Do we now get free valet at Contemporary?

[joxer1014]

OK. Now that BLT is open has anyone confirmed if we get free valet parking there? It became available at AKL once the first set of rooms opened up. Since all the other resorts followed suit, then CR should be no exception, right?

 

[Psychodisney]

That's what the slide said at "Welcome Home Wednesday" last week!

 

[puntagordabob]

For BLT reservations YES. We used it on the 4th.

 

[joxer1014]

I hope is isn't just for members with reservations. All the other resorts do not limit the free valet to just registered guests. We have visited all of the resorts that offer members freee falet over time and not one time were we asked is we are staying at that particular resort.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

It's listed in the perks book. I don't think the book said you had to be staying there to get the free valet. If you have a dinner reservation at the Contemp and you're a DVC member you should get it for free too as a perk.

 

[rlovew]

If you are staying on cash at the Contemporary(but a DVC member) can you use the free valet parking?

 

[joxer1014]

My experience in the past has been that when you pull up to the valet and show your membership card, even if your parking permit does not say member, you should still get the parking for free.

 

[thelionqueen]

My experience in the past has been that when you pull up to the valet and show your membership card, even if your parking permit does not say member, you should still get the parking for free.

This is incorrect. Yes you do show your DVC membership, but when they run the membership number, if you're not staying on points, they charge the room you are staying in (cash, DVC or otherwise) the valet charge.

I have personal experience with this and can tell you this was what the supervisor explained to me at length.

You MUST be staying on DVC points, AND a DVC member to get free valet.

You can only get the parking pass that says DVC member if you're staying on points as I recall (not 100% sure on that point).

 

[In Luv with Disney]

This is incorrect. Yes you do show your DVC membership, but when they run the membership number, if you're not staying on points, they charge the room you are staying in (cash, DVC or otherwise) the valet charge.

I have personal experience with this and can tell you this was what the supervisor explained to me at length.

You MUST be staying on DVC points, AND a DVC member to get free valet.

You can only get the parking pass that says DVC member if you're staying on points as I recall (not 100% sure on that point).

Not true. I used the Beach Club Valet about 10 times while I was there, and was staying off site this trip. I just showed my DVC Membership card each time.

 

[AllyBri]

I think it all depends on the person at the desk at that time.

 

[thelionqueen]

Not true. I used the Beach Club Valet about 10 times while I was there, and was staying off site this trip. I just showed my DVC Membership card each time.

If you were staying off site there would be no way to charge your room (non-Disney). What I posted is true as I posted from personal experience and was told explicitly by Disney CM's & MS.

If you are showing your card and not staying on points, or on site for that matter, you are misusing the "perks" given to members which will eventually be passed on to other DVC members via higher MF's.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We drove over there last week for a Chef Mickey breakfast reservation. We had no problems getting the free valet.

 

[zalansky]

Whenever we have visited various DVC resorts, whether on vacation or driving over for the day - we have always used valet at all of the DVC hotels and have not once been denied or told we had to be staying on points to use the valet. We show our card, that's it, no charge - no problemo.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

we have never even shown our membership card.. or room key... or anything!

I guess it helps that our license plate is "WE DVC"

 

[In Luv with Disney]

If you were staying off site there would be no way to charge your room (non-Disney). What I posted is true as I posted from personal experience and was told explicitly by Disney CM's & MS.

If you are showing your card and not staying on points, or on site for that matter, you are misusing the "perks" given to members which will eventually be passed on to other DVC members via higher MF's.

Sorry, but I am DEFINITELY not misusing the "perks". I have Portable Perks in front of me right now and here is EXACTLY what if says:

MEMBER FREEBIES
VALET PARKING IS COMPLIMENTARY FOR MEMBERS AT DISNEY'S BOARDWALK RESORT, DISNEYS WILDERNESS LODGE, DISNEYS BEACH CLUB RESORT, DISNEYS ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE AND DISNEY'S CONTEMPORARY RESORT STARTING AUGUST 4th. PARKING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THEME PARK ACCESS.

Nowhere does it say a Member needs to be staying on points. It's possible you were misinformed.

 

[Chuck S]

I have occasionally used Valet, and have been asked for my DVC Memebership card, not where I was staying, or if it was a points stay.

Now, with the BLT opening up, the obviously limited parking and historical 3 hour limit on self parking at the Monorail resorts, it would not surprise me to see the valet policy changed to require a points stay, or a stay at the resort where the valet is being used.

One more reason to get an AP and the TiW card...free valet when dining at a resort.

 

[drusba]

I have used free DVC valet when staying in Orlando on a business trip and when staying in a non-DVC Disney hotel (also a business trip) and only thing required was member card. All DVC writings that have ever been issued on valet parking have never mentioned any requirement that you be staying at a DVC resort. The valet parking has been outsourced for over a year now and if you asked a CM valet supervisor about the actual rule, you would be talking to someone who has no idea what the actual rules are and does not even work for Disney. Moreover, I am unable to count the number of times when I have been given wrong info by MS over the phone.

