Parking going up to $14

[jakeman]

1. In YOUR opinion and in your "business sense". Not in mine. It's like Airlines and baggage. Every other airline charge through the nose. Southwest? Nope. Luggage flies free. Point Southwest. They don't look petty. They don't look greedy. They look SMART. I want WDW to loom smart.
2. I never said it was. :shrug:
3. Concern voiced, business has been EXTENSIVELY decreased. :wave: MY Opinion concurrent with these actions...And hopefully Disney sees this. They are loosing spending as it is...they would be wise to stop this, no?

1. We must not be understanding each other. Places do charge more for a shorter period of time. That's not an opinion. Several examples have been given in the thread, including one of my own.

2. You seem to be implying that it is a class issue and I don't believe it is.

3. I don't know. I don't know how to run a theme park. All I see is a thread where people are claiming that this will price them out of a vacation and it is unfair that they are being "nickled and dimed".

I am pointing out that Disney has the ability and the right to charge what the market can bear, and if that prices a demographic out of the market, then so be it. I'll also admit that I'm not smart enough to know what that point is beyond my own finances. If you look back I have never once said this was a good idea.

I'm just looking at the issue logically and dispassionately.

 

[puntagordabob]

This generally doesn't affect me, as I try to stay on property, but if you were to have an AP, do you still have to pay parking?

AP = Free Parking

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Next : eggs and how to teach your granny to suck them.

 

[Brian Noble]

Southwest? Nope. Luggage flies free. Point Southwest. They don't look petty. They don't look greedy. They look SMART.

They didn't look greedy until they started charging for prioity check in (and hence, priority boarding). Look for Southwest to do more of this sort of thing.

The story here is pretty simple, and I alluded to it earlier. Attendance is flat, but discretionary guest spending is down. How do you react to that as a business? You increase the "non-discretionary" prices. As long as that does not negatively impact attedance or cause other problems, Disney wins. If it impacts attendance or other operational areas enough (e.g. big increase in all-day parking at DTD) then Disney will react.

Could attendance drop in a noticeable way? Yes. Could other things be impacted? Yes. Will they? I doubt it. These boil-the-frog sorts of increases have never had a significant impact before, so history says they won't now, either.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

They didn't look greedy until they started charging for prioity check in (and hence, priority boarding). Look for Southwest to do more of this sort of thing.

The story here is pretty simple, and I alluded to it earlier. Attendance is flat, but discretionary guest spending is down. How do you react to that as a business? You increase the "non-discretionary" prices. As long as that does not negatively impact attedance or cause other problems, Disney wins. If it impacts attendance or other operational areas enough (e.g. big increase in all-day parking at DTD) then Disney will react.

Could attendance drop in a noticeable way? Yes. Could other things be impacted? Yes. Will they? I doubt it. These boil-the-frog sorts of increases have never had a significant impact before, so history says they won't now, either.

If anything, this will encourage more people to stay on property and buy packages with all of the discount offers, and then Disney really wins.

This won't affect attendance one bit.

 

[Gucci65]

The latest parking price increase will have no effect on the week I spend at WDW every year, BUT

as a single Mother whose only child just started college - Disney has just priced me out of a one day trip. Typically we spend a week in Daytona and drive over to WDW since it's so close. One days tickets are now around $85 per person, add in parking and my day trip would cost $184.00 before we have eaten a single thing or purchased a trading pin (ex.).

Forget it, that money will be spend in better ways.

I no longer purchase AP's because they have increased in price as well.

To me, it's total and absolute greed and it all started when Disney started charging for the park hopper option.

 

[The Conundrum]

LOL. Yea, I have a problem with 14 dollars. Instead I'll pay for an AP.... doesn't make sense.

I'm parking at DTD whether you like it or not.

*thumbs up*

Im gonna be doing the same thing.

 

[trr1]

*thumbs up*

Im gonna be doing the same thing.

and watch them start charging for parking at DTD and water parks also

 

[SirGoofy]

and watch them start charging for parking at DTD and water parks also

They can't charge at DTD. That would ________ a TON of people off, not to mention a lot of the businesses.

