Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>You think people with medical badges should pay more??<< Au contraire!! I did not state that well. I meant it as NOT surprised they are going to be charging MORE for those priviledges as well since in this day and age, I would not pass it under Disney's management to do such things... But on the other hand, I would pay to have preferencial parking as an APer, but they won't do that as they used to do at DLR before.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I think a more sensible way to do this would be to include the price of parking into the price of the park tickets.< Then where is the perk to stay on the grounds & " leave the driving to us " with the free bus transportation ?? And you know they don;t want you staying off grounds <<There are very few businesses that can get away with people paying for the priveledge to pay $9 to then go and pay close to $60 to enter their establishment<< Most professional sports teams that charge you $20 or more for 'preferred easy out' parking and $80 - $250 for a ticket to watch people play ( pick any game you want here) - and many of them do own the stadiums also. I guess I just don't get the outrage here -- we go to the Chicago Auto show and the city charges $15 - $20 for parking -- Parking for Navy Pier is equally as high -- Check out parking for Water Tower Place ( for the right to shop at that 'mall' - almost any convention center --etc --- ONLY paying $9 hereis Chicago would almost be like them paying you. I find $9 very reasonable - especially since if you are staying on the grounds it is free anyway -- if you are local but have an AP it is free -- so who is paying that this is such an outrage -- the one time park goes -- how unfair ??
Originally Posted By Brian Noble I am not a passholder, typically stay offsite in a condo or pool home, so I pay for parking, and I couldn't care less. Seven extra dollars over the course of a week's vacation at WDW? Less than 1% of the admission media costs alone. Completely in the noise. Frankly, I think WDW is *better* at not nickle-and-diming its customers than most other amusement parks. My home park has been charging $9 to park for years, and you *walk* from your car to the gates and back rather than ride a tram. Food in WDW is more expensive than "outside", but it's less expensive than in my home park, and it's better quality. Per-day admission isn't even that different; we pay about $110/day for our family of four under the new ticket scheme at WDW. That's about the same as I'd pay at my home park if I weren't a passholder there. Granted, the low WDW per-day cost only happens for longer visits, but still---I have to fly to get down there, so I'm staying for at least five days no matter what. Shorter stays aren't worth it for me.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Not to mnetion...Universal Orlando, DLR and Universal Hollywood have historically charged more for parking than WDW. If people don't mind paying for it, then more power to you. Me? I get to park for free thanks to my AP.
Originally Posted By jkayjs As with any transportation system there is upkeep. The surfaces, trams and buses all require maintance/replacement. Parking fees and tolls are the chosen method of financing this upkeep reguardless of the venue. The only folks who pay this at WDW are local or tourists staying of site with out an AP. I'ld like to see stats on exactly how many folks this is. And remember you are paying by the vehicle not by the # of folks inside. We have never minded paying when staying off site and love that not paying is a perk when we do(which is most the time). I think WDW has one of the most efficient and convenient transportation systems around. I know I'll take a hit for this but it is my opinion. The price of the park ticket covers running and upkeep of the parks, same with the resorts why should the transportation system be any different? I do agree that the RV's should pay more than just a dollar. I'm sure they know what a deal their getting.
Originally Posted By Labuda Sooooo glad I live in Austin where we don't pay for parking except on rare occasions! I'd go CRAZY if I had to pay what you folks in NY & Chi-town have to pay. Heck, I even choke a bit on the $12 for valet parking at DL!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Sooooo glad I live in Austin where we don't pay for parking except on rare occasions! I'd go CRAZY if I had to pay what you folks in NY & Chi-town have to pay. < It's what you get used to. Now don't get me wrong, I like Austin-- the most livable town in Texas IMHO......but I wouldn;t trade all we have in Chicago to live there.
Originally Posted By Labuda Well, most livable politically, yeah, but tied with San Anotnio for livability in general - though SA is a bit too military-heavy and we have a bigger tech industry here in Austin.
