News WDW Resorts to add fees for parking

[Marijil]

That's how it should be, hidden in the overall resort fee. I absolutely hate being asked to pay the parking fee, even if it's not a big amount. It just seems tacky to me to have to tell the guest that. JMO.

Are you saying parking is not already hidden in the 600 plus. Absolutely agree ....tacky as hell

 

[simbastitch]

Universal and off-site hotels don't have 40+ sq. mi. of land to use. Disney has plentiful parking as-is, as has been stated. There is no reason to charge a parking fee other than some TDO execs wanted a new revenue stream to satiate a TWDC directive to maintain and increase profit margins.

You're also paying a hell of a lot less to stay off-site. Surely you're paying a premium for Disney and part of that is 'free' parking, transport etc

 

[Kman101]

Universal and off-site hotels don't have 40+ sq. mi. of land to use. Disney has plentiful parking as-is, as has been stated.

I don't think one has to do with the other, but OK. And I'm aware of why they're charging

 

[Kman101]

Are you saying parking is not already hidden in the 600 plus. Absolutely agree ....tacky as hell

For the amount they charge for a room at WDW the parking should absolutely be included in that. It's beyond tacky when any resort, IMO, charges for parking. I don't necessarily mind seeing it listed when you go to check out online and see the final total. That's fine. But for me, it just seems tacky when I'm told at the check in counter that we charge you for parking, and then they aren't very transparent about it when you book the hotel.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Parking fees can be hidden in resort fees and, frankly, psychologically it is a much better option. Disney has a Magic Bus, the outside hotels do not in that same sense. Basically outwardly asking for a parking fee is the same as expecting their guests to walk there dragging their baggage behind them and then not having a workable transportation system to get people to the areas attractions. Greed could kill the goose that has been laying the golden egg.

Agree with this.

For guests staying at the resort, it should be a resort fee per day (preferably graduated based on the resort, so a bit less at the All Stars than it is at Port Orleans, and same with Port Orleans vs. Grand Floridian) and prominently shown when you make the booking. For day guests, charge per hour, maximum charge after 4 hours that's equal to the theme park lots, and with some kind of validation for ADR restaurants.

And the "workable transportation" part of this is key. For the 25? 30? More? bucks that this parking fee is going to cost, that could go a long way toward noticeable transportation improvements. It'd be one thing if Disney was replacing the buses and expanding to a resort-wide monorail/gondola/lightrail/anything system, and thus the parking fee was a way of subsidizing that. But we know that ain't happening.

 

[splash327]

Many hotels charge for parking though. And no one blinks an eye (where's the outrage at Universal, who does this). I don't support this decision at all, but just saying ... Universal charges to park at their resorts, which bothered me, considering I have an annual pass and don't pay to park at the parks .... it's ridiculous they charge for parking. Disney should be different but are we really surprised by this? I'm disappointed. But we should have seen this coming.

And most of the Disney Spring resorts charge for parking as well...

 

[mikejs78]

Many hotels charge for parking though. And no one blinks an eye (where's the outrage at Universal, who does this). I don't support this decision at all, but just saying ... Universal charges to park at their resorts, which bothered me, considering I have an annual pass and don't pay to park at the parks .... it's ridiculous they charge for parking. Disney should be different but are we really surprised by this? I'm disappointed. But we should have seen this coming.

What bugs me the most of this, if it happens, is the immediate nature of it. People planned and budgeted their vacations based on certain knowledge of what fees/rates they would have to pay. Now to suddenly increase that by hundreds of dollars (assuming a $30 fee and at least 4 nights) is just awful. It would be one thing if they announced now "starting Jan 1 2019, all resorts will charge for parking". I'd have less of a problem with that - then people could plan accordingly. But to implement it right now, with less than three weeks to go and with no notice, is really customer-hostile, especially given how far in advance people have to plan Disney vacations. If they changed it to any new *bookings* after April 1, and gave anyone with current reservations a free parking voucher for length of stay, I'd be fine with that too.

If this comes to pass, you can bet I'll be complaining.

 

[splash327]

What bugs me the most of this, if it happens, is the immediate nature of it. People planned and budgeted their vacations based on certain knowledge of what fees/rates they would have to pay. Now to suddenly increase that by hundreds of dollars (assuming a $30 fee and at least 4 nights) is just awful. It would be one thing if they announced now "starting Jan 1 2019, all resorts will charge for parking". I'd have less of a problem with that - then people could plan accordingly. But to implement it right now, with less than three weeks to go and with no notice, is really customer-hostile, especially given how far in advance people have to plan Disney vacations.

And pretty much too late to add magical express...

 

[Kman101]

And most of the Disney Spring resorts charge for parking as well...

Yep. I stay at one of them and they started to charge for parking a couple years back I believe. I'm not exactly sure edit: when (they started). I don't know why words seem to disappear sometimes ... lol

 

[mikejs78]

And pretty much too late to add magical express...

