Parking fees, valet fees, whats next for Disney?

[ShellyLynn3630]

How about making parking an addon for you the tickets.
1 day ticket + parking add $14
2 day ticket + parking add $27
...
10 day ticket + parking add $100

You would get a voucher for each day for parking that you turn in at the toll booths.

Huh? Every ticket in the room? Even the kid's tickets?

 

[Halbleib1]

How about making parking an addon for you the tickets.
1 day ticket + parking add $14
2 day ticket + parking add $27
...
10 day ticket + parking add $100

You would get a voucher for each day for parking that you turn in at the toll booths.

Yeah that is not the best idea I have heard. For two adults with one child we would be paying $300 to park for 10 days on top of the ticket costs. That would just be plain nuts. How about just including parking with your admission ticket. After all they are high enough as it is and they keep going up up and up every year.

For the pp that said that they have not raised the ticket prices much: research the cost of a one day ticket in 2005 compared to 2009 and what it will be in 2010. If I remember correctly in 2005 a one day ticket was around 50.00 sorry that would have been 60 and today we are over $75.00. That is a pretty good difference in only 4 years imo esp. when we have been in a bad economy for some of that time. Heck in 2006 alone they raised prices twice in one year.

Add that with everything else they have been charging more for: parking, strollers, food and it makes it quite a bit more expensive for a family to visit.

My family has been lucky thus far as we use ME, we bring our own stroller, and we use the dining plan. Last two trips we had free dining. So other than the park tickets/tips we have not had to pay any additional costs yet. But from the way things are going I can forsee this changing in the future.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

This is the exact reason why we don't rent a car at Disney nor at Universal. Don't have to worry about the parking and valet fees. We just stayed 14 days at the Hyatt Regency just outside DTD and they charged $20.00 per day for valet parking. Had no choice but to rent a car on that trip but that will be the last time we will be staying off property.

 

[Halbleib1]

This is the exact reason why we don't rent a car at Disney nor at Universal. Don't have to worry about the parking and valet fees. We just stayed 14 days at the Hyatt Regency just outside DTD and they charged $20.00 per day for valet parking. Had no choice but to rent a car on that trip but that will be the last time we will be staying off property.

Did you have to use valet parking then?

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Yeah that is not the best idea I have heard. For two adults with one child we would be paying $300 to park for 10 days on top of the ticket costs. That would just be plain nuts. How about just including parking with your admission ticket. After all they are high enough as it is and they keep going up up and up every year.

For the pp that said that they have not raised the ticket prices much: research the cost of a one day ticket in 2005 compared to 2009 and what it will be in 2010. If I remember correctly in 2005 a one day ticket was around 50.00 sorry that would have been 60 and today we are over $75.00. That is a pretty good difference in only 4 years imo esp. when we have been in a bad economy for some of that time. Heck in 2006 alone they raised prices twice in one year.

Add that with everything else they have been charging more for: parking, strollers, food and it makes it quite a bit more expensive for a family to visit.

My family has been lucky thus far as we use ME, we bring our own stroller, and we use the dining plan. Last two trips we had free dining. So other than the park tickets/tips we have not had to pay any additional costs yet. But from the way things are going I can forsee this changing in the future.

There is a thread on the rumor board stating that the ticket prices will be going up again in January 2010. The amount is absurd, but they may still be going up again.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I'm pretty sure they DO charge resort guests to park at the Disneyland Resorts

We have stayed at the Grand Cali at Disneyland. There is a fee for valet parking but no fee for self parking.


I travel all the time - sending this from a hotel in Canada right now. I can count on one hand how many times I have paid for parking in the 10 years I have worked for my current company (and traveled extensively). However, I will also say I stay at one hotel chain whenever possible and many of the fees are waived for thier frequent guests.

I have my doubts about DME. The ONLY reason they are offering it is to keep customers on property (no need for rental cars). That's the reason they offer free dining as well.


Anyway.....no fee for Disneyland --- but the night is young. That could change by morning!

 

[TDC Nala]

Universal's done it for years. I stayed at one of their hotels in 2004 and had to pay about $8 a night for self parking. Now I think it's $10.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I wonder if Disney is reading this and the other threads on this matter?

 

[shafke]

How about making parking an addon for you the tickets.
1 day ticket + parking add $14
2 day ticket + parking add $27
...
10 day ticket + parking add $100

You would get a voucher for each day for parking that you turn in at the toll booths.

Huh? Every ticket in the room? Even the kid's tickets?

Nah, maybe something like a package... you buy 10 day tickets and there is a checkbox on the order form to add parking.

 

[Mr. Pig]

We have stayed at the Grand Cali at Disneyland. There is a fee for valet parking but no fee for self parking.


I have my doubts about DME. The ONLY reason they are offering it is to keep customers on property (no need for rental cars). That's the reason they offer free dining as well.


