What is the rumored change for resort parking?

[HopperFan]

Navigating Caribbean to avoid a fee to ride a bus that makes 9 stops isn't worth $20...IMHO

No, it can take up to 30 minutes to make the full loop around the resort.

Totally agree on this one, but if they are going to do it, I would expect it to be property wide.

.....Of course if they started using Magic Bands on the Buses and Monorails.... the long unenforced rules about "resort guest only" would solve most of those problems.

Buses and Monorails are NOT for resort guests ONLY. This was the case a couple decades ago but then it went to anyone with a park ticket could board Disney transportation and now it is even more vague.
--------------------
From Disney website:

I’m not staying at a Disney Resort hotel. Can I use the monorails, buses and boats to get around Walt Disney World Resort?

Yes. All Guests have complimentary access to our network of monorails, buses and boats. If you would like to visit multiple parks, enjoy a nice dinner at one of the Disney Resort hotels or shop at Downtown Disney Area, you can leave your car parked in the theme park lot and use our transportation network.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/transportation/public-complimentary-transportation/

 

[lockedoutlogic]

As long as they allow "resort hopping" I'm fine with it. Lot's of times we will drive to a WDW resort for dinner and then go watch fireworks and then return to our WDW resort.

I think adding Parking to the Florida Resident Annual Passes will help some with locals. But you still have lots of people that do off site resorts or time-shares that are looking to save money. In a five day trip parking is $100, that adds up....


Of course if they started using Magic Bands on the Buses and Monorails.... the long unenforced rules about "resort guest only" would solve most of those problems.

I agree and disagree with you...

I agree that wdw is different and it's dangerous to try to make money off asphalt for what is traditionally much longer stays...unlike Disneyland. Sure they "can" do it...but if you keep throwing stones on the scale without pause...eventually the scales tip.

But...the scenario you describe...eat and see fireworks...is EXACTLY what they need to crack down on. Years ago when the raw numbers were smaller - I completely agree with that. But now...it jams the lots at a place like boardwalk late at night when it matters most. They don't have the infrastructure for that anymore.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Totally agree on this one, but if they are going to do it, I would expect it to be property wide.



Buses and Monorails are NOT for resort guests ONLY. This was the case a couple decades ago but then it went to anyone with a park ticket could board Disney transportation and now it is even more vague.
--------------------
From Disney website:

I’m not staying at a Disney Resort hotel. Can I use the monorails, buses and boats to get around Walt Disney World Resort?

Yes. All Guests have complimentary access to our network of monorails, buses and boats. If you would like to visit multiple parks, enjoy a nice dinner at one of the Disney Resort hotels or shop at Downtown Disney Area, you can leave your car parked in the theme park lot and use our transportation network.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/transportation/public-complimentary-transportation/

That applies to the park lots - where you pay. It doesn't extend to resorts...where it's reservations and for dining Windows ONLY.

Important distinction.

Downtown has long be rumored to be an off property sneak in...I know that does happen...but I think that has always been exaggerated.

I think most people
Still do value their time - especially since they have turned the screws to make it more a "one time"
Or "seldom" destination - more than what amounts to a relatively small cost.

 

[HopperFan]

That applies to the park lots - where you pay. It doesn't extend to resorts...where it's reservations and for dining Windows ONLY.

Important distinction.

Downtown has long be rumored to be an off property sneak in...I know that does happen...but I think that has always been exaggerated.

I think most people
Still do value their time - especially since they have turned the screws to make it more a "one time"
Or "seldom" destination - more than what amounts to a relatively small cost.

No idea what you are talking about here. PP stated that buses and monorails are for hotel guests uses only. I stated that buses and monorails are not restricted to hotel guests only. No where did parking lots come into the points made by either of us.

Downtown was a way to sneak in but with the current structure of the buses not running to resorts until long after most parks open, the long walks from lot to buses (which will change) and the added walk or transfer to the park ... it is much more work than parking at a resort. Am sure it still happens but probably not enough to add the scanning of bans to get on buses down there, causing a huge jam up.

