Bus DtD to parks, is it possible?

[WorldKey]

There is no direct service so you would have to transfer at a resort and then go to a park. However, the ethics of doing this are up for debate.

So are the ethics of Disney charging $14 to park....ludicrous. You won't find a much bigger Disney fan, but the amount they charge for parking has shocked me in recent years. I have a $.50 parking stub from 1977. If you do the math you see that they are using parking as a huge cash cow. I know that they are in the business to turn profit but this is an area that bothers me because if you drive to WDW you are not left with much of a choice but to pay it (or catch a bus at DTD )

 

[Master Yoda]

So are the ethics of Disney charging $14 to park....ludicrous. You won't find a much bigger Disney fan, but the amount they charge for parking has shocked me in recent years. I have a $.50 parking stub from 1977. If you do the math you see that they are using parking as a huge cash cow. I know that they are in the business to turn profit but this is an area that bothers me because if you drive to WDW you are not left with much of a choice but to pay it (or catch a bus at DTD )

You can get an AP or stay at a Disney resort. Paying for parking irks me to no end as well but when comparison to sporting events, concerts, etc the $14 Disney charges is a steal.

 

[isman250]

I'm not sure you really followed my suggestion. I said they should charge for parking while validating parking for paying guests (i.e., someone with a receipt from one of the resident businesses). If you could show you were there to spend money, your parking would be free. This is a very common thing in larger cities. The only people it would discourage from coming to DTD are people who just want to walk around (i.e., people Disney doesn't really want there in the first place).

I'm not positive, but I believe the lot at Disneyland's Downtown Disney is already a pay lot. It's really not that wild of an idea, and it would solve Disney's problem of free-loaders in the DTD lot without forcing anyone without a car who wants to finish off the night at Magic Kingdom after seeing Cirque de Soleil or Disneyquest to factor in an extra 30 minutes just to wait around for a bus at a hotel they have no interest in visiting to begin with.

The only real objection I've ever heard to this is that it would back up traffic to get out of the lot. There are ways to get around that. I recall one particular idea from slappy magoo a while back that would have receipt reading computers set up at regular intervals along the sidewalks, so people could easily validate their parking before they ever got to their cars.

Oh I see I see, hmmm its a tough one then. I mean I have gone to DTD just to walk around before, but I guess I could take the bus from the resort if they ever did charge.

 

[WDWLOYAL1971]

Hi,

This is my first message in this wonderful page which I have been following for about a year now.

Because of my actual economic status I have to save every cent I can...that implies not being able to stay in a Disney hotel...

With this said I thought of driving to DtD and from there getting the Disney buses to the different parks...is that possible? or I would have to get a bus to a resort and from there to a park?

Thanks for your time.

I don't enjoy putting a negative comment, but this just erks me. I stay on Disney property during each trip. I love the fact that one of the perks is their transportation for paying resort guests. It should stay that way. The buses get crowded as it is, we don't need non resort guests free loading a ride. Maybe that is why they are charging the $14.00 parking fee. To make up for free loaders.

 

[Master Yoda]

And this is what bugs me the most about this policy...it penalizes guests with a legitimate reason to jump between DTD and the parks who don't want to be saddled with a car.

I really wish they'd just charge for the DTD lot, with a validating mechanism for people spending money in the stores and restaurants. Why such a pedestrian concept seems too much for Disney to embrace is beyond me...but the result is this arbitrary, circuitous nonsense walling off DTD from the rest of the property for any carless guests.

Three little words why they will never do this. Return on investment. Setting up and maintaining a system like you suggested costs money. The salary alone for the lot attendants would easily exceed $300k per yer. With the validation system you are talking about the only people that would be paying for parking would be those trying to get around paying at the parks. In the end they are shelling out hundreds of thousands every year for staffing, who knows how much on set up and maintenance and they are having to add 4 new bus routes for a zero increase in revenue. Call me crazy but I just do not see them jumping on board with that idea.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

heres some questions when are you going and how long> staying at a resort might benefit you may be free dining where you dont have to pay for food and busses to take you to each park if you drive you go to disney and PARK for free, not free dining 30% off your room etc ! let us kno we might be able to help you. Or feel free to personally email me/ message me

 

[Disneydreamer23]

They better not agree with you, charging for DTD parking is just ridiculous. I am sorry, but their is no need for this. It would also make alot of people not want to go there, its a parking lot for a mall. They already are getting your money for the stores, but your going to charge people to park now?? I mean the reason I stay at disney hotels is so I dont have to pay for parking at the parks, but you want disney to charge us to go to their mall now??? Come on.

waiiiit hold the phone tyrone.. did you say DtD is charging to park? is this for ppl who stary om propety too and how much are they charging?

