Paid parking is coming to WDW resorts March 2018

[Runner225]

Keep up sending emails. I sent out emails this morning to the addresses listed in this thread expressing my displeasure, and I just got a call back from Bob Chapek’s office. Of course, they didn’t say they were changing anything, and they said they were doing it largely because it’s becoming the norm at other resorts - but they also said that they had been deluged with customer response and taking a close look at what was coming in. Anyway, we’re getting their attention. Get louder.

I e-mailed as well and received a response from Bob Chapek's office:

"Dear Runner225,

Thank you for your email to Bob Chapek about our recent announcment. Your correspondence was forwarded to me so that I may personally respond to you.

I’d like the chance to talk about your email and discuss your concerns. Unfortunately, I do not have your telephone number. I’m in the office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 407-828-1224 and hope to hear from you. As an alternative, you’re welcome to respond to this message with your phone number and best time to call, and I’d be happy to contact you at a time that’s convenient."

I will be scheduling a time to speak with her. Keep e-mailing/calling, at least our voices are being heard.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

It’s often not much cheaper off site unless you want to add an extra 30-40 mins just getting onto to Disney property.

For large families that rent homes and such that is cheaper but saying for just hotels.

Orlando is a booming tourist spot and it’s not a cheap place to visit anymore.

I was looking for a labor day hotel earlier today. All Star Music was 168.00 or orbitz and the Clarion that we usually stay at on travel day was $69 on hotels.com with free wifi and free parking. 181 vs 69 for 3 nights is huge to me.

 

[Lee Matthews]

I don't drive so this charge doesn't affect me but with the way they are going to milk every cent out of people I may just stay at the Wyndham by Disney springs instead where in the January, September times I can get some great prices yet still get the 60 day fast pass.

 

[rteetz]

Don't they sub-contract with Mears now? I don't know anything about their contract but I would say that it's up to Disney to charge or not charge and Mears doesn't have anything to say about it as long as they get paid.

I’m not sure the specifics of the contract. I know Mears gets to use the Disney name on the service and Mears runs the entire thing.

Has anyone mentioned that valet is up to $33 as well?

I’m not sure if it was mentioned here but I did post about it in the news thread.

 

[Rich M]

I really hope everyone's voice is heard but please let me know if you get extra fast passes or something so I can make the extra effort for my vacation in October. By then we might have to pay for every ride we want to go on.

 

[robinb]

I’m not sure the specifics of the contract. I know Mears gets to use the Disney name on the service and Mears runs the entire thing.

Right, but Disney pays them.

 

[Aron1012]

I'm DVC and never have a car at Disney so this fee doesn't affect me. But I went ahead and sent an email to Bob Chapek. This is purely a cash grab and wanted to let them know we see that. Just because it doesn't apply to us this time the next one likely will.

Disney has sold itself for decades as a company that is about more than just a bottom line. I have no issue if their new business model is bottom-line driven, but they better expect customer perception to change as well. I don't think one person can say a trip to WDW is a good financial decision, but we do it because of the "magic". That involves customer service, amenities, entertainment, and yes the fact we believe the company really cares about our experiences through making sure things go as well as possible (and making amends when they don't). I think brand loyalty has been very profitable for Disney, but maybe they don't see it that way. I'm sure they have people much smarter than me assessing that on a regular basis.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not sure if this has been mentioned (don't feel like reading through 33 pages) but the lower the level of resort you're staying at, the greater the premium you're being charged. A standard weeknight room during Regular season, including tax, at All Star Music is $138, so with a parking fee of $13/night that's just about 10% of the room rate. The same room at POR is $260, so the $19/night parking is less than 8%. At WL that room is $442, making the $24 parking fee about 5.5%. And at GF, the cheapest room in Regular season is $706, so those guests are paying less than a 3.5% premium (to say nothing of those staying at the highest-level rooms). Ridiculous.

the tiered pricing has been brought up - but from a different angle of those saying it is unfair that people in Deluxe have to pay more than those in values ... so you definitely have a different take!

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Well this sucks, other than money I wish there was a specific reason why

 

[disneygirlsng]

So I was pretty sure by the wording of it and from others that if you had already booked a reservation that this wouldn't apply regardless of when your trip is. I have a friend that was told by a TA that it will be in place starting the 21st no matter when you booked. Do we have confirmation one way or the other?

