Josh D'Amaro comments on rising prices and "additional" or removed services: "An inevitable result of progress"

[John park hopper]

Why not? It wasn't an issue the first 45 years.

I'm sure a parking fee was hidden in the room rate all those years now Disney is just double charging and claiming industry standard

 

[Andrew C]

Why not? It wasn't an issue the first 45 years.

45 years ago is 45 years ago. There are going to be hundreds and hundreds of hotels that didn't charge a parking fee just 10 years ago, but do today. The industry has changed, it isn't a change that I like, but I understand that it has occurred.

 

[UNCgolf]

Which now include vast suburbs where limited space and parking are not an issue. I point to this below, at this is where the free/not free split is for the most part (unless you're city center, then all bets are off).

That's my whole point, though. Generally hotels charge for parking when there's limited supply (and yes, it's not solely in major metro areas -- a boutique hotel in a small city may charge for parking if they only have a handful of spaces available). Disney doesn't have any supply issues, at least at some of their resorts (I can't speak for all of them). I was at a Disney resort pre-parking fee and the lot was maybe 40% full at most. It's not like every spot was taken and thus they needed to charge to limit demand the way hotels do when parking supply is nowhere near enough to service all customers.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Those resort parking lots have been payed for more than once over the years, Was at POFQ in 2019 (paid for parking) and the lot was empty supply exceeds the demand. We are beating a dead horse when the parking fees were announced there were pages and pages of comments. Disney is gonna do what they want and the guest be
______ not allowed to say

Wait, so now businesses only should charge for things until the underlying building/structure has been payed for? That's how businesses are run? I have to call the Sox, Fenway should have been paid for a long time ago, no way should they be chargnig for tickets or parking or anything.

 

[UNCgolf]

And how does Orlando, one of it not the top vacation destination in the US, not fit into major metropolitan area and/or busy resort area? The non-Disney affiliated resorts like Marriot World, JW Marriot, Swan, Dolphin, the other hotels in Bonnett Creek all charge for parking. Why would Disney not charge for parking for its resort guests?

I could even argue (not that I think I need to, as charging a fee for something that the rest of the industry around your charges for doesn't need argument) that its fairer now to charge resort guests for parking. In the past anyone driving a vehicle to the parks had to pay for parking, why shouldn't people who are using Disney infrastructure and Driving on property not have to pay? They don't hit you double, if you are charged for parking at the resort, you aren't charged for parking at the parks, but now everyone who takes a car and parks on Disney property pays.

Because Disney is in a self-contained area with massive supply. They do not have limited parking supply at their resorts the way a hotel in the middle of a city with a small parking deck does.

It doesn't matter because Disney is going to charge what they're going to charge, but it was a cash grab plain and simple. There's no way to spin it as anything else.

 

[larryz]

That's my whole point, though. Generally hotels charge for parking when there's limited supply (and yes, it's not solely in major metro areas -- a boutique hotel in a small city may charge for parking if they only have a handful of spaces available). Disney doesn't have any supply issues, at least at some of their resorts (I can't speak for all of them). I was at a Disney resort pre-parking fee and the lot was maybe 40% full at most. It's not like every spot was taken and thus they needed to charge to limit demand the way hotels do when parking supply is nowhere near enough to service all customers.

The other reason to charge for parking is to discourage people parking at your property while they go somewhere else to do something, for example, hotels near Metro stations.

And yet, at Disney, they don't charge for daily parking at the hotels -- only overnight. Weird, isn't it?

 

[Andrew C]

That's my whole point, though. Generally hotels charge for parking when there's limited supply (and yes, it's not solely in major metro areas -- a boutique hotel in a small city may charge for parking if they only have a handful of spaces available). Disney doesn't have any supply issues, at least at some of their resorts (I can't speak for all of them). I was at a Disney resort pre-parking fee and the lot was maybe 40% full at most. It's not like every spot was taken and thus they needed to charge to limit demand the way hotels do when parking supply is nowhere near enough to service all customers.

Have you seen some of the size of lots at hotels near Disney that charge for parking? There is no supply concern for them either.

 

[Andrew C]

The other reason to charge for parking is to discourage people parking at your property while they go somewhere else to do something, for example, hotels near Metro stations.

Hotels dont need a reason...They do it because they can. And this will continue to expand and expand until the consumer pushes back and the industry (or a brave company) changes course, or there is some type of government intervention.

 

[larryz]

Have you seen some of the size of lots at hotels near Disney that charge for parking? There is no supply concern for them either.

So they do it just to make money. So why not charge those who park in the lots for dining and shopping like they do for those staying overnight?

