Resort parking fees are pretty much on the honor system, according to a CM

[SL6827]

I thought I would give an update on the resort parking fee. At the very last minute of our trip, my adult daughter decided she want to go to. Which was no problem with the Beach Club reservation and the AoA reservation. But a no go at the AKL. So I booked my husband a room for two nights at the ASSports for through Orbitz. Everything went well, he liked the time he had with peace and quiet from three girls and such.

I told him on the last morning to go by the front desk and pay the parking charges. He did and they insisted that he owed nothing? I was what, are you sure, make sure and he said they were adamant that he owed nothing, so he went on. So I ask about the reservation when we were checking into AoA. I explain the situation and they looked up the reservation.

Sure enough they found it and basically told me the way they do it is just to ask if you have a car on property. Sure enough they did do that when we were checking into AoA, but when we were with him to check into ASSports, they sure enough did not ask us. So it is pretty much on the honor system. They just forgot to do so at ASSports.

 

[Wubar]

If it's on the honor system....Disney is going to lose out on some money, for sure.

 

[HopperFan]

Priceless

 

[SL6827]

If it's on the honor system....Disney is going to lose out on some money, for sure.

Right, that is what I was thinking. But that is what the CM at AoA that was checking us in told me. And it pretty much is exactly how it worked out for us.

 

[Wubar]

Right, that is what I was thinking. But that is what the CM at AoA that was checking us in told me. And it pretty much is exactly how it worked out for us.

I just can't decide if Disney will lose more money from incompetent CMs or lying guests. Going with the latter, I think.

 

[Chelley00]

We just stayed at Yacht Club last week. We were never asked if we drove and would have a car on property, but the parking fee showed up on our bill.

 

[jo-jo]

We just stayed at Yacht Club last week. We were never asked if we drove and would have a car on property, but the parking fee showed up on our bill.

And did you have a car? I wonder if how they knew or was it just added if you are not noted to have Magical Express?

 

[Spaceguy55]

It might be that they have had some issues with unauthorized charges being disputed after guests have left the property.
If they charge your card on file by mistake if you didn't have a car or they charge too much by mistake..etc..they could be liable for damages resulting from a unauthorized charge.
Right now there isn't a opt in option when you reserve a room, so no agreement to pay if you happen to have a car ....
"Effective for new reservations made March 21, 2018 and thereafter, standard overnight self-parking is available to registered Guests for a fee of $13 per night (sales tax included)."

"Available" suggests an agreement once you get there..

 

[Spaceguy55]

Unless they go all in to really enforce this by ,
more gate guards [more money],
more or any signage [even more money]
more CM's to patrol all the parking lots [ way more money !! ]
This parking scheme will probably stay confusing and on the honor system for awhile

 

[Chelley00]

And did you have a car? I wonder if how they knew or was it just added if you are not noted to have Magical Express?

We did have a car. I've read somewhere they take a picture of your plate if you scan in with a magic band or go through guard gate and give your name but not sure how true that info is. Anyhow, no one asked, we didn't volunteer the info, and the parking fee was there for all 6 nights. We laughed that it was Mickey magic

 

[HopperFan]

Unless they go all in to really enforce this by ,
more gate guards [more money],
more or any signage [even more money]
more CM's to patrol all the parking lots [ way more money !! ]
This parking scheme will probably stay confusing and on the honor system for awhile

Easily solved by gates to guest areas like CSR has.
You use it, you pay.
All drop offs must happen at front desk area.
They will pay for themselves in no time.

 

[jo-jo]

We did have a car. I've read somewhere they take a picture of your plate if you scan in with a magic band or go through guard gate and give your name but not sure how true that info is. Anyhow, no one asked, we didn't volunteer the info, and the parking fee was there for all 6 nights. We laughed that it was Mickey magic

But how does disney know that car belongs to you? You might have rented a car. We stay at DVC, so I never really thought how do they know who has a car unless they speak to you.

Curious, some years ago, we were staying at BCV (forget the villa part for the moment). My brother who was staying at a value resort, drove me to walmart. To come back, the guard first said he couldn't enter, then I said I was a guest. Then it was ok. I wonder if now, I scanned my MB to raise the gate, would I then had been charged for parking? Or would brother would be let in as a visitor?

 

[larry47591]

We just got back from split stay at pop and akl. We were not harmed for parking. Both booked after March 21 although we used our magic bands the whole time to get in the gate and never went to the front desk.

 

[mamabunny]

Literally just got off the phone with Reservations; our January trip to Poly somehow got sporked in the system over the weekend, and I wanted to get it fixed ASAP so as not to lose the room... not to mention I wanted to make a payment on the trip, and couldn't. Couldn't even cancel the trip without calling in, so... I waited for the usual Monday madness to cool off, and I called.

