Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[maxiesmom]

This is a not so welcome reminder that a Disney trip has always been a luxury, not a necessity. My family couldn't afford a trip to WDW at all when I was younger. I didn't go for the first time until I was in my late 20s and could pay for it myself.

As with every other price increase it means for most of us some adjustments or cuts. Either the value is there for you at a Disney resort, or it is not.

 

[dachsie]

I haven’t sent an email yet because, in the midst of this craziness, I’m also in the middle of trying to plan a July trip and reeling from the need to rethink where to stay!

I truly cannot afford to add $19/night to our summer trip as it stands. I’ve gone back and forth the past few days, looking at offsite options, trying to figure out how to get the things we want from a vacation for less... and wound up staying with a WDW resort. The offsite alternatives that meet our requirements aren’t much, if any, savings over CBR, so, though it pains me to admit it, WDW isn’t super far off the mark with this aggravating extra fee. If I’m able to get a discounted rate and keep my grandfathered free parking, I’ll stick with the current vacation plan. If a discounted rate plus parking fee is still better than no discount but a parking fee, I think I can eliminate some in-park meals and still come out about even. If no discounts come, we’ll have to lop a night off our trip to make up the difference. Any way I slice it, WDW isn’t getting more money from me than I already budgeted, because I don’t have more to spend.

This will maybe be our last onsite stay, though. It will really depend on what they do with future discounts - if they start offering a low % off, but free parking, that could still be a deal for my family. If not, hopefully the offsite properties will jump on the opportunity and offer some deals of their own.

If you have your trip booked or do so by the 21st, you won't pay parking this trip

 

[Momof2Singers]

I haven’t sent an email yet because, in the midst of this craziness, I’m also in the middle of trying to plan a July trip and reeling from the need to rethink where to stay!

I truly cannot afford to add $19/night to our summer trip as it stands. I’ve gone back and forth the past few days, looking at offsite options, trying to figure out how to get the things we want from a vacation for less... and wound up staying with a WDW resort. The offsite alternatives that meet our requirements aren’t much, if any, savings over CBR, so, though it pains me to admit it, WDW isn’t super far off the mark with this aggravating extra fee. If I’m able to get a discounted rate and keep my grandfathered free parking, I’ll stick with the current vacation plan. If a discounted rate plus parking fee is still better than no discount but a parking fee, I think I can eliminate some in-park meals and still come out about even. If no discounts come, we’ll have to lop a night off our trip to make up the difference. Any way I slice it, WDW isn’t getting more money from me than I already budgeted, because I don’t have more to spend.

I don't think some people understand that it is a big difference to many of us. This will maybe be our last onsite stay, though. It will really depend on what they do with future discounts - if they start offering a low % off, but free parking, that could still be a deal for my family. If not, hopefully the offsite properties will jump on the opportunity and offer some deals of their own.

Us too, we have a trip planned in December, but I found many more off site deals a month ago. We normally do not plan that far ahead, but the next we may go ahead and book off site. In February I was offered 60 day FP, EMH, and 30% off room rate with free internet, the parking was also free at one resort. I think we may just have to plan ahead more. Plus I don't have little kids now, so off site is not a big deal, and alot of these hotels are walking distance to Disney Springs which is a big plus. Even paying to park a few days in the parks I still came out $600 less than staying on site with those deals. Enjoy your trip, PrincessV hope you have a magical time.

PS Send the EMAIL, only takes a minute

 

[PrincessV]

If you have your trip booked or do so by the 21st, you won't pay parking this trip

Yes, but if it’s free parking at rack rate prices, it’s still too much, hence needing to drop a night. IF a discount is available and I can keep free parking, great! I just don’t yet know if that will happen, so I’m planning for all scenarios. Just have to wait and see...

 

[Tksolomom]

when you drive into any of the resorts, your magic band is scanned...that's how they know if you're a resort guest or day guest..
and that's how they'll know that your car is registered if you're a night guest (and you're paying the daily parking fee)

If you are international, you won’t have magic bands yet. If you aren’t a guest, you might not have magic bands either.

 

[rdaky]

Yes, but if it’s free parking at rack rate prices, it’s still too much, hence needing to drop a night. IF a discount is available and I can keep free parking, great! I just don’t yet know if that will happen, so I’m planning for all scenarios. Just have to wait and see...

