Someone else using magic band for parking?

[lazyboy97o]

Ha...they're supposed to scan the MB and check your ID now...you really think they'd start checking registrations?

Six Flags Over Georgia used to sell Season Parking on a per-car basis. One was issued a windshield sticker. It really sucked because some people have access to more than one vehicle.

 

[Wdw62114]

Ha...they're supposed to scan the MB and check your ID now...you really think they'd start checking registrations?

Just to be safe, i think Disney needs to start doing blood samples or checking dental records to make sure they get their $20

 

[NelleBelle]

So say my family of 4 are AP holders and I take my kids to the parks one day. My husband and a buddy of his want to meet us there later and his buddy drives my husband (so we we can later take the 1 car home). Why should my husband's buddy pay for parking just because he's driving when my husband is entitled to free parking? Makes no sense. Or say that my husband's buddy doesn't go...is my husband not allowed to drive a 2nd car? This argument is stupid. If each pass is entitled to parking, then that's what it should be, regardless of who's driving who's car.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Look, I stated that there were many situations where it is perfectly acceptable to use a different AP holder in a car without one, and a few where I thought it wasn't really the right thing to do - regardless of whether or not it is allowed. Since the OP has already returned and explained it, I think this topic should be closed. I'm out.

 

[Ted Daggett]

Ha...they're supposed to scan the MB and check your ID now...you really think they'd start checking registrations?

The parking lot at my office has a scanner that scans the license plates of vehicles entering. If that license plate is registered as a monthly permit holder, then the gate opens. I'm sure Disney could implement this type of system for AP holders for under $1B. (this could be an issue if you have a rental car, or drive a car other than your own to the park, but there could be an over-ride in place that would allow you to scan your magic band if you have a different license plate for some reason)

While I agree that not paying the $20 will reduce the potential revenue of WD, it is not quite the same as stealing a candy bar. The parking spot that the car will occupy is still there whether or not it is paid for. If a parking spot is not paid for it can just be sold to the next guy (or girl) (unless the park is at capacity). It is not like stealing a candy bar that Disney purchased for 5 cents and is selling for $3.00. If the candy bar is stolen, it cannot be sold to anyone else. Part of the reason that Disney offers free parking to guests, is that there is very little additional cost to them to allow a car in for free. The company is paying for the lots whether they are full or empty (although there are probably some other variable costs, such as security, # of tram operators, etc).

 

[Ted Daggett]

So say my family of 4 are AP holders and I take my kids to the parks one day. My husband and a buddy of his want to meet us there later and his buddy drives my husband (so we we can later take the 1 car home). Why should my husband's buddy pay for parking just because he's driving when my husband is entitled to free parking? Makes no sense. Or say that my husband's buddy doesn't go...is my husband not allowed to drive a 2nd car? This argument is stupid. If each pass is entitled to parking, then that's what it should be, regardless of who's driving who's car.

I agree that this circumstance above, and others with friends/family in multiple cars is fine. However it could become an issue if an annual pass holder starts posting on Craigs List that they can get people into the parking lots for only $10, and having them meet at the local Mc Donalds to pick up random people and bring them into the park and charging them $10. Then I would consider it cheating/stealing.

 

[andy773]

I went to the Disney Mom's Panel and posted this question:

Family of 4, all with annual passes. Family from out of town coming for a visit; 4 of them too. We are all planning on a day in the Magic Kingdom. Can my wife ride with the visiting family and use her annual pass so they don't have to pay for parking?

Here was the response I got:

Yes and I agree that one of the annual pass Guests should ride in the vehicle and use their annual pass card to get free parking at Magic Kingdom Park. Please be sure that the annual placeholder has both the card and a MagicBand to show the parking toll Cast Member. Parking is currently $20 per day for a car and those small savings could be used for another memento or some Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars. Yum!

It sounds like they even encourage it!

 

[WhatJaneSays]

It’s not a loophole to use a service or product that is included in the price regardless of the process by which you use it.

So, in this case if there are X amount of AP holders with parking included in their pass that are traveling into a park, then X amount of vehicles receive parking at that park. Notice I did not use the phrase “free parking” as there is no such thing as free parking, it is paid for as part of each pass.

 

[mergatroid]

My family of four have annual passes and when we go with a group that does not have them we split up and someone with a pass rides in the other car and uses their band to get through the plaza.

Don't see anything wrong with this if you're all going to the park.

 

[slappy magoo]

There's nothing that says a husband and wife have to travel to the theme parks together, even if that would be the way it works in the majority of cases. If you buy four annual passes for your family, each pass is entitled to the full benefits thereof. There's nothing untoward about splitting up the group because it's not a "group" pass, it's four individual passes. They could show up in four separate cars full of non-passholder friends if the kids are old enough to drive, and that would be perfectly fine. There's no rule that says a family of four must all enter a park in the same vehicle and that only the one vehicle is eligible for the free parking.

For the sake of needless comparison, we have season passes to Sesame Place as it's close to our home. They have tiers of season passes. The most basic pass does not include free parking at all, next levels include free general parking and the premium level includes free preferred parking (if available). We usually buy 1 pass that includes parking and cheap out on the others. But now that better passes include early entry, we may have to rethink that.

 

[mergatroid]

You are correct, except he says that they meet at a place, and then his wife switches cars in order to bypass the fee. Without that switch, the other vehicle pays the fee. That is where the difference is. Look, people are going to do what the want because they think they are entitled to do it.

We have handicap plates on our car, and a placard for when we are in a different vehicle. So by your definition, we should be able to give our placard to someone else to use in their vehicle, so that we can park close together in the parking lot. That way, they won't have to ride a tram, but can park close enough to walk.

If the person with a disability is in the vehicle then that would be fine. As long as both vehicles contained a legitimately disabled person in them then there's no problem. There's no law saying both disabled people must drive in the same vehicle. I think most disabled people would probably go in one vehicle as spaces are limited and they know that more than anyone. However here's where I think your analogy differs.

When I buy an AP that price includes my parking, so in effect part of that payment is for my parking? When Mrs Merg also buys here AP after I've got mine, Disney don't give her a discount even though she's also paying to park in her AP cost. The two of us go in together in one car every time we go and yet we're both still paying a parking fee in the price of both our AP's, so by your logic Disney should charge her less for her AP. A family of 2,3 or 4 people all with AP's in one vehicle are therefore all being 'charged' for parking whereas a car with just 1 AP holder and 3 guests pays Disney less money to park.

It's swings and roundabouts for Disney with this, they unfairly get more money from say a married couple with an AP each than they would from a single person with an AP who takes 3 friends along who pay nothing for parking. If an AP holder goes in a different car with friends to save 'paying' for that car, that's fine because they've already paid for their parking anyway?

 

[ABQ]

If people want to consider the process mentioned in the first post as "stealing" from WDW, considering how many years and how many times each member of my family has had annual passes and only 2 times actually parked at the parks, I'd consider the thievery being reversed. If parking is included and not used, should I be getting a rebate? Heck no, so if someone with an AP wants to get a friend into the lot for free, and they are both still paying park admission to enter the park itself, so be it.