Disney Testing Paid Parking at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

[hopemax]

For the 20 years we've been visiting WDW, we've visited the resorts countless times. First, just to check them out and eat in the restaurants. Then to collect the pressed penny series that were released over the years. Later, pin trading and looking at the holiday decor. It has been an integral part of our enjoyment of the WDW experience. We flew home yesterday and our last day was touring WL & AKL, eating at Pop Century and visiting Art of Animation. The first day we ate beignets at French Quarter. I was going to post in the Bonfamille's thread that my Dad was wondering how many beignet sales wouldn't have happened if not for being given free ones on our first visit to Bonfamille's in 1995. We didn't order them, but they brought them anyway, and every trip we purchased them at least once in the food court, and my parents took many, many visitors (even if they were in town for business and not going into a theme park) to try them over the last 10 years.

This feels like a big "we don't want you here." My Dad has a Maingate, so I would guess any potential parking fee doesn't apply to him because he's entitled to park at the parks for free anyway. But he doesn't like the waiting at the entrance to get in, and the inconsistency between the security folks that smile and wave him in vs the third degree from others, and I don't see that getting better when this comes to pass. If I ever wanted to run down from the house by myself, it would most certainly affect me. At one point the "Walt Disney World Resort" meant anyone was welcome and to encouraged to visit the other aspects besides the theme parks. It's been dying by degrees for awhile now, but if WDW doesn't appreciate our business I guess we will find other non-Disney things to do.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Perhaps an odd question: if you are staying at a resort at WDW, but go to a different resort, are you "allowed" to park at the other resort? I would assume no, that your included parking is only at the resort you are staying at plus the parks, but am curious what the official rule is.

Just came back last week... Stayed at SSR and BLT... Went to breakfast at Kona in Poly, and I was allowed to park in guest parking... The security guard told me I had a half hour limit... But I wasn't given anything to put in my car.. he just checked my ID and off I went... I also was allowed to drive in and park at BoardWalk, and all I told the guard was I wanted to walk around the BoardWalk before leaving for home... No questions asked...

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I feel this is what they are trying to do, another step to keep locals out. Like photodave said its about money plain and simple. The place is almost becoming nearly impossible to enjoy anymore, cant go here cant go there, and I expect the fees to be high as a kite. but will see. Our days of being passholders are just about coming to an end, and thats what they want sadly.

I don't know if I necessarily agree. I don't think it's an exercise in trying to keep locals out. I think it's more of a grab of the visitor wallet. They want people to spend more. Look, let's not all be fooled, all of this "change" is coming from data. - And that data although it existed somewhat before, really started flowing with MyMagic+.

They know how many times you go, what rides you visit and for the most part, have an accurate representation of what you spend on-site. Even locals who are paying with cash. I for the most part consider my self one, living about an hour and a half away. Even when not staying at a hotel with charging privileges on the band, or on a day trip, most locals are using their AP discount on food or merch, and many also use TIW. Every time those cards get scanned, it goes in a database. They know a lot more about you than you think. Heck, My Disney Experience has FP and TS info from a year and a half ago. And while yes, some still carry and use cash, the majority are using cards, - be it Disney GC, CC, or Debit.

Not hard to figure out that John and Jane Smith scanned their bands and entered the park at 9:30:26am and 9:30:42am respectively, and made it to Adventureland by 10:17:33am when they scanned their Magic Band for Jungle Cruise. Then based on the debit card swipe at 10:50:25am they split a DoleWhip at Aloha Isle for $4 before going to Fantasyland and swiping their Band at 11:33:16am for SDMT. A $5 Mickey Pretzel and a $4 Bottle of water later (again based on the debit card swipe) they hit the FP queue for SM at exactly 1:16:34pm. At 2:36:08pm they were getting ready to leave the park because we know Jane bought a Mickey Oven Mit for $10 using her AP 10% discount (so actually $9) at the Main Street Emporium.....and they were never heard from again......well until they used their AP discount for a $60 check at Splitsville around 5:30:42pm.

Now based on the above scenario (which is a lot more common than you think), for AP's who probably go enough times per year so that their average admission price for a park may have been $15-20 just to walk in plus the whopping $70 dollars they spent in the park....now combine it with the fact they have made a total of 0 TS reservations in the past year and....Is it any wonder why the AP prices increased.

Look I hate the fact that they can basically track my movements when I'm there. Not too fond of price increases, either. But this is the new reality. It's why everything is going cashless .. little by little....they sell you on the fact that it is for convenience......but in reality it is the data they are after. Once they have the data...decisions are made based on the data. Numbers rarely lie..

 

[Clamman73]

I think the next time I'm there, I'll wear a Mickey costume while trying to park at Poly and see if I just get waved in for free; he must get free parking privileges...

