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

[3Gsandme]

I don't really think the parking cost is that ridiculous. Nearly every major venue or amusement park charges to park. It costs $15 to park at Cedar Point, $25 at Six Flags Great America and we won't even talk about what it costs to park around Wrigley field. FWIW, parking is NOT free for resort guests at Disneyland.

 

[SMD]

It would be faster. It can scan on the move. At the gate it scans in. No need to stop to pick up receipt. Scan on the way out and only unauthorized cars would be stopped and have to pay a fee. The system can time stamped. Then an hourly fee can be charged with the minimum starting at a higher theme park rate.

Have the hotel reservation bar coded. The first time you check in for your stay the reservation syncs with your plate. This would also speed things up after that as you don't have to stop on the way in for the guard to check the permit. You keep on rolling.

It's not faster. The failure rate on those scanners due to no plates, items on the car blocking the plates or the car stopping out of range is 1/2 to 1/3. When the attendant has to manually enter that many plates it doesn't save time.

 

[BelleBee]

I would like if they charged everyone for parking, even onsite guests. They could use the extra revenue to improve the bus system.

How do you believe the bus system can be improved?

 

[MillauFr]

How do you believe the bus system can be improved?

They should come by every 10 minutes for one. Also they need an app where you can see the real time locations of all of the buses.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Off site guests are indeed "legitimate visitors."

Off site guests are NOT "legitimate visitors" to the theme park resorts, unless they are there for "legitimate" reasons...
Sorry...

 

[OZMom]

I think that charging for offsite guests is a good idea. However, as a family that drives to Disney, free parking is a huge perk of staying onsite and one of the reasons it's worth it to pay the extra to do so. I would not be happy if we had to pay extra for parking at the resort we are staying at or the parks. As far as people who don't bring cars to disney paying the same rate, I look at it this way: Sure you don't use the parking lot and pay the same as someone who does, but I don't use magical express at all and very rarely use the bus system, but pay the same as someone who uses them exclusively. To me it's a wash, you're no more subsidizing the people who drive, than the people who drive are subsidizing those who use the busses.

 

[Debbie]

I think it's going to happen, and offsite folks are legitimate,as are people without MB's like myself..... Disney bus transport has always been a part of being at Disney, so I don't think there's a valid way to check onsite visitors at buses,etc. But that's different than parking- a simple timed ticket with a time stamp on it should suffice,as most parking garages use that. I think this will cut down on people visiting a resort just to eat though which will hurt revenue,I assume that's a big source of income for Disney... I wouldn't pay 40 bucks pp to eat at Chef Mickeys and then pay for parking also..... And I personaly prefer parking to be a separate cost vs. 'incorporated' into the hotel cost...so those who don't have a car aren't paying for that.

The first time we visited WDW (1989) we stayed onsite, and had to show our room key every time we got on a bus.

 

[manning]

I don't really think the parking cost is that ridiculous. Nearly every major venue or amusement park charges to park. It costs $15 to park at Cedar Point, $25 at Six Flags Great America and we won't even talk about what it costs to park around Wrigley field. FWIW, parking is NOT free for resort guests at Disneyland.

Yes, but they are not paying for a high price hotel room.

 

[HopperFan]

1) I think it's going to happen, and offsite folks are legitimate,as are people without MB's like myself.....

2) Disney bus transport has always been a part of being at Disney, so I don't think there's a valid way to check onsite visitors at buses,etc.

3) But that's different than parking- a simple timed ticket with a time stamp on it should suffice,as most parking garages use that. I think this will cut down on people visiting a resort just to eat though which will hurt revenue,I assume that's a big source of income for Disney... I wouldn't pay 40 bucks pp to eat at Chef Mickeys and then pay for parking also.....

4) And I personaly prefer parking to be a separate cost vs. 'incorporated' into the hotel cost...so those who don't have a car aren't paying for that.

1) I think most who are referring to non-legitimate, including myself, to mean folks who are not staying at the hotel nor going in to the hotel to spend money eating. Those just going to check out the resort would be borderline. All others whether staying on property at other hotels or off property that park a car, then enter a theme park are not legitimate.

