Is this a way around paying parking at Disney?

[Lawlar]

Fairfield Hotel

We have started staying at the Marriott's Fairfiled hotel which is right across the street. They have free parking for hotel guests! [I don't recommend that you park there is you are not a hotel guest - though I haven't seen them tow any cars.]

You know, if you get towed for parking in the wrong place, you will pay a hefty fine and risk damage to your car.

 

[Transit]

C'mon folks.. If you can't cough up $11 a day for your entire car load of people, than maybe you shouldn't be taking a Disney vacation.

Disney costs .It's not a place your going to save $$$ on vacation .You have to pay to play.

 

[luv2vacation]

At best, this is poor advice. At worst, it's not the intended rules.

Have you ever tried to park at the Marketplace for legitimate shopping?
If so, you know how hard it can be to find a space.

Okay I wouldn't do it because for the extra time it takes but as for taking up the parking - over where the buses pick-up (on the west side?), there are tons of empty parking spots that I never see getting used, even at the most prime times. Yes, it's hard to find a spot (for shopping), close, over at the main entrance by the WOD store, but on the other side, you're not taking anyone's parking spot, there's more than enough there to go around.

 

[Carl D]

Okay I wouldn't do it because for the extra time it takes but as for taking up the parking - over where the buses pick-up (on the west side?), there are tons of empty parking spots that I never see getting used, even at the most prime times. Yes, it's hard to find a spot (for shopping), close, over at the main entrance by the WOD store, but on the other side, you're not taking anyone's parking spot, there's more than enough there to go around.

The West Side may have adequate parking during the day, but I'm not sure how good the bus service is during that time.
Night, when bus service is peak, may not have adequate parking.

The real problem is the Marketplace. At least three out of four cars there do not have a Disney parking pass.

Regardless, it's not Disney's intention to have you park at Downtown to avoid the fee.

 

[rsackett]

The real problem is the Marketplace. At least three out of four cars there do not have a Disney parking pass.

No problem at all! No parking pass is required at Downtown Disney. The Mouse LOVES for outside guests to come down and over pay for souvenirs.

Ray

 

[Carl D]

No problem at all! No parking pass is required at Downtown Disney. The Mouse LOVES for outside guests to come down and over pay for souvenirs.

Ray

Yes, but many guests don't park there to shop at the Marketplace. Their sole purpose is to avoid the parking fee at the parks.

I say "no parking pass" because if they don't have a resort/parking pass, that's an indication the above is true.

 

[Dave*H]

I say "no parking pass" because if they don't have a resort/parking pass, that's an indication the above is true.

It is also an indication they are staying outside Disney and are there to visit downtown Disney. Why would someone with a parking pass drive there? The parking pass is an indication they are at a Disney resort and could have taken the Disney transportation.

 

[jmpellet]

I know Disney transport pretty well and when you're on vacation, time is probably worth more than the money you'll save. Doing the Downtown Disney route will be a PITA, but if you do it just pick the first MONORAIL resort bus that comes along if you are going to either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. For Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom just pick the first bus. Either way the trip will probably chew up an hour each way.

 

[Carl D]

It is also an indication they are staying outside Disney and are there to visit downtown Disney. Why would someone with a parking pass drive there? The parking pass is an indication they are at a Disney resort and could have taken the Disney transportation.

Someone with a parking pass is there to shop,, NOT get free parking.

You can visit the Marketplace during VERY SLOW times and find the parking lot at capacity.
This is because guests park there to get around the parking fee.
This is not new. It has been published, and suggested in many unofficial books.
Disney also recognizes this as a problem, and as a result discontinued direct bus service to the parks from downtown.

 

[Carl D]

I know Disney transport pretty well and when you're on vacation, time is probably worth more than the money you'll save. Doing the Downtown Disney route will be a PITA, but if you do it just pick the first MONORAIL resort bus that comes along if you are going to either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. For Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom just pick the first bus. Either way the trip will probably chew up an hour each way.

I agree with you.. It certainly wouldn't be worth my vacation time either.

It never ceases to amaze me what some will do to save 12 bucks.

