I have had it with SSR and the busses full of people just going to DTD!

[Nanajo1]

If they charge for parking at DTD they should validate for a certain length of time or proof of purchase and provide busses to the parks. To avoid someone buying a candy bar to get validation set a minimum amt.

 

[dwelty]

you are suggesting people are going to the theme parks (for DTD) and in some cases paying to park to avoid free parking at DTD (although it is a mess) when the issue is people already at the parks in the afternoon and evening just looking for a way there. Disney Springs will bring more people to it and they will look for a bus ride there and if they are being told SSR or they know it's the most direct route then even more than now will take it and it'll become and even bigger mess than it is now. We have been coming to SSR for several years now and each time it is worse than the previous

Actually I am not suggesting that. I am saying that once parking is such an issue due to construction that guests are looking for alternatives to driving and parking at Downtown Disney, and in many cases are being told not todrivebuttotake a bus. One all of the construction is finished driving will again become a viable option.

 

[dcibrando]

Actually I am not suggesting that. I am saying that once parking is such an issue due to construction that guests are looking for alternatives to driving and parking at Downtown Disney, and in many cases are being told not todrivebuttotake a bus. One all of the construction is finished driving will again become a viable option.

the people I witnessed a lot were those coming from the theme parks mid day or evening (some at night) to go to DTD.

Most didn't seem to know what they were doing so I doubt some parked at DTD for free or even parked somewhere else first knowing that parking at DTD was even bad - they didn't see to have a clue other than to know or be told SSR busses = DTD

 

[Tinkerdreams]

If they charge for parking at DTD they should validate for a certain length of time or proof of purchase and provide busses to the parks. To avoid someone buying a candy bar to get validation set a minimum amt.

I think they should actually have a time limit. Something like first 3 hours free, after that you get charged for parking.

 

[dvc_john]

I think they should actually have a time limit. Something like first 3 hours free, after that you get charged for parking.

At Disneyland in California:

Theme park parking: $17

DTD parking: 3 hours free, additional 2 hours free with validation from table service restaurant or movie theater, after that $6 per hour in 20 minute increments, max $30

 

[Tinkerdreams]

At Disneyland in California:

Theme park parking: $17

DTD parking: 3 hours free, additional 2 hours free with validation from table service restaurant or movie theater, after that $6 per hour in 20 minute increments, max $30

Excellent approach!! I hope WDW adopts the same.

 

[tjkraz]

DVC recently increased BLT MF because more DVCers were using the Contemporary resort amenities, so DVC members have to pay a bigger share of the Contemporary operational costs.

That's a different issue. BLT dues adjustment had to do with numbers of Contemporary hotel guests vs BLT DVC guests. The general public did not figure into it.

Now, if more people staying outside use the SSR transportation system, SSR MF should be lowered to compensate.

Question is: Do SSR owner dues actually fund 100% of its transportation costs? It's entirely possible that Disney already IS funding a portion of transpiration expenses. If so, this is a non-issue.

Paid parking at DTD could not fix the problem: people who paid for parking at a park will not want to pay again for parking at DTD, so they might take the SSR bus to go there and another one to go back to the park and take the car!

If you pay for parking at any WDW venue, it's good resort-wide for the remainder of the day. There's nothing to suggest Disney would try to charge people twice.

The primary allegation here is that people are parking for free at DTD then walking to SSR to catch a bus. In that scenario, seems obvious that charging for DTD parking would dramatically reduce--if not eliminate--the problem.

The only solution would be to check MB for people staying at SSR, a dining reservation or a DVC member staying on points (for pool hopping). No one else should be allowed.

That will never happen. Disney operates more than 20 hotels and in no cases do they restrict access to guests only. SSR will not be the exception.

 

[Andrew015]

The primary allegation here is that people are parking for free at DTD then walking to SSR to catch a bus. In that scenario, seems obvious that charging for DTD parking would dramatically reduce--if not eliminate--the problem.

Agreed 100%

 

[Tink220]

Seems like a lot of traveling to save 20 bucks

 

[supersnoop]

You also have to consider the scenario that some resort guests are traveling to Downtown Disney for a meal without stopping at their resort first. Parking charges wouldn't affect that part of the problem.