As far as I am aware valet at Contemporary will be same as others, free to any DVC member without any restrictions about staying at a DVC resort. You will, of course, be subject to the Contemporary's usual rule that you cannot park there unless staying there or get a limited pass (usually 3 hours) because you are going to restaurant or other event there. Being a DVC member able to get free valet thus does not mean you can actually park there any time you wish.

 

[thelionqueen]

I actually spoke with MS and the manager of billing for Disney resorts. The information I received did not come from the valet or anyone at any valet kiosk.

To clarify, I only stay onsite at Disney, so I cannot speak from personal experience using valet when staying offsite. That said, I will elaborate on the information/instance that I referred to.

For the weekend, I used a cash reservation, not DVC points; the other 10 days I used DVC points. On the days of my cash reservations, I used valet, unknowing that anything would change. On the final day of my cash reservation, I noticed 2 charges for valet at DVC resorts (2 days). I called billing and inquired about the charge. I indicated that I was a DVC member and the resorts I used valet at are DVC resorts. The CM told me that as a member, I have the free valet option when staying on points. When not using points, there is a charge for valet.

I disagreed with the CM as it didn't make sense to me, and I was also told nothing about having to stay on points to get free valet. The CM directed me to the supervisor/manager on duty. The manager echoed the same thing the original CM had told me. That since I was not staying on points for those 2 days, the valet was not free, only free when using points. I then called MS to verify the information I was told, and was told the exact same thing by MS and the MS supervisor on duty.

There is no way the CM's at the valet stand verify the information when dropping off or picking up the vehicle. The only take the number and then let the billing system determine if it's free or if to charge it to the guests room.

Since I also think it makes no sense not to get free valet when staying offsite or with a cash ressie, I made sure to go through 4 different CM's/supervisors to get the information I posted as correct, to my knowledge and experience.

That said, there could be no way for the valet person to know if you were a DVC member staying on points or not when they give you the valet ticket. So, it seems to reason, that if you are staying offsite there would be no way for them to charge you for the valet service. Since I was staying onsite, it was quite easy for them to find me and charge the valet fee to my room.

There are 2 different opinions as to how and what is offered, and I am posting from what was told to me by 4 different CM's and what I have personally experienced. I believe that if you are a DVC member you should get free valet at any DVC resort, whether staying on points or not. I was also never told about any stipulation regarding staying on points, which is why I chose to valet when on a cash reservation, but apparently this is not the policy. I have not read this policy anywhere, but was told the information by no less than 4 different people in 2 different guest service call centers. Just my .02

 

[Chuck S]

I actually spoke with MS and the manager of billing for Disney resorts. The information I received did not come from the valet or anyone at any valet kiosk.

To clarify, I only stay onsite at Disney, so I cannot speak from personal experience using valet when staying offsite. That said, I will elaborate on the information/instance that I referred to.

For the weekend, I used a cash reservation, not DVC points; the other 10 days I used DVC points. On the days of my cash reservations, I used valet, unknowing that anything would change. On the final day of my cash reservation, I noticed 2 charges for valet at DVC resorts (2 days). I called billing and inquired about the charge. I indicated that I was a DVC member and the resorts I used valet at are DVC resorts. The CM told me that as a member, I have the free valet option when staying on points. When not using points, there is a charge for valet.

I disagreed with the CM as it didn't make sense to me, and I was also told nothing about having to stay on points to get free valet. The CM directed me to the supervisor/manager on duty. The manager echoed the same thing the original CM had told me. That since I was not staying on points for those 2 days, the valet was not free, only free when using points. I then called MS to verify the information I was told, and was told the exact same thing by MS and the MS supervisor on duty.

There is no way the CM's at the valet stand verify the information when dropping off or picking up the vehicle. The only take the number and then let the billing system determine if it's free or if to charge it to the guests room.

Since I also think it makes no sense not to get free valet when staying offsite or with a cash ressie, I made sure to go through 4 different CM's/supervisors to get the information I posted as correct, to my knowledge and experience.

That said, there could be no way for the valet person to know if you were a DVC member staying on points or not when they give you the valet ticket. So, it seems to reason, that if you are staying offsite there would be no way for them to charge you for the valet service. Since I was staying onsite, it was quite easy for them to find me and charge the valet fee to my room.

There are 2 different opinions as to how and what is offered, and I am posting from what was told to me by 4 different CM's and what I have personally experienced. I believe that if you are a DVC member you should get free valet at any DVC resort, whether staying on points or not. I was also never told about any stipulation regarding staying on points, which is why I chose to valet when on a cash reservation, but apparently this is not the policy. I have not read this policy anywhere, but was told the information by no less than 4 different people in 2 different guest service call centers. Just my .02

Unfortunately with Disney, they are consistently inconsistent with their answers. If the policy has changed to what you were told (and this would be a change) then if this happens and someone receives an unexpected charge, that person should contact member satifaction, and tell them that this policy should be reflected on the Member Website and in the perk booklets, as no mention is made anywhere of having to stay on points.