Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[Linkura]

Anyone there now? Weren’t these fees starting on the 21st? Are there reports on how they are implementing the fees for visitors?

Are they requiring any specific amount of spending, or can anyone stay for three hours for any reason?

How are they enforcing the three hour restriction?

Are there separate lots for overnight and day guests?

Where did you see a three hour restriction for day guests? Is that the official line now? Last I heard is they were "monitoring" the situation and didn't have a specific limit for day guests. I certainly could have missed something though. Thanks.

 

[FoxC63]

Hi Fellow DISers!

@tracipierce would like to know about:

"Parking ?
Hi everyone, I have a question about parking. I'm an annual pass holder so would normally qualify for free parking, but I read somewhere that special events are excluded from the parking perk. Can anyone tell me if you have to pay for parking for the party and if so is it the same price as usual?

Also what would be the latest time I could enter magic kingdom in the afternoon and still use my annual pass to get free parking? Hope that makes sense?

Could you please help? Thanks so much!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Where did you see a three hour restriction for day guests? Is that the official line now? Last I heard is they were "monitoring" the situation and didn't have a specific limit for day guests. I certainly could have missed something though. Thanks.

I saw that in a multitude of posts in this thread. But you are right that nothing about time limitations appears on the official site. The email I got from WDW also did not have time limitations when it mentioned day guests.

Maybe they have determined that it is too hard to enforce time limitations. Still a blow to overnight guests who, arguably, are being treated as second class citizens. If there are no time limits and no spending minimums, then there are fewer reasons left to choose to stay overnight- especially for AP holders who already park free at the parks. Might as well stay nearby with a free breakfast and travel in to enjoy resort amenities.

Or perhaps don’t bother at all. Parking just should not have to be a concern of people who are trying to enjoy a vacation. When parking becomes a stress factor, I’m so disinclined to deal with it.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Things likely won't change.
But......
The guy that I spoke to said that the Management were surprised by the overwhelmingly negative responses they have received since the parking fees were announced. He said that the fees seemed to be the "last straw" for many people. I told him that I considered it a slap in the face not only to long term Disney supporters but to anyone who chooses to, or must, drive to the Resort.

Management is surprised that people are overwhelmingly angry about being charged for something that adds absolutely nothing of value to their vacations?

I’d say that’s a management team significantly out of touch with their guests.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

You don’t think will be a noticeable difference for day guests? The three hour limit is quite a change. I would imagine they have to express the three hour limit when guests arrive if they plan to enforce it. Or aren’t they planning to enforce it? Is the three hour limit supposed to make overnight guests feel better that others get free parking for only a short while, whereas the “real” policy is that the limit is not enforced?

I’m curious because we will be there in just over a week and I think I may cancel my resort visits and meals if I have to deal with parking issues.

I'm not sure a 3 hour limit has been confirmed, but I may have missed it. It doesn't say that in the parking section; it's more vague:

"Day Guests
Complimentary standard self-parking is available while enjoying select dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels."

I posted on one of the parking threads that the CM (from George's office) I spoke to about day guests said they might charge day guests if they were there "8 to 10 to 12 hours", which sounded rather loose to me. But again, that was just one CM...and there wasn't a lot of clarity about how it would be enforced, although I may not have been asking the best questions regarding it...

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I honestly don't think they're planning to change anything except adding the parking charge to the bill of those staying overnight and arriving with a car. My guess is nothing will change until those paying for parking start raising a ruckus because they can't find places to park.

I hope I'm wrong though.

Based on the phone call I had, this is what I think too...

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I'm not sure a 3 hour limit has been confirmed, but I may have missed it. It doesn't say that in the parking section; it's more vague:

"Day Guests
Complimentary standard self-parking is available while enjoying select dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels."

I posted on one of the parking threads that the CM (from George's office) I spoke to about day guests said they might charge day guests if they were there "8 to 10 to 12 hours", which sounded rather loose to me. But again, that was just one CM...and there wasn't a lot of clarity about how it would be enforced, although I may not have been asking the best questions regarding it...

