New Overnight Parking Fees for Disney World Hotels
Walt Disney World has announced that it will charge hotel guests for overnight parking. Rates will vary by resort tier, with Vale Resorts charging $13/night, Moderate Resorts will be $19/night, and Deluxe Resorts $24/night. Valet parking at Deluxe/Villa resorts will increase to $33/night. Disney Vacation Club guests staying on points or paying cash at Deluxe Villas will not pay for overnight self-parking.
Note that this does not impact free parking for Annual Passholders at the theme parks, nor does it impact those visiting a resort hotel for dinner or shopping. (Although we wouldn’t be surprised to see purchase validation soon required for resort visitors.) Guests staying at campsites in Fort Wilderness will not pay for overnight parking. It’s presently unclear whether drivers with valid disability parking permits will be charged (we’ll update the post later about this once we receive clarification).
The new Walt Disney World parking charge applies to guests who book reservations on or after March 21, 2018. The one positive in this news is that if you book a reservation today or in the next week–even for a trip in December–you won’t be subject to the new parking cost. So that’s at least one way to postpone the sting of this new fee for a little while longer.
Walt Disney World has indicated that this change is to bring their Florida hotels more in line with industry standards. Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels, the Swan & Dolphin, Universal Orlando on-property hotels, and most Orange County Convention Center area-hotels charge for overnight parking.
During our recent stays at the Disney Springs hotels, we noticed pricing around $20/night (+/- $5), which was fairly surprising given the surplus of space. The swamps of Florida are not exactly San Francisco or New York City, where the space is limited and has a high per square foot real estate value.
Known for its “blessing of size,” Walt Disney World fans have long thought that there are certain lines Disney wouldn’t cross, with parking and resort fees being one. We can empathize with the many fans who are frustrated by this, but to them we’d also say that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is basically a license for Walt Disney World to print money. We’ve said that before, but perhaps it needs to be reiterated. It will draw historic crowds to Florida, many of whom will be first-time visitors or lifelong Star Wars fans willing to pay just about any price to live out childhood dreams. As demand is about to soar, you can expect prices for just about anything at Walt Disney World to increase.
This is particularly true with supply-limited items, such as hotel rooms, parking, and theme park capacity (tickets). Obviously, we’re not fans of paying more to visit Walt Disney World, either, but it’s a reality we all must face.
While we’ve historically been quite averse to Walt Disney World’s various cash-grab up-charge offerings, we’re actually becoming a bit amenable to them, as they represent optional ways to pay more, rather than necessary ones that impact all guests equally.
If Disney management has certain revenue projections that they are attempting to hit (and they certainly do) through a mix of optional and mandatory price increases and upcharges, we prefer the ones we can avoid. This is sort of where we’re at with the parking fee: it makes us cringe, but at the same time, if it’s in lieu of an across the board hotel rate increase of, for example, $10/night, we’ll take it.
Since Walt Disney World operates by the same laws of supply and demand and consumer price sensitivity as every other business, it stands to reason that this fee will impact both future rate increases (slowing them slightly) and guest behavior (pushing more people off-site or causing them to skip rental cars). The latter means a decline in hotel demand–but that will be more than offset by the coming increase in demand once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens.
As such, we’re sure there are still significant hotel price increases coming between now and 2020, but minimizing those to the greatest degree possible via optional fees (in other words, not resort fees, which are anti-consumer and really should draw more scrutiny from the FTC) would be our preference.
We’ve written articles (here on page 2 and here) that delve into the current hot economy and its impact on Walt Disney World, so we won’t rehash those here. Suffice to say, record-high consumer confidence and new projects that will be huge guest draws is a perfect storm for higher prices at Walt Disney World.
Interest in those additions is unlikely to subside until well after Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021, but the same cannot be said for the economy. That cooling off has its own set of negative ramifications for guests, but one silver lining is that it will also cool off Disney’s pricing trends.
Other than that, we don’t really know what else to say about this news of overnight parking fees for Walt Disney World guests. It’s understandably frustrating, especially for long-time fans who have experienced a noticeable shift in policies and practices. While Disney has always been a business, there’s was a time when it felt like a responsible one that tried to balance shareholder interests with guests ones, adding value that was commensurate with added costs. Maybe that was never the case, and maybe it still is.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think about the new overnight parking fees at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Well, Disney is rapidly pricing themselves out of our range. As a family of 5, it’s already quite expensive. With all the price increases and the expected end to free Disney Dining, I guess our days of Disney vacations are over.
Just makes me wonder if this is some sort of crowd control that is aimed at clientele that spend the least amount of money ?
