Guests at Disney hotels to pay new parking fees

Overnight guests staying at Walt Disney World hotels soon will pay nightly fees for parking their cars, a spokeswoman confirmed.

The new policy applies to visitors who book reservations on or after Wednesday.

The amount will vary, depending on the level of accommodations. At what Disney refers to as a value resort, which includes the All-Star hotels and Pop Century, the charge will be $13 per night.

For the moderate resorts (such as Port Orleans or Coronado Springs), it will be $19 a night.

On the deluxe end of the scale — including Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Yacht and Beach resorts and the monorail hotels — it’s $24 per night.

Visitors who are at the Disney World hotels just for dining or shopping experiences will not be charged for their parked vehicles, the spokeswoman said.

The policy change — parking has been free for resort guests — brings the company more in line with industry standards, she said.

Hotels on Universal Orlando property and many near Orange County Convention Center charge their overnight guests for parking. Universal’s parking fee at hotels is $22 per night for guests. Nonguests staying longer than five minutes but less than 30 minutes pay $10; beyond that, the fee is $45.

Folks staying at Disneyland hotels in California and at Aulani, Disney’s Hawaiian resort, also have been paying for parking, the spokeswoman said.

Walt Disney World’s theme parks charge $22 per day per car; there is a $45 preferred-parking option. Parking is free at Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports complex and the resort’s water parks.

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com