This week, Disney resorts in California and Florida did something that patrons may witness only once in a lifetime — they reversed certain recent theme-park pricing hikes and fee additions.
You heard it right, Disney Parks has just announced it’s eliminating certain surcharges and even lowering theme-park ticket pricing on select dates. It’s also expanding the availability of select benefits to park-hopper guests and annual passholders (now called ‘Magic Key’ holders).
Okay, maybe costs aren’t being lowered by much, but it’s not often you’ll see the corporate giant make concessions to an increasingly bitter and disillusioned public.
When Disney World’s hotel parking fee was introduced back in March 2018, it was arguably the harbinger of an era in which the entertainment empire’s habit of nickel-and-diming park visitors would reach new heights, with guests’ perception of their treasured “Disney magic” in the parks steadily declining.
While some Magic Key holder benefits were also announced (which aren't relevant for the average guest visiting with a regular ticket), the most significant cost-related concessions revealed by Disney Parks this past Tuesday include the following.
Walt Disney World Resort
On January 10, Walt Disney World in Florida announced a few policy changes that the resort said are intended to “bring more value and flexibility” to guest visits.
— With immediate effect, Disney World's Disney-run hotels will cease to charge guests staying overnight for self-parking, which can translate to a savings of $175 over the course of a week’s vacation. Disney hotel guests also enjoy complimentary parking at the theme parks, which otherwise charge standard vehicles $25 for daily parking.
The hotel rates will, of course, still be priced exorbitantly compared to non-Disney accommodations just a few miles down the road, but at least guests are extended the courtesy of free parking.
Note that this fee reversal doesn’t apply to California’s Disneyland Resort hotels’ policies, where self-parking for registered hotel guests costs $35 per night, and the price of theme-park parking remains $30 for a regular car or motorcycle.
Disney World’s announcement contained an acknowledgment of guests’ gripes about the surcharge, and probably the closest thing to an apology that the company will ever offer regarding unwelcome added fees, saying, "This is a Disney difference many of you have asked us to bring back, and we’re happy to reintroduce it to make your vacation a little easier and more affordable."
0 Comments