Disney Testing Paid Parking at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

[PhotoDave219]

It seems like it, especially at WDW. The only place we actually found an accessible spot this Chriatmas was at Epcot on the 26th.

I do feel your pain; I feel the handicapped spots are the most abused Spots at Disney. Seen it first hand and it's not right.

 

[Lord_Vader]

It's actually surprising Disney doesn't already charge for parking at the hotels even for resort guests. Every other hotel does it, primarily so they can outsource their valet. In Disney's case they have the added incentive of using it as a deterrent to keep their guests from getting a rental car and thereby keeping them in property.

They do, it is hidden in the rate and shown as a perk.

iMO anyway...

 

[s8film40]

They do, it is hidden in the rate and shown as a perk.

iMO anyway...

Well yes but that isn't passed on to the valet company, Disney actually takes in a cut of the valet revenue. At some point they will have to either subsidize the other company or allow them to start charging self parking.

 

[Lord_Vader]

They are, everywhere it seems. My friend used his mother's decal when the two of us visited MK once. I was so embarrassed I wanted to slink down in the seat and never get up. Needless to say, since then, whenever we go to the parks, I drive.

There is a lot of abuse, I personally choose to view them as mentally handicapped.

 

[homerdance]

So at what point do they require you to be a resort guest to ride the bus/transportation to the park? I am still amazed that they don't do security before you get on the monorail and dump you off on the good side of security at MK/EPCOT.

 

[Lord_Vader]

So at what point do they require you to be a resort guest to ride the bus/transportation to the park? I am still amazed that they don't do security before you get on the monorail and dump you off on the good side of security at MK/EPCOT.

You realize the security checkpoints at the parks are really part of the show don't you?

The lightly go through bags, mostly looking for alcohol and do that at only the most basic level. The checkpoints are to make guests feel safer plain and simple, except the dogs that might actually be able to find something if they were anywhere close to the checkpoints.

 

[DisneyCane]

I do feel your pain; I feel the handicapped spots are the most abused Spots at Disney. Seen it first hand and it's not right.

Agree 100%. Handicapped parking permits are abused everywhere. I don't have any handicapped friends or family but it es me off to see everywhere. Disney lots definitely have the worst abuse. Whenever I am anywhere and see people parking in a handicapped spot and then nobody in the car has any issues walking, I will make loud comments to whoever I'm walking with and make sure the abusers can hear what I'm saying.

For people that aren't in a wheelchair, is it really that big of a deal to park in a handicapped spot at a Disney lot? The distance from the spot to the tram is the same as in the regular parking. Walking from handicapped parking to the park entrance is farther than walking from a regular spot to the tram stop and then the tram stop to the entrance. I don't understand WHY people abuse this at Disney.

I personally always walk from my spot to the entrance no matter how far I am because I can't stand waiting for the safety spiel to play 15 times because some idiot keeps boarding after the final boarding call. If you are lazy (which is the only reason for a non-disabled person to want to park in the handicapped area), you aren't going to walk to the entrance anyway.

 

[jaklgreen]

It is a bit strange to use a handicapped parking spot and then walk all day in the park.

 

[homerdance]

You realize the security checkpoints at the parks are really part of the show don't you?

The lightly go through bags, mostly looking for alcohol and do that at only the most basic level. The checkpoints are to make guests feel safer plain and simple, except the dogs that might actually be able to find something if they were anywhere close to the checkpoints.

Exactly. Why not move them?

 

[flynnibus]

Charging for parking at hotels really doesn't have much at all to do with location or space available. Certainly in dense cities where space is a premium that is a factor but it has more to do with valet. Typically if you want you hotel to be a 4 star/diamond hotel valet has to be offered. In order to accomplish this most hotels will hire their own or choose an outside company. In order for this type of business to break even you have to charge for self parking to create an incentive for people to pay for the valet service and protect your losses should people choose not to. All the valet people have to be paid minimum wage after all and typically if you want to maintain that 4 star/diamond standing you really want them actually paid a little more. There are only two solutions to this once it reaches a certain threshold either charge for self parking so it follows the increases in valet or simply operate valet at a loss/expense and build it into the room rates. In other words your going to pay for self parking one way or another. Combine that with the other factors here and you can see Disney's going to have to do something at some point soon.

A nice story... But not the norm. The holiday inn is not trying to make valet attractive when they charge for parking in Seattle, but not in Bellevue.

I have AAA 4 and 5 star resorts near me that have valet parking for hotel guests and still have free parking on property - because valet is an amenity and they are not in an area where charging for parking would be tolerated given the area.

That factor is far more dominate than trying to prop up valet. You can't ignore location when trying to compare and justify things

 

[flynnibus]

Well yes but that isn't passed on to the valet company, Disney actually takes in a cut of the valet revenue. At some point they will have to either subsidize the other company or allow them to start charging self parking.

Remember - Disney outsourced this not too long ago when they used to do it in house...

 

[erwinalber4]

You realize the security checkpoints at the parks are really part of the show don't you?

The lightly go through bags, mostly looking for alcohol and do that at only the most basic level. The checkpoints are to make guests feel safer plain and simple, except the dogs that might actually be able to find something if they were anywhere close to the checkpoints.

