Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[wellesleyprincess]

Yeah this rumor has been around for at least a few years and it hasn't happened yet. Universal charges for parking and you have to pay to park if you drive to the parks (albeit that's unlikely given how much closer the hotels are). I'd be okay with it if they added the parking charge and didn't raise hotel prices. Because you're really paying for it now it's just included in the overall rate so separating the parking would actually give those of us that fly a discount.

 

[FSU Girl]

Ugh I really hope this doesn't happen. I swear Disney is trying so hard to make me not stay at their resorts. I don't have much choice for my next couple stays since I'm getting married there, but I definitely see off site stays in the future. I've never understood why some hotels charge for parking, you're paying so much each night to stay there parking should be included.

 

[yaya74]

Yeah this rumor has been around for at least a few years and it hasn't happened yet. Universal charges for parking and you have to pay to park if you drive to the parks (albeit that's unlikely given how much closer the hotels are). I'd be okay with it if they added the parking charge and didn't raise hotel prices. Because you're really paying for it now it's just included in the overall rate so separating the parking would actually give those of us that fly a discount.

About Universal Studios hotels.... my family stayed at Portofino Bay for 4 nights last summer and we did pay for $20+ parking per night since we drove to FL. We paid the fee willingly BECAUSE unlimited express pass was included in the price of our stay. SO, if Disney includes "unlimited FP+" in the price of resort stay, I will pay for the parking.

Another issue with hotels at Universal Studios, these hotels are owned by Lowes not US. Disney is in real estate business and it owns all hotels. They cannot just start charing for parking fee without giving something extra. Otherwise they will just drive the business away to nearby hotels.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Ugh I really hope this doesn't happen. I swear Disney is trying so hard to make me not stay at their resorts. I don't have much choice for my next couple stays since I'm getting married there, but I definitely see off site stays in the future. I've never understood why some hotels charge for parking, you're paying so much each night to stay there parking should be included.

At some places, I get it. Especially in large metropolitan areas, space is extremely limited, so it makes sense to have to pay to park.

At Disney? Not so much. There is plenty of space for resort guests to park. If they truly had a problem at some of the deluxe resorts, they COULD limit parking to only those guests staying at the resort and force everyone else to use Disney transport.

I guess that’s where my problem is with this. They don’t NEED to charge for parking. It feels to me like they’re just trying to figure out a way to squeeze more $$ out of people.

 

[FSU Girl]

About Universal Studios hotels.... my family stayed at Portofino Bay for 4 nights last summer and we did pay for $20+ parking per night since we drove to FL. We paid the fee willingly BECAUSE unlimited express pass was included in the price of our stay. SO, if Disney includes "unlimited FP+" in the price of resort stay, I will pay for the parking.

Another issue with hotels at Universal Studios, these hotels are owned by Lowes not US. Disney is in real estate business and it owns all hotels. They cannot just start charing for parking fee without giving something extra. Otherwise they will just drive the business away to nearby hotels.

I definitely think the Universal hotels give more bang for your buck with the unlimited express pass included. Disney's deluxe don't really offer much more than the other level hotels except proximity to the parks.

At some places, I get it. Especially in large metropolitan areas, space is extremely limited, so it makes sense to have to pay to park.

At Disney? Not so much. There is plenty of space for resort guests to park. If they truly had a problem at some of the deluxe resorts, they COULD limit parking to only those guests staying at the resort and force everyone else to use Disney transport.

I guess that’s where my problem is with this. They don’t NEED to charge for parking. It feels to me like they’re just trying to figure out a way to squeeze more $$ out of people.

I feel like charging for parking probably started somewhere like NYC where space is very limited, so it makes sense that parking is such a privilege. But Disney World is huge and spread out and there is ample space so parking isn't much of an issue. I know some of the Deluxes next to the parks have parking issues, but I agree with you that they should make people not staying there pay instead of the actual guests.

 

[mjr0483]

They will do it. And they will get away with it. It will stop very few from staying on property and they know it.

People will just budget it into their trips and that will be $20 less per day they spend on other things. It won’t add to the bottom line. It will just shift money around.

Just bring a couple extra boxes of pop tarts.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I definitely think the Universal hotels give more bang for your buck with the unlimited express pass included.

The unlimited express pass is a huge benefit of staying onsite at Universal. However, you still pay for parking at Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and will pay for parking at Aventura, and none of those offer EP's.

 

[FSU Girl]

The unlimited express pass is a huge benefit of staying onsite at Universal. However, you still pay for parking at Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and will pay for parking at Aventura, and none of those offer EP's.

