Did ya notice the change to the DVC valet parking?

[dcfromva]

From the DVC member website
"Valet Parking at the Walt Disney World® Resort
Valet parking is complimentary for Members staying at Disney's BoardWalk Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Disney's Beach Club Resort. Just show your Disney Vacation Club Member ID Card. Parking is not available for Theme Park access.

You'll be charged the daily fee of $7.00 for this service at any other valet parking operation at the Walt Disney World Resort. Once you've paid for the valet service, you'll receive unlimited valet parking for the remainder of the day. Whether or not you are charged to valet park, gratuities are still appropriate. There will be no charge for Guests with disabilities who have the proper permits."

I have looked this up in the past and I'm pretty sure that it didn't used to say "for members staying at" ...

-DC

 

[starwood]

I thought parking was complimentary in the theme park lots for anyone staying at WDW resort? We stayed in April and just showed our parking permit for OKW and they let us in without paying.

 

[dcfromva]

I thought parking was complimentary in the theme park lots for anyone staying at WDW resort? We stayed in April and just showed our parking permit for OKW and they let us in without paying.

starwood,
That is a different benefit which is still in effect. Anyone who stays on Disney property is permitted complimentary parking at the themeparks. (The above DVC membership perk pertains to the valet parking benefit only. )

-DC

 

[CarolMN]

Many DVC members think/thught that their DVC membership entitled them to free parking at the theme parks - even if they were staying off site. I'm betting that is why the "theme park" wording was added. DVC was probably getting complaints from the parking attendants about the number of "arguments" they were having with DVC members.

Best wishes -

 

[dcfromva]

Many DVC members think/thught that their DVC membership entitled them to free parking at the theme parks - even if they were staying off site.

Carol,

(Are you the Carol that organized the Dis meet at SSR last Dec? )

... I meant the change regarding the valet parking perk at BC/VW and BW. It appears now you have to actually be staying at those 3 properties in order to enjoy the free valet parking perk. That surprised me because I'm pretty sure that is a change....

-DC

 

[bicker]

I believe that was always the intent.

 

[CarolMN]

Carol,

(Are you the Carol that organized the Dis meet at SSR last Dec? )

No, not me. But I would have loved to go. Hoping DVC will have the Merry Mixers again this year - we left just before the first one.

... I meant the change regarding the valet parking perk at BC/VW and BW. It appears now you have to actually be staying at those 3 properties in order to enjoy the free valet parking perk. That surprised me because I'm pretty sure that is a change....

-DC

Yes, I agree that it's definitely a change in wording. I would interpet the new wording to mean that we only get the free valet at the resort we are staying at. In other words, if I stay at BWV, I could get free valet there, but not at VWL or BCV.

We're not going until December and we're not heavy valet users, so I'll have to keep an eye on the valet reports. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Best wishes -

 

[Scoootch]

Yes, I agree that it's definitely a change in wording. I would interpet the new wording to mean that we only get the free valet at the resort we are staying at. In other words, if I stay at BWV, I could get free valet there, but not at VWL or BCV.


Best wishes -

I agree also up until I just read that now, it was my understanding that our membership entitled us to free valet parking at ANY of the DVC resorts that offered it even if we weren't staying at any WDW resort - DVC or not. You could be a day guest or staying off-sight and it was still a perk as long as you showed your blue member card and it was only available at the DVC resorts So this is definetly a change from what I understood up to now

 

[crisi]

I'm reading into it that they are going to start changing valet parking - DVC and non-DVC. Currently you can valet park, no time limit, and it will only cost a few dollars more if you are offsite than paying to park in the lots. This gets you within walking distance of the parks at the CR or the BW/Y&BC, and on the resort monorail at the GF and Poly. It makes leaving the parks easier, getting to the parks faster. I suspect they are running out of space in the valet lots - with resorts at capacity, parking capacity becomes a problem - they want to put a stop to "have breakfast at Chef Mickey's, valet park for the whole day."

 

[dcfromva]

I agree also up until I just read that now, it was my understanding that our membership entitled us to free valet parking at ANY of the DVC resorts that offered it

Scoootch,
I am pretty sure what you're saying is what it used to say on the web site...so I guess that is why I was surprised....

-DC

 

[Caskbill]

My understanding is that these perks have always been ONLY when staying at a DVC resort, on points.

