New parking fee at POP!

[DisBuckMan]

THIS is Disney's Parking information. They discuss who pays and who it is free for. They discuss they offer Handicapped parking spots. How easy it would have been to say parking was free for those ..... it does not.

Truthfully, why should handicapped parking be free in the first place?

 

[sbd78]

Disney is a tourist destination. In Las Vegas, you'll pay a hefty resort fee and a parking fee on top of that. Further, unlike Disney, where once I pay my parking fee, if I go to another resort to eat, it's free, in Vegas, you have hourly charges. I don't like fees any more than the next guy. But they will be coming at tourist destinations or are already there.

But Vegas is dirt cheap by Disney standards. There are certain times of year rooms can be had for $29/night. (Plus resort fees.) I can justify fees a whole lot more on a $29/night room vs. $400/night room. And it's not entirely true that once you've paid the parking fee, you have to pay at every other resort you visit. If you are staying at a MGM owned resort and paid for parking there, you park for free when visiting other MGM owned resorts. And they own nearly half of the big casino resorts on the strip. Caesars owns the other half. Not positive, but I believe the same is true for their resorts.

 

[SL6827]

I wonder how people will abuse the free handicap parking or do you think they will? Fake permits, or must you have a legal tag or such?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

But Vegas is dirt cheap by Disney standards. There are certain times of year rooms can be had for $29/night. (Plus resort fees.) I can justify fees a whole lot more on a $29/night room vs. $400/night room. And it's not entirely true that once you've paid the parking fee, you have to pay at every other resort you visit. If you are staying at a MGM owned resort and paid for parking there, you park for free when visiting other MGM owned resorts. And they own nearly half of the big casino resorts on the strip. Caesars owns the other half. Not positive, but I believe the same is true for their resorts.

Well first of all, Vegas has a distinct off season. The same room can vary from less than 100 a night to over 500 a night. There isn't nearly that variation at WDW for the same exact room. And if they're not having a convention in town either and it's off season, well there you go. And all the fees can make that $29 $89 at a decent place not including parking. The places where you'd actually be paying $29 that don't have hefty resort fees are a dump like the Circus Circus Motel Annex or are way off the strip.

 

[HopperFan]

Truthfully, why should handicapped parking be free in the first place?

I agree with you as an overall benefit. I never understood why and never even knew about it until a hotel front desk told me. I think my question posed is more about ... why do people think it would/should be free when Disney doesn't say it is on the page where it should be?

The only reason it would be a nice perk at Disney is because while they have the amount of spots required by law they do not have anywhere enough for the guest demographic. We rarely can get an H/A spot. If your guests who need to park closer are now walking farther, it would be good PR to offer the discount due to the extra measures they take to accommodate OR they could convert all the closest spots to H/A and not have the issue they have. AND there are two types of H/A spots so they need to address both which means shifting of some lines.

I wonder how people will abuse the free handicap parking or do you think they will? Fake permits, or must you have a legal tag or such?

I suppose someone good with graphics could make a fake one but will they bother, I mean it would be a criminal offense. In our state they are not easy to get, are only for a very narrow group with specific issues (my DS qualifies due to one newer issue, all his lifelong issues never qualified) and involve paperwork from the doctor.

 

[sbd78]

Well first of all, Vegas has a distinct off season. The same room can vary from less than 100 a night to over 500 a night. There isn't nearly that variation at WDW for the same exact room. And if they're not having a convention in town either and it's off season, well there you go. And all the fees can make that $29 $89 at a decent place not including parking. The places where you'd actually be paying $29 that don't have hefty resort fees are a dump like the Circus Circus Motel Annex or are way off the strip.

Yes, it is true that rates vary dramatically in Vegas. We were there this past January. Rates were dirt cheap some weeks in January, and unfortunately they were high our week due to a convention. We were still able to find a great rate at a time share condo, though. And that's just my point. Even when a $29/night room becomes an $89/night room with resort and parking fees, that is still a great deal by Disney standards. You might be able to find a room at a value for under $100/night in very rare cases, but in most cases a value is more than that plus they now come with a parking fee. And I mostly discount the values anyway, we are a family of 5 so it's more cost effective to stay at a moderate.

 

[SL6827]

I will be paying $13 to park for one night at AoA next month. The other three nights will be DVC and in the future most all of my nights will be DVC with possibly one night here or there with a Disney resort with a parking fee. I just wonder how long it will take for these parking rates to rise, every year, twice a year, every other year?

 

[sbd78]

I don't think anyone is suggesting Disney's motive had anything to do with making it a level playing field between those who drive and those who fly. I think we can all agree Disney is doing this purely for money.

LOL, this I can definitely agree with! And I didn't think YOU were suggesting that Disney did it to make it a level playing field. I just think it's a silly business decision to give AP holders free theme park parking but charge them to park at their hotel when there are so many offsite options that offer free parking. Usually the downside to staying offsite is you have to pay to park at the theme parks.

 

[HopperFan]

When I was there last week I spoke with the Resort in depth about how they'll know to charge parking. Specifically addressing people who never go to the front desk, or only had a car part of the time and Uber.
At this time it is 100% on the shoulders of the Guards. The CM at the resort even said "if the guest really wanted to, they could pretend to be doing an Uber drop off and they would get around the parking fee" Though the CM did go on to talk about some of their techniques used to determine when a car has been in the lot for an extended period of time, and not one they have associated with a guest. (chalk marks on tires).
We even talked about their license plate system and the CM said they are not using that for anything other than determining cars parked in case of something happening, in the CM's example, like a car blowing up. They are not reading plates to tell how long a vehicle is parked.
The guard is the one that is supposed to check the car as it comes in and ask if they are dropping off, checking in, dining, etc. And go from there. That way, a guest who never goes to the front desk will have their car logged and a guest who arrives in a car via Uber won't get charged.
There is 1 thing I forget to ask and that is how they will know how many nights if the guest doesn't move the car after they arrive but they also don't keep the car the entire time. Say, you arrive in a rental and drop your family off, stay 1 night and then return car next day. This may be a case of you have to straighten it out at check out. There are bound to be exceptions here and there. We are back at the end of this month and I'll ask about this specific case then.

So I have often done my online check-in, my MB are active and then when I arrive for the first time I go through the guest gate scanning my MB. Never the whole trip interacting with the guard or the front desk. I go in and out never leaving my car in same spot long. I think it would be hard to track this.

It seems too simplistic to actually work .......... but why wouldn't they just put gates at the guest areas like CSR so day visitors/uber etc can only park in the area in front that can be easily checked. All guests will have to declare a car in order for their MB to open the front gate and the guest area gate. Much less expensive than some 007 method of checking. And yes if you want credit for returning a car then you take the return receipts to front desk for credit.

And go back to displaying parking passes like all the other hotels. If you don't have one then you get the Mickey boot until you address it at front desk.

 

[DebbieB]

$33/night at Portofino Bay is for valet parking. The self-parking fee is $24/night.

Sorry, you are correct, I misread the website. I didn't have a car but I remember seeing a sign about parking charges.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Sorry, you are correct, I misread the website. I didn't have a car but I remember seeing a sign about parking charges.

They matched Disney's prices after Disney released their new pay-to-park at resorts policy. The overnight parking charge at the three Universal "deluxes" was $21/night before Disney's announcement.

 

[Accidental Magpie]

I removed a person from our reservation last week. The agent who helped me online reminded me of the $13/day parking fee. I asked, "Since I made the reservation before 3/21/2018 that fee will not be charged, correct?" She then said, "Oh, of course."

 

[macraven]

I stayed at Portofino at Universal 2 weeks ago, self parking is $33 per night.

Self parking is $24 + tax
Valet parking is $33 + tax

 

[lanejudy]

I saw someone posted on the first page of this thread that they will not charge for handicapped placards. I see in the announcement it says there will be handicapped parking at each resort, but not where it says there will be no charge.

Can anyone confirm that they do not charge for handicapped parking?

Someone on the disABILITIES Forum recently received an email confirming resort parking is complimentary for those with disabilities.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Lsdolphin]

How does the parking fee work if you want to use Uber/Lyft and have them pick you up at your bldg. (ie bldg #2 in the "50's" area? Can they come through parking lot to pick you up and then leave without paying a fee or must you be picked up in front of lobby?

 

[maxiesmom]

Truthfully, why should handicapped parking be free in the first place?

Maybe for Disney it is because it frees up the buses a bit? Take away that perk and there will be even more scooter using guests waiting for the buses, which then makes the buses even slower making their routes?

 

[AngiTN]

How does the parking fee work if you want to use Uber/Lyft and have them pick you up at your bldg. (ie bldg #2 in the "50's" area? Can they come through parking lot to pick you up and then leave without paying a fee or must you be picked up in front of lobby?

Uber/Lyft aren't parking. So no fee.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

Does anyone know how they deal with more than one vehicle? As a for instance, part of our group arrives Thursday, in one car. Another part arrives Friday, and leaves Saturday. We’re all in one room/villa. how are they billing these cars? Is it 2 cars for the reservation, even tho only one car was there the whole time?(This sounds like the dumbest 4th grade word problem. This parking thing is REALLY annoying)

 

[SL6827]

I believe it won't be long before day guest will have to pay to park as well, or at least validate some spending at the resort in order to avoid it.

 

[maxiesmom]

Does anyone know how they deal with more than one vehicle? As a for instance, part of our group arrives Thursday, in one car. Another part arrives Friday, and leaves Saturday. We’re all in one room/villa. how are they billing these cars? Is it 2 cars for the reservation, even tho only one car was there the whole time?(This sounds like the dumbest 4th grade word problem. This parking thing is REALLY annoying)

Good question. I though each room was only allowed one vehicle? Can you have more?