Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[jrsharp21]

Industry standards is not true, I made reservations at Dollywood at the dream more resort (we are now going there instead) and there is no parking fee and checked a few other places. The breaker hotel at the entrance to cedar point doesn’t have one and lots of others the list goes on and on. I also don’t like the “industry standards” everybody else is doing it answer sounds like a seven year olds excuse. Well little Poly if everybody else is giving away free breakfast are you going to do it too?

You won't regret Dollywood and Pigeon Forge, TN. It is an absolute blast. In fact, we are also considering foregoing Disney World after this year and possibly heading back to Pigeon Forge.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Maybe they're starting to charge for parking, so that they can eventually put market/spin that a "parking lot view" room is looking out over the prime & expensive parking lot asphalt real estate, and therefore, it is far more better than a measly "water view." Therefore, causing an increase in the newly created and popular "parking lot view" rooms. ??? Sorry I couldn't resist. It's such a dumb move that it's either get angry, make stupid jokes about the dumbness, or both. Yesterday was angry for me. Today, stupid jokes.

 

[ScubaCat]

Or people will start staying off property since many other resorts & hotels offer transportation to the parks as well.

Yeah, until you stay at a place with 4 pickup times to the parks and 4 return times, and you get picked up in a retired school bus spray painted white and it takes 2 hours to get to the TTC parking lot and still have to take the monorail/ferry, and ultimately end up taking a taxi or uber back... then suddenly Disney transportation seems incredible!

 

[bobbiwoz]

As frustrated as I am about all of this as everyone else, I really don't know that I think that any amount of calling or emailing is going to make a difference at all. Disney is going to listen to about 3 weeks worth of ongoing complaints. Then it will settle down. If people aren't canceling their vacations (and I doubt that most will cancel) then Disney is willing to listen to a few weeks worth of complaints, knowing that in the end, they're still getting all of the parking money. Money talks, and Disney doesn't care if 100 people who were going to stay at AllStars cancel their vacation because $14 Is going to tip them over their budget, when there are 1000 people staying at GF who are keeping their reservations.

Of course I always feel that if it's important, it should be said, and Disney should hear it. But do I think they are going to change their minds based on a bunch of negative feedback? No, not at all.

You may be right, but I hope you are not.

 

[gratefulfred]

Enjoy! We have been AP holders at Dollywood for about 15 years. Our next stay at DreamMore is in April!

I’m excited and so is my family we hear it’s really nice

 

[nkereina]

A lot of people do online check-in. Will there be a question during online check-in that asks if you’re bringing a car?

Another good question. If there is and someone answers yes, will they be forced to provide a CC so parking charges can be applied? Or will they be forced to stop at the front desk to pay the parking charges in cash (if they don't want to leave a card), which kind of negates the benefit of online check-in....

 

[ShadeDK]

This whole "industry standards" thing has really grown on me in the last 48 hours - enough to change my avatar by-line. I feel like I could be using this more in my everyday life as an answer to any question that I can't actually answer, but I still need to provide some vague, completely subjective, and noncommittal defense of my inexcusable actions.

I will say this - Disney may inadvertently achieve an unintended effect with this. If Disney wants to look to its competition, perhaps its guests will, too.

I'm also impressed with the near-universal reaction against these fees. I rarely drive (being just far enough that it's possible but usually not worthwhile) or have a rental car, but it seems like even those of us "unaffected" by this are strongly against it. And not least of all because we understand that things like this make it easier to introduce those future fees that do affect us.

 

[FSU Girl]

As frustrated as I am about all of this as everyone else, I really don't know that I think that any amount of calling or emailing is going to make a difference at all. Disney is going to listen to about 3 weeks worth of ongoing complaints. Then it will settle down. If people aren't canceling their vacations (and I doubt that most will cancel) then Disney is willing to listen to a few weeks worth of complaints, knowing that in the end, they're still getting all of the parking money. Money talks, and Disney doesn't care if 100 people who were going to stay at AllStars cancel their vacation because $14 Is going to tip them over their budget, when there are 1000 people staying at GF who are keeping their reservations.

Of course I always feel that if it's important, it should be said, and Disney should hear it. But do I think they are going to change their minds based on a bunch of negative feedback? No, not at all.

They might not care when the lower rate bookings get cancelled, but this is making me not want to stay on property again and I only stayed at the deluxe so they'll be losing out on thousands from me. I don't think they'll care, someone else will probably book in my place. The thing that bothers me the most is they keep taking away perks, but they haven't added anything. I can stay at much nicer hotels off property for less, even with the parking fee. Universal deluxe hotels get you unlimited express pass, if Disney had something like that it would be something, but I doubt they ever will.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Yeah, until you stay at a place with 4 pickup times to the parks and 4 return times, and you get picked up in a retired school bus spray painted white and it takes 2 hours to get to the TTC parking lot and still have to take the monorail/ferry, and ultimately end up taking a taxi or uber back... then suddenly Disney transportation seems incredible!

Although, if people are staying offsite to avoid Disney’s parking fee, it probably means they have a car with them. I don’t think people who fly in are going to be looking offsite because of this change.

 

[greg9x]

Have you had the "free breakfast" at hotels? You can keep it.