 

[dcibrando]

Again...I do not think this is the case of people parking at DTD to save money and riding the SSR busses - I know there is some of that but I don't think this is the majority of the problem I have experienced

From what i have witnessed are people possibly who are staying on property even and maybe have even taken a Disney bus from their resort to the parks just looking for a way to DTD in the mid to late afternoon evening or nights from the parks and since there is no bus direct for that they either know that SSR is right across from it and hop on there or ask and are being told to ride the SSR bus

What they don't know is that SSR has 5 bus stops and the first stop (Grandstand) is the furthest away from DTD and I saw many getting of there but then immediately were lost and didn't know where to go or would ask people on the bus ride to SSR how to get to DTD if people parked at DTD to save on parking and hopped on a bus at SSR at the closest bus stop (Congress Park) then most likely they would have known that was the stop to get back off at ...and this is not what I was and have been seeing over the years

The problem is mainly no bus service from the parks to DTD and when people want to go they think SSR and walk or are being told to ride the SSR busses

 

[tjkraz]

Seems like a lot of traveling to save 20 bucks

Clearly you've never met my father-in-law.

 

[Andrew015]

Again...I do not think this is the case of people parking at DTD to save money and riding the SSR busses - I know there is some of that but I don't think this is the majority of the problem I have experienced

I know it's an issue, too, and I think it's a bigger one than you are giving credit to, and it will only get worse, not better. Disney is pouring millions and millions into Disney Springs with the sole purpose of attracting significantly more guests to the shopping area. They are quadrupling parking capacity and making the area directly accessible to I4 with a new interchange. This means more locals who know the in's and out's of Disney's transportation system, and will have a vested interest in saving that $20, because they most likely have a Florida A/P to begin with, making their daily park excursions virtually free. Even if it's only 1/3 of the problem today, you can double that figure in the next 1-2 years unless a solution is put in place.

From what i have witnessed are people possibly who are staying on property even and maybe have even taken a Disney bus from their resort to the parks just looking for a way to DTD in the mid to late afternoon evening or nights from the parks and since there is no bus direct for that they either know that SSR is right across from it and hop on there or ask and are being told to ride the SSR bus

Again, I don't doubt this being part of the problem, too. As I have already expressed, though, I have absolutely zero problem with on-property guests who are paying for the "complimentary" transportation system taking advantage of a SSR bus to get to DTD. In fact, I go out of my way to use boats, buses and monorails to visit and explore other resorts while en route to or coming from a given park. If Disney fixed the problem mentioned above, then you probably wouldn't notice the people who are on-property guests bumming a ride to DTD (who are paying for the right to use that SSR bus just as you are).

Don't get me wrong - If you are having a hard time getting a seat on a bus for the resort that you are staying at, regardless of who the culprit is (locals vs paying on-site guests), it's still a problem that needs solved. I'm not discounting that, and certainly understand the frustration.

The problem is mainly no bus service from the parks to DTD and when people want to go they think SSR and walk or are being told to ride the SSR busses

I do agree that this solution would probably be best for SSR guests, but I think it is less likely to happen than Disney charging for parking. Why spend money to operate another bus route, when they can simply generate additional revenue by charging for parking? I think we would all like to see a DTD route added from the parks, but my hunch is that it won't happen.

 

[tjkraz]

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a timed parking fee for Disney Springs. When the expansion was first announced, there were comments attributed to Disney claiming that parking would remain free. But Disney has backed off those statements more recently.

I'm almost certain that the original Disney Parks Blog story featured a reader response from Tom Staggs stating that parking would remain free. Today there is no such comment.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/03/announcing-disney-springs-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

The original (current) Downtown Disney parking setup simply is not conducive to gated entry and exit points. The congestion was already too great. There is just not enough space for the lots to manage the inevitable backup of vehicles grabbing tickets on their way in or digging for cash on the way out. Not to mention the 5 (?) entry an exit points which would have to be staffed.

The Disney Springs setup will have just two entry points and could easily be designed to allow for manned booths, automated terminals, MagicBand readers, etc. Frankly I'll be more surprised if they DON'T impose some sort of restriction.

As for the issue of getting guests from parks to DTD/DS, the main reason buses don't run today is limit this "free parking". Run buses between parks and you're basically condoning the practice.

But if they begin to charge for DTD parking, the justification for elimination of the buses is gone. If they aren't facing hundreds of dollars per day in parking fee losses, there are many good financial reasons to resume that direct bus route.

 

[Andrew015]

But if they begin to charge for DTD parking, the justification for elimination of the buses is gone. If they aren't facing hundreds of dollars per day in parking fee losses, there are many good financial reasons to resume that direct bus route.

Bingo... we have a winner.

 

[dcibrando]

Let's say 100 cars park at DTD to try to get by without paying to park at the parks. They would only lose out on $1,700.

