Ouch! (Local slams the parks)

[Wall-E1]

With all due respect... no one is forcing you to live in a hot/humid climate over 300 days a year.

I live in a 4 season environment where today it is 7 degrees celcius (44 farenheit) and rainy. It's not even halloween and we are bringing out our winter coats, and we don't complain about it. In just a month or two we will be buried in 3 feet of snow, and the kids will have to walk in snow pants and snow jackets, while carrying school backpacks, and just trying to stay balanced with all the additional weight, and 30 mile per hour blistering winds nipping at there nose, all while not complaining. They do this because somewhere in the back of there head, they know that the payoff is one day we will get to go back to Disney World... where we don't need to where those snow suits, hats, gloves, and boots. And when we get there at least we don't have to pay to park, because we intend to stay on property. So again - We win!

Sorry, I didn't know that you would be taking that post so literally and seriously. I was making light of Floridians, as I have lived in other states, and I have never seen so many complaining people, as I have seen in the state of Florida. Some, search out things to complain about. I'm willing to bet that some Floridians that are currently complaining about the parking fee increase have never been to Disney World and didn't have plans to go in the future. They are just complaining because to them it is sport, almost like a day out on the links, playing golf.

p.s. - I know where you are coming from. I remember the days of having to shovel a path down my driveway so I could make it to my school bus stop. Back then, I dreamed of living in Florida. The grass is always greener on the other side.

p.p.s. - A $2 price increase of anything at Disney would not even a blip on my radar. Disney is doing what it needs to in order to provide the best theme park experience possible, as we navigate through this current recession. If this increase will help them maintain their quality standards, I'm all for it. Besides that, I'm a passholder, so the fee doesn't effect me anyway.

 

[twokids0204]

Um...I believe Wall-E1 was being sarcastic.

If you read my response a little closer, you may find a tinge of sarcasm there as well.

See, I don't really think we win, by paying thousands of $$$ to avoid parking fees. And (as Wall-E1 chooses to live in the Florida heat) I have chosen to live in the Canadian tundra, and maybe it's because we have FREE health care. If I get a sniffle, cough, pink eye, dizzy head, asthma attack, gouging open wound, burst appendix, gunshot wound, or I just think the emergency room nurse is cute; I can go to the hospital and it won't cost me a shinny penny. So again WE WIN!!!

 

[twokids0204]

Sorry, I didn't know that you would be taking that post so literally and seriously. I was making light of Floridians, as I have lived in other states, and I have never seen so many complaining people, as I have seen in the state of Florida. Some, search out things to complain about. I'm willing to bet that some Floridians that are currently complaining about the parking fee increase have never been to Disney World and didn't have plans to go in the future. They are just complaining because to them it is sport, almost like a day out on the links, playing golf.

p.s. - I know where you are coming from. I remember the days of having to shovel a path down my driveway so I could make it to my school bus stop. Back then, I dreamed of living in Florida. The grass is always greener on the other side.

p.p.s. - A $2 price increase of anything at Disney would not even a blip on my radar. Disney is doing what it needs to in order to provide the best theme park experience possible, as we navigate through this current recession. If this increase will help them maintain their quality standards, I'm all for it. Besides that, I'm a passholder, so the fee doesn't effect me anyway.

Understood... I am just trying to increase my post count! Hahaha...

 

[Metro West]

So again WE WIN!!!

But look how close I live to the parks...I win. I don't have to pay thousands of dollars on plane tickets, hotel rooms or expensive meals...I win. I get to go whenever I want...I win.

 

[Wall-E1]

Understood... I am just trying to increase my post count! Hahaha...

You got me!

 

[twokids0204]

You got me!

again I WIN!!!

 

[Wall-E1]

If you read my response a little closer, you may find a tinge of sarcasm there as well.

See, I don't really think we win, by paying thousands of $$$ to avoid parking fees. And (as Wall-E1 chooses to live in the Florida heat) I have chosen to live in the Canadian tundra, and maybe it's because we have FREE health care. If I get a sniffle, cough, pink eye, dizzy head, asthma attack, gouging open wound, burst appendix, gunshot wound, or I just think the emergency room nurse is cute; I can go to the hospital and it won't cost me a shinny penny. So again WE WIN!!!

As a Blue Cross/Blue Shield customer that pays over $500 a month in health insurance dues, I just wanted to say that I hate you.

 

[twokids0204]

As a Blue Cross/Blue Shield customer that pays over $500 a month in health insurance dues, I just wanted to say that I hate you.

Hahaha...

Come to Canada, we are more then Martin Short and Steakhouses...

 

[Metro West]

Understood... I am just trying to increase my post count! Hahaha...

Psssst...If you want to increase your post count, head over to the game forum.

 

[ssawka]

While $14 does seem a little high for parking, it is on par with other amusement parks. Also, unless I'm mistaken, all the roads leading into and out of WDW are private roads maintained by Disney. That's a heck of a lot of infrastructure to support. Well above what other parks need to support. Now, I am not saying that Disney is not profiting off of parking, but probably not as much as you think.

Also, I know this was about locals and I have not stayed off-site since the 1990's, but I'm just curious on whether people actually save money staying off-site when you figure in parking and, if you fly, a rental car. It seems to me that it would be cost effective if you have a large family and are renting a house/condo, but to stay off-site in a regular hotel room just doesn't seem worth it in terms of time and money.