 

[Carl D]

It is also an indication they are staying outside Disney and are there to visit downtown Disney. Why would someone with a parking pass drive there? The parking pass is an indication they are at a Disney resort and could have taken the Disney transportation.

More to your point--
Many, possibly the majority of on site guests have their own car. We always rent a car and drive to all parks nearly 100% of the time. The only time we don't drive is when we plan on consuming alcohol... than we take a cab. We never take a bus.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I agree with you.. It certainly wouldn't be worth my vacation time either.

It never ceases to amaze me what some will do to save 12 bucks.

$12 X 7 = $84.00, and that is not a small amount of money to most people.

You would be surprised what we do to save money. We take in a cooler with soda, water and snacks (I am not paying $2.25 for a bottle of water), and Rick and I buy the double cheeseburger at the various parks and have them cut it in half. Neither one of us needs the bread, but we do need the protein, and it saves a considerable amount of money buying the double burger and splitting it.

I also take Crystal Light singles and put them in my glasses of water that I order in restaurants. I am not paying $2.00 for a soda, and I cannot drink caffeine (restaurants never have diet caffeine-free soda), so I choose to bring my own diet, caffeine-free drink.

A wonderful old saying holds true: "If you watch your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves."

 

[Dave*H]

Someone with a parking pass is there to shop,, NOT get free parking.

Hmmm, I've only been there once, and it was to shop. I don't remember getting a parking pass.

 

[rsackett]

Yes, but many guests don't park there to shop at the Marketplace. Their sole purpose is to avoid the parking fee at the parks.

I say "no parking pass" because if they don't have a resort/parking pass, that's an indication the above is true.

I have been to Orlando on vacation about 20 times. I have stayed on Disney property about 5 times. Every trip I have gone to Downtown Disney, most trips more than once. The only times I have parked there was when I stayed off site, without a parking pass. I have never taken transportation to the parks when I was parked there.

I think you are a little paranoid about Disney policy abuses'. I am sure it happens, but I am also sure it happens much less often than you think. Disney is all about making money. If they were loosing that much in parking fees, and providing free (expensive) transportation to all those people, am sure they would make the drivers ask for your room key when you got on the busses at DTD.

Ray

 

[FlyKaesan]

I thought about starting a business where I create parking lot and drive people to Disney parks but then I realized, you can't drop them off at the park.
How do you drop people off at Disney parks at the front entrance?

Water parks have FREE parking!!!!! Hint Hint..... but don't try this if you are staying late... you might have to walk back:hysterical:

 

[bnoble]

I was a hard-core self-driver for quite some time at WDW. But, our most recent stay at OKW was a budget bonus trip---I had an AC sitting around, and a stack of FF miles, so the Mrs. and I took a no-kids long weekend over Memorial Day. In keeping with the save-a-few-bucks mentality, we skipped the normal rental car and let Disney do the driving.

The airport/resort transfers were okay, but definitely a you-get-what-you-pay-for experience. The resort-internal transportation, on the other hand, went surprisingly smoothly. We never waited more than 10-15 minutes for anything. I really expected to hate the bus system, but left that trip thinking that it would probably be okay to do without the rental car for much of our next trip. I might still get one for the last day, to simplify the trip back to the airport. Or, I might do a towncar for transfers. I haven't decided on that yet.

But, I'm with Carl: it easily takes an extra hour out of your day to play one of these free parking games, and my family's time is worth well more than $12 an hour.

 

[Carl D]

Hmmm, I've only been there once, and it was to shop. I don't remember getting a parking pass.

Perhaps I'm not making myself clear--
If a guest has a pass they either are staying on property, or already paid for parking at the toll booth.
Either way there is no incentive to park there to beat the parking fee since it's already paid.

Therefor, if they don't have a pass, the reason they might be parking there is to avoid the fee.

 

[Carl D]

I have been to Orlando on vacation about 20 times. I have stayed on Disney property about 5 times. Every trip I have gone to Downtown Disney, most trips more than once. The only times I have parked there was when I stayed off site, without a parking pass. I have never taken transportation to the parks when I was parked there.