This includes Valet Parking, Use of Pools, etc.
(Free theme park parking has always been included for all WDW resort guests staying on property (which includes DVC, whether on points or not), but not for just being a DVC member if you are staying off property)

If staying off-property or at another resort, you are no more entitled to free valet parking than you are entitled to go to the DVC resort and use the pools. (How many remember those discussions from several years ago?)

 

[OnMedic]

Is there Valet at SSR?

 

[Laurabearz]

Is there Valet at SSR?

No valet at SSR or OKW..... you can park in front of your villa....

 

[dcfromva]

The new wording on the web site would seem to exclude everyone except those staying at BC, BW and VL (and it surprisingly, it doesn't say only folks using points, either.)

For example, if you wanted to use valet parking at BW while dining at the Flying Fish, but you are staying at SSR on points (and you don't have a DDE card), it looks like according to the new wording you would have to pay the valet fee....

I can't find what it used to say on the web page (though I probably printed it somewhere. )

The following is from the Perk Pages (April/May/June 2004 edition)
"Member Freebies!
Valet Parking is complimentary for Members at Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Beach Club Resort. Just show you Member ID Card. "

(I wonder if anyone has a recent copy of Perk Pages to see if they changed the wording )



-DC

 

[PamOKW]

When they first started charging for valet parking, DVC members had the fee waived. This included even the time period when they only charged in the evenings. It has always been available free of charge to DVC members no matter whether they were staying on-site or just visiting for the day. The caveat that it not be used in place of theme park parking has also been indicated.

If they are now saying that only DVC members staying at a particular resort are entitled to free valet parking at that DVC resort only -- that's a change and I don't see it as a perk at all.

It could be that they are emphasizing that we aren't entitled to free valet at the non-DVC resorts. Maybe they next VM will include a discussion of the intent.

 

[rinkwide]

The new wording on the web site would seem to exclude everyone except those staying at BC, BW and VL...

That would be a dissapointment and, I believe, a mistake on Disney's part. When staying at OKW this perk has encouraged us to visit places like Jellyrolls, Beaches & Cream and Artist Point rather than go off-property. We'll certainly be less inclined to do that if required to pay.

 

[JimMIA]

The new wording on the web site would seem to exclude everyone except those staying at BC, BW and VL (and it surprisingly, it doesn't say only folks using points, either.)

For example, if you wanted to use valet parking at BW while dining at the Flying Fish, but you are staying at SSR on points (and you don't have a DDE card), it looks like according to the new wording you would have to pay the valet fee....

I can't find what it used to say on the web page (though I probably printed it somewhere. )

The following is from the Perk Pages (April/May/June 2004 edition)
"Member Freebies!
Valet Parking is complimentary for Members at Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Beach Club Resort. Just show you Member ID Card. "

(I wonder if anyone has a recent copy of Perk Pages to see if they changed the wording )



-DC

The Jan/Feb/Mar 2005 Perks Pages has exactly the same wording as the OP -- "...staying at..." so there definitely appears to be a change.

On the bright side, they probably won't enforce that any better than they do the swimming restrictions at SAB!

 

[JimC]

...Yes, I agree that it's definitely a change in wording. I would interpet the new wording to mean that we only get the free valet at the resort we are staying at. In other words, if I stay at BWV, I could get free valet there, but not at VWL or BCV....

Ask for a valet parking ticket before you leave. They have generally been very accommodating when I have asked. With that you can use any valet parking for free that day.

On another parking item -- when we were staying at VB and came up to Epcot for the day we parked for free. They saw our VB parking sticker on the dash and waived us in. I was prepared to show them our APs but they just sent us on in. I'm not sure why that happened.

 

[Dean]

Unless DVC requires a room ID card in addition to the blue member card, I don't think it'll make any difference. And if one read's it literally it would suggest one has to be staying at that resort to get free valet parking. The next level of interpretation would be that you must be a member staying on points at a DVC resort. While it does not say so, I think we can assume that they DON"T mean you have to be staying at any one of those 3 resorts just to get the free valet parking. Even if their intention is to block members from using the perk not staying at DVC or on property, I doubt they'll enforce it. And unless they come out with a statement that specifically addresses members not staying on property, or at DVC resorts, that states you can't use it; I don't really see a true change at this point.

 

[TDC Nala]

from what Dean said, I wonder if they will be checking for room keys. I've always given them my blue member card.