Right. I rented a car because I am traveling with an infant and figured it would be better to be able to get around under our own power for this trip. I made those plans months ago, have a car rental reservation, and skipped DME. So now I'm just supposed to hand over an additional couple of hundred bucks?

 

[Kman101]

What bugs me the most of this, if it happens, is the immediate nature of it. People planned and budgeted their vacations based on certain knowledge of what fees/rates they would have to pay. Now to suddenly increase that by hundreds of dollars (assuming a $30 fee and at least 4 nights) is just awful. It would be one thing if they announced now "starting Jan 1 2019, all resorts will charge for parking". I'd have less of a problem with that - then people could plan accordingly. But to implement it right now, with less than three weeks to go and with no notice, is really customer-hostile, especially given how far in advance people have to plan Disney vacations. If they changed it to any new *bookings* after April 1, and gave anyone with current reservations a free parking voucher for length of stay, I'd be fine with that too.

That's because the company cares more about the bottom line than the guest. The same company can't put out schedules but they expect you to book everything six months prior.

I agree they should announce it that way to give guests time to prepare but they probably won't.

And to another post, but I wanted to add this, it's more understandable, of course, when smaller resorts charge a parking fee because of limited space. I get it. That's fine.

IMHO, it's wrong, period to outright charge you to park at a hotel that you're already paying a high price for. The cost should be included in the resort fee. Raise the resort fee. Present it better than a parking lot fee. It's just tacky no matter who does it and it's even more tacky now that Disney may do it.

But I'm not giving Universal a pass either. I shouldn't have had to pay for parking at Cabana Bay when I don't pay for parking in the garage to visit the theme parks or CityWalk. I mean, I do pay for parking of course, because it's rolled into the ticket price. It's all about marketing. I guess I could have asked for a manager but I'm not that kind of person, lol.

 

[mm121]

For the amount they charge for a room at WDW the parking should absolutely be included in that. It's beyond tacky when any resort, IMO, charges for parking. I don't necessarily mind seeing it listed when you go to check out online and see the final total. That's fine. But for me, it just seems tacky when I'm told at the check in counter that we charge you for parking, and then they aren't very transparent about it when you book the hotel.

yea ive gotten really screwed over by that in the past especially when booking on hotwire/priceline/etc

booking based on what it said was the final price then getting a nasty surprise upon arrival, they are slowly getting better with it though

 

[WondersOfLife]

Not much for you to worry about, you'll just get charged more

That's definitely something to worry about. Especially if it's on a bill you receive at the end of your vacation (Cough. Hilton Palace. Cough*

 

[LSLS]

Many hotels charge for parking though. And no one blinks an eye (where's the outrage at Universal, who does this). I don't support this decision at all, but just saying ... Universal charges to park at their resorts, which bothered me, considering I have an annual pass and don't pay to park at the parks .... it's ridiculous they charge for parking. Disney should be different but are we really surprised by this? I'm disappointed. But we should have seen this coming.

To be fair, I have never stayed at Universal for this EXACT reason. But with how much the prices have gone up on hotels, I just can't imagine paying that here. I can't imagine paying $170 for All Star Sports and then a $20 fee on top of it, or $280 for POR and then another $20. Very anecdotal, but it would push us off site for good (and when we go off site, we venture to other parks/attractions in Orlando and spend less days at Disney).

 

[Scuttle]

Right above charging a $30 a night resort fee to use some exercise equipment and a couple free bottles of water.

Atleast wifi isn't an up charge like it was a few years back everywhere you went. That was a total joke.

It seems that Tables in Wonderland is even more valuable now. That free valet option gives you a lot of leverage at the gate.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Let's see if I understand this.

Disney wants to charge Guests for not using Disney's Magical Express?

 

[mikejs78]

@wdwmagic Based on what your hearing, any chance that there's an accomodation for guests who already have reservations, or will this apply to everyone immediately?

 

[Horizons '83]

Let's see if I understand this.

Disney wants to charge Guests for not using Disney's Magical Express?

Many don't fly, this is more of a hit if you are local with within the surrounding states of FL that tend to drive.

 

[mikejs78]

Many don't fly, this is more of a hit if you are local with within the surrounding states of FL that tend to drive.

I'm flying, and I'm renting a car because I have an infant.

 

[kong1802]

Many hotels charge for parking though. And no one blinks an eye (where's the outrage at Universal, who does this). I don't support this decision at all, but just saying ... Universal charges to park at their resorts, which bothered me, considering I have an annual pass and don't pay to park at the parks .... it's ridiculous they charge for parking. Disney should be different but are we really surprised by this? I'm disappointed. But we should have seen this coming.

And most of the Disney Spring resorts charge for parking as well...

They do, but they also charge less for the room.

In October we paid over $600 for Poly, and $250 for Royal Pacific, then add in the $22/day parking, so $272.

Cabana Bay Family suites were $170, compared with AoA suite at $360.

I'll take the $22 parking fee over the 100% increase in rate.....

But I do hate paying the fee.