I'm sure it costs well more than that to run addition busses to SSR or to DTD from the parks so I bet they don't really care much about this issue all that much (except for when paying DVC members like me complain - even then I doubt they care much considering haha)

I agree with those of you who say the problem now will only continue to get worse as DTD becomes Disney Springs so it'll be interesting to see what (if anything) they do.

SSR busses cannot continue to be the main transportation from the parks to DTD AND for the SSR resort guests (also considering this is the largest resort on property) unless they run extra busses to offset the loads

 

[tjkraz]

SSR busses cannot continue to be the main transportation from the parks to DTD AND for the SSR resort guests (also considering this is the largest resort on property) unless they run extra busses to offset the loads

Your entire argument appears to center on one theory: Disney funnels DTD guests to the SSR bus system and SSR dues fund 100% of the transportation costs.

Do you actually know this to be true?

As I've said repeatedly, if Disney is paying a portion of the SSR transportation costs, this is a total non-issue. Running dedicated buses from all 4 theme parks to DTD all day long is certainly most costly. Disney may view leveraging the SSR bus system as a way of providing SOME transportation without totally advocating/endorsing/supporting the practice of parking at DTD for park access.

In fact, if they begin to charge for parking, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney Springs was simply added as a permanent, advertised stop on the SSR bus route.

 

[dcibrando]

Your entire argument appears to center on one theory: Disney funnels DTD guests to the SSR bus system and SSR dues fund 100% of the transportation costs.

Do you actually know this to be true?

As I've said repeatedly, if Disney is paying a portion of the SSR transportation costs, this is a total non-issue. Running dedicated buses from all 4 theme parks to DTD all day long is certainly most costly. Disney may view leveraging the SSR bus system as a way of providing SOME transportation without totally advocating/endorsing/supporting the practice of parking at DTD for park access.

In fact, if they begin to charge for parking, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney Springs was simply added as a permanent, advertised stop on the SSR bus route.

I never said member dues pay 100% of the transportation costs and I'm sure they don't... I do know it to be a fact that bus drivers and CM's have told and are telling people to ride the SSR busses when asked.. I've heard this myself.

The issue isn't that some people take another resort bus to get to a restaurant or something in that nature... many of us have done that...and the extra loads there are very minimal due to limited occupancy in those small places...but when SSR busses only factor in SSR guest occupancy and we have a lot additional people using them for DTD (which will only get worse at Disney Springs grows)... then I feel like this is unfair for the SSR guests (regardless of DVC dues, etc.)

 

[Andrew015]

Let's say 100 cars park at DTD to try to get by without paying to park at the parks. They would only lose out on $1,700.

I'm sure it costs well more than that to run addition busses to SSR or to DTD from the parks so I bet they don't really care much about this issue all that much (except for when paying DVC members like me complain - even then I doubt they care much considering haha)

You are correct on both accounts (that the revenue generated from capturing parking fees for the "local, free-riders would not be huge, and that Disney probably doesn't care that much about your individual complaint). But I'm thinking bigger picture. $1,700 per day x 365 days = $620,000.... just from the local free riders. Multiply that $10/day times the TENS OF THOUSANDS of guests that will be visiting DTD/DS, and you have your answer. While the SSR bus problem might be on Disney's radar screen, the decision for them to go ahead and start charging for parking at DTD/DS is not going to be made on the premise of solving this problem. Rather, that decision will be made on the premise of generating a substantial revenue stream, and the byproduct of that decision would be solving a major portion of the SSR busing issue. Win for everyone involved, except for the "free riders" and those who currently enjoy frequenting DTD at no cost (although I hope whatever parking fees charged would come with a validation option for shopping / dining).

The issue isn't that some people take another resort bus to get to a restaurant or something in that nature... many of us have done that...and the extra loads there are very minimal due to limited occupancy in those small places...but when SSR busses only factor in SSR guest occupancy and we have a lot additional people using them for DTD (which will only get worse at Disney Springs grows)... then I feel like this is unfair for the SSR guests (regardless of DVC dues, etc.)

It definitely is unfair, and I hope some solution is put in place to eliminate the problem.

 

[Simba's Mom]

But Disney state transportation is open to all.

All transportation is now? It used to be that you had to be staying on-site at least for certain transportation except (I think it was) the monorail. I remember about 25 years ago, for the boat from the MK to FW, my daughter didn't have her resort room key showing she was staying at Disney, so they denied her access to the boat. That was on our first of over 35 visits (so we weren't too upset to return to WDW). Couldn't they scan Magic Bands to at least cut this down a little? Or would it work?