"Free" Parking - Anyone Ever Do This?

[Rip]

Yeah, but the problem with the sharks is there will be a lot of red tape to get them from now on. Going forward, how do you feel about mutated sea bass?

That depends, are they ill-tempered?

 

[Rip]

I've heard of it before. Either because it's inconvenient, or because most people see it as being dishonest, it hasn't been inundated to the point of policed... yet.

It's inconvenient, it's not dishonest (really, parking fees are like, what, one drink in Epcot? I ain't walking an extra 20 minutes for one less margarita).

 

[Christiekate]

Yep. Got it covered.

Only I'm interested in helping the person who paid for an expensive resort have a parking space in their own resort parking lot...... as opposed to helping someone not staying there find a way to take said spot.

I see your point. I really do. But the original article mentions a half empty parking lot so I don't see how this applies in this case. However, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, just stating my opinion and hope for a more cooperative, less paranoid society. In my mind, I live in a happy, happy place where we all just get along. Somewhere, like...Disney!

 

[cm8]

Are we related or something? Seems like I'm always agreeing with you.

You can't be a real DIS'ER if that is the case, you know we only contradict each other and If I'm right, YOU'RE wrong and we all know that I'm right

, Just kidding

I have to admit that what they suggested is news to me and the thought never crossed my mind.

I have heard about the other one that was/is dubbed the best kept secret for the "locals" and that one I won't post

 

[mcd2745]

That depends, are they ill-tempered?

Oh, absolutely.

 

[mesaboy2]

You can't be a real DIS'ER if that is the case, you know we only contradict each other and If I'm right, YOU'RE wrong and we all know that I'm right

I disagree. Am I a real DIS'Ear now?

 

[tiffsix]

We always stay on-site and normally have a car and do drive to the parks. There has been times where I came back to our resort and had to park a mile away and walk. But who cares?!?!?!

The whole parking thing just doesn't bother me, it's not worth getting upset about on my vacation. And like many previous posters said...just let it roll off your back.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

 

[WDSearcher]

Believe me I know! WDSearcher is this true? Have you ever been challenged to RSB?

I have not. But then, being female, I am at somewhat of a disadvantage. (Or an advantage ... depending on your POV.)

 

[GoofyJr]

Okay, so you wanna park for free!

Maybe by the time I visit - I'll be thinking about this more.

Who knows, by that time, for $14.00, that will barely get you a gallon of gas!

But I need to pay - to park my avatar-car....

 

[WDSearcher]

Another thanks to Micheal Eisner, and ALL he did for the Disney Corp.

Actually, it was Walt and Roy who instituted the parking fee to begin with. Mostly because they wanted to keep non-Disney guests from parking in the Disneyland parking lots. Roy realized there was revenue to be made; Walt wanted to keep the locals from parking in the nice safe DL lots while doing business elsewhere. And he wanted to keep the lots available for DL patrons.

Once Disney World opened in Florida (still under Roy's watch), a small fee was charged to help defray costs. It was actually Don Tatum and Card Walker who were responsible for the first big parking fee "jump" back in the late 1970s as a way to increase revenue when the parks went through their first slump and they were trying to pay off cost overruns from opening.

And PS. If Eisner and Wells hadn't come along, Disney would have likely been taken over in 1984 by Saul Steinberg, who had launched a hostile takeover bid for Walt Disney Productions, with the intent of selling off its various assets. You can grouse all you want about what Eisner did after Wells died and he was running the place by himself, but if you're going to sneer about ALL he did for the Disney Corp, then you also have to give him credit for saving it.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Actually, it was Walt and Roy who instituted the parking fee to begin with. Mostly because they wanted to keep non-Disney guests from parking in the Disneyland parking lots. Roy realized there was revenue to be made; Walt wanted to keep the locals from parking in the nice safe DL lots while doing business elsewhere. And he wanted to keep the lots available for DL patrons.

Once Disney World opened in Florida (still under Roy's watch), a small fee was charged to help defray costs. It was actually Don Tatum and Card Walker who were responsible for the first big parking fee "jump" back in the late 1970s as a way to increase revenue when the parks went through their first slump and they were trying to pay off cost overruns from opening.

And PS. If Eisner and Wells hadn't come along, Disney would have likely been taken over in 1984 by Saul Steinberg, who had launched a hostile takeover bid for Walt Disney Productions, with the intent of selling off its various assets. You can grouse all you want about what Eisner did after Wells died and he was running the place by himself, but if you're going to sneer about ALL he did for the Disney Corp, then you also have to give him credit for saving it.

Makes sense to me. The place was in trouble when he took over. It seemed to eventually go to his head, but without him the place might not have survived as we know it.

I remember when parking at dl was $2 and the tickets were $13.

 

[cm8]

I disagree. Am I a real DIS'Ear now?

