Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[dm1996]

If Disney is trying to price out the repeat visitors, why does my inbox get flooded with FL resident deals and Passholder promos for discounted resort rates. They are usually 10% better than the standard discounts available to the public. These repeat visitors keep the resorts and restaurants full.
I have never stayed offsite for a Disney vacation, but will now be heading to Double tree for future trips. We would also always pick two of the upper end resort restaurants to eat at, now we will pick one and eat offsite somewhere for the other. We used to eat nice breakfasts at the resort too, now that will be at double tree or at the park (if it gets us in early). I can afford the parking fee, but I believe it is just a pure money grab. We are getting zero out of it, and while they have every right to do it, they will lose 20 times that parking fee from my family per day of vacation.

 

[ashleyrm]

Honestly, I keep thinking that I'm not that upset about the parking stuff, and then I go back and read the email reply I got from Disney, and get pisssed off all over again. These "justification" paragraphs are just such a stretch.

Annual Passholders will still enjoy discounts on select merchandise, dining, Special Event tickets, recreation, priority access to new attractions, experiences, movies, and of course Complimentary MagicBands. As an Annual Passholder and Walt Disney World Resort Guest, you will still enjoy Complimentary MagicBands for staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, Extra Magic Hours each day, early access to Disney FastPass+ planning, and Complimentary Resort Transportation – Motorcoaches, ferryboats, and our world-famous monorail make getting around Walt Disney World Resort convenient.

Additionally, there are still other add-ons available only to Walt Disney World Resort Guests such as Dining Plans, exclusive Magical Extras like keepsake luggage tags, merchandise and service discounts, and much more.​

(Underlines and bold are mine). "And of course Complimentary MagicBands". The "And of course" makes it seem like I should be so thrilled to have this piece of technology. "Early access to Disney FastPass+" - not so special anymore now that the good neighbor hotels get it as well. "Complimentary Resort Transportation – Motorcoaches, ferryboats, and our world-famous monorail" - Doesn't every guest who comes on property get access to this? "Magical Extras like keepsake luggage tags, merchandise and service discounts, and much more." - Luggage tags only come with a package - not a room only reservation. What exclusive merchandise to Disney World Resort Guests get that other guests don't?. And what exactly is a "service discount"?

Maybe it's just me, but I found all of that pretty thin...

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

If Disney is trying to price out the repeat visitors, why does my inbox get flooded with FL resident deals and Passholder promos for discounted resort rates. They are usually 10% better than the standard discounts available to the public. These repeat visitors keep the resorts and restaurants full.
I have never stayed offsite for a Disney vacation, but will now be heading to Double tree for future trips. We would also always pick two of the upper end resort restaurants to eat at, now we will pick one and eat offsite somewhere for the other. We used to eat nice breakfasts at the resort too, now that will be at double tree or at the park (if it gets us in early). I can afford the parking fee, but I believe it is just a pure money grab. We are getting zero out of it, and while they have every right to do it, they will lose 20 times that parking fee from my family per day of vacation.

I don't think they are trying to price out repeat visitors completely, but I think they are totally fine with those visitors staying offsite. That way, their resorts are filled by the "newbies" who will spend more $$$. But the die-hards stay offsite and still spend $$ in the parks. Best of both worlds for them.

 

[jade1]

Honestly, I keep thinking that I'm not that upset about the parking stuff, and then I go back and read the email reply I got from Disney, and get pisssed off all over again. These "justification" paragraphs are just such a stretch.

Annual Passholders will still enjoy discounts on select merchandise, dining, Special Event tickets, recreation, priority access to new attractions, experiences, movies, and of course Complimentary MagicBands. As an Annual Passholder and Walt Disney World Resort Guest, you will still enjoy Complimentary MagicBands for staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, Extra Magic Hours each day, early access to Disney FastPass+ planning, and Complimentary Resort Transportation – Motorcoaches, ferryboats, and our world-famous monorail make getting around Walt Disney World Resort convenient.

Additionally, there are still other add-ons available only to Walt Disney World Resort Guests such as Dining Plans, exclusive Magical Extras like keepsake luggage tags, merchandise and service discounts, and much more.​

(Underlines and bold are mine). "And of course Complimentary MagicBands". The "And of course" makes it seem like I should be so thrilled to have this piece of technology. "Early access to Disney FastPass+" - not so special anymore now that the good neighbor hotels get it as well. "Complimentary Resort Transportation – Motorcoaches, ferryboats, and our world-famous monorail" - Doesn't every guest who comes on property get access to this? "Magical Extras like keepsake luggage tags, merchandise and service discounts, and much more." - Luggage tags only come with a package - not a room only reservation. What exclusive merchandise to Disney World Resort Guests get that other guests don't?. And what exactly is a "service discount"?

Maybe it's just me, but I found all of that pretty thin...

Did you mention to them for 50 years they used to offer "and of course Complimentary Resort Stay Parking".......so when will the others start getting charged?

 

[GrumpySue]

Does this new parking fee apply to the Cabins in Fort Wilderness too ??

 

[Linkura]

Does this new parking fee apply to the Cabins in Fort Wilderness too ??

Yup, with the "moderate" fee.

 

[SaharanTea]

Yup, with the "moderate" fee.

So can day guests park there for free?

 

[Rich M]

So can day guests park there for free?

I think day guest can park at any resort for free

 

[SaharanTea]

I think day guest can park at any resort for free

I just picture someone parking in front of your cabin.

"It's cool I'm here to check out the gift shop."

