WDW resorts to start charging for parking

I think it's ridiculous. I understand hotels in big cities that have highly limited parking space charging, however that is not the case for Disney, and they have always billed the free parking as one of the perks of staying on property. I have two serious thoughts about this.

1) I think that this is a new way that Disney it trying to direct and control the flow of people on property. I think that we can expect a percentage drop in people who rent cars with this, and maybe even drive; therefore more people will be using the Disney transportation options, which give Disney more control.

2) The rumors about this that I have heard say that DVC members will still get free parking. That then becomes a sales driver for people who were on the fence about DVC.

I just got off the phone with DVC and we will not have to pay if staying at a DVC resort either on points or cash.

Does this lead to Disney eventually charging for the ME once they realize less people are renting cars or driving to WDW and then do they start charging for resort transportation after that. I hate that WDW is starting to charge for all the perks that used to be the reason for staying on property.

My first response was not repeatable. Then I just settled on Oh Bother....

Joe read some stuff on possible exemptions so looking forward to seeing the details.....

I'm with you Kristen!!

My sentiments exactly.

I'm not surprised. It was only a matter of time. I fly and take the Magical Express so it won't impact my trips. This does add on another expense for those who drive. At least they tiered the pricing based on resort category. I have seen higher parking fees. The hotel I stay at in New Orleans (Courtyard Marriott) charges $35 per night for parking.

I've seen on various facebook groups and Disney forums, "I am staying offsite and have a breakfast reservation at Chef Mickeys. Can I leave my car at the Contemporary all day while I go to Magic Kingdom?" = those are the people that should be charged.

THIS!!!

If staying at the resort doesn't give you parking access, just going for your dinner reservation shouldn't either.

We are DVC so it won't affect us. However, I do find it ridiculous. And I don't think the fees should be different at each tier. Rooms rates are obviously higher at moderate and deluxe but that's because the rooms are bigger and the resorts have more ammenities. A parking lot is a parking lot whether it's at a value resort or deluxe resort ( except maybe Kidani because they have a garage).

This is probably only the second thing Disney has done that I haven't agreed with. And both happened in the span of maybe 6 months! Worries me a little

I agree! Rather than charge people staying at a resort, why not charge people who are, in a sense, misusing the parking lots? I can see if you have a reservation, but maybe you get your first two hours at a resort free, and then are charged by the hour after that?

I'm DVC, so this won't directly affect me, but I agree it dims the magic. Universal hotels have charged for parking for years, and that always annoyed me!

It's not so much WHAT they are charging for, but the fact is your resort stay just increased as much as 10%, and the prices don't seem to stop increasing. Moderates used to be in the $150 range. What happened? Did everyone get 40% raises at work all of the sudden? And DVC might be immune for now, but not if they decide to slum it up at Pop a few times a year, and DVC member perks always change and the maintenance fees go up not down. This doesn't give me warm enough fuzzies to go sign up for DVC and be locked in. My family is just completely sad about this.

I'm DVC, so I looked into this a little more because our "perks" change all the time. What parking fees would be used for are already covered with line items in our dues budget. Yes, our maintenance fees do go up, however with it being included there it "should" keep the per night charge at bay for us. DVC used to include valet parking, and when that was ended it took a vote of the member association. The *members* decided that they would rather self park than have higher dues.

I think that if they wanted to charge us for parking all of a sudden, it would make for a very crowded and unhappy annual meeting.

But don't the S&D charge a "resort fee" per day? It may balance out

Prior to moving to Charlotte, we would fly down and take the Disney's Magical Express. Now with us being in the Charlotte area, we are only an 8-hour drive away. My wife and I think that is a very doable drive and was considering driving down more often. But with this additional fee, will will probably fly down on a non-stop flight and still use the Disney's Magical Express.

Do consider price comparison for general parking (not premier or valet):
Parking at Carowinds (here in the Charlotte area): $15.00
Parking at Cedar Point (the "roller coaster capital of the world"): $15.00
Parking at Universal Orlando: $20.00
Parking at SeaWorld: $20.00
Parking at Six Flags: $20.00
Parking at WDW Parks: $22.00

So with that being said, I don't think the parking prices for the resorts are too outrageous. The more expensive the resort (Moderate over Value and Deluxe over Moderate) also means closer to the park; similar to standard parking compared to premier parking or valet in which you move closer to the park entrance.

Sorry, I have no idea what about this discussion brought that. Hopefully I won't have to lock down this thread.

It is! When we lived in Charlotte a few years ago we drove and it was a nice doable drive.

We always have a car when we visit, either ours or a rental. Bummer that a week stay would add nearly $120, unless there are see options for APs.

I'd consider staying off property, but possibly more so because we might bring the dogs with us vs boarding. (But I don't think I would stay on property with the dogs, if they are still doing that. For the dog's sake and the guests staying next to us, a house would be a much better option )

Just curious question....I can understand having a car when you visit when you drive down but why must you have a rental car??? To my family past and present, the great idea of coming to WDW is that once you arrive on property, you don't need your car anymore to get around.

We drive to WDW from Pa. we use our car to go pretty much everywhere when we are there, depending on where we stay. If we stay at a monorail resort, we always use it to go to To HS & AK and most times to EPCOT. We get to and from the parks faster that way and if we decide we want to stop and visit a different resort, we go and there is no changing buses or waiting for one. Same with meals and we don't have to play to leave 90 minutes before dinner as we would have to for a bus. Same with getting back to our resort. I have only ever rode a Disney Bus once.

Same points i would make, plus a few. Part of it is control - I despise waiting for a bus and want to be the master of of my destiny as much as possible! - and part of it is space - I do not want to be on a full bus, esp at the end of the day. Did the Disney transportation our first visit and a lot of it was smelly and loud and not my thing at all. Like Mr Hub stated, we do a lot of impromptu and unplanned moving around and for us it's a lot easier to manage with our own vehicle vs. trying to figure out what bus combo we need. We don't go to one park and stay all day. And if I have to sit in traffic at the end of the day to get back to my resort, I am in my own space with my own music and no one squeezed up against me.

That being said, I do think WDW does transportation really really well - just not for me.

More good points and I agree with them all. We did use the Minnie Vans last trip and will again now and then. We do use the boats a lot, from SSR to Disney Spring and the Boat from the Poly to MK and the Grand Floridian. Now and then we use the Monorail from TTC to EPCOT, but its a heck of a trip if you want to do dinner at Yacht Club and are staying at a Monorail resort, at least 90 minutes with monorail and walking. 10 Minute by car.

I do not know why but this thread is attracting some rather unpleasant posts. You may have to lock this one down too Kristen!

More good points, Mark! We do take advantage of he boats and the monorail, but more for casual enjoyment than primary mode of transportation. Boat rides can be so calming and romantic, esp at night.

Locking this down due to unsavory spam. Sorry guys, good topic.