News WDW Resorts to add fees for parking

larryz

larryz

I'm Just A Tourist!
Premium Member
Mainahman said:
Havent done tampa, only williamsburg. I like the small park factor sometimes. no hour wait lines, no faspass, no constant upcharge. good Coasters, good family fun.

Dont get me wrong, we love our WDW, but for what i pay to go once now, i could go there 3 times, and experience all their season offerings.
Id expect to pay for parking, especially as they are owned by Seaworld these days, much larger corporate mindset than the Busch family, but still free... Doing well to keep themselves relevant and keep attendance up admist competitors like Kings Island just hours away.
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Tampa's nice, but it was never as immersive as Williamsburg tried to be... they don't have the disconnected areas that Williamsburg has, and they have the added attraction of the animals. A lot of their rides are based on the same system (like Montu/Alpengeist, Sheikra/Griffon) but there are some unique attractions at each park as well. If you're planning to visit both, consider buying the SeaWorld "Premier" pass -- you'll save money and get perks like parking and discounts at both Busch Gardens, as well as the other 9 parks SeaWorld owns and operates.
 
Mainahman

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
larryz said:
Tampa's nice, but it was never as immersive as Williamsburg tried to be... they don't have the disconnected areas that Williamsburg has, and they have the added attraction of the animals. A lot of their rides are based on the same system (like Montu/Alpengeist, Sheikra/Griffon) but there are some unique attractions at each park as well. If you're planning to visit both, consider buying the SeaWorld "Premier" pass -- you'll save money and get perks like parking and discounts at both Busch Gardens, as well as the other 9 parks SeaWorld owns and operates.
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Its been a thought, only as we havent experienced Tampa, and were now dead center between the both, and our Beloved Disney. I found Williamsburg for what it was very immersive, and a great clean, pretty park. Ill definitely make it back someday.
 
raymusiccity

raymusiccity

Well-Known Member
larryz said:
1. I think any growth in attendance is due to the widening perception that if people ever want to visit WDW, they'd better do it now before it's just too expensive. Why else would they be going NOW as opposed to waiting until current construction projects are finished?
2. Failure to add capacity over the past 10 years exacerbates the crowding in number 1.
3. This is a business that compensates its CEO at roughly 1,180 times the average worker salary -- that's how they've decided to spend their money, and not to the benefit of the consumer or employee.
4. Costs of enjoying WDW have outpaced inflation in each of the last 10 years.
So, to sum up, Disney didn't maintain WDW, so we see sustained price increases, and the parks have evolved into a Disney executive ATM for bonuses and pet projects.

Did you want to talk about WDW and value, or did you just want to throw out pixie-dusted platitudes?
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Referring to your point 1.
Perception often becomes reality. I think what we're witnessing is a 'correction' on Disney's part to return the exclusivity of what the Magic Kingdom once was.

'Back in the day', the expression, 'I'm going to Disneyworld' meant something that was wonderful, out of the ordinary and something that was a once in a lifetime wish. (Usually uttered after winning the Super Bowl!)

Now, you have Annual Passholder's threatening not to go to the park every week because they'll be charged for parking!

We are truly living in interesting times!
 
L

larandtra

Well-Known Member
AP for Bush Gardens ( Both parks), Sea World, Water Country is like 175 for a year and includes free parking. Yes, its only BG, but, IM a coaster enthusiast and they have great coasters between all their parks, so now and then, its nice to head that way and go ride coasters. As for WDW, I finally spoke with the representative from Guest services who speaks for management ( Ha). They do not care that the fees are not popular and their biggest reason is they are just doing what every other resort around Orlando does and it helps to afford to pay more staff???? Huh. I mentioned I believe this si just the beginning and resort fees are already being considered and will happen. And I didnt understand how they can add that on to the top of the already high nightly resort costs when off property resorts give better service and a better stay and asked why I shouldnt stay at B Resort or the Hilton and get EMH and even with their fees, have a cheaper stay than I would anywhere on property. The CM said they are managing to keep their rooms booked at over 85% so they believe they are doing a very good job of pleasing their guests with the Disney experience. Also when you mention the degredation of the parks they bring up Avatar, the forthcoming Star Wars land, Toy Story Land, etc but wont even touch the convo when you mention current state of parks with rising prices. They are skilled at diverting. Where it got interesting was discussing AP holders and how they have become devalued. This person mentioned there are several new programs being considered for AP holders to increase the benefits they have. This person did mention that they are aware they have cut back on a lot of AP benefits, numbers of AP discounted rooms, etc and they have some programs under consideration to give more benefits to the AP holders. I asked how much more that would cost and the cast member kind of laughed and said everything comes with a cost but they are trying to find ways to offset some of them and make AP holders more valuable. I dont really believe it.
 
