Charging Resort Guests for Overnight Parking

Fangorn;2512043 wrote: Full disclosure - I'm not usually one that automatically goes for the "blatant money grab" theory every time Disney ups their prices.

But here's my initial thoughts on this.

From the Disney site info about parking, it appears that:

Resort guests will be charged an overnight parking fee.

Visitors to the resort get complimentary parking.

DVC members are exempt when staying at DVC resorts (whether on points or cash). I understand this one. Florida timeshare laws dictate this.

My question: how in blazes are they planning on enforcing this. Do the Security Guards now become parking lot attendants? Scenario - If a guest arrives at POP and enters the parking lot at 11am by telling the guard they're just looking the place over, not by saying they're checking in,

Then checks in and says they don't have a car

Leaves the car parked and never uses it until they leave

How will Disney ever know the car shouldn't be there? Are they going to have security take an inventory every night? If they discovered a trespassing vehicle, how would they track it back to a specific guest? (Well, obviously, given enough resources and willingness they could, but would it be worth it?) Will they tow vehicles they think shouldn't be there? (That will not end well).
Are they going to reconfigure the lots and gate them so that a portion (most) of the lot is for overnight guests but some portion will be for the visitors and folks checking in? That'll do nothing but reduce the number of available parking spaces that actual hotel guests can use.

Just a few random thoughts

It seems to me that the implementation of this is going to be costly, largely unenforceable and a PR nightmare.

It also seems backwards. Punish hotel guests to park, but allow visitors to park for free? Really? Why not charge the day guests an hourly fee to park at the resorts instead.

But then, in this case, maybe there really isn't a parking "problem" they're trying to solve and it actually is a "blatant money grab".

Seriously annoyed about this, even though I'm DVC.

Steve

Thanks Steve, for a minute there I thought I was crazy. So these visitors/day guests from the DS hotels that are sharing in EMH and FP perks now will get free parking???? I thought part of the problem was day guest parking at resorts with park access and leaving their cars for the day which crowded the lots. So the solution is to penalize the resort guests. seriously?

To clarify, my sense of annoyance is not directed at those that stay at DS but rather at Disney's decisions lately of making the resort guest's stay anything but magical. If I had a crystal ball I would predict they will be converting more hotel rooms to DVC and making deals with the DS hotels for a revenue stream without the added responsibilities.

So now, as a driving guest, I still have to pay for MDE service that I don't use, and on top of that I have to pay to park my car. I literally just booked my expected next trip in order to beat the deadline, and this may be my final trip onsite, if not my final trip period (and I can confidently say that I have never uttered this statement before!). I am livid.

And everything Fangorn said hit it perfect, how in the are they going to manage this? Does this spell the end of bypassing the front desk, aka direct to room, for drivers???

I think I will send my first ever complaint email to WDW Communications.

I agree it's a money grab. But enforcement will be easy (or at least easy to threaten enforcement) as guests with cards will be given a parking pass to display on the dashboard (you already get these with "free" parking). A parking officer rides around the lot in a golf car checking for passes. "Vehicles without passes will get towed or booted" is added to your room contract small print. That's enough to enforce it right there. Temporary visitors get a pass with a time deadline. Parking fees of an average of $20 per day per car will more than cover the cost of enforcement. Most hotels that have their own parking lots/garages already charge for parking, but it's another perk of an "on-site" Disney vacation disappearing. IMO, they would have gotten less negative feedback by keeping "free" parking but just raising the nightly rates. The bottom line is the same, but it's all about the perception.

Maybe a MagicBand reader at the gate....If you are staying at the resort, it charges your room account. If you are not staying at the resort, it lets you go through free of charge. No MagicBand, Security has to pass you through after checking your passport, travel papers, and getting the blood of your first born. Stupid, yes, but that seems to be the way of the "money grab."

I'm not surprised they did this, the parks have had record attendance so that usually means price increases somewhere, although I'm surprised they were able to bring this about without the rumor mill swirling around it beforehand. While I'm sure some people may actually reduce or stop visiting, Disney knows the regular visitors (just look at the sig lines in this thread) are addicts and will be back. An extra $140 for their weeklong vacation isn't going to change that.

As joonyer said this won't be hard to enforce.

VWL Mom;2512045 wrote: Thanks Steve, for a minute there I thought I was crazy. So these visitors/day guests from the DS hotels that are sharing in EMH and FP perks now will get free parking???? I thought part of the problem was day guest parking at resorts with park access and leaving their cars for the day which crowded the lots. So the solution is to penalize the resort guests. seriously?