This is true. I do bag checks at another park (not Disney) and if someone wants to get something in, they will. Of course we keep an eye out for threats but realistically the most common find is alcohol or food which, in my opinion, subconsciously tells our mind to prioritize finding those items. I've only found a handful of knives and pepper spray every now and then. If it's in someone's pocket then it gets into the park. Definitely an illusion of security to make guests feel safer.

 

[bugsbunny]

While there is no such thing as a free lunch, I think Disney is in full cash grab mode. There are no reasonable charges anymore for anything. You're already overpaying for the rooms and food, which is why more people are staying off property. Next will be pay toilets for non Disney hotel guests.

If Disney charged a reasonable price for parking, I'd have no trouble paying it, but instead, they'll charge $20-25 a day. That's ridiculous.

And imagine how his will be implemented. You'll have to use your magic band or pay to get out of the parking lot. But not before waiting in a long line while people in front of you try and complete the transaction. At the Contemporary, you have 1 lane in and 1 out. I have no idea how they would implement this smoothly.

 

[s8film40]

A nice story... But not the norm. The holiday inn is not trying to make valet attractive when they charge for parking in Seattle, but not in Bellevue.

I have AAA 4 and 5 star resorts near me that have valet parking for hotel guests and still have free parking on property - because valet is an amenity and they are not in an area where charging for parking would be tolerated given the area.

That factor is far more dominate than trying to prop up valet. You can't ignore location when trying to compare and justify things

Yes location can be a factor but it's not the only factor, I said that earlier. If that were the only factor there would be absolutely no need at all for most of the central Florida hotels to charge for parking yet almost all of them do. Take for example the JW Marriott, it's over on Central Florida Pwy. with virtually nothing around it and the closest things are spread out neighborhoods. There's no reason they need to charge $20 a day for parking because the space was at a premium. It's because they need to have valet. Some hotels are able to get away without needing to charge for self parking because the hotel is classy enough that a lot of people are using valet regardless. In Disney's case people aren't staying at a Disney deluxe hotel because it was the closest 4 Diamond hotel, it's because they wanted to stay at the Contemporary or Boardwalk and given the choice of paying $100 for valet for their 5 day stay or free, understandably many are going to choose free.

Remember - Disney outsourced this not too long ago when they used to do it in house...

Yes, this was the beginning of how Disney chose to deal with this because they were losing money. They found a company they were already doing business with and that was looking to expand their valet business. Rarely will a valet company take over valet without taking over self parking as well, it's just part of the business model. Obviously going and shopping your valet business around and being able to say we do the valet for WDW is a huge advantage, so you can use that as justification for taking on something that doesn't make money. At that point in time valet was $7, they needed to raise it a little to cover costs so it went to $10. $7 wasn't too big of a leap for valet for a lot of guests so business wasn't so bad, however with the increase business dropped off a little. They've now gone through this process a few times since to now get to $20. I would imagine it's probably almost time for them to re-evaluate this. You have to think though there's only so much you can squeeze this business before it collapses. This is really all just math, if you look at the numbers you realize there heading for a point where something will have to give. If Disney were okay with taking a loss they simply wouldn't have outsourced the valet, so I would start getting used to the idea of paying to park at WDW hotels just like all the rest of the area hotels.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It's amazing to me how many people here, even hypothetically, justify extra parking fees for people already staying on property.

And I have never paid to park in any Orlando area hotel.

 

[s8film40]

It's amazing to me how many people here, even hypothetically, justify extra parking fees for people already staying on property.

And I have never paid to park in any Orlando area hotel.

I don't think it's so much of a justification as trying to understand the why behind it. Personally I think WDW needs to drop the whole 4 Diamond thing and they could keep the valet at GF and BW where it's somewhat busy and all self parking could easily remain free.

I don't know of any 4 Diamond/Star hotels in the Orlando area other than Disney that have free parking. It would probably be pretty challenging if not impossible to find one.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Well there you go, we typically have no reason to pay for a four diamond hotel.

 

[Biff215]

If this is really about valet and a 4 diamond rating, then I will be really frustrated. If this is about keeping parking available for resort guests and eliminating abuse, then I can understand.

I guess we'll get our answer if this happens at the resorts that have valet and not at the others that don't.

 

[s8film40]

If this is really about valet and a 4 diamond rating, then I will be really frustrated. If this is about keeping parking available for resort guests and eliminating abuse, then I can understand.

I guess we'll get our answer if this happens at the resorts that have valet and not at the others that don't.

These are both completely separate factors, but they both add pressure for Disney to make changes. Both issues only affect the Deluxe hotels so it is possible if this happens moderate and value could remain unaffected, however Disney often likes to make everything very consistent so you never know.

 

[Imagineerwannabe]

I think if anything they would only charge people who are NOT staying at that property. Park for free at the resort you are staying at. The main issue, it think, are the people who park at the Contemporary/Poly to avoid the hassle/cost of parking at the TTC.

These are both completely separate factors, but they both add pressure for Disney to make changes. Both issues only affect the Deluxe hotels so it is possible if this happens moderate and value could remain unaffected, however Disney often likes to make everything very consistent so you never know.

And for dvc members who only own at deluxe resorts, this could cost me $700+ per year if the charging were to be added at $20 per day given my time spent staying on property each year. That's enough to make me reconsider my ownership as its a dues increase by stealth - of close to 50% hike...