Did ya notice the change to the DVC valet parking?

[dcfromva]

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.

Well, it does only say show your blue member card--not your room ID. (But, of course your parking pass will indicate at which resort you are staying. )

I am curious as to why they would change the wording (they had to go to some trouble to do that), if they did not mean to change the policy.....

-DC

 

[Dean]

Well, it does only say show your blue member card--not your room ID. (But, of course your parking pass will indicate at which resort you are staying. )

I am curious as to why they would change the wording (they had to go to some trouble to do that), if they did not mean to change the policy.....

-DC

None of us know, but I doubt they truly want to change the behavior seems. Maybe someone else is in charge of that site and thought they could word it better. Or maybe owners have been looking at the policy and thinking they could use it anywhere if staying at a DVC resort on property. One thing I'd bet on is that we'll see another wording of that statement in the next few months.

Of course there are times when one will not have the parking pass and still be staying or planning to stay on property. The one thing they may be aiming this at is for those parking then going to the parks. I can't imagine they want to decrease those visiting and eating at the resorts.

 

[RoutemanDan]

. Currently you can valet park, no time limit,..... 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."

This is exactly what I think they are trying to prevent.Valet parking at the resort for the sole purpose of going to the parks.

 

[Chuck S]

It could be a change in policy because so many DVCers are now getting the DDE, which currently grants free valet at any WDW resort, with a dining receipt from that resort. But I do think the main reason is to discourage folks from "all day" valet parking for theme park access.

 

[disneyberry]

[SIZE=+0]Hmm... the new wording is really vague and difficult to interpret.

For example: if you are staying at VWL, then you can valet park for free at BWV or BCV?

It's not very clear based on the new sentence. If they're going to change the policy, I wish they'd clarify it more... Right now it just seems like a sneaky way to change things for the worse.

(I'm pretty sure what they intended to say is that only people staying at the respective DVC resorts can valet park free at that one resort only, because otherwise that'd be a bias against OKW and SSR guests... which would be outrageous )[/SIZE]

 

[crisi]

It could be a change in policy because so many DVCers are now getting the DDE, which currently grants free valet at any WDW resort, with a dining receipt from that resort. But I do think the main reason is to discourage folks from "all day" valet parking for theme park access.

And the next step will be to put a time limit on valet for non-overnight guests. Sure you can park here for Chef Mickey's - Four hour limit.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Carol,

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


-DC

Actually, that was me (Diane) and I am from Minnesota too, so that is probably where that thought came from.

 

[dcfromva]

Actually, that was me (Diane) and I am from Minnesota too, so that is probably where that thought came from.

Diane,
(Whoops! I'm not very good remembering names. ) That was a very nice group you had brought together.

-DC

 

[JohnNJ]

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.

I did ask for the valet tag during my November 2004 trip (BWV) and received it without question the first six days. There must have been a change in managers because the last few days I was told that DVC members are not given the tags because they didn't pay for the service.

 

[Tom and Jen]

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.

(do we have a spell check in this?)

I agree with you Pam, I recall all the selling features thrown out during our initial buy in. (our guests also get our discount benefits...) This being another one of them.

This will also change how people will pool hop for the day. Spending the day at BWV, pool and dinner. It was a perk offered and "Disney resernves the right to make changes as they see fit..." not the exact wording, I know, but the point is made.

I would like to see issues like these brought up at the Annual meeting and put before the board. Unfortunately not enough people attend these. Not many like to take a morning out of their vaca to spend listening to items they often have little say in, but a voice is still a voice.

Not trying to morph this issue into something else, but it can be disheartning. We still ultimately enjoy all the time we spend at DW, but little things like this do make me pause.

A close friend of mine from school happens to be in a upper park managment position. We try to get together on each of our trips for dinner. I sometimes bring up his "shop" but try to refrain because I know the last thing you want to do when you leave work, is spend the evening talking about it. He mentioned 2 points.
1. If you have a bad experience, let someone know. They want to
know. They want to correct it. Staff or service issues they want
to know. He has stock in this company (as do many of us) and a
bad experience can cost money.

