Parking $3 from 6 to 10pm

[Metro West]

We moved down here six months ago. We love the different food experiences at citywalk but we were staying away from Lunch there because of parking. Now we won't be going for supper either. Ridiculous to pay to park just to spend money to eat. In this economy....not going to happen for us. Wish they would not have done that.Their choice to charge....ours to take our business elsewhere, and all over a few dollars.

That's true...but you should consider an AP now that you're living here and not have to pay to park at all.

 

[ksdave]

It's amazing to me how people in different areas react to parking fees. I grew up in NY, where you pay to park virtually everywhere. I even had to pay $15 once to park for 15 minutes! Here in Kansas, they talked about a $1 charge to park at our current sports arena and everyone went ballistic .
I'm lucky that, even though I only get down to FL once or twice a year, I have had a PAP for seven years now, so I never pay to park. BUT, even if I did have to pay $3 to park, I would still go to Citywalk next week. You FL folks do not realize how lucky you are to have places like UO and WDW right at your doorstep!!

 

[Metro West]

You FL folks do not realize how lucky you are to have places like UO and WDW right at your doorstep!!

Why do you think I moved here?

 

[Jason71]

It's amazing to me how people in different areas react to parking fees. I grew up in NY, where you pay to park virtually everywhere. I even had to pay $15 once to park for 15 minutes! Here in Kansas, they talked about a $1 charge to park at our current sports arena and everyone went ballistic .

You make an excellent point, but it comes down to people's expectations, and competition. As I think I said before, the clubs shouldn't take too much of a hit--people who go dancing downtown are used to paying to park. But around here, just about every other movie theater and chain restaurant offers free parking--the extra $3 sticks in people's craw, especially when evening parking has been free for a decade.

By way of example, despite the fact they even validate for most anything, the parking charge at Pointe Orlando seems to be what has held that place back over the years. It's just so foreign in this part of town that people reject it.

 

[MIB999999]

Just heard that Universal is now charging $3 for parking between 6pm and 10pm. Not sure is it's more for vans and campers like with "regular" daytime parking.

I'm not sure I understand the logic behind this, what with everyone and his brother telling us that people will be counting every penny in the days and months ahead.

Seems to me inevitable that the Cineplex and the restaurants will take a hit.

Your thoughts?

I have over the past 6 months recieved e-mail surveys from Universal concerning different pricing ideas for annual passes. Maybe this is a back door plan to try to drive up annual pass sales. If you are out of state and buy an annual pass you might be more inclined to maximize your money ALREADY spent by attending more frequently. At current daily rates, the initial annual pass purchase is about the same a 3 days at the parks. The renewal rate is a day and a half. The annual pass removes the parking price issue. The only people left out in the cold are those that would never go to the parks but do go to City Walk venues only.

 

[drj1950]

I knew there was a possabilty of different pricing for the annual passes but when I saw the crowds on the 30th and heard about the parking charge plus Busch gardens rasied their price I bit the bullet and bought the prefered pass.

 

[Metro West]

I knew there was a possabilty of different pricing for the annual passes but when I saw the crowds on the 30th and heard about the parking charge plus Busch gardens rasied their price I bit the bullet and bought the prefered pass.

I'm sure you'll enjoy having the Preferred Pass...I wouldn't let mine go for anything.

 

[Planogirl]

The comments about parking fees are interesting. Paying to park is a pet peeve of mine and I go to some fairly long lengths to avoid parking fees. I pay it (with a scowl) when I go to the themeparks but I'm not thrilled at the idea of paying it to get a bite to eat or see a movie.

We plan to stay offsite on our next trip and I would gladly go back to Citywalk in the evenings but this parking fee is annoying. It's just one of my things.

 

[DOOM1001]

It's amazing to me how people in different areas react to parking fees. I grew up in NY, where you pay to park virtually everywhere. I even had to pay $15 once to park for 15 minutes! Here in Kansas, they talked about a $1 charge to park at our current sports arena and everyone went ballistic .
I'm lucky that, even though I only get down to FL once or twice a year, I have had a PAP for seven years now, so I never pay to park. BUT, even if I did have to pay $3 to park, I would still go to Citywalk next week. You FL folks do not realize how lucky you are to have places like UO and WDW right at your doorstep!!