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

If Disney is trying to price out the repeat visitors, why does my inbox get flooded with FL resident deals and Passholder promos for discounted resort rates. They are usually 10% better than the standard discounts available to the public. These repeat visitors keep the resorts and restaurants full.
I have never stayed offsite for a Disney vacation, but will now be heading to Double tree for future trips. We would also always pick two of the upper end resort restaurants to eat at, now we will pick one and eat offsite somewhere for the other. We used to eat nice breakfasts at the resort too, now that will be at double tree or at the park (if it gets us in early). I can afford the parking fee, but I believe it is just a pure money grab. We are getting zero out of it, and while they have every right to do it, they will lose 20 times that parking fee from my family per day of vacation.

Maybe we get these offers because we are a last ditch effort. If they can’t get who they REALLY want, then they’ll take us.



It’s typical (and not just with Disney)that last minute offers start going out to fill rooms. Makes sense that they are hoping for those who are willing to pay closer to rack rate, but if they can’t fill the rooms with those people, then they will be willing to accept second best.

You are right that, at least with those who are quite upset about the fees, that they are losing quite a bit more from us than they would gain in parking fees from us if we stayed on property. But time will tell if they determine that their overall profits (and reputation) are taking a hit.

 

[Rich M]

I just picture someone parking in front of your cabin.

"It's cool I'm here to check out the gift shop."

I want to be the one to call the tow truck to tow the car

 

[hakepb]

Does this new parking fee apply to the Cabins in Fort Wilderness too ??

Do RV’s get charged to park on its campsite?

 

[rteetz]

Do RV’s get charged to park on its campsite?

No Ft. Wilderness gets parking included in their rate.

 

[UncleMike101]

No Ft. Wilderness gets parking included in their rate.

For the time being..............

 

[ChipnDale79]

We're booked for the beach for Sunday-Tuesday, i listened to a Disney podcast on the way in this morning and almost called my wife to cancel the beach and do a resort only trip instead. Then i remembered we'd get charged for parking. That idea passed quickly. Reservations at the beach still in place and will not go to disney this weekend.

Oops Disney.

 

[lucas]

I don't think they are trying to price out repeat visitors completely, but I think they are totally fine with those visitors staying offsite. That way, their resorts are filled by the "newbies" who will spend more $$$. But the die-hards stay offsite and still spend $$ in the parks. Best of both worlds for them.

So as FL residents, our 30 years of staying on property, spending our money and parking at the resorts means nothing to them. Nice to know.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

So as FL residents, our 30 years of staying on property, spending our money and parking at the resorts means nothing to them. Nice to know.

Oh I agree it's ridiculous. I just think that may be their line of thinking.

 

[lucas]

Oh I agree it's ridiculous. I just think that may be their line of thinking.

Well, with me or without me things will continuing to boom. I can't get anything at POP Century over Memorial Day weekend!

 

[Ariel484]

Anyone there now? Weren’t these fees starting on the 21st? Are there reports on how they are implementing the fees for visitors?

Are they requiring any specific amount of spending, or can anyone stay for three hours for any reason?

How are they enforcing the three hour restriction?

Are there separate lots for overnight and day guests?

I just got back yesterday. We rented a car and stayed at the Wilderness Lodge (reservation made a few months ago, so well before the Match 21 cut-off).

Of the CMs we encountered that could have/should have mentioned the fees to us, no one did - not at check-in (we did online check-in but ended up having to go to the front desk anyway, as they never texted us our room number) nor at the security posts when entering the other resort lots.

There are not separate lots for overnight and day guests. We really enjoy resort dining, which is a big reason why we rent a car. We had dinner reservations at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Grand Floridian and the Yacht Club during our stay, as well as a breakfast reservation at the Polynesian. Each time, I (the primary guest on the dinner reservations) had to scan my magic band with security upon entering the parking lots (they wouldn't take my husband's, I think I just had the reservations as "Ariel484 and Guest" instead of "Ariel484 and Mr. Ariel484," so maybe that's why). So I'd scan, they'd tell me where guest parking was and to enjoy our meal. Never mentioned the 3-hour limit, or that I had to bring any kind of a receipt. Every time I approached security I'd say something like "we're here for a dinner reservation" so I'm not sure if they would have just let me in if I said I wanted to park and hang out or whatever.

We were definitely parked at Yacht Club for longer than 3 hours (arrived a couple hours before our reservation to walk around a bit before dinner, then did a little post-dinner stroll). I think we may have also been at the Grand Floridian for longer than 3 hours (Trader Sam's visit before dinner at Citricos).

So "how are they enforcing the three hour restriction"? I have no idea!

And sidenote: we never had trouble finding parking at any of the resorts we drove to. In September we stayed at the Yacht Club and they had some sort of conference going on - they told us to just "make" a parking spot where we could (boy was I not impressed by that!). This time, tons of open spots.

Second sidenote: I got billed for our room charges this morning, but realized I was never emailed an itemized bill. I need to look into that and make sure they didn't actually charge us to park. I also need to do a better job of keeping my own receipts in the future.

 

[PrincessV]

Each time, I (the primary guest on the dinner reservations) had to scan my magic band with security upon entering the parking lots (they wouldn't take my husband's, I think I just had the reservations as "Ariel484 and Guest" instead of "Ariel484 and Mr. Ariel484," so maybe that's why). So I'd scan, they'd tell me where guest parking was and to enjoy our meal.

Thanks so much for taking the time to report your findings @Ariel484! Very interesting about scanning a MB for dining. I never have a MB on me when going to a resort, so I wonder what they plan to do for locals/offsiters/people who don't wear MBs who show up. I assume the same as always, look at ID and wave them through, but that would be untrackable.