Disney Testing Paid Parking at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

[asianway]

So these articles reference a completed "test" at the Contemporary - did anyone ever post how this "test" operated?

 

[PhilharMagician]

It is about time that something has been done to help the parking issues. I have had a problem at both the Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge not being able to find a parking spot when I was staying there. I had to use Valet or not park. I cannot imagine how bad parking could be at the Poly or GF when it is busy.

A few years ago we were staying at BLT and the Republican Convention was held @ in the CR's conference center and there was not a spot left in the lot and traffic backed up to the MK toll booths. Luckily we did not have a car that time. What a mess!

 

[s8film40]

So these articles reference a completed "test" at the Contemporary - did anyone ever post how this "test" operated?

I'm beginning to think this is all made up. I haven't heard of this happening and I know enough people working in the hotels I usually end up hearing about these things. Attractions magazine who has a pretty large following of the theme park going public tweeted out looking to see if anyone had experienced this and I don't believe have yet to get a confirmation from anyone.

https://twitter.com/Attractions/status/681961348230680577

 

[asianway]

I'm beginning to think this is all made up. I haven't heard of this happening and I know enough people working in the hotels I usually end up hearing about these things. Attractions magazine who has a pretty large following of the theme park going public tweeted out looking to see if anyone had experienced this and I don't believe have yet to get a confirmation from anyone.

https://twitter.com/Attractions/status/681961348230680577

i dont doubt there is some smoke here about what may yet come, I just think if paid parking were being tested, it would have surfaced. Theres too many CMs and friends of them in the lifestyler community. That one guy would show up to get the "I paid first button" etc

 

[s8film40]

I do think this could definitely be in consideration and these rumors may indicate that something is coming. Since we're all speculating on how this could be implemented I'll repost what I posted in another thread on my thoughts of how I think this could best be done.

This is what I would do:

Parking for resort guests-
Self Park - $20 per day includes all day unlimited access to all resorts and theme parks

Valet Park - $30 per day same as above (I would also add valet to theme parks)

Parking for day guests-
Self Park -
30 minutes or less - FREE
1 hour or less - $20 (FREE with validation from table service, quick service or gift shop purchase of $50 or more)
2 hours or less - $20 (FREE with validation from table service or gift shop purchase of $50 or more)
Each additional hour $10 up to $100 for full day

Valet-
2 hours or less $30 ($15 with validation from table service, quick service or gift shop purchase of $50 or more)
Each additional hour $10 up to $60 for full day

Parking for AP holders-
Self Park-
2 hours or less - FREE
Each additional hour $10 up to $100 for full day

Valet-
2 hours or less $20 ($10 with validation from table service, quick service or gift shop purchase of $50 or more)
Each additional hour $10 up to $60 for full day

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

So these articles reference a completed "test" at the Contemporary - did anyone ever post how this "test" operated?

I would also like to know. I cannot confirm the validity of this source and if someone has more knowledge, I'd definitely like to know about it.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

Also, if someone can confirm this is fake, let's delete this post. No point in debating something that isn't true.

 

[raven]

Waiting for the day when they put toll plazas at all of the entry points into the property.

 

[flynnibus]

Happens already when you see the price on the shelf and when you get to the check-out they add sales tax to it.. Why isn't the shelf price displayed including the tax? Not every one knows that tax is to be added or what amount it is especially if they don't live in the area.

uh.. you do realize the difference between fees charged by the retailer... and fees COLLECTED by the retailer for someone else? Taxes vs resort fees/parking fees is apples and oranges

 

[flynnibus]

- IF, and I think this is likely, the fee will only be for non-resort guests, as a way to stop people from parking and going to the parks, then this is an awesome idea, and definitely needed. Beyond all other discussions, from a Disney POV, why let people dodge your parking fee. Its a huge loophole and should be closed. AP's and resort guests would be free. So that ends all the complaining. The only people who would pay are those who are skirting the rules.

People are bothered because we can see more than 6" ahead of us...

If the purpose were to simply catch parking scoffers - that can be done without threatening to charge for parking.
Money is addictive... its way easier to say 'just expand who is paying...' vs 'lets add some new fee somewhere...'
It's counter to the idea of WDW being more than just theme parks people are funneled to

 

[flynnibus]

Here is what will happen.

Automatic gates installed at entrance and exit to each hotel. You pull up, if you have a magic band, with active hotel / dinning reservation, your allowed in, perhaps you might scan a credit card to also locate your active reservation. If not, you receive a parking ticket. You proceed to park, you can then A, have your ticket validated at any restaurant in the hotel or by the hotel front desk if your a guest or B, when you leave insert your parking ticket and pay the fee via credit card. The system will also capture your plate code, and perhaps your credit card info, validating who you are and storing it in case of future use (much better than a silly "why are you here today?" question from a "Silly" Security CM.)

Even easier... ticket dispenser that gives out free 1hr parking tickets. If you are at the resturant, when you pay your bill you can be given a ticket with a different expiration time (validating parking). The exit has a machine.. you feed in your free ticket, your dining ticket, or scan your magic band (if you are a resort guest). If you are over-time, or not validated, you enter a credit card.

To remove magic bands, just have the front desk give out parking cards when you check-in.. you register how many cars you have, and you are given free parking and in/out privledges with that.

