Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[Runner225]

What happens when people go to modify their already made reservation like when discounts or free dining comes out?

I thought about this as well....my guess is because the ressie has been updated, we will be charged. I booked for July and have been looking to see if other discounts are available. Now, you'll have to factor in the parking costs to see if its a better deal. SMH, Disney is seriously out of control.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Will this prevent me from going to WDW? Nope. Will it make me consider off site options more? Yep. This is the sort of thing, at least for me, that makes me a lot less loyal to Disney. It's not just this additional charge, it's the cumulative effect of ALL these various increases.

Bingo

 

[rteetz]

I believe the only thing that will stop them is people not putting up with it and there rooms sits empty.

Which a recession would do because people won't have the spending money.

Mods, maybe join these two threads?

https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-resorts-to-start-charging-parking-fees.3670107/page-12

That thread is on a separate board.

 

[richkaryn]

What happens when people go to modify their already made reservation like when discounts or free dining comes out?

I am not sure, it did not state anything about that. That poses a good question though.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I could see the argument if I was paying to stay at a deluxe. Why should deluxe pay more than value when parking isn't a premium and its the same asphalt.

If they hadn't done a graduated parking fee structure the people staying at the Values, moreso All-Stars would lose out the most. Not only are the people staying there the farthest from the parks with the exception of AK they also have the least amenities AND they don't actually have any issues with parking spaces problems. For Values the % that the parking fee makes up would be a lot higher if it was a flat fee. If anything in % of the proportion to room rates Deluxe is getting a steal at $24 in comparison to room rates for Values.

As a random example:

Rack rate for All-Star Sports including taxes and fees for 9/7/18-9/16/18 will run $1,255.31. Garden Wing-Garden View at the Contemporary Resort for the same time period and rack rate will run $4,428.00 including taxes and fees.

If you take those numbers and apply $24 for the All-Star Sports that means it would be $216 and that equates to just over 17% of the overall room charge. Conversely for Contemporary Resort a $216 total charge equates to just under 5% of the overall room charge.

If you look at what they ended up with at $13 that would be $117 and would be just over a 9% overall room charge for All-Star Sports. Still high and unwanted but a lot better than 17%.

I don't think most people would figure out percentages but still.

 

[dgramling]

I believe the only thing that will stop them is people not putting up with it and there rooms sits empty.

Wasn't it not long ago they were reporting low occupancy at the deluxe hotels, necessitating taking rooms out of inventory to turn into DVC. So the response to that is charging a higher rate to park there and to rely more on the people that would be staying there (upper class) as their main resort guest.

 

[Lisa F]

I don't think DVC members getting "free parking" has anything to do with Disney marketing or desire to drive people to DVC. I think it probably has to do with florida timeshare law and the kind of fees they can and can't tack on to a timeshare after people have purchased. Can you imagine what a mess that industry would be if timeshares could indiscriminately tack on fees at their whim above and beyond dues? Why stop at $25 a day? make it a $1000 a day parking fee!

It would probably cost them a fortune to rework the paperwork to allow them to nickel and dime DVC members going forward the way they do regular resort guests, if they even COULD do that, and they are stuck with what they sold for anyone who has already purchased. We're already paying for parking just like we're already paying for all other aspects of our resort stay... and if ACTUAL costs associated with running the resort goes up, like there is suddenly a sinkhole in a parking lot, the cost from that has to be accounted for and assessed in dues. They can't randomly decide to tack on convenience fees... unlike people who do a short term rental where you're paying for whatever is in the contract at the time of booking. But anyone remember when wifi came out for $10 a day? DVC members were exempt from that too and I believe it was due to timeshare laws and not any kindness on Disney's part toward DVC members.

That said, I can see them using this to their marketing advantage, but I don't think the marketing is driving it. I think using this to market DVC is a "silver lining of their hands being tied by timeshare law." I think if they could legally stick it to DVC members for parking, they would. They know that this (like all changes) is an initial Public Relations "bump in the road" but that 6 months from now people will have forgotten parking was ever free and it will just be part of the Disney landscape... Even for DVC members. What recourse would we have in reality except to sell our points, which is no skin of Disney's nose because they already have our money and there is a line of people wanting to take our place.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Will this prevent me from going to WDW? Nope. Will it make me consider off site options more? Yep. This is the sort of thing, at least for me, that makes me a lot less loyal to Disney. It's not just this additional charge, it's the cumulative effect of ALL these various increases.

I totally get this reaction right now. Would love to have a "where-are-they-staying-now" follow-up a year from now and see how many people actually change their behavior because of a parking charge. My GUESS would be that it will not be a huge proportion -- though I could be totally wrong!

 

[rteetz]

Len Testa has been bringing up some interesting questions on wdwmagic.

How will they monitor this? Will you register your car at the check in desk? At the gate?

How will they track your vehicle? License plate? Guards roaming the lots at night?

Will they actually tow your vehicle if you don't register it?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

If they hadn't done a graduated parking fee structure the people staying at the Values, moreso All-Stars would lose out the most. Not only are the people staying there the farthest from the parks with the exception of AK they also have the least amenities AND they don't actually have any issues with parking spaces problems. For Values the % that the parking fee makes up would be a lot higher if it was a flat fee. If anything in % of the proportion to room rates Deluxe is getting a steal at $24 in comparison to room rates for Values.

