Parking fees

[NancyIL]

Did you notice this sentence in your quoted passage?

I think that refers to WDW resort guests who choose to drive to the theme parks, because parking is free for them.

**Rereading that, it does refer to transportation/parking at DD.

 

[Lynne M]

Please see the above posted rule.....AKK

Yes, that's a quote from the list of benefits available to resort guests. It does not state that transportation is only available to hotel guests. The Disney transportation system is available to day guests as well. The last I looked, there was a statement to that effect printed on the back of the ticket media. Thousands of day guests use the buses, boats and monorails every day to travel between parks, and from parks to resorts to dine, shop, and use recreational facilities.

 

[MrRomance]

When's the last time you were asked to show either a ticket or a KTTW when boarding WDW transportation?

For me, it's been about 16 years...

Exactly, that's what I said, I don't know how they could enforce it because they don't inspect tickets. It may be "the policy" but any policy is only as good as it's enforcement.

 

[TDC Nala]

No matter what the argument is, CAN you park at DTD to go to the parks? Yes.

Is it easy to do? No.

Will you make it to park opening? No.

I'm not seeing how Disney has made it hard for guests to go from DTD to the parks by bus. It's just a single bus transfer, the same as going from, say, AKL to WL.

Depending on the cirucumstances of any individual trip, even a single bus transfer on Disney transportation can take over an hour, especially from DTD - which has two bus stops and will also stop at Typhoon Lagoon when it is open.

As for the buses and other Disney transportation, in 11 years of regular visits I have never seen anyone check resort ID or tickets before permitting guests to ride it (with the exception of the monorail at early EMH) as I am assuming that the previous poster is stating it is Disney's rule that only Disney resort guests may ride the buses, boats or monorails. That would be interesting if it is the rule and if it were enforced, as MK day guests or offsite guests would be totally unable to get to the park from the parking lot if they couldn't ride the monorail or boats.

 

[torinsmom]

I don't have time to find it, but it says elsewhere on the Disney website that Disney transportation is available to anyone with a valid ticket. The blurb quoted above is listed as a benefit of staying onsite, and just neglects to mention that is it not an exclusive benefit.

Aren't the monorail and the ferry also Disney transportation? If so, this "rule" would mean that noone except Disney resort guests could go to MK, right? It also says that it is available to guests of select WDW hotels, so does that mean certain resorts are not eligible? Because last I heard, buses come to every resort hotel.

"Complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort—including transportation to and from Disney Theme Parks and Disney Water Parks—is available to Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels."

 

[mom2rtk]

Even if money is tight, you still have a lot of money invested in going to Disney. Why anyone would want to waste an extra hour at the start of the day, then again at the end of the day....... for $14......... is beyond me.

And while it's no harder to go to the parks from DTD than from one resort to another............. I don't do that either. Just takes too darn long. I think long and hard about when I schedule any ADR's at a resort so I can avoid it if possible. And if I decide to do it anyway, that's where I take a taxi. No, I'm not rolling in dough. But I do know what my precious vacation time is worth!

 

[chartle]

1. Yes, that's a quote from the list of benefits available to resort guests. It does not state that transportation is only available to hotel guests.


2. The Disney transportation system is available to day guests as well. The last I looked, there was a statement to that effect printed on the back of the ticket media. Thousands of day guests use the buses, boats and monorails every day to travel between parks, and from parks to resorts to dine, shop, and use recreational facilities.

1. Yes no where does it say any words that even come close to saying exclusive use.

2. Yes at one time you had to be a Resort Guest staying on site to use Disney transportation but that was from a time where there really wasn't anything to do at the Resorts (all three of them) besides sleeping there.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't know anything about passes, but you could definitely make extra travel time and park in DTD. I'm pretty sure parking there is free, then just use the buses from there.

Who cares if it is frowned upon on the Dis?

Alrighty then....here's the deal. Does Disney allow you to park at DTD (free) and then head to a park? Yes. Do they care? No. Do they intend for those staying at Vistana to park at DTD and take a bus to DHS? No. Do they stop anyone from doing it? No.

Disney stopped running buses between DTD and the parks because it wasn't needed. There is no rule in place. Just about every 'rule' or 'policy' you see regarding transportation at WDW makes it 'look' like it's for WDW resortm guests...but anyone can use any mode of transportation. Now, with that said, there can be times of year when resort ID is checked before using Disney transport...but it is not the norm.