This way all 'valid' uses are covered... validated parking for a period of time for patrons of bars/resturants, resort guests, and 'tourists'. Anyone trying to overstay their visit.. pays.

 

[flynnibus]

Or GASP try tying the parking entitlement to the MB - Supposedly MDE knows you have an ADR at a resort, Drive up scan and gate lets you in, For non WDW resort guests issue a ticket which the restaurant can validate.

The problem with the MB/ADR thing is... not everything is an ADR. If I'm going to trader sams for instance... or many other bars on property. This should be resolved by people having validation on exit.. not entry. Scanning ADRs on entry also does not prevent people from leaving their cars at the resorts and then going to the parks... and leaves an ugly "well I didn't know that..." customer trap.

It's cleaner to set the pay parking expectation UP FRONT.. and then validate people out of it.

 

[flynnibus]

Waiting for the day when they put toll plazas at all of the entry points into the property.

It would be better to split 'day visitors' to separate parts of the property... and force everyone to use transportation. But it would be reinventing the wheel at this point... the TTC concept is long dead.

 

[BrerWayne]

Wouldn't necessarily require a cast member at the exit, just take a ticket when you enter, it gets run through some mechanism at the restaurant and then inserted at the exit to open the gate.

I work at an inner city hospital with a parking garage in a premium location. The exit booths are totally automated, When parking is validated, the guest is simply given a second ticket that is inserted into the payment slot where a debit or credit card would be inserted.

 

[aladdin2007]

The problem with the MB/ADR thing is... not everything is an ADR. If I'm going to trader sams for instance... or many other bars on property. This should be resolved by people having validation on exit.. not entry. Scanning ADRs on entry also does not prevent people from leaving their cars at the resorts and then going to the parks... and leaves an ugly "well I didn't know that..." customer trap.

It's cleaner to set the pay parking expectation UP FRONT.. and then validate people out of it.

But see Disney is trying to prevent us (locals etc or passholders) from doing that anymore, they dont want us at trader sams or anywhere else. I think they have such a huge crowd control problem and space issue they cant handle it, from the parks to the resorts. Its gotten so flooded out of control with people 365 days a year that just getting from point a to point b is challenging. They are hoping, I think, by doing this it will dissuade us from dining or anything else on property. Thats just my feeling. We had an adr at beaches and cream a few months ago, cause we enjoy it there now and then, but even with an adr I didnt think the guard was going to let us in. It seemed to be a problem because we were 30min too early, its all just getting too complicated, Disney is no longer welcoming and no longer cares. The property is becoming a security prison, not allowed to go anywhere or do anything.

Same thing will happen to Ft. Wilderness, always been free, will no longer be if these plans go into effect. Ever since news13 had a big segment on tv about how great and free ft. wilderness is for the day, I knew Disney was going to go into hysterics and make sure it wouldnt be that way anymore.

 

[flynnibus]

But see Disney is trying to prevent us (locals etc or passholders) from doing that anymore, they dont want us at trader sams or anywhere else

I don't subscribe to that theory at all. The resorts and F&B want your money regardless. The bars are never crowded, most are ghost towns. The resort restaurants (minus the top ones) want business and need it. No Food Court manager is going to say "go away local.. that parking spot is more valuable than your $80 paper plate meal".

What Disney has been doing is phasing down the local's DISCOUNTS -- because frankly they didn't need the discounts anymore to get their numbers up. Instead of across the board discounts they can't control, its better for them to have on-demand discounting they can do (seasonal, location specific, etc). Some locals see the taking of their discounts as 'Disney doesn't want us!!' - no, they just don't need to drop their drawers for you anymore to help fill in the gaps.

 

[s8film40]

I think there are cases where some of the hotel locations can get busy. However I think Disney does want to draw business in otherwise why would they for example have the ginger bread house at the GF or any of the other holiday offerings that are designed to draw people into the hotels.

 

[aladdin2007]

I don't subscribe to that theory at all. The resorts and F&B want your money regardless. The bars are never crowded, most are ghost towns. The resort restaurants (minus the top ones) want business and need it. No Food Court manager is going to say "go away local.. that parking spot is more valuable than your $80 paper plate meal".

What Disney has been doing is phasing down the local's DISCOUNTS -- because frankly they didn't need the discounts anymore to get their numbers up. Instead of across the board discounts they can't control, its better for them to have on-demand discounting they can do (seasonal, location specific, etc). Some locals see the taking of their discounts as 'Disney doesn't want us!!' - no, they just don't need to drop their drawers for you anymore to help fill in the gaps.

Maybe so yes I can understand what your saying.

 

[aladdin2007]

I think there are cases where some of the hotel locations can get busy. However I think Disney does want to draw business in otherwise why would they for example have the ginger bread house at the GF or any of the other holiday offerings that are designed to draw people into the hotels.

Thats something we love to go and see, but this year nope!! They would not let us in, so we cant do that anymore either unless parking at TTC and taking transport and that just takes too long to bother with.

 

[s8film40]

Thats something we love to go and see, but this year nope!! They would not let us in, so we cant do that anymore either unless parking at TTC and taking transport and that just takes too long to bother with.

I've found GF much easier to get into since they built the new lot with the DVC.