News WDW Resorts to add fees for parking

[21stamps]

Here's how to fix it. Put resort guest cars in the regular paved lots. Put "visitor" cars on a large conveyor that moves 1/3 mile per hour away from the resort toward a large body of water one mile away.
The longer a visitor takes to return to their car, the farther they'd have to walk to retrieve it.
Any guests who fail to reclaim their car within the allotted 3 hours would end up having to engage a tow truck retrieve it from the lake.

No, because then we would never be able to get thru on the phone. Or activate APs at guest services..The lines would be jammed for weeks with complaints and demands.
Too much hassle for the rule followers.

 

[Bandini]

Are they also holding back rooms to force people into split stays, even when the person is already a guest at the resort?

Maybe, there was one night in the middle of you entire stay where they could not accommodate you at your original resort, so they had to move you. That is not the same as the entire resort being sold out for the second half of your stay. I've had that experience.

 

[matt9112]

Sorry, why SHOULDN'T non-resort guests be charged to park at resorts? Sounds like a major loophole that's currently allowing the off-property people to skip out on paying for parking, then taking resort transportation to the parks. This doesn't sound like a new fee, it sounds like it's closing a loophole.

To add, a new, separate fee for on-property guests would be terrible. I'd be surprised if that's what we end up seeing.

They built cabanas in tommorowland.....they did a cheap overlay of a mediocre ride and put the most popular IPS they have created in a decade in there....everyone seems to say oh you know Disney knows what there doing and im not sure that's the case.....big giant company's fail....it happens.

I wouldn't put it past them that they are looking for a quick cash grab. What is this loophole your talking about ? They scan your band and or card to get into the lots. Joe blow can't juse park at CBR as it is. The only thing I could see arguably is saying your visiting a guest but you would need a valid last name and room number even still.

 

[21stamps]

Maybe, there was one night in the middle of you entire stay where they could not accommodate you at your original resort, so they had to move you. That is not the same as the entire resort being sold out for the second half of your stay. I've had that experience.

I tried to extend by 1 night. Not much of a second stay.lol

In 2016 I tried every configuration possible, there was literally no Deluxe rooms available besides suites...1 bunk bed room left at WL that I grabbed. Then WL showed sold out shortly after my booking. Maybe Saratoga Springs and OKW had availability..those are the only 2 that I didn't check.

 

[matt9112]

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.

Everytime i have gone into lots they scan band and check id...they can see dining reservations ect. If a problem is in exsistance how is it working? There are only three ways to get clearedone to go in lot right? A guest yourself. Visiting a guest and lastly dining/show reservation.

 

[21stamps]

Everytime i have gone into lots they scan band and check id...they can see dining reservations ect. If a problem is in exsistance how is it working? There are only three ways to get clearedone to go in lot right? A guest yourself. Visiting a guest and lastly dining/show reservation.

Yes. But the problem is when people leave their cars all day.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Scan your MagicBand and/or swipe a credit card in order to be able to park. Inform the driver that they have 3 hours to scan/swipe out or they will be charged. Problem solved.

 

[contrariwise]

I tried to extend by 1 night. Not much of a second stay.lol

In 2016 I tried every configuration possible, there was literally no Deluxe rooms available besides suites...1 bunk bed room left at WL that I grabbed. Then WL showed sold out shortly after my booking. Maybe Saratoga Springs and OKW had availability..those are the only 2 that I didn't check.

I don't doubt that was your experience, but do you see how "I couldn't extend my stay - twice" doesn't equate to increased occupancy resortwide all the time? It's one person's very limited anecdotal evidence.

Yes. But the problem is when people leave their cars all day.

Is that the problem? And how do you know that? Do you see them?

 

[Grimley1968]

Yes. But the problem is when people leave their cars all day.

I don't think anyone disagrees that that is wrong, but I don't think many people do this, and I doubt it's something that occurs to the vast majority of people to even try, outside of fan boards like this.

I will add that in my stays at the Poly in the past that I did see cars being towed, in separate stays there. I never knew for sure whether they were system abusers or simply could not start their cars after a week of sitting. But it was clear to me that Disney does take action if cars should not be there. There's no reason for me to believe that they can't continue to do this to enforce parking rules, rather than charge everyone for parking.

IMHO that leaves only one other reason for instituting parking charges for guests, if it happens: revenue enhancement, money mooching or whatever you want to call it.

 

[contrariwise]

To your second comment-
Disney can not make sidewalks, pools, lobbies, restaurants, kiosks, busses, monorails, resort launches, and fireworks shows "feel" more crowded than what they actually are.
Unless there is a way to do that and I'm not aware of it.lol
Are they also holding back rooms to force people into split stays,or shorten their trip.. even when the person is already a guest at the resort?

Apologies. I thought you were saying the parks were more crowded, and for proof, you offered up Touring Plans predictions and data. Now, it seems you are not offering up Touring Plans at all as proof, but your assertion that it "feels" more crowded to you. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[GoofGoof]

Scan your MagicBand and/or swipe a credit card in order to be able to park. Inform the driver that they have 3 hours to scan/swipe out or they will be charged. Problem solved.

Agreed, that would work and is the most direct and effective approach, but this is WDW where CMs aren't allowed to confront guests. They probably prefer a more passive aggressive approach. Charge everyone $30 and all the free loaders will go back to parking at Disney Springs and hopping a bus from SSR. This might just be their passive aggressive way of stopping the free loaders without directly accusing them of wrong doing. Remember this is the company that put chips in their drink cups instead of just confronting the guests that were stealing soda.