CM was awesome, and got everything fixed (yay!) and we are ON for Poly in January, which makes me so happy. If I could do my happyhappy dance I would!

The topic of parking came up - the CM actually asked if we were flying in and using DME, or driving. I told her driving, and there were further pleasantries exchanged, including the standard "And will you be celebrating anything..." But it was interesting that we got that question tonight. Its the first time I remember ever being asked if we were driving our car. In the past, DME was always offered, but we were never directly questioned about if we were driving or not.

 

[Lisann]

As a guest, I shouldn't have to pay to park my vehicle anyway. Just my opinion, Disney.

 

[Chelley00]

But how does disney know that car belongs to you? You might have rented a car. We stay at DVC, so I never really thought how do they know who has a car unless they speak to you.

Curious, some years ago, we were staying at BCV (forget the villa part for the moment). My brother who was staying at a value resort, drove me to walmart. To come back, the guard first said he couldn't enter, then I said I was a guest. Then it was ok. I wonder if now, I scanned my MB to raise the gate, would I then had been charged for parking? Or would brother would be let in as a visitor?

Ours was a rental

 

[KaptKaveman]

Our experience this past week was inconsistent

On our drive down day we checked in at CBR. During the check-in process the CM asked if we had a car. Reponded yes and she printed out the half sheet of paper parking tag. Charged 19$ for parking on the email the next day.

Checked out and drove over for our stay at Poly. During the check in process we were never asked if we had a car. After check-in while I was waiting for the room to be ready I realized I didn't have a parking tag so I went to the front desk and told a CM we didn't have a pass for the dashboard. She said it was all on our magic band and we would need that at the park gates and when returning to the resort. Day of check-out I got our email with our charges and there was no mention of parking.... CHA-CHING 6 x 24$ saved. Both reservations were made in April of this year, so I expected a charge for parking at both resorts.

 

[ninafeliz]

We just did a 3 way split with YC, BC, and CR. We wanted to pay our room charges with gift cards, but forgot before check out at the YC. So during our BC stay I sent my husband to the concierge on CL to pay what we owed and to ask when parking was charged so we could make sure to pay that with a GC also. I had actually forgotten all about it regarding the YC and assumed we had been charged it when they charged our cc the night before checkout. The concierge said parking was charged nightly, and used the GC pay off our balance. I checked all 3 of our folios after we left to make sure I didn’t miss anything, and we weren’t charged parking at any of the resorts. We even mentioned it at the BC. No one ever asked us if we had a car at check in, and we checked in in person at 2 of the 3 resorts and stopped at the concierge desk on our way to the room at the CR. Plus we pulled up originally in our private car with tons of luggage and were met by a CM with an iPad after we self parked. So I don’t really feel bad, I think if they want to capture the ridiculous charge they can’t expect us to go around chasing them to make them take our money! All of the reservations were made after March 21, or whatever the cutoff date was.

 

[PrincessNelly]

Our experience this past week was inconsistent

On our drive down day we checked in at CBR. During the check-in process the CM asked if we had a car. Reponded yes and she printed out the half sheet of paper parking tag. Charged 19$ for parking on the email the next day.

Checked out and drove over for our stay at Poly. During the check in process we were never asked if we had a car. After check-in while I was waiting for the room to be ready I realized I didn't have a parking tag so I went to the front desk and told a CM we didn't have a pass for the dashboard. She said it was all on our magic band and we would need that at the park gates and when returning to the resort. Day of check-out I got our email with our charges and there was no mention of parking.... CHA-CHING 6 x 24$ saved. Both reservations were made in April of this year, so I expected a charge for parking at both resorts.

I wonder if the goal is to make parking fees monitored via magic band but the system isn't completely in place or working 100% at certain resorts?

I'm super nervous about our trip as this is our first with a rental car. We booked after March but got grandfathered in a different way through our TA so I hope we don't get stuck at the front desk trying to explain it if charges show up.

 

[bumbershoot]

I just can't decide if Disney will lose more money from incompetent CMs or lying guests. Going with the latter, I think.

I think the former, but as usual they'll blame the latter.

Anyhow, no one asked, we didn't volunteer the info, and the parking fee was there for all 6 nights. We laughed that it was Mickey magic

Another person had a car for a portion of their stay, never told anyone, and the exact right number of charges showed up.

My brother who was staying at a value resort, drove me to walmart. To come back, the guard first said he couldn't enter

That's bizarre. But was he refusing to show ID to the guard? One has always needed (at least since 2010) to show *something* to show them who you are when you enter.

But how does disney know that car belongs to you? You might have rented a car. We

It's not about belonging to you, it's about being assigned to you during that trip. So IF this is how they do it...if you get in by scanning or showing the MB, they have a picture of the license plate of the car you're in. And that is then assigned to you.