Agree most people value their time, but with the numbers attending the parks, it doesn't take a large percentage cheating the system to burden the resort parking lots. Some of the resorts do not have enough parking for their guests and legitimate visitors let alone cheaters.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

No idea what you are talking about here. PP stated that buses and monorails are for hotel guests uses only. I stated that buses and monorails are not restricted to hotel guests only. No where did parking lots come into the points made by either of us.

Downtown was a way to sneak in but with the current structure of the buses not running to resorts until long after most parks open, the long walks from lot to buses (which will change) and the added walk or transfer to the park ... it is much more work than parking at a resort. Am sure it still happens but probably not enough to add the scanning of bans to get on buses down there, causing a huge jam up.

Agree most people value their time, but with the numbers attending the parks, it doesn't take a large percentage cheating the system to burden the resort parking lots. Some of the resorts do not have enough parking for their guests and legitimate visitors let alone cheaters.

I wasn't correcting you...I was adding on.

If you lay $20
To park at Epcot...officially policy is go where ever you want.

If you have a dining reservation at Boardwalk and Don't specifically pay for parking...they will not encourage you to jump on the bus and come back from downtown at 2:30 am...even though that would benefit them.

 

[HopperFan]

I wasn't correcting you...I was adding on.

If you lay $20
To park at Epcot...officially policy is go where ever you want.

If you have a dining reservation at Boardwalk and Don't specifically pay for parking...they will not encourage you to jump on the bus and come back from downtown at 2:30 am...even though that would benefit them.

Okay now I'm following you, just was looking for that connect.

YES, buses and monorails are for everyone - as long as you are legitimately parked somewhere. That means following Disney parking rules.

Edited to add: And if you are parked at your DS hotel or offsite hotel and got to Disney by walking, taxi or shuttle.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Have you ever looked at money saving tips for Disney vacations? There are people who will make that sort of trade.

Stupid is as stupid does.

If you go to
Such lengths...the reality is you have been priced out.

 

[colleen costello]

I hope DVC resort guests staying on points continue to have parking flexibility. Two out of three trips we now take are non-ticketed. We travel at busy times and the parks are just too crowded. We visit resorts daily to eat. And often because of the insane pre-planning now required to do anything at WDW, we just eat counter service. My family typically visits Riverside and C Beach each trip for lunch or dinner. We go to Contempo Cafe to eat and then hit the gift shops. Same at Poly when I can't get a Kona Rez. I would miss this and no, not paying $20 to park just to buy a $15 hamburger.

 

[lovethattink]

TiW includes free valet parking.

There are TiW restaurants at value resorts, but not mods (except FQ). I would hope values remain free parking for TiW. Although above a post mentioned AoA as one of the resorts that filed for permits. (Obviously, can't make an ADR for those cs that are included. )

We stay on property often. But also as locals eat at WDW when we aren't staying. Just curious if this is going to affect us?

 

[lovethattink]

Here's an article. My question about TiW is mentioned in it. http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-...-at-walt-disney-world-resorts-is-nonsensical/

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Wonder if this will lay the foundation for a daily parking fee for resort guest, like Universal?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I hope DVC resort guests staying on points continue to have parking flexibility. Two out of three trips we now take are non-ticketed. We travel at busy times and the parks are just too crowded. We visit resorts daily to eat. And often because of the insane pre-planning now required to do anything at WDW, we just eat counter service. My family typically visits Riverside and C Beach each trip for lunch or dinner. We go to Contempo Cafe to eat and then hit the gift shops. Same at Poly when I can't get a Kona Rez. I would miss this and no, not paying $20 to park just to buy a $15 hamburger.

I fear things are not going to break well for you if things go the
Way we've been discussing...

The problem for your situation is that most of what they have done over the 10 last years is at least partially for saving employee costs.
That's why the hard reservations...if half
The tables are filled at kona on a day -
They cut staff. Cost accounting.
Magic bands are at least in part (if I know a rat) to track that and move people around to get Maximum yield.

