News WDW Resorts to add fees for parking

Angel Ariel

Angel Ariel

Well-Known Member
SorcererMC said:
Most families probably plan at least 6 months out, and the resort fee disclosure is supposed to occur prior to final booking. So that could be a real problem (a potential lawsuit), with families who have already booked their trip and then getting hit with added fees.
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IME, people plan 6 months out because they hear that's what they need to do to go to Disney...not because that's how they plan vacations in general. Most families I know don't typically plan their vacations so far out...certainly not down to the level of "what time and place am I going to eat lunch at 6 months from now", or "I'm going to go do [insert activity] on my vacation at this time, on this day" 6 months out.
 
csmat99

csmat99

Well-Known Member
HauntedPirate said:
I really don't see why it's difficult to figure out DI$ justifying adding a resort fee:

- Cleaning costs are increasing
- Coffee makers aren't cheap
- Wi-fi infrastructure isn't cheap
- Transportation costs are increasing
- Labor costs for all of the above are increasing

[Sarc=on] Poor DI$ is simply backed into a corner and the only way they can keep offering a quality resort experience is to implement a resort fee, kind of like how they only way they can possibly continue to "plus the parks" is to continually raise prices well beyond the rate of (government-manipulated) inflation. And everyone else is doing it, so DI$ is just moving things to be in-line with everyone else. Their hands are really tied on this one. They'd really prefer to not add a resort fee, honest, but with Universal and other competition, they're just doing what they need to do to remain competitive. [sarc=off]

DI$ grew to the the best by specifically NOT doing things like everyone else did, but just ignore that. And remember the DI$ motto - "They're tourists... whadda they know?"
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Your post doesn't justify adding fees. First off Disney charges way more for their rooms then hotels that are not onsite do. In addition by having you onsite they already know you will be buying park tickets, food, beverages and merchandise. This isn't about keeping up with rising labor costs and infrastructure. It's a pure money grab because they can. And until people stop booking rooms they will continue to raise prices and create additional fees. If anyone has ever stayed at a four seasons understands what a true 5 star hotel can be understands Disney isn't hurting when it comes to running their hotels. Four Seasons has to hire the very best in the service industry Disney just puts a table at a job fair.
 
bhg469

bhg469

Well-Known Member
csmat99 said:
Your post doesn't justify adding fees. First off Disney charges way more for their rooms then hotels that are not onsite do. In addition by having you onsite they already know you will be buying park tickets, food, beverages and merchandise. This isn't about keeping up with rising labor costs and infrastructure. It's a pure money grab because they can. And until people stop booking rooms they will continue to raise prices and create additional fees. If anyone has ever stayed at a four seasons understands what a true 5 star hotel can be understands Disney isn't hurting when it comes to running their hotels. Four Seasons has to hire the very best in the service industry Disney just puts a table at a job fair.
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It is a pretty smart money grab because In addition to charging for services that are already built into the costs, at the same time, they are ensuring people will hesitate to rent a car. Once you stop people from leaving the resort... well, you know the rest.
 
SorcererMC

SorcererMC

Well-Known Member
Angel Ariel said:
IME, people plan 6 months out because they hear that's what they need to do to go to Disney...not because that's how they plan vacations in general. Most families I know don't typically plan their vacations so far out...certainly not down to the level of "what time and place am I going to eat lunch at 6 months from now", or "I'm going to go do [insert activity] on my vacation at this time, on this day" 6 months out.
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Yes I think you are quite right about this, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise (which my statement did). In general I think I've read that people start vacation planning 3-4 months out, and the need to plan so far in advance for WDW is a real disadvantage IMO.
 
bhg469

bhg469

Well-Known Member
SorcererMC said:
Yes I think you are quite right about this, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise (which my statement did). In general I think I've read that people start vacation planning 3-4 months out, and the need to plan so far in advance for WDW is a real disadvantage IMO.
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Especially having to plan meals.. When i go on vacation I want to just do what I feel like doing. Even the weather has an influence on what park I want to go to. My style of park visits is no longer catered to at all and it is pretty sad.
 
Cosmic Commando

Cosmic Commando

Well-Known Member
matt9112 said:
A third party market disney could close down any moment since they reserve the right to buy first. Hardly an argument. I'm not saying you SHOULD im saying disney is the kind of company lately that wouldn't care if you had too. Revenue is revenue and at the world you guys are the biggest piggy banks.
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They're not any more "locked in" whether Disney buys their points back or a third party buys them in a sale; they're still out of the original owner's hands.
 
HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
csmat99 said:
Your post doesn't justify adding fees. First off Disney charges way more for their rooms then hotels that are not onsite do. In addition by having you onsite they already know you will be buying park tickets, food, beverages and merchandise. This isn't about keeping up with rising labor costs and infrastructure. It's a pure money grab because they can. And until people stop booking rooms they will continue to raise prices and create additional fees. If anyone has ever stayed at a four seasons understands what a true 5 star hotel can be understands Disney isn't hurting when it comes to running their hotels. Four Seasons has to hire the very best in the service industry Disney just puts a table at a job fair.
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I completely agree. Any additional fees - resort, parking, etc. - are nothing but a money grab by DI$. My post was tongue-in-cheek, as I'm vehemently opposed to the continued money grabs and up-charges DI$ seems addicted to these days.
 
MinnieWaffles

MinnieWaffles

Well-Known Member
HauntedPirate said:
Remember - Disney is "the leader" in the Orlando area. They charge more for admission, and then others follow, not the other way around. So if Universal charges $12-20/day for parking, Disney isn't going to follow, they are going to lead - $30/day for parking. (*DI$ mic drop*)

They've wanted people basically captive on-property for years, ever since they introduced Magical Express. That will remain "free", though, it will just be part of the TBA resort fee, under "Complimentary Disney Transportation". And let's be honest, any costs associated with it were always baked into your room price. Just don't expect room rates to drop much when they implement the resort fee. And I could easily see Disney banning Uber and Lyft, essentially, by not allowing them thru the security gates, both at the parks and at the resorts. I'm not saying they for certain will, I'm just saying I can see them doing it. Why? Because...

This no longer my father's Disney, it is not the Disney of my childhood/20's/30's, and it sure as hell isn't Walt Disney's Disney. It's now just a bunch of cutthroat MBA's completely beholden to Wall Street analysts and large shareholders who view guests as nothing more than walking ATM's, and their goal is to extract as much money from those ATM's as they can. If they can make more money by banning ride-sharing services, they will do it. And a captive audience is a money-making audience. If you can't go off-site, then all your money has to be spent on-property. It's all about the brand, now, remember? It's no longer THE Walt Disney World Resort, it's Walt Disney World Resort. It's not THE Magic Kingdom, it's Magic Kingdom Park. And I, for one, HATE that, it makes me vomit in my mouth a little every time I see or hear it.

Now, that being said... Resort fees? Count on them, eventually, as sure as the sun will rise in the east and set in the west. People can look at this thru Disney-colored MAGICAL!!! glasses or look at this thru the view from reality. But either way, they are going to happen, it's only a matter of when. It's a multi-multi-million dollar annual revenue stream with minimal expenditures required, and TWDC & TDO have shown an unending desire for those types of things. End of story.

Edit: Fixed some spelling mistakes.
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DOOM! DISASTER! Seriously, yet again it's a rumour and people already start frothing at the mouth.

Some people need a hobby.
 
Jeff456

Jeff456

Well-Known Member
This would be very disappointing indeed, hopefully it won't come to light and I'd like to think it can't affect our already booked and fully paid for trip in just over 6 months as we booked at that agreed price (including free parking) paying an extra $420 to park for two weeks is almost more than the car hire!
 
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Clyde

Clyde

Active Member
rob0519 said:
Since we're not paying resort fees now, what additional amenities will be added to suddenly justify a resort fee? Adding $50-$100 a day to the already outrageous resort prices may just be enough for me to call it quits for another year or two.
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Right. I can swallow the parking and resort fees when paying $2-300 per night at the Universal Resort hotels (which also give free unlimited express pass) but when I pay $7-1000 per night at the contemporary I feel like they have their hands in my pockets while I'm sleeping.

They will continue to add fees until we stop coming and paying them without protest.
 
King Panda 77

King Panda 77

Thank you sir. You were an inspiration.
Premium Member
Clyde said:
Right. I can swallow the parking and resort fees when paying $2-300 per night at the Universal Resort hotels (which also give free unlimited express pass) but when I pay $7-1000 per night at the contemporary I feel like they have their hands in my pockets while I'm sleeping.

They will continue to add fees until we stop coming and paying them without protest.
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I believe there is an upcharge for that ;):jawdrop: :angelic:
 
ford91exploder

ford91exploder

Resident Curmudgeon
bhg469 said:
It is a pretty smart money grab because In addition to charging for services that are already built into the costs, at the same time, they are ensuring people will hesitate to rent a car. Once you stop people from leaving the resort... well, you know the rest.
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Or the really desirable guests will simply stay at the 4 Seasons, Waldorf or the new Hilton and perhaps do a couple of days at WDW...
 
ford91exploder

ford91exploder

Resident Curmudgeon
Jeff456 said:
This would be very disappointing indeed, hopefully it won't come to light and I'd like to think it can't affect our already booked and fully paid for trip in just over 6 months as we booked at that agreed price (including free parking) paying an extra $420 to park for two weeks is almost more than the car hire!
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Don't worry Disney has boilerplate about how terms and conditions can change right up to arrival time. Disney is protected you are not.
 

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