That's true, but I feel like those hotels feel more upscale than Disney's moderates. They have indoor hallways (with Florida thunderstorms and heat this is pretty awesome) And Sapphire Falls has the boat to the parks. I've never liked that they charge for parking either, but ever since I've been going they have so it was just something to deal with. And I feel with Disney (Where this perk is bundled into the price of the hotel) when they start charging for parking they aren't going to be lowering the room rates at all so it's just going to make the trip more expensive

 

[pattyw]

Will this mean that you can't park at the resorts for dining without paying? Or will they validate? I know from experience the Hard Rock hotel at Universal validates for valet(it costs $5) when eating at their restaurants when you aren't staying there.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

As an AP holder, parking is free at the Parks. If they start charging for parking at the resorts, I'll just park at the parks, use transport to move around property and move it every so often so they know the car hasn't been abandoned and don't have it removed.

 

[BraveLittleToaster2]

It's happening! https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/breaking-...charging-resort-guests-for-overnight-parking/

Only overnight guests will be charged, not day guests coming for restaurant etc...

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

It's happening! https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/breaking-...charging-resort-guests-for-overnight-parking/

Only overnight guests will be charged, not day guests coming for restaurant etc...

It should be the other way around...charge the day guests! I told DH about the "rumor" last night and I can't repeat what he said. We just made a reservation ay AKL on Monday with a military discount. If they charge parking at least give out a fastpass!

 

[HopperFan]

It's happening! https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/breaking-walt-disney-world-will-begin-charging-resort-guests-for-overnight-parking/

Only overnight guests will be charged, not day guests coming for restaurant etc...

IF TRUE ............... just WOW! You know Disney management (aka a merchandise guy so you know, highly qualified to run theme parks and resorts) just doesn't get one of the reasons the Disney resorts are popular is the inclusive feeling you have. THIS is a real negative, and may help push more offsite ... because the Disney resorts are already so overpriced for the rooms you get - things like this should be included.

SO does this mean Magical Express will start having a fee? because that costs them WAY WAY MORE than some asphalt with white lines.

Very glad my next three trips are booked offsite, in much nicer rooms for less money ...... ["security checks" I experienced moved me offsite]

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I always felt like parking was more "included" in the considerable extra you pay to stay on Disney property than "free". This is ridiculous.

 

[larry47591]

IF TRUE ............... just WOW! You know Disney management (aka a merchandise guy so you know, highly qualified to run theme parks and resorts) just doesn't get one of the reasons the Disney resorts are popular is the inclusive feeling you have. THIS is a real negative, and may help push more offsite ... because the Disney resorts are already so overpriced - things like this should be included.

SO does this mean Magical Express will start having a fee? because that costs them WAY WAY MORE than some asphalt with white lines.

Very glad my next three trips are booked offsite, in much nicer rooms for less money ...... ["security checks" I experienced moved me offsite]

I have 4 trips scheduled this year. I have already paid all of them off, but I plan to take four trips a year for the next 3 years as well. My money after this year will be going to someone else if this happens. There are much nicer places to stay for less money. I stay a Disney and pay the premium pricing because I love to be in the bubble, but 1000 extra dollars just to park for the year seems like overkill.

 

[Fsudisney]

Wow. Just wow. I love staying on property but this is truly just a money grab. I see this moving people off property for sure, especially with the Disney partner hotels getting the fast pass and EMH perks.

 

[DisBuckMan]

DVC members staying on points still get free parking at resorts.

 

[Bound and Rebound]

It mentions DVC members staying on points will not be charged, I wonder about AP holders?

Also, for those who didn’t click on that last link, it still says, WDW “...is expected to soon announce...” as the first line of the article. And note the ads/links for the past articles underneath with the same type of headline dated in 2015.

 

[AllieBoo]

Wow, the greed seems to be getting more and more out of control. People who stay on site are already paying a premium for (in most cases) a small, regular old hotel room. Adding parking on top of that is just too much. This may be the deal breaker for us for future stays.

 

[HopperFan]

It mentions DVC members staying on points will not be charged, I wonder about AP holders?

Also, for those who didn’t click on that last link, it still says, WDW “...is expected to soon announce...” as the first line of the article. And note the ads/links for the past articles underneath with the same type of headline dated in 2015.

As an AP holder I don't expect it ... which is sad because we can be some of their baseline regulars. But since we have free theme park parking we don't have to feel that pinch staying offsite.

That website surely has a mole at Disney but they have also announced bad information. Let's hope for the latter. We think people are upset about dogs in hotels ................ this hurts lots. Me thinking about some times of year paying over $200 for a value resort room makes me laugh heartily. I think we are at a point that Disney really has an over-inflated view of itself and what it offers and lack of reality of what is sitting there just outside it's gates.