Parking Fee for reservations made before March 21st.

[fla4fun]

I just checked into CSR with a reservation made last year. The CM indicated there would be a charge for parking. I said that it was my understanding that reservations made before March 21 would be exempt. The CM said they could give me a partial credit. I felt like a bit of a jerk and said thanks but I'd really prefer to speak with a manager on this. The CM then went and spoke to a manager and came back and waived the fee. Just thought I would share in case this happens to anyone else. The CM was super nice but had I not stood my ground I would have paid for parking.

Wow. Just wow. How many hoops do they expect us to jump through? I hate confrontation and now I will have to go to the desk and perhaps fight with someone not to be charged. This is something that should have been automatic. The computer system knows when we booked and should not apply parking if booked before the 21st, without us having to say a word, let alone escalate it. I hope this doesn’t get me placed on the “difficult guest who gets compensation” list, when all I want is what I was promised.

 

[AngiTN]

Before I pass judgement I want to see if this is happening everywhere or if this was just an isolated incident. The fact that it was at CSR really does leave me wondering

Plus, when you book a post 3/21 reservation, even the Disney site says parking is charged at check out, not check in. So that was wrong too

I do think if this was the new policy we'd be hearing a lot more reports

 

[fla4fun]

Before I'd pass judgement I want to see if this is happening everywhere or if this was just an isolated incident. The fact that it was at CSR really does leave me wondering

Plus, when you book apostle 3/21 reservation, even the Disney site says parking is charged at check out, not check in. So that was wrong too

The problem for me is I won’t be able to check my final folio before leaving property because I have to be at work early, before their computers switch over to my check out day. So I will have to go by the desk at some point during the trip to have the conversation or risk having to go back after work that day to straighten it out. It’s less than a month until my trip and I don’t have a lot of faith in their ability to get their act together by then. At least I am not at CSR . . .

I assume that the CM’s have been told to bring up the parking at check in to try to minimize issues at check out when the charge appears. That would prevent people trying to get it waived because “they weren’t told” (even if it does appear in the fine print when booking).

 

[AngiTN]

I arrive in about 3 weeks and not via ME but not driving. Will be interesting to see what they do with us

 

[rdaky]

Before I pass judgement I want to see if this is happening everywhere or if this was just an isolated incident. The fact that it was at CSR really does leave me wondering

Plus, when you book a post 3/21 reservation, even the Disney site says parking is charged at check out, not check in. So that was wrong too

I do think if this was the new policy we'd be hearing a lot more reports

Hopefully it was just an isolated incident. However, you would think that with this new policy being such a HUGE deal with so much uproar, cast members would be properly trained on this specific issue.

 

[DizneyMommy]

I just checked into CSR with a reservation made last year. The CM indicated there would be a charge for parking. I said that it was my understanding that reservations made before March 21 would be exempt. The CM said they could give me a partial credit. I felt like a bit of a jerk and said thanks but I'd really prefer to speak with a manager on this. The CM then went and spoke to a manager and came back and waived the fee. Just thought I would share in case this happens to anyone else. The CM was super nice but had I not stood my ground I would have paid for parking.

Wow. There is going to be some serious uproar if every person who booked before 3/21 gets automatically charged and has to argue to get it reversed. Including me. That is not ok, that just looks downright deceitful and intentional to me.

 

[dizanimator]

I didn't think being charged for parking was going to start being a problem quite this soon. I assumed that it would be a couple of months before many bookings would have been made after March 21 and need to have parking charged, so that the current default would be that parking is still free for those checking in. I would think it would be fairly easy for the computer to show the date a reservation was made, and that there should be no charge for parking.

 

[Iya]

I didn't think being charged for parking was going to start being a problem quite this soon. I assumed that it would be a couple of months before many bookings would have been made after March 21 and need to have parking charged, so that the current default would be that parking is still free for those checking in. I would think it would be fairly easy for the computer to show the date a reservation was made, and that there should be no charge for parking.

I assumed it would become a problem as of March 22. Seems I wasn't that far off.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Plus, when you book a post 3/21 reservation, even the Disney site says parking is charged at check out, not check in. So that was wrong too

I do think if this was the new policy we'd be hearing a lot more reports

Possibly they are just advising the guests at check in to be aware of this charge at check out (so they dont spend money during the vacation they will end up oweing at the end)

Maybe this is the way they are finding out who has a car..... the honor system??? Are they just asking at check-in? Seems strange as many dont even go to the desk. You are texted your room number and if you do online check in, your MBs are activated and you can just go straight to the room.

