Parking at all places AAGGGHHHH

[dgagnon519]

I read some parking threads and am more confused now. We will be going to US, IOA, WW, AQ, and SW. We will end up driving to all of these if we stay at our DVC. We have never had to pay to park because we always do Disney. The idea of paying over $100 to park our car freaks me out. Is there any Parking passes that can be bought to park for 1 price or something of that nature. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I read some parking threads and am more confused now. We will be going to US, IOA, WW, AQ, and SW. We will end up driving to all of these if we stay at our DVC. We have never had to pay to park because we always do Disney. The idea of paying over $100 to park our car freaks me out. Is there any Parking passes that can be bought to park for 1 price or something of that nature. Any help would be much appreciated.

I believe you need to be prepared to pay to park.

 

[Bluer101]

When you go to Disney you always pay to park. It's factored into the hotel cost, DVC, or just plain giving them money when entering the parking lot.

 

[Planogirl]

I hate the high parking rates too but I don't see a way around it so I work it into our budget. Even worse, we sometimes visit both WDW and Universal on the same day so we get double the cost!

 

[torinsmom]

Shoot, over our 10 days, we will be paying $150 to park. Of course, we are saving about $1000 by staying offsite, so I'm not too concerned about it. The cost is less than feeding two people at a CS restaurant.

 

[Lou Holtz]

If you're paying $150 to park, there is no way that buying one annual pass wouldn't easily make sense for you.

 

[torinsmom]

If you're paying $150 to park, there is no way that buying one annual pass wouldn't easily make sense for you.

Oops, going off old figures. It will be more like $105 for parking at WDW for 7 days. I AM buying us APs for Universal, since we are going back next summer(just got talked into it last week on here). It wouldn't be cost effective to buy an AP at WDW, since those are WAY more than the price of a YES 7 day ticket.

Still, I don't see it as a huge expense when I look at the big picture. As someone else said, when you stay onsite, you DO pay for parking one way or another. I think at the Universal hotels you actually pay for parking in the price of the room, but still have to pay anyway.

 

[Wadecool]

I don't get why WDW or Universal even charge anyone for parking anyway. DW and I like to frequent casinos occasionally and they never charge for parking. Why? Because they know you are going to spend big bucks while you're there anyway, so it's in their best interest not to "nickel and dime" you over parking fees. Theme parks aren't very different IMO, but they try and fleece us for every little thing.

 

[torinsmom]

When you go to Disney you always pay to park. It's factored into the hotel cost, DVC, or just plain giving them money when entering the parking lot.

I'm trying to figure out if you are saying Universal is different in this respect. When I stay(ed) offsite at Universal, parking was the same as at WDW. And when I stayed ONSITE, I still had to pay for parking, in addition to paying $300 for one night there. They kind of get you at both ends, if you ask me.

As for why they charge parking fees at either place, well, because they CAN. It is a big revenue maker for both parks. I can't think of a theme park or sports complex that doesn't charge for parking.

 

[Metro West]

I'm trying to figure out if you are saying Universal is different in this respect. When I stay(ed) offsite at Universal, parking was the same as at WDW. And when I stayed ONSITE, I still had to pay for parking, in addition to paying $300 for one night there. They kind of get you at both ends, if you ask me.

As for why they charge parking fees at either place, well, because they CAN. It is a big revenue maker for both parks. I can't think of a theme park or sports complex that doesn't charge for parking.

I think Bluer means that at Universal you know you have to pay for parking at the hotels since it's a separate fee but at Disney, they don't have a "parking charge" at the hotels so you think parking is free but it's included in the nightly rate...they just don't spell it out. And...you are right about why they can charge parking fees but it's also upkeep and improvements to the parking lots as well.

 

[Bluer101]

I think Bluer means that at Universal you know you have to pay for parking at the hotels since it's a separate fee but at Disney, they don't have a "parking charge" at the hotels so you think parking is free but it's included in the nightly rate...they just don't spell it out. And...you are right about why they can charge parking fees but it's also upkeep and improvements to the parking lots as well.