I think if they add a parking fee it will be 80% money grab and 20% to correct a problem with people illegally parking in the resort lots. I think if this goes down the most likely approach will be something like a $30 resort fee for hotel guests that includes parking. All non-resort guests will pay $20 to $30 for parking (if you stay over a minimum amount of time like 20 mins) and maybe they will validate parking at certain less popular resort restaurants. The really popular ones like probably won't need to validate to keep people coming.

 

[Laketravis]

Remember this is the company that put chips in their drink cups instead of just confronting the guests that were stealing soda.....

And those refilling an "unlimited" beverage cup just a bit too quickly for their liking.

 

[L.C. Clench]

There are plenty of forced valet hotels around. A lot of them. Disney resorts are not forced valet though.

True but a lot of places also have self parking lots that are a third of the size of the valet lot. It's their way of saying you don't have to pay for parking but you also don't have to park.

 

[21stamps]

Apologies. I thought you were saying the parks were more crowded, and for proof, you offered up Touring Plans predictions and data. Now, it seems you are not offering up Touring Plans at all as proof, but your assertion that it "feels" more crowded to you. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

No need for apologies. I was saying all of the above. TP Crowd levels, and actual crowds that I was in.

 

[21stamps]

I don't doubt that was your experience, but do you see how "I couldn't extend my stay - twice" doesn't equate to increased occupancy resortwide all the time? It's one person's very limited anecdotal evidence.

Is that the problem? And how do you know that? Do you see them?

I don't have the link..but resort occupancy was reported at an all time high this year..
maybe someone can post it.
There were many times last year where I went to book a trip and couldn't because the resort that I wanted wasn't available. That's anecdotal. But, if someone can provide the link that I was speaking about, is not.

 

[contrariwise]

No need for apologies. I was saying all of the above. TP Crowd levels, and actual crowds that I was in.

This feels like a merry go round, but here goes.

Touring Plans crowd levels are based on ride wait times, not actual crowds. There could be any number of reasons why ride wait times are up. I offered up several. One I didn't mention before? Decreased attractions.

The fact that "it felt crowded to you" is probative of nothing other than that "it felt crowded to you." It certainly doesn't prove that attendance is up.

 

[contrariwise]

I don't have the link..but resort occupancy was reported at an all time high this year..
maybe someone can post it.
There were many times last year where I went to book a trip and couldn't because the resort that I wanted wasn't available. That's anecdotal. But, if someone can provide the link that I was speaking about, is not.

I don't know if resort occupancy is at an all time high or low. So I am not going to tell you that I do. I did however do a quick search and found this, for what it's worth:

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...ally-matter-because-guests-keep-spending-cash

 

[21stamps]

This feels like a merry go round, but here goes.

Touring Plans crowd levels are based on ride wait times, not actual crowds. There could be any number of reasons why ride wait times are up. I offered up several. One I didn't mention before? Decreased attractions.

The fact that "it felt crowded to you" is probative of nothing other than that "it felt crowded to you." It certainly doesn't prove that attendance is up.

Here's a wild and crazy thought- maybe attendance is being distributed. Maybe the people who all went on thanksgiving week, causing crowds to be off the chart (real crowds not the made up ones that you think are not there), maybe some of them decided to go the week after Thanksgiving instead. Why? For lower crowds.
So, now you have extremely crowded Thanksgiving, as opposed to insanely crowded Thanksgiving.. and you now have a more severely crowded week after Thanksgiving.

Apply this to any Holiday and the week following.

Radical assumptions, I know. But, based on experiences and reports the past 2 years, they could possibly be true?

Attendance was reported down in domestic parks..but revenue was up. That means the attendance drop wasn't near as severe as people claim. Could it possibly be that the attendance drops were more from would-be 1 day ticket holders during the newly high priced peak times? Especially since resort bookings has such a high percentage? Another radical thought, I know.

 

[21stamps]

I don't know if resort occupancy is at an all time high or low. So I am not going to tell you that I do. I did however do a quick search and found this, for what it's worth:

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...ally-matter-because-guests-keep-spending-cash

You're correct. Myself, and every other person who went during and after a Holiday in 2015 and 2016 are imagining crowds, when in past years said crowds have been much lower and bookings easier. We're confusing actual people with wait times.
And Disney totally lied about their resort occupancy. They withheld rooms so people couldn't visit.

I shouldn't have cancelled my Easter week trip because TP crowd predictions are only about wait times..and the parks will probably not have crowds..only long waits due to cost cutting.

There ya go.

 

[contrariwise]

Here's a wild and crazy thought- maybe attendance is being distributed. Maybe the people who all went on thanksgiving week, causing crowds to be off the chart (real crowds not the made up ones that you think are not there), maybe some of them decided to go the week after Thanksgiving instead. Why? For lower crowds.
So, now you have extremely crowded Thanksgiving, as opposed to insanely crowded Thanksgiving.. and you now have a more severely crowded week after Thanksgiving.

Apply this to any Holiday and the week following.

Radical assumptions, I know. But, based on experiences and reports the past 2 years, they could possibly be true?

Attendance was reported down in domestic parks..but revenue was up. That means the attendance drop wasn't near as severe as people claim. Could it possibly be that the attendance drops were more from would-be 1 day ticket holders during the newly high priced peak times? Especially since resort bookings has such a high percentage? Another radical thought, I know.

No, these are not radical thoughts. But they are speculation and conjecture from one lady on the internet, with no proof whatsoever. As such, I am not even going to debate them. If that's what you want to believe though, no one can stop you.