Parking Rate Increase

[stitchlovestink]

Effective today October 4, parking rates have increased.
Rates are now
$20 for a car or motorcycle
$22 for a camper, trailer or RV
$25 for a bus or tractor trailer.

Resort valet has also increased to $25.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Yay. Great.

Makes those throw away 1 night camp sites for $60 even more worth it. Saves you $40 in parking for 2 days so you get free MB's for your entire family, early ADR booking (at least for part of your stay) and the benefit of FP+ for your whole trip at 60 days (instead of 30) all for the low price of $20. Actually if you get one at $49+tax its even more of a deal.

#DisneyLogic

 

[amylevan]

Yay. Great.

Makes those throw away 1 night camp sites for $60 even more worth it. Saves you $40 in parking for 2 days so you get free MB's for your entire family, early ADR booking (at least for part of your stay) and the benefit of FP+ for your whole trip at 60 days (instead of 30) all for the low price of $20. Actually if you get one at $49+tax its even more of a deal.

#DisneyLogic

I really, really hope Disney closes this loophole somehow. It's going to be even more impossible to get a campsite.

And when exactly is this miraculous $49/site? The cheapest time of year is $58 and it's rare to get a discount on the campsites anymore.

 

[GAN]

Wow.... They REALLY want guests staying on-site.

 

[Tondee]

I was surprised at how easy it is to go through the gate without paying. I always stay at a disney resort. My friend came down this time and we drove out to poly. She forgot her parking pass and just told the person at the gate we had a ressie. No scan, just waved through. This was about 6pm so maybe that was it... ???

 

[stitchlovestink]

I really, really hope Disney closes this loophole somehow. It's going to be even more impossible to get a campsite.

And when exactly is this miraculous $49/site? The cheapest time of year is $58 and it's rare to get a discount on the campsites anymore.

And how do you suggest they close this loop hole? visit your campsite and make sure you have equipment set up and if you don't, hunt you down in the parks and take back your MB and cancel your FPs and dining ressies?? Apparently Disney isn't bothered by this any more than people booking a value room and not using it. That happens too. Not as much I am sure, but in the end, if they get their money it REALLY is up to the guest what services they want to use and what they don't....as long as they have checked in for the reservation.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I really, really hope Disney closes this loophole somehow. It's going to be even more impossible to get a campsite.

And when exactly is this miraculous $49/site? The cheapest time of year is $58 and it's rare to get a discount on the campsites anymore.

$52 is the lowest listed price I see (glanced through all of 2016). Im guessing they upped the minimum cost of $49 which it states on their website to $52 for 2016. Wasn't able to check for the rest of 2015 because there was no calendar option to show prices and the few random dates I did check were booked full (I guess it was booked full, it said the campsites weren't available for that time).

So basically, since MB cost $12.50 each, a family of 4 would pay $50 for MB and $40 for 2 days of parking = $90. Or, they can book a camp site for about $55 and get the MB free, parking free, plus be able to book FP+ at 60 days and even early ADRs for around $15.

I agree its a horrible loophole, but its a loophole that lines Disney's pockets with absolutely $0 having to go back into wear and tear or repair on their property. NO way they are going to stop that.

 

[amylevan]

And how do you suggest they close this loop hole? visit your campsite and make sure you have equipment set up and if you don't, hunt you down in the parks and take back your MB and cancel your FPs and dining ressies?? Apparently Disney isn't bothered by this any more than people booking a value room and not using it. That happens too. Not as much I am sure, but in the end, if they get their money it REALLY is up to the guest what services they want to use and what they don't....as long as they have checked in for the reservation.

"Close the loophole" was poor word choice on my part, but I would like them to put policies into place that would discourage this. I would like to see them start a 2 night minimum reservation at the campground (which is not unusual for many campgrounds around the country). I'd like them to force you to actually check in at the campground or lose your ADRs or FP reservations.

And yes, I get that Disney wants their money for those sites and will take it no matter how they can get it. But the campground is at or near capacity almost all year, so it's not like this is a way for them to get money for sites that would otherwise not be used.

 

[Tiffany]

Wow.... They REALLY want guests staying on-site.

Absolutely, Disney wants you to spend all of your vacation dollars on their property.

 

[RedAngie]

An increase to $20 isn't unreasonable. Many other places charge that amount or more.

I think during my first visit in 1975, the parking charge was 50 cents, and my father was upset about THAT! "They charge so much for tickets they should have FREE parking!!"

