Disney Resorts to start charging parking fees....

[BrianR]

I have the same question. I often do day trips to WDW and sometimes pop into a resort for a meal... no MB needed to enter, only show ID at the guard shack. Unless WDW is able to access a nationwide database of every state's vehicle registrations, I don't see any way reading my license plate is going to do anything. I'd think they'll have to have some means of issuing time-stamped parking permits and taking payments at the guard shack for those who exceed the time limit.

DMV lookup is pretty common, and relatively inexpensive for a subscription. My employer uses it for an agency system for insurance rating / quoting. Easy to correlate owners, and if it's a rental it would work like those photo toll deals on highways and eventually get back to you.

Speaking of I'm hoping that camera system would prove those that are doing "own vehicle drop off" at the resort for their guests since they would most certainly scan in / out. If it doesn't scan in again on the next day or overnight then you can basically log that it's not there for length of stay, just a drop off. That would presume that the offshored Doofenschmirtz IT department could set it up that way.

We are planning on going the week after Thanksgiving and driving down for a change (Cousin and fiancee getting married, both CMs, can't afford anything event wise near Disney so they're getting married an hour north) and if we do we would be taking our electric car. Even if they have to run 15 extension cords to my car I'm going to zap my money's worth out of that charge.

 

[ZuuL]

Being a DVC member, this doesn’t effect me or my family but I can see how it hurts people that are not. If anything they should have charged day guests as well and not charge AP holders.

But I’m not surprised this happened. Im surprised it took them this long though...

 

[PrincessV]

DMV lookup is pretty common, and relatively inexpensive for a subscription. My employer uses it for an agency system for insurance rating / quoting. Easy to correlate owners, and if it's a rental it would work like those photo toll deals on highways and eventually get back to you.

Interesting - I didn't know that! Okay, that seems like it could possibly work. But has WDW installed signage overnight to inform drivers that they may be assessed a parking fee by mail based on their plate number? I'd think they'd have to legally inform drivers, as pay-by-plate tolls do, no?

offshored Doofenschmirtz IT department

DED!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lvdis]

I just sent off my emails to the top Disney execs and guest services. I thought they needed to know I'm one of their Disney fans who is not happy with this latest additional fee.

 

[KenHutch]

Well about 10 minutes ago I received an email from Disney with what I refer to as Big Lie Version 2.0 It said we appreciate your business but we moved to parking fees to be in alighnment with Aulani and Disney Land. I have to admit form letters tend to annoy me more than about anything on this planet. I just sent them another email and said referencing your form letter why don't you just tell us the truth. Since Bob Iger voted himself a bonus/incentive contract that was so large it annoyed even the stockholders the board had to find the money for him somewhere and faced with taking money from stockholders and guests it was an easy decision. I really really hate form letters.

 

[KrazeeK120]

In other news, a summer discount is out today - shocking! I went through the booking process, just to see... no mention anywhere of parking fees. The language is still on the Parking page and in the resorts' info pages, but nowhere in the booking process.

I actually wouldn’t expect it to show up anywhere in the booking process. The fee won’t apply to everyone and is not paid up front. At other hotels where I’ve had to pay a parking fee, it wasn’t mentioned in the booking process, either. The information is usually somewhere else on the website.

I’m not being a “Disney cheerleader” here...I think the parking fee is bogus and have told them what I think of it. But I wouldn’t expect a parking fee to show up as part of the booking process.

 

[HopperFan]

Had such a good chuckle on this ............. first the irony ........... then the "TOP" comment/response.

SO this is what it will be, as discussed here .... Free Parking if you are hooked in to a pricey package or special.


Disney Institute
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Daniel Wood - Does it charge for parking?


Disney Institute - Hi Daniel, great question! No, registered participants of our Disney Institute courses who reserve their Walt Disney World Resort hotel room through the official Disney Institute room block do not pay overnight parking fees. Have a Magical Day!


Dorothy Gause - Disney Institute perhaps you are missing the irony.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I actually wouldn’t expect it to show up anywhere in the booking process. The fee won’t apply to everyone and is not paid up front. At other hotels where I’ve had to pay a parking fee, it wasn’t mentioned in the booking process, either. The information is usually somewhere else on the website.

I’m not being a “Disney cheerleader” here...I think the parking fee is bogus and have told them what I think of it. But I wouldn’t expect a parking fee to show up as part of the booking process.

I booked over the phone this morning and I was told about it... Didn't pay for it, but two different cast members informed me.

 

[emilymad]

I actually wouldn’t expect it to show up anywhere in the booking process. The fee won’t apply to everyone and is not paid up front. At other hotels where I’ve had to pay a parking fee, it wasn’t mentioned in the booking process, either. The information is usually somewhere else on the website.

