Non-Security Cast Members at Resort Security Stands trying to Better Collect Parking Fees

[David M]

Today I was denied parking at Animal Kingdom Lodge by a non security cast member. I was just trying to eat lunch and take some pictures of the pool construction.

I was told they are now enforcing parking fees starting at the security booth.

 

[wdwmagic]

So in the booth there was a security CM and another CM? And that second CM was asking you to pay to park?

 

[wdwmagic]

The official policy on the site still says "
Day Guests
Complimentary standard self-parking is available while enjoying select dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels."

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/parking/

 

[peter11435]

The official policy on the site still says "
Day Guests
Complimentary standard self-parking is available while enjoying select dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels."

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/parking/

Yeah that’s why this doesn’t make sense. Even if they were transitioning parking fees to the security booth’s (which wouldn’t make sense) as a day guest he still should not have been charged.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Something doesn't smell right about this... Not saying that it didn't happen, just that this smells like a scam by an unscrupulous CM or two.

 

[David M]

So in the booth there was a security CM and another CM? And that second CM was asking you to pay to park?

I was denied access to the property, I did not pay. I assume she is marking reservations that have cars as people were likely lying to the front desk. I don't believe that payment is being collected.

I've seen reports on Twitter and another "news" site reporting this at other resorts as well.

 

[peter11435]

I was denied access to the property, I did not pay. I assume she is marking reservations that have cars as people were likely lying to the front desk. I don't believe that payment is being collected.

I've seen reports on Twitter and another "news" site reporting this at other resorts as well.

Why were you denied? You shouldn’t have needed to pay.

 

[xdan0920]

Why were you denied? You shouldn’t have needed to pay.

Why don’t you call Animal Kingdom Lodge and ask them instead of berating the OP?

 

[peter11435]

Why don’t you call Animal Kingdom Lodge and ask them instead of berating the OP?

No one in this thread has berated the OP. He posted about an experience and we are asking questions to clarify exactly what happened. No one has doubted the OP.

 

[monothingie]

Pardon my ignorance of the parking fees but doesn’t the clock start running the second you get your parking pass at gate upon checkin?

 

[Bacon]

Pardon my ignorance of the parking fees but doesn’t the clock start running the second you get your parking pass at gate upon checkin?

Online check in

 

[monothingie]

Online check in

You still have to go through the security gate and get a paper pass. I know every time I’ve stayed at a Disney resort and the three times I’ve stayed since parking fees have been implemented I’ve always received a paper pass at the security gate on the day of checkin regardless of the fact I checked in online.

I always usually also wind up driving to AKL to dine or visit and they either ask to scan my magic band or present a photo ID. How would they even have the resources to collect cash or process a payment for parking?

 

[Rteetz]

Other sites are reporting that this is now happening resort wide to better control resort parking fees.

 

[Rteetz]

I believe this was a single CM related issue. The CM might have confused the situation. It is not a change in policy. They are still supposed to allow day guests in free of charge. The CM at the guard shack began Sunday and is to enforce the resort parking policies.

 

[DisneyGigi]

You still have to go through the security gate and get a paper pass. I know every time I’ve stayed at a Disney resort and the three times I’ve stayed since parking fees have been implemented I’ve always received a paper pass at the security gate on the day of checkin regardless of the fact I checked in online.

I always usually also wind up driving to AKL to dine or visit and they either ask to scan my magic band or present a photo ID. How would they even have the resources to collect cash or process a payment for parking?

We have not gotten a paper pass in forever, like 2015? For resort stays. They scan band at park, entry and that has been it for awhile. When we dine at a resort, they scan band, see the adr, and wave through. Never parked at a resort without ressies, though, dining or stay.

 

[homerdance]

Pardon my ignorance of the parking fees but doesn’t the clock start running the second you get your parking pass at gate upon checkin?

It's been portrayed as an "over night" guest fee and not an hourly fee, so check in time is irrelevant. Now we know why they did all the cuts so they could pay extra for parking fee enforcement (kidding)

 

[aladdin2007]

even if your just dining etc or have a dining reservation you now have to pay a parking fee??

 

[Rteetz]

even if your just dining etc or have a dining reservation you now have to pay a parking fee??

No, only overnight resort guests have to pay. Day guests dining and shopping do not.

 

[peter11435]

even if your just dining etc or have a dining reservation you now have to pay a parking fee??

No

 

[Imagineerwannabe]

I’ve just been at WDW and returned home this morning. I had spotted on most daytime visits to resorts recently that there were regular cast members there with security too.

I was speculating about their presence.
Maybe they only consider day guests to be those with confirmed reservations for dining