Help! I'm being robbed! Parking fees on Priceline bid- advice? Anyone want to swap?

[dutchess13]

Yesterday on an impulse we decided to take the kids back to DL for spring break March 24-28 We were wooed by the 2 free days. But now I'm panicking!!! We bid 65 on priceline for a 4 star and "won" the doubletree hotel/ anheim orange county. I looks really fancy, great reviews, free private shuttle every hour, but.... they want to charge us 12 a day to park!!! Thats $72 extra down the drain becuase we booked 6 nights!!! That's like 20 chocolate covered bananas or dole whips!!

We are driving form [deleted] so we can't avoid having a car. We won't need it during our stay since there's the comp shuttle and I'd love to just leave it somewhere safe and come back for it on the last day. Anyone staying the same week (without a car!) want to swap hotels? This one has great other perks. Any ideas for free parking? Any kind locals want to rent me a spot in front of their house for a week? Anyone know of a nearbly hotel with free parking we could "borrow"?

Help save a poor family on a teachers salary from going over budget! and don't trust priceline!

[Jim Dear and Darling]

That's rough. I'm sorry. That sucks. $12 is ridiculous.

Have you tried calling the hotel and talking to the manager? Maybe if you explain the priceline situation they'll give you a break on the parking? Otherwise, you're probably going to have to eat it.

You can't leave your car in a hotel parking lot that has "free" parking, because I'm assuming they'll tow you, since the spots are for their guests.

On the bright side, $77 per night is a great deal for a 4 star hotel over Spring Break....

Or maybe Anaheim has a park and ride somewhere and you can park your car there and take a taxi to your hotel.

[nursechrissy32]

Hey there Have you tried to call the hotel and give them your story? Ask for the manager and talk, talk, talk to them...it seems that info should have been given to you so sorry....try to call them and see what happens.

Let us all know..good luck

[dutchess13]

I called and was very sweet- nothing. I called twice actually and talked to two differnet people. No luck. There is a mall next door and a wendy's. Would I get towed if I park at the mall and walk back to the hotel? If anyone want to swap or buy my reservation the detail are the Doubletree Hotel Anaheim/Orange County March 23-29.

[Jim Dear and Darling]

This is exactly why I don't use priceline. I am waaaay too much of a control freak, I need to know where I am staying and all the details, I can't just leave it up to fate like that.

[MammaSilva]

I called and was very sweet- nothing. I called twice actually and talked to two differnet people. No luck. There is a mall next door and a wendy's. Would I get towed if I park at the mall and walk back to the hotel? If anyone want to swap or buy my reservation the detail are the Doubletree Hotel Anaheim/Orange County March 23-29.

Just an FYI, most public parking lots such as the mall will tow if the vehicle is left overnight.

[Malcon10t]

If you park at the Mall, you wouldn't be allowed to leave the car over night.

[Malcon10t]

If you park at the Mall, you wouldn't be allowed to leave the car over night.

[Bolivar]

What about the amtrak station on Katella -- could you park there and take a cab to the hotel?

According to this the parking is free except when there is an Angels game. So if you park there from say Monday through Friday and there is a game on Tuesday and Wednesday are you somehow charged for those two games? I don't know:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/rail/go/amtrak...heim/index.cfm

Here is a similar short discussion regarding the Fullerton station:
http://www.yelp.com/topic/anaheim-pa...amtrak-station

[mousemom]

When I stayed at the Crowne Plaza I don't remember them asking for any info on our vehicle, nor did they give us anything to put in the window. They share parking with another hotel. Maybe you could park there. Can someone verify if I am right on this?

[kingqueen 3princesses]

I know it can come as quite a shock when something shows up when it's not expected. I hate surprises (bad ones), but still seem to get them even with thorough planning.

At this point, try to change your mindset. The price of the room plus $12. It's still a decent price. Some hotels charge $20 for parking...could be worse! It seems like you have to pay it somewhere--more for the price of the room to be within walking distance, parking, or pay for shuttle service. I'm sorry you had this unexpected news. Even though I can't help you out, know that I feel your pain!

[adriennek]

At this point, try to change your mindset. The price of the room plus $12. It's still a decent price. Some hotels charge $20 for parking...could be worse! It seems like you have to pay it somewhere--more for the price of the room to be within walking distance, parking, or pay for shuttle service.

I think this is great advice. I guess I'm uncomfortable with the "robbed" comment. It's not robbery. It's $65 for a 4-star hotel room in a resort area with a free shuttle. Parking fees are very common at hotels in this area and in others.

Like kingqueen said, $12 for parking isn't bad. Heck, last year we had to go to two different conferences at hotels that each charged $25 a day in parking.

