News WDW Resorts to add fees for parking

[contrariwise]

Because parking at some resorts is is very limited unlike the parking at the parks?

It's the same reasoning behind pool hopping. When something is a limited resource, it needs to be limited to the people staying there

I have rarely had trouble parking at a resort, whether as a resort guest or visitor. The limited exceptions are: Boardwalk, where I was referred to a more remote parking lot, and Grand Floridian, where I was once told I would have to valet park. In both of those instances, I was a visitor, and the accommodations made were A-OK with me. And I have parked at the resorts (again, as a resort guest and as a visitor) many times. The "limited resource" thing is a bit exaggerated to me. Are the spots technically "limited"? Yes, but how often do they reach their limit? And more to the point, is this REALLY why Disney would be implementing a parking fee? Or is it more likely (yet another) money grab?

 

[Lets Respect]

So what you're saying is that AP holders shouldn't be able to use the benefits that come with our APs because you may not get a parking space if we do? You're also saying that Disney should limit income from their resorts to people who are staying at their resorts?

That doesn't make sense at all. I'm all for preventing freeloaders from freeloading, but unless they take away our AP benefits we should be able to use them without extra fees.

You're talking about TIW? That parking is complimentary to dine, not to go to a park
And they can change the rules whenever they want as we all know

 

[Lets Respect]

I have rarely had trouble parking at a resort, whether as a resort guest or visitor. The limited exceptions are: Boardwalk, where I was referred to a more remote parking lot, and Grand Floridian, where I was once told I would have to valet park. In both of those instances, I was a visitor, and the accommodations made were A-OK with me. And I have parked at the resorts (again, as a resort guest and as a visitor) many times. The "limited resource" thing is a bit exaggerated to me. Are the spots technically "limited"? Yes, but how often do they reach their limit? And more to the point, is this REALLY why Disney would be implementing a parking fee? Or is it more likely (yet another) money grab?

Spots can be hard to find at the MK resorts and BC/BW. Absolutely.

It's a money grab but I also think there is a parking problem. And let's say they build more rooms/DVC at the Contemporary and Beach Club as is rumored. Then the spots become even tighter. This could also be part of trying to figure out how many more spots they need to build.

 

[21stamps]

Spots can be hard to find at the MK resorts and BC/BW. Absolutely.

It's a money grab but I also think there is a parking problem. And let's say they build more rooms/DVC at the Contemporary and Beach Club as is rumored. Then the spots become even tighter. This could also be part of trying to figure out how many more spots they need to build.

There is. Poly has always had a parking problem.
An AP is a pass to the parks. It shouldn't give you parking privileges at resorts.
I think a 3 hour time limit is sufficient. Charge, but allow a ticket to be validated with a restaurant reservation-for 3 hours only, anything beyond that is subject to the fee. Problem solved. Win Win.

 

[contrariwise]

And let's say they build more rooms/DVC at the Contemporary and Beach Club as is rumored. Then the spots become even tighter. This could also be part of trying to figure out how many more spots they need to build.

Hmmm. That's a fair point, and one I don't think I've heard/read before (but TBH I can't swear that I've read every word of this thread).

But here's my 2 thoughts about that:

1. If that's the case, then just implement the parking fee at those resorts where it is an issue (and it ain't all of them), AND just charge visitors; and
2. It's still a cash grab of sorts, because it wouldn't have happened if they weren't constantly building more DVC resorts (at a rate that outpaces the building of new attractions exponentially, I might add).

But I believe if it's implemented, it will be for everyone (guests included), and I would be willing to bet it will be for all resorts. We have to keep in mind that Disney doesn't really want to keep people from visiting resorts (whether locals, off-site visitors or people from other Disney resorts). It's not in their best interest to do that. So I just don't think that's what this is about. And so in a circular fashion, that leads me back to cash grab. All roads lead to cash grab, so to speak.

 

[21stamps]

Hmmm. That's a fair point, and one I don't think I've heard/read before (but TBH I can't swear that I've read every word of this thread).

But here's my 2 thoughts about that:

1. If that's the case, then just implement the parking fee at those resorts where it is an issue (and it ain't all of them), AND just charge visitors; and
2. It's still a cash grab of sorts, because it wouldn't have happened if they weren't constantly building more DVC resorts (at a rate that outpaces the building of new attractions exponentially, I might add).