 

[tlmadden73]

I understand the need to raise prices, just seems an odd way to do it.
All of a sudden charging for something that was free is a pretty in your face price increase and causes people (like us) to get up in arms.
If they would have just quietly raised the prices of all hotel rooms by $10/night .. no one probably would have noticed.

I just don't understand the "nickel and diming" companies do with fees. Unless you fly into Orlando, there is no other choice but to pay for parking. So why frustrate customers by tacking on a fee many think is already too expensive? (Same can be said for resort fees)... having a parking lot is part of the cost of doing business. Why charge extra for it all of a sudden? WITHOUT the parking lot, you'd have a lot fewer people staying at the hotel.

Paying for parking is like charging $3.99 for a Big Mac and $1 for the box. Sure, those dining in could opt out of paying for the box, but the drive-thru customers have no choice but to get that box. So why not just charge more for the sandwich and keep putting it in a box?

 

[mshanson3121]

So for those who have received replies, do you have stock, own DVC, or typically stay at deluxe etc? I've not heard anything.

 

[tlmadden73]

So I was pretty sure by the wording of it and from others that if you had already booked a reservation that this wouldn't apply regardless of when your trip is. I have a friend that was told by a TA that it will be in place starting the 21st no matter when you booked. Do we have confirmation one way or the other?

I doubt they would just throw this extra charge at customers who already have trips planned. They aren't that cold-hearted.

My guess is when you make your reservation via a travel agent or online there will be a check box (after March 21) that asks if you will be driving .. and it just tacks on the appropriate fee to your total bill right then and there.

 

[ChipnDale79]

So for those who have received replies, do you have stock, own DVC, or typically stay at deluxe etc? I've not heard anything.

Neither have i

 

[kcbonnies]

Why I think it stinks, I think there is more at play here than just standard nickle and dimeing. I think we have to take a look at why Disney offers both DME and resort transportation. It is not provide guests a perk. It is to keep you on property and limit your ability to leave the resort and spend your money elsewhere. It used to be to force you to both dine and shop on property, but with the growth of Universal, Disney has to be looking to combat people leaving WDW to head over to Universal either for a day or split their stay. By charging for parking, it continues to make this a more expensive proposition. I really think that they are looking at forcing people who stay on property to stay on property their entire vacation. The flexibility of renting a car becomes more expensive and less attractive and therefore the temptation to split your stay becomes less. Those of us who drive to WDW, I think, are collateral damage in the bigger Universal-WDW war.

 

[disneygirlsng]

I doubt they would just throw this extra charge at customers who already have trips planned. They aren't that cold-hearted.

My guess is when you make your reservation via a travel agent or online there will be a check box (after March 21) that asks if you will be driving .. and it just tacks on the appropriate fee to your total bill right then and there.

That's what I'm thinking, I just found it odd that she was told that.

 

[plumsiren]

the tiered pricing has been brought up - but from a different angle of those saying it is unfair that people in Deluxe have to pay more than those in values ... so you definitely have a different take!

My first thought was for the people who can't afford anything higher than a Value. This has the most significant impact on them, and could reasonably be the difference when it comes to being able to stay on-site.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Why I think it stinks, I think there is more at play here than just standard nickle and dimeing. I think we have to take a look at why Disney offers both DME and resort transportation. It is not provide guests a perk. It is to keep you on property and limit your ability to leave the resort and spend your money elsewhere. It used to be to force you to both dine and shop on property, but with the growth of Universal, Disney has to be looking to combat people leaving WDW to head over to Universal either for a day or split their stay. By charging for parking, it continues to make this a more expensive proposition. I really think that they are looking at forcing people who stay on property to stay on property their entire vacation. The flexibility of renting a car becomes more expensive and less attractive and therefore the temptation to split your stay becomes less. Those of us who drive to WDW, I think, are collateral damage in the bigger Universal-WDW war.

For those of us that drive, its feels like its doing the exact opposite of that, forcing us off property.

 

[Rich M]

Well this sucks, other than money I wish there was a specific reason why

Honestly is there any reason that anybody would really accept and be ok with all of this?

 

[ITALIANNYC]

My first thought was for the people who can't afford anything higher than a Value. This has the most significant impact on them, and could reasonably be the difference when it comes to being able to stay on-site.

Some people who can afford deluxe stay value anyway because of the theming aspects