20 dollars for parking now...? Come on now...

[Billabongi]

Eh expect to see these higher price jumps now and into the future. The parks are becoming busier and busier as we've noticed a very distinct change in the amount of rooms available on site. We used to be able to plan a trip 2 months before and have just about our pick of rooms and that's definitely not the case anymore. We've also noticed the difference in people in the parks on what used to be slower times. This allows Disney the ability to push out higher price increases, good ole supply and demand.

 

[Nancyg56]

I paid $45 to park a mile away from a U2 concert.....

Yes, I paid over $30 for the pleasure of walking that distance in Boston! Yikes! And Hartford on special events also charges a fortune for horrendous parking lots. You don't want to get stuck for hours exiting the Civic Center parking garage? PAY!

 

[Nancyg56]

I get that people are going to WDW for multiple days but aren't necessarily going to their local theme park for multiple days. I get that people often stay on property at WDW, eat on property, etc. so they are going to be spending more money at Disney than at their local theme park. We need to remember, though, that Disney does have to pay for upkeep just like the local amusement parks. If your local Six Flags has 10,000 different visitors everyday, they are still causing the same wear and tear on the parking lot as the same $10,00 visitors would each day at WDW for a week-long stay. So, whether they are the same or different guests, the same upkeep is going to be necessary. They need to keep the parking lot resurfaced properly so there aren't giant potholes to drive through. They have to pay for maintenance and fuel/power for the trams, parking booths, lights, etc. at the parking lot. They have to pay for security, parking attendants, and other workers. Sure, you might stay at Contemporary, but what you are paying for Contemporary goes to the upkeep of that resort, the payment of those workers, and the utilities and such for that resort. If you look at parking at your local amusement park and compare it to parking at WDW, which is usually a better experience? I know for us, WDW parking is much preferred to parking at Six Flags. I'm willing to pay the same amount of money to park at WDW that I pay at Six Flags especially when I think about how much better the WDW process is.

I also think that when costing out an entire WDW vacation people forget that if they decide to stay onsite, and find codes, if they factor in the free parking they may bed up saving. I know onsite is not the answer to everyone, but when we travel, I need to factor the cost of a rental vehicle and parking in to my stay, so onsite ends up less expensive for me.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Parking has been $20+ at the local Six Flags for 5 years now. Their (the same Six Flags) 1 day park ticket is $90 and has been that for 3 years. Meals there are about $15 a person for quick service and have been that for a while. Disney's prices aren't outrageous, when compared to other theme parks. It's outrageous in general, but it's not just Disney doing it, unfortunately.

I went to our Six Flags in June. Parking was $8 and a Burger/fries/coke was $10

Regarding Disney, I won't be paying the extra fee for our trip in 12 days. 2 days of parking was already covered and the remaining 2 were not. I was willing to pay the $17 a day to park, as bad as I hated it but I won't pay $20 to park without cutting something else from the trip.

Just cancelled our CP lunch for 3 on 10/19 and will be packing a lunch (it was the easiest cut to make). In Disneys effort to gain $6, they've lost over $100. Should I ever return to Disney, I will once again offset the cost of parking by spending less in the parks to eat (we don't buy souvenirs so food is the easiest way to make cuts for us).

 

[Nancyg56]

I went to our Six Flags in June. Parking was $8 and a Burger/fries/coke was $10

Regarding Disney, I won't be paying the extra fee for our trip in 12 days. 2 days of parking was already covered and the remaining 2 were not. I was willing to pay the $17 a day to park, as bad as I hated it but I won't pay $20 to park without cutting something else from the trip.

Just cancelled our CP lunch for 3 on 10/19 and will be packing a lunch (it was the easiest cut to make). In Disneys effort to gain $6, they've lost over $100. Should I ever return to Disney, I will once again offset the cost of parking by spending less in the parks to eat (we don't buy souvenirs so food is the easiest way to make cuts for us).

WOW! Not our local Six Flags! You are lucky. I don't even want to tell you what food cost there.

I don't pack food to go into the parks, but I do bring water and am glad that Disney gives the opportunity to mitigates expenses in this manner. Most parks do not, and so people are required to find alternative ways to reduce the costs of that vacation. WE just paid $5 for a bottle of water at Radio City Music Hall last month! I was shocked, because even for New York City costs, this was exorbitant IMO. It was blazing hot so we bought it, but we shared the bottle, and that is not something we usually feel the need to do. I just refused to give them more money. The Bushnell charges $7 a pour for house wine. But parking is free so I am okay with it.

 

[tlmadden73]

They probably made it $20 just to make it easier for people to pay. Whip out a $20 (probably the most commonly used bill nowadays with prices the way they are) .. and you are through .. no change .. etc.

But $20 for parking is on pace for anything else (other amusement parks, arenas, downtown big city parking, etc.) (for much shorter timeframes).

Does Disney sell multi-day parking passes to make it more affordable?

