Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[lambdabeta]

At the end of the day, without a "slow season", Disney does not distinguish between your money and anyone else's. If you choose not to, or can no longer afford to, stay on-property, that room will NOT sit vacant because you chose not to take it. Folks who cannot afford to vacation at WDW are not Disney's target market. Prices are higher now than they ever have been, and people are showing up by the millions each year. Just don't let the door hit you on the way out. Because even if it does, Disney won't flinch at the sound.

I get what your saying. I just don't think this will last. Right now the planets are aligned for Disney. They keep raising prices and people keep coming. BTW they raised resort rates this year in Feb which most people didn't notice. I think there are a lot of people not happy with this added price because the room rates are so much higher than everywhere else. Hopefully most will show their displeasure with their wallets. I know I am. I had already decided I wouldn't be back after this year because of the increasing prices and now this added fee is just the straw. I think this will all come crashing down in several years. After Star Wars and their Anniversary year, more people will get fed up or priced out of a Disney vacation and we will see discounts return to fill rooms. I will be waiting until then to go back. Just my opinion.

 

[bobbiwoz]

just got off the phone with the DVC exec office person who called about my email. I knew since it was DVC offices calling that it wouldn't be much help since DVC has nothing to do with this, but assume they forwarded my email to her since I said I was a member.

She was very nice and offered a very sympathetic ear. She offered no excuses or explanations which was frankly refreshing. She did say she was taking detailed notes of everything I said to pass up the chain. I discussed the parking situation at length, as well as my feelings on the dogs at resorts (briefly) and the security checks.

I told her that I understood that as members we were exempt from the parking fees, but I was VERY concerned about what would be coming down the pipeline next and that these fees very much affected my family and friends. I was unhappy about how it was implemented with no explanation or notice. I am unhappy that paying resort guests are charged but day guests get to hog up parking for free which is IMO backwards.

Im sure it won't help and no I don't feel better, but it's done.

I felt similarly calm after I sent my email. I did what I could.

 

[HopperFan]

Ive read one report of someone speaking with Disney after emailing them and being assured that a modification would be fine. But who really knows? I have emailed them about it as well.

To clarify, did they call after being emailed?

Thanks! I'm going to give them a call today.

The people YOU call are reading from a bullet point page, they have no authority, they know nothing other than what is in front of them. I would trust ZERO of what they say. I would email, and ask for a call back. This would come from a whole different level of Guest Relations.

I truly love this conversation! I'm a financial professional and I have, for years, wondered what would stir up passions to drive a breaking point for disney patrons. I have had to include myself in this little experiment, as my heart has said 'Disney no matter what!' for years. However, last night I began researching alternative vacation ideas and I felt okay about it.

You just can't keep raising the prices with such predictable fervor and not eventually get backlash, actual backlash.

(and I have had to consider they are truly doing this on purpose as a way to decrease the insane crowds that just keep coming and coming, and yet not take a hit on their bottom line. Reduce the people but up the prices so net/net.) Good for the well to do, not good for the middle class.)

In terms of financial planning .... the ONLY thing guests have no real control over is Tickets. Yes a few save enough bucks for some Mickey Bars through third party sites but ultimately there is an approximate budget that needs to be met to enter the parks. I personally think their ticket prices are in line with what they offer in the parks (with no looking at crowd issues). Every other aspect is in our control for OUR budgets and our fulfillment of value.

Disney is an affordable trip once you get tickets. Your budget is either fly or drive, shop rates. Hotels/condos/houses .......... SO MANY OPTIONS at so many price points and zero requirement to stay onsite. Dining .......... again from DDP to packing lunches you control your food expense. Shopping ....... you don't have to. January week I bought ONE thing, a Festival of Arts Tervis with AP discount. You always have to get personal value for your money, and this is likely the last straw for those like us who continued to pay the high prices even though we knew we were paying too much. The key is to not get sucked in to the Disney mentality ... set your budget, find what gives you the most bang then go and enjoy ......... nothing worse than going home from Disney with buyers remorse.

I wonder if they plan to segregate the lots into resort guest and day visiting areas. It would make it easier to guarantee parking for paying guest and enforce a time limit on visitors.

CSR always has been segregated and it would be fairly easy to do at most resorts especially with MB. Should have done this long ago, especially at monorail and Epcot resorts.

And that 60 day window means very little anymore. When the rides were new and people wanted to ride them, that was one thing. We always FP Splash Mountain, 7DMT, The Haunted House, and Soarin' and Test Track at Epcot, and have never had a problem getting them even 20 days out. And with DtD becoming more like an overpriced outdoor mall, some of the Disney Magic seems to have become lost. What I like about staying on-site is walking around CBR Lake, spending time with my wife and just relaxing when we don't want to go to the parks, eating at some of the restaurants in Epcot and Magic Kingdom to get some of the WDW experience, and for the cost of the food, the portion seems to be getting smaller...and while the parking fees will not kill us, it is the overall costs that are getting outrageous. Raising prices but lowering expectations/service to your guests is getting old.