 

[Wall-E1]

Hahaha...

Come to Canada, we are more then Martin Short and Steakhouses...

You don't need to tell me that. I have experienced Canada's greatest national export - the globe conquering, super group - Glass Tiger.

 

[Metro West]

You don't need to tell me that. I have experienced Canada's greatest national export - the globe conquering, super group - Glass Tiger.

And let's not forget Bryan Adams.

 

[ssawka]

And let's not forget Bryan Adams.

Well, you got to admit that Neil Young is a "National Treasure", but now Celine Dion, that's another story entirely!!

 

[twokids0204]

And let's not forget Bryan Adams.

And Rush, Neil Young, and the Barenaked Ladies.

But if you really want to hear Canada look up a group called "The Tragically Hip" or "Stompin' Tom Connors"

 

[ShannonMB]

Here in Ohio we are having a chillier-than-normal October, although this last week it was 70 degrees during the day. The foliage is in full fall splendor, and next week for Halloween we'll likely enjoy the scent of the crispy fallen leaves mingled with smoke from a fireplace or 2 in the neighborhood. Sweater weather -- I love it! Best of all, just when the leaves have fallen and it's getting a bit dreary here, we'll be heading on a plane to WDW! Staying onsite, no parking fees, and awesome package deals. Then returning home just in time for the holidays. I WIN! hehehehe Oh, wait, I think the Canadian still wins.

Seriously, why on Earth would a local think they shouldn't have to pay to park? I paid $10 to park last week at a Miley Cyrus concert (AFTER shelling out $150 for 2 tickets). $4 more for a day at WDW? um, yeah.

 

[twokids0204]

Here in Ohio we are having a chillier-than-normal October, although this last week it was 70 degrees during the day. The foliage is in full fall splendor, and next week for Halloween we'll likely enjoy the scent of the crispy fallen leaves mingled with smoke from a fireplace or 2 in the neighborhood. Sweater weather -- I love it! Best of all, just when the leaves have fallen and it's getting a bit dreary here, we'll be heading on a plane to WDW! Staying onsite, no parking fees, and awesome package deals. Then returning home just in time for the holidays. I WIN! hehehehe

Seriously, why on Earth would a local think they shouldn't have to pay to park? I paid $10 to park last week at a Miley Cyrus concert (AFTER shelling out $150 for 2 tickets). $4 more for a day at WDW? um, yeah.

I support and endorse this response!

 

[Metro West]

Well, you got to admit that Neil Young is a "National Treasure", but now Celine Dion, that's another story entirely!!

And Rush, Neil Young, and the Barenaked Ladies.

But if you really want to hear Canada look up a group called "The Tragically Hip" or "Stompin' Tom Connors"

I haven't heard of the last two acts you mentioned. I like Rush, Barenaked Ladies and Neil Young though.

 

[laceemouse]

Agree with everyone here, we pay to park every time we go into Dallas, and the parking lot is usually beat up and crappy with bums and stray dogs all over the place. The last time we did this we went to the Texas State Fair (yukky) and to see Mary Poppins (awesome!)
People need to get out more, they would see they have nothing to complain about

 

[disnut8]

You can look at it all different ways, but parking costs are outrageous! $14/day x 30 days and Disney makes $420/month for a small piece of asphalt built over a swamp. I don't mind paying for the park for the day but I feel it is over the top to have to pay for parking. Just my opinion.

But they don't make that. Take the $14/day and subtract something for all the Cast Members that work out in the parking lot to make sure your entrance goes as smoothly as possible. Also add in the booth attendants who have to answer any questions about the park's operations for the day and even give directions to people who have turned the wrong way. Don't forget the tram operators too. And the maintenance guys that come out at night to pick up the trash we leave behind. And you need to add in the wear and tear on those parking lots as Disney has to make sure we don't have any pot holes or rough patches to drive over.

Additionally, not every single visitor to Disney World even pays for parking. Resort guests don't, annual passholders don't and I'm sure there are others who don't either. I am willing to get that if you take what Disney makes in a day in parking fees, it will not cover the daily costs to maintain that lot.

 

[disnut8]

Hey, Disney is expensive. I don't care how we try to sugar coat it and make it exceptable. Disney is expensive. Comparing it to other places doesn't make it any less expensive. I too think it stinks that Disney is constantly raising prices.

I think what people are trying to say is that the original blurb in the paper was intimating that a Florida resident would not go to Disney World for a weekend day because parking was $14 and then you have to buy tickets for the park. People are comparing that to concerts and sporting events (which do not last all day) where you pay for parking (comparable to Disney World or even higher) and then you also pay for the ticket to the event.

So, if you look at one day at a Disney park, for which you could arrive at 9:00 for rope drop and leave at park closing (depending on the park, that could be as late as midnight), you would spend $14 to park and $75 for the day (I'm too lazy to look up the actual cost). Now, compare that to a concert venue like in downtown Atlanta. Parking sure is going to be more than $14 (usually $20 near Phillips Arena) and maybe you can get a concert ticket for $75 (probably not the best seat and probably not a top dollar act). But how long will your concert last? Certainly not from 9:00 AM until midnight. And you would not be guided to your parking space so there's no chance your car would be damaged while you park. And you would take your chances on the Atlanta streets with a lot of people who just hang around the stadiums looking for handouts. And we won't even mention the return trip at night and traffic, and getting home, etc.