth the market rate

It is the location and being in the Disney bubble - and the additional perks (which seem to be lessening) that make it "worth" what people are willing to pay, not the room/lobby/etc itself

I absolutely get what you're saying -- but that's not the definition of market rate. It's what people are willing to pay -- and as with any product/service they're willing to pay because of what they believe it to be worth on net.

Off WDW those hotels would NOT go for the same rates. We all agree. But they are ON Disney property, are NOT sitting vacant, so they are not priced "well above market rate" as pp said. That's my only point on this.

 

[Romib]

I just priced my 12night stay off site and can get a 1 bedroom suite at Doubletree for $1717 (excluding parking) or Bonnet Creek for $2217. Wilderness lodge for a nature room is $5466. Coming from overseas the extra few hundred dollars for parking isn’t going to make that much of a difference to the overall cost of the trip but as others have said it’s the principle and the perceived value for money. With going off site it will cover parking, car hire and I will still have plenty left over. The plus is I don’t have to catch several buses with two kids just to get to a waterpark or dinner at a different resort. I can just drive.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Changed it to "fund-raising opportunities".

I like you!

 

[Rob Troxel]

This is a sad subject as I watch other various hotels implement the highly dispised addtional fees. The latest ploy is the "resort fee" which is not optional at all. At least the parking fee is. All I ask for is the actual " room prices" with all fees rolled into a nightly rate. Should Disney go this route and start a resort fee, we will forget WDW as a destination.

 

[undone73]

I just find the whole thing stinking of greed and they could have accomplished an increase in revenue, if that’s what this is about, in other ways. They raise prices all the time, so they could have added $10/night to all the rates. It’s not extreme, people wouldn’t feel nickel and dimed. Because with this new parking fee the benefits of staying on property are shrinking. I mean they advertise free parking at the parks for resort guests, but you have to now pay a higher price (at deluxe) for resort parking every night. It negates that advertised benefit completely.

Or and this may be unpopular, but they could have charged $5 to park at Disney springs. There are tons of people there daily, including lots of locals. That price would’ve be extreme or get most people bent too far out of shape. Yes, you are likely only getting that revenue from an individual family 1-2x a trip, but with so many people there overall they would still make a lot of money. And $5 would’ve impact anyone’s vacation (or night out) budget.

Because as someone else mentioned, most people have a budget and so paying for parking will likely mean spending less in other places. Maybe that’s one less character dinner; one less night staying there; less on snacks and souvineers.

My hotel is already booked and I double checked with my agent from a popular agency to make sure that the parking fee won’t effect me. In fact, my agent said that it won’t effect any of their 2018 bookings. In any event, we likely won’t be back for 2 years from this trip (this upcoming will make our 4th trip in 4 years), but going forward I will strongly consider staying off site.