Walt Disney World Parking Fee now $9 dollars

[raidermatt]

When was the last time you saw a WDW parking lot ( with the exception of DTD ) anywhere near to capacity ?

I have no idea how many people park there, but for the theme park lots at least, I'd hope that they never reach capacity, considering that day-trippers are not supposed to use the other forms of WDW transportation. They'd have to be turned away at the gates.

Meaning I wouldn't put too much significance on the lots not being near capacity, as they should be sized well beyond what is needed on a regular basis.

 

[All Aboard]

When was the last time you saw a WDW parking lot ( with the exception of DTD ) anywhere near to capacity ?

I think about this every time I drive to Epcot. Rarely do you ever see that lot more than 30% full. Since it was built when there were only a couple of resorts and the vast majority of visitors were coming from off-site, perhaps it was more full back in the day. But, it seems that they built AK's lot with a great deal of excess capacity as well.

 

[AdventurerKat]

I tried to use my Seasonal AP but that did not get me free parking so don't try that.

I did not know about DDE however. What do you mean parking is free with validation? If I am going in to eat somewhere, I would have already had to pay for the parking so what would a validation at the end do for me? Or is it something where they look up a PS or something?

I normally stay onsite but we did not this past weekend and that parking fee was a bummer.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

, considering that day-trippers are not supposed to use the other forms of WDW transportation.

Says who? Disney have always advertised the transportation as being available to all guests not just resort guests.It is included in the cost of your park ticket.

 

[YoHo]

That depends on which park ticket you buy. If you buy a single day single park ticket, no transportation is included.

 

[Bayshore Bandit]

Disney is just trying to squeeze every last nickel out the paying
customer as possible.

I hate paying for parking anyplace where I am going to spend money
on that particular property (amusement park, restaurant, stadium),

 

[G8RFAN]

Went to the MNSSHP the other nite, whipped out my annual pass at the booth and they said we had to pay to park for a special event. We had to pay for the party, and then pay to park too???

We did get there just before the event started but I won't do that again!!!!!

This confirms that the Parking CM's aren't consistent with their policies.

We drove up to a MNSSHP last month and got in with our AP's without paying for parking. Even though we were staying at a WDW resort, we had not checked in yet. We got there about a half hour before the start and the only way you could get into MK was with the MNSSHP pass.

We also have experienced CM's not allowing us use our DVC membership card for parking entry which is wrong and also once when we were staying with our military friends at SOG, the CM did not recognize the SOG mirror tag for complimentary parking. In each case, we were able to get a refund of the parking fee at Guest Services after explaining.

 

[DebbieB]

This confirms that the Parking CM's aren't consistent with their policies.

We drove up to a MNSSHP last month and got in with our AP's without paying for parking. Even though we were staying at a WDW resort, we had not checked in yet. We got there about a half hour before the start and the only way you could get into MK was with the MNSSHP pass.

We also have experienced CM's not allowing us use our DVC membership card for parking entry which is wrong and also once when we were staying with our military friends at SOG, the CM did not recognize the SOG mirror tag for complimentary parking. In each case, we were able to get a refund of the parking fee at Guest Services after explaining.

DVC membership does not entitle you to free theme park parking. Staying at an onsite DVC resort does, but not the DVC card alone. You can get free valet parking at BC, BW & WL with just your DVC card.

I believe the free AP parking is only during regular hours, not for special events. If you got there before regular closing time, they should have let you in.

 

[Julia M]

Well, $9 is pricey, but on the other hand, we paid $25 to park for a 49ers game last month.

julia

 

[Spectro is #1]

The thing you all seem to be missing is that this is SOP for the industry. I have to pay to park at Six Flags, Bush Gardens, Sea World ect. I payed 35 to park at Gillete Stadium (you got a deal!) So if 9 bucs is your breaking point are you not going to go? I have a friend who always gets around the parking fee. He has done all listed. I don't think it is right but I don't think he is making it cost more for the rest of the world. For resort guests there is no cost but you need to pay to enter the parks, seems fair enough. Disney has lined the pockets of every hotel owner in and around Orlando I don't think, given the industry standareds it is outragouse to charge 9$ for outside guests to park.

 

[manning]

I like $4.00 myself.....Is 1972 here yet??