Adrienne

[dutchess13]

Thanks for your tips and advice everyone! Especially Bolivar! We called the amtrack people and we can park there long term for $8 on days there's a game and free otherwise. There will be 3 games that week. It's only 1.3 miles from the hotel too. It's our backup plan however since I found an even better place to park for only ten dollars the whole week and very close. (We'll be able to access the car easily for quick grocery runs etc.) It's kind of on the sly though and I rather not publish the details, so if your curious send me a pm and I'll tell all!

It feels great to save 62 dollars- (10 strawberry shortcakes!) but its not so much about the money as it is beating the system. I'm tired of being pushed around by the big guys. With a little ingenuity and a lot of research I have conquered the big bad hotel!!

[Jim Dear and Darling]

...but its not so much about the money as it is beating the system. I'm tired of being pushed around by the big guys. With a little ingenuity and a lot of research I have conquered the big bad hotel!!

I still don't get the whole '"big bad hotel" thing. Like I commented above, $77 is an excellent rate for such a nice hotel over spring break. We're staying at the Park Place Inn in September, which is off season, and paying $102 per night. And that hotel is a little closer, but not nearly as nice.

If one is too frugal to pay for parking, fine, but I don't think it's really accurate to call the hotel the "bad guy." Everyone who books on Priceline knows before they book that they can be put anywhere, isn't it common sense that you will probably be put in a hotel that charges for parking since most hotels do?

All that taxiing, and leaving my car someplace I couldn't see it for 6 days would so not be worth it to me. But to each their own.

[adriennek]

It's kind of on the sly though

Nice.

Adrienne

[Malcon10t]

If one is too frugal to pay for parking, fine, but I don't think it's really accurate to call the hotel the "bad guy." Everyone who books on Priceline knows before they book that they can be put anywhere, isn't it common sense that you will probably be put in a hotel that charges for parking since most hotels do?

I have to agree with this comment. It is well known most of the hotels do charge for parking. Even the ones really close are now charging. I've always figured if I went Priceline I would calculate $15 extra for parking or "Resort Fees". My biggest concern with Priceline, and the reason I never use it in Disneyland is you are only guaranteed 1 bed. Even if you have more people, Priceline only guarantees 1 bed. I would hate to get there with my crew and end up with a single queen or king. When I have used Priceline, I generally get a good enough deal I go for 2 rooms.

[houseofmouse]

while it sucks to pay for parking even the Carousel Inn now charges for parking. Are you paying to park somewhere close to walk to the hotel and then take the shuttle? Otherwise that would defeat the purpose.

[Malcon10t]

I would be nervous about leaving my car like that, even at Amtrak. But Amtrak does have some security. Just last week, my son (whose a cop) had his car broken into in a secured garage (12 cars had smash and grabs in the garage that night.) At least in the parking area, I could see it and know WHEN it was broken into.

[Karin]

How are you mananging to "beat the system" if you're going to have to pay for a taxi each time you want the car?

[LdyApxr]

Exactly my thought too. There is no "beating" the system if you are paying for a cab to get you to and from. I know money is tight(it is all over!) but it will be even tighter if you have to get your car out of impound or if someone decides to smash and grab while it is parked away from you. I would suck it up and pay the fee. You have no idea what you are getting into otherwise and what some Amtrak employees say, is not to be taken as the gospel truth. Just my 3 pennies.

[Malcon10t]

With a little ingenuity and a lot of research I have conquered the big bad hotel!!

I still don't get why this is the hotel's fault. This particular hotel is an excellent hotel.

[stan4d_steph]

This thread has been moved from Buy/Sell/Share because the discussion has turned to a general discussion of parking fees at hotels near Disneyland.

Any offers of swap etc. should be addressed in a PM to the original poster of the thread. Thank you.

[Schmetterling]

Since the discussion has turned a little more to parking, just wanted to ask. Our hotel charges 4/night for parking. And I really don't mind paying it at all. BUT, we aren't going to have a car. Do you think they just tag this on to every room, or you pay only if you are going to be using a parking spot? Thanks!

[Andrew]

Since the discussion has turned a little more to parking, just wanted to ask. Our hotel charges 4/night for parking. And I really don't mind paying it at all. BUT, we aren't going to have a car. Do you think they just tag this on to every room, or you pay only if you are going to be using a parking spot? Thanks!

It's likely that the parking fee will be assessed unless you make a point of telling them not to.

[Bolivar]

Didn't she say at the beginning that she was just parking the car all week and not using it? What is all this talk of "going to have to pay for a taxi each time you want the car?" I thought the point was that the car would be gone to twice -- once when parked and once when picked up.