"Premium parking"

[Tink575]

I also wonder where it will leave handicap parking. This could also be why they did away with AAA diamond parking.

At Universal Handicapped Parking is right before the Preferred Parking area in the garage, no extra charge obviously, you just show your Handicapped Parking Pass and get a blue ticket for your windshield.

 

[mom2rtk]

At that price I think savvy guests will just valet at a resort.

I'm sure they'll raise the price on that to make sure it's not too tempting.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

The thing that has always puzzled me about parking up front at WDW is that you end up walking MORE if you do that. If you park just wherever they put you, the determinate of how far you will walk is how far down the row from the Tram you are placed. Once you get to the Tram, then you have a ride to as close to the front door as you can ride.

One of our regular party has a handicapped pass and she always wants to use it to park up front, so we do. Most of the time, however, we end up walking FURTHER because the tram doesn't pick you up from the HC lot. It's a long walk from the HC lot to the front gate! Further in every case than riding the Tram.

 

[davper]

I also wonder where it will leave handicap parking. This could also be why they did away with AAA diamond parking.

Handicapp parking can be further back but placed near the trams. The argument is they only have to walk 20 feet to get on the tram that will take them to the front gate.

'But what if they are in a chair or scooter and can't use the tram?' Evil Disney exec says: 'they are not walking anyway. So what's the problem?'

 

[OldsDr]

The thing that has always puzzled me about parking up front at WDW is that you end up walking MORE if you do that. If you park just wherever they put you, the determinate of how far you will walk is how far down the row from the Tram you are placed. Once you get to the Tram, then you have a ride to as close to the front door as you can ride.

One of our regular party has a handicapped pass and she always wants to use it to park up front, so we do. Most of the time, however, we end up walking FURTHER because the tram doesn't pick you up from the HC lot. It's a long walk from the HC lot to the front gate! Further in every case than riding the Tram.

I remember this when my sister was in a cast, they let us park up front at TTC (don't believe it was officially handicap because we did not have a sticker), it was much harder than regular parking.

This charge does not bother me. I have parked far away at all of the parks and it really is a non-issue to be back there. Plus this is a totally voluntary fee.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If this goes through I would expect an even tougher crackdown on resort parking. My guess would be ADR or resort guest only with no exceptions anywhere.

 

[DoingDisney]

Just to compare, Sesame Place in PA (nowhere near Disney caliber) charges $17 for "regular" parking, $20 for "preferred" & $30 (!!!) for "VIP" parking.

I'm not one to say Disney does no wrong, but in terms of paid parking they were/are pretty reasonable.

Here is the problem, and what I think Disney is counting on. You can't do this. You can't do what you just did. Which is only look at a single point of the pricing and say ... "well, parking at wdw is some what similar to 'x'" WDW isn't parking, and its not the park ticket, and its not FP+, and its no ADR fees, and its not Resort "Fees", or room charges.... its ALL of it put together.

You have to consider the big picture, increased ticket prices, demand based ticket pricing, Parking fee, premium parking fee, high room cost, resort fees, increased food costs, increased dining plan cost, all while making record profits, making major cuts to staffing/service and training, etc.

When you think piece meal ... "well resort fees aren't back, I mean other places charge them" ... sure sounds reasonable. But when you say look at how much Disney charges for a room and the fact that they currently justify this BY the perks they offer ... compared to off site locations it changes things. Likewise with parking, they already charge for parking, and they say that parking is a perk of being an AP holder or an onsite guest ... which you already pay a TON for ... welp, now you get to pay more.

This is quite off putting, and we don't even drive there.

 

[DoingDisney]

I believe they are in the weeds with Sha(mnghai and are panicking to raise revenues and preserve their stock option bonuses.

I believe they are shooting themselves in the ... face actually.

Machiavelli is all well and good - he argues you should do bad all at once so people don't notice the extent of what you have done - but in 6 months, or a year when someone prices out their vacation, or provides a review of their vacation and it costs $1000 (or more) than they thought/budgeted, and people start complaining about the nickle and diming ... that reputation is going to be hard to shake ... that's the kind of thing that really sticks.

 

[DoingDisney]

As long as they have the tram service, I can't see how this would be successful...

Tram fee ?

 

[Jewel3k]

We pay for premium parking when we go to Cedar Point once a year. We eat lunch out of coolers in the parking lot since outside food is not allowed in the park Is just nicer not to have a long walk or tram ride and it is cheaper than buying lunch for 5 in the park.

 

[yaya74]

WDW newbie here.. After reading 3 pages of posts, I am still confused... Who would need to pay for the parking fee?? Those who don't stay onsite and drive car to the parks??

 

[RedAngie]

I actually like the idea of "premium parking" Most theme parks do charge extra for closer spots. We live in NJ and get season passes every year for Six Flags and season pass parking is included with the season passes. Anyways if we want a closer spot which we usually do we have to pay $10 extra to upgrade our parking. If we didn't have season pass parking for great adventure we would have to pay $25 to park and thats only for regular parking. I believe its like $35ish for premium parking. So in my mind Disney is behind the times with parking fees anyways, LOL

Yes, $35 for premium parking at Six Flags in New Jersey. While the premium parking is much closer, it's a major PITA to exit, especially at closing time, due to the poor layout. There's no sidewalk, so everybody walks to their cars in the exit driveway. And the exit from premium puts you right in the middle of one section of the cheaper lot.

Some of the regular parking is actually closer to the gate than the far end of the premium lot.

I liked the days when they had a separate parking entrance lane for season pass holders, plus the season pass lot and the separate season pass gate entrance.

 

[rteetz]

WDW newbie here.. After reading 3 pages of posts, I am still confused... Who would need to pay for the parking fee?? Those who don't stay onsite and drive car to the parks??

Yes.

 

[Fsudisney]

Ugh I would just like to go for a week maybe without hearing of another price hike somewhere.

 

[Planogirl]

I would also like a nice cool parking garage at least at MK. Parking at Universal is nothing like parking at the Disney parks.

 

[CinderellasKastle]

Tram fee ?

That just sounds like a hot mess waiting to happen.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm okay with preferred parking. A lot of places offer this, and because it is optional, you do nto have to take advantage of the opportunity.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Walt Disney World News Today is reporting that a test run for premium parking will start on March 15 for Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/03/walt-disney-world-testing-upcharge-premium-parking-at-theme-parks/

 

[Planogirl]

This depends a lot on how far away the regular parking will become. It should be interesting.

 

[Laz]

It has been a number of years since I have been to WDW. I seem to remember that if you stay in a WDW resort, you received a parking permit for all areas (MK, EPCOT, etc.) Is that still true? I wonder if you pay for premium parking, it would also be for all areas?

Now I know why they did away with AAA parking.