Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[VH103428]

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.

Thank you for writing it! You said it better than I did! I could not agree more with you!

 

[BigAlsGal]

I know we’re not suppose to talk about avoiding Disney policy but what’s to stop me from lying?

“Did you bring your car?”

“Nope!”

“Ok have a great stay!”

You know Disney has zero ability to police this rule. They wont tow. (You just know they won’t because they don’t enforce anything) If you lie how they gonna get you?

 

[revdon64]

I don't even bring a car and this angers me because it feels wrong. Disney, either decrease rack rates and add fees for select amenities like parking, or leave it alone. There's no upside to this. It doesn't effect me and yet im still not sure that by the time im planning my next Disney trip i'll even want to go. Between the constant crowds, the increasing amount of upsells and hard ticket events, the decreasing benefits, and the eroding perks of staying onsite... I'm really starting to think that my vacation money will buy me a whole lot more vacation fun almost anywhere else.

 

[1911]

I know we’re not suppose to talk about avoiding Disney policy but what’s to stop me from lying?

“Did you bring your car?”

“Nope!”

“Ok have a great stay!”

You know Disney has zero ability to police this rule. They wont tow. (You just know they won’t because they don’t enforce anything) If you lie how they gonna get you?

https://www.ebay.com/i/261628131825?chn=ps&fl=a

 

[BigAlsGal]

https://www.ebay.com/i/261628131825?chn=ps&fl=a

Yeah right. Lol

 

[DisBuckMan]

I know we’re not suppose to talk about avoiding Disney policy but what’s to stop me from lying?

“Did you bring your car?”

“Nope!”

“Ok have a great stay!”

You know Disney has zero ability to police this rule. They wont tow. (You just know they won’t because they don’t enforce anything) If you lie how they gonna get you?

1. You pull up to the resort in a car.
2. You are asked if you have a reservation, you respond yes.
3. Your magic band is scanned, and the attendant probably checks a box on the computer that you're driving.
4. Your account is automatically notated that you drove and will be using resort parking.

I'm not sure what makes some of you think Disney doesn't possess the technology to do this.

 

[HopperFan]

https://www.ebay.com/i/261628131825?chn=ps&fl=a

They could make a cute one with Mickey ears!

 

[BigAlsGal]

1. You pull up to the resort in a car.
2. You are asked if you have a reservation, you respond yes.
3. Your magic band is scanned, and the attendant probably checks a box on the computer that you're driving.
4. Your account is automatically notated that you drove and will be using resort parking.

I'm not sure what makes some of you think Disney doesn't possess the technology to do this.

“Checking in?”

“Nope just going to shop!”

“Ok”

Let’s you in. Go check in.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

I truly don't know if I will ever be able to take a family on a Disney vacation. I'm in my twenties and luckily have had the opportunity to travel to Disney every year or so as a single person..but if I ever have a family, paying for a trip and staying on site seems really impossible. I'm so disappointed by the constant cash grabbing and the increases and the focus on upcharge events that won't be doable for me once I have more then just myself to pay for.

I'm sad..Disney, I wish I could quit you

 

[DisBuckMan]

“Checking in?”

“Nope just going to shop!”

“Ok”

Let’s you in. Go check in.

Still scans your magic band.

Oops.

 

[Mark Bishop]

There is a bigger picture that is becoming clearer to many people now. Disney (the corporation) is not the intellectual properties they sell to the public. On the outside looking in at Peter Pan, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse... And the kindly Uncle Walt who embraced the value in giving his customers more value than they were expecting, it's easy to give this particular corporation the benefit of the doubt. I have been in this camp for a long time, giving Disney as I perceived it many thousands of my dollars in just about every way that a dollar can be spent.

But there comes a time that you realize (and that realization will happen for different people at different times) that Disney Corp. is now no different than Exxon, AT&T, Apple or Budweiser. It's just a product to be sold at maximum profit. Any nostalgia or love that we attach to any Disney properties is an asset to be tapped into. The values and creativity of the people that made up our beloved Disney many years ago are not the same as the agenda set now by the number crunchers. There is of course nothing wrong with that, capitalism and all, but it's healthier to know that going in.