Anyway.....no fee for Disneyland --- but the night is young. That could change by morning!

Actually DLR has a daily "resort fee" that they charge. This includes the parking and internet fees.

 

[Sammie]

I think before they will charge a guest to park in their resort lot, they will charge others coming to a resort to dine or shop.

 

[Halbleib1]

There is a thread on the rumor board stating that the ticket prices will be going up again in January 2010. The amount is absurd, but they may still be going up again.

Sometimes I think we get confused with the ticket increases because I have read here on the boards about when prices go up in August that it is for the rest of the current year we are in as well. But when I go onto disney's website and price out the cost of my inlaws trip in December the price is the same as when they booked for this year back in July before an increase was announced. I think they announce the increase in August but it does not take effect for trips through December of that same year. Therefore January would be the new year with the new increase. Thus why people might think there is going to be another increase when in fact it is the same increase that was announced in August.

That is the only thing I can figure for pricing the same trip that was booked in July on Disney's website after the so called ticket increase and getting the same price that they booked for.

Than again maybe only packages remain the same price. Maybe only purchasing of the tickets seperate increases in August.

 

[Halbleib1]

I think before they will charge a guest to park in their resort lot, they will charge others coming to a resort to dine or shop.

If they did this though people could just use the buses or monorail to avoid this fee.

Bottom line is that Disney just has to wake up and realize that people can only afford so much before they say to heck with them and start going elsewhere. Heck even if I could afford it I say enough is enough and if they do not wake up soon I will take my money elsewhere. Making a profit is one thing but being greedy is quite another.

Since my first trip in 2007: parking has gone up at least twice if not three times, tickets have gone up three times, holiday surcharges for dining has been implemented, the dining plan has gone up with the removal of appetizer and tip and now they are going to charge holiday pricing for the dining plan during certain dates as well. They have removed all beef hotdogs from the parks but have not lowered the price to reflect this. Many food items have gone up in price or they have gotten rid of them altogether. Almost all of the food at Counter Service and Table Service places are standarized. I have read that this was starting to happen in 2007 but it was not to the extent that it is now. Obviously if people are correct and changes started in 2007 if not before and my first trip was in 2007 and I see a change with the food it has to have been a drastic change. The food was much better during our first trip than it was for our 2nd and 3rd trips. While we had good meals during our 2nd and 3rd trips we also had more bad meals.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

If they did this though people could just use the buses or monorail to avoid this fee.

Bottom line is that Disney just has to wake up and realize that people can only afford so much before they say to heck with them and start going elsewhere. Heck even if I could afford it I say enough is enough and if they do not wake up soon I will take my money elsewhere. Making a profit is one thing but being greedy is quite another.

Since my first trip in 2007: parking has gone up at least twice if not three times, tickets have gone up three times, holiday surcharges for dining has been implemented, the dining plan has gone up with the removal of appetizer and tip and now they are going to charge holiday pricing for the dining plan during certain dates as well. They have removed all beef hotdogs from the parks but have not lowered the price to reflect this. Many food items have gone up in price or they have gotten rid of them altogether. Almost all of the food at Counter Service and Table Service places are standarized. I have read that this was starting to happen in 2007 but it was not to the extent that it is now. Obviously if people are correct and changes started in 2007 if not before and my first trip was in 2007 and I see a change with the food it has to have been a drastic change. The food was much better during our first trip than it was for our 2nd and 3rd trips. While we had good meals during our 2nd and 3rd trips we also had more bad meals.

I agree making a profit is acceptable, but it seems as though more of this is just plain greed.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Did you have to use valet parking then?

No, we didn't have to use valet parking but with my dad just having back surgery it was convenient to do valet. The self parking was not close at all. But then come to think about it I could have done my cardio for the day going to and from the self parking.

 

[Lynne M]

I agree making a profit is acceptable, but it seems as though more of this is just plain greed.

The goal of every publicly held company is to make the absolute maximum profit possible. If it does not, the shareholders will demand that management be replaced.

So, at all times, The Walt Disney Company's goal is to squeeze every last dime of profit possible out of its operations, up to the point where they start to price themselves out of the customer's ability or willingness to pay. That's what the phrase 'charging what the market will bear' means.

That's how every business sets its prices. Car companies, fast food restaurants, clothing stores, hotels, airlines, theme parks. Everything that you buy. That's not greed. It's how a capitalist economy works.

Also, consider that just as your costs for things you buy go up every year, so do Disney's operating costs. That shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Ever since there's been money, prices always go up. The company they've outsourced valet parking to is charging more. The food suppliers are charging more. Cleaning products for housekeepers cost more. As any business does, Disney passes those cost increases right on to the customer.

So, even if price increases mean that some people can no longer visit Disney World, as long as the hotels are still full, and the restaurants are fully booked, and the theme parks are packed.......it's of no consequence to Disney that some customers have left, because there are still plenty of people who CAN afford to go.