The value of a Disney visit is long gone, and they really don’t care. $100 a day in the parks, over-priced food, over-priced property hotels, mediocre park improvements, up charges if you want to stay in the park past 10 pm, a money grab around every corner, over-crowding. What is there left to justify a trip? Childhood memories, nostalgia. Nonsense! You can put a high price on reliving fond memories, and now they’ve surpassed it.
Well, one of those counterpoints I’ve used when people say, “Why stay at a Disney Resort, you can stay off site for way less money” is now gone….the free parking. As much as I don’t like a parking fee on top of the hotel room charge, the few times I’ve done it have been at places where space is at a premium,such as Washington D.C. I’ve yet to see a full Disney resort parking lot (unless it is the part of a resort right where the bus stops are)
We’ve done 4 family vacations at WDW in the last 5 years, but it looks like we will be visiting other places again, rather than going to WDW almost every summer. Too bad, because I, the wife, and child all love the place. However, that sound you hear is this camel’s back finally breaking.
This is going to hurt people within about an eight hour or less drive to WDW the most. These are the same people who kept Disney afloat after 9/11 and the economic issues of 2008. Disney is backing themselves into a corner where all it will take is one economic hiccup and their safety net will be gone. It’s not like someone from Ocala or Lakeland can fly to WDW, and it’s way too expensive to taxi or Uber that distance. Even if they have to resort to room discounts, fees aren’t typically discounted and the principal of the thing will prevent people from coming back once they get out of the Disney routine.
If they want to “unbundle “ resort parking from resort rates, then there should have been a corresponding drop in room rates – and we know that’s not happening. It’s a pure money grab, and nothing more. There is no justification for it, and the lame “industry “ reasoning just isn’t sufficient anymore.
It’s also going to hurt those of us who break up the drive into two “8 hour drive” days, too. There is getting to be less and less reasons to stay at a WDW resort….and with my 8 year old having read all the Harry Potter books over the last several months, Universal is looking pretty attractive.
Hate to tell you this universal studios already have parking charges for resort look it up
Universal resorts are not as expensive as Disney resorts, especially the “deluxe”. And with a deluxe resort stay, express pass is included – something we value a great deal. Even if Universal charges for parking (have for years), the resorts are very nice, especially the value compared to Disney’s value resorts. Have you stayed at Cabana Bay? All I can say is, “wow”.
My issue is that when I fly I get a free magical express shuttle. When I drive with my family because it is too expensive to fly everyone there, I get hit with an overnight parking fee. Very disappointing.
Bad enough that the tickets went up now they’re going to charge for parking my family and I have been to Disney over 30 times I just spoke to over 10:15 PPL whatever moron came up with this paying to for parking too stay at the hotel is going to open the doors up to staying off property and for me and my family I think it’s time to start seeing Universal Studios and other things around and boycott Disney after the passes we have are expired
All this means is that I’m going to use Valet parking even more often. I was using it anyway as a luxury excuse to eat breakfast at other deluxe resorts and then use boats or walk to the parks. Not to mention that I only have to pay once and then park at Deluxe resorts all day.
Now that valet parking is only $9 more than regular parking as opposed to $25, it makes doing valet parking even more of a no-brainer.
Looks like Disney is trying to bleed the average hard working people dry.My family and I have been going to Disney probably 15 or 16 times over the years. Tough enough to pay the over priced tickets to try and get on a few rides and most of the time have to wait an hour to an hour and a half. Then you have the expensive food at the park. Paying 10.00 for a hot dog or 14.00 for a burger.we stay at a moderate hotel for 240.00 a night. Now they need to get you for 19. A night. Walt Disney is probably rolling in his grave. Shame on the management at Disney.
“Walt Disney World has indicated that this change is to bring their Florida hotels more in line with industry standards.” I cannot begin to tell you how much I hate this cop out. My own company uses this line every single time a perk is removed or reduced. My feeling is that my company is the largest XXXXX company in the world. Others in the industry should look to us to set the standard. And so it is with Disney. They don’t have to follow anyone else’s lead. They have no need to fall in line with other amusement parks. It’s yet another money grab from a company that has more than enough money to pay their employees a living wage.
This is sad. We usually drive cause it makes it affordable now they want to charge me to park at their resorts while I’m already out spending money. They want to milk me some more for my car that sits the entire week. Maybe it will be Universal Studios this time
Well someone is going to have to pay for Igers 300 Million dollar pay packages the company Is pushing.
I bet before Star Wars opens you will have another ticket price increase next year as they have been doing for many years
And resort charges to follow.
I feel like Disney has turned into sleazy airline charging for carry on luggage and a blanket!
What’s next paid parking at Disney Springs parking garage???
