Is free parking at the parks going away for Value Resort guests???

[Goofy4TheWorld]

I saw on post #6 in this thread that Disney might me eliminating the free parking perk for Value Resort guests, as well as SOG and Dolphin/Swan guests.

Does anyone out there have confirmation that this is true and not just a one-day fluke?

If Disney does this, I would expect a large segment of people, who don't like Disney transportation, and who only stayed at Disney for the free parking, to jump ship and head off-site.

I know I would....

[DizneyRox]

That was interesting wasn't it?

I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen. Not sure what the contracts look like between SOG/Swan/Dolphin and Disney. Disney certainly could do with with their values.

Doesn't impact me, I don't mind Disney transportation at all. Would it push people away? Probably not... People would just use the busses or whatever was available to them. I don't think the actual numbers in that "large segment" really amounts to that many people.

The cost of off-site plus parking is probably mostly cheaper than on-site and bussing. Now, if they started charging people to park at the resorts, maybe... That would be a phase 2 in this plan however.

[Georgesgirl1]

I hope not! If Disney just keeps taking away perks, but not reducing prices I think they are going to see people start going off property or skip Disney all together. When we are trying to do Disney "on the cheap" we stay at Pop. The reason we go there versus off property is because of the free parking (with little kids we don't make much use of EMH). Without that, I would be VERY tempted to get a much cheaper hotel off property.

[Renfairwedding]

That would be bad for me at least. Its much easier for me to bring my van and use the hadicaped spots then using the bus system.

[dyin tago]

I just went to the disneyworld website ans if you go to faq`s and click on resort benefits it says free parking for all disney resort guests.

until they change that I would just print that page and if they charged you they would surely refund it.

swan and dolphin being on property but not disney owned could be iffy but that would be dirty if disney did that in my opinion.

[ThanxForNoticin]

I'm not going to worry about it much unless it becomes a reality. I'm not sure I understand why they would do it, but it certainly could affect the way we do the parks. It seems to me that people who prefer to drive to the parks help ease the burden of the buses, which can get pretty crowded certain times of the day. Take away the free parking and they might need to add buses. And I also agree with the previous poster - it's also very possible people will have one less reason to stay on WDW property.

[Renfairwedding]

I called two diffrent times and the CM's both said its still free for Disney Owned resorts to park fro free at the parks.

[magicofdisney]

I'd like to see a copy of that memo.

[gerald72]

A fee to park at the parks wouldn't affect me because I prefer to take Disney transportation.
But if they charged a daily parking fee at the resorts themselves (as most other hotels do) then I would seriously consider an alternate vacation destination altogether.

[big blue and hairy]

This would be going against one of the basic principles of staying in a Disney-owned hotel. Other than the luxury of the room you choose to pay for, all Disney hotel guest are created equal. In my mind it would show contempt for customes who aren't "spending enough".

[Pigtunia]

We park at other resorts (Boardwalk, Saratoga and Wilderness Lodge), and we drive to Golf, Minigolf, and (sometimes Downtown Disney), but we never drive to the actual parks: the Disney Transport is so much more convenient. So we wouldn't miss this at all.

[Seasonscraps]

This would be going against one of the basic principles of staying in a Disney-owned hotel. Other than the luxury of the room you choose to pay for, all Disney hotel guest are created equal. In my mind it would show contempt for customes who aren't "spending enough".

I agree completely. I never stay at value resorts but I would HATE to see Disney start doling out park perks based on a guest's resort level.

[magicofdisney]

I agree completely. I never stay at value resorts but I would HATE to see Disney start doling out park perks based on a guest's resort level.

They're already doing this with the free dining promo.

[Tekneek]

I think it would be a bad idea. As such, do I think today's Disney would actually consider it? Yeah, I do. Look at Golden Oak. They will consider anything that they think will put more money into their bank account.

It's all well and good to play the "Disney is a business after all" card, but even Walt himself never claimed his primary driver was making money. Him and Roy mortgaged everything for new ventures all of the time, and sometimes had to beg for loans to meet payroll. Despite all of that, they were never looking for blatant cash grabs like today's Disney.

[1DisneyNut]

If the bus transportation at the value resorts wasn't so terrible (not enough buses running, having to wait too long for buses) there wouldn't be so many people driving from the values to the parks.

[Tekneek]

If the bus transportation at the value resorts wasn't so terrible (not enough buses running, having to wait too long for buses) there wouldn't be so many people driving from the values to the parks.

That is a critical part of this. If Disney is unhappy with the number of people driving from the Values, they need to realize it is a symptom of another problem. Of course, it all depends on whether they actually want it fixed or not. They may actually prefer for the "Value" experience to be sub-par. As if somebody might actually think, "I had such a terrible experience at Walt Disney World last time, why don't I pay more next time?"

[wdwfansince75]

From the Shades of Green website:
Please note: Shades of Green provides complimentary transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks for registered guests. Parking at the theme parks is $14 per day.

[Renfairwedding]

Shades of Green is not a Disney owned hotel as told to me by the Res CM's on the phone.

[BrerGnat]

Shades of Green provides its OWN buses to the TTC, and some other parks. From the TTC, you can catch a bus anywhere on WDW property (park wise...not hotels).

Swan and Dolphin, and SOG already do not participate in DME, and only Swan/Dolphin still get Disney transport, which Disney could take away whenever they feel like. However, it IS worth noting that S/D and SOG ALREADY charge their guests with cars a daily parking fee at the resort. Since they are not "Disney", they can make their own rules, and Disney, in turn, can change the "rules" when it comes to their allowances as well.

I imagine it's only a matter of time before Disney starts charging everyone to park at the theme parks, regardless of hotel guest status. They CAN do this, because they STILL provide Disney operated bus/monorail/boat transport to all the parks, from all the resorts. So, really, no one NEEDS to drive to the parks. If you choose to, then you choose to be bound by Disney's terms in doing so. Frankly, I think it's been mighty generous of them to allow free parking all this time.

And, quite honestly, I would expect a lower level of "perks" (amenities) at the Value level. There ALREADY IS A LOWERED LEVEL OF AMENITIES AT THE VALUE LEVEL. By pretending that Disney is not already creating, in essence, a "class system" within the resort matrix is just foolish. More money begets more perks. As it should be, in a capitalist society such as this one.

[Tekneek]

If only everything was connected by monorail and peoplemovers like Walt intended.

Just to make sure I follow along properly...

Disney should charge guests to park simply because they can? Also, they should decrease the quality of the offering at Value resorts because it is starting from a lower level of service already?