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

[disneysteve]

Unless you restrict parking to resort guests only, you're never going to completely eliminate the problem. The more you try, the more you turn off guests who aren't abusing the system (which is most people). Even if you charge a fee, there will always be people willing to pay that fee for the convenience. So Disney will make more money but the parking lot will be just as full and you won't have solved anything. Plus you'll have turned away all of the guests who wanted to come eat, shop, or just visit a resort who aren't willing to pay $20 or more to do so.

 

[supersnoop]

And here is the issue with validation....

The parking fee at the parks is $20 - no validation. You pay (unless you have a perk).

A family is likely to need to eat or buy souvenirs anyway. "Why don't we pop into Epcot to see Illuminations, and swing by the resort store at the Boardwalk to get a WDW Sweatshirt on the way out? Then they will validate our parking - and we were going to buy the sweatshirt anyway."

At my old office, we had "30 minute" validation stickers. Maybe a gift shop will validate for 30 minutes worth of parking, a quick-service could do an hour, and a table-service would do two hours. If you're over that, you pay the difference.

 

[disneysteve]

At my old office, we had "30 minute" validation stickers. Maybe a gift shop will validate for 30 minutes worth of parking, a quick-service could do an hour, and a table-service would do two hours. If you're over that, you pay the difference.

I like that idea as long as it is also combined with some initial free period for all. Sometimes we just want to visit a resort, see something new, visit a friend, etc. There shouldn't be a charge for that as long as you aren't there for an extended period of time.

 

[supersnoop]

I like that idea as long as it is also combined with some initial free period for all. Sometimes we just want to visit a resort, see something new, visit a friend, etc. There shouldn't be a charge for that as long as you aren't there for an extended period of time.

Why shouldn't there be a charge for taking up a parking space when you aren't buying something? If they're going to implement a parking charge, I don't see any reason they'd have a free period.

 

[disneysteve]

Why shouldn't there be a charge for taking up a parking space when you aren't buying something?

I travel enough to know that hotels charge for parking in many places, even in Orlando. Gaylord Palms charges. Marriott World Center charges. I'm sure there are others. Or NYC or Boston or DC. But those are different than Disney in my mind. Disney hotels are part of the overall vacation experience regardless of where you are staying. There are things at each hotel that you can't get or see anywhere else on property. I just don't feel you should have to pay to show your kid the monorail running through the Contemporary or get the pressed penny that is only available at Grand Floridian or see the beautiful decor at Art of Animation. As long as you don't overstay your welcome, I think that should be complimentary.

 

[crisi]

Unless you restrict parking to resort guests only, you're never going to completely eliminate the problem. The more you try, the more you turn off guests who aren't abusing the system (which is most people). Even if you charge a fee, there will always be people willing to pay that fee for the convenience. So Disney will make more money but the parking lot will be just as full and you won't have solved anything. Plus you'll have turned away all of the guests who wanted to come eat, shop, or just visit a resort who aren't willing to pay $20 or more to do so.

That would be my choice - resort guests only for free - onsite guests of a different resort with a magic-band validated, everyone else has a non-validated $25 charge. More than the parks.

I don't think Disney NEEDS to drive business to the resort restaurants and shops - and a lot of the people who do want to visit can use Disney transportation if they are so motivated to go to Beaches and Cream. IMHO, there are two issues - there isn't an adequate supply of parking, and there really isn't an adequate supply of tables for dining. This addresses both of those issues, and helps to encourage people to book on-site, which is the best motivation for Disney as a business. CityWalk has no issue filling their restaurants - and they charge EVERYONE for parking.

 

[disneysteve]

I asked this earlier but nobody commented. What about AP holders who don't pay for parking at the parks? Are they getting free parking at the resorts in this test?

 

[crisi]

I asked this earlier but nobody commented. What about AP holders who don't pay for parking at the parks? Are they getting free parking at the resorts in this test?

I don't know if we know yet. Per their usual communication on a beta like this, we don't have much information - and as a test, who pays and who doesn't might change overnight as they tweak.

 

[supersnoop]

I travel enough to know that hotels charge for parking in many places, even in Orlando. Gaylord Palms charges. Marriott World Center charges. I'm sure there are others. Or NYC or Boston or DC. But those are different than Disney in my mind. Disney hotels are part of the overall vacation experience regardless of where you are staying. There are things at each hotel that you can't get or see anywhere else on property. I just don't feel you should have to pay to show your kid the monorail running through the Contemporary or get the pressed penny that is only available at Grand Floridian or see the beautiful decor at Art of Animation. As long as you don't overstay your welcome, I think that should be complimentary.

We're going to have to disagree. You get the benefit of seeing the resort by staying there. It's part of your vacation experience based on where you pay to sleep. If you're paying to eat there, you get to visit as a temporary benefit. If you aren't sleeping or eating there, it seems reasonable to at least charge for parking. There are alternatives to get there; it's not like they're charging admission to the hotel. But a parking fee seems more than reasonable if you aren't there for any other reason.

