Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[Redarrow5150]

Ummm yes that's who gets charged for parking fees AT the resort. It's an option.

You are going to have to have a resort reservation to get on MDE. Your car is now at the airport so you are reliant on Disney transportation for your stay.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's $10 per day in their economy lot. I already looked into it. I bet it's even cheaper at off site lots. Now that we are a family that has to buy 4 plane tickets, we're going to start driving. If we stay deluxe, we could save $100 by parking at MCO and taking magical express to our resort. We don't use the car when we drive anyway.

Google Orlando airport parking. Third week of April, there are some off-airport lots charging $4 per night.

I interpret as After 3/21 All will be paying..
Ambiguous wording... to their advantage of course.

Disagree. Not ambiguous at all. Reservations created starting March 21 will pay the parking fee.

 

[rotlex]

Seems ridiculous to say this is the last straw. But it is, for us. We have a 2 week trip planned for this August that we booked on a bounce back from last year. Our daughter is turning 16 and our son 10. We have been driving down every year, sometimes twice, for the past 11 years. I have seen prices increase, customer service decrease, and crowd levels become insane all year. For the room rates they charge, EVERYTHING should be included. This is just gouging people for every single penny they can.

This will be our last trip to Disney for a while. Were already planning a trip for 2019 to somewhere completely different. Maybe Yellowstone, Grand Canyon etc. It's time to give the mouse a break from our dollars.

 

[jerry557]

Has it been confirmed that this doesn’t apply to DVC?

DVC members are exempt from these new fees at DVC resorts OR Disney resorts where points are being used. That is because members have always paid for parking lot upkeep and maintenance as part of the annual dues.

Disney resort guests, DVC, and Annual pass holders still get free parking at the theme parks.

 

[dachsie]

I’ve never seen a handicapped placard with a photo on it. Maybe in your state, but it isn’t the norm. You only need a placard to use accessible parking, not plates.

Some states have a photo id associated with the placard that you have to have on you in case you are asked

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

There are still a lot of Disney restaurants and if the waitstaff isn’t making enough in tips, many of the best of them will move on.

We’ve had some phenomenal servers over years. The kind of people who worked at WDW for many years and were rewarded for their talents by being placed in signatures and high end TS. These are the kind of waitstaff who elevate your dining experience to the point where you are happy to pay Disney prices.

If you can’t keep up a certain volume, the whole business of running the parks and resorts profitably and keeping talent gets tricky.

And outside of Coronado Springs, most of the resort restaurants are Disney owned.

Not everybody can afford to pay the extra $$$ per day to park. People will either find a way to do without a vehicle or stay off site.

Most people have a finite budget. It would have cost us $240 to park on our last trip. If I was still going to stay onsite, I would mean cutting out MVMCP or Photo-pass.

When I read this news today, my first thought they are trying to keep the families out that do not spend nearly as much as some. Those families are a waste of their resources and they prefer the more wealthy guests.

Except that the moderates and values are much more popular than the deluxes. In the long run Disney can’t survive if they only cater to the wealthy.

 

[Sweet T n Me]

I'll venture a guess of what they might be doing with this additional parking charge....

I just stayed at POFQ, and they offered a gift card of $10 for each day we waived housekeeping. Instead of a receiving a gift card,
they will waive your parking fee.
This cuts down on housekeeping personnel and doesn't cost WDW a dime.
We as the guest are quite satisfied to have saved the parking fee.

 

[Vincent Mancuso]

Sorry no, I didn't press him for more info.

I read 13 a day for value and 19 for moderate. This is crazy. That's more money spent on something more than full guest experience. Another reason why I have changed my family tradition of staying at Disney resorts twice a year . Parking fees for a car in your lot is just as bad or worse than paying for your luggage to fly with you. No thanks Disney.

 

[Octoberbaby]

A few hundred dollars here.....a few hundred dollars there.....it all adds up. Where do you draw the line?

