Has anyone actually witnessed cars being towed from a resort lot???

[suevee]

Jumping into the valet frenzy I don't want to break any rules but I really wanted to know what was permissable so I called the valet management at both the Contemporary and the Poly.

Both said that valet parking is for 24 hours with no restrictions, you do not have to be a guest at that particular resort, and you do not have to have an ADR. HOWEVER, if the resort is experiencing a "hard closing" valet will not be available to anyone but resort guests and guests who have an ADR. A "hard closing" happens two to three times a month and is when the resort is expecting a full house or a convention of some type. The valet management is made aware of the "hard closing" up to one week ahead of time.

So if there is no "hard closing" then parking at valet is permissable, according to the valet management of both the Poly and CR. I have not contacted the Beach and Yacht resorts yet. They may have more "hard closings" because of the nearness of the Boardwalk. Hope this answers some questions.

Poly 407 824 2000
CR 407 824 1000

 

[bicker]

What I get angry about are valets with the attitude that I HAVE TO TIP (which I always do because I do appreciate the service) or they will not treat me or my property well.

I agree with you about that. That they should treat guests and guests' property well is unquestionably a given -- it is not open to negotiation or discretion.

They are paid a base pay to do their jobs.

This, however, is the start of a slippery slope that leads to very bad conclusions. (As you mentioned, this is not a direction you go in, of course.)

Valets are paid a base wage in return for being at work (only), not for parking and retrieving parked cars. Their base pay does include dealing with the occasional "miscreant" (for lack of a better word) who takes advantage of the service without compensating the valet properly, but specifically in that context -- dealing with "miscreants". Patrons are expected to provide an appropriate gratuity. While the patron can decide to vary the amount of the gratuity based on the quality of service, that discretion doesn't legitimately extend to deciding that the valet can be expected to just accept their base pay as compensation for the service rendered, no more than a patron of a restaurant can legitimately decide that they don't need to provide a gratuity to the waiter.

 

[keishashadow]

Yes, I do think that tips should be automatically given to the valet attendents (bare minimum $1 each way); unless some grevious lack of service is observed - then I'd withhold & speak to the bell captian. As for tipping other service industry employees, I generally tip the recommended amount, more for excellent service, etc. Now, DH is the last of the big tippers . I don't consider any tips as an "extra" expense, they're factored into my plans.

Somewhat OT - I have found myself tipping less when I'm paying OOP, for poor service more often @ the WDW dining establishments since the MYW dining plan was instituted. Not sure if the decline in service is a correlation w/the guaranteed 18% MYW tip or not. A shame - always thought their wait-staff was enthusiastic and efficient in the past. Hope to see a marked improvement next trip. Probably should mention markedly poor service to management but, too soft-hearted.

Lastly, I wouldn't dream of valet parking @ a resort to gain park entrance...we usually send the car off to the lot w/valet & dust it off a week later when return to MCO; unless we do DTD. Always park ourselves @ the AS's since we usually can find close parking.

I do think the on-site transportation is amazing, considering how many people they more in a day...the older I get, the more I like the idea of someone else driving me back to the resort @ the end of a long day. especially, since we manage to get lost @ least once each trip.

So you were raised to stretch a dollar yet see nothing wrong with saying everyone should be tipping valet both ways? Don't get me wrong. I tip $3-5 both ways. I also tip $20 to the bellman, $5 a day to the maids, and tip well every where else. What I will never do it take something that isn't entitled to me no matter how one quantifies it. Parking in a resort you aren't a guest of is just plain wrong. My mom raised me better then that.