Tiered parking

[SureAsLiz]

This program has now expanded to Animal Kingdom. For an extra $15, guests can park in the Peacock lot

 

[Memaw2Wm]

You know, it bugs me to have to pay to park period, nevermind tiered parking. I'm coming with my kids/grandkids and paying a huge ticket price for each of us, and on top of that I have to pay to park. One of the reasons I rarely go to Kings Dominion ... along with the awful drive down I-95 to get there.

For the first time in more than a decade I'm not going to Disney this year. Not sure I'll ever go back ...

 

[metzgardesign]

Wonder when the Disney bean counters will decide they can charge you to ride the trams.

Not on the way in, in the morning when you are feeling good....but when you are ready to leave in the evening after walking around all day and are tired.

"Yeaaaaah....there is a $10 fee for EACH rider on the tram back to your parking row. Oh....and a $35 stroller handling fee. Have a Magical Day®!!"

 

[mds88]

You know, it bugs me to have to pay to park period, nevermind tiered parking. I'm coming with my kids/grandkids and paying a huge ticket price for each of us, and on top of that I have to pay to park. One of the reasons I rarely go to Kings Dominion ... along with the awful drive down I-95 to get there.

For the first time in more than a decade I'm not going to Disney this year. Not sure I'll ever go back ...

Exactly. We paid $100 just for parking on our last trip. It is absurd that they are now asking you to shell out almost 2x as much just to get a decent spot. For $20 I feel like I deserve a good spot if I choose to get there at park opening. If parking was free, I could justify them charging for preferred parking but this actually disgusts me.

 

[okilydokily]

The old speedway will soon be where guests are sent to first. This will ensure it is the most difficult place to get from/to and help drive sales of preferred parking.

Despite HS construction and AK stuff, Disney has not really made any real expansion of space in the parks. Yet they are more crowded than ever and no real slow season anymore.

The only other option is to price people out of going. These types of charges will make sure they make as much money with less work and not have to spend more on expanding when a downturn in the economy could cause people to stop coming and they have too much space. They can lower or cut out some prices but can't close a park.

Expect a lot more of this until it starts affecting attendance. It hasn't happened yet so they will keep adding costs and make more money. Nits good buildings and complaints don't mean anything. Speak with your wallet if it really a big deal to you.

 

[leebee]

I think we are about done with Disney for a LONG while. Maybe for good. Here's what is bothering me about this. I know that "everyone else does this", all the other amusement parks charge for parking, don't let you bring food in, charge for FOTL access, etc. That's what's always set Disney apart from all other amusement parks! Disney was a world class theme park, best in the world, and once you were there, everyone was on equal footing. Not talking about restaurants/eating/private tours, of course, but when we started going to Disney, once you got in the gates, everyone had equal access to everything. Rides, experiences, shows, fast passes, character meets, fireworks, parades. Everything in the park was there for everyone to enjoy, simply by buying your admission ticket. Over the past ten years, Disney has sunk to the level of the others, becoming a "Pay to Play" amusement park instead of Disney World, where everyone felt like a welcomed guest and nobody was more special, or worthy, or whatever you want to call it. Now they tier parking and access to the rides, 'charge' extra for better viewing areas (aka "fireworks" dessert parties and FP+ viewing areas/seating), have 'super' experiences within the park for an additional charge (BBB comes to mind), etc. When will they start charging extra money to see a show, or have a character interaction? Disney is becoming a stratified in-park experience, when it never used to be. Yes, there are hotels of different levels and costs, restaurants of different types and costs, but it used to be that once you were in the park, you were on a level playing field with everyone else. Now, the more money you have, the more "fun" you get to have. I understand that... but it's not how Disney World started out, and it's frustrating to see them stoop to the level of an amusement park instead of being proud of being a world-class theme park experience.

 

[Bullseye]

What's the big deal They designated one area of the parking lot up front as premium parking. Unless you got to the park at open you probably wouldn't be in that lot anyway. So now if you get there early and don't want to pay for premium parking, you're in the very next section. So you have to walk maybe 50 feet to 50 yards farther. Oh the humanity of it all Disney how can you do this to us ....

 

[bryanb]

When will they start charging extra money to see a show, or have a character interaction? Disney is becoming a stratified in-park experience, when it never used to be. Yes, there are hotels of different levels and costs, restaurants of different types and costs, but it used to be that once you were in the park, you were on a level playing field with everyone else. Now, the more money you have, the more "fun" you get to have. I understand that... but it's not how Disney World started out, and it's frustrating to see them stoop to the level of an amusement park instead of being proud of being a world-class theme park experience.

One might argue that the most egalitarian period was the moment when they first moved from individual ride tickets (A through E), to a single admission ticket that got everyone unlimited access to "all rides and attractions except shooting arcades."

What's the big deal They designated one area of the parking lot up front as VIP parking. Unless you got to the park at open you probably wouldn't be in that lot anyway. So now if you get there early and don't want to pay for premium parking, you're in the very next section. So you have walk maybe 50 feet to 50 yards farther? Oh the humanity of it all Disney how can you do this to us ....

I always assume that the parking lot is vast, and I won't necessarily get to park up front anyway. I don't value premium parking, but if someone really wants it, the tram is perfectly fine. But I think some people are reacting negatively because it's another optional fee that seems to be targeted toward rich people.

 

[katallo]

I think we are about done with Disney for a LONG while. Maybe for good. Here's what is bothering me about this. I know that "everyone else does this", all the other amusement parks charge for parking, don't let you bring food in, charge for FOTL access, etc. That's what's always set Disney apart from all other amusement parks! Disney was a world class theme park, best in the world, and once you were there, everyone was on equal footing. Not talking about restaurants/eating/private tours, of course, but when we started going to Disney, once you got in the gates, everyone had equal access to everything. Rides, experiences, shows, fast passes, character meets, fireworks, parades. Everything in the park was there for everyone to enjoy, simply by buying your admission ticket. Over the past ten years, Disney has sunk to the level of the others, becoming a "Pay to Play" amusement park instead of Disney World, where everyone felt like a welcomed guest and nobody was more special, or worthy, or whatever you want to call it. Now they tier parking and access to the rides, 'charge' extra for better viewing areas (aka "fireworks" dessert parties and FP+ viewing areas/seating), have 'super' experiences within the park for an additional charge (BBB comes to mind), etc. When will they start charging extra money to see a show, or have a character interaction? Disney is becoming a stratified in-park experience, when it never used to be. Yes, there are hotels of different levels and costs, restaurants of different types and costs, but it used to be that once you were in the park, you were on a level playing field with everyone else. Now, the more money you have, the more "fun" you get to have. I understand that... but it's not how Disney World started out, and it's frustrating to see them stoop to the level of an amusement park instead of being proud of being a world-class theme park experience.

We agree. We go annually - this trip for 3 weeks. It will be the last one for awhile. Personally, I don't think it's one particular thing. More of an accumulation. New fees right and left. More attraction closed for extended periods. On 4 occasions, the Express Monorail was not working. Epcot has so little to see right now that even with F&G crowds were not excessive. Many people said they took the boat the HS to see the Star Wars fireworks. They just watched from outside of the gate. Our magic bands did not work more than 50% of the time and 2 CM's said there were major problems with the finger scanners. It's funny the only thing we saw in excess were CM's taking surveys at the parks. They only want to ask specific questions and said they could not "note" comments.

 

[BeerMe]

Universal has been doing this for years