Quick serves don't give them that cost flexibility/certainty. So while its tough to see a direct link between parking and the Bottomline...there is one.

To have satisfaction numbers consistent while saving money - you have to be able
To predict staff down to a near certainty...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wonder if this will lay the foundation for a daily parking fee for resort guest, like Universal?

It would be yet another example of "pricing out the riff raff".
...by that I mean normal people.

 

[Josh Hendy]

It would be yet another example of "pricing out the riff raff".
...by that I mean normal people.

Sometimes they may be that well aware of what they're doing ... other times I think that they're just stumbling from formula to formula.

X cars times Y parking price increase leads to ... oops ... Z people trying to game us leading to ... M spent on policing the parking lots ... divided by N resentful customers ... minus P set aside for incentives to bring them back ... minus Q who decide $20 is better spent parking at Universal than for an extra day at Epcot ...

I don't think that the people who make these decisions, whom I assume are MBA-wielding stuffed suits in Burbank, have a clue who the riff-raff, high-class, or anyone else visiting Orlando might be. Customers are just numbers on a spreadsheet that they think they can bump from A to B with a few goalseeking tricks.

"But every sports stadium charges that much for parking."

Yeah, but does every sports stadium sit in the middle of 25,000 acres of empty scrub? With zero property taxes?

 

[kbelle8995]

Unless they offer parking validation, My trips to Trader Sam's just went down. I wouldn't pay an additional $20 bucks for it. So I think it will make locals think twice before they come over to dine. And the quality of Disney restaurants is so hit and miss now.

I didn't see AP holders discussed will they have to pay too.

I wouldn't be surprised to see if they start charging resort guests parking fees. I mean if parking and infrastructure is an issue, it is the next logical step. Although I've maintained that you're getting charged for it anyway it's just rolled into your resort room rate

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I can see the daily resort parking fee coming. I think they have been thinking about this for a good while now, just waiting for the right opportunity to pounce on it. When we want to go eat at Caption Cooks at the Poly, we just take a bus to the MK and then hop on the monorail. We have always done that. We do drive to AKL and AoA to eat though on most trips. I would take a taxi to AKL before I would pay Dinsey to park there, since we always go there the morning of our AK day.

 

[dlavender]

I always factor free parking in when comparing on site to off site options. Many Orlando hotels charge this stupid fee, which you have to account for in the night's stay.

Might be a way for Disney to raise room prices again, without actually raising room prices.

 

[rteetz]

Rumor has it that Disney Springs will be next in the pay for parking category...

 

[katallo]

Unless they offer parking validation, My trips to Trader Sam's just went down. I wouldn't pay an additional $20 bucks for it. So I think it will make locals think twice before they come over to dine. And the quality of Disney restaurants is so hit and miss now.

I didn't see AP holders discussed will they have to pay too.

I wouldn't be surprised to see if they start charging resort guests parking fees. I mean if parking and infrastructure is an issue, it is the next logical step. Although I've maintained that you're getting charged for it anyway it's just rolled into your resort room rate

I agree. We are AP holders who now have the opportunity to come for several weeks. For us that means staying offsite. We have always enjoyed coming to Disney restaurants for dinner. We have no problem with the 3 hour limit and producing a receipt, but if it means paid parking just to have dinner we will eat offsite as well. Honestly, we have been coming to Disney for over 40 years and it's now getting to be many extra costs. Disney restaurants are hit or miss so I guess we'll have to make other choices.

 

[beer dave]

As an AP holder, FL resident, and DVC member, I feel that resort guests should have first priority access to the amenities of the particular resort at which they are staying. The AP is for parks, not resorts-- so having one gives no intended access to resort amenities such as Trader Sams-- so by all means guests with an ap should have to pay to park to use these things-- after all, they are taking away from the availability of these things to the paying resort guests.