 

[rsoxguy]

I do think this would cut down on the number of people hopping disney busses that are not staying on property. But I don't think Disney really minds them using the transportation as it is bringing people to the parks ($$) and those people eat/buy things in the parks ($$$). So in the end - Disney still wins out on the deal. If they wanted to police it - they could.

Good point.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

Good point.

do u have an account on wdwlive?

 

[rsoxguy]

do u have an account on wdwlive?

I have no idea what wdwlive is, so no.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Three little words why they will never do this. Return on investment. Setting up and maintaining a system like you suggested costs money. The salary alone for the lot attendants would easily exceed $300k per yer. With the validation system you are talking about the only people that would be paying for parking would be those trying to get around paying at the parks. In the end they are shelling out hundreds of thousands every year for staffing, who knows how much on set up and maintenance and they are having to add 4 new bus routes for a zero increase in revenue. Call me crazy but I just do not see them jumping on board with that idea.

Fair enough. But if the idea is such an obvious loser, why do so many places do it? :shrug:

I'm also not convinced there would be no increase in revenue.

People who do the DTD-resort-theme park two-step would have to either find a more elaborate scheme to avoid parking fees, or just pay the $14 at the parks. Some would opt for the former, I'm sure, but not everyone is going to be that motivated.

You'd also have the potential for more (small) purchases at the businesses, as people made sure to get their parking validated. If receipts go up for tenants, the property becomes more valuable and Disney has the opportunity to request more rent.

Granted, those are indirect results and trickier to quantify than simply looking at how much the system would cost. Maybe that's all Disney accountants are capable of doing.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

waiiiit hold the phone tyrone.. did you say DtD is charging to park? is this for ppl who stary om propety too and how much are they charging?

No, they're not. But I want them to, cuz that's just how I roll.

 

[the-reason14]

You could easily park at Dtd and then take a bus to the Contemporary and walk to the MK if that's the park you're going to that day. Or do the same and wait for a bus to another park, so ya you definitely can and it doesn't have to be just the Contemporary, you could do this at any resort. But, like someone said earlier, you won't be able to get to any park at rope drop as it would take a lot of extra time. And I don't think they run busses to and from Dtd until late morning so it's not really worth it imo.

 

[Clever Name]

I do think this would cut down on the number of people hopping disney busses that are not staying on property. But I don't think Disney really minds them using the transportation as it is bringing people to the parks ($$) and those people eat/buy things in the parks ($$$). So in the end - Disney still wins out on the deal. If they wanted to police it - they could.

Much like the resort mugs. They clearly have a way to police the refilling of the mugs (example: the waterpark mugs must be scanned to work the drink dispenser) but they choose not to impliment the system because they charge enough to stay on property (and the mugs) and pop (soda) is relatively cheap so they still make out on the deal just by you staying at the resort.

BUT to answer the OP's question: Yes you can get on a DtD bus and take it to a resort and then use the resorts transportation to take you to parks. Yes it is frowned upon on these boards so expect some flaming coming your way. I personally don't care if you choose to do this as you're still giving Disney your money in park tickets/food/merch AND the long commute to and from the resorts, DTD is not a fun one so thats the way of paying for it in my eyes...the lack of convenience. Have a great trip!

The cost of all Disney transportation is included when you purchase admission media. Disney buses are not reserved for those guests staying on property.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I have no idea what wdwlive is, so no.

it is another site like this one and one of the people there name is ur name but with a 45 on the end ha ha!

 

[jonnyc]

The best thing to do is go to the resort closest to that park you are going to and then transfer from there. For Epcot or DHS go to Boardwalk, S&D or Y&B club and walk over. For MK go to the Poly. GF or Contemporary and take the monorail. For AK got to AKL and take the bus.

Thanks! I would opt for a taxi, but I am a poor Student on limited funds :lol:.