AtlantaDisneyDreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2014
Drivers are not paying more to stay at the resort, they are paying more to park their car at the resort while staying there.
There is nothing "not fair" for asking people to pay for a service they are using. It is no longer a perk included in the room rate.
And while you see it as supplementing DME users, I don't see it that way, DME is still available to ALL guests, if you decide not to take advantage of that perk, and bring your car that is on you. Besides, you and I, and anyone else who has been paying attention knows it is only a matter of time before they start charging for that too. I'm surprised they haven't already, and I'm surprised that they haven't charged for parking until now. That is the norm everywhere (and nobody gives a discount for those who don't park). WDW has been behind the curve on that for a long time, we should all be thankful we had that perk for this long.
Regardless though, Disney is not in the business of charity and making sure things are fair, they want to make money, as much as they can before people say enough and no longer spend it. They don't care to appear fair if the money is still rolling in.
A “perk” is an additional benefit. For those for whom flying is not practical or even feasible, parking is a requirement- not a perk. We cannot use any of the resort benefits without a place to park our cars. Therefore, in order to stay, parking is a requirement.
I am surprised at how many consumers have bought in to the idea that parking is a perk. I think that may have been a rather brilliant move on the part of merchants, but why in the world have consumers accepted it so easily? What’s next? Hotels that offer “perks” of “free beds!” or “free air conditioning!” or “free toilets!”? Or worse, hotels that start charging extra for those “perks.”
Charging for parking is not the norm everywhere. Even in Vegas, a crowded city, there are hotels with free parking (as there are all over the country). But certainly as businesses see consumers accept it, more and more will go in that direction. Because- Hey! Free money!
Now I just had an idea. What if Disney had a lot on the perimeter of their property where driving guests could leave their cars for free and be picked up and taken to their resorts? An internal DME for drivers. Then paying to park at the resorts would actually be a perk rather than a requirement. It would free up space for day guests, allow guests who choose to pay to park a better chance at actually finding an open space, and give drivers a true option as to whether to pay for parking or not. And people would no longer be able to park at the resorts for free and walk to the parks. Hm. I like it.