 

[AngiTN]

Quick question: How did they know you have a car? Did they just ask how you arrived at the resort? Did the guard at the gate radio ahead & tell them you arrived by car? I’m just curious as to how this is all going to be implemented...and so far, it doesn’t sound very organized, AT ALL.

Maybe this is the way they are finding out who has a car..... the honor system??? Are they just asking at check-in? Seems strange as many dont even go to the desk. You are texted your room number and if you do online check in, your MBs are activated and you can just go straight to the room.

Something I just recalled, they know who arrives via ME. When you set it up it gets connected in MDE and your arrival time at the resort says "arrival by ME" so I wonder if that plays on to the parking charge too

That is obviously not fool proof but would give them a starting point. They'd at least not charge ME guests parking.

Wonder if they stop sending room texts to all who don't arrive via ME?

 

[KrazeeK120]

Something I just recalled, they know who arrives via ME. When you set it up it gets connected in MDE and your arrival time at the resort says "arrival by ME" so I wonder if that plays on to the parking charge too

That is obviously not fool proof but would give them a starting point. They'd at least not charge ME guests parking.

Wonder if they stop sending room texts to all who don't arrive via ME?

There are people who arrive via ME and then rent a car for a day or 2 during their trip. I’ve done it myself. So, it would also be an error to automatically NOT charge people arriving via DME.

 

[yaya74]

Before I pass judgement I want to see if this is happening everywhere or if this was just an isolated incident. The fact that it was at CSR really does leave me wondering

Plus, when you book a post 3/21 reservation, even the Disney site says parking is charged at check out, not check in. So that was wrong too

I do think if this was the new policy we'd be hearing a lot more reports

Last summer I stayed at DoubleTree across the street from Universal Studio Orlando, also at Portofino Bay at Universal.
Both places charged me for parking upon checking out. There were signs by the entrance of hotel informing guests about the overnight parking fee.

The problem for me is I won’t be able to check my final folio before leaving property because I have to be at work early, before their computers switch over to my check out day. So I will have to go by the desk at some point during the trip to have the conversation or risk having to go back after work that day to straighten it out. It’s less than a month until my trip and I don’t have a lot of faith in their ability to get their act together by then. At least I am not at CSR . . .

I assume that the CM’s have been told to bring up the parking at check in to try to minimize issues at check out when the charge appears. That would prevent people trying to get it waived because “they weren’t told” (even if it does appear in the fine print when booking).

You should stop by the front desk before leaving Disney and ask for a final bill. That way you can fix the charges if there is any mistake. Or you can be proactive and information the front desk upon check in that your reservation was made prior to Mar 21 and that you are not expecting to be charged for parking..... I would be doing the later when I am there this summer.

 

[AngiTN]

There are people who arrive via ME and then rent a car for a day or 2 during their trip. I’ve done it myself. So, it would also be an error to automatically NOT charge people arriving via DME.

Which would be why I said not fool proof

 

[fla4fun]

Last summer I stayed at DoubleTree across the street from Universal Studio Orlando, also at Portofino Bay at Universal.
Both places charged me for parking upon checking out. There were signs by the entrance of hotel informing guests about the overnight parking fee.



You should stop by the front desk before leaving Disney and ask for a final bill. That way you can fix the charges if there is any mistake. Or you can be proactive and information the front desk upon check in that your reservation was made prior to Mar 21 and that you are not expecting to be charged for parking..... I would be doing the later when I am there this summer.

I have tried to get a printout on check out day in the past, but they have told me I can’t get it until the computers switch over at 6am. I have to be at work at 5:30, so I usually leave around five. That’s why I figured I would have to go down sometime during the trip, and then hope it all works out. I don’t have a lot of faith that talking to them at check in, or even the night before checkout, will carry over to a correct bill at the end of the trip. Keeping my fingers crossed. . .

 

[Amanda999]

FYI You can see your folio on your phone - on the Disney MDE app. Not sure its updated daily, but you don't have to wait until the end of the trip to see all the charges (in detail - like each of those room taxes listed out).