I don't. I enjoy my vacations at Disney. As long as I'm able to afford it, I'll go. I've been going my whole life.

 

[VH103428]

This is just insulting...
I understand raising prices due to crowd control, stock holders, the economy, Pandora, Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, Holidays, or etc...but now adding a fee to park because they assume I will just accept it, because I want to be where the magic is...It is just sad.
I wonder what is next? Maybe charging for the monorail, Magic Express, Fastpasses? I am over it...

 

[VH103428]

I have no problem paying for parking. But I'm one of THOSE people who will defend Disney to the death. Honestly, if I am paying thousands for a vacation, how can I complain about a few hundred dollars? Disney is a buisness with expenses just like any other business. And the crowds are increasing, which means more upkeep on the resorts.

I understand Disney paying higher costs, but Bob Igor also earns a $60 million dollar bonus if Operating Income increases...

 

[kittyab]

Waiting for a fee to use the Disney Transportation.

 

[Disneylover99]

I don't. I enjoy my vacations at Disney. As long as I'm able to afford it, I'll go. I've been going my whole life.

Well if significant price increases don't bother you, that's good for you! I hope you continue to enjoy your trips.

 

[megs1313]

I'm perplexed at this. I was trying to convince my DH to let us go back again this year, but now I just feel like Disney doesn't deserve us. It's time for us to think about other options.

 

[Tink-osophy]

This is just insulting...
I understand raising prices due to crowd control, stock holders, the economy, Pandora, Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, Holidays, or etc...but now adding a fee to park because they assume I will just accept it, because I want to be where the magic is...It is just sad.
I wonder what is next? Maybe charging for the monorail, Magic Express, Fastpasses? I am over it...

That's the thing... For now there's still some magic, but the way they've been chipping away at it, what does the future hold? It's like they don't understand/remember/care about (??) the unique Disney foundations on which this was all built and if the foundations get shaky...

It's not just about money - it's about respect for your Guests/customers - it's about pride in your work and what you're selling - it's about recognizing that the little things not only add up (when you remove or add them), but, even on their own, can have a disproportionately big impact.

When you cut the quality of food, but charge more for it.
When you suddenly make resorts dog-friendly; reassure people with a list of rules; but then don't enforce them consistently.
When your neighbors smoke on the balcony in a non-smoking resort and you're the ones who have to waste your holiday time moving rooms.
When parks are busier than ever, but ride capacity is reduced.
When CSR and CBR become building sites and POR suddenly becomes dog-friendly - all at the same time.
When you put cabanas in Tomorrowland!

I can't believe I'm writing this about Disney.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Disney resort guests, DVC, and Annual pass holders still get free parking at the theme parks.

Actually, free parking at the theme parks is not a DVC perk.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Yes it’s more crowded but why is it more crowded? Do you think it can be due to the fact that a big chunk of MGM and Epcot are closed and people have nowhere else to go but to pile into MK and AK?

Could be part of the "feel", but the articles I've seen didn't break the increase in crowds down per park. It was overall crowds in ALL parks...and they are up, up, up.

 

[DisBuckMan]

It's $10 per day in their economy lot. I already looked into it. I bet it's even cheaper at off site lots. Now that we are a family that has to buy 4 plane tickets, we're going to start driving. If we stay deluxe, we could save $100 by parking at MCO and taking magical express to our resort. We don't use the car when we drive anyway.

Seems like a good idea, until MCO figures out what's going on and increases their per day rates due to capacity increases. They're not stupid...as a matter of fact, they're probably expecting it and already counting the money.

 

[CT Disney]

It would be nice if they reserved the closer parking spots for the paying overnight hotel guests.

 

[CT Disney]

If I owned a car rental business near Disney, I would be busy printing up coupons worth $13, $19 and $24 off per day. Show us your Disney reservation and we will pay your parking fee. I can't imagine any car rental business in the Disney area is too happy about this new policy.