Overnight Self-Parking at Disney Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World® Resort

[PleasejointheFarque]

Im annoyed regarding the parking issues already at BLT, so many had breaky at mickeys then park there all day, now add all the day guests parking for free and its going to be even worse to find a park in the same zip code as our room.....sigh, they really didnt think this one thru did they?

 

[n2mm]

No. If you are staying at a resort you get the free parking at the parks.

This whole idea is completely backwards.. They charge the resort guests a premium fee to park at the resort, yet the people who park at the resorts as "Day Visitors" get to park for free and enjoy all the benefits of that resort.. Going to be some slap in the face when you are paying $20+ to park at your resort and upon park closing you see all the Day Visitors going back to their cars that parked for free... It amazes me when I stay at resort that is near the park just how many people are seen exiting the lobby during park closing... here i am paying $300+ a night and these people used my facility for nothing....

the way this should go is simple... Charge non resort guests a fee for "visiting" upon arrival and provide them a time stamped receipt.. If they are truly visiting for dining or shopping, they can bring a dining or shopping receipt from that resort within 3 hours of their arrival and be refunded at the valet or front desk... if the receipt is over 3 hours old or they "lost it", then no refund.. and the fee should be the preferred parking rate they charge at the parks..

You should paste this in an email to wdw

 

[mousestruck]

Does anyone know if AP holders are exempt? We are DVC members but will be staying at a non-DVC resort in May, so I’m guessing we have to pay for parking in that case.

 

[n2mm]

Does anyone know if AP holders are exempt? We are DVC members but will be staying at a non-DVC resort in May, so I’m guessing we have to pay for parking in that case.

Ap holders are not exempt. If you are using your points you’re ok. But the change is only for reservations made after March 21, so shouldn’t affect you unless I’m reading it wrong.

 

[ziravan]

You should paste this in an email to wdw

Disney could have just raised the cost of a room if this was just about more money. Nobody would have noticed.

They WANT you to notice. They want you to factor it into your vacation. They want you to decide that renting a car at MCO, when combined with parking fees, just isn’t worth it:

We’ll take the bus instead:

“Sorry honey, but we’ll do Universal some other trip.”

 

[zavandor]

Disney could have just raised the cost of a room if this was just about more money. Nobody would have noticed.

They WANT you to notice. They want you to factor it into your vacation. They want you to decide that renting a car at MCO, when combined with parking fees, just isn’t worth it:

We’ll take the bus instead:

“Sorry honey, but we’ll do Universal some other trip.”

A Uber or Lyft to Universal is already less than a rental car + UO parking costs. With the new parking fees announcement, at Uber HQ they've probably opened a bottle of champagne

 

[goofy4tink]

A Uber or Lyft to Universal is already less than a rental car + UO parking costs. With the new parking fees announcement, at Uber HQ they've probably opened a bottle of champagne

Absolutely. When we are at Disney, and want to add some US time, we just uber over to HRH, and walk in from there. It's about $7 pp each way if we split the cost between the two of us.

 

[jodybird511]

I'm not surprised that the formal notification doesn't address people who are staying on rented points--they don't even like to talk about this phenomenon happening, so.... I will say, though, they do specifically mention that the change will make things like they are at Aulani, and when people stay on rented points for Aulani, they are treated just like a Member--they get the sparkly wristbands, and they get the free parking.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think since the points used to book have paid parking fees, rented reservations will come with the free overnight parking. MO

 

[crisi]

No. If you are staying at a resort you get the free parking at the parks.

This whole idea is completely backwards.. They charge the resort guests a premium fee to park at the resort, yet the people who park at the resorts as "Day Visitors" get to park for free and enjoy all the benefits of that resort.. Going to be some slap in the face when you are paying $20+ to park at your resort and upon park closing you see all the Day Visitors going back to their cars that parked for free... It amazes me when I stay at resort that is near the park just how many people are seen exiting the lobby during park closing... here i am paying $300+ a night and these people used my facility for nothing....

the way this should go is simple... Charge non resort guests a fee for "visiting" upon arrival and provide them a time stamped receipt.. If they are truly visiting for dining or shopping, they can bring a dining or shopping receipt from that resort within 3 hours of their arrival and be refunded at the valet or front desk... if the receipt is over 3 hours old or they "lost it", then no refund.. and the fee should be the preferred parking rate they charge at the parks..

Note that the day guest policy uses the word "select" - There is a lot of wiggle room in the word select. My guess is that "select" means ADR at signature dining location or spa reservation - and perhaps any dining reservation. It will likely not include checking out the pool, or grabbing an ice cream, or checking out the resort gift store - even if you spend $6 on Mickey pencils.

 

[iheartglaciers]

I think since the points used to book have paid parking fees, rented reservations will come with the free overnight parking. MO

That's how I feel... those points used for the reservation factor in MFs, which cover parking. But we don't know until they confirm.

 

[Ben E N]

That's how I feel... those points used for the reservation factor in MFs, which cover parking. But we don't know until they confirm.