2) Disney bus transport has NOT always been part of the Disney experience for all. Initially only Disney HOTEL guests were permitted to use the buses and had to show their room key in order to get on the bus. One reason for this was to stop those using the DTD to Park buses. Disney transportation then became part of your benefit of having a Disney ticket as well and about the same time the buses from DTD to parks were stopped.

3) Timed ticket is the best option to go for many reasons and the system can be built in a way to allow certain hours free parking for guests checking out the resort/eating QS (say 2 hours), guests with ADRs for dining, cruises, services (say 3 hours) and other than that hefty per hour rates to discourage any long term parking.

4) I could see this working except that I don't think Disney is going to lower hotel prices. It will just be another big charge on top of the existing ones and not be a plus for PR. It would only be a plus if they charge all visitors to enter no matter what their business and unless very high, won't stop those burdening Contemporary or Boardwalk etc.

 

[manning]

It's not faster. The failure rate on those scanners due to no plates, items on the car blocking the plates or the car stopping out of range is 1/2 to 1/3. When the attendant has to manually enter that many plates it doesn't save time.

With these scanners you don't have to stop. This will explain how it works.

One way to overcome blocking is when a car is detected it would be stopped, the driver asked to pay a parking fee at least equal to them park parking & the plate would be entered. Those with ADR can give the guard their name and short id number which will be assigned upon booking. The name number combination is to prevent duplicates. The 3 hour limit will only apply to ADRs. Any blocked plate with an ADR will not have any action taken unless it is over 3 hours

A security vehicle moves up and down the lanes scanning while moving. When a blocked plate is detected the plate can be entered. Then Disney can take appropriate action

The in and out scan would be used for public paid parking

 

[manning]

2) Disney bus transport has NOT always been part of the Disney experience for all. Initially only Disney HOTEL guests were permitted to use the buses and had to show their room key in order to get on the bus. One reason for this was to stop those using the DTD to Park buses. Disney transportation then became part of your benefit of having a Disney ticket as well and about the same time the buses from DTD to parks were stopped.

This can be done again. Have a hotel code and dates added to the magic band. With portable scanner the driver can stand by the door with it and deny entry to those who are not authorized to ride. You can eliminate the finger print id on this part.

This would be a great way to justify the high rack rates. Only the guests ride.

 

[gopher101]

I would think paid parking could work. If you stay onsite, when they send you your magic bands, they send you a ticket to place in the window.

Otherwise you pay a fee. You would be able to get a refund if you so receipt from dinner, or shop in store (totaling an amount more than parking costs), or stay less than 30 minutes. You also limit the number of these spots. If the resort runs out, sorry the rest are reserved for guests of the hotels.

That way it doesn't punish anyone who wants to use resorts for legitimate reasons, and it makes sure that guests who are staying in the hotel have room to park.

 

[BelleBee]

They should come by every 10 minutes for one. Also they need an app where you can see the real time locations of all of the buses.

So you think Disney should double their bus fleet so your wait is five minutes less?

 

[HopperFan]

This can be done again. Have a hotel code and dates added to the magic band. With portable scanner the driver can stand by the door with it and deny entry to those who are not authorized to ride. You can eliminate the finger print id on this part.

This would be a great way to justify the high rack rates. Only the guests ride.

Will never happen. It has to be provided for park hopping and resort dining.

 

[manning]

Will never happen. It has to be provided for park hopping and resort dining.

Will never happen. It has to be provided for park hopping and resort dining.

Non guests who want to use the buses would be required to purchase a pass (like the old key cards. every member of the party will get one limited to number in party) to ride the bus but they will have to pay the theme parking price. Then they can park hop all they want for the day. This pass would have the travel restrictions as is today. They would have to go to Disney Springs to go to another park or resort.

 

[GusGus77]

I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. We will be staying offsite for the first time in February and on,y doing MK one day. We were hoping to take advantage of "free" things like checking out animal kingdom lodge and going to the Chip and Dale campfire sing along. We were also thinking of doing one on-site character meal. There is no way we will do those things if we have to pay to park at the resorts.

 

[MillauFr]

So you think Disney should double their bus fleet so your wait is five minutes less?

