When we were in Yosemite a few weeks ago, we wanted to drive by the Ahwahnee and check out the pond. There was a man right before the parking asking if we were guests and needed valet parking. We just said we were doing a drive by. We saw at the parking lot just past the pond that there was a sign for part of the parking lot that said Valet Parking Only. We thought that was possibly due to the dirt parking lot that is usually used for valet parking could be a muddy mess and can't be used. A few days later, I was on the Aramark website and saw that now they are charging $30/night for guests to park and then for non-guests to park for the day $15 and if you buy something you can get a validation so it will cost $10.
Frankly, I am a bit annoyed at this. At the prices of the rooms at the Ahwahnee, charging for parking on top of that is just wrong. Also, I do a lot of my Christmas and birthday shopping at the gift shop at the Ahwahnee and why should I have to pay to park just to go into the store for a short period of time to shop? Just another money grab by Aramark. This is a national park and not some big city hotel where one expects to pay for parking.
Does anyone know if other parks are charging for parking at their lodging? I have reservations at Zion Lodge in Zion NP for later this year and while you do have to have a parking permit to park at the lodge it is free.
I am sick of Aramark.