That's why I could never,ever live in NYC,paying ridiculous parking fees everywhere and going over bridges that cost $6-$8 to cross would drive me loony.It drove me insane for the short time I was visiting,I couldn't imagine dealing with all those tolls and parking fees daily!The way I look at it is they're charging $3 to enter Citywalk which is restaurants,movies and a few clubs,why would you pay that if there are tons of restaurants and movie theaters right outside the parks that are free to park.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It's amazing to me how people in different areas react to parking fees. I grew up in NY, where you pay to park virtually everywhere. I even had to pay $15 once to park for 15 minutes! Here in Kansas, they talked about a $1 charge to park at our current sports arena and everyone went ballistic .
I'm lucky that, even though I only get down to FL once or twice a year, I have had a PAP for seven years now, so I never pay to park. BUT, even if I did have to pay $3 to park, I would still go to Citywalk next week. You FL folks do not realize how lucky you are to have places like UO and WDW right at your doorstep!!

Parking in NYC, I too grew up in NY... people there don't mind paying for parking when they can find a spot! The difference between here & NYC is that in NYC, you always had to pay & here the after 6 fee is something new and it came at a bad time in the economy.

I have an AP so it doesn't get my pocket-book, but it does bug me that they did this. Most people that do live near there go after 6 for City Walk. You aren't seeing their point of view, but rather looking at it from a tourist view. Many were use to going out to eat, or a few drinks after work or maybe a movie, not just to a club (or theme park for that matter). To tack on that $3.00, while doesn't seem like much, is if you are on a budget. On vacation you tend to let your budget go, while at home you don't. $3 to the teen crowd going to the movies is an added expense. There are many that forget, Orlando isn't just for vacationers...people live there too....

.......and you cannot compare the land there to the land in NYC. That garage will sit there no matter what, you don't have cars driving around Universal looking to park as in NYC. This was a poor move on Universal's part. They don't care because they feel it won't bother their bottom line. They are probably right too. They reep the profit and their tenents feel the pinch. What will happen if their tenents move out as some did and still are down in Church Street? Church Street has many problems.. and parking is one of them. Not many want to pay to park so they can go out to eat, this is not NYC... this is FL where the salary range is much much different

 

[Metro West]

this is FL where the salary range is much much different

Don't I know it!

 

[drj1950]

I know it also

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I know it also

I think all us Floridians know it... but hate to admit it. We all stay here too.. got to be the sunshine.. and the theme parks.... I don't miss the ice storms and the 0 degree weather.... I do miss the money though.
So back to topic.. the $3 is a lot of money to us.....

 

[MAH4546]

Maybe it's because I've lived in Miami and Los Angeles where free parking doesn't exist, but $3 to park? What a bargain!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Maybe it's because I've lived in Miami and Los Angeles where free parking doesn't exist, but $3 to park? What a bargain!

I forgot about Miami.. there is limited parking there.. that is one of the few sections of FL that does have real limited parking. They had parking garages there when I was a kid and I am now 52... they were always pretty bad with parking. I can remember going there as a kid. We would go every summer when school let out. We stayed 2 blocks west of Collins Ave (Miami Beach) on Abbott Ave.. same place every year for about 10 years. There was no on street parking there either back then...

 

[ky07]

The resort hotels also raised parking $3 too
Was $12 and now is $15

 

[ksdave]

These increases will pale in comparison to what is going to happen to our internet bills soon. I read an article the other day that said that several of the major ISP's (including mine ) are going to start charging their users based on the bandwidth they use. And the rates will range from $39.95 per month to $169.95 per month OR MORE . Guess there won't be as many people hanging around here either......

 

[Metro West]

These increases will pale in comparison to what is going to happen to our internet bills soon. I read an article the other day that said that several of the major ISP's (including mine ) are going to start charging their users based on the bandwidth they use. And the rates will range from $39.95 per month to $169.95 per month OR MORE . Guess there won't be as many people hanging around here either......

I heard that too but wasn't it only people who download LOTS of music and files? I didn't think it would affect everyone. I could be wrong though.

 

[ksdave]

I heard that too but wasn't it only people who download LOTS of music and files? I didn't think it would affect everyone. I could be wrong though.

Actually, it is based on the bandwidth you use. Everything on the internet uses some bandwidth. Even the little moving smilies on here use bandwidth. So do all the pictures people post, etc. Go to espn.com and they automatically play a video for you every time. It all adds up quite quickly .

 

[Metro West]

Actually, it is based on the bandwidth you use. Everything on the internet uses some bandwidth. Even the little moving smilies on here use bandwidth. So do all the pictures people post, etc. Go to espn.com and they automatically play a video for you every time. It all adds up quite quickly .

But how much would the "average" person have to worry about this?