Thanks Metro, you saved me from explaining it.

 

[patster734]

Oops, going off old figures. It will be more like $105 for parking at WDW for 7 days. I AM buying us APs for Universal, since we are going back next summer(just got talked into it last week on here). It wouldn't be cost effective to buy an AP at WDW, since those are WAY more than the price of a YES 7 day ticket.

Still, I don't see it as a huge expense when I look at the big picture. As someone else said, when you stay onsite, you DO pay for parking one way or another. I think at the Universal hotels you actually pay for parking in the price of the room, but still have to pay anyway.

I haven't been to Disney in a while, but I thought they offered free parking at the parks for on-site guests.

I don't get why WDW or Universal even charge anyone for parking anyway. DW and I like to frequent casinos occasionally and they never charge for parking. Why? Because they know you are going to spend big bucks while you're there anyway, so it's in their best interest not to "nickel and dime" you over parking fees. Theme parks aren't very different IMO, but they try and fleece us for every little thing.

Vehicle security. A lot of unattended vehicles, but criminals are less likely to break into them if they have to pay to gain access. Plus the fee covers the cost for the cameras and security guards watching over the parking area.

 

[damo]

I haven't been to Disney in a while, but I thought they offered free parking at the parks for on-site guests.

There's nothing "free" anywhere. It is all hidden into the cost of your hotel or tickets.

 

[patster734]

There's nothing "free" anywhere. It is all hidden into the cost of your hotel or tickets.

let me clarify: I thought that there was no transfer of funds between the guest and the parking attendant at the parking entrance for the Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney Studios, and Animal Kingdom) for guests staying at a Disney hotel. I "assume" this is would be accomplished by showing your Disney room key.

 

[Bluer101]

There's nothing "free" anywhere. It is all hidden into the cost of your hotel or tickets.

Best answer!

 

[damo]

let me clarify: I thought that there was no transfer of funds between the guest and the parking attendant at the parking entrance for the Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney Studios, and Animal Kingdom) for guests staying at a Disney hotel. I "assume" this is would be accomplished by showing your Disney room key.

That is true.

The free magical express, free parking, free dining, etc. really aren't "free". Disney doesn't give things away.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think at the Universal hotels you actually pay for parking in the price of the room, but still have to pay anyway.

If you have a car and you're onsite, you do pay to park at the hotel per night in a separate charge.

But if you're onsite, you're probably not driving to the parking garage for the parks...so it doesn't matter if parking at the parks is or is not included...

 

[macraven]

There's nothing "free" anywhere. It is all hidden into the cost of your hotel or tickets.

That is true.

The free magical express, free parking, free dining, etc. really aren't "free". Disney doesn't give things away.

Damo is right.
She's always right.
I should send a note to her family ...........
maybe they will believe her then........



of course you are paying for that hidden parking fee at the motherland resorts.
even if you do not have a car with you, you're still stuck with it...


for example.
i am staying at sports, a value resort in september.
weekend rates will be $127. for a saturday night. (regular season rate including tax)

come on........no way that room is worth that much...

 

[quatromoore]

Is there anyplace to park outside the park and maybe walk in to where we are staying at the Royal Pacific since they charge us $15/night for self parking. Crazy since we already are paying over $300/night for the room alone.

 

[damo]

Is there anyplace to park outside the park and maybe walk in to where we are staying at the Royal Pacific since they charge us $15/night for self parking. Crazy since we already are paying over $300/night for the room alone.

Nope. If you bring a car there really are no other options. How much would it have cost you to stay at a deluxe hotel at disney within walking distance of the parks for the same date? Comparing usually makes the RPR cost a little easier to swallow.

For example: April 21...RPR $339 + $15 parking = $354, Beach club $563, Poly $540