Donal Duck

Donal Duck

Member
disneygeek90 said:
Either way, you're giving them your money the moment you step on property. If you really didn't want to give them your money, you wouldn't be visiting at all.
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I said “more” of my money. Like most people, we’re tired of getting nickel and dimed by Disney.
By staying offsite, Disney is getting less of my money.
Is that difficult for you to understand?
 
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Mainahman

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
larandtra said:
AP for Bush Gardens ( Both parks), Sea World, Water Country is like 175 for a year and includes free parking. Yes, its only BG, but, IM a coaster enthusiast and they have great coasters between all their parks, so now and then, its nice to head that way and go ride coasters. As for WDW, I finally spoke with the representative from Guest services who speaks for management ( Ha). They do not care that the fees are not popular and their biggest reason is they are just doing what every other resort around Orlando does and it helps to afford to pay more staff???? Huh. I mentioned I believe this si just the beginning and resort fees are already being considered and will happen. And I didnt understand how they can add that on to the top of the already high nightly resort costs when off property resorts give better service and a better stay and asked why I shouldnt stay at B Resort or the Hilton and get EMH and even with their fees, have a cheaper stay than I would anywhere on property. The CM said they are managing to keep their rooms booked at over 85% so they believe they are doing a very good job of pleasing their guests with the Disney experience. Also when you mention the degredation of the parks they bring up Avatar, the forthcoming Star Wars land, Toy Story Land, etc but wont even touch the convo when you mention current state of parks with rising prices. They are skilled at diverting. Where it got interesting was discussing AP holders and how they have become devalued. This person mentioned there are several new programs being considered for AP holders to increase the benefits they have. This person did mention that they are aware they have cut back on a lot of AP benefits, numbers of AP discounted rooms, etc and they have some programs under consideration to give more benefits to the AP holders. I asked how much more that would cost and the cast member kind of laughed and said everything comes with a cost but they are trying to find ways to offset some of them and make AP holders more valuable. I dont really believe it.
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I agree. I love coasters, and all their parks have great offerings. I dare to bet that poor CM is reading from a pre written script.
 
Donal Duck

Donal Duck

Member
mikejs78 said:
You could avoid that by just not going at all..
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Why the attitude?
If I choose not to hand over “more” money to a greedy company, that’s my business.
I never said I’m not going to go anymore.
I’ve had enough of being nickel and dimed by Disney.
If I want to stay offsite instead of overpaying for a room and now parking at Disney, I will and it’s none of your business.
 
sixbagelboy

sixbagelboy

Member
larandtra said:
So I sent an email to Management. Just to voice my displeasure with the "parking fee" as well as numerous other things. ( Prices increasing for crowded parks with less attractions, the state of the parks and resorts overall, APs being devalued, etc.). I received a response from a young lady who works for "guest relations". Claims she was sent the email and speaks for management and would like to talk to me on the phone about the issues I have brought up. Im waiting for her to call but this should be pretty funny.
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Did you get a phone call from "management"?
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Think about most major stadiums in the country... built with local government dollars, leased to private companies to operate.

Bonds are the attractive way to finance such construction because government bonds can raise money at much lower cost vs private financing.

I just don't recall at the end who is operating the garages... RCID or Disney. Too lazy to lookup. But just because they were RCID built, doesn't make it universally off limits for Disney to charge. It would depend on the circumstances.
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They are Reedy Creek Improvement District operated and there was a good bit of bad press about the Improvement District building them. I don’t recall any actual legal constraint, just an arrangement that looks better to those who dislike the Improvement District.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Nubs70 said:
Love the post.

Just one minor change. The remark on "charging for what was free." I think it would be betrer phrased by " new charges for existing inclusions"

After all, nothing is free. Resort parking, for example, was always charged but was included in the room fee.
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..."I just flew in from Orlando and boy are my arms tired from carrying this bucket"
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
lazyboy97o said:
They are Reedy Creek Improvement District operated and there was a good bit of bad press about the Improvement District building them. I don’t recall any actual legal constraint, just an arrangement that looks better to those who dislike the Improvement District.
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Perhaps because reedy creek is a quasi-governmental wing meant to serve the disney CEO and probably shouldn't have the public powers granted to them in 1965 anymore?
 

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