Well that’s interesting. So how does that keep people from parking at the CR or the Boardwalk resorts to avoid the parking fees at the parks? Makes it sound like the new parking fees could actually be a way to supplement the bus/boat/monorail transportation rather than a way to prevent people from filling up the lots and avoiding parking fees- since the primary thing they are doing is charging overnight resort guests.

 

[Rickat96]

Things likely won't change.
But......
The guy that I spoke to said that the Management were surprised by the overwhelmingly negative responses they have received since the parking fees were announced. He said that the fees seemed to be the "last straw" for many people. I told him that I considered it a slap in the face not only to long term Disney supporters but to anyone who chooses to, or must, drive to the Resort.

Same reaction from who I spoke to. I specifically stated that singling only those whom drive or rent a car was wrong. A lot of people drive, some for 12 plus hours.

 

[UncleMike101]

Same reaction from who I spoke to. I specifically stated that singling only those whom drive or rent a car was wrong. A lot of people drive, some for 12 plus hours.

We drive over 1100 miles to get to WDW.
It's a two day trip......

 

[Rickat96]

We drive over 1100 miles to get to WDW.
It's a two day trip......

The drive is part of the fun IMO.

 

[Arielfan98]

For those who care, here is what I sent Disney via email:

"Hello,

I am emailing to send my grievances over the new overnight resort parking fee being enforced March 21, 2018 and on. I am certain you have already received numerous complaints and concerns over this new fee, so I will get straight to my point. I have visited Walt Disney World as well as Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line ever since I was a baby with my two parents and older sister. We have always found Disney World to be the most magical place on earth and always felt the increasing prices were justified by the enchanting experiences we received throughout the years. Consequently, my family has always encouraged family members, friends, peers, co-workers, even teachers to plan their own trip to Disney World. Anyone can watch a Disney World TV commercial and question whether they should vacation there or not; However, the most persuasive advertisement is shared by close family and friends. For 10 years I have proudly served as a devoted Disney fan, even converting anti-Disney individuals into Disney lovers, promoting your company. Unfortunately, this new policy has left a bad taste in my mouth. Your company once set the standards, not it is following greedy corporate standards. My family relies on a rental car to travel around your resort because it is more convenient for us. We enjoy spending time at other resorts to dine there and shop there. It is highly inconvenient for us to take a bus from our hotel to a theme park to then take another bus to one of your other hotels for us to have a good time enjoying your bar lounges, restaurants, shops, and other hotel amenities. As a young, but not naive adult, I will not encourage or recommend my fellow co-workers, peers, family members, friends, or professors to take Disney vacations like I used to. In a few short years my generation (early 20s) will be the upcoming "family generation", and I will advise them to take their families elsewhere. My family will return to the parks to experience Star Wars Land & Toy Story Land, but we will only return once every few years as opposed to 2-3x annually. In the long-term, you will completely diminish the devoted relationship your true, loyal guests/fans have for you. Thank you for your time."

Disney responded with the generic response, but they added this at the end:

"Alexandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us and thank you for your long time loyalty to our Theme Parks and Resorts. We look forward to welcoming you back with the opening of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios."

So of course they only care about the fact I'll be returning for Star Wars Land/Toy Story Land. All about the money .

