C'mon Disney

[CaptainAmerica]

Parking fees are for motels with limited space.

I'm sorry but that's just factually untrue. Parking fees are most common at luxury / upscale resorts.

The Gaylord Palms charges $22 per day for self-parking and $33 per day for valet parking. The JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes charges $28 per day for self-parking and $35 per day for valet parking. The Four Seasons charges $30 per day for valet parking and doesn't offer self-parking at all. Many of these resorts also charge separate "resort fees."

If you don't like Disney charging for parking, fine. But at least make an attempt to get your facts straight before arguing out of ignorance and misleading others.

 

[John park hopper]

The sign clearly states the lot was closed for a "special event" it was not closed for maintenance. if I am paying for a service (parking) then I expect full benifits of that service and not be pushed aside for a "special event".

 

[donsullivan]

Read the sign again.

I read the sign. My point is that it doesn't matter why that lot section was unavailable. Expecting there to never be anything else going on at the resort while you are visiting is an unrealistic expectation. It doesn't matter whether the lot section is being reserved for some specific group or event or maintenance. There are many other lots available for guests to park their vehicles and expecting a refund just because the lot you prefer is unavailable (or full) and you need to park further away is an unrealistic expectation.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The sign clearly states the lot was closed for a "special event" it was not closed for maintenance. if I am paying for a service (parking) then I expect full benifits of that service and not be pushed aside for a "special event".

You seem to not understand. There are MANY lots at the All Star resorts. One of them was closed. Not the entire lot, one section of the lot, if it helps to look at it that way.

What you're arguing is essentially saying "Splash Mountain is closed for refurbishment so I deserve to go into the Magic Kingdom for free."

 

[marni1971]

I read the sign. My point is that it doesn't matter why that lot section was unavailable. Expecting there to never be anything else going on at the resort while you are visiting is an unrealistic expectation. It doesn't matter whether the lot section is being reserved for some specific group or event or maintenance. There are many other lots available for guests to park their vehicles and expecting a refund just because the lot you prefer is unavailable (or full) and you need to park further away is an unrealistic expectation.

You can’t create an unwarranted upcharge and then rub salt in the wound. Maintenance would be a different story but it’s not.

 

[Minnie Mum]

Waa, waa, waa. Here's my question - who holds a "special event" in a parking lot? Was it the all new Disney Food Truck Food and Beer Festival? Maybe the Cars Tailgate Party and tractor rodeo? Or could it be a new Disney Weddings venue for the Value crowd?

 

[larryz]

I read the sign. My point is that it doesn't matter why that lot section was unavailable. Expecting there to never be anything else going on at the resort while you are visiting is an unrealistic expectation. It doesn't matter whether the lot section is being reserved for some specific group or event or maintenance. There are many other lots available for guests to park their vehicles and expecting a refund just because the lot you prefer is unavailable (or full) and you need to park further away is an unrealistic expectation.

Well, when I go to a hotel (or in this case, a Disney motel), I expect areas to be used in the manner for which they were designed. That is, parking cars in parking lots, guests sleeping in guest rooms, guests eating in food courts, and the like.

I don't expect them to cordon off part of a parking lot for some "special event," especially when they're charging me extra for the privilege of parking my vehicle in that area... and especially when it's the only parking area that's convenient to my already grossly overpriced motel room.

 

[John park hopper]

You seem to not understand. There are MANY lots at the All Star resorts. One of them was closed. Not the entire lot, one section of the lot, if it helps to look at it that way.

What you're arguing is essentially saying "Splash Mountain is closed for refurbishment so I deserve to go into the Magic Kingdom for free."

On the contrary if the lot is closed for maintenance or any attraction is closed for maintenance I have no problem with that but if an attraction is closed for a "special event" as this parking lot was I do have a problem. That's like saying Splash Mountain is closed for a "special event" suck it up there are other rides you can go on

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Well, when I go to a hotel (or in this case, a Disney motel), I expect areas to be used in the manner for which they were designed. That is, parking cars in parking lots, guests sleeping in guest rooms, guests eating in food courts, and the like.

I don't expect them to cordon off part of a parking lot for some "special event," especially when they're charging me extra for the privilege of parking my vehicle in that area... and especially when it's the only parking area that's convenient to my already grossly overpriced motel room.

I don't think the special event is IN the parking lot, I think they're saving spaces so that people attending the special event can PARK in the PARKING LOT.

 

[larryz]

I don't think the special event is IN the parking lot, I think they're saving spaces so that people attending the special event can PARK in the PARKING LOT.

Oho... that's even worse! I'm paying to park there, and they're kicking me out of my close and convenient parking spot so somebody else (who's likely not even paying for the parking) can park there???

If I were staying there, I'd be really angry about it!!!*

*Good thing I'm not. I might blow a gasket.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

So are these "special event" people actually paying for their spot? If not, that would be particularly egregious for someone that has.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Oho... that's even worse! I'm paying to park there, and they're kicking me out of my close and convenient parking spot so somebody else (who's likely not even paying for the parking) can park there???

If I were staying there, I'd be really angry about it!!!*

*Good thing I'm not. I might blow a gasket.

Special event guests are perfectly legitimate guests of a resort. You're acting like the only people who have business there are people staying overnight. What if there's a wedding at the Grand? Or a conference at the Boardwalk? You're paying for parking, generally. You're not paying for THAT SPECIFIC section of parking.

So are these "special event" people actually paying for their spot? If not, that would be particularly egregious for someone that has.

There's nothing egregious! The person who paid for their parking STILL GETS HIS PARKING. What are you missing about this?