To clarify, my sense of annoyance is not directed at those that stay at DS but rather at Disney's decisions lately of making the resort guest's stay anything but magical. If I had a crystal ball I would predict they will be converting more hotel rooms to DVC and making deals with the DS hotels for a revenue stream without the added responsibilities.

Lynn,

I don't read it as day visitors get free parking at the parks, but they can park for free at the resorts of they're there to eat or shop. I suspect the 3 hour time limit is still in effect, but again, how do you monitor and enforce this? Its always been pretty loose. I know when my son worked for WDW, he and his friends would routinely try to park at the MK resorts. They said they were able to do so about 50% of the time.

This just seems like someone made a "look! We can make extra money" decision without anyone actually thinking it through.

Steve

Now stand by for the "free parking for your stay" promotions to come in. A way for them to create a promotional discount out of thin air.

Tekneek;2512052 wrote: Now stand by for the "free parking for your stay" promotions to come in. A way for them to create a promotional discount out of thin air.

I am minded of those car insurance and cable/telco companies that in general never go with their "standard" rates.
There is a discount for this or a discount for that and a third for being a new customer.

Later on though, they are not raising your rates. Oh-No, but so sorry, that particular discount has expired.

What I don't like,over and above the parking charge, is the difference in the parking prices. Are the parking spaces bigger and better at a deluxe resort?!

......WDW Resort's On-Site "Perks" ....are slowly ....or ....maybe not so slowly .....swirling down the porcelain convenience.

.....this is a disgrace of immense proportions. I have seen persons semi-defending WDW on the basis of, "I've stayed at hotels and have paid upwards of $25 / night for parking". WHERE? Manhattan? I've NEVER paid one thin dime to stay at a hotel ......anywhere.

.....I'm already booked (as of last August's trip to WDW on a bounce-back offer) for a stay at POP in September. But to be honest ...our last stay at POP was not 'magical' in any way (terrible room conditions, equally terrible housekeeping .....which was non-existent for the first 3 days, severely truncated pool hours / availability ....all of which was expressed to management...and they agreed... and comped us 3 free days of a hotel stay)

.....but ...had I not already been booked...this would have pushed me over the edge and prompted a cancellation of the trip. I'd absolutely refuse to shell out another $150 bucks just to park my car for my stay ....particularly after driving 1150 miles to get there.

.....seriously, what are these charges going for? Lot maintenance?
These are not high impact / high volume parking lots with exorbitant levels of wear & tear. If they choose to rely on the explanation that "Other resorts charge for parking (so we shall too from now on) ....then they (WDW) by default ......have just lumped themselves in with "every other resort" ...and therefore no longer are a head above others and deserving of the undying loyalty that repeat visitors / patrons exhibit.

....the "just because we can" mentality of WDW executives can ....and will back-fire.

Perhaps they'll enforce it the way airports enforce paid parking. They'll certainly be able to afford new security gates.

Now that I think about it, this may also be their way of paying for all the new road construction.

The thing about enforcement is that they're going to have to enforce two different classes of visitors each with different rules. At the Swolphin, everyone pays to park. Either daily, and you get a key card, or hourly and you pay at the gate with a credit card when you leave. But Disney is trying to make resort guests pay (so some sort of monitoring/access required) while at the same time and in the same lot, let the day visitors park for free. So the guard is going to give the day visitor a key card to get into the lot? Separate lots? And BTW, they just got rid of the parking passes at most of the resorts as they were "unnecessary".

Without some serious reconfiguration of the parking lots and resort entrances, I see this being a huge headache for the resorts as well as the guests. Its so unnecessary.

And having your car towed, even if the tow truck looks like Mater, isn't very magical.

Steve

The Greediest Place on Earth. I sent an email SEETHING with rage to Disney. Everyone should. Just like the recent decision by United Airlines to turn the employee incentive program into a lottery, the backlash can kill it.

This is ridiculous. Already paying higher rides for hotels, even values are actually on the higher end for similar type accommodations. Additional " resort fees", options to opt out or pay for housekeeping, more and more piled on. How about spending far, far less on overseas parks (technically not even Disney owned ) and save a few dollars here. I'm a stock holder, I will be expressing my thoughts on this. May be time to switch to Universal.

The fee for guests or day visits will come next year....

I wonder how much they'll charge for driving on the roads to the parking lot? New tolls coming.