 

[Iowamomof4]

For those who care, here is what I sent Disney via email:

"Hello,

I am emailing to send my grievances over the new overnight resort parking fee being enforced March 21, 2018 and on. I am certain you have already received numerous complaints and concerns over this new fee, so I will get straight to my point. I have visited Walt Disney World as well as Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line ever since I was a baby with my two parents and older sister. We have always found Disney World to be the most magical place on earth and always felt the increasing prices were justified by the enchanting experiences we received throughout the years. Consequently, my family has always encouraged family members, friends, peers, co-workers, even teachers to plan their own trip to Disney World. Anyone can watch a Disney World TV commercial and question whether they should vacation there or not; However, the most persuasive advertisement is shared by close family and friends. For 10 years I have proudly served as a devoted Disney fan, even converting anti-Disney individuals into Disney lovers, promoting your company. Unfortunately, this new policy has left a bad taste in my mouth. Your company once set the standards, not it is following greedy corporate standards. My family relies on a rental car to travel around your resort because it is more convenient for us. We enjoy spending time at other resorts to dine there and shop there. It is highly inconvenient for us to take a bus from our hotel to a theme park to then take another bus to one of your other hotels for us to have a good time enjoying your bar lounges, restaurants, shops, and other hotel amenities. As a young, but not naive adult, I will not encourage or recommend my fellow co-workers, peers, family members, friends, or professors to take Disney vacations like I used to. In a few short years my generation (early 20s) will be the upcoming "family generation", and I will advise them to take their families elsewhere. My family will return to the parks to experience Star Wars Land & Toy Story Land, but we will only return once every few years as opposed to 2-3x annually. In the long-term, you will completely diminish the devoted relationship your true, loyal guests/fans have for you. Thank you for your time."

Disney responded with the generic response, but they added this at the end:

"Alexandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us and thank you for your long time loyalty to our Theme Parks and Resorts. We look forward to welcoming you back with the opening of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios."

So of course they only care about the fact I'll be returning for Star Wars Land/Toy Story Land. All about the money .

Call me cynical, but I think your response is exactly what they're hoping for right now. People who currently visit 2-3x per year are clogging up the parks (from their perspective). If those people would stretch their trips apart to 1x per year or once every 2-3 years, they would be better able to accommodate the influx of first-timers who will be flocking to Orlando for Star Wars and the 50th anniversary. They don't want to completely lose people, but having the "regulars" visit a bit less often might be what they're actually trying to accomplish. Am I wrong?

 

[Arielfan98]

Call me cynical, but I think your response is exactly what they're hoping for right now. People who currently visit 2-3x per year are clogging up the parks (from their perspective). If those people would stretch their trips apart to 1x per year or once every 2-3 years, they would be better able to accommodate the influx of first-timers who will be flocking to Orlando for Star Wars and the 50th anniversary. They don't want to completely lose people, but having the "regulars" visit a bit less often might be what they're actually trying to accomplish. Am I wrong?

I think you're exactly right now that I see what you're saying. However, I still don't think that's smart business practice. I believe there is more profit and value in maintaining the returning customer. For example, take family A who is going to Disney for the first time because they heard about the new Star Wars Land. They will save up and may even spend $$ to stay at a moderate/deluxe. But there's a good chance they won't return for years to come if not at all. A lot of people are incredibly disenchanted by Disney as a whole. Wouldn't it be more business smart to keep the returners who you know relish in the "Disney magic" and spend more $$$ than the once-in-a-life-timers in the long run? Short term, yes they will make a profit. Long term? Less profit in my opinion, but who knows I'm no where near being a finance specialist/economist.

 

[jade1]

Well that’s interesting. So how does that keep people from parking at the CR or the Boardwalk resorts to avoid the parking fees at the parks?

Yep, that's why AP holders should be allowed to park at resorts for free-they are not avoiding the theme park parking fees, it's free to them.

Again, as long as there is enough parking for resort guests. Just IMO.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Well that’s interesting. So how does that keep people from parking at the CR or the Boardwalk resorts to avoid the parking fees at the parks? Makes it sound like the new parking fees could actually be a way to supplement the bus/boat/monorail transportation rather than a way to prevent people from filling up the lots and avoiding parking fees- since the primary thing they are doing is charging overnight resort guests.