Going in two weeks for spring break, no FP+ yet. We were there a fairly busy week in January and walked into Epcot booking our first FP+. We were able to get everything. We booked and walked straight to FEA. Will it happen in two weeks maybe, maybe not and surely not for FOP. But we really don't have problems with booking FP+. But we could still get it and stay non-Disney for less for more so .... The last of the onsite perks are slowly disappearing.

 

[nkereina]

Now that we have confirmation and some details, I'm going to re-post an idea I shared yesterday on this (then rumoured) topic:

Why not just charge resort guests a flat fee at the gate each time they LEAVE the parking lot??

So if you're a week-long guest that's arrived in your car, but you don't drive it anywhere, you pay for parking only once when you leave.

But if you brought your car to Disney with the intention of driving every day (to Universal, and/or adding to road congestion by driving to the Disney parks), you either pay more for that privilege, or you take advantage of a financial incentive to drive less.

And if you're legitimately at a resort for dinner or shopping, your ticket is easily validated at the point-of-sale for 3 hours of free parking.

This would avoid penalizing resort guests who a) need or prefer to drive to Disney, and b) stay in the 'bubble' their entire trip and take Disney transportation everywhere.

Our family is usually both a) and b) described above. But if we start paying a daily fee to park a car we're not using, 'll actually feel MORE inclined to drive in order to get more value from this new expense.

This seems logical. They could do something like a flat $20 length of stay parking fee and $30 length of stay parking fee with in/out privileges (for example). Granted, if they went this kind of route, they would really need ramp up the bus service because I would foresee more people taking advantage of leaving their car if using it added to the cost.

 

[mjr0483]

When will Disney resorts start Free Breakfast? Just because many other hotels offer this.

Disney really couldn’t have made a worse move.

 

[Kevin355]

Going in two weeks for spring break, no FP+ yet. We were there a fairly busy week in January and walked into Epcot booking our first FP+. We were able to get everything. We booked and walked straight to FEA. Will it happen in two weeks maybe, maybe not and surely not for FOP. But we really don't have problems with booking FP+. But we could still get it and stay non-Disney for less for more so .... The last of the onsite perks are slowly disappearing.

Amen.

 

[Disneylover99]

To clarify, did they call you after you emailed?

No. They have not called me yet. Somebody else emailed them and received a call. They questioned the ability to modify a resort reservation after March 21st without being charged for parking, which is what I would like to get confirmation on.

 

[DisneynBison]

One think is for sure, the off-site hotels got to be jumping for joy after hearing this news!

If the off site hotels marketing department was smart they would be offering "free parking" and publicizing it prominently. Heck they could probably even raise their price but make it look like they were giving something for a discount.

This happens every time Disney raises their ticket price or takes away a perk, there are pages and pages on here about how people are incensed and not going anymore. Well the parks just keep getting busier and busier so unless it actually makes a dent in the Disney bottom line they don't care.

People need to realize That Disney does not care about you, they don't care about me they just care about the amount of money the company can make off of your visit to their parks. They are going to separate every dollar they can from you and smile while they do it and wish you a "Magical" time. It is a business and they will not care until their attendance starts to fall. It doesn't look like that will be happening anytime soon.

 

[Lorelai]

Adding a parking fee to already high rates also makes the Bonnet Creek and Disney Springs resorts look way more appealing, especially since some of them even get the 60 day FP.

We are staying at Bonnet Creek this summer, but no one mentioned the 60 day FP being offered there as well.

Have you stayed at Bonnet Creek? Any info is much appreciated. We are splitting our time between AKL & BC.

Thanks!

 

[Kevin355]

When will Disney resorts start Free Breakfast? Just because many other hotels offer this.

Disney really couldn’t have made a worse move.

Excellent point. I am a Choice Rewards member...in addition to free breakfast for everyone...many times sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, bagels, donuts, cereal, juice, and fruit, I also accrue points for future trips. Waiting in line for the same food that I get at many hotels and paying almost $10-12 for it, seems to be overkill.

 

[thelionqueen]

We are staying at Bonnet Creek this summer, but no one mentioned the 60 day FP being offered there as well.

Have you stayed at Bonnet Creek? Any info is much appreciated. We are splitting our time between AKL & BC.

Thanks!

Yes, absolutely LOVE it! If you rent from an owner, it's cheaper than a value, beautiful and close. My dad owns Wyndham points and have stayed there, also rented through an online owner's points rental company (not sure if it's ok to post here) for a 1 bedroom for $100 a night! Couldn't recommend more.. LOVE it!