I would have thought they charge for parking via scanning your MB at the guard gate at the resort. I've stayed at BC, BWI and ASMo 2x each past 1.5 years and there is a guard and gate (you can open if you scan MB, or talk to the guard). They scan my MB to make sure I'm a guest at that resort before letting me in (or saying I can park as a day guest I guess).

 

[AngiTN]

FYI You can see your folio on your phone - on the Disney MDE app. Not sure its updated daily, but you don't have to wait until the end of the trip to see all the charges (in detail - like each of those room taxes listed out).

I would have thought they charge for parking via scanning your MB at the guard gate at the resort. I've stayed at BC, BWI and ASMo 2x each past 1.5 years and there is a guard and gate (you can open if you scan MB, or talk to the guard). They scan my MB to make sure I'm a guest at that resort before letting me in (or saying I can park as a day guest I guess).

Oh, good point. That is a new feature and I tend to forget about it. It actually updates really fast. Most of the time at least. Like within an hour.

 

[reluctantredhead]

I assumed it would become a problem as of March 22. Seems I wasn't that far off.

I actually assumed it was going to be a problem too...I had a feeling we were going to be "accidentally" charged and would have to take time out of our vacation to go argue and get it fixed! I hate confrontation, so I tried to talk my H out of renting a car this time but we had already prepaid for the reservation and would have to pay a penalty, so we kept it. I am floored, though, that the CM tried to argue that PP was wrong about the policy and offered a "partial credit" -- that is infuriating! If that happens to us I will be livid but as per usual will make H argue with them...he's much better at staying cool, calm, and collected and not getting flustered like I do, lol.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I have tried to get a printout on check out day in the past, but they have told me I can’t get it until the computers switch over at 6am. I have to be at work at 5:30, so I usually leave around five. That’s why I figured I would have to go down sometime during the trip, and then hope it all works out. I don’t have a lot of faith that talking to them at check in, or even the night before checkout, will carry over to a correct bill at the end of the trip. Keeping my fingers crossed. . .

I always check my bill mid trip. Mostly because I just spend freely and want to check to see how bad or good Ive been, but always a good idea to make sure there are no errors. I once caught I had been charged for Mickeys BBQ 3x. Luckily it was all for the same night, same guests, so there was no debating or looking into on their part. I was refunded immediately.

Regardless of the parking fee, its always a good idea to look mid trip. Love on the cruise ships and a few hotels Ive been to; I can check on the TV any time I want

 

[Anniefrances]

Wow. This bothers me - a LOT. As people upthread have said, it sounds like they didn’t even bother to check the date of when you made your original reservation.

Quick question: How did they know you have a car? Did they just ask how you arrived at the resort? Did the guard at the gate radio ahead & tell them you arrived by car? I’m just curious as to how this is all going to be implemented...and so far, it doesn’t sound very organized, AT ALL.

The CM knew we arrived by car because I mentioned how tired we were after a long drive as I was looking at the map to figure out where our building was located. It was totally my comment that triggered the parking fee conversation. I did check our charges on MDE today - so far nothing for parking, and on top of it, the CM gave us an "inconvenience" credit. Which was totally unnecessary IMO but much appreciated (I did have a minor heart palpitation when the CM told me the fee for 9 nights of parking lol).

Also I am editing to add - guest parking access is now only via magic band operated gating. So they definitely know who is going into the lot, at least here at CSR

 

[Anniefrances]

And CSR is the one resort we had such a bad time with we checked out a day early. And it stemmed from them making not communicating properly to us about changes made to our reservation, changes that shouldn't have been made in the first place.

I would want to speak to that manager to know why they were trying to charge parking in the first place. Who is getting the info wrong? The CM at the front desk or the manager giving it out? Is that manager telling the CM to try and charge and then see if the guest says something? After what happened to me, if it's the same manager, I honestly would not be surprised. Not after what they tried to put past me, without informing me. Had I been an uninformed guest I would have been out money. And that ticked me off.

Sorry to hear this, AngiTN. Though plenty of folks rave about it, the one resort where we had much less than a stellar time was CBR. So much so that we swore off moderates. But not forever, lol - this is our last year for holding APs so we are trying to branch out and try a couple more resorts that are new for us.