You have hereby been dubbed an official DIS'er
(this honor can not be traded, transferred, or willed to anyone other then whom it was dubbed to)


This certification can be revoked, canceled and banned at at time as the powers the be see fit

Signed, dated, and duly noted by: CM8( who has no authority to do so)

 

[MonoManBlue]

??? Yes, it's just $14 per vehicle not per person! Maybe you are a big group and have 2-3 cars but no one is saving $100 on parking by doing this. Throw your spare change in a jar for a few months and you'll easily have the money to park.

really? I mean really??? REALLY??????????????? This comment is worse than "when is the 3 o' clock parade"

Here's your zip-a-dee-doo-dah tip for today, they will be attending the parks MORE than one day.

 

[stargazertechie]

really? I mean really??? REALLY??????????????? This comment is worse than "when is the 3 o' clock parade"

Here's your zip-a-dee-doo-dah tip for today, they will be attending the parks MORE than one day.

Exactly. We are annual passholders, and we saved $154 on parking on our last trip since passholders get free parking.

So yes, this could save the OP quite a bit of money.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Exactly. We are annual passholders, and we saved $154 on parking on our last trip since passholders get free parking.

So yes, this could save the OP quite a bit of money.

And if you're a DVC member, you save $100 per person on your APs. If there are four of you, there's $400 saved (plus the $154). (Bonus points if you add the cost of the refillable mugs from last trip).

 

[Teacher03]

Really, I see no issue. There is nothing that says people cannot park there. Given the people utilizing this spot will most likely be staying off site, and parking is a cost that adds up quickly. Disney is very expensive, and many people do have budgets. This could be the equivalent to a couple souvenirs for their kids.

I agree. Some people have to save for years for a once in a lifetime trip to Disney and need to cut corners any way they can. Last time we went to Boardwalk (early June), we parked in the parking lot the OP was talking about, and there were many spaces available. And I have to admit, we did walk over to Epcot for about an hour, even though that wasn't part of our original plan. (Our original plan was to rent a bike and ride around the Boardwalk, but the all the bikes were rented out.)

 

[melbiel]

A travel article that I came across this afternoon offered the following advice for avoiding the theme parks' $14 parking fee:

"Our all-time favorite spot is an unmarked overflow lot across the street from the BoardWalk Inn. Next to a Hess gas station, the lot is almost always half-empty and is a 10-minute walk to the resort."

The author then observes that you can walk to EPCOT from BoardWalk, or take a boat to DHS, or take a WDW bus to other destinations. See http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41464600 for the full piece.

Has anyone here ever done this? I wasn't aware that any resorts had "overflow" lots, and in any case the resorts generally have security gates controlling access to the parking lot.

Once again, the OP's question has been entirely twisted out of context, as my question was last week. In no way did the OP say that she was looking to cheat the system...she simply asked whether anyone has ever done this. Did some of you even read the original question before you jumped on the DIS morality bandwagon?

It's just odd how if someone asks a simple question, they are then inundated with replies about how they are cheap and trying to cheat the system. My personal favorite is that someone seriously compared Disney parking to murdering someone - well, that's not weird at all! It's almost as if by asking a question regarding free parking, a personal insult has been made against some people on these boards, which is, honestly, very strange.

I will say that it is refreshing to see that in this economy, so many people can afford whatever they want, such as pricey Disney vacations with no expense spared, but yes, there are MANY people who would like to save the $14 a day for parking, particularly if they are visiting parks for 7 days. For those people who are math-deficient and saying free parking is negligible, this amounts at a $98 savings. Again, it is nice to know that money is no object to many people on these boards, but the reality is that this is not the case for lots of people. This does not, however, mean that they should not be able to go to Disney - it just means they have to do it on a budget.

But my favorite part about all the irate responses to the OP is this....I in no way see how someone parking in an overflow lot would affect people staying at a Disnet resort. Aren't you the same people who are griping about having to park in a distant spot (presumably halfway across the modern world) at a resort and then have to WALK a great distance back to the resort, all because of the wicked people who park in a resort and take a monorail to the park? If so, I find it in impossibility that these same people would ever be parking in a lot by the Boardwalk Inn, so basically...what do you care????

In any case, to the OP, it sounds like you can do this. It might be a bit of a time waster, but if money is very tight, it might be a feasible option. Also, I would take the responses you get on here with a grain of salt. I think most people use these boards to plan a trip, but there are some apparently fanatical people on here who include these boards as part of their everyday life.

Have a nice trip!

 

[Wadecool]

And if you're a DVC member, you save $100 per person on your APs. If there are four of you, there's $400 saved (plus the $154). (Bonus points if you add the cost of the refillable mugs from last trip).

I'd be careful bragging about reusing those refillable mugs. There's been talk of adding that offense to the death by trident punishment.

 

[d1gitman]

really? I mean really??? REALLY??????????????? This comment is worse than "when is the 3 o' clock parade"

Here's your zip-a-dee-doo-dah tip for today, they will be attending the parks MORE than one day.

soooo...when is the 3 o'clock parade?