Charging Resort Guests for Overnight Parking

MattHolst;2512493 wrote: It’s a hidden fee that you normally don’t find out about until you’re there. I think it’s something most people would prefer to just have added to the room rate than be told on check-in that there’s a “parking fee”. Come on. They hit me with that at Shades of Green when I took my family last year. I had everything budgeted out perfectly until I was hit with that on check in. It’s really a lousy way to do business. Just increase the room cost and quit with the bait and switch tactics already. I think people appreciate knowing up front how much everything will cost prior to the trip.

Just FYI - there is a parking lot at Shades of Green (to the right, right before you get to the hill that leads to SOG, but past the guard gate). that you can park at for free but if you want to park in the parking garage they do charge a fee

PopPhan;2512507 wrote:
They seem to be filling most of the 'value' priced rooms at each resort, but cannot get the 'top of the line' rooms filled...even with discounts of 30% or more.

I wonder what that says about the market's willingness to absorb rate increases indefinitely...

Tekneek;2512600 wrote: I wonder what that says about the market's willingness to absorb rate increases indefinitely...

Is this also a push for regular visitors to become DVC owners? It's already discussed that more DVC rooms will become available in the next few years. If I understand the new parking policy correctly, DVC members will not have the parking fee.

I'm thinking more and more every day that they focus on marketing to the once-in-a-lifetime visitor or the once-every-10-year visitor.... not the regular visitors.

Goofy4TheWorld;2512277 wrote:
I asked her if she was claiming that DME service cost Disney nothing, or if she was claming that parking lots cost Disney more to operate than DME? Her response was "certainly not"

I'd love to know the cost to operate DME and I've NEVER used it. That may change in the future though.

Goofy4TheWorld;2512277 wrote:
She said while it has always been official policy that anyone driving to another resort should only be allowed in if they have a meal reservation, Disney has very rarely enforced this policy. However, she was very firm that as the new policy comes into effect, there will be NO CAR allowed inside a resort's parking lot unless it's their home resort or they have an ADR at a restaurant within that resort. To make it clear how specific she was being, she gave me an example of how she personally enjoys eating at Mara's at AKL, and because Mara is CS and not TS that she would no longer be allow to park at AKL to go visit Mara, that she would have to park at the AK parking lot.

I just have to say we stayed at AKL last year and ate at Mara a few times. I was not impressed. Definitely not worthy of a special trip to AKL. Ah well... to each their own I guess.

Goofy4TheWorld;2512277 wrote:
"so let me make sure I understand you fully, I have previously resort-hoped via my car to see Christmas decorations at WL and then the GF the first week of December (not peak times) as well as visited friends at the Cabins, and was waived on through the gate no problem, but now I will unconditionally not be allowed to do this?" Her response was "yes, that is correct".

Holiday Resort Tour package options coming soon to WDW...... Cha ching! More money grab.

DH and I already decided not to return to WDW until 2021 or 2022 to avoid the huge crowds as Stars Wars Land first opens. (We're not SW fans anyway so that's not an enticement for us.) Now we may look at staying offsite or waiting. It's long been on our radar of a trip in 2025 for Christmas Holiday decorations as a celebratory trip so we may just wait until then. We've never flown to WDW before but perhaps we'll look into that as an option for our next trip. Either way, it looks like I should probably start saving every penny I can spare right now. :rolleyes:

Off-site August 1986
All Star Music May/June 1999
Coronado Springs August 2012
Animal Kingdom Lodge May 2017
Port Orleans Riverside June 2022 (planned)

 

j2k;2512761 wrote:

DH and I already decided not to return to WDW until 2021 or 2022 to avoid the huge crowds as Stars Wars Land first opens. (We're not SW fans anyway so that's not an enticement for us.) Now we may look at staying offsite or waiting. It's long been on our radar of a trip in 2025 for Christmas Holiday decorations as a celebratory trip so we may just wait until then. We've never flown to WDW before but perhaps we'll look into that as an option for our next trip. Either way, it looks like I should probably start saving every penny I can spare right now. :rolleyes:

Yeah, we are looking at and wondering when we might go back. Between losing things we enjoy, additional hassle and the increase of stuff we aren't huge fans of that will draw crazy crowds, don't know.

I could also see us not go back for 4-5 years. At that point, we might even lose the desire to come back.

We just got a pin code room discount offer for this summer. We are having to change our plans for the week of July 4th because a friend is getting married that weekend. We had a trip to the Northwest planned but are having to scrap that and rearrange our summer vacation. I looked at reservations onsite at WDW using the pin code and with the 30% off it is still not that great of a deal. On top of that, the new parking charges at resorts is really turning me off. Along with all the changes, pre-planning, FP+, and reservations, I am for the first time having a really hard time talking myself into going to WDW. I have had a reservation in my cart online for several days now and can't talk myself into going through with it. It is sad that they have made the place so irritating to visit. I am currently looking at other places we may go instead.

1DisneyNut;2512784 wrote: We just got a pin code room discount offer for this summer. We are having to change our plans for the week of July 4th because a friend is getting married that weekend. We had a trip to the Northwest planned but are having to scrap that and rearrange our summer vacation. I looked at reservations onsite at WDW using the pin code and with the 30% off it is still not that great of a deal. On top of that, the new parking charges at resorts is really turning me off. Along with all the changes, pre-planning, FP+, and reservations, I am for the first time having a really hard time talking myself into going to WDW. I have had a reservation in my cart online for several days now and can't talk myself into going through with it. It is sad that they have made the place so irritating to visit. I am currently looking at other places we may go instead.

