I get what you’re saying and agree with a lot of it. My two cents is that while “they used to be industry leaders and now they’re industry standard” is a clever turn of phrase, I don’t feel it gets to what’s at issue here.The argument for me isn't whether it's "industry standard" for Disney to charge a parking fee. No, the issue is that Disney used to be different. They actively promoted the "magic" about Disney, and they were considered a cut above when it comes to a vacation destination in terms of customer service, experience, and perks such as staying at their hotels and getting transportation to parks. It was all a big Disney bubble. Their recent decisions have most generally been whatever gets them more profit. With the addition of parking fee--regardless of whether Universal, major hotels, or average to large cities charge parking fees for visiting--Disney has blatantly taken a step backward to join the ranks of "industry standard." I've said it before, and will in the future, Disney once SET the standards--now, they are content to BE the standard. That realization is from where my greatest displeasure emanates. Nor will they be content to stand pat with these purely profit parking fees (it's not as though they're going to hire some extra personnel to start monitoring the overcrowded parking at various resorts). The next step could just as easily be charging each family a $25, one-time fee to use DME. Why not charge a scaled fee to travel on the new Skyliner? Vegas does something similar to ride their city train (or whatever it's called). Don't think it could happen? Look back on the past decade or less of the decisions they have made in regards to add-on fees.
I'm not attempting to say Disney doesn't have a right to charge fees however they see fit. I won't even argue that they're greedier than most corporations. I will say that I've finally reached my personal breaking point where I'm no longer a Disney apologist. I won't stop going, but I won't go as often and will spend less time in the parks and more just relaxing in the area and at the resort. My habits won't change Disney, but that doesn't mean I can't change.
You are subjected to having your car towed if you park overnight in the Disneyland theme park parking lot/structure.
Why the “Eh...” to start. Not necessary.
Eh is part of my normal vocabWhy the “Eh...” to start. Not necessary.
They are different locations with different particulars. It shouldn’t surprise any of us that they will operate the parking charge differently. It’s still accurate to say that they charge for parking in some fashion at these other locations.
I already shared my two cents on the industry leader vs. standard line, so I’ll leave this there.
Sorry to hear that.
I get the disillusionment and disappointment. I mentioned pages back how I took a bit of a break after my personal D23 debacle. We chose to come back because the WDW trip was still worth it to us. Disney magic is still there in spades for us. I get that this won’t be true for all... but maybe after a break!
Ok! Sounded a bit like “how could you not get this...” kind of “Eh...” to me.Eh is part of my normal vocab
No that was not my intentOk! Sounded a bit like “how could you not get this...” kind of “Eh...” to me.
Glad to be wrong.
. Talk in person vs 'talking' over the internet can make for crossed meanings for sure.
I suspect more and more people are going to do this once they start adding up all the costs and increases, then look at the total.
Fair enough, though I would counter that the parking fees are simply the latest problematic decision in a series of them. The parking fee alone isn't the cue for my *******; as I indicated, it simply was the one which finally tilted the needle in my personal case. I further agree that leaving money on the table (or not in Disney's case) isn't a clear indicator of whether someone is leading an industry. How they do so, the reasoning they use (or don't), and the value added for that particular fee or up charge does, however. I'll grant you for some, perhaps most, it's not a game changer. However, as you iterate, it's "psychologically difficult" for customers to take a token money grab and not feel used, especially (again as you say) when it's not an isolated event. Are they pricing people out? Yes. Is it deliberate? A much tougher question to answer. There's no doubt the new parking fee is regressive, and that alone is enough for me personally to claim Disney is now beginning to follow suit as much it leads.
I'm curious after reading your post... do we have any sense of what proportion of Disney visitors also visit Universal, and vice versa? And how many nights they spend in each on average when they do this?