The bigger question is why in God's name would someone want to park (and save that $14 a day) at DTD, and then take a bus to a resort, and then another bus (or boat or monorail) to the intended park??? FIrst of all...the buses running to the various resorts aren't really all that dependable early in the morning. So, until about 10am, you are going to possibly face long waits for the bus to come. It could take you at least an hour to get to your final destination, and probably more than that...closer to 90 mins.

My thoughts would be to budget in for parking at the parks. It's not that big an expenditure and it will greatly enhance your daily park enjoyment if you can just drive to the park and then go in....without wasting time.

 

[maxiesmom]

What you can do (this is what we did) in the time before you go (while you're still planning) is when you have an extra $14- stick it in an envelope and you keep doing this until you have enough $14 "packets" to get you through your whole trip. Then stick it in your glove compartment; then all you have to do is hand your $14.00 packet to the parking lot cm.

That way, it doesn't really feel like it's eating into your trip budget- it's just another way to trick yourself, I guess- but somehow it still makes it easier

That is an idea I could get behind. I do the same thing for tip money, and even for meals (when not on the dining plan). I figure out how much money I will spend for a certain thing, and then fill my envelopes accordingly. I ususally put an extra few dollars in the envelopes, so by the end of the trip I have a little cash left for an extra purchase.

 

[goofyernmost]

It just amazes me that people would inconvenience themselves so much just to save a few bucks. They have spent the most money on the park admissions and yet will squander away time, already paid for in the parks, to save $14.00. It's almost laughable. What was that old saying...penny wise and pound foolish?

As stated it takes awhile to get from DTD to any of the parks to begin with, due to having to transfer. I doubt that the frequency of buses to and from DTD is as often as from the resorts to the parks. In the evening when you are basically exhausted from the day in the parks, you then must board a bus to a (random) resort then to a bus going to DTD, never knowing exactly how quickly that connection can be made.

I can see why Disney doesn't bother to make a rule about it, they are so busy laughing at the fools that do it that it just provides entertainment. Oh, I know...very shortly someone will be posting a response to this saying how insulted they are that I just called them a fool. Well, if the shoe fits!

The argument about being financially strapped to the point of having to pinch penny's is a tough one to sell when you are at WDW. It is not exactly a poor persons destination. And if it's true then there is a real possibility that some wrong choices have been made regarding responsible financial expenditures.

 

[SnapesGirl]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I believe the hotel we're going to book has a free shuttle to the Disney parks, however I don't always like relying on those especially if we want to leave the park late. $14 a day isn't too bad (beats the $58 parking a day in NYC we got stuck with!)

Thanks again!

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I believe the hotel we're going to book has a free shuttle to the Disney parks, however I don't always like relying on those especially if we want to leave the park late. $14 a day isn't too bad (beats the $58 parking a day in NYC we got stuck with!)

Thanks again!

You may want to check what times that shuttle runs at. Most off-site shuttles are very limited, and they don't run very often. Also, they won't take you to all of the parks. You will have to do a little transferring around. It is possible that you will still want to drive to the parks.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Even though it's a major inconvenience for the offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney so they can take a Bus to a WDW Resort and go off to a park of their choice, the fact is I am sure some still do this and I think the solution is for WDW to start charging offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney. This way they don't even want to try it and they can save parking spaces over there for guests that want to shop and eat, because some times it's hard to park there. However just like with the current parking rules they have at the 4 Theme Parks they should still have free parking for guests staying onsite, those with an Annual Passs and etc.

 

[NancyIL]

Even though it's a major inconvenience for the offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney so they can take a Bus to a WDW Resort and go off to a park of their choice, the fact is I am sure some still do this and I think the solution is for WDW to start charging offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney. This way they don't even want to try it and they can save parking spaces over there for guests that want to shop and eat, because some times it's hard to park there. However just like with the current parking rules they have at the 4 Theme Parks they should still have free parking for guests staying onsite, those with an Annual Passs and etc.

How would Disney determine which off-site guests (or locals) are at Downtown Disney to shop/eat and which are there to go to a theme park?

**After reading the posts after mine, did you mean that ALL off-site guests should pay to park at DD - even if they are there to shop and/or eat?

