This was at the Magic Kingdom, and the regular spots were around 10 rows from us. I admit I have no idea why they were being parked so close to us. Maybe there's a legitimate reason why they were being routed that way. This was around 9am so maybe it was slightly late, but the crowds were huge because it was Easter Week. And you're right, there were only a few rows even filled with preferred parking vehicles, which I also found strange.
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News WDW Resorts to add fees for parking
- Thread starter The Visionary Soul
- Start date
This was at the Magic Kingdom, and the regular spots were around 10 rows from us. I admit I have no idea why they were being parked so close to us. Maybe there's a legitimate reason why they were being routed that way. This was around 9am so maybe it was slightly late, but the crowds were huge because it was Easter Week. And you're right, there were only a few rows even filled with preferred parking vehicles, which I also found strange.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
When was the LAST annual meeting where DVC members were allowed to pose questions to the DVC executives as I recall 2010 or so.
So without a whistleblower how is the DVC membership supposed to collect evidence that something like this is happening on a routine basis.
At one time mere members could actually talk to DVC senior leadership, and carp like what happened to us did NOT happen. And then suddenly DVC leadership stopped taking questions from the DVC membership and just recited from powerpoint slides - retreated under security's watchful eye and sawdust cookies are served.
We had 800 points - I hated disney so much I bought 7 DVC contracts over the years, My dislike of Disney is driven entirely by recent bad experiences at WDW.
When a company gives you bad service you walk away, And let others know about it.
jakeman
Well-Known Member
Except...it didn’t happen.
You even posted, during your stay, that you were at the villas.
Well, your job here is done. You can now go and get on with your life.
Lensman
Well-Known Member
There have been several interesting theories upthread that you can search for. There are three that I remember:
1. Create added disincentive to rent a car. This will keep more guests 100% captive to all ancillary revenue like dining and shopping.
2. This is just step 1. The next step will be charging day guests by the hour.
3. Both of these are needed to drive more business to valet parking, which has apparently been having a hard time of it.
Why would Disney care about valet parking? It is outsourced to a third party company.
flynnibus
Premium Member
To reduce what Disney has to pay them?
Disney needs valet.... we don’t know if it’s actually profitable on its own or if it’s subsidized
I think a company called Towne Park does the valet at WDW. I know they run it at the S&D.
flynnibus
Premium Member
I know it’s contracted... that doesn’t change what I said
A contractor isn’t going to subsidize it themselves....
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
This i don't know about. I seriously doubt locals including me would go to grand just for marshmallows. If for anything it would be Disney guests.
Neverland44
Member
We're here now and I'm looking at the dvc. Can't really afford it but seeing it pushed at all the parks gets to you. This is what I needed to read. Thanks.
jakeman
Well-Known Member
DVC is an extremely expensive proposition and a long term commitment.
You should assess if the program is right for your family and your vacation style.
If you can't afford it, then you shouldn't do it. It's not an investment. At best it's locking in accommodation rates to a certain extend for a period of time.
matt9112
Well-Known Member
oh believe me they want to.
Lensman
Well-Known Member
OT but I recommend renting points from current owners for your next stay before jumping in and buying.
And as @jakeman says, if you think you can't afford it, don't do it. My rule of thumb is that if you can't pay cash, you can't afford it. DVC is not a necessity, it is a luxury.
If you still think you want to buy, look at resales before buying direct. It's much cheaper and many people don't value the extra perks you get by buying direct.
disclosure: I have been a DVC owner since 1995. The value proposition was different back then. (but it was still a luxury)
Back to parking: I get that paying for parking makes the resorts seem less all-inclusive, but is it possible that unbundling parking will, in the future, hold down prices a little for peeps using DME? And doesn't economic theory say that overall, pricing will adjust and base prices will be held down a little as more comparison shoppers are encouraged to stay offsite? Of course, this is given "all other factors being equal". For a variety of reasons, Disney seems to have had a lot of pricing power over the past few years and there's no end in sight.
I do feel bad for the people who drive from home to Disney and then have to pay for parking even though they may not ever move their car.
Last tidbit: I found out today that there are two luxury condos in Manhattan that sell a single parking space to residents for $1 million. Whoa!
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Disney did this to themselves. Until 2002 valet was completely free and there was always a host of valet parking attendants. It was one of the best perks of staying at a deluxe hotel. There was also something really welcoming about having a valet open your car door, officially welcome you to the resort and make you feel special. Then they started charging $10/day. With the steep drop in valet usage from this fee, Disney outsourced the valet. That price has now gone up to $25 and you're lucky to see one or two valets standing out front. Every time I'm there you have to basically flag someone down and their reaction isn't a welcoming one, it's more in the vain of "Are you sure you want to valet? You know it's a ripoff right?"
My calculations reach a lifetime cost of somewhere around $83,000 for 200 points at today's prices.
Biff215
Well-Known Member
If accurate, that means it’s $1,660 per year over 50 years. Not bad when 200 points gives you an average of around 10 nights in a studio (obviously could be more or less based on the resort and time of year). Definitely can’t stay in a deluxe now, or 50 years from now, for that kind of money. It’s why I could justify buying in at $86 over ten years ago.
With that said, I can’t imagine $83,000 is correct at around $200/point today. Half that would be initial buy in, and maintenance fees on 200 points won’t average less than $1,000/year over the life of the contract. Can you share your calculations?
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
At one time DVC was the best investment ever, But with the defurbishments of the resorts over the past 3-4 years along with ever increasing member fees for less and less service. Like everything else at WDW it's been sacrificed on the Wall St altar.