Yes... same or better usually than what you get at a value resort for $10-$15, and it's all you can eat.
If your comparing to a sit down breakfast in a deluxe, then yes, there is a difference.

 

[Stitch_Is_King]

Will writing and calling and complaining, some people cancelling their trips cause Disney to rethink and possibly even change this policy, probably not.

One thing is for sure and that is doing nothing will assure that nothing will change.

FWIW I just priced out changing our trip this year from Disney to New Orleans, a place my wife and I have always wanted to go and OMG the savings was shocking. I have a feeling when the wife gets home and I show her we are going to be cancelling and going to the Big Easy instead.

 

[megs1313]

The thing that's really irking me today is the fact that the fee is different from resort to resort. There's nothing inherently nicer about the AKL parking lot vs the POR parking lot. It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[nkereina]

Although, if people are staying offsite to avoid Disney’s parking fee, it probably means they have a car with them.

Possibly, but in that case, wouldn't they have to pay the parks' parking fees anyway? So for someone who opts to stay off-site solely to avoid Disney's parking fee and will still visit the parks each day, I'd have to wonder what the actual savings is in terms of parking fees... not much I bet. I realize a lot of off-site properties provide a greater savings than just parking, but you are trading convenience and the Disney bubble for a cost savings, be it significant or not. It just depends on what's important to everyone.

 

[supernova]

Yes... same or better usually than what you get at a value resort for $10-$15, and it's all you can eat.
If your comparing to a sit down breakfast in a deluxe, then yes, there is a difference.

I've been at the standard hotel continental "buffet" breakfast, with cold shelled eggs, awful powered scrambled eggs, and breakfast meat that may or may not have been actual meat. Then I've stayed at better hotels, where their complementary breakfast was in the form of a voucher at their full breakfast buffet or their sit-down restaurant serving breakfast. The overpriced crap that Disney attempts to pass off as "breakfast" at Be Our Guest? $25 flat for small awful portions. Can't go wrong with Crystal Palace, although it's quickly approaching the $40 mark for breakfast. It's all a mixed bag.

 

[blondietink]

We have stayed at plenty of resorts around the country, Mexico and Europe. I have never paid a parking fee at any of the resorts. Inner city hotel, yes, where there is limited space. Those hotels ...... Westin, Hilton, Hyatt, etc have a much better product than WDW hotels. Some even have breakfast included. What they are saying about industry standard is false. I'd like to know what's in the Kool-aid they're drinking.

 

[gratefulfred]

Possibly, but in that case, wouldn't they have to pay the parks' parking fees anyway? So for someone who opts to stay off-site solely to avoid Disney's parking fee and will still visit the parks each day, I'd have to wonder what the actual savings is in terms of parking fees... not much I bet. I realize a lot of off-site properties provide a greater savings than just parking, but you are trading convenience and the Disney bubble for a cost savings, be it significant or not. It just depends on what's important to everyone.

They will just park for free at the resorts

 

[Piglet]

I'm wondering why they didn't just charge everyone to park at the parks and give a discount to those that stay on property

 

[over50visits]

Industry standards? If they really meant that (they don’tJ there would be free breakfast, evening snacks, reward programs with free nights, and free parking. Disney tries to position themselves as better than the rest, unless it suits their financial goal to justify increased costs with an argument they believe we will accept.

They raised their food prices to be unreasonably high, then pretend like we “save” money with the DDP. I fully expect to be told how much money I’m saving when the offer a package with “free” parking. Some customers are fooled, but old timers will not be.

Welcome to Disney World! Please open your wallet, let us squeeze it empty, and have a magical day! Then start saving every penny you can for your next vacation. Your kids deserve it.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Will writing and calling and complaining, some people cancelling their trips cause Disney to rethink and possibly even change this policy, probably not.

One thing is for sure and that is doing nothing will assure that nothing will change.

FWIW I just priced out changing our trip this year from Disney to New Orleans, a place my wife and I have always wanted to go and OMG the savings was shocking. I have a feeling when the wife gets home and I show her we are going to be cancelling and going to the Big Easy instead.

It may not change policy but giving feedback never hurts.
Careful what you wish for. I lived on the Northshore for years and going to NOLA is not as fun as you think. Just stick to the main roads and stay off the streets at night. If you like seafood ask for less seasoning or you will have no idea what you are eating. Hope you like chicory in your coffee.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Possibly, but in that case, wouldn't they have to pay the parks' parking fees anyway? So for someone who opts to stay off-site solely to avoid Disney's parking fee and will still visit the parks each day, I'd have to wonder what the actual savings is in terms of parking fees... not much I bet. I realize a lot of off-site properties provide a greater savings than just parking, but you are trading convenience and the Disney bubble for a cost savings, be it significant or not. It just depends on what's important to everyone.

The savings can be quite significant, depending on where you’re moving from on property to where you’re moving off property. I’m paying $431 per night to stay at the Poly in October (with no parking fee since I’m already booked). I did a little perusing yesterday out of curiosity and found several offsite choices that, even factoring in parking at the parks, were significantly cheaper (between $100-200 per night in most cases). If I were moving from, say ASM, then no, I probably wouldn’t save anything. I see very little convenience to being in the Disney bubble - there are several off-site hotels just as close to the parks as the on-site hotels.