I think you are a little paranoid about Disney policy abuses'. I am sure it happens, but I am also sure it happens much less often than you think. Disney is all about making money. If they were loosing that much in parking fees, and providing free (expensive) transportation to all those people, am sure they would make the drivers ask for your room key when you got on the busses at DTD.

Ray

I'm happy to see you are doing things the right way, but I think you are missing my point...
I'm not overly concerned about Disney getting the $12. I AM concerned about getting a parking spot when I visit the Marketplace. -- Thus my gripe about people parking at Downtown to beat the fee.

 

[Carl D]

I thought about starting a business where I create parking lot and drive people to Disney parks but then I realized, you can't drop them off at the park.
How do you drop people off at Disney parks at the front entrance?

Just follow the taxi cabs..

 

[Carl D]

$12 X 7 = $84.00, and that is not a small amount of money to most people.

You would be surprised what we do to save money. We take in a cooler with soda, water and snacks (I am not paying $2.25 for a bottle of water), and Rick and I buy the double cheeseburger at the various parks and have them cut it in half. Neither one of us needs the bread, but we do need the protein, and it saves a considerable amount of money buying the double burger and splitting it.

I also take Crystal Light singles and put them in my glasses of water that I order in restaurants. I am not paying $2.00 for a soda, and I cannot drink caffeine (restaurants never have diet caffeine-free soda), so I choose to bring my own diet, caffeine-free drink.

A wonderful old saying holds true: "If you watch your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves."

I certainly don't mean to belittle saving $84.
That said, if you waste an hour each way that's 2 hours a day multiplied by 7 days. That's $84 for 14 hours time. My vacation time is worth more than 6 bucks an hour, but I'm only speaking for my family.

Besides Cindy, your AP covers all your parking fees..

 

[Transit]

Climb the fence and save on park tickets.

 

[gjw007]

Okay I wouldn't do it because for the extra time it takes but as for taking up the parking - over where the buses pick-up (on the west side?), there are tons of empty parking spots that I never see getting used, even at the most prime times. Yes, it's hard to find a spot (for shopping), close, over at the main entrance by the WOD store, but on the other side, you're not taking anyone's parking spot, there's more than enough there to go around.

It can also hard to find a spot on the West Side if you go late in the afternoon or evening. I've turned around and went back to the resort on occasion because I could never find a spot.

I think using the parking at Down Town Disney for the parks is a loser for everyone. People who park there save a little money but give up valuable vacation time. They may then rush everything making them irritated more than they already are. People like me, may find it difficult to park at Downtown Disney and end up returning back to the resort. Disney loses potential income and Disney being Disney, raises its rates and everybody pays more.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I certainly don't mean to belittle saving $84.
That said, if you waste an hour each way that's 2 hours a day multiplied by 7 days. That's $84 for 14 hours time. My vacation time is worth more than 6 bucks an hour, but I'm only speaking for my family.

Besides Cindy, your AP covers all your parking fees..

Ahh...... you know me too well, Carl!

Those annual passes save us a bundle. Last year, we were at the parks six weeks, and we went to Disney at least 38 times in those six weeks. We saved almost as much as one of our annual passes: 38 X $11.00 (the price last year) = $418.00. WOW! Of course, we stay at Disney resorts some of the time, which saves us on parking, too.

 

[bnoble]

I think using the parking at Down Town Disney for the parks is a loser for everyone.

If DTD/Orlando would adopt DTD/Anaheim's solution, this would all go away. There, parking is free for three hours. You can validate up to two additional hours by patronizing one of the shops or restaurants there. After that, there is an hourly charge, which comes to more than theme park parking if you stay all day.

This approach preserves free parking for those legitimately shopping there, while discouraging folks looking to save on the Mickey & Friends structure off I-5.

 

[Darlene]

I went to Disney Boardwalk to eat and look around. I didn't have a reservation, just told the parking attendant I was going to eat. He let me in to park. I walked around and shopped a little, then took the boat to Epcot to meet my kids (that I dropped of earlier). My kids used the bus to get around all day.