The fact is, the parks are still bursting at the seams for much of the year. This, even though Disney's previous super-high standards (and one of the things that drew us here to begin with) have been scaled back in increments, all the while the prices of tickets, food, merchandise, surcharges, special add-ons and such have crept in at every opportunity. Like a toddler that goes from the potted plant to the dog food bowl to the knick-knacks on the coffee table, the corporation will keep testing boundaries at every opportunity and will only retreat (the very least possible) if loudly chastised. Only when it hurts those shareholders will it matter. But will it really? They will only look at another place to make it up. They WILL get that money from you in the end, if you're hell-bent on spending your money on Disney no matter what.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Still scans your magic band.

Oops.

Don’t have one. Just a day Guest remember?

 

[DisBuckMan]

Don’t have one. Just a day Guest remember?

So, you don't get a parking pass, and your car is flagged that night.

You're kidding yourself if you think you can get around it if they don't want you to.

 

[Tonyz]

Waiting for a fee to use the Disney Transportation.

God don't even give them the idea!

 

[VH103428]

No more "Free Dining", but they will offer "Free Parking".

I hope I am only kidding...

 

[BigAlsGal]

So, you don't get a parking pass, and your car is flagged that night.

You're kidding yourself if you think you can get around it if they don't want you to.

I’m not saying they don’t have abilities. I’m just saying I really don’t think they’ll go through the effort of busting people. I don’t intend to find out. I’m just throwing out hypotheticals.

 

[bumbershoot]

Placards include the holder's photograph.

Not in WA.

With the economy booming, Disney can afford to turn off guests because other customers are waiting in the wings. However, when vacation dollars become scarce again, customers are going to have moved on to other destinations.

Yep.

That is because members have always paid for parking lot upkeep and maintenance as part of the annual dues.

And hotel guests pay for it in part of what they are being charged for the room. Same with magical express and onsite transportation.

I know we’re not suppose to talk about avoiding Disney policy but what’s to stop me from lying?

“Did you bring your car?”

“Nope!”

“Ok have a great stay!”

You know Disney has zero ability to police this rule. They wont tow. (You just know they won’t because they don’t enforce anything) If you lie how they gonna get you?

Universal has you put your keycard in to enter and exit the lot fwiw. Easy enough to create.



I’m truly disappointed in Disney. It’s just what I said earlier about taking what people don’t like about other places and doing those things. Maddening.

“The other person did it first” is not an acceptable reason to do something.

 

[freediverdude]

So, you don't get a parking pass, and your car is flagged that night.

You're kidding yourself if you think you can get around it if they don't want you to.

From what I am hearing they will be installing a magicband/ticket system similar to parking garages. If you don't have a magicband, you'll have to take a ticket, and insert that ticket into a machine or give to a booth attendant in order to be able to exit the lot. One plus of all this is that they will be able to enforce the 3 hour shopping/dining passes now.

Edited to add: and also I think they'll want to enforce this once the gondolas are up, it will be tempting for people to park at CB, Pop,and Riviera.

 

[agavegirl1]

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.

Thank you. Now I don’t have to type so much. I don’t go often. We sometimes rent a car and sometimes not. I naively thought the ridiculous hotel rates included parking. Silly Me.

 

[ScubaCat]

I truly don't know if I will ever be able to take a family on a Disney vacation. I'm in my twenties and luckily have had the opportunity to travel to Disney every year or so as a single person..but if I ever have a family, paying for a trip and staying on site seems really impossible. I'm so disappointed by the constant cash grabbing and the increases and the focus on upcharge events that won't be doable for me once I have more then just myself to pay for.

I'm sad..Disney, I wish I could quit you

Simple solution: Come over to the DVC forums and we'll help you buy a resale contract. Free parking for you! (Technically paid for in annual maintenance fees, but we can all pretend, right??)