I could, however, see them putting a time limit in.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

They can't charge at DTD. That would ________ a TON of people off, not to mention a lot of the businesses.

I could, however, see them putting a time limit in.

Maybe they could require you to validate parking with a purchase, like you see in a lot of bigger cities? (Not that I'm really in favor of this idea, but I'm sure they thought of it a long time before I did.)

 

[The Conundrum]

The latest parking price increase will have no effect on the week I spend at WDW every year, BUT

as a single Mother whose only child just started college - Disney has just priced me out of a one day trip. Typically we spend a week in Daytona and drive over to WDW since it's so close. One days tickets are now around $85 per person, add in parking and my day trip would cost $184.00 before we have eaten a single thing or purchased a trading pin (ex.).

Forget it, that money will be spend in better ways.

I no longer purchase AP's because they have increased in price as well.

To me, it's total and absolute greed and it all started when Disney started charging for the park hopper option.

I agree with you 100%. On top of that Disney hasn't really added much in the forms of new attractions so there isn't anything new once you pay the premium price. I ended my AP in 2008 and haven't looked back since.

 

[trr1]

They can't charge at DTD. That would ________ a TON of people off, not to mention a lot of the businesses.

I could, however, see them putting a time limit in.

or parking meters

 

[Monty]

The latest parking price increase will have no effect on the week I spend at WDW every year, BUT

as a single Mother whose only child just started college - Disney has just priced me out of a one day trip. Typically we spend a week in Daytona and drive over to WDW since it's so close. One days tickets are now around $85 per person, add in parking and my day trip would cost $184.00 before we have eaten a single thing or purchased a trading pin (ex.).

Forget it, that money will be spend in better ways.

I no longer purchase AP's because they have increased in price as well.

To me, it's total and absolute greed and it all started when Disney started charging for the park hopper option.

An AP is $520.79.

A 7-day Hopper costs $304.59.

Add the parking for your week-long visit and your non-hopper ticket with parking one-day visit and suddenly your week-long trip plus a one-day cost you $20 less than an AP. With an AP you get hopper for all the visits and free parking.

I realize I'm over-simplifying, but if you go to WDW every year for a week and want to do an extra day at another time, an AP at renewal prices is probably going to cost you less. It'll also give you the flexibility to go more often when you have the cash to do so.

Disney sets up their pricing to encourage the purchase of APs in situations like yours.

 

[Gucci65]

An AP is $520.79.

A 7-day Hopper costs $304.59.

Add the parking for your week-long visit and your non-hopper ticket with parking one-day visit and suddenly your week-long trip plus a one-day cost you $20 less than an AP. With an AP you get hopper for all the visits and free parking.

I realize I'm over-simplifying, but if you go to WDW every year for a week and want to do an extra day at another time, an AP at renewal prices is probably going to cost you less. It'll also give you the flexibility to go more often when you have the cash to do so.

Disney sets up their pricing to encourage the purchase of APs in situations like yours.

Monty - I do realize what you are saying BUT you have to times my situation by 2. DD just turned 18 and started college a month ago. So two annual passes is out of the question for me (despite loving the AP room rates). So until DD becomes a RN, we will continue going to WDW on the pin codes we get via email/usps.

And unfortunately, the days trips will be cancelled for the time being. $184 and change will go towards ONE textbook instead.(not kidding, but that is another topic)

UNLESS we get free one day passes after signing up for volunteer work :lol:

 

[Monty]

Monty - I do realize what you are saying BUT you have to times my situation by 2. DD just turned 18 and started college a month ago. So two annual passes is out of the question for me (despite loving the AP room rates). So until DD becomes a RN, we will continue going to WDW on the pin codes we get via email/usps.

And unfortunately, the days trips will be cancelled for the time being. $184 and change will go towards ONE textbook instead.(not kidding, but that is another topic)

UNLESS we get free one day passes after signing up for volunteer work :lol:

School expenses are obviously going to be your priority, but since none of my math included your DD [you only pay for parking once and if one of you have an AP it's covered], the AP savings on a room can factor in to save enough to cover the difference between her 7-day ticket and an AP for her... :shrug:

Like I said, I oversimplified, but if you do all the math for your particular situation, it can still work for you. Or you could just get an AP for yourself and regular tickets for her and put any savings toward school expenses.

