Pay for Parking at WDW villas?

[rangermom]

We recently stayed at VGC. When talking with the CM at the front registration about our upcoming trip to WDW and DCL she said that DVC was taking away free parking for DVC members at WDW and DL. She went on to say that WDW would do it this year and DL due to contract would wait until next year.

I told my DH that this sounded wrong to me since it is a perk for DVC at DL because hotel guests pay for parking, but at WDW all resort guests get free parking. I know that sometimes we hear different things from different cast members. I did a quick search on the boards and came up empty handed.

We are starting to do some serious planning for the trip and currently debating on driving or flying. Being a family of 5 flying can be pretty pricey. We always fly to WDW and only use Disney transportation. Being where we live now, there are extra costs with travel since we are a distance from an airport. If we have to pay for parking for 9 days, it might be cheaper to fly and either rent a car to Cape Canaveral or even take the DCL shuttle.

Has anyone else heard of this change?

 

[disneynutz]

I can't see getting charged for parking at WDW because all resorts offer free parking. VGC and Aulani charge for parking for regular Guests so maybe there if Disney decides to get greedier.

Bill

 

[rangermom]

That's what I was thinking. Maybe VGC, but they would have to start charging hotel guests at WDW also. She said she was also a DVC and owned in both DL and WDW. It just doesn't sound right to me. I'm going to call MS to see if they have heard anything. Of course that may not mean anything either.

 

[Tramp68]

agreed. If they start charging for DVC then it will also be for all resort guests...It would play some major mayhem with the bussing. Big lose situation for Disney IMHO

 

[leanne2255]

Really? I hope this is not true. Why are they trying to wring every single dollar out of their guests. Isn't Disney expensive enough as it is?

 

[dvc_john]

I can't see them charging DVC members for parking at DVC resorts, but I could see them start charging for parking by resort guests at the major WDW hotels.
I believe the Swan and Dolphin charge for parking now. So do the hotels at Universal Studios. And: Marriott Orlando World Center, Hilton DtD, Hilton Bonnet Creek, Hilton Convention Center, Renaissance Seaworld, etc. etc. etc.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm thinking this means for the parks and not the resorts. Right now all on property resort guests get free parking at the theme park lots. I can see them taking away that perk. It would mean nothing to us, since we always use Disney transportation to get to the parks rather than park in the lots.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I can't see them charging DVC members for parking at DVC resorts, but I could see them start charging for parking by resort guests at the major WDW hotels.
I believe the Swan and Dolphin charge for parking now. So do the hotels at Universal Studios. And: Marriott Orlando World Center, Hilton DtD, Hilton Bonnet Creek, Hilton Convention Center, Renaissance Seaworld, etc. etc. etc.

Yes, I can see them charging to park at a resort other than the one you are registered at too. FYI, Swan and Dolphin and the others mentioned are not Disney resorts, so a whole different situation.

 

[rangermom]

I just got off the phone with member services. It was a little frustrating. When I asked if there was going to be a charge for parking for resort guests at the resort they are staying at she intially said yes and that it had always been that way. For DVC and non-DVC stays. I explained that I had stayed many times only on property and have never have paid for parking. She backtracked and said she meant valet parking. Self parking is free.

So based on MS today they have not heard anything about charging for regular parking. She did say that there is a charge for parking at the parks. We always take Disney transportation, so I was not as worried about that one.

Hopefully this is correct. It was not a warm and fuzzy call I'm usually get with MS.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well we all KNOW the CMs are told about ALL upcoming management decisions before they are made. After all the CMs would NEVER gossip and tell guests. So of course management tells them stuff

LOL!

Seriously, this means the CM heard it from another CM who heard it from another CM who got it from a bus driver at WDW!


Honestly, half of the CM "says" are just things they made up in the break room. (I think they then watch the interent to see how far they can spread. A few years ago there was a HUGE outcry on some message board because "A CM told me that Disney's go healthy campaign means there no more coke products" Still waiting on that one LOL! And there's the "never ending" monorail expansion rumors etc...)

 

[junglejoy]

Just to clarify...

If you're staying at DVC, you don't get free parking at the parks?

I'm not going to worry about next year because it sounds like we don't know about next year for certain, but what about right now? Trying to justify car rental.

 

[Connears]

Just to clarify...

If you're staying at DVC, you don't get free parking at the parks?

I'm not going to worry about next year because it sounds like we don't know about next year for certain, but what about right now? Trying to justify car rental.

Yes..all wdw resort guests get free parking at the parks.

Connears

 

[MinnieGi]

She did say that there is a charge for parking at the parks. We always take Disney transportation, so I was not as worried about that one.

.

There is NOT a charge for ANY RESORT GUESTS to park at the park - so MS supplied you with wrong info.

WDW would have to take away ALL resort guests free parking at the parks in order to take it away from DVC.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well we all KNOW the CMs are told about ALL upcoming management decisions before they are made. After all the CMs would NEVER gossip and tell guests. So of course management tells them stuff

As soon as I hear something that's secret, but being told to someone who doesn't have a "need to know", I distrust it. Because if the employee is actually trustworthy, they wouldn't be telling another person!