The main problem with parking fees is it just drives people nuts to be double-dipped. I am paying to park at a place I have to PAY to get into and will be spending money in all day. Why not just increase tickets prices a a dollar.
I just don't understand the concept (especially when the venue OWNS the land the parking is on).

 

[amylevan]

The main problem with parking fees is it just drives people nuts to be double-dipped. I am paying to park at a place I have to PAY to get into and will be spending money in all day. Why not just increase tickets prices a a dollar.
I just don't understand the concept (especially when the venue OWNS the land the parking is on).

They won't just increase ticket prices and give free parking because then they wouldn't be able to use free parking as a perk for staying on-site or APs.

And really to the person throwing a fit over $6, really? On a trip that costs thousands?

 

[SparklePixie]

Well try parking at a NFL game if you think 20 bucks is too much

Heck even little old mount olympus theme and water park in wisconsin dells charges 20 bucks to park and after you park they block off the ends with cones making it a pain to get out unless you move the cones but the look on the workers is priceless when you run the cones over after they still put them down when they saw you coming

We attend NFL games a few times a year and multiple MLB games a season. The most we've paid to park is $15.

 

[amylevan]

We attend NFL games a few times a year and multiple MLB games a season. The most we've paid to park is $15.

Wow! You need a parking permit to park at games at Metlife stadium. And if you don't, you get the pleasure of paying $35 for parking OFF site and taking a shuttle.

 

[lugnut33]

It seems the argument being made by many here is that Disney is NOT charging enough?
I'm still waiting for the day they start charging resort fees.

 

[pmaurer74]

It seems the argument being made by many here is that Disney is NOT charging enough?
I'm still waiting for the day they start charging resort fees.

I think the argument is people will pay a lot more for food and parking at sporting events and concerts and local amusement parks.

 

[tlmadden73]

They won't just increase ticket prices and give free parking because then they wouldn't be able to use free parking as a perk for staying on-site or APs.

And really to the person throwing a fit over $6, really? On a trip that costs thousands?

Do people really factor in "free parking" as an on-site perk? I know I don't. That being said, it is a pretty nice perk for annual pass (if you go that route).

That's why they can do it. Most people will still pay it .. even if the parking price went up to $25! Raising parking prices a few dollars (when you are paying hundreds just to get INTO the park) is chump change (relatively) but will bring in tons of money DAILY to the parks.

Disney seems to be as popular as ever. Supply/Demand .. they can keep raising prices as long as people still show up (and it appears they are showing up more and more every year).

 

[jesse8931]

It's very simple economics.

As cost's go up the company raises price's.

Say beef price's go up but they do not want to increase the cost of a hamburger but they can raise the price to park the car's that offset's the increased cost of the beef.

 

[Disneyliscious]

And really to the person throwing a fit over $6, really? On a trip that costs thousands?

Its not about affordability. Its about principle. Some people have limits they are willing to pay for things. When the price of X exceeds what I am willing to pay, I will either do without it or cut costs in other ways. It is not worth $20 a day to park my car to me. Therefore I will offset it by cutting costs in other ways. As I posted in a thread yesterday, Epcot has over 11,000 parking spaces. If half of those are filled everyday thats $40 million dollars a year on that one parking lot if only half the spots are filled.

That parking lot is 140 acres in size. There is 43,560 sq ft in an acre. 140 x 43,560 = 6,098,400 sq ft. An average paving cost of $1.50/sq ft x 6,098,400 = $9,147,600 to pave/resurface the parking lot. An asphalt overlay is recommended every 7 to 12 years so we'll go with 7 to be at the low end. In 7 years the parking lot would generate $280,000,000 with a cost of approx $10 million for the asphalt overlay. That leaves two hundred and seventy million dollars in 7 years just for Epcots parking lot.

Even after deducting employees, trams, and other costs, I really don't think Disney is going to miss the $100 I'm cutting from my trip because of what I feel, is an exorbitant cost to park my car. When the magic meets the money, I am ok with paying it. But recent years has proven, to me, that the magic is not meeting the money. We have drunks roaming Epcot, fights breaking out in parks with no one being held accountable, a disastrous FP+/ADR system, food that is lack luster, crowds that take heavily from the guest experience, and more. Aside from its size, Disney is on its way to becoming the next Six Flags.

 

[PantherPete]

I know this is going to sound harsh and I apologize in advance if I offend anyone. But the bottom line is that if it is too expensive....don't go. A trip to WDW is not one of our inalienable rights. It was, is, and always will be a luxury regardless if you stay in a park view club level room at the Grand Floridian or at the Motel 6 25 miles away from Buena Vista. Yes, it is a cash grab. But Disney has 1 goal and it isn't to make magic for everyone. The goal was, is, and always shall be to make $ for their investors and if charging $20 for parking does a better job at that than the current parking fee, then so be it. I'm betting that they'll find that the parking fee has very low price elasticity, i.e. the demand will not change much based on this increase. So why not increase the price until they reach an elasticity point? That is what the inventors want.