But I believe if it's implemented, it will be for everyone (guests included), and I would be willing to bet it will be for all resorts. We have to keep in mind that Disney doesn't really want to keep people from visiting resorts (whether locals, off-site visitors or people from other Disney resorts). It's not in their best interest to do that. So I just don't think that's what this is about. And so in a circular fashion, that leads me back to cash grab. All roads lead to cash grab, so to speak.

I think anyone visiting a monorail resort should have their car booted from the parking lot after a few hours. There's absolutely no reason to park there before going to MK, or monorail resort hopping. There's a TTC right near by..park the car and you have access to all of the resorts, and MK. Leave the parking lot freed up for the people staying there.

 

[contrariwise]

There is. Poly has always had a parking problem.
An AP is a pass to the parks. It shouldn't give you parking privileges at resorts.
I think a 3 hour time limit is sufficient. Charge, but allow a ticket to be validated with a restaurant reservation-for 3 hours only, anything beyond that is subject to the fee. Problem solved. Win Win.

There is nothing in the rumor or the survey that has been mentioned that should lead anyone to believe that this measure would be to solve a parking problem. If there is a parking problem, there are ways to address that without a cash grab. And certainly "resort fee" has nothing to do with a perceived parking problem at a handful of resorts.

 

[21stamps]

There is nothing in the rumor or the survey that has been mentioned that should lead anyone to believe that this measure would be to solve a parking problem. If there is a parking problem, there are ways to address that without a cash grab. And certainly "resort fee" has nothing to do with a perceived parking problem at a handful of resorts.

I'll believe the resort fee when I see it. Same with the guest daily parking fee.

There is a problem with parking at certain resorts..there always has been. Sometimes the rules are enforced, sometimes they aren't.
I wish they would do something to consistently enforce them. I guess they could move to Valet only for visitors, but I don't see that completely fixing the problem.

 

[contrariwise]

I'll believe the resort fee when I see it. Same with the guest daily parking fee.

Ok - well, that is what this thread is about, not about crowded parking at certain resorts (if that's even a thing).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have rarely had trouble parking at a resort, whether as a resort guest or visitor. The limited exceptions are: Boardwalk, where I was referred to a more remote parking lot, and Grand Floridian, where I was once told I would have to valet park. In both of those instances, I was a visitor, and the accommodations made were A-OK with me. And I have parked at the resorts (again, as a resort guest and as a visitor) many times. The "limited resource" thing is a bit exaggerated to me. Are the spots technically "limited"? Yes, but how often do they reach their limit? And more to the point, is this REALLY why Disney would be implementing a parking fee? Or is it more likely (yet another) money grab?

The resort lots fill up fairly regularly, especially at the Epcot resorts during Food & Wine.

 

[21stamps]

Ok - well, that is what this thread is about, not about crowded parking at certain resorts (if that's even a thing).

This thread is about rumors on resort and parking fees.. people have speculated why parking fees would be implemented.
The abuse could be a reason, some people think it would be the reason, I think there are better ways for Disney to handle the abuse.

And yeah..it's a "thing" now and it was a "thing" in most of the 2000s... if the resorts are selling nearly full, and all of these local AP holders and other WDW guests from different resorts are parking at them.. then what do you think happens?
It's why at certain times of the year you are not allowed to self park at a few of them.

 

[contrariwise]

The resort lots fill up fairly regularly, especially at the Epcot resorts during Food & Wine.

That hasn't been my experience. I read it here and there from time to time, but really and truly, that hasn't been my experience. Boardwalk? Yeah, I can buy that. BC and YC? Nope. I never have a problem parking there, and we had 2 vacations during F&W, and we drive our car and eat at the Epcot area resorts frequently. Not saying it's not a thing; just saying that hasn't been my experience.

But again, I don't believe the "parking fee" being floated is just for visitors, and I don't believe the purpose of it is to alleviate parking problems for resort guests. IF visitor parking at resorts is a problem, it is no more a problem now than it was, say 5 years ago. So if that hasn't changed, then what has?

