Disney to Begin Charging to Park at Resorts if You're an Offsite Guest

[Marionnette]

It appears to be in the testing phase and there will probably be exceptions (like TiW card holders dining at the resort or those attending special events). But according to a well-regarded blog that I have in my FB news feed, this testing phase could be more about nailing down procedure and not about whether Disney will implement the new plan. In what may be a related development, plans have been submitted to refurb several resort guard stations and it's been speculated that the upgrades will include a method for charging non-resort guests when they enter and then make a refund when they exit if they leave before a certain time limit has expired or if they have a parking validation ticket.

I, for one, would welcome the change at BW, YC & BC. It's frustrating to pay for lodging at these resorts and then not be able to find a place to park your car. It's a chronic problem due to numerous offsite guests who take up spaces because they're "just coming in for a look around" but end up parking all day or evening while they visit Epcot. On a recent stay at YC during F&W, I had to park in an overflow lot most evenings and then get a ride to/from my car in a golf cart. This was more often the rule than it was an exception.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Interesting. That would be nice if they refund if you leave before a certain time, because I know when DH and I were in Orlando about a year ago we drove over to check out AKL before deciding if we wanted to stay there. We were only there about 30 minutes, so obviously not abusing the privilege, but I can definitely see how some would. Particularly with the Poly and other monorail resorts.

 

[eliza61]

I'm not surprised at all by this change and think it came about to close that little loophole. I know many offsite folks who park at OKW and then simply use disney transportation for the day. Wilderness lodge is another resort. folks simply say they are eating at Artist point or whispering canyon then take the boat over to the MK.

 

[supersnoop]

Interesting. That would be nice if they refund if you leave before a certain time, because I know when DH and I were in Orlando about a year ago we drove over to check out AKL before deciding if we wanted to stay there. We were only there about 30 minutes, so obviously not abusing the privilege, but I can definitely see how some would. Particularly with the Poly and other monorail resorts.

I wonder if it they'll make it like the Tables in Wonderland theme park parking benefit. You pay up front, but get a refund with a restaurant receipt if it's been less than 3 hours.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Wonder when they will start charging for parking at Disney Springs?

 

[Marionnette]

Wonder when they will start charging for parking at Disney Springs?

Probably when people who want to avoid the theme park parking fee start filling the parking garage to the point where guests who want to shop at Disney Springs cannot find a parking space.

 

[Colleen27]

I hope that'll have the benefit of making it easier for on-site guests to drive to other resorts. I've heard from friends that driving over to eat/drink at Trader Sam's is a real pain because they won't allow parking at the Poly without an ADR. Maybe with this in place there won't be a need for that sort of crackdown and it'll get easier for legitimate visitors to the theme park area resorts.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Probably when people who want to avoid the theme park parking fee start filling the parking garage to the point where guests who want to shop at Disney Springs cannot find a parking space.

And you know that will eventually happen.

 

[supersnoop]

And you know that will eventually happen.

It already happens. But it takes at least 90 minutes to get to a park, so it's not a very smart thing to do. Taking away 3 hours of park time just to avoid the parking fee is beyond what I'd consider frugal.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I think it's beyond time for them to do something about off-site guests abusing the free parking at the resorts. I'm glad to see them take some step to rectify the situation. As long as on-site guests continue to park for free!

 

[jiminy14]

We are DVC members at BWV and BLT which are two of the worst resorts for parking. Parking at BLT has become such a problem in that there are more cars parked in the lot without BLT parking passes than there are with. When my family and I return from MK, we make a game of counting how any cars do not have parking passes in the window.

 

[disneychrista]

I am surprised they didn't already.

 

[wendow]

We always stay onsite and never have a car, but I would be so frustrated if I could not park my car at the monorail or Epcot resort I was paying big bucks to stay at b/c freeloaders were taking up the spaces. I think this is a good move on Disney's part.

 

[Duchie]

I know a lot of hotels in other cities charge a daily "resort" fee that can easily be $25 or more. These are fees charged to guests at the hotel to cover stuff like parking and internet. I wonder if Disney will start doing this as well. I sure hope not, but it's possible.

 

[Iowajes]

Most hotels I stay at (non-Disney) have parking fees. Visitors pay them, sometimes they are waived with your room fee other times guests pay them too. It makes sense that Disney would do this.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I do hope they allow for some short-term parking for free as mentioned above. I can think of two recent visits that I would have avoided if I had to pay to park.

• Our friends took us to watch the fireworks from the Bay Lake Tower bridge and then we had ice cream at the Contempo Cafe. The next time we were in town we returned to the Contempo for a full lunch, since we were familiar with the layout/menu.
• Another time, we toured the grounds of the Art of Animation. Because of that we booked there for next year.

So both of my short-term, free-parking visits resulted in sales for Disney.

I do understand the headaches of guests who can't park because of non-guests so hopefully the time limit visit will still be an option.

 

[dclpluto]

It's about time. I haven't rented a car for a while thanks to magical express but when I did and stayed at Boardwalk it was hard to find a parking spot you had to park in the distant parking spot.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We are DVC members at BWV and BLT which are two of the worst resorts for parking. Parking at BLT has become such a problem in that there are more cars parked in the lot without BLT parking passes than there are with. When my family and I return from MK, we make a game of counting how any cars do not have parking passes in the window.

Many resorts no longer issue the paper parking pass, though? They just scan Magic bands of people entering to park.

 

[ValpoCory]

I do hope they allow for some short-term parking for free as mentioned above. I can think of two recent visits that I would have avoided if I had to pay to park.

• Our friends took us to watch the fireworks from the Bay Lake Tower bridge and then we had ice cream at the Contempo Cafe. The next time we were in town we returned to the Contempo for a full lunch, since we were familiar with the layout/menu.
• Another time, we toured the grounds of the Art of Animation. Because of that we booked there for next year.

So both of my short-term, free-parking visits resulted in sales for Disney.

I do understand the headaches of guests who can't park because of non-guests so hopefully the time limit visit will still be an option.

Great points. The folks that are abusing the system have ruined it for the folks like you who are doing it right. And guess what, those same people will just make fake ADRs to still park for free and then after they park, they'll call Disney Dining to say they "got sick" and avoid the ADR cancellation fee. Meanwhile, good folks like you won't do that, so guess who this policy is truly hurting.

 

[pigletto]

I am happy to see this change TBH. It was abused way too often. Even on these boards it was so often a suggestion to park at the Contemporary and walk to MK or similar. It is breathtakingly expensive to stay at the deluxes. It's not worth it to me anymore, but I certainly don't think I'm entitled to onsite perks when not staying there.
We were die-hard onsite folks for many years, and have moved mostly offsite now. I add the cost of parking into my per night cost when budgeting accommodations for our trips.
Entitled people will find another loophole.. they always do.