Actually, I can get mad at Disney. Free parking is one of the things that set Disney apart. I understand the need to charge for parking at DLR...space is at a premium there. That isn't the case in WDW. Absolutely nothing is changing. Room rates are already high, park passes are high. I just booked a last minute stay at Movies, for next week. If I had booked it next week, for the week after, I would be paying $163 a night!! Bad enough that I'm paying $149 for a value room, but to tack on an addtl $13, well, it's nuts.
I've started renting a car while in WDW because my dd lives and works there. I like to be able to visit with her. So, rather than pay $163 a night for a value, I guess I'll be looking at off-site resorts. For that kind of money, I can get a much nicer room. Sure, I'll miss out on EMHs and 60 day FPs. I can live with that. I have an AP, so I park free in the parks....at the moment. Sure, I'll probably pay a resort fee, and possibly a parking fee at an off-site resort. For me? It's the principal. What's next? A resort fee? Everyone seems to be saying that Disney is just catching up with the times, that other places charge for parking, so why shouldn't Disney. But, be careful. These other resorts also have resorts fees and paid shuttles. Is that the next thing to come down the pike??? A daily resort fee? Paid buses? DME with a charge that we can actually see, instead of buried in our room rates?
And to not charge those who are visiting the resorts? That's crazy. I've seen so many people saying that this is in response to those people that abuse the parking in order to get to the parks more quickly or cheaply. But, those aren't the people paying to park now. It's a gratuitous money grab. Parking hasn't been improved, no addtl security has been added. Disney is seeing how much the market will bear. Park entry gets raised, people continue to pay the prices. Sure, they complain but then buy a park hopper and head to WDW. Room rates keep going higher. Again, people complain, and then book their vacations at WDW. Dining has gone up, while quality and choice has diminished...yet, restaurants are full. It's going to be interesting to see what the future holds for costs at WDW. I think that with Toy Story opening this spring, and Star Wars in the pipeline, Disney isn't worried about alienating too many guests. They know that the resorts are going to be at capacity...they know a ton of people are going to be driving in for these new park additions. So, why not charge? It's a no brainer.....they do nothing new, yet rake in the money. Parking remains exactly the same as it is right now, but we get to pay for it. Disney is in danger of losing some of what set it apart.