I’m not being a “Disney cheerleader” here...I think the parking fee is bogus and have told them what I think of it. But I wouldn’t expect a parking fee to show up as part of the booking process.

If a hotel has a resort fee it usual shows up at the top of the reservation page. I was surprised to not see it listed this morning when I booked especially as there was references to transportation via DME.

 

[Queen-Bee]

i am so sorry to rant, but this has been building for days!

What bothers me more than anything is for myself it would add an extra $350 for our upcoming trip in October! That is doubling the cost of our rental car and we we're already paying $11,000 for our hotel alone!

I have been coming to WDW since 1993 and for all the changes and charges they have made i can normally make an excuse or see the reasoning behind it but this is the thing that will push me off site, not because i cannot afford it but its a matter of principle.

People who want to just pop in for food don't have to pay, but the chumps paying over the odds for these hotels are stuck paying for something that should be included?

I just don't get it!

(*also, i understand this charge doesn't apply to me this time as i have already booked)

 

[deserrai]

Out of curiosity. Who did you email? GS, or one of the executives?

Guest Services

 

[PrincessV]

If a hotel has a resort fee it usual shows up at the top of the reservation page. I was surprised to not see it listed this morning when I booked especially as there was references to transportation via DME.

I agree - I look at offsite Hilton family hotels often and always they indicate in the rate details if there is an additional resort and/or parking fee. Ditto for Galleria Palms and the Flamingo Crossing properties. I would not be happy to book WDW online and only learn of the parking fee when I check in.

 

[SmithSmith]

So I just stumbled across this. I made an orbitz res for All Stars last night around 1am Eastern. I’m hoping I made it in before the cut off due to time zones but would they (Disney) tell me if I called? I didn’t see this disclosed during the reservation process on Orbitz and I even tried going through the motions this morning at the Disney site for the same room and it also made it to the payment page with no mention of a parking fee.

If you’re curious, try giving 1-407-939-4997 a call. It’s the Special Reservations line for Disney World. They handle all 3rd party bookings, including Orbitz. If anyone can tell you for sure, it’s them. Their lines are open from 7am-10pm ET mon-fri and 7am-8pm ET sat, sun. Also, you have an argument because Orbitz still lists FREE PARKING in their descriptions of Disney hotels.

Btw, if you’re hesitant to call because you’re worried about long hold times, don’t. I’ve called that number half-a-dozen times (as least) in the last week and never had a wait.

Hope you get it resolved.

 

[bryanb]

i am so sorry to rant, but this has been building for days!

What bothers me more than anything is for myself it would add an extra $350 for our upcoming trip in October! That is doubling the cost of our rental car and we we're already paying $11,000 for our hotel alone!

I have been coming to WDW since 1993 and for all the changes and charges they have made i can normally make an excuse or see the reasoning behind it but this is the thing that will push me off site, not because i cannot afford it but its a matter of principle.

People who want to just pop in for food don't have to pay, but the chumps paying over the odds for these hotels are stuck paying for something that should be included?

I just don't get it!

(*also, i understand this charge doesn't apply to me this time as i have already booked)

Dang! $11,000 for a hotel alone. Do you mind if I ask where you are staying and for how many days? For top tier guests who hit a certain annual spend, the least Disney could do is give you Platinum status (like a hotel chain) and maybe throw in perks like free parking, room upgrades, and a fruit basket.

Maybe switch over to the Swan/Dolphin instead. At least you'll get Starpoints out of it.

 

[KrazeeK120]

If a hotel has a resort fee it usual shows up at the top of the reservation page.

That has not been my experience (Drury and Hampton Inn are where I stay that have parking fees), but different hotel brands may do things differently.

 

[Mike J]

If you’re curious, try giving 1-407-939-4997 a call. It’s the Special Reservations line for Disney World. They handle all 3rd party bookings, including Orbitz. If anyone can tell you for sure, it’s them. Their lines are open from 7am-10pm ET mon-fri and 7am-8pm ET sat, sun. Also, you have an argument because Orbitz still lists FREE PARKING in their descriptions of Disney hotels.

Btw, if you’re hesitant to call because you’re worried about long hold times, don’t. I’ve called that number half-a-dozen times (as least) in the last week and never had a wait.

Hope you get it resolved.

Thanks! I will do that.

 

[vinotinto]

...As I'm sure you are aware, we occasionally make adjustments based on a variety of factors within our company, including alignment with our resorts in California and Hawaii, but also based on feedback that we hear directly from our Guests...

Ha, ha! So the guests asked for the parking fees. I wonder how were the original questions worded? Here are some possibilities:
1. Would you like to have more parking spaces available when you arrive at the resort?
2. Would you prefer to pay a small parking fee or pay hundreds more for your room reservation? (Note: must choose one)
3. Would you like your hotel experience at WDW be similar to Universal's?
4. Question only for those who took DME from airport: "Would it negatively affect you if WDW instituted a parking fee?"