 

[torinsmom]

Even though it's a major inconvenience for the offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney so they can take a Bus to a WDW Resort and go off to a park of their choice, the fact is I am sure some still do this and I think the solution is for WDW to start charging offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney. This way they don't even want to try it and they can save parking spaces over there for guests that want to shop and eat, because some times it's hard to park there. However just like with the current parking rules they have at the 4 Theme Parks they should still have free parking for guests staying onsite, those with an Annual Passs and etc.

They would lose money if they did that. I like to go walk around DTD and spend money while I'm there. If I had to pay to park, I wouldn't go, and they would lose out on my money. A lot of people go there to eat dinner as well. You already pay for the meal, but to pay $14 on top of that would be too much, IMHO. I can't imagine many people park and do the whole bus transfer thing to get to the parks.

It would be more effective to give out parking passes good for a certain amount of time like they do when you go to a resort to shop or eat. I guess if you were there for longer, you'd have to get a second pass. I know we have done DQ and been at DTD pretty much all day.

 

[snykymom]

Even though it's a major inconvenience for the offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney so they can take a Bus to a WDW Resort and go off to a park of their choice, the fact is I am sure some still do this and I think the solution is for WDW to start charging offsite guests to park at Downtown Disney. This way they don't even want to try it and they can save parking spaces over there for guests that want to shop and eat, because some times it's hard to park there. However just like with the current parking rules they have at the 4 Theme Parks they should still have free parking for guests staying onsite, those with an Annual Passs and etc.

Charging $14/day to shop and eat?? Good way to kill DTD. The number of people who will park at DTD and bus to resort and then to park is negligible compared to those who would not shop or eat at DTD (particularly locals who have lots of choices throughout Orlando and surrounding areas) if it cost to park there.

Disney made it inconvenient enough to park at DTD and get to the parks that they really aren't losing that much money. They don't need another "rule." There are thousands of people at the parks every day. Does anyone think that 100 cars park at DTD to get there? Do you think that losing $1400 (if 100 cars do it) really matters that much in the grand scheme of things? In fact, I think Disney loses a lot less than that. Not worth it to bother about.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

How would Disney determine which off-site guests (or locals) are at Downtown Disney to shop/eat and which are there to go to a theme park?

The only solution is to set up a parking gate when you arrive and it's where you pay. Now if you are staying onsite or have an Annual Pass and etc then they let park for free by showing your KTTW card or your Annual Pass. However if they are staying offsite then they pay a fee just like at the Theme Parks.

They would lose money if they did that. I like to go walk around DTD and spend money while I'm there. If I had to pay to park, I wouldn't go, and they would lose out on my money. A lot of people go there to eat dinner as well. You already pay for the meal, but to pay $14 on top of that would be too much, IMHO. I can't imagine many people park and do the whole bus transfer thing to get to the parks.

It would be more effective to give out parking passes good for a certain amount of time like they do when you go to a resort to shop or eat. I guess if you were there for longer, you'd have to get a second pass. I know we have done DQ and been at DTD pretty much all day.

Do you think everyone parking should get a parking pass or just offsite guests? I only say that because guests staying onsite don't have a reason to park there and go off to a Theme Park.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Charging $14/day to shop and eat?? Good way to kill DTD. The number of people who will park at DTD and bus to resort and then to park is negligible compared to those who would not shop or eat at DTD (particularly locals who have lots of choices throughout Orlando and surrounding areas) if it cost to park there.

Disney made it inconvenient enough to park at DTD and get to the parks that they really aren't losing that much money. They don't need another "rule." There are thousands of people at the parks every day. Does anyone think that 100 cars park at DTD to get there? Do you think that losing $1400 (if 100 cars do it) really matters that much in the grand scheme of things? In fact, I think Disney loses a lot less than that. Not worth it to bother about.

Doesn't Downtown Disney in Disneyland charge for parking? If so I am sure they have a reason for doing that and is that not something WDW could take into account if they ever wanted to try this?

 

[NancyIL]

Doesn't Downtown Disney in Disneyland charge for parking? If so I am sure they have a reason for doing that and is that not something WDW could take into account if they ever wanted to try this?

City Walk charges for parking, but it's the same parking garage as used for the Universal theme parks. The same with Disneyland.

 

[BeerMe]

Disney studies everything. If they decide there are revenue opportunities, they will begin charging for parking at DtD. Until then it will be free.