RUMOR: Overhaul coming to Downtown Disney

[going/again]

Originally Posted by Chuck S

Doubtful, unless room rates and DVC dues increase to cover the transportation subsidy that is part of multi-day park tickets, since multi day tickets include the use of WDW transportation system. Especially with the ever increasing cost of fuel.

Remember, they discontinued the requirement to show resort ID to use the resort bus system in the early 1990s.

DVC members already pay dues for transportation, why should they pay more for none resort guests ?

[DizCaptain]

Originally Posted by going/again

DVC members already pay dues for transportation, why should they pay more for none resort guests ?

Thank you for bringing this up. Far too often I'm trying to bus back from DTD to Beach Club and I have to wait two or three cycles to get on since so many people hitch along to get to Epcot or wherever they're going. Clogs it up real nice.

[Lewisc]

Adding a parking garage may make it easier for Disney to justify charging for parking. Charge for parking would probably be waived for resort guests and maybe customers who meet minimum purchase requirements.

At one time the rumor was Disney wanted to build garages in DTD similar to Universal. A second TTC. Offsite guests would park and walk through at least part of DTD before they would board buses, maybe even some kind of rail, to a theme park.

[Horace Horsecollar]

The Downtown Disney parking lots at the Disneyland Resort (California) are gated. The lots provide 3 hours of free parking without validation or 5 hours of free parking with a table service meal at one of the Downtown Disney restaurants. Beyond these free limits, there's a rather steep parking charge.

That means guests can enjoy dinner, a movie, and shopping at Downtown Disney with free parking. But guests who try to use a Downtown Disney parking lot for a theme park day will pay dearly.

It's a pricing model that would also work at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney.

[Chuck S]

Originally Posted by going/again

DVC members already pay dues for transportation, why should they pay more for none resort guests ?

Yes, we pay dues for transportation, just as every other cash resort pays into the system. But multi-day ticket guests and annual passholders also pay into the system. A portion of the ticket price is also paid into the overall transportation system. Lose that subsidy by denying them use, and the difference will be made up somewhere, through increased cash room rates and increased transportation contract costs with DVC, increasing our dues. Or cutting back on the resort bus services. Cost to provide the transportation will not go down, it cost the same to run x number of buses, full or empty.

Think of it this way, a DVC Member may drive to WDW, and drive to every park, never using the bus system...but we still pay dues. If they refunded dues to members that drive to the parks, where would the cost be made up? Through increasing everyone else's dues.

[WizardLarz]

I hope that Any changes/additions include bringing back the Adventures Club! I Demand that this is a must, Someplace that is a Fun, Adults Only, is very much needed throughout WDW.

[seashoreCM]

Originally Posted by DizCaptain

Thank you for bringing this up. Far too often I'm trying to bus back from DTD to Beach Club and I have to wait two or three cycles to get on since so many people hitch along to get to Epcot or wherever they're going. Clogs it up real nice.

Complain to your resort that there should be more buses to accommodate the demand.

[Donna M]

Originally Posted by Horace Horsecollar

The Downtown Disney parking lots at the Disneyland Resort (California) are gated. The lots provide 3 hours of free parking without validation or 5 hours of free parking with a table service meal at one of the Downtown Disney restaurants. Beyond these free limits, there's a rather steep parking charge.

That means guests can enjoy dinner, a movie, and shopping at Downtown Disney with free parking. But guests who try to use a Downtown Disney parking lot for a theme park day will pay dearly.

It's a pricing model that would also work at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney.

This sounds like a great plan if they build the garage, which I would be in favor of.

[Phil'sFrontier]

Disney should install those smart car parks like in Japan where your car goes in but you don't.

[gdrj]

Originally Posted by wrighter

I'd be curious to know the statistics behind those who park at DTD. How many of them actually stay and enjoy DTD vs. who simply parks there to get on free buses to the parks.

I would think that it is a small percentage overall. Not an easy way direct way to get to parks. From DTD to Hotels and then to Parks. Plus to leave reverse the whole process. I'm sure there are some. With almost 30,000 rooms on site plus neighboring areas I think its just a lot of people and not enough parking near the areas where people go . Park near the Westend during the day and its a ghost town.

[dcibrando]

Originally Posted by DizCaptain

Thank you for bringing this up. Far too often I'm trying to bus back from DTD to Beach Club and I have to wait two or three cycles to get on since so many people hitch along to get to Epcot or wherever they're going. Clogs it up real nice.

The Saratoga Springs bus (from the parks to SSR - or really to DTD) is insane at night. I have complained so many times having to wait for additional busses or having to stand with an infant while all the DTD travelers take up the SSR busses because Disney doesn't run a DTD bus from the parks.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by 2Tiggies

I would guess that it's a smaller percentage than what we might think. DTD bus service is not as frequent as the service between the resorts and parks. Add to that the fact that anyone wanting to get from DTD to a park would have to get a bus to a resort first.

Or walk to Saratoga Springs. There's a reason the Marketplace lot is largely full by 9:59 a.m. even though most DTD stores don't open until 10:00.

[Shmily1]

Originally Posted by parkhopping

Maybe I'm missing something here, but how would that make the parking lot less crowded? Wouldn't that only increase the number of cars in the lot, since those staying offsite would need to arrange their own transportation and be more likely to drive themselves?

Because there are those that stay off property, park their cars at DTD, then ride the buses to the parks to avoid paying the $14 parking fee. This takes up parking spaces for those that are there to actually enjoy DTD but spend time circling the parking lots to find a spot to park.

[beer dave]

Originally Posted by Chuck S

But multi-day ticket guests and annual passholders also pay into the system. A portion of the ticket price is also paid into the overall transportation system.

Of course any pass with any kind of a park hopper option has the right to use the bussing system-- it would be hard to park hop without it.

The point is that they don't necessarily have the right to park in parking lots that are not designated as "park" parking lots for the day and jump the bus to whichever park they want to go to. I would love to see the above system (paid parking at DTD after certain time alotments) inplememted for the new parking garage if it happens.

[mamaprincess]

Originally Posted by Horace Horsecollar

The Downtown Disney parking lots at the Disneyland Resort (California) are gated. The lots provide 3 hours of free parking without validation or 5 hours of free parking with a table service meal at one of the Downtown Disney restaurants. Beyond these free limits, there's a rather steep parking charge.

That means guests can enjoy dinner, a movie, and shopping at Downtown Disney with free parking. But guests who try to use a Downtown Disney parking lot for a theme park day will pay dearly.

It's a pricing model that would also work at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney.

That would be perfect especially since they already have it benchmarked.