 

[MrInfinity]

Parking has been $20+ at the local Six Flags for 5 years now. Their (the same Six Flags) 1 day park ticket is $90 and has been that for 3 years. Meals there are about $15 a person for quick service and have been that for a while. Disney's prices aren't outrageous, when compared to other theme parks. It's outrageous in general, but it's not just Disney doing it, unfortunately.

Our Six Flags is $25 to park. Concerts and sporting events tend to be between $25 and $40. Disney is still a good value where you get a lot for your money. $17 for parking is under priced for anywhere, especially the #1 tourist destination in the country.

I know this is going to sound harsh and I apologize in advance if I offend anyone. But the bottom line is that if it is too expensive....don't go. A trip to WDW is not one of our inalienable rights. It was, is, and always will be a luxury regardless if you stay in a park view club level room at the Grand Floridian or at the Motel 6 25 miles away from Buena Vista. Yes, it is a cash grab. But Disney has 1 goal and it isn't to make magic for everyone. The goal was, is, and always shall be to make $ for their investors and if charging $20 for parking does a better job at that than the current parking fee, then so be it. I'm betting that they'll find that the parking fee has very low price elasticity, i.e. the demand will not change much based on this increase. So why not increase the price until they reach an elasticity point? That is what the inventors want.

Exactly. We stay onsite so I didn't know parking was so cheap... but if we drove up to park anywhere and could pay with a $20 and get change back I'd be floored. $20 makes sense to raise it to, it's easy and minimizes making change.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

We just paid $45 a day (plus a tip for the valet in and out) to park at a hotel in New Orleans this past weekend. New Orleans is crazy in terms of parking costs. Daily parking costs are $25-30 dollars a day minimum. I believe that the free parking for onsite guests makes the parking fee increase seem like a better perk. We always stay onsite and hardly ever have a car and don't ever drive to the parks when we do so it's a moot point for us. I think free parking for onsite guests is a perk that could make some people rethink offsite accommodations when now several days worth of parking gets into the $100 range whether it makes sense or not. People are funny. A three dollar increase in parking fees amounts to $15 dollars for 5 days worth of parking. What's $15 added to a trip that probably costs close to $1000? The parking increase won't change anything about the way we do Disney. Cheers!!!!!!

 

[BugsDaddy]

I know this is going to sound harsh and I apologize in advance if I offend anyone. But the bottom line is that if it is too expensive....don't go. A trip to WDW is not one of our inalienable rights. It was, is, and always will be a luxury regardless if you stay in a park view club level room at the Grand Floridian or at the Motel 6 25 miles away from Buena Vista. Yes, it is a cash grab. But Disney has 1 goal and it isn't to make magic for everyone. The goal was, is, and always shall be to make $ for their investors and if charging $20 for parking does a better job at that than the current parking fee, then so be it. I'm betting that they'll find that the parking fee has very low price elasticity, i.e. the demand will not change much based on this increase. So why not increase the price until they reach an elasticity point? That is what the inventors want.

And the great news for consumers is that they have a choice. If they feel Disney's prices exceed the value they derive from the experience, they can go to Universal or Sea World or one of the many other attractions around Orlando, Florida and the world and pay for those experiences. I don't think that is the problem though, in reality. People will pay the increase and Disney won't see a blip in its revenue stream as you have pointed out. It is inevitable that whenever there is a price increase at Disney, people will post that they "are never going back" or will "cut this or that" for their trips. For the most part, it's all just noise with no real intention behind it.

 

[GillianP1301]

If an increase of $3 on parking is the make/break point on a Disney vacation for somebody, then I don't think it's the vacation they should be taking.

Don't get me wrong, I dislike paying for parking as much as the next person, but it's just the reality of the times we live and $20+ is pretty much the norm at most venues.

 

[kj2mom]

I set aside my parking money months prior to the trip, made an envelope for each day so that was taken car of long in advance. Changing the price overnight would have totally thrown me off but I understand as times pass prices go up.

I was just going to post this. The parking is atrocious at our local Six Flags, which I refuse to ever enter again, (still mourning my beloved Riverside park) there are no trams. You get to walk forever in order to gain entrance, have your bags searched to the point that a cracker hidden in a lining is discovered and tossed, wait forever to get inside, and then you are assaulted by every game of chance imaginable. If you last until the parade, be pepared to be underwhelmed.Even my Parade loving granddaughter was disappointed by the straggling 5 minute procession.

Yes, theme parks in general are expensive, so if am paying those prices I want to leave thinking I got my money's worth.

My children are usually gifted a Six Flags season pass from their Nana for Christmas. This year we had to get to the park before May so they could be activated. I ended up taking a day off during April vacation so we could get that taken care of (luckily the parking fee was included in their pass). We got there right at opening, parked in one of the first rows but my children insisted on still taking the tram as that is part of the fun/experience for them. Anyway, all of this to say Six Flags New England (which I think is the one you speak of since you mention Riverside) does have parking lot trams.