I am completely not sure about this, but I doubt they can legally charge them. If they could have charged DVC owners, I am sure they would have. We are a captive audience, so why not make a few extra bucks?
They don't charge us because we are already paying for parking. If they charge renters, then they are taking our money anyway and not using it for its intended purposes. It would be like charging renters to use the pool or washers, which are paid for with our money.

 

[crisi]

Disney could have just raised the cost of a room if this was just about more money. Nobody would have noticed.

They WANT you to notice. They want you to factor it into your vacation. They want you to decide that renting a car at MCO, when combined with parking fees, just isn’t worth it:

We’ll take the bus instead:

“Sorry honey, but we’ll do Universal some other trip.”

Yep, they want people to not have cars - for a few reasons.

More cars means more accidents. Since Disney has a lot of buses on those roads, more private cars increases the chances that their buses will be in an accident - increasing their legal liability.

More cars means more drunk drivers. The headline "family of four killed by drunk driver while on vacation at Disney" probably keeps PR people awake at night.

More cars means more security holes. While anyone intending nefarious purposes isn't going to be stopped by a parking fee, fewer cars means fewer guns in gloveboxes on site for an opportunistic rage shooting.

Cars give you a way offsite. Disney would like you not to go to Universal or eat offsite. They'd rather have you do your souvenir shopping onsite than at the outlet mall.

Universal has been charging for parking at their hotels since opening. It hasn't stopped people from going to Universal. Its a good bet that there will be some outrage, perhaps a short term attendance blip, and then things back to normal.

At some resorts, parking is at capacity. They either need to reduce usage or add capacity. Adding capacity is an expense, and parking lots aren't attractive. Reducing usage make far more sense.

And as an added benefit to Disney's bottom line "parking is included in your DVC membership" will now be part of the sales pitch.

 

[paults]

AND when we get use to this parking fee and start just using DME DISNEY will start charging $5 a person for this DME service. This day will come too.

 

[ziravan]

Yep, they want people to not have cars - for a few reasons.

More cars means more accidents. Since Disney has a lot of buses on those roads, more private cars increases the chances that their buses will be in an accident - increasing their legal liability.

More cars means more drunk drivers. The headline "family of four killed by drunk driver while on vacation at Disney" probably keeps PR people awake at night.

More cars means more security holes. While anyone intending nefarious purposes isn't going to be stopped by a parking fee, fewer cars means fewer guns in gloveboxes on site for an opportunistic rage shooting.

Cars give you a way offsite. Disney would like you not to go to Universal or eat offsite. They'd rather have you do your souvenir shopping onsite than at the outlet mall.

Universal has been charging for parking at their hotels since opening. It hasn't stopped people from going to Universal. Its a good bet that there will be some outrage, perhaps a short term attendance blip, and then things back to normal.

At some resorts, parking is at capacity. They either need to reduce usage or add capacity. Adding capacity is an expense, and parking lots aren't attractive. Reducing usage make far more sense.

And as an added benefit to Disney's bottom line "parking is included in your DVC membership" will now be part of the sales pitch.

I agree with all of this, but none of it works without forcing people to reconsider renting a car (or flying instead of driving).

This is why they don’t care about the PR hit to the new policy. They WANT you to know about it. They want it to hurt enough to change behavior.

Obviously, they want to change the behavior of bringing cars to WDW, not the behavior of staying on-site. They want to push the envelope without going past it.

But outrage is a calculated part of the outcome that they’re seeking to create. Breaking eggs and omelettes and all that.

 

[crisi]

I agree with all of this, but none of it works without forcing people to reconsider renting a car (or flying instead of driving).

This is why they don’t care about the PR hit to the new policy. They WANT you to know about it. They want it to hurt enough to change behavior.

Obviously, they want to change the behavior of bringing cars to WDW, not the behavior of staying on-site. They want to push the envelope without going past it.

But outrage is a calculated part of the outcome that they’re seeking to create. Breaking eggs and omelettes and all that.

Exactly. And this won't change things too much for the majority of their guests. Guests who currently take Magical Express are unaffected. DVC members are unaffected. Offsite guests are functionally unaffected (unless they resort hop or something). People who start planning a once in a lifetime (or first) trip six months from now won't know the difference - they'll just calculate parking fees into their budget - and perhaps that will tip the scales over to fly and use ME. They will break proportionally very few eggs.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

Hotels everywhere charge a "resort fee" and/or a "parking fee." I don't understand the outrage. It's not like a lot of other resorts where if you don't have a car, you are stuck at the hotel all day. Disney provides transportation to and from the airport and between the parks.

 

[SL6827]

I feel as though at some point Disney will try to figure out a way to charge parking for renters. Not now, but at some point in the future. Just my gut feeling.

 

[Ben E N]

I feel as though at some point Disney will try to figure out a way to charge parking for renters. Not now, but at some point in the future. Just my gut feeling.

They would also have to charge members, which I see happening. An extra 25 cents per point off of MFs, but you make up for it by paying for parking when you get there. It could actually end up working to our advantage in the long run.

 

[SL6827]

They would also have to charge members, which I see happening. An extra 25 cents per point off of MFs, but you make up for it by paying for parking when you get there. It could actually end up working to our advantage in the long run.

I hope not, but you may be right. I just don't see Disney doing anything that would work to anyone's advantage unless it is their own.