Analogy: There are five pieces of chicken prepped at Cosmic Ray's, pieces A, B, C, D, and E. They're all exactly the same. You order a piece of chicken. Meanwhile, two VIPs come in on a private tour and their tour guide gets them piece C and D for free. You act all ed off and outraged, even though pieces A, B, and E are still available for you.

To be clear, exactly NOBODY who paid for parking was turned away or denied the ability to park.

 

[larryz]

Special event guests are perfectly legitimate guests of a resort. You're acting like the only people who have business there are people staying overnight. What if there's a wedding at the Grand? Or a conference at the Boardwalk? You're paying for parking, generally. You're not paying for THAT SPECIFIC section of parking.

Ah, I see. I just have to reset my expectations so in case I'm actually expecting value for money I'm being charged, I should dispel that notion right up front.

Got it.

 

[donsullivan]

I don't think the special event is IN the parking lot, I think they're saving spaces so that people attending the special event can PARK in the PARKING LOT.

The sign appears to be a generic Parking Lot Closures sign where they just swapped in the appropriate date so we don't even know that it was actually an 'event' as in party or similar. It could also have been something like high school band(s) coming in with multiple buses and equipment and support vehicles for performances at the Magic Kingdom during that week and they wanted a large space where they could keep all their vehicles together and allow proper turning radius for the large buses in the lots, etc.. That would be a very common scenario at that resort for large groups like that.

I guess my frustration is the assumption of negative 'intent' by Disney toward guests without any facts other that a photo of a sign to back it up. It is after all their property and they are entitled to support the needs of ALL guests, not just the one who doesn't like this sign.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It could also have been something like high school band(s) coming in with multiple buses and equipment and support vehicles for performances at the Magic Kingdom during that week and they wanted a large space where they could keep all their vehicles together and allow proper turning radius for the large buses in the lots, etc.. That would be a very common scenario at that resort for large groups like that.

Exactly. That's almost certainly what this is.

 

[larryz]

Analogy: There are five pieces of chicken prepped at Cosmic Ray's, pieces A, B, C, D, and E. They're all exactly the same. You order a piece of chicken. Meanwhile, two VIPs come in on a private tour and their tour guide gets them piece C and D for free. You act all ****ed off and outraged, even though pieces A, B, and E are still available for you.

To be clear, exactly NOBODY who paid for parking was turned away or denied the ability to park.

Using your analogy, I won't be upset as long as I get the chicken at the same counter the VIP gets theirs.

But when I'm told I have to take a five-to-ten minute hike to get my chicken, I'm gonna be angry.

 

[Lets Respect]

Let's say it is a high school group or something, which is perfectly reasonable and expected at All Stars.

No one would have an issue with that if they weren't being charged to park there.

The problem is, when you keep raising prices up up up, people's expectations go up as well

 

[BoarderPhreak]

There's nothing egregious! The person who paid for their parking STILL GETS HIS PARKING. What are you missing about this?

I'm not missing anything. What we are missing are additional details - of where you're allowed to park and how far it is from your room, etc. If it's no less convenient then I guess it's all good.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

For Clarity.... this was a last minute quick 3 day trip. We rarely stay at the "values" due to past experiences (that's a whole 'nother post), but considering it was last minute, with limited availability and insane rates elsewhere...said what the heck.

The blocked off area was 1/4 of the parking area in the big lot in between Sports and Movies (If you're looking at a map it was close to half of the parking area in front of Celebrity Hall.)

This lot services buildings 1,2,3,4 and 5 of ASM (music) - AND buildings 4,5,6,7 & 8 at Sports (not going to use the acronym).

I get the whole "But you still get your parking" mentality....but you miss the point. What do you think happens when you remove a quarter of the parking spaces that service 10 buildings spanning 2 resorts? (Try that when getting back from the parks with the rest of the herd at about 11pm).

I'll tell you what happens --- you "get your parking" 15 minutes away from your room. Might not be such a big deal - right? Well having to carry (literally) 2 small children for 15 minutes back to the room every night and then trekking it back to the car in the morning - it becomes a bigger deal. Now compound that with being charged for that "convenience" - so that the resort can have a "special event".

BTW - I thought the sign was nice. I didn't dislike the sign. Just disliked the fact they closed a quarter of the parking lot.

 

[drizgirl]

For Clarity.... this was a last minute quick 3 day trip. We rarely stay at the "values" due to past experiences (that's a whole 'nother post), but considering it was last minute, with limited availability and insane rates elsewhere...said what the heck.

The blocked off area was 1/4 of the parking area in the big lot in between Sports and Movies (If you're looking at a map it was close to half of the parking area in front of Celebrity Hall.)

This lot services buildings 1,2,3,4 and 5 of ASM - AND buildings 4,5,6,7 & 8 at Sports (not going to use the acronym).

I get the whole "But you still get your parking" mentality....but you miss the point. What do you think happens when you remove a quarter of the parking spaces that service 10 buildings spanning 2 resorts? (Try that when getting back from the parks with the rest of the herd at about 11pm).

I'll tell you what happens --- you "get your parking" 15 minutes away from your room. Might not be such a big deal - right? Well having to carry (literally) 2 small children for 15 minutes back to the room every night and then trekking it back to the car in the morning - it becomes a bigger deal. Now compound that with being charged for that "convenience" - so that the resort can have a "special event".

BTW - I thought the sign was nice. I didn't dislike the sign. Just disliked the fact they closed a quarter of the parking lot.

If you paid for parking, I would go in and complain.