 

[carolina_yankee]

We have about two dozen Disney trips and five cruises under our belt from 2003 to 2020. We’re done. For a period of time, we were shielded from price increased by DVC but that the pandemic brought that to an end when I didn’t want to pay for what I couldn’t use. Made a nice little profit on the sale, though. I find resort fees most offensive of all, given that they were instituted without offering a single “enhancement” in return, and the food prices are just ridiculous compared to quality. We haven’t experience Genie+ but its very existence (and price) is also a turn off - and we would pay for premium experiences, but as treats, not as daily operating practice.

A Disney trip is the last thing I want to plan for or pay for right now. When I think of how easy it was to go (and afford) an on-site trip compared to now, I would rather put the money and time elsewhere. And we are, domestically and internationally. We’re having our own Epcot experience except with real shops, real adventures and no construction walls.

I actually love Bob Chapek. He confirms we made the right decision. I’m sure we’ll get back at some point out of curiosity or nostalgia, but it will be awhile. Does it matter? If Disney keeps making money, no. But my life richer for our choices.

 

[UNCgolf]

Have you seen some of the size of lots at hotels near Disney that charge for parking? There is no supply concern for them either.

They could have a concern about Disney guests using their parking lots as free parking if they didn't charge (as @larryz mentioned above), although it's probably mainly a cash grab (just like Disney).

 

[erasure fan1]

ThAts really not the point. Again how is charging for a service that everyone else in the market space charges for “Nickel and diming?”

Personally I don't care if everyone else is doing it. Disney never needed it for 45 plus years. It is obviously very much in Disneys right to add it, but come on, it is very much a nickel and diming situation.

 

[Andrew C]

So they do it just to make money.

In many cases. Of course there are some hotels like those in NYC that are essentially forced to charge due to limited availability. Others that don't have their own lots may rent spaces in a garage, so they pass that cost onto the guests.

I imagine many hotels can use the excuse, "We charge because we need to maintain the lots, security features (like parking gates), and security and parking staff."

 

[Andrew C]

So why not charge those who park in the lots for dining and shopping like they do for those staying overnight?

Be careful what you ask for. Other hotels do that. Then there are others that will validate when making some type of purchase. Aulani did for for us when we, as non-guests, ate there for dinner (just to provide a Disney specific example). Otherwise, it would have been a charge.

 

[Bocabear]

I guess I would say paying $800/nt for a room should include parking...
I don't care that 10 years ago some bean counter came up with this as a way of making more profit from the guests... prior to that, unless you were in a city with limited real estate, parking was free and a part of the overall cost of doing business... It really is not a big jump from this to charging to use the pool (Resort Fee)... I foresee a "linens Fee" next for the sheets, pillows and comforters...and a "cleaning Fee" as a new separate line item charge..
and then someone will say...times have changed, they charge a cleaning fee on Air BnB... so why not here?
and on it goes until people just stop going for a quarter....

 

[Andrew C]

they charge a cleaning fee on Air BnB... so why not here?

Please, no!

 

[LSLS]

And how does Orlando, one of it not the top vacation destination in the US, not fit into major metropolitan area and/or busy resort area? The non-Disney affiliated resorts like Marriot World, JW Marriot, Swan, Dolphin, the other hotels in Bonnett Creek all charge for parking. Why would Disney not charge for parking for its resort guests?

You pretty much just summed up life-long Disney people are so upset with Disney as a whole nowadays.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Because Disney is in a self-contained area with massive supply. They do not have limited parking supply at their resorts the way a hotel in the middle of a city with a small parking deck does.

It doesn't matter because Disney is going to charge what they're going to charge, but it was a cash grab plain and simple. There's no way to spin it as anything else.

Wait who is trying to spin it? They are a business, the entire purpose of the entity if to make money. Everything is done with an eye to making money. Its why ticket prices and merchandise aren't sold for at cost. The point in this thread is that its NOT a nickel and dime fee, its an industry standard for any resort or major hotel. It would be ridiculous for them NOT to monetize parking as a revenue stream. And again, they have charged for parking for years. You didn't park for free at Epcott, AK, HS, or TTC. People staying off property have been paying for parking for years at WDW. Paying for parking at WDW is nothing new, its just now more people have to share in paying for parking.

 

[Tha Realest]

No by my logic Disney acting like every other hotel resort in the industry is NOT nickel and diming anyone. It’s an industry standard fee and it makes no sense for Disney not to charge for it

Just doing a quick Expedia search for WDW area hotels there are almost 300 that offer free breakfast, and all charge a fraction of WDW. That sounds like a comparable industry standard to go by. What gives, Disney?

 

[Andrew C]

Just doing a quick Expedia search for WDW area hotels there are almost 300 that offer free breakfast, and all charge a fraction of WDW. That sounds like a comparable industry standard to go by. What gives, Disney?

Examples?