 

[stitchlovestink]

"Close the loophole" was poor word choice on my part, but I would like them to put policies into place that would discourage this. I would like to see them start a 2 night minimum reservation at the campground (which is not unusual for many campgrounds around the country). I'd like them to force you to actually check in at the campground or lose your ADRs or FP reservations.

And yes, I get that Disney wants their money for those sites and will take it no matter how they can get it. But the campground is at or near capacity almost all year, so it's not like this is a way for them to get money for sites that would otherwise not be used.

Okay, so they force the guests to stop by and officially check in but they still don't use the campsite... how has that solved the problem or changed anything???
I am obviously missing the logic.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

An increase to $20 isn't unreasonable. Many other places charge that amount or more.

I think during my first visit in 1975, the parking charge was 50 cents, and my father was upset about THAT! "They charge so much for tickets they should have FREE parking!!"

I actually agree with this. I paid $20 to park in a grass lot for 4 hours at Sesame Place this summer It always stinks to have prices go up, but the huge increases percentage wise on tickets, hotels, and food is way more out of line with the real world. But still, if you're staying off site for a week, I get that $20 per day is a lot. I certainly wasn't spending 7 days in a row at Sesame Place, so the $20 didn't bother me as much.

 

[amylevan]

Okay, so they force the guests to stop by and officially check in but they still don't use the campsite... how has that solved the problem or changed anything???
I am obviously missing the logic.

There are people who make throwaway reservations who don't want to stop and check in. Forcing everyone to physically check in may deter some from doing it.

 

[SparklePixie]

An increase to $20 isn't unreasonable. Many other places charge that amount or more.

I think during my first visit in 1975, the parking charge was 50 cents, and my father was upset about THAT! "They charge so much for tickets they should have FREE parking!!"

They should have free parking but they never will. It is a major revenue generator with little effort/cost on Disney's part.

 

[brunette8706]

When does the rate(s) increase stop! It's getting out of control in my opinion. That's an 18 percent increase!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

They should have free parking but they never will. It is a major revenue generator with little effort/cost on Disney's part.

Parking is also one of those things that many people don't really think about. When they're planning their vacation they pick a hotel, pick flights, buy tickets, maybe do some meal planning. When you pull up to the park and they say $20 to park it's like..."well I already spend $2,500...what's $20 more!"

 

[freediverdude]

"Close the loophole" was poor word choice on my part, but I would like them to put policies into place that would discourage this. I would like to see them start a 2 night minimum reservation at the campground (which is not unusual for many campgrounds around the country). I'd like them to force you to actually check in at the campground or lose your ADRs or FP reservations.

And yes, I get that Disney wants their money for those sites and will take it no matter how they can get it. But the campground is at or near capacity almost all year, so it's not like this is a way for them to get money for sites that would otherwise not be used.

I was going to say I would like to see Disney actually confirm that you have a camper or tent with you when you check into the campsites, not only to cut down on these throw away reservations, but also just to make sure that you have the proper equipment of some kind to be able to enjoy your campsite. The two night minimum is also a good idea.

 

[Disneyliscious]

It is a major revenue generator with little effort/cost on Disney's part.

This.

Epcot has just over 11,000 parking spots. If only half of those were filled every day, thats over 40 million dollars a year from that one parking lot.

(5500 x $20 = $110,000.00 per day x 365 = $40,150,000.00)

Its an easy way to bring in revenue.

I have no problem with these costs as long as the "magic/guest experience" is being upheld in the parks, but lately I'm reading a much different experience. I'm anxious to see how the parks fare in terms of my last trip 6 years ago.

 

[RedAngie]

They should have free parking but they never will. It is a major revenue generator with little effort/cost on Disney's part.

The costs of maintaining the parking lots, running the trams, paying the lot CMs, collecting trash, etc. is not insignificant. But, yes, it's a major revenue generator.

Quite unlike some Six Flags parking lots that are riddled with potholes, are a free-for-all with no attendants, and have no trams.

 

[SparklePixie]

The costs of maintaining the parking lots, running the trams, paying the lot CMs, collecting trash, etc. is not insignificant. But, yes, it's a major revenue generator.

Quite unlike some Six Flags parking lots that are riddled with potholes, are a free-for-all with no attendants, and have no trams.

Those costs are insignificant, a tiny drop in the bucket for Disney.