 

[HopperFan]

We are staying at Bonnet Creek this summer, but no one mentioned the 60 day FP being offered there as well.

Have you stayed at Bonnet Creek? Any info is much appreciated. We are splitting our time between AKL & BC.

Thanks!

No they do not get it, only the Disney Springs hotels were added.

LOVE Bonnet Creek resort, I'd stay every trip if I could.

Memory ..... paid around $50 a night for one bedroom and $85 a night for two bedroom. No comparison with Disney rates.

 

[Bowen Family]

This seems logical. They could do something like a flat $20 length of stay parking fee and $30 length of stay parking fee with in/out privileges (for example). Granted, if they went this kind of route, they would really need ramp up the bus service because I would foresee more people taking advantage of leaving their car if using it added to the cost.

Yes! I like the upgrade idea to in/out privileges.

And aren't they going to have upgrade bus service under this new model anyways, what with presumably fewer people driving? Though I wonder what percentage of guests are currently making discretionary car trips to WDW. Presumably it's limited to people flying into MCO and then renting a car. Could that really be a large subset of guests?

 

[thelionqueen]

Mousesavers newsletter just sent this:

New Parking Charge for Overnight Self-Parking at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Effective for reservations made after March 21, 2018, there will be a charge for standard overnight self-parking at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. The fee that will be applied to your hotel bill and charged at check out. Guests who booked their room or package before March 21, 2018 get FREE parking at all Disney resorts.

Standard Overnight Parking charges (tax included):

• Disney Value Resorts: $13 per night
• Disney Moderate Resorts: $19 per night
• Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts: $24 per night

Guests with a license plate or hangtag indicating they qualify for handicapped parking, get FREE parking.

Campsite guests at Fort Wilderness get FREE parking for one car. Cabin guests are charged $19/night for parking.

Disney Vacation Club Members staying at any DVC resort with points or cash, or staying at any Disney resort using DVC points, get FREE parking.

Guests of Disney Vacation Club Members staying at a DVC resort using a DVC member’s points (including people using rented DVC points), get FREE parking.

Day visitors who are not staying at the resort, but have come to check out the resort or have a meal, still get FREE parking. If you are not staying at the hotel and are visiting during a very busy period, you may be given a three-hour parking pass, and/or you may be asked for evidence that you have a dining reservation there (they can look up your reservation by name).

GREAT update! Not sure everyone saw it with so many comments coming fast and furious

 

[supernova]

When will Disney resorts start Free Breakfast? Just because many other hotels offer this.

Disney really couldn’t have made a worse move.

Have you had the "free breakfast" at hotels? You can keep it.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Sometimes we just need to say no by not going. We fly to Disney so the parking does not affect us personally but we have had to say 'no' to Disney Cruises by not going any longer. Just cannot afford the price.

Sadly this change will affect some Disney guests the same way, it will just be too much to allow some people to go. It's just sad.

 

[McKelly]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this in the previous posts, but does anybody think this will make Disney transportation slower, due to more people foregoing renting a car and just taking Magical Express from the airport?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Downtown DC, though! And is that industry standard for the area?

That's pretty much standard for parking anywhere in DC. The DC govt wants to charge people just to drive cars into the District, forget about parking them. They're not quite there.

 

[nkereina]

And aren't they going to have upgrade bus service under this new model anyways, what with presumably fewer people driving? Though I wonder what percentage of guests are currently making discretionary car trips to WDW. Presumably it's limited to people flying into MCO and then renting a car. Could that really be a large subset of guests?

A fair question, I wonder the same. We never rent a car, but if its something we typically did for whatever reason, I'd honestly just budget the parking costs into my trip budget and roll with it. I wouldn't like it, but in the grand scheme of the cost of a Disney vacation, an extra +/-$150 in parking fees wouldn't stop me from renting a car if it was something I needed. Or similarly, if driving in was saving me tons on airfare.

If we did rent a car, one thing I would change about the current way we travel is that we often will take a late afternoon/evening flight in so we arrive at the resort at night and can start early on our first full day. In the future, I might consider taking a morning flight instead so we could save that extra night in a hotel plus parking fees. Or similarly, take a late night flight home instead of a morning flight out the next day. The room cost plus parking fee for essentially a few more park hours wouldn't really be worth it in this scenario.

 

[UncleMike101]

Face it.....
WDW resort guests are being made to make up the substantial loss's that Disney is suffering due to their rotten management of the ESPN franchise and their lack of understanding of what American movie goers will pay to see.
WDW is the Disney cash cow and like many enterprises have done in the past they are choking it to death trying to get every last drop of milk.