re: Walt Disney World Resort Parking 2018

Staying onsite is the most overpriced unnecessary cost of the trip that people overlook. I’ve never paid a dime for a hotel there due to Marriott points and they have properties right next door. And I’m in a 2 bedroom condo with pools bigger than anything Disney has to offer with the option of eatinf offsite when I want. I’d argue I can get to the gate quicker via driving than most can from onsite too. And I don’t rely on their transportation for anything other than a Magic Kingdom monorail.

The park tickets are roughly $1000-1200 for a week for my family depending on park hopper options which is ridiculous but most places cost a ton now. Dollywood is expensive too (and they have better roller coasters by far) compared to just a decade ago. But if you love your kids it isn’t about the money. I’ve been twice within a year and I haven’t thought about the financial loss I took. But the memories last forever.

Pick a good week to go and you won’t deal with crowds.

quote:

---

but got to Animal Kingdom early to beat the Avatar crowds. We were 3rd in line.

---

Not to derail, but how freaking early did you get there? I think we made the mistake of going on the magic hour day. But we arrived at the gate at 7:41 and we were in line for Avatar at 7:59 and the line was 120 minutes. Too freaking long to wait with a 2 and 4.5 year old.

Do they still offer free dining plans or other promotions certain times of the year? Last time we went, we got some kind of promotion that knocked almost $1,000 off the price. We were there Sunday through Saturday, one day not at the parks, and I think we paid around $2,000 for a moderate property. I didn't think that was too bad for a week for a family of 4. Once down there, I think we spent another $500.

Park opened at 9. Parked at 7:20. They had about 50 people wandering around by the gate where you scan your magic bands and enter. Everyone lines up to the left. We went to the right where empty spots were and they eventually opened all of them. So just because they force everyone to form a line doesn’t mean those other entry points won’t work. Sure enough right before 8:30 they opened them all up.

I have to think this is to pay for the increasing security at the resorts.

Pretty much every resort I've been to in the last couple of years now has increased security at the drive in entrances.

Disney has really stepped up its security game in the last 3-4 years due to the obvious target risk.

Random thoughts and responses here.

I dont have a link now but the wait time articles are getting into things wait timea in 2018 being as high as the buaiest times in 2017, even taking unto account ride refurbishments. People are out thefe counting the numbers coming off rides and seeing differences on week days and weekends on rides with no announced refurbishments. I was there for Mardi Gras and nothing big that absorbs visitors was shut down. Crows calendara had wait times at 8-10 level.

Feee dining was around last year but it always rumored to not return (because the slow periods dont really exist anymore so less need for the promotion).

Other discounts I try not to frsme differently. I think of them like the Jos A Bank sales from a few years ago. Prices are jacked up and charged and paid at the busiest times (christmas, etc). The rest of the year they know the market rate is less so the discount brings down the prices people will actually pay while making is feel better about getting a "discount."

We stayed off site on this trip at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and enjoyed it. It costs us under $1K for one week one bedroom. If anyone is looking to save money thats one way to go.

I don't think Disney isn't charging resort guests just because it can or to beef up security because I still think of Disney parking and security costs as baked in the resort nightly cost. They don't need to charge, say, $23/car for parking when they can charge $13/room a night more and get the same revenue. To specifically charge cars is to discourage cars to keep people on site. Without a car, fewer take a day trip to Universal or Seaworld or go off site for dinner, which ultimately is more money spent at Disney. Without a car it even feels like more of a hastle for people considering a split Disney/Universal trip.

quote:

---

My gut feel is that Disney wants people to stop driving and utilize their transportation.

---

I think you're probably right.

Look at all the changes they have in place recently or coming . I suspect the gondola system will have some sort of process that only people who stay in the resorts can use.

quote:

---

here's the thing though is that Jan and Feb are historically the times they shut down rides for repair and refurb

---

Some attractions but those refurbs are annually. For the entire month of January to have higher wait times than every week than all but 2 weeks of 2016 is not for refurbs.

quote:

---

Disney still seems to be running plenty of deals in order to get attendance

---

But attendance is down...revenue is up due to higher costs but attendance is down.









I dont have a link now but the wait time articles are getting into things wait timea in 2018 being as high as the buaiest times in 2017, even taking unto account ride refurbishments. People are out thefe counting the numbers coming off rides and seeing differences on week days and weekends on rides with no announced refurbishments. I was there for Mardi Gras and nothing big that absorbs visitors was shut down. Crows calendara had wait times at 8-10 level.

See below...I linked the discussion for anyone interested
The full interview with Len Testa of TouringPLans is on their itunes page and in the show notes of the link below) but if you go to the 33 minute mark of this you'll get a bit of what was seen by Touring Plans and some of the steps they did to track it.


LINK

Up next: resort fees.