Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[mom2rtk]

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.

They will. The money is too big.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

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

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

Thanks! This really won't impact me until summer of 2019, so by then I'm sure people will have all kinds of hacks This summer, we should be "grandfathered" in to the free parking. We have always flown and taken magical express. But once our youngest turns 2, we're going to see how driving goes to save money. I guess we'll have to factor parking fees into the equation too. I teach 6th grade math. Maybe I can have my students calculate different vacation prices to find the best way to travel

 

[DISNEY1975]

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

Honestly I would take any reserved parking spot, near or far. What exactly am I getting for my $24?

 

[mjr0483]

Don’t forget the extra $10 for “ preferred” parking. Disney is a business but they quickly going from a place of nostalgia and building memories to a place of greed n

 

[Krandor]

I’ve been thinking about this. I go to rundisney races. I normally stay on property for transportation reasons eat Disney food and normally just get Disney tickets. I’m in Atlanta so driving Is easier.

In the future I see off site maybe being how I go. Now Disney loses the food money. Now I may decide to spend dopey weekend going to universal since I’m now off property. They’ll still get my race fees but by forcing me off property they may lose all the other money they get from me.

Is $13 a day worth that?

This really Penelizes the people who are driving distance to Disney.

 

[mjr0483]

While people are upset when they see ticket prices constantly going up, they are not happy about it but at least Disney is constantly adding to the parks.

What do we get from this parking fee? NOTHING.

 

[supernova]

Instead of having people sneaking into Saratoga Springs Resort for easy parking at Disney Springs, you'll have people sneaking into Disney Springs to walk back to Saratoga for the night.

 

[mjr0483]

I honestly think Disney thinks they can do whatever they want. Raise prices to whatever. Take away EMH, charge for parking, charge for air really and we will keep taking it on the chin. And we will. And Disney will take this as a sign they can continue.

 

[supernova]

I'm sure these points have already been made, but I have zero interest in going through 35 pages to check.

Along with the quick cash grab this affords Disney, it's yet another attempt to dissuade visitors (non DVC or AP) from renting cars. People keep mentioning the "free" Magical Express service as a question as to why they would charge visitors who drive to park on property. For the most part, the Magical Express (AKA Magical Handcuffs) keeps visitors without cars away from neighboring attractions. With a car, it's easier to check out the cool Harry Potter stuff over at Universal Studios. By offering to shuttle visitors for free from the airport to their resort, and then offer free bus service around property, and THEN charge for parking a rental car, they are doing their best to keep guests on-site for the duration of their vacation. Even that Magic Your Way nonsense of charging guests for length-of-stay tickets is BS.

 

[Krandor]

I'm sure these points have already been made, but I have zero interest in going through 35 pages to check.

Along with the quick cash grab this affords Disney, it's yet another attempt to dissuade visitors (non DVC or AP) from renting cars. People keep mentioning the "free" Magical Express service as a question as to why they would charge visitors who drive to park on property. For the most part, the Magical Express (AKA Magical Handcuffs) keeps visitors without cars away from neighboring attractions. With a car, it's easier to check out the cool Harry Potter stuff over at Universal Studios. By offering to shuttle visitors for free from the airport to their resort, and then offer free bus service around property, and THEN charge for parking a rental car, they are doing their best to keep guests on-site for the duration of their vacation. Even that Magic Your Way nonsense of charging guests for length-of-stay tickets is BS.

I get that and understand that reasoning. But what about those of us that don’t fly in? We have no choice.

 

[supernova]

I get that and understand that reasoning. But what about those of us that don’t fly in? We have no choice.

Then it's any other resort charging fees. Plus, you have the capability (although perhaps not the intention) of leaving to visit other theme parks. Plus, they don't have an internal tracking system to determine external factors. They know who is DVC and who is AP. They do not know who is driving or flying, nor can they track that, so there's no way for them to distinguish between the two. Fact remains, if you're a regular park visitor, they would rather you not bring a car. Disney doesn't much care if it's a rental or your own.

 

[jbhodj]

This totally changes the dynamics for my trip which was on a tight budget to begin with. Paying another fee that was not figured already into my booked room and tickets and money for dining really could hinder my plans.

Sure to some 200-300 may seem like small change but for people on strict budgets like me it’s a huge deal.

I’m also guessing there are going to be a lot of people who won’t know this is coming and see the charges after the fact and their heads will explode

I called Disney to let them know my displeasure with this and my vacation plans are now on the line. I hope more do this

 

[KenHutch]

The call center is getting lots of calls on this.

Send your comments to:

guest.services@disneyworld.com

I am!!!

Thank You I just sent them a long long note about what I think.

 

[gratefulfred]

I get that and understand that reasoning. But what about those of us that don’t fly in? We have no choice.

They simply don’t care. I drive from Philadelphia because I don’t like flying so I’m being punished for a fear of flying (hmm I wonder if I can twist that into a disability, maybe it’ll work if I bring my comfort peacock)

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Just adding my 2 cents. We’ve driven from NY to Disney for 25 yrs for vacation. We recently retired to FL, about a 30 minute drive to the mouse. We still stay on property as a mini vacation because it just adds to the specialness(?) of the whole experience. Through the yrs we’ve noticed little changes in quality,service,just little things that chipped away at the Disney feeling but minimal enough to not make us stop going. But this parking fee proposal could be the straw that Keeps us from staying on property ever again.

 

[Iya]

Honestly, this reminds me of my dad. My dad is a lifelong New York Mets fan (as am I). However, Mets parking fees have gone up to an absurd level. After the last price increase, my dad swore that he was done attending Mets games- and he was. Public transportation is too hard for him at his age and he isn't going to pay the fee. He hasn't attended another one since, even when I begged him. What does this mean?

There WILL be a breaking point for Disney. People hate being nickeled and dimed, especially on things that seem like they should be included in the already high costs being paid, like parking. Every time Disney makes a decision like this, they lose people. Sure, in the short term, they have more money. But it is an incredibly short-sighted move. Nostalgia sells Disney vacations. If my dad had decided to stop supporting the Mets 15 years ago, then I wouldn't be a Mets fan today. Those people disheartened by Disney now who are going to choose other vacation destinations may raise kids who don't see the appeal of WDW.

They foolishly believe their goodwill is neverending.

 

[Iya]

What is next, charging for WiFi!

That was already done but dropped. I think it used to be $10 a day at resorts.

 

[Iya]

The sad thing is, if they just made WDW amazing, the general public, not just addicts remembering the past, would be falling all over themselves wanting to go, and shareholder value would take care of itself, instead of nickel and diming, small additions, and cost cutting, which they feel is the safe way to go instead. They should have learned something from the Potter additions over at Universal and saw how that put Universal on the world map almost immediately and snowballed into much more over there. Build something amazing and they will come, the money will take care of itself.

 

[Colleen27]

Since I am DVC member, it will not affect us as we drive some to WDW, but fly a lot. BUT, i think the main problem is people parking at the monorail/boat
resorts and not paying the parking fee at the parks. I think this precipitated a lot of this... People abusing the system.
I know at BWV, parking is hard to come by when we are staying there.. Always has been. So, it essence, the people that will pay for parking
can thank the "abusers of the system". At least I think that is partly the reason why they did this. I do agree with other posters that I think
Disney is becoming a "nickel and dimeing" to death..

I know this is always the DISboards defense when Disney does something unpopular (don't blame Disney, blame the bad guests!) but it falls particularly flat on this specific change because it does less than nothing to address that problem. Day guests won't be paying to park. So under the new rules, someone who drives to breakfast at the Boardwalk and just leaves the car there for the day will still be parking for free, while someone paying $500+/night to actually stay there will get a parking charge tacked on.

I came back last week and for the first time I felt like I was nickel and dimed and that I was not getting the value for my money anymore. Now I hear this news today and I am angry! Disney is not what it used to be and the greed is really rubbing me the wrong way. At this point with the lack of an advantage to booking FP, the nearly non-existent EMH compared to the past, and no free parking I just don't see what benefit there is to paying the premium price to stay onsite. For the first time in 13 years I will be looking at the Disney Springs hotels, Swan & Dolphin etc. It was always no question I would stay on property, but I think those days may be over.

That's where I'm at too. We just got back from a trip that had a few more hiccups and service issues than our past visits, including repeated issues with the bus system. Without a car, the trip would have been significantly impacted by those bus problems because taking 1-2 hours just to get on a bus to the parks really cuts into enjoying the day. It was bad enough to get me thinking about renting a car for future trips, at least if/when we're staying at moderate resorts with multiple bus stops because too often the bus pulled into our stop so full that only a handful of people could get on while the board showed the next one 30+ minutes away. At this point, between the 60 day FP, the EMH, and the fact that my AP lets me park free at the parks, Disney Springs is looking good for the first time in the 14 years we've been doing Disney regularly. A suite there has always been on par with Disney value room rates, but it used to be that I'd tack on a rental car or airport transfers and account for not being able to use EMH and losing the convenience of Disney transportation and come up with a final analysis that favored the on-site perks. Not so much now, especially if we're driving anyway.

Placards include the holder's photograph.

Not in all states. And it isn't as though Disney is likely to train their parking staff on recognizing every state's placard and ID processes. In Michigan, a temporary or non-plate permanent handicapped permit is just a plasticized hang-tag for the mirror with no information on it at all except an expiration date. You could use anyone's, and a reasonably clever person could pretty easily replicate them.

 

[sbd78]

Another (of the many) reasons this is ridiculous...We are a family of 5, so flying is pricey. We like to book our trip early with the intention of driving but if we happen to find a great deal on flights as the trip gets closer, we fly. You have to book a Disney trip so far in advance in order to get the dining reservations/hotel/fast passes you want that it is impossible to plan a trip around cheap flights. Most people who drive are doing so to save money. This parking fee is definitely NOT a money saver. And lets not forget the locals who obviously won't be flying in. This was a bad move for so many reasons.