luggage transfer fee?

[FLmomof2]

I just saw on another thread the Bell Service is charging $25 to transfer luggage during split stays.

I was wondering if this applies to DVC members also? We are staying 1 night BWV, 4 BLT, and 4 BCV, and trying to figure out the best way to transfer the luggage.

Thanks in advance.

 

[disneynutz]

Nothing has been announced officially that I know of.

Bill

 

[Meriweather]

Not as of Dec. 6 when we went from VWL to OKW and we had a LOT of stuff with bags and groceries.

 

[vicki_c]

It's been reported on another thread that a guest was told this by bell services, a charge starting in 2015. But as stated above, it's only rumor at this point.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Really? So is that on top of the tip to have them pick up from the room? Taxi is looking better and better and immediate access to luggage at new resort.

They keep pricing themselves out...

 

[Micca]

Not sure I understand the rationale behind this. Guests check out, guests check in. Bell service is provided as an amenity with tips optional. How is a split stay any different from a guest checking out/in?

 

[Splashboat]

Not sure I understand the rationale behind this. Guests check out, guests check in. Bell service is provided as an amenity with tips optional. How is a split stay any different from a guest checking out/in?

Someone has to move the luggage from one resort to another. Checking in/out only involves moves internally within one resort.

 

[bumbershoot]

Really? So is that on top of the tip to have them pick up from the room? Taxi is looking better and better and immediate access to luggage at new resort.

They keep pricing themselves out...

If this comes to be and there's a charge, I think those luggage services people won't get any tips at all.


but this is an interesting side thought to a conversation going on the "DME as luggage service" sticky thread on Transportation, where a person reports that her nephew works in the DME luggage transfer service, and that they are all the same people (at least at Pop), and they've delivered stuff left at luggage services, the owner's lockers, AND bags checked through DME all at once, to the rooms, without people being there. If that nephew was telling the truth, clearly, and being understood by the aunt/uncle, I had been wondering if there had been a behind the scenes change anyway, and if more would happen. To me, this eems somewhat connected, if both are true.

 

[Micca]

Someone has to move the luggage from one resort to another. Checking in/out only involves moves internally within one resort.

Your point is well taken: Theoretically any resort might have to make a delivery to each of the other resorts every day. When you factor in human resources, gas, vehicle maintenance, etc. I guess $25 isn't too bad.

 

[CarolMN]

Maybe a fee will discourage split stays. That's a win for Disney. Longer stays at the same resort mean less activity at the front desks as well as less housekeeping.

If they do institute a fee, I would hope that at least a portion of it would go to the staff performing the service.

 

[Gizmo1951]

It they decide this I think I would just rent a taxi and move luggage myself and that way I would have luggage sooner anyway

 

[Dean]

Your point is well taken: Theoretically any resort might have to make a delivery to each of the other resorts every day. When you factor in human resources, gas, vehicle maintenance, etc. I guess $25 isn't too bad.

I don't think it is. Someone is already paying for it, for DVC resorts it's likely spread across all the membership indirectly. Even if it comes out of DVCMC funds, it's still indirectly paid by the membership.

Maybe a fee will discourage split stays. That's a win for Disney. Longer stays at the same resort mean less activity at the front desks as well as less housekeeping.

If they do institute a fee, I would hope that at least a portion of it would go to the staff performing the service.

I would assume those involved are not just tipped and would get compensation in addition OR the tips would be sufficient for them to justify doing the job even after the change. The reality is this approach will likely reduce the tips a little to a modest amount but not dramatically so (I guess it depends on whether you're the one getting less as to what dramatic is). I'd think they'd take this into consideration as part of the evaluation process as they look at this change going forward if it happens and it really should.

If it discourages split stays, esp short or fragmented ones, I see that as a win for Disney, DVC and the membership as a whole.

 

[wdrl]

If it discourages split stays, esp short or fragmented ones, I see that as a win for Disney, DVC and the membership as a whole.

I agree there are some advantages if the number of short, fragmented stays were reduced. However, there are probably as many disadvantages if there is a significant decline in split stays.

By its very nature of primarily being a points system, DVC probably has lots of orphaned nights of 1-3 days in length that are scattered throughout the year at every resort. Isn't it better to have these nights occupied by members doing split stays rather than having them go vacant?

Disney benefits the longer guests stay on property. If a split stay lets a family extend a stay from 5 to 7 days, Disney stands to benefit from increased Park attendance, more food sales, more souvenir sales, etc.

DVD benefits from members who buy small 25 or 50 point add-on deeds so they can do a short split stay at a new DVC resort. If split stays are discouraged, would members be less willing to buy a few more points at a different home resort?

 

[disneynutz]

Disney will factor in all costs and potential profit before changing a policy or charging for it.

Less transfers means less tip money for Bell Services and I'm sure their union would have something to say about that.

I expect that the transfer truck drivers are employed by Mears/Bags just like the MCO/WDW luggage transfer drivers are, the trucks and cages look the same.

Bill

 

[LSchrow]

I just saw on another thread the Bell Service is charging $25 to transfer luggage during split stays.

I was wondering if this applies to DVC members also? We are staying 1 night BWV, 4 BLT, and 4 BCV, and trying to figure out the best way to transfer the luggage.

Thanks in advance.

I saw a transfer fee thread from a brand new poster (registