News Round Up 2017

[MommyinHonduras]

The new Minnie vans are through Lyft. This is interesting. I guess better then reinventing the wheel.

 

[Keels]

The new Minnie vans are through Lyft. This is interesting. I guess better then reinventing the wheel.

Interesting. So, instead of trying to build their own on-demand call service and app addition that would ultimately be crappy and broken 98-percent of the time, they instead licensed (or something similar) the service and tech capability from Lyft. Not a totally terrible idea.

 

[rteetz]

Interesting. So, instead of trying to build their own on-demand call service and app addition that would ultimately be crappy and broken 98-percent of the time, they instead licensed (or something similar) the service and tech capability from Lyft. Not a totally terrible idea.

That could be just temporary too. I can see them eventually adding the ability to get a car in MDE.

 

[Keels]

That could be just temporary too. I can see them eventually adding the ability to get a car in MDE.

Sure, they could add it ... but we all know it will be terrible. They still can't even get the bus timers right!

 

[Roxyfire]

So I'm not sure if someone has posted this in the thread or not, but there's rumors bubbling up once again of a parking fee. Tikiman has posted the updated view categories for the Polynesian on his facebook page. And with that, suggests that parking fee might come to the resort soon. If this ends up happening, that's one huge on-site benefit crossed off the list.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Once the metralink went in, we'd park in O'Fallon (we were from much further south in IL). Once Lacledes got all built up in the mid '90s we'd stay there at the Embassy Suites and take the two stops over to the stadium. I used to go over to Mississippi Nights as well once I was in high school/college. Gosh those really were the days, that all went downhill right? Now I live in the NW suburbs of Chicago but I keep meaning to check out new Busch stadium. I'm a terrible fan and haven't been yet.

Saw Iggy Pop at Mississippi nights. Yeah, it all went under down there. I am from central Illinois and watched a ton of Cub games down there during those times. I stayed at that Embassy Suites (across the street from Sundeckers) many times. New Busch is OK, nothing like old busch. Wrigley, Pittsburg and San Fran are the good stadiums now.

 

[Keels]

So I'm not sure if someone has posted this in the thread or not, but there's rumors bubbling up once again of a parking fee. Tikiman has posted the updated view categories for the Polynesian on his facebook page. And with that, suggests that parking fee might come to the resort soon. If this ends up happening, that's one huge on-site benefit crossed off the list.

I'm torn on this one.

I stayed at Beach Club in January for Marathon Weekend and it was REALLY FRUSTRATING to drive back to the resort every morning post-race and not be able to park at my own resort because so many people drove themselves to park and eat character breakfast. One morning, I had to park at Boardwalk and walk - even valet couldn't accommodate me at that moment.

Yes, I know construction is going on at the convention center and that takes away parking spaces, but I'll pay money to guarantee I can park at my own hotel over the people that are just coming in for an hour to eat breakfast and see characters - or that come for breakfast but end up parking for the whole day.

I feel like self-park should be for guests of the resort only and anyone else should have to pay for valet. If I have to pay $15/day to self-park myself, I better be guaranteed a spot to park as well.

 

[Roxyfire]

I'm torn on this one.

I stayed at Beach Club in January for Marathon Weekend and it was REALLY FRUSTRATING to drive back to the resort every morning post-race and not be able to park at my own resort because so many people drove themselves to park and eat character breakfast. One morning, I had to park at Boardwalk and walk - even valet couldn't accommodate me at that moment.

Yes, I know construction is going on at the convention center and that takes away parking spaces, but I'll pay money to guarantee I can park at my own hotel over the people that are just coming in for an hour to eat breakfast and see characters - or that come for breakfast but end up parking for the whole day.

I feel like self-park should be for guests of the resort only and anyone else should have to pay for valet. If I have to pay $15/day to self-park myself, I better be guaranteed a spot to park as well.

Personally, I don't drive or rent a car so I don't know if people would be willing to do this or not. It's certainly not going to endear those at value resorts at all, but making the price lower there would just attract people to park in those lots instead. My gut feeling would be to do something similar as Universal does. If you're staying at the resort it's cheaper than if you aren't. And you make an excellent point, some people will still park there or say "hey I'm paying to park at all stars, I should be able to park at Beach Club too" and it doesn't solve that problem.

edit: removed price, I think that was guessing in some comments

 

[Keels]

Personally, I don't drive or rent a car so I don't know if people would be willing to do this or not. It's certainly not going to endear those at value resorts at all, but making the price lower there would just attract people to park in those lots instead. My gut feeling would be to do something similar as Universal does. If you're staying at the resort it's cheaper than if you aren't. And you make an excellent point, some people will still park there or say "hey I'm paying to park at all stars, I should be able to park at Beach Club too" and it doesn't solve that problem.

edit: removed price, I think that was guessing in some comments

I mean, I'm used to paying to park at pretty much every other hotel I stay at (like a Marriott property), so I'm not going to be up-in-arms about it ... it's what hotels do!

That was my first on-site stay in a long while (my parents live less than five miles from Disney Springs, so I usually stay there), and I chose to drive because it's actually easier and more comfortable to get to the races in the morning - you can wait in the warm car instead of outside for a bus and then outside after the bus. Plus, you don't have to check a gear bag or anything like that and you don't have to wait for a bus after you're done (#RunnerProbs). I self-parked because I'm not really sure if valet was working at 4 a.m. when we'd leave to go to the race. I guess that's something I'll need to check out in November?

Who knows ... maybe this is another way the Minnie Vans can help? You park at your own resort. You pay the $30 to valet at another resort just like everyone else. You pay $20 to take a Minnie Van to another resort. Or you take it upon yourself to get to a park or TTC or Disney Springs and take the free transportation provided to you to get to said resort.

IDK. Maybe I'm being a hag about this ... but, man. When I see a car in front of me take the last self-parking spot at Beach Club, and I have to park on the opposite side of the convention center, walk through the whole resort hauling a flat of water, seeing the people from that car waiting in line at Cape May for breakfast only to come back from dinner 12 hours later and see the same family walking right behind us from Epcot towards the lobby at Beach Club ... it's pretty frustrating.

 

[Roxyfire]

IDK. Maybe I'm being a hag about this ... but, man. When I see a car in front of me take the last self-parking spot at Beach Club, and I have to park on the opposite side of the convention center, walk through the whole resort hauling a flat of water, seeing the people from that car waiting in line at Cape May for breakfast only to come back from dinner 12 hours later and see the same family walking right behind us from Epcot towards the lobby at Beach Club ... it's pretty frustrating.

No, I don't blame you at all, maybe that would reduce the problems at the popular resorts. This is why people can't have nice things. I will say that parking being included is something that people could mildly help them justify the room rates, but parking and resort fees make it a lot harder. Honestly they should just let people park at their own resort for free, pay to park at others ($30 valet) or use other forms of transport.

 

[Keels]

No, I don't blame you at all, maybe that would reduce the problems at the popular resorts. This is why people can't have nice things. I will say that parking being included is something that people could mildly help them justify the room rates, but parking and resort fees make it a lot harder. Honestly they should just let people park at their own resort for free, pay to park at others ($30 valet) or use other forms of transport.

Exactly! We should be in charge of this area for Disney ... look at how quickly we solved the problem!

 

[closetmickey]

And last thing I'll say about waits and getting out of MK vs other places...

It's is 1 million percent better to be sitting in an air-conditioned car with all your crap stashed and with kids buckled in and falling asleep in car seats to quiet music while waiting for traffic to clear than standing in a non-moving line in sticky heat, pushing a stroller or dragging a little bigger one with people over-tired, dehydrated, and in foot/leg pain surrounding you and getting crankier by the wait...

This cracks me up because as I am reading it, I am clearly agreeing that THAT IS NOT MAGICAL!! Yet, I still find myself only taking Disney transportation because of the "MAGIC"! What is wrong with people...ummm, I mean with ME!

 

[closetmickey]

I mean, I'm used to paying to park at pretty much every other hotel I stay at (like a Marriott property), so I'm not going to be up-in-arms about it ... it's what hotels do!

That was my first on-site stay in a long while (my parents live less than five miles from Disney Springs, so I usually stay there), and I chose to drive because it's actually easier and more comfortable to get to the races in the morning - you can wait in the warm car instead of outside for a bus and then outside after the bus. Plus, you don't have to check a gear bag or anything like that and you don't have to wait for a bus after you're done (#RunnerProbs). I self-parked because I'm not really sure if valet was working at 4 a.m. when we'd leave to go to the race. I guess that's something I'll need to check out in November?

Who knows ... maybe this is another way the Minnie Vans can help? You park at your own resort. You pay the $30 to valet at another resort just like everyone else. You pay $20 to take a Minnie Van to another resort. Or you take it upon yourself to get to a park or TTC or Disney Springs and take the free transportation provided to you to get to said resort.

IDK. Maybe I'm being a hag about this ... but, man. When I see a car in front of me take the last self-parking spot at Beach Club, and I have to park on the opposite side of the convention center, walk through the whole resort hauling a flat of water, seeing the people from that car waiting in line at Cape May for breakfast only to come back from dinner 12 hours later and see the same family walking right behind us from Epcot towards the lobby at Beach Club ... it's pretty frustrating.

How do people get away with this? At DL hotels, there is validated parking for the hotels if you are eating at a table service meal, but it is only
validated for two hours. The hourly fee, if you are not a registered hotel guest, is so high (around $15/hr I think- but I have a terrible memory) that it is a huge deterrent. Is there no monitoring of length of stay at WDW hotel lots?

 

[Keels]

How do people get away with this? At DL hotels, there is validated parking for the hotels if you are eating at a table service meal, but it is only
validated for two hours. The hourly fee, if you are not a registered hotel guest, is so high (around $15/hr I think- but I have a terrible memory) that it is a huge deterrent. Is there no monitoring of length of stay at WDW hotel lots?

It's basically honor system unless you valet park.

Sometimes, they check your MagicBand or look at a restaurant roster that was printed first thing in the morning ... but in most cases, they just check your ID and let you through and that's that.

 

[mara512]

It's basically honor system unless you valet park.

Sometimes, they check your MagicBand or look at a restaurant roster that was printed first thing in the morning ... but in most cases, they just check your ID and let you through and that's that.

Not trying to be snarky BUT sadly honor went out the window a long time ago and we are now at entitled.

 

[MommaBerd]

There are definitely other solutions (parking stickers, hang tags, etc issued to resort guests) to the parking problems than charging resort guests to park at their home resort. The people who should pay to park are non-resort guests. I *might* even be OK with even charging guests from a different Disney resort who want to self-park - because they have transportation options. But if I'm a resort guest (and especially Deluxe) and I'm paying $350+ a night, I think parking would be a nice "perk". I'll say it - I think I'm ENTITLED to park there. Same with DVC...their MFs probably help maintain the parking lots anyway.

 

[mara512]

There are definitely other solutions (parking stickers, hang tags, etc issued to resort guests) to the parking problems than charging resort guests to park at their home resort. The people who should pay to park are non-resort guests. I *might* even be OK with even charging guests from a different Disney resort who want to self-park - because they have transportation options. But if I'm a resort guest (and especially Deluxe) and I'm paying $350+ a night, I think parking would be a nice "perk". I'll say it - I think I'm ENTITLED to park there. Same with DVC...their MFs probably help maintain the parking lots anyway.

Yes I agree you are entitled because you are paying for a room there. My point was more for those not staying at that particular resort. Kind of like the age old question, "I booked a room at ASMu can I use the pools at Beach Club?"

 

[MommaBerd]

Yes I agree you are entitled because you are paying for a room there. My point was more for those not staying at that particular resort. Kind of like the age old question, "I booked a room at ASMu can I use the pools at Beach Club?"

Oh - I was not at all intending my comment of "entitlement " to be a reply to you! We toss around "entitlement" a lot and in a negative way, but there are times when I will freely admit I DO feel entitled. And this is one of those instances.

 

[LSLS]

I mean, I'm used to paying to park at pretty much every other hotel I stay at (like a Marriott property), so I'm not going to be up-in-arms about it ... it's what hotels do!

True, but the Mariott is also less expensive, meaning that the added resort/parking fees really even out the costs of the places. I have started staying off site just because the prices have been getting too high for me to justify a lot of the time (even when factoring in resort fees and parking, off site hotels are starting to come up cheaper than moderates and many times values more times than not). This time we are staying on site (just because it's been a while and for a short trip, we justified the extra $50). However, if parking was not included, an extra hour at the park (which generally we use to determine which park not to go to that day) and transportation (which most of the off site hotels now offer) is just not enough to keep us. And I've said it before but it's worth repeating, every time we stay off site, we spend less time in the parks, and we eat at least once or twice at places with no Disney affiliation.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That could be just temporary too. I can see them eventually adding the ability to get a car in MDE.

Still could use Lyft though and it just be an interface to their system trough MDE

And not a bad idea for Lyft since people still think of "Uber" more than them ... if people that have not used a ride sharing program in the past use this and have a good experience then they might try out "regular" Lyft at other locations