 

[seashoreCM]

The resort parking lots need to either be expanded or managed so guests staying at the resort are not inconvenienced by having to drive around and around and/or wait for a space. This is a big fish that needs frying. This is another example where it is necessary to choose between using capital (infrastructure expansion) or labor (management) to solve a real problem.

 

[manning]

I wonder if they are thinking of parking lots like those at Disney Spring.

 

[manning]

Technologically, not a problem. But doing it requires an investment in time and resources. Is this something Disney wants their IT group to prioritize? Is this something they want to spend labor and equipment dollars on at all?

Honestly, far easier and cheaper to have people use their Magic Bands to see if you are onsite or offsite. If you are offsite - or don't have your Magic Band, swipe your credit card and charge you a flat fee on entry. Don't bother with validation logic for purchases and equipment that needs to manage time at the exit.

IMHO, Disney IT has bigger fish to fry.

It would be faster to have the cards on the way out IF they decide to have hourly parking.

 

[manning]

In order to inhibit parking at resorts while going to the parks, the resort parking fee has to be greater than the park parking fee.

Maybe double.

 

[crisi]

I wonder if they are thinking of parking lots like those at Disney Spring.

Ramps? They are REALLY expensive to build and would really impact the theming of a resort like BWVs. I can't see them putting in expensive ramps unless - like at the Springs - the tenants are going to be paying for it in rent. At the resorts, there aren't sufficient tenants to pay for ramps.

 

[crisi]

It would be faster to have the cards on the way out IF they decide to have hourly parking.

They'd still need to have something that registers time in and something that registers time out - which means scanning in each direction - if they are going to offer anything with an hourly component. Which means double the equipment cost over not putting in a feature for hourly parking. A day rate (who is going to park their overnight that isn't a hotel guest), would lower the implementation costs - but wouldn't permit validation. (I'm not imagine them staffing long term with a cashier - though I suspect they'll keep a guard - mostly for show).

 

[TwoMisfits]

If they put this charge in, parking in Disney Springs and getting buses back and forth to the resorts will be impossible...and there's no way Disney will charge for Disney Springs parking when so much is riding on making sure that location is packed every night...and yet, if parking there becomes an issue, they will have shot themselves thoroughly in the foot.

Because really, who will pay $20 to eat at an overpriced resort restaurant instead of just finding the next free Disney Springs parking spot and taking a resort bus there...you solve one problem to create a dual 2nd problem (now no DS parking AND overflowing resort buses which have longer guest waits) that costs you even more money. Short-sighted money grab with long ranging consequences...you can't change the way people behave, not really, and some people will always work the system to the detriment of many...

 

[supersnoop]

It would be faster to have the cards on the way out IF they decide to have hourly parking.

But security wants to evaluate you on the way in.

 

[manning]

Technologically, not a problem. But doing it requires an investment in time and resources. Is this something Disney wants their IT group to prioritize? Is this something they want to spend labor and equipment dollars on at all?

Honestly, far easier and cheaper to have people use their Magic Bands to see if you are onsite or offsite. If you are offsite - or don't have your Magic Band, swipe your credit card and charge you a flat fee on entry. Don't bother with validation logic for purchases and equipment that needs to manage time at the exit.

IMHO, Disney IT has bigger fish to fry.

But security wants to evaluate you on the way in.

What I meant to say they clock in with a ticket then do the collecting on the way out. This would be important if an hourly charge is involved. Saves having to give a refund if a free parking period is in place.

 

[crisi]

If they put this charge in, parking in Disney Springs and getting buses back and forth to the resorts will be impossible...and there's no way Disney will charge for Disney Springs parking when so much is riding on making sure that location is packed every night...and yet, if parking there becomes an issue, they will have shot themselves thoroughly in the foot.

Because really, who will pay $20 to eat at an overpriced resort restaurant instead of just finding the next free Disney Springs parking spot and taking a resort bus there...you solve one problem to create a dual 2nd problem (now no DS parking AND overflowing resort buses which have longer guest waits) that costs you even more money. Short-sighted money grab with long ranging consequences...you can't change the way people behave, not really, and some people will always work the system to the detriment of many...

CityWalk is packed every night and charges for parking. Just for a reality check - Universal has been able to make the concept work and charge for parking in the same market catering to many of the same tourists.

 

[TwoMisfits]

CityWalk is packed every night and charges for parking. Just for a reality check - Universal has been able to make the concept work and charge for parking in the same market catering to many of the same tourists.

Not quite - Florida Residents Free after 6:00 pm with proof of residency at Citywalk Garage...and it's obviously also free for all of their AP holders (which Universal makes highly attractive to have based on their pricing structure).

This means that no one usually going only for Citywalk is paying for parking. If you're stopping by, you are usually a Florida resident or an AP. If you are on a single or double day ticket, you probably were in the park that day and staying to hit Citywalk at night.