Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[TheMaxRebo]

Other random thoughts:

-I'm really surprised they didn't roll out a charge for DME first. That's been rumored for years and actually offers a leg up on car services if they kept the luggage delivery. Also give an option to go directly to the park instead of just to your resort. I think it would be worth it to a lot of people to be picked up at MCO, get dropped off at a park, then return to your room with your luggage waiting.

-I wonder if language will be adapted for AP holders. Right now AP holders get complimentary parking at the parks but the current overnight parking language excludes them as a freebie. It would make zero sense for a passholder to stay onsite right now if the theme park parking is included but resort parking isn't.

well, the other benefits of staying onsite (60 day FP, 180+10 ADR, EMH) ... though those also seem to be being pushed to the Good Neighbor hotels as well. Still think there could be some additional benefits coming for those staying truly on site - like some sort of exclusive access to Star Wars: GE (maybe like they did when Pandora opened and had the evening EMH every night and maybe that would just be for truly onsite guests)

 

[OSUZorba]

I foresee paid parking at DS by the end of the year.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Sorry, I have not read this whole thread.

If we are staying at POP Century and paying the parking fee, what happens if we drive over to the Polynesian to eat at Captain Cook's or if we drive over to Port Orleans to eat in their food court? We have done this for years. But, now will they allow it at all or will they charge us to park again?

well, the new rule says that there is no charge for day guests that are stopping at a resort for dining, shopping, etc. - so you should be fine

 

[rteetz]

I foresee paid parking at DS by the end of the year.

I don’t see that unless they also add transportation to the parks from Disney springs.

 

[mikebb]

I don’t see that unless they also add transportation to the parks from Disney springs.

That’s a hard one to guess, but I would think that especially with the mix of “mall” stores at DS they would be foolish to start charging for parking at DS, unless they want to drive people offsite for shopping.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I voted "I might consider staying offsite" only because I am not sure when we are going back after this September. If we drive we will definitely stay offsite. We usually fly and don't rent a car.

We drove in November and 8 nights of parking would have been $200??? No thanks.

 

[lucas]

well, the new rule says that there is no charge for day guests that are stopping at a resort for dining, shopping, etc. - so you should be fine

Thanks!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That’s a hard one to guess, but I would think that especially with the mix of “mall” stores at DS they would be foolish to start charging for parking at DS, unless they want to drive people offsite for shopping.

Given that at least part of their efforts to revitalize DS was to attract locals I think charging for parking there would be a bit turn off .... I mean, never say never, a lot of the malls near me charge for parking so it isn't unheard of

 

[ITALIANNYC]

So many places I've read about people complaining about the price hikes yet can easily be bought off with free fast passes if Disney were to lol

Time is Money I guess lol

 

[lucas]

I foresee paid parking at DS by the end of the year.

I would not be surprised by this. Maybe if you make a purchase and get a card validated at a store, you would get a discount. (On second thought, most people make a purchase, so that would be basically everybody!)

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

My perspective on Disney hasn't changed; Disney can do wrong, and Disney is a business. My family has many an entrepreneur and we tend to all be business minded people, so I've always considered Disney a business. Add in that Disney is ran by human beings and it should be clear Disney can indeed do wrong, they have before and will again... so will all humans and human-ran organizations.

Now, I answered the poll above with "Not at all" because them adding on a parking fee does not change the equation when making a decision for me. The equation is: I have this chunk of money (and time) free and clear, I've done all my responsible things such as saving for retirement, paying my bills, sharing with others.... and now I get to decide what I trade this chunk of money I have for. What do I want to do with it? If I decide to go to Disney, I add up how much it'll cost to do that and I either decide to do it or I don't. So, no single increase or fee by itself is ever the issue. It's the experience, and the overall price. I've taken a break from Disney before for a large chunk of time because the experience was not what I wanted, they had slipped in several areas years ago, and it pushed the equation to the "nah" column, but they fixed it and I started traveling there again. This new added fee doesn't impact that for me at all. Consumers are all different and that's ok (for me right now I care more about the poor state of mousekeeping than any other recent change, but still not enough to tip the scale to "nah").

Disney will watch the situation, run their figures, see statistically if this added fee gains them money or loses them money (across many different variables) and respond accordingly, that's the business side. I do feel they have an objective in mind, and I don't think any of us have the info necessary to know why they are doing this and doing it right now. As of now, I still trust their business model enough to guess it is actually for a reason, other people have lost that trust now and that's ok too. If more people bail on them than not, and it actually hurts them, I do think they'll change it though it may take years depending on the data, as that's how statistics based responses work.

One last observation and opinion, in the short term the only "answer" to the poll question above that I think Disney cares about would be, "I've already cancelled my currently booked reservation and will not be coming back to WDW," and apparently very few posters here fit that specific description (if adding generously right now that would be 20 people and only if they really do what they say)... and Disney would only be alarmed if it statistically holds true in the long run and they lose revenue over time because of the parking fee, and/or it doesn't actually do what they want it to do.

Very well said -- I agree completely -- especially with the portion of the poll that WDW would reasonably be concerned with at this stage -- until they have actual data on the impact of this policy on the bottom line.

 

[tlmadden73]

I personally can't stand parking or resort fees, and I think the psychology of it is interesting. If Disney had just raised their room rates by these amounts, there would have been an outcry and a few complaints about finally getting "priced out," but nothing like we're seeing with this new fee. This thread has gone to 45 pages in just a couple days; and I heard about the new fees on the radio this morning! Did they misjudge the psychological impact of this or do they just not care? Actually, ETA, I guess their real goal is to curb current practices and shape behavior of their guests...