 

[EngineJoe]

It's also local people who just drive over for the day. One thing they could also do is designate a certain area of the parking lot just for people coming for dinner. It could be a section further away so the people actually staying at that resort get the closer spots.

Is it really that different from parking at Disney springs for free and then taking the bus to mk?

It's not that big a difference in time or distance compared to the resort.

 

[dstrawn9889]

you cannot get on a bus from DS to go to a park, for this very reason

 

[EngineJoe]

I think the next time I'm there, I'll wear a Mickey costume while trying to park at Poly and see if I just get waved in for free; he must get free parking privileges...

Well if you are going to do that why not drive up to mk and then you get into magic kingdom for free as well.

 

[Andrew C]

Resort charges/fees are awesome for resort hotels and can make them a ton of money. Those who are upfront about the charge prior to arrival and what it exactly includes I have no issues with. Those that do not and surprise the guest with it...well that is a lawsuit waiting to happen, literally.

 

[halltd]

If the true intent of this is to prevent off-property guests from avoiding the parking fees, they need to make resort parking MORE than the park parking. Otherwise, if I'm paying anyways, why wouldn't I still park at The Contemporary? It's closer to the MK and cost me the same and/or less.

They need to just turn people away from the resorts if they don't have a reservation for food. But as others have said, you then just can't walk around resorts, etc...

 

[Imagineerwannabe]

Surely this is purely to solve the parking shortages at resorts and prevent people bypassing the $20?
Can't see how it would be in Disneys interest to introduce a resort fee against the already premium room rates that they charge for staying on property...

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

Resort charges/fees are awesome for resort hotels and can make them a ton of money. Those who are upfront about the charge prior to arrival and what it exactly includes I have no issues with. Those that do not and surprise the guest with it...well that is a lawsuit waiting to happen, literally.

I wonder what it would be like if all industries were as sneaky in their charging practices as the lodging / hosp. industry.

You buy a box of Cheerios from a supermarket with a sticker price of $2.89, and when you check-out at the counter, it comes to over $10.00 due to bagging and wholesome breakfast fees.

 

[Andrew C]

I wonder what it would be like if all industries were as sneaky in their charging practices as the lodging / hosp. industry.

You buy a box of Cheerios from a supermarket with a sticker price of $2.89, and when you check-out at the counter, it comes to over $10.00 due to bagging and wholesome breakfast fees.

Stop staying a sneaky hotels!

 

[EpcotCenter82]

you cannot get on a bus from DS to go to a park, for this very reason

But you can take a bus from Disney Springs to the Contemporary and then walk to Magic Kingdom or take a bus to Beach Club/Yacht Club and walk to either Epcot or the Studios.

 

[ford91exploder]

It's "Today's Disney" who never leaves a buck on the table, Uni charges for parking as do many of the Hilton properties in Orlando, Disney is not going to leave that money on the table, Also a parking fee will discourage use of rental cars which is another goal of Disney these days I'd expect the fee to be on the order of $30 / Day.

 

[dizda]

It seems fair that if you are not staying or dining at a resort you would have to pay for parking.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Is it really that different from parking at Disney springs for free and then taking the bus to mk?

It's not that big a difference in time or distance compared to the resort.

There is no bus service directly from DTD/DS directly to a park.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Well if you are going to do that why not drive up to mk and then you get into magic kingdom for free as well.

Parking at the TTC is included with what was regular Annual Passes. Please check with your guest relations host or hostess to try and figure out the new ones.

 

[wannabeBelle]

As per the story on the new passes parking is included with all of them: http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/annua...ket-program-with-new-benefits-and-pricing.htm

 

[flynnibus]

Like I said. I get it. I'm with you. I think it stinks...but it is reality.

The TLR - just roll over and take it mentality

 

[flynnibus]

For the 20 years we've been visiting WDW, we've visited the resorts countless times. First, just to check them out and eat in the restaurants. Then to collect the pressed penny series that were released over the years. Later, pin trading and looking at the holiday decor. It has been an integral part of our enjoyment of the WDW experience. We flew home yesterday and our last day was touring WL & AKL, eating at Pop Century and visiting Art of Animation. The first day we ate beignets at French Quarter. I was going to post in the Bonfamille's thread that my Dad was wondering how many beignet sales wouldn't have happened if not for being given free ones on our first visit to Bonfamille's in 1995. We didn't order them, but they brought them anyway, and every trip we purchased them at least once in the food court, and my parents took many, many visitors (even if they were in town for business and not going into a theme park) to try them over the last 10 years.

This feels like a big "we don't want you here."

Great Story. These changes just stem from the management's stupid mentality that the resorts are just hotels -- and the further abandonment of the idea of an actual 'vacation destination RESORT'.

The vacation formula at WDW has been shaped and altered over many slow changes and behavior shaping... all at the expense of the original formula.. that apparently no one gives a hoot about anymore. It's depressing.