Did Disney back pedal on this? The site says nothing about paid resort parking:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/parking/
No the new change in fees for the parking at the resorts is back on there
Thanks Tom, we were thinking of another Disney trip this year but this news has helped make the decision to visit our National Parks this year. Thanks again!
How very sad. We fly from Canada and try to get to Disney World every year or so. I sometimes rent a car at the airport or onsite when we want to go explore Orlando. Disney has two rental locations on property so they are encouraging vehicle rentals. I find Disney expensive enough (and we also have an unfavourable exchange rate to worry about). Now parking fees? I do not get it. They encourage you to stay onsite, but I feel now they are sticking it to you if you decide to stay on property. I am so mad that a trip planned for August will be moved off property…my first time. Damn Disney.
You will be exempt since you’ve already made your reservation. It’s only for reservations made after this March 21.
I’m assuming you have already made your reservation . If you have it make it before March 21 and you will be exempt .
Given the pricing should I expect my parking area in the moderate resort to be better than one in the value resort?!
Gouging, in my opinion, plain & simple.
First, we are avid readers of this blog and do very much appreciate both Tom and Sarah. Love your writing. We do not so much appreciate Disney’s blatant, obvious money grab with parking. As we go often we have noticed the constant up- charging lately. It has gotten so routine and yet so outrageous. I understand and appreciate corporate need to generate profit. However, when it is so obvious I begin to feel like i am being used. We have been going to Disney for more than 40 years and have made many memories there. Unfortunately, their corporate behavior may spell the end of what was a long, wonderful relationship. So sad!
I am 43 years old and had never been to Disney world until 2016. This was because I couldn’t afford to. I want to go back again but I’m very disappointed that the prices and fees keep going up when Disney is already making billions of dollars in profit!!!! Google it!
I fly to Disney World and I don’t rent a car when I get there so I doubt this will affect me at all personally… That said I don’t really agree with the practice. Because the thing is that most people who bring their cars to Disney World are ALREADY purchasing parking at the various parks throughout the day.
I could see being okay with it if they offered ‘parking pass addons’ for vacations or possibly made it so that your overnight parking fee made it so that you didn’t have to pay for parking at the parks themselves, but otherwise this just seems greedy and is going to put way more strain on the already taxed Disney buses. Less people are going to want to bring cars which means more people using the buses.
Now if they did make it to where your overnight pass worked in the parks then I could see it actually being highly beneficial. You’d have the people who drove to Disney World likely opting to drive to the parks instead of taking the Disney transportation (“Hey I paid for it so I’m going to use it” mentality). Also, for me I go to Disney just often enough to make me go “Maybe at least one of us should get that annual pass…” but whenever I crunch the numbers I’m always just under it actually being beneficial for me and my girlfriend. Something like this could help people waffling make that decision. More people with passes means more people wanting to use their free parking and not taking the Disney transports (in theory anyway).
Prior to the paid hotel parking all Disney resort guests could get free theme park parking, but I have not yet seen if that will remain true. I would think it would though! That was a nice perk before APs. Now with APs I’m mad that I still have to pay when most AP folks are within driving distance. We drive 7 hours because its cheaper than flying and all this did was make it that much easier to say yes to staying off site. We usually drive to all parks but Magic Kingdom anyway because its fast than the buses, so they made that decision for me.
You still get free parking at the parks if you stay on property.
Yes, and I didn’t have to pay to park at the resort, like I will now…if I go back anymore. For those of us who drive, to save hundreds (if not more) on airfare, this can be a tipping point on deciding whether or not to go to WDW (as it is now, our family of three costs close to $2,000 for 6 nights at a Value, with 7 day base tickets).
You actually have always gotten free parking at the parks if you stayed on property. It was one of the perks. Now that perk has lost a lot of value.
Well who ever heard of parking fee being a different price depending if you are at a
Value, Moderate or Deluxe hotel. It should be the same price for any Disney hotel. I don’t like the fee at all but the tiered pricing makes no sense!
I talked to a guy today at the local paint store that is going in October to WDW because he has it already booked but after this trip he is not sure if he will be back. He said he feels like when he gets to the front gate Mickey tells him he is going to need all his money. Then he goes home with only lint in his pockets at the end of his vacation. Hear more and more people I run into not happy about costs.
Many interesting/astute observations on this. I have to say, while they surely are “free” to do this (and probably will generate buckets of revenue)… this kind of naked money-grab is a little unbecoming.
Also, I believe Tom noted that in urban areas, paid overnight parking is common, expected even. But, a parking spot there has inherent value independent of you staying at the hotel. Not sure the same is true for acres of otherwise empty asphalt at a Dis resort.