I found this at Mouse Planet:
Who can use Disney Transportation
"Whether or not you can "legally" use WDW's transportation system depends on two things. First, all "park hopper" admission media permits the bearer to use WDW's transportation. Annual Pass holders, for example, are permitted full use of the system. Second, guests of Disney-owned and operated resorts are permitted full use of the system during the duration of their stay".
As with most bits of info on the internet, the above may be false to a degree. I really do not know. However, I have not found one tiny bit of info that implies that just anyone can use WDW transportation system.
If you have some type of "park hopper" pass -OR- you are resort guess, then I feel you should have full use of the WDW system.
I may have believed incorrectly, as others have, that WDW transportation was reserved for resort guests. Obviously, that is not true.
I did underline "stay" in the above quote, because some people will use a VERY loose interpretation of the term"resort guests" to mean anyone coming to a resort for ANY reason(ie. breakfast, lunch, dinner, SHOPPING). Is it REALLY right for someone to eat breakfast at a resort and then hop the bus, boat or monorail to go to a park for the day? Not only is this person taking up resort guest parking but they are bypassing parking fees.
An example of how frustrating this could be:
On one of the last days of our visit to SSR, we got on a bus to AK. Had to stand with a stroller, a five year old and a 22 month old. A teenager, one of a group of seven, stood up and asked the bus driver, "How close will this bus get me to ???? hotel across from the DTD disney area"? The bus driver told him and the teenager sat down. At the bus stop closest to DTD and the off-site hotels, the group got off and ran across the busy street back to their hotel. Yeah, I could sit down!!! Obviously, they were not "park hopping".
So, ask yourself,"How many times have I had to stand on a bus and someone sitting down just really should not be on the bus"???
What I would really like to know, what is the actual, no kidding, written down DISNEY policy about who is allowed to use WDW transportation?
goofy4tink,
I think your parking fee plan is the right idea.