As a random example:

Rack rate for All-Star Sports including taxes and fees for 9/7/18-9/16/18 will run $1,255.31. Garden Wing-Garden View at the Contemporary Resort for the same time period and rack rate will run $4,428.00 including taxes and fees.

If you take those numbers and apply $24 for the All-Star Sports that means it would be $216 and that equates to just over 17% of the overall room charge. Conversely for Contemporary Resort a $216 total charge equates to just under 5% of the overall room charge.

If you look at what they ended up with at $13 that would be $117 and would be just over a 9% overall room charge for All-Star Sports. Still high and unwanted but a lot better than 17%.

I don't think most people would figure out percentages but still.

Numbers folks unite!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/paid-parking-coming-to-wdw-resorts.3670025/page-20#post-58942162

 

[OhMari]

Last three stays all at AKL with a car. Didn’t receive any sort of paper for car. Showed photo Id and said checking in at hotel gate to get in. Used magic band for gate rest of time.

When I stayed at Cabana Bay, had a keycard for parking gate.

There is nothing to stop people from parking at Monorail or Epcot IG hotel for free by saying I am shopping, then going to the parks.

I think I heard once, that they give out 3 hour time tickets.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

Len Testa has been bringing up some interesting questions on wdwmagic.

How will they monitor this? Will you register your car at the check in desk? At the gate?

How will they track your vehicle? License plate? Guards roaming the lots at night?

Will they actually tow your vehicle if you don't register it?

Probably gonna get a ticket when you get in and then pay when you leave. Probably as long as your out by midnight you won’t be charged. Then most likely tow after that.

Btw it’s free for guest to park at the parks when staying at a resort. What’s stops people from just parking there over night.

 

[Mac30188]

The truth is despite the immediate outrage, this will be easily forgiven. They are not the first or last hotel to charge parking fees. Even those outraged at the moment will quickly forgive as they see more and more high profile rides and attractions open. The extra money for parking that Disney implemented a few years ago will seem trivial compared to seeing shiny new toys like Galaxy Edge, Tron Coaster, Guardians Coaster, and Runaway Railway.

Disney is adding Billions of dollars in park and infrastructure improvements. Everything from Gondolas to I believe aren't they reworking the entrance to DHS? There is no doubt they will try to pass these costs to the consumer. As much as people have complained about not investing in the park, Disney listened and this is part of the bill for significant number of new attractions in the pipeline. Even as frustrating and upsetting these fees feel, I would rather have the new rides and parking fees then status quo. I will grumble, adjust my budget and just accept it as the new cost of Disney.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I totally get this reaction right now. Would love to have a "where-are-they-staying-now" follow-up a year from now and see how many people actually change their behavior because of a parking charge. My GUESS would be that it will not be a huge proportion -- though I could be totally wrong!

When you start comparing Value resorts (which is where we stay most of the time) vs off site hotels, and you start to look at the fees and whats included. I’ve always told people “stay in the bubble, its just as cheap if you stay a value vs going offsite”. It’s not that way anymore, the perks are going down, and the prices are going up. So when you start to compare values vs staying offsite, the scales are tipping in the favor of staying offsite. Add to the comparison that now I want to “stick it to Disney” and not give them my hotel money, its an easy decision now. The money will drive the decision for me now, not staying in the bubble.

 

[jade1]

The economy is doing quite well compared to years past. I feel the only thing that will stop Disney from continuing to price hike or have more add ons is a recession.

I agree. Just hoping we get all the additions done before that.

Paid parking suspended is pretty easy to do. Just like the FL Tolls after the hurricane.

FP+ Packages would be easy/enticing as well.

 

[ELLH]

That thread is on a separate board.

That's odd. I didn't realize the different subsections were so segregated that threads within them couldn't be moved around. I've been a mod for a long time on other forums and hadn't run in to this.

Anyway, no harm meant. It's simply there are currently two threads about the exact same thing. It seemed prudent (logical) to merge them. But if you can't... that about does it.


Back to being irate about the topic at hand...

 

[rteetz]

Probably gonna get a ticket when you get in and then pay when you leave. Probably as long as your out by midnight you won’t be charged. Then most likely tow after that.

Another point he had is doesn't this defeat My Disney Experience? The whole thing about the app is bypassing check in and such. If you have to register your vehicle in person then MDE isn't working like it is supposed to.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

That's odd. I didn't realize the different subsections were so segregated that threads within them couldn't be moved around. I've been a mod for a long time on other forums and hadn't run in to this.

Anyway, no harm meant. It's simply there are currently two threads about the exact same thing. It seemed prudent (logical) to merge them. But if you can't... that about does it.


Back to being irate about the topic at hand...

I prefer NOT merging a lot of threads, personally. Not everyone visits every section of the boards. Sometimes some duplication is ideal.

 

[rteetz]

That's odd. I didn't realize the different subsections were so segregated that threads within them couldn't be moved around. I've been a mod for a long time on other forums and hadn't run in to this.

Anyway, no harm meant. It's simply there are currently two threads about the exact same thing. It seemed prudent (logical) to merge them. But if you can't... that about does it.


Back to being irate about the topic at hand...

I can move this thread to another board but I can't merge it once its there. I only have control of this board. The resorts mods could move that thread here and then I can merge it.

This is why we have several mods.

 

[rteetz]

I prefer NOT merging a lot of threads, personally. Not everyone visits every section of the boards. Sometimes some duplication is ideal.

It really depends on the subject.