 

[Mstr Gra-c]

This may have already been mentioned but...
Parking at Cedar POint in Sandusky, OH is 10 dollars. I would expect parking at Disney to be SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. The fact that it is only 14 Bucks...not bad at all in my book. Im really not too sure what all the fuss is about. :shrug:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

This may have already been mentioned but...
Parking at Cedar POint in Sandusky, OH is 10 dollars. I would expect parking at Disney to be SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. The fact that it is only 14 Bucks...not bad at all in my book. Im really not too sure what all the fuss is about. :shrug:

Try reading the thread then.:shrug:


So a 40% higher charge isnt significant. Must get you to do my salary review then.

 

[rsoxguy]

I am trying to remember something within the cobweb-laden attic that is my mind. When Disney's MGM was first set to open, wasn't there a story in the news regarding a survey taken by Disney to determine what to charge for admission? I believe I remember that they wanted to charge less than the price that was actually set for admission (due to the competition from Universal Studios), but their surveys showed that people expected to pay more and felt that a cheaper admission price was the equivalent of an inferior vacation experience. The general public actually drove up the cost! We can not mindlessly accept higher prices simply because they exist elsewhere. If we expect to pay big money as consumers, our willingness will always guide those who affect our wallets.

 

[devoy1701]

But only to FULL AP holders. Seasonal AP's don't get free parking.

Unless your conscience prevents it, you don't have to pay for parking... I was a Seasonal Passholder for 2 yrs before becoming an AP holder (got out there one day and didn't bother to look if it was a blacked out weekend) and never paid for parking. I just ended up spending that money I didn't pay for parking on something in the park! So they still got my money and everyone's happy!

That is the whole point!

Disney WANTS you to reach that point. Then you either stay on property to avoid the fee, and/or you use Disney transportation when on property.

Either way, they increase their captive audience in the parks. And they sell more. Why should they make it more convenient and inexpensive to use other services than their own?

It's like adding a surcharge to the off-site hotels to bring them closer to Disney's value price. Not saying it is right or wrong, simply shrewd.

Exactly.

LOL. Yea, I have a problem with 14 dollars. Instead I'll pay for an AP.... doesn't make sense.

I'm parking at DTD whether you like it or not.

You can park alot closer than DTD for free ya know.

 

[WDW1974]

And yet, according to what we read on here, the parks and resorts are enjoying good attendance. I don't get it. :shrug:

What's 'good' is very relative in this 'new economy' of ours.

And what people view as 'the park has never been this crowded before' or 'it was packed, Disney sure isn't hurting' etc and reality are two entirely different things.

Disney is working under a busines model where they care about volume more than what people are paying (i.e. WalMart) right now. So, they keep raising prices on every little thing, cutting quality as well, yet turn around and discount like hell ... free dining sure ... let's extend it ... check ... OK, now let's bring back the Stay 4, Get 3 free deal ALL THE WAY THRU NEXT MARCH etc.

So, Disney is getting bodies in the parks, but at what cost?

For the record, I am not going on my usual fall WDW trip this year due to my own budget issues, and I think I can prove that it's an addiction, because I am certainly suffering withdrawal pains and have been tempted more than once to say "the hell with it" and put it on a credit card. :hammer:

I do believe that they will continue with all of these "small" increases, or "nickel and diming" if you prefer, until they see attendance fall hard because people either cannot afford to go or do not see value in the pricing.

By the time you see the drops you're speaking of, the brand degradation will be very severe. I hope that never happens.

But the nickel and diming has affected the amount of times I visit WDW, whether I stay on property and, especially, dining while there.

Someone wrote a couple pages ago that nothing would be accomplished by venting on this board, that letters need to be written in order to have any impact. If we feel that strongly about it, that is what we must do.

You can write letters to your heart's content, but I don't for a second believe Disney cares. They think if one person with high standards for what Disney quality and Disney value have been for decades decides to stop visiting, they can replace them with some rube who believes the Disney MAGIC marketing machine and has no idea they're getting a diminished product.