2. DVC has saved this company. They are regular return guests that
they can rely on to spend money. (I too was surprised to hear
this comment, but he assured me this is a well known fact in
house.)

T.

 

[CarolMN]

I did ask for the valet tag during my November 2004 trip (BWV) and received it without question the first six days. There must have been a change in managers because the last few days I was told that DVC members are not given the tags because they didn't pay for the service.

DVC members are not supposed to be given the tags - the tag signifies that you already paid for valet service once that day and thus do not have to pay again. The DVC valet policy/perk clearly states that DVC members are not entitled to free valet parking at non-DVC resorts. If you receive a tag by asking, either the valet doesn't know the policy or doesn't want to say no.

Best wishes-

 

[CharlesTD]

My interpretation is that unless you are staying at the specified resort you are paying to valet park it seems pretty clear from teh wording to me that they will charge for parking in valet if you are staying at a different resort from the one being visited. It makes no difference to me as we never valet park anyhow there has been no reason to we have never had to park any further away than the second row of any lot at any DVC resort.

 

[flexsmom]

We just got back after a stay on points at OKW. We went to BWV to visit and to pool hop one day - pulled up to the valet and the attendant wrote down the info she saw on our OKW parking pass. She briefly asked/confirmed that we were DVC and handed us our receipt for the car. That was it - I had my blue DVC card ready, just in case. No one asked us to pay. This was about a week ago. Either they "just" changed to policy so it only applies to guests staying AT those specific resorts and word hadn't gotten out, or someone just reworded it poorly on the website for one reason or another.

 

[Sammie]

This will end up being another case of Disney changing the policy because a few abused it by parking in valet all day to go to the nearest park, or asking for a tag without paying for valet to try and use it at other resorts that offer valet even ones such as the Grand Floridian.

All it takes is a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone.

 

[InstImpres]

Funny thing is I have never shown a room key or a blue card (not that I wouldn't if asked). I've always just said DVC. Maybe that has to do with the fact that we now are getting to know the BW staff by name

 

[JohnNJ]

DVC members are not supposed to be given the tags - the tag signifies that you already paid for valet service once that day and thus do not have to pay again. The DVC valet policy/perk clearly states that DVC members are not entitled to free valet parking at non-DVC resorts. If you receive a tag by asking, either the valet doesn't know the policy or doesn't want to say no.

Carol -

I didn't know the policy either, at the time. I was not a DVC member. I was there on rented points. I asked for the tag out of habit because I always use valet parking, every day, on every trip.

All it takes is a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone.

Sammie -

I guess I'm one of those bad appples that ruined it for us all. All 90,000+ DVC members ruined by a mere few. Oh, the HORROR !!!

These sweeping generalizations really make me laugh.

 

[Sammie]

Carol -

I didn't know the policy either, at the time. I was not a DVC member. I was there on rented points. I asked for the tag out of habit because I always use valet parking, every day, on every trip.



Sammie -

I guess I'm one of those bad appples that ruined it for us all. All 90,000+ DVC members ruined by a mere few. Oh, the HORROR !!!

These sweeping generalizations really make me laugh.

You are probably correct in saying it is not a few bad apples, it is probably a lot of bad apples.

There is difference in not knowing as in your case and knowing and encouraging others to continue to abuse the system, my comment was to the later.

Once someone knows that DVC members do not get a tag, since they don't pay, I don't think it benefits the group to encorage anyone to try and get around it.

Hence my comment that a few will ruin it for the rest. I have seen it happen many times at Disney. Rather than tell a guest you can not have the tag since you did not pay to park, they will change the policy completely or eliminate the benefit completely.

 

[rinkwide]

I just figured out my Halloween costume: A big red apple suit with a bite out of it exposing a half-eaten worm. Thanks a bunch.

 

[bicker]

There is difference in not knowing as in your case and knowing and encouraging others to continue to abuse the system, my comment was to the later.

This is a good point Sammie.

 

[poohj80]

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.

EDIT: Guess I should have read Dean's post before responding.

Since this new wording does not say a room key is also required to be shown, how will the valets know where you are staying?