 

[TSR6]

Does anybody ever pay for parking ? On-site guests- free. AP holders - free. DDE holders - free with validation. Feel like wasting 30 minutes or so to save $9.00 - park at DTD. Want to ride a boat to MK - tell the guard you're going to eat breakfast at Whispering Canyon.

If you can't find a way to avoid the parking fee, you're not trying very hard.

Parking at DTD - Thanks to you, people like me who want to run in and grab something in the shops quick, or stop in for lunch, cannot park anywhere near where we want to go. We have to park out in "BFE" and take twice as long to get where we are going. On behalf of all who follow the rules, I thank you for that.

DTD parking is already bad enough as it is.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm sure they could cut the parking fees if they got rid of the trams and everyone walked to and from their cars. The only thing you'd have to subsidize with the parking fee is the monorail & the boats.

PS. I've never seen the parking lots full...even on fourth of July in the late 80's. Full -er at sometimes rather than others. It was actually shocking this fall at F&W when I expected easy parking.

 

[minijeanie]

...Or prhaps parking should just be free. As Yoho pointed out free is never really the case anyway so just eliminate this pick pocket imitation and adjust the expense.

that will never happen because then they cant boast staying on site gives you free parking.....

 

[drakethib]

With all the parasites trying to game the transportation system, maybe it's time Disney goes back to checking resort ID's.

Agree 100%.

Along with checking ID's at the pool, etc.

I am a DVC member yet we also stay onsite on a cash basis at times and there is no doubt that I can find comparable accomasdtaions elsewhere for much cheaper, but I pay the extra for these kind of "perks".

It burns me to hear people trying to beat the system while others are paying for it.

Also, just FYI, the last time I went to Six Flags in Houston I beleive the parking was about $6.00 (maybe a tad bit more) so I don't think Disney is far off. But I do think $9.00 is a bit steep.

 

[bicker]

Personal integrity (or the lack thereof) is becoming a big issue throughout our culture. I don't think WDW is a particularly bad (or particularly good) case-in-point.

 

[TSR6]

I am 100% for checking ID's or tickets on the busses.

I beleive that they should have a Resort ID to have unlimited access to the bus and monorail system.

If you do not have a Resort ID, then I beleive you should have to have a ticket with Park Hopping Options to use the bus / monorail system. Don't have either? "Oh, well sorry sir, walk back out to your car and drive." they could even put ticket/resort ID scanners on the busses!

 

[Another Voice]

I believe that they should have a Resort ID to have unlimited access to the bus and monorail system.

Except that Disney doesn't see use of the transportation system as an exclusive perk for people staying at the resorts. It's a way of moving customers from one place to spend money to another place to spend money.

It's to get the off-property guests to drop the bucks eating at a Disney resort instead of going back to their hotel after seeing a park. It's to get the I-Drive crowd to visit Animal Kingdom in the morning and then Blizzard Beach for the afternoon instead of saying "The animal place is only a half day park anyway – let's stay here and go to Water Mania". And it's a way to get the package vacation set to do more than just see the one park that's on their itinerary for the day, "look Mable, they have a whole shopping village here! Who would have thought?"

It's in Disney's interest to keep as many people moving throughout WDW property as possible. It doesn't matter if they are a resort guest, a DVC owner, an annual pass holder or the unwashed staying on International Drive. The only target is someone with money to spend. Therefore Disney is not going to restrict the use of the system because that would cost them all that revenue.

 

[Aintdisablast]

Parking at DTD - Thanks to you, people like me who want to run in and grab something in the shops quick, or stop in for lunch, cannot park anywhere near where we want to go. We have to park out in "BFE" and take twice as long to get where we are going. On behalf of all who follow the rules, I thank you for that.

DTD parking is already bad enough as it is.

Read Onemoretime's post a little more carefully. He/She is not endorsing - or admitting too - the practice of parking at DTD to avoid a parking fee. He/She is simply pointing out that it's not difficult at all to avoid the fee.

 

[2buzzboys]

I tried to use my Seasonal AP but that did not get me free parking so don't try that.

I did not know about DDE however. What do you mean parking is free with validation? If I am going in to eat somewhere, I would have already had to pay for the parking so what would a validation at the end do for me? Or is it something where they look up a PS or something?

I normally stay onsite but we did not this past weekend and that parking fee was a bummer.

The DDE will validate for a stay of about 3 hrs. You have to pay first and then when leaving you get refunded.