 

[L.C. Clench]

That hasn't been my experience. I read it here and there all the time, but really and truly, that hasn't been my experience. Boardwalk? Yeah, I can buy that. BC and YC? Nope. I never have a problem parking there, and we had 2 vacations during F&W, and we drive our car and eat at the Epcot area resorts frequently. Not saying it's not a thing; just saying that hasn't been my experience.

But again, I don't believe the "parking fee" being floated is just for visitors, and I don't believe the purpose of it is to alleviate parking problems for resort guests. IF visitor parking at resorts is a problem, it is no more a problem now than it was, say 5 years ago. So if that hasn't changed, then what has?

Bob Chapek

 

[21stamps]

That hasn't been my experience. I read it here and there all the time, but really and truly, that hasn't been my experience. Boardwalk? Yeah, I can buy that. BC and YC? Nope. I never have a problem parking there, and we had 2 vacations during F&W, and we drive our car and eat at the Epcot area resorts frequently. Not saying it's not a thing; just saying that hasn't been my experience.

But again, I don't believe the "parking fee" being floated is just for visitors, and I don't believe the purpose of it is to alleviate parking problems for resort guests. IF visitor parking at resorts is a problem, it is no more a problem now than it was, say 5 years ago. So if that hasn't changed, then what has?

Room occupancy.

 

[contrariwise]

And yeah..it's a "thing" now and it was a "thing" in most of the 2000s... if the resorts are selling nearly full, and all of these local AP holders and other WDW guests from different resorts are parking at them.. then what do you think happens?
It's why at certain times of the year you are not allowed to self park at a few of them.

Oh, bless you for saying this! Yes, it is not a NEW problem. So why "fix" it now? What is special about now? Maybe because it's the era of cash grabs? If it wasn't previously monetized, can we monetize it? The easiest cash grab of all is to take something that used to be gratis and start charging for it. You don't have to produce anything new, or open the park early, or anything!

 

[21stamps]

Oh, bless you for saying this! Yes, it is not a NEW problem. So why "fix" it now? What is special about now? Maybe because it's the era of cash grabs? If it wasn't previously monetized, can we monetize it? The easiest cash grab of all is to take something that used to be gratis and start charging for it. You don't have to produce anything new, or open the park early, or anything!

See my above post. The abuse was always a problem, it's much more of a problem now with elevated occupancy and crowds.

ETA- for Poly and GF, and YC & BC, that doesn't just have an impact on the parking lots, but also on the crowds coming on the launch after the parks close. I've heard it almost every time I've been there. There's always a few groups of people taking the launch back who parked at the resort.

 

[contrariwise]

Room occupancy.

Baloney. If parking were an ever-ramping-up-issue, don't you think there would be a hundred threads on here of people just back from their vacations utterly beside themselves because they could never find a place to park?

Nothing is new except it is now the era of cash grabs. If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck ... why do people keep trying to find ways to make it NOT a duck? Maybe, it's just a duck.

 

[contrariwise]

See my above post. The abuse was always a problem, it's much more of a problem now with elevated occupancy and crowds.

What elevated occupancy and crowds? Aren't crowds down?

 

[Grimley1968]

I'll repeat what I said many, many pages ago in this thread: if resort and/or parking fees are implemented, it would be a cash grab, pure and simple.

It would not be to control parking at resorts (it wouldn't even make a dent in that if people are still allowed to park there for 3 hours for ADRs) and it would not be for some "new" service.

Companies tend to charge what they can get away with, and I think there are some in the Disney corporation who feel they could get away with this. I hope it never comes to pass, but charging for things that used to be included has become par for the course for Disney recently.

 

[21stamps]

What elevated occupancy and crowds? Aren't crowds down?

How successful have you been trying to extend a trip in the past 2 years? Both of mine were split stays because of lack of availability.
I couldn't even extend at Poly while I was already a guest there..so I don't think they were lying to me.
The parking lots at GF and Poly were both packed those 2 stays as well. My "guest" had to park all the way down in a sea of wedding guest cars.lol

Also, regarding crowds down, I haven't heard from one person I know, or experienced for myself, low crowd times in the past year or so. Not sure if you have a TP subscription, but most of their crowd level predictions have either been lower than actual, or were raised closer to specific dates.
The past 2 years I intentionally chose historically "low" crowd times. Both ended up being level 9 crowds levels on several days.