I don't know if you have ever gone on a cruise, but you might consider one. I really enjoy them, and you wouldn't have to go too far to embark on one. If you do go, just make sure you pick a cruise line that fits your taste.

If that example above from Goofy4TheWorld, about the plan to only allow people with room reservations or dining reservations onto resort property is true, that would be incredibly disappointing. As often as we can, we'll take a few hours from our trip just to go to AKL for lunch at Mara and shopping at Zawadi - our favorite CS and souvenir shop on property. It just seems that if they take that option away, they're costing themselves a lot of business. There are also times of the year where you actually can walk-up at Boma or Jiko for meals - would they turn potential diners away?

I'll bet they'll wave you through if you pay for valet parking, though......

1DisneyNut;2512784 wrote: We just got a pin code room discount offer for this summer. We are having to change our plans for the week of July 4th because a friend is getting married that weekend. We had a trip to the Northwest planned but are having to scrap that and rearrange our summer vacation. I looked at reservations onsite at WDW using the pin code and with the 30% off it is still not that great of a deal. On top of that, the new parking charges at resorts is really turning me off. Along with all the changes, pre-planning, FP+, and reservations, I am for the first time having a really hard time talking myself into going to WDW. I have had a reservation in my cart online for several days now and can't talk myself into going through with it. It is sad that they have made the place so irritating to visit. I am currently looking at other places we may go instead.

Don't do it. Don't go. It's the only way they will learn. After FPminus was instituted, I swore off DW. I was an annual+ visitor. I found other fantastic vacation spots n the US: Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Kentucky and more. The only reason I went back (and bought an AP) late last year was because we moved to Florida.

We won't go back.

If some person with land near disney would rent out parking spaces and shuttle people to their resort for real cheap, they would make a fortune.

polarbear72834;2513673 wrote: If some person with land near disney would rent out parking spaces and shuttle people to their resort for real cheap, they would make a fortune.

Nah, b/c then disney will start charging per person per vehicle just to get into the parking lot.

I know this upset some people, so I wanted to tell you my experience. We drove to Animal Kingdom Lodge a couple of days ago. We were stopped at the security check point. He asked if we were checking in. I told him “No, we are going to eat at Mara.” Mars is a quick service restaurant, for those who don’t know. They don’t take reservations. He asked for my ID and then sent us on through. We went to the Polynesian this morning. Man, the parking lot is awful there. Once again, we stopped at the security checkpoint and told them we had breakfast reservations. He didn’t ask where or verify it at all. He looked at my ID and waved us through. I think you will still be able to go around and look at the other resorts without any problems.

Cinderelley;2514474 wrote: I know this upset some people, so I wanted to tell you my experience. We drove to Animal Kingdom Lodge a couple of days ago. We were stopped at the security check point. He asked if we were checking in. I told him “No, we are going to eat at Mara.” Mars is a quick service restaurant, for those who don’t know. They don’t take reservations. He asked for my ID and then sent us on through. We went to the Polynesian this morning. Man, the parking lot is awful there. Once again, we stopped at the security checkpoint and told them we had breakfast reservations. He didn’t ask where or verify it at all. He looked at my ID and waved us through. I think you will still be able to go around and look at the other resorts without any problems.

Or he could tell, there are nurses you don't mess with...

RunDMV;2512803 wrote: Don't do it. Don't go. It's the only way they will learn. After FPminus was instituted, I swore off DW. I was an annual+ visitor. I found other fantastic vacation spots n the US: Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Kentucky and more. The only reason I went back (and bought an AP) late last year was because we moved to Florida.

We won't go back.

Just an update on the pin code we had. I did make a reservation for the first week of July for a room at the Boardwalk after battling with myself over it for a week or so. Then it got down to the 60 day mark where we could make fastpasses and we didn't want to nor did we have time to sit and go through and plan what parks for each day and then go through fastpasses and dining. Planning a vacation should not be so time consuming and difficult. I ended up cancelling the reservation and we are going on a road trip instead. It took me all of 15 minutes to reserve hotels in a couple of places we want to visit.

1DisneyNut;2514503 wrote: Just an update on the pin code we had. I did make a reservation for the first week of July for a room at the Boardwalk after battling with myself over it for a week or so. Then it got down to the 60 day mark where we could make fastpasses and we didn't want to nor did we have time to sit and go through and plan what parks for each day and then go through fastpasses and dining. Planning a vacation should not be so time consuming and difficult. I ended up cancelling the reservation and we are going on a road trip instead. It took me all of 15 minutes to reserve hotels in a couple of places we want to visit.

But isn't that why our friends come to us, when its time to book one of the impossible and overwhelming disney vacations? If it wasn't for an inordinate number of decisions to be made, how could someone possibly enjoy disney.

We aren't sure when we'll return either. With SW world coming online, I see that retarding our desire to come back. The proliferation of nonsense at disney has really changed our views in many ways.

texas211;2514505 wrote: But isn't that why our friends come to us, when its time to book one of the impossible and overwhelming disney vacations? If it wasn't for an inordinate number of decisions to be made, how could someone possibly enjoy disney.

We aren't sure when we'll return either. With SW world coming online, I see that retarding our desire to come back. The proliferation of nonsense at disney has really changed our views in many ways.

No disrespect intended, but for everyone like you, who is 'swearing off' Disney parks (for whatever reason) there are 5 more waiting to 'jump your grave' and fill your spot.

To paraphrase the words of Yogi Berra: "Nobody goes there anymore...It's too crowded!"

As long as they (Disney) can keep the parks full, they will continue to add to/change/destroy all the things that had brought people to the WDW parks for almost 50 years in the interest of bringing in new/fresh $$$ on a yearly basis. It seems to be working well, as park attendance has never been higher.