I asked that question about preventing people from going to the parks but there really wasn't a clear response, partly because she said that each resort would manage it differently. She said they would be scanning people's bands or ids and then if they were found to be over the 8-12 hour limit, they may charge their guest folio. In that moment, it didn't occur to me to ask about how they'd charge off-site guests if they didn't have some type of ticket/validation thing, but people have suggested license recognition technology. But such a long time-frame and no specific plan to enforce it made me think that charging the day guests wasn't a priority, even if that meant overnight guests were inconvenienced or thought it was unfair. She repeated that part about each resort taking a different approach multiple times, so one would hope that they would take a more active approach for the resorts that are walking distance to parks and/or have small lots.

 

[Rickat96]

For those who care, here is what I sent Disney via email:

"Hello,

I am emailing to send my grievances over the new overnight resort parking fee being enforced March 21, 2018 and on. I am certain you have already received numerous complaints and concerns over this new fee, so I will get straight to my point. I have visited Walt Disney World as well as Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line ever since I was a baby with my two parents and older sister. We have always found Disney World to be the most magical place on earth and always felt the increasing prices were justified by the enchanting experiences we received throughout the years. Consequently, my family has always encouraged family members, friends, peers, co-workers, even teachers to plan their own trip to Disney World. Anyone can watch a Disney World TV commercial and question whether they should vacation there or not; However, the most persuasive advertisement is shared by close family and friends. For 10 years I have proudly served as a devoted Disney fan, even converting anti-Disney individuals into Disney lovers, promoting your company. Unfortunately, this new policy has left a bad taste in my mouth. Your company once set the standards, not it is following greedy corporate standards. My family relies on a rental car to travel around your resort because it is more convenient for us. We enjoy spending time at other resorts to dine there and shop there. It is highly inconvenient for us to take a bus from our hotel to a theme park to then take another bus to one of your other hotels for us to have a good time enjoying your bar lounges, restaurants, shops, and other hotel amenities. As a young, but not naive adult, I will not encourage or recommend my fellow co-workers, peers, family members, friends, or professors to take Disney vacations like I used to. In a few short years my generation (early 20s) will be the upcoming "family generation", and I will advise them to take their families elsewhere. My family will return to the parks to experience Star Wars Land & Toy Story Land, but we will only return once every few years as opposed to 2-3x annually. In the long-term, you will completely diminish the devoted relationship your true, loyal guests/fans have for you. Thank you for your time."

Disney responded with the generic response, but they added this at the end:

"Alexandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us and thank you for your long time loyalty to our Theme Parks and Resorts. We look forward to welcoming you back with the opening of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios."

So of course they only care about the fact I'll be returning for Star Wars Land/Toy Story Land. All about the money .

Looks like you emailed guest service-Send it to the executives email listed on page 1of this thread.

 

[Arielfan98]

Looks like you emailed guest service-Send it to the executives email listed on page 1of this thread.

Done. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I’m curious because we will be there in just over a week and I think I may cancel my resort visits and meals if I have to deal with parking issues.

That's what we're thinking also. And as far as the 3 hour limit, we like to drive to AKL, eat at Mara, then mosey on out to the overlook to watch the animals for a while, stop in the gift shop and maybe spend $5-$10. We're always there for more than 3 hours, and don't spend much. Maybe change of plans? And although we wanted to go to Boatright's, maybe not worth the parking hassle.

 

[UncleMike101]

The drive is part of the fun IMO.

I thought so too, back in my 30's & 40's..................

 

[Katrina Y]

Today, I received a call from Disney in regard to my email. The lady seemed to really want my opinion and took quite a few notes. I told her by Disney targeting people that drive, it was giving those people a sense of being “second class citizens”. Strategically, it was smart because if they had gone after the majority of visitors they would have gotten a lot more pushback, but since they went after the minority (those that drive) they would be able to absorb the negative responses. I told her it just gives an ugly feeling of Disney being greedy and it would have been wiser to have just added $5 across the board to the price of their resorts, then to target people that choose to drive. I doubt much will change, but if enough people email and speak out maybe Disney will think a little harder before they implement their next additional charge.