I agree with this. I know that hotel prices have gone up since I last stayed on property. I guarantee if I tried to get the same room at Pop Century for this August that I had in August 2015 ... it would be more expensive. And I'm okay with that. But parking? Just "feels" greedy. Something that was "included" is now costing extra at no added value. I mean .. it isn't any stretch to think they will start charging a "transportation" fee now for using the busses. I mean .. the parking fee is missing on a whole segment of the guests (those who fly in and take Magic Express).


In general I don't like "fee" based charging. It just insults my intelligence as a consumer and just makes me not enjoying consuming their product.

I mean why not just charge $60/room (and advertise you can stay at Disney for under $70/night!)

but charge a fee for:
- Parking ($15/day parking fee)
- Getting Magic Bands - ($10/day "Magic" fee)
- Using the TV in room - ($10/day "energy" fee)
- Getting room service - ($20/day "cleanliness" fee)
- Using the heating/AC in your room. ($10/day "comfort" fee)
- Using the toiletries ($1.00 per day per toiletry used)

Yes, some people could save money but opting out of a lot of these, but it would it be a logistics nightmare to keep track of what people use or don't use, it just makes the customer feel like they are being "nickel and dimed" and not a good experience.

Just determine what you need to charge for the ENTIRE service you are providing to make money and be done with it.

Parking (at any business that OWNS the property it sits on) is part of doing business. If they didn't construct a parking lot, then customers would not be able to come there. So why charge for it? Why not just lump the cost of maintenance into your product?

 

[lucas]

Given that at least part of their efforts to revitalize DS was to attract locals I think charging for parking there would be a bit turn off .... I mean, never say never, a lot of the malls near me charge for parking so it isn't unheard of

They charge for parking at the Riverwalk (shopping) in New Orleans.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

Gonna have to pay for magic bands in the future also. Probably 5 bucks with hotel stay. Matter of time

 

[SaintsManiac]

They charge for parking at the Riverwalk (shopping) in New Orleans.

Do they validate? I haven't been to the Riverwalk since it became an outlet mall. Canal Place validates at least. There is basically no free parking in downtown NOLA anymore

 

[Turn the Page]

I personally can't stand parking or resort fees, and I think the psychology of it is interesting. If Disney had just raised their room rates by these amounts, there would have been an outcry and a few complaints about finally getting "priced out," but nothing like we're seeing with this new fee. This thread has gone to 45 pages in just a couple days; and I heard about the new fees on the radio this morning! Did they misjudge the psychological impact of this or do they just not care? Actually, ETA, I guess their real goal is to curb current practices and shape behavior of their guests...

I also find the psychology interesting but not for quite the same reason. I think resorts add on fees like this so it looks like their rates are lower than other places. They can advertise rooms for $149 a night while their competitors charge $200 a night and people flock to the first place because they think they are saving $50 a night but then the they take on a $20/night parking fee and a $25/night resort fee and a $10/night housekeeping fee and suddenly you are paying as much or more than you would have by going with the second place. Of course by then you are so far into the booking process that even if you notice it you don't bother changing it or you don't realize it until you get to the hotel to check in.

I find those types of tactics to be really irritating but hotels use them because they work.

 

[HopperFan]

Expect that they will soon implement some kind of bus pass you will have to pay for...watching and waiting.

I still remember (and have my card) when only hotel guests were allowed on the bus system. Had to show your card as proof as you got on. It would not be a stretch for Disney to monetize all parts of transportation, especially since so many complain about the crowded buses.

Or star island or Cypress palms or vacation village or one of a million rental houses in the area. We al get at least 1 br condo with full kitchen and washer and dryer. My room is always at least 800sf. Disney rooms= 200sf. And I'm saving thousands. People need to get out of that bubble mindset. You won't be disappointed

And there are quite a few brand new ones and others under construction that are quite nice and a destination in themselves ... for less.

I foresee paid parking at DS by the end of the year.

I don't know about that because it would only hurt DS further. It really seems that the stores are hurting, some have already closed down and most restaurants are not difficult to get in to. It would be a real disadvantage to discourage locals and offsite folks in coming there. As long as it's not easy to get to parks from there, I think it should stay free.

They charge for parking at the Riverwalk (shopping) in New Orleans.

No comparison. Riverwalk is in a downtown area, is across from a convention center that attendees alone would fill a free lot to avoid parking fees, in addition to casino and other popular places with paid parking in blocks. And I've been there, it's more a real mall as opposed to DS which is very high end and expensive shopping plus a large number of restaurants already competing with each other. Love Disney Springs but I think at this point it's too big and the dollars are already very spread out.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Here is the big thing, we are Hilton members and we have a lot of Hilton points, so now there is no reason for us no to just stay at the Hiltons that has the fast pass at 60 days. They give all the benefits that I care about with disney resort now that Disney is charging for parking.

 

[JimmyBean42]

2. APs still get free parking at the parks but that does not apply to resorts.

Ok so random question in an effort to stick it to their parking fee - are you allowed to park overnight at the parks? So for example, my last stay at BW could I have dropped off my family, unpacked our bags, then parked at HS and did the 10 minute walk back to BW (and if you park closer to the pathway to BW instead of entrance to HS probably less than 10 minute walk). So it's a slight inconvenience for me, but I save daily parking fee since annual pass holders and resort guests can park at the parks for free. And last time there was construction at BW parking lots so I was probably walking 10 minutes to my car at the back of their lot anyway. But is overnight at the parks allowed?

 

[dreiwhit]

I haven't read all 46 pages, but Touring Plans has a video on YouTube where he lays out the fees and options, including for Ft. Wilderness.

FWIW, we stay offsite and have free parking at our resort.

I shouldn't be amazed, but I am, at the new ways Disney finds to shake down guests for additional revenue. The constant nickeling and diming really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Then, add in high ticket prices, crowded parks and way overpriced food. Just more reasons why we aren't going back to WDW next year, or the year after.