 

[Mike J]

Thanks! I will do that.

I take it back, its already changed (see below). No big deal, we are still going to keep the reservation and will know better for next time.

• Self parking (surcharge)

 

[mrswillson]

As I stated on the Disney Rumors thread (and as a review on WDW's Facebook page)...

I (and for my entire life up until this moment would never believe I would be saying this) can very proudly say that I am done with Disney.

I grew up practically living in WDW and on DCL. My family was DVC. I became a Cast Member for the Disney Store for several years, which was one of my dreams since I was a little girl. When my husband and I married, it was inside AKL overlooking the savannah. Last year, my husband and I sailed on the Fantasy for our honeymoon, and I've personally sailed on 6 DCL cruises growing up. Until this year, my husband and I were annual passholders as well, as we live in such close proximity to the parks (and because I have been such a die-hard Disney fan for as long as I can remember.)

That is no longer the case now. Between the astronomical price hikes for DCL, another price hike for annual passes and park admission, and now overnight parking charges for the resorts, we've washed our hands of Disney. My parents have sold their DVC membership. I haven't and will not be renewing our annual passes. And we have also switched this year's EC cruise from DCL to Royal, and quite frankly, couldn't be more excited about it.

The bottom line: we won't be returning to Disney at all for the foreseeable future.

Disney is a business - this is common knowledge, and I nor anyone else is refuting this fact; this is the most frequently used argument from Disney proponents and fans every time a change like this occurs. However, I am a firm believer that a business should continue to better its product, and if it is going to raise prices, it shouldn't be on the heels of cut corners and lost amenities. The Disney that I grew up with and worked for no longer exists. Once upon a time the company stood to a different standard, and the primary aim has inched away from providing magic to its guests to now milking them for revenue. The company claims reasoning behind this decision is to fit the industry standard... and since when has Disney fit that mold? I was always under the impressed Disney offered a premium experience that was not available anywhere else, and yet now we have a company, whose letterhead is a mouse, that has become just like any other big business driven by the goal of corporate expansion at the cost of its magical touches.

At one point in time I would have balked at the idea of going to a different theme park, or sailing with another cruise line. However today I welcome the change, as Disney's decisions have made me realize that there are other companies whose product can rival theirs now that they have lowered themselves to the same standard. There is a whole big world out there to see, and now that I've taken off my rose colored Mickey glasses, I look forward to experiencing it.

 

[SmithSmith]

As I stated on the Disney Rumors thread (and as a review on WDW's Facebook page)...

I (and for my entire life up until this moment would never believe I would be saying this) can very proudly say that I am done with Disney.

I grew up practically living in WDW and on DCL. My family was DVC. I became a Cast Member for the Disney Store for several years, which was one of my dreams since I was a little girl. When my husband and I married, it was inside AKL overlooking the savannah. Last year, my husband and I sailed on the Fantasy for our honeymoon, and I've personally sailed on 6 DCL cruises growing up. Until this year, my husband and I were annual passholders as well, as we live in such close proximity to the parks (and because I have been such a die-hard Disney fan for as long as I can remember.)

That is no longer the case now. Between the astronomical price hikes for DCL, another price hike for annual passes and park admission, and now overnight parking charges for the resorts, we've washed our hands of Disney. My parents have sold their DVC membership. I haven't and will not be renewing our annual passes. And we have also switched this year's EC cruise from DCL to Royal, and quite frankly, couldn't be more excited about it.

The bottom line: we won't be returning to Disney at all for the foreseeable future.

Disney is a business - this is common knowledge, and I nor anyone else is refuting this fact; this is the most frequently used argument from Disney proponents and fans every time a change like this occurs. However, I am a firm believer that a business should continue to better its product, and if it is going to raise prices, it shouldn't be on the heels of cut corners and lost amenities. The Disney that I grew up with and worked for no longer exists. Once upon a time the company stood to a different standard, and the primary aim has inched away from providing magic to its guests to now milking them for revenue. The company claims reasoning behind this decision is to fit the industry standard... and since when has Disney fit that mold? I was always under the impressed Disney offered a premium experience that was not available anywhere else, and yet now we have a company, whose letterhead is a mouse, that has become just like any other big business driven by the goal of corporate expansion at the cost of its magical touches.

At one point in time I would have balked at the idea of going to a different theme park, or sailing with another cruise line. However today I welcome the change, as Disney's decisions have made me realize that there are other companies whose product can rival theirs now that they have lowered themselves to the same standard. There is a whole big world out there to see, and now that I've taken off my rose colored Mickey glasses, I look forward to experiencing it.

That was excellent!