And as we've seen this year, if hotel bookings go down, all they need to do is offer some sort of promotion or code, and the hotels, restaurants and parks are packed again.

 

[Halbleib1]

The goal of every publicly held company is to make the absolute maximum profit possible. If it does not, the shareholders will demand that management be replaced.

So, at all times, The Walt Disney Company's goal is to squeeze every last dime of profit possible out of its operations, up to the point where they start to price themselves out of the customer's ability or willingness to pay. That's what the phrase 'charging what the market will bear' means.

That's how every business sets its prices. Car companies, fast food restaurants, clothing stores, hotels, airlines, theme parks. Everything that you buy. That's not greed. It's how a capitalist economy works.

Also, consider that just as your costs for things you buy go up every year, so do Disney's operating costs. That shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Ever since there's been money, prices always go up. The company they've outsourced valet parking to is charging more. The food suppliers are charging more. Cleaning products for housekeepers cost more. As any business does, Disney passes those cost increases right on to the customer.

So, even if price increases mean that some people can no longer visit Disney World, as long as the hotels are still full, and the restaurants are fully booked, and the theme parks are packed.......it's of no consequence to Disney that some customers have left, because there are still plenty of people who CAN afford to go.

And as we've seen this year, if hotel bookings go down, all they need to do is offer some sort of promotion or code, and the hotels, restaurants and parks are packed again.

And we still call Disney a family company? How is that being family oriented if all they care about is the bottom line? I don't know about you but I do not take advantage of my family members at every turn so long as I can make a profit from it.

So you could say that a Capitalist Economy= Greed. Because what Disney has been doing lately is just plain greedy. Plain and simple. And to say that they have to raise prices is bull because by no means did there costs go up that much. Also costs for many of us have been coming down or at least remained stable since gas has gone down. How much more can they be paying out to justify the cost of parking going up so much in the last 2 years. Or how about getting rid of all beef hot dogs but keeping the price the same? We all know that they are not paying more for those mixed chicken/beef hot dogs. Or the stroller rental prices. Also outsourcing is not a justifiable excuse because it is not costing them any more money it is saving them money or they would not be outsourcing it. Company's only outsource when it can save them time and money. If it is going to cost them more they will not do it. The stockholders/market and what they want/can hold is not a justifiable excuse either because we all know what happens when they get too much control.

The attitude in this country that because we are capitalists we have to just accept whatever companies want to charge us is just ridiculous and what got us into the mess we are in to begin with. With that philosophy no one should be complaining about the current economic times we are going through in this country because after all that is the type of system we have. It is all about the profit and it does not matter how they succeed in that goal. Ethics and morals do not matter anymore. And just doing the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing no longer applies apparantly.
Well that is not the type of country I want to live in.

 

[brergnat]

And we still call Disney a family company? How is that being family oriented if all they care about is the bottom line? I don't know about you but I do not take advantage of my family members at every turn so long as I can make a profit from it.

So you could say that a Capitalist Economy= Greed. Because what Disney has been doing lately is just plain greedy. Plain and simple. And to say that they have to raise prices is bull because by no means did there costs go up that much. Also costs for many of us have been coming down or at least remained stable since gas has gone down. How much more can they be paying out to justify the cost of parking going up so much in the last 2 years. Or how about getting rid of all beef hot dogs but keeping the price the same? We all know that they are not paying more for those mixed chicken/beef hot dogs. Or the stroller rental prices. Also outsourcing is not a justifiable excuse because it is not costing them any more money it is saving them money or they would not be outsourcing it. Company's only outsource when it can save them time and money. If it is going to cost them more they will not do it. The stockholders/market and what they want/can hold is not a justifiable excuse either because we all know what happens when they get too much control.

The attitude in this country that because we are capitalists we have to just accept whatever companies want to charge us is just ridiculous and what got us into the mess we are in to begin with. With that philosophy no one should be complaining about the current economic times we are going through in this country because after all that is the type of system we have. It is all about the profit and it does not matter how they succeed in that goal. Ethics and morals do not matter anymore. And just doing the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing no longer applies apparantly.
Well that is not the type of country I want to live in.

Disney doesn't call THEMSELVES a "family company." They are a FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT company. There is a huge difference. WE call them a "family company."

And, yes, Capitalist=Greed. Usually. Disney is not a charity, they don't owe anybody anything. They have not promised anything to their customers. They are not morally in the wrong by raising prices.

Disney is one of the largest Entertainment companies in the world. They didn't get there by being "nice" and "accessible to all."

I really don't understand the mentality that people seem to have where they believe they have a God given RIGHT to visit Disney Parks. This just blows my mind. No one seems to feel this way about Six Flags, Busch Gardens, Universal, etc.