That is the minimum level of service I am used to. The buses come by within a block of my house every 5 to 10 minutes from 6am to midnight, 7 days a week. There are multiple smart phone apps that give the real time location of all of the buses here in Seattle. I can call up the app so I know when to walk out the front door of my house or office so I only have to wait 2 or 3 minutes at the bus stop. The City is installing bus only lanes on many of the arterial streets so they do not get stuck in traffic as well. They are also rolling out free wifi on many of the buses here as well. There is no reason Disney can't do many of these things as well.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

That is the minimum level of service I am used to. The buses come by within a block of my house every 5 to 10 minutes from 6am to midnight, 7 days a week. There are multiple smart phone apps that give the real time location of all of the buses here in Seattle. I can call up the app so I know when to walk out the front door of my house or office so I only have to wait 2 or 3 minutes at the bus stop. The City is installing bus only lanes on many of the arterial streets so they do not get stuck in traffic as well. They are also rolling out free wifi on many of the buses here as well. There is no reason Disney can't do many of these things as well.

Seattle is a great city, no doubt!
However, why on earth would Disney go to that extreme?!? You're on vacation, not getting to work, lol... They are putting up the new computerized boards so you have an idea about the time of wait. That will alleviate some of the angst.
The only way Disney will change their way of doing things is when it hits them in their very deep pockets...
People are going to continue to vacation there, those that can afford to will either stay at a deluxe for the convenience of the transportation, or rent a car to alleviate some wait times.
But, I totally agree with charging non resort guests (who are trying to save parking fees) the same fee as at the theme parks. If they have an adr, then by all means give them free parking for a 3 hour limit.
It's eventually going to happen, the loophole is closing!

 

[Marionnette]

That is the minimum level of service I am used to. The buses come by within a block of my house every 5 to 10 minutes from 6am to midnight, 7 days a week. There are multiple smart phone apps that give the real time location of all of the buses here in Seattle. I can call up the app so I know when to walk out the front door of my house or office so I only have to wait 2 or 3 minutes at the bus stop. The City is installing bus only lanes on many of the arterial streets so they do not get stuck in traffic as well. They are also rolling out free wifi on many of the buses here as well. There is no reason Disney can't do many of these things as well.

I think that it's ridiculous to expect Disney (a for-profit company) to supply you with the type of bus service that you claim is provided by a not-for-profit mass transit entity that is subsidized by both state and federal tax money. It makes no financial sense to run buses every 5-10 minutes during non-peak times to satisfy what you deem to be a "minimal level of service".

 

[HopperFan]

Non guests who want to use the buses would be required to purchase a pass (like the old key cards. every member of the party will get one limited to number in party) to ride the bus but they will have to pay the theme parking price. Then they can park hop all they want for the day. This pass would have the travel restrictions as is today. They would have to go to Disney Springs to go to another park or resort.

Why in the world would Disney do all this work, alienate all those that have been following the "rules" by parking in theme park lots, essentially raise the price of tickets to offsite guests only - when all they have to do is gain control of the resort lots. And this can be done quite easily. IF you are parking there for legitimate reasons, none of this is even a worry. Those offsite using the buses for the purposes that they are meant for them are not burdening the system - they tend to hop parks and no matter what time of day they are doing it, it does not really impact resort buses. This is really an apples and oranges situation.

I think that it's ridiculous to expect Disney (a for-profit company) to supply you with the type of bus service that you claim is provided by a not-for-profit mass transit entity that is subsidized by both state and federal tax money. It makes no financial sense to run buses every 5-10 minutes during non-peak times to satisfy what you deem to be a "minimal level of service".

Exactly!! If the bus system is so unacceptable to one's time schedule, get in a car and drive to wherever. You'll be there in minutes.

ALL systems are open to improvement and no system is perfect and won't have glitches. Bus costs have to be built in somewhere at Disney since they aren't sucking government tax dollars to subsidize it so to virtually double the fleet ..... you will pay dearly in hotel rates. And honestly, most those added perks are unnecessary to a great vacation.

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As I have said before, if Disney has money to spend - I want it in the parks building attractions and expanding, not addressing the desires of a few guests.