As I understand it, you can apply a discount and still keep your free parking. I am still holding out for a summer discount, even though my vacation has already been booked. I have already changed my resort and applied a different discount for other reasons, and every time I do, my original vacation booking date has remained the same.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes, but if it’s free parking at rack rate prices, it’s still too much, hence needing to drop a night. IF a discount is available and I can keep free parking, great! I just don’t yet know if that will happen, so I’m planning for all scenarios. Just have to wait and see...

It's a catch-22.

If everyone books now at rack rate to avoid the parking fee with hopes of applying a discount later, a discount may not come out because rooms are full, and there is no need to offer a discount.

FWIW, reports are that if you've made your reservation before the 21st and you want to modify your reservation at a later date, you won't have to pay for parking.

 

[Fldisneyfamily4321]

Is your rant over? Did I mention in my post Disney is not overpriced? I just call bull crap on going to Europe for $4,000 for a family from the US for 10 days. If your going solo I can see it, but that can easily be done at Disney too.

Again ... I never said a FAMILY can but yes absolutely a family can go for far less then 10 days in Disney .. even with airfare .. I’m amazed that a stranger online can feel they know more fact about something you have personally experienced then you do .. but I can see your one that always knows better so enjoy your vacations lol
Actually before you reply to my “ rant “ you should probably re read my actual post ...

 

[PrincessV]

As I understand it, you can apply a discount and still keep your free parking. I am still holding out for a summer discount, even though my vacation has already been booked. I have already changed my resort and applied a different discount for other reasons, and every time I do, my original vacation booking date has remained the same.

Out of curiosity, did you make that change online or by phone? Any time I change from room-only rack rate to room-only discount online, I get a new confirmation number - I’m not at all sure my reservation date stays the same, since I get a new confirmation email with the new number.

 

[sbd78]

'guest.services@disneyworld.com'; 'George.kalogridis@disney.com'; 'robert.a.iger@disney.com'. Agreed, thanks to the poster who posted these previously. That is where i obtained them as well. I did mention in my email and conversation that this was increase was on top of so many other impactful decisions this year (increase in resort rates, increase in park tickets) and degradation of services (bus route changes, amenities). One of the things really egregious is that the parking fee varies depending on the resort classification. He said that it was due to the fact that deluxe resorts have less parking overall. Not a good answer IMO.

LOL, if that's his excuse, then why do moderates have higher rates than values? Moderates certainly don't have "less" parking than values. What a crock.

 

[maxiesmom]

LOL, if that's his excuse, then why do moderates have higher rates than values? Moderates certainly don't have "less" parking than values. What a crock.

Your post makes me very curious as to how many parking spots each resort has. And what percentage are typically in use.

 

[Carl4628]

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Lol I really don’t care what you believe .. but yep absolutely true , flew thomas cook airline out of Orlando to Manchester round trip for 420.00 plus got my hotels on booking.com .. mostly raddisons and a Hilton I believe .. plus arrival night and night before departure at the hotel in Manchester airport business class .. did you know there are TONS of free things to do in and around Manchester ? Including all types of museums.. trains cost about 4.00 pp to get to outside areas and then you mostly walk .. most of what I spent was shopping , food is shockingly inexpensive there ...

But yes it CAN be done .. the only price difference as you go along is mostly airfare which you can find cheap and plan early ( like I did with Disney also ) some people on here are paying 10-15,000 for one family trip to Disney when they can go overseas for half that even as a family .. your fooling yourself if you think Disney is not overpriced compared to many other vacation spots . I enjoy Disney but I’m not fooled into thinking it’s not overpriced .FYI even alone half of that cost was me shopping ( I had to buy and pay for a extra suitcase for return ) so yes more then one person could easily afford it and still come in under that many days at Disney .

I agree. Disney 5 years ago was worth it, but not now. It is overpriced by about 50%. You can definitely go to Europe for $4K with a family of 4.

 

[rdaky]

Out of curiosity, did you make that change online or by phone? Any time I change from room-only rack rate to room-only discount online, I get a new confirmation number - I’m not at all sure my reservation date stays the same, since I get a new confirmation email with the new number.

Online. my confirmation number is the same. Even when I switched resorts- I've switched resorts 3 times, and applied a discount to one of them, and every time my confirmation number has remained the same since I originally booked it back in December. And the website shows that December date, too.

 

[Jennasis]

For every one person who stops going, there are 10 who will gladly pay the fees. Crowd sizes go down...profits for stock holders stay up. Seems like a win win to me.

Which is it? Crowds will go down or every person who stops going Wil have 10 willing to step in?

(Spoiler alert...crowds aren't going down)

 

[OKW Lover]

They just did raise them a few weeks ago.

Not directed at @dachsie specifically but several people have made this point. OK. But why would that stop them from doing it again?

 

[KaptKaveman]

Sorry...but maybe it is time for you to change to a cheaper option like Dollywood. Not everyone can afford a BMW.....it now seems that not everyone can afford Disney. Not belittling you...it is just economics

Hmmmm .... okay. Afford doesn't come into the picture for us. I think many of us are used to paying 3000 - 5000$ per trip all total so the extra 24$ x # of days is not a deal breaker. However those of us who do the planning(yes I do the planning for our house and love doing it) for the trip have seen a sharp incline in prices over the last 5 - 10 years(mainly the last 5 or so). That would be great if there where added value but overall there is not, in fact I would say there has been a bit of a decline. As I have been planning the last 10 years I have seen increases in the prices to stay at resorts of all level, the price increase of park admission, the price increase of APs, the price increase of TIW membership. Don't even get me started on the preferred parking garbage that sprung up the last few year. Nothing like showing up at AK super early and parking at one of the farthest spots from the entrance(honestly I think there are some parking spots at AKL that were closer then we got to park last time.

So yes we can afford it but as we plan and we see our dollars getting less and less return, we start to think about alternatives. For some that is trying Swan and Dolphins, for others that might be staying offsite completely(maybe even giving Universal a try), and for others that might mean going to a completely different destination. I guarantee there are some who will choose the later 2 choices and that will achieve the opposite of what Disney intended.

In the end(and I am just speaking for our family), we go to Disney because on our vacations to the World we seemed to come closer together. We all treat each other better and we are willing to go on rides and attractions that we might not normally go on by ourselves but since our Wife or Son want to go on it we are game(does this make sense?). We also go for the Nostalgia, I can remember our first time staying onsite we were on the Nemo ride 7 year old son next to me, 4 year old in my lap listening to the characters sing "its a big blue world". Every trip since then that part of the ride takes me back and for a brief moment my sons are 4 and 7 again(I also like to pretend I am not 42).

With every one of these little cash grabs Disney is losing a little peice of that. Who is to say that if we try Universal, or take that trip to the beach that we might not find the same happiness and Nostalgia? Would we then feel the need to come back and pay 24$ a night for the privilege of parking at a Disney Resort?

 

[Klismania]

This new information actually broke my Disney addiction. It made me see WDW for what it was (a corporation) instead of what I was seeing it as (a magical, wondrous place full of fun, fantasy, and excitement). My DH is delighted.

We figured out how much we were going to pay (overall) in the next five years of going to Disney and decided on putting in a new three-seasons room at the back of the house.

Thank you, WDW!

 

[KaptKaveman]

Also one other thing. Tier parking prices depending on the resort you are staying at? Really? Is my space at a deluxe going to be bigger? Will it have a balcony..... theme park view? If it rains when the car is parked at the resort do I have to pay a car wash fee?

 

[Fldisneyfamily4321]

This new information actually broke my Disney addiction. It made me see WDW for what it was (a corporation) instead of what I was seeing it as (a magical, wondrous place full of fun, fantasy, and excitement). My DH is delighted.

We figured out how much we were going to pay (overall) in the next five years of going to Disney and decided on putting in a new three-seasons room at the back of the house.

Thank you, WDW!

THIS!!
We are not renewing is may and putting AP money towards one overseas and one cruise a year .. over it completely..

 

[NJOGRE]

Good for Disney. It's about time everyone starts to pay for parking. If you don't want to pay Disney rates, Park offsite, I am sure it is cheaper. Drop your luggage, food and other items off at the hotel. Use all the free transportation available to you bus, monorail, boat. I bet 90% of all the people on this board have been to Disney a gillion times. Relax, enjoy your vacation the extra minutes to get where you are going is not going to kill you. Plus with less cars on the road, the bus transportation will become more efficient, thus your wait times will decrease. FLAMEON