The problem we have in this county is not capitalism. It's the mentality of people who feel ENTITLED to things that they simply cannot have. A house. A nice car. Expensive vacations.

The truth is, some people (a LOT) can easily afford a trip to WDW. Some will never be able to afford it. The ones in between have to make a decision about how to spend a limited amount of disposable income. The ONLY way that a business will either lower prices or stop raising them is if people STOP GOING, as a collective, and enough to make an impact.

While it may seem like the "whole country" is suffering from these "economic times", I am here to tell you that is NOT the case. Plenty of people still have good, secure jobs that pay well. They are in no danger of losing those jobs. They have guaranteed income.

The great thing about this country is that you have freedom of choice. YOU choose how and when to spend your money. If you choose to visit WDW, so be it. If you choose not to, so be it.

Just don't think that Disney owes you anything. You are nothing to them. They want you to believe that you are important, as EVERY business does. Problem is, it's mostly just an act. SMALL businesses MUST care about their customers, or they will go out of business. HUGE corporations just need enough followers to keep reaping in the profits. You can begrudge them that, but it's at YOUR expense.

 

[Disney/Universal Fan]

If it was not for the military ticket special we would not have gone as much as we did this year. It is only a matter of time before they start to charge for parking. We were in Atlanta three weeks ago and we were charged $12 a night to park. Anytime that I book a room now I just expect it kind of like the "resort fee" Like a previous post mentioned, I realize that it is a business and they are in business to make money. But there is going to come a time where we are going to have to look to vacations somewhere else.

The fact is that Disney DOES have the military ticket specials, they do have the 4/3 special, they also offer free dining, this year they had the birthday special, and next year the volunteer day special.
Nothing is ever going to stay the same. People have to adjust.

 

[Halbleib1]

Disney doesn't call THEMSELVES a "family company." They are a FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT company. There is a huge difference. WE call them a "family company."

And, yes, Capitalist=Greed. Usually. Disney is not a charity, they don't owe anybody anything. They have not promised anything to their customers. They are not morally in the wrong by raising prices.

Disney is one of the largest Entertainment companies in the world. They didn't get there by being "nice" and "accessible to all."

I really don't understand the mentality that people seem to have where they believe they have a God given RIGHT to visit Disney Parks. This just blows my mind. No one seems to feel this way about Six Flags, Busch Gardens, Universal, etc.

The problem we have in this county is not capitalism. It's the mentality of people who feel ENTITLED to things that they simply cannot have. A house. A nice car. Expensive vacations.

The truth is, some people (a LOT) can easily afford a trip to WDW. Some will never be able to afford it. The ones in between have to make a decision about how to spend a limited amount of disposable income. The ONLY way that a business will either lower prices or stop raising them is if people STOP GOING, as a collective, and enough to make an impact.

While it may seem like the "whole country" is suffering from these "economic times", I am here to tell you that is NOT the case. Plenty of people still have good, secure jobs that pay well. They are in no danger of losing those jobs. They have guaranteed income.

The great thing about this country is that you have freedom of choice. YOU choose how and when to spend your money. If you choose to visit WDW, so be it. If you choose not to, so be it.

Just don't think that Disney owes you anything. You are nothing to them. They want you to believe that you are important, as EVERY business does. Problem is, it's mostly just an act. SMALL businesses MUST care about their customers, or they will go out of business. HUGE corporations just need enough followers to keep reaping in the profits. You can begrudge them that, but it's at YOUR expense.

Even us minions can make a difference in a corporation if there are enough of us. And eventually there just might be enough of us to affect Disney as the middle class gets smaller and smaller. (The majority of people that go to Disney and buy their merchandise are middle class folks not wealthy people.) Than these huge corporations that many may think are untouchable may just start feeling it. Heck the retail industry already has. Some of those stores that went out or filed for bankruptcy were not exactly mom and pop stores but large corporations that had stores all across the country. Some even had stores based in other countries.

I never said that Disney owed me anything I was just stating my opinion and feelings on the topic. And it is not just Disney this is happening with but since this is a Disney board logic is that is what you are going to read about here.

And no job is 100% secure anymore. There is no such thing as a guaranteed income unless you are independently wealthy. And those that are independently wealthy make up a small percentage of the population.


BTW: We live in a house that we can afford and we are driving a car that is 7 years old with 130,000 miles on it. We will be driving this car for at least another three years or so as long as it holds up. And the most expensive vacation we have gone on is to Disney and than it cost us less than most people pay for a week at the beach. Most of our vacations have been done very very cheap where we only have to pay for our food and entertainment as we tent camp. My inlaws have a camping membership that has a family plan on it. Or if we are going to the beach we stay with my husbands grandmother in her camper. Not many expensive vacations for us. So unless you know a person and their financial life you should not make assumptions about their lifestyle.