Rant for Pete

[SamSam]

The hotel we just stayed at in Oklahoma City had a $10.00 a night parking fee. I have paid for parking at other hotels, usually when they are located in a downtown area.
I don't like it, but it is the way it is.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Why have all these extra charges? Why don't they just build into the price of the room? Even if the room price was higher, I'd rather be quoted one price then turn up and be told oh yeah there's an extra $15 a night for "resort fees" and another for parking and now we also charge extra if you plan on using the bathroom. And don't tell me that these charges are known ahead of time, that may be but they don't come right out and say so and if you are checking prices online they don't come right up front and say it either.

Because by not adding the fees into the room cost it makes the arate look like it is less. It's kind of like the item at a store that costs $12.99. We all know that is one penny away from $13 but consumers see the 12 and think of the price being less than what it is. And every website that I go on has fine print that mentions the possibility of added fees. Many read something like "this property may charge addtional fees in addition to the room rate" Is this not put it an obvious place when reviewing prices or booking a room? No, it isn't in bold either but it is there you just have to read everything 100 completely before commiting to the rate. So people who read the fine print are aware that there may be additional rates. If thee is a question call the hotel directly and find out what extra charges if any could be applied to your bill and what the process is for removing them in the event you don't use those services or "perks"

 

[Sorcerer's Mickey]

I was in the area of the World for business last week and went to the Polly for dinner and watched the fireworks at MK over the lake. I did not get charged to park there. Ieven went over to the GF for a drink.

I'll be back next month and plan to go to CA Grill and watch the show from there.

 

[BriarRosie]

I was in the area of the World for business last week and went to the Polly for dinner and watched the fireworks at MK over the lake. I did not get charged to park there. Ieven went over to the GF for a drink.

I'll be back next month and plan to go to CA Grill and watch the show from there.

That's because the Disney owned resorts don't charge for self-parking. The Swan and Dolphin resorts are part of the Starwood resort group (think Sheraton and Westin for examples). They are charging for anyone to park there, not just resort guests.

I believe the Gaylord Palms resort also has a parking fee for anyone who parks there. I'm not 100% positive, but I thought I heard they charge for parking, too.

As others have said, it's a common enough occurence, especially in major metropolitan areas. I think this resort group is charging at Disney because it's a resort that gets a lot of bookings.

 

[SamSam]

I believe the Gaylord Palms resort also has a parking fee for anyone who parks there. I'm not 100% positive, but I thought I heard they charge for parking, too.

As others have said, it's a common enough occurence, especially in major metropolitan areas. I think this resort group is charging at Disney because it's a resort that gets a lot of bookings.

Yes, if I remember correctly, Gaylord Palms has a $12.00 parking fee; even if you are just there for dinner.

 

[jdtopgun71]

I agree that there are a lot of establishments charging for parking now, but I believe at WDW they should allow resort guest parking privileges wherever they like on property. And they should enforce this for their business partners on property like the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[bear_mom]

Being charged for parking is one of the reasons that I prefer taking taking the train into Chicago. The only place I found to park for free was at the museums.

Emily

 

[ugadog68]

The Swan resort fee covers the newspaper, free internet access...

 

[BriarRosie]

I agree that there are a lot of establishments charging for parking now, but I believe at WDW they should allow resort guest parking privileges wherever they like on property. And they should enforce this for their business partners on property like the Swan and Dolphin.

And Starwood should require Disney to include the Swan and Dolphin guests who want to use Disney's Magical Express in exchange?

Disney can't enforce anything on the Starwood group on how they run their hotels.

 

[jdtopgun71]

And Starwood should require Disney to include the Swan and Dolphin guests who want to use Disney's Magical Express in exchange?

Disney can't enforce anything on the Starwood group on how they run their hotels.

Not trying to start a debate but I believe Disney can have a say on how things are run when it pertains to guests staying on property and/or how their property fits into the WDW complex. For instance I believe they have standards in place that would prohibit certain signage to be placed on there property i.e. neon signs and the like if it didn't meet the Disney standard. I believe parking set up and fees could possibly fit into this type of agreement if Disney wanted it to.

The other thing is we booked our reservation through WDW dining and this was a character meal. You would think that if Disney is involved in the reservations for these properties they would ensure that the accessorial fees charged were consistent throughout WDW.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I understand what you are saying but realize a LOT of hotels have this now, it isn't going away and they vary. Really the only way to deal with it is when you compare hotels use price+resort fee+parking= real price
Then you compare real prices and forget about what they call it. If a hotel room is 100 a night or 60 a night plus 10 dollar linen change fee, 10 dollar air breathing fee, 10 dollar hallway use fee and 10 dollar flushable toilet fee what is the difference? Either way you pay 100 per night

It definitely is a breeding ground for a feeling of being nickel and dimed.

I think that parking is a superfluous charge when you're at a hotel in the theme park area. There's land a-plenty, and I don't see a need to charge it. Hotels in a metropolitan area - I definitely understand that space, rent, etc. is at a premium and they need to charge for parking.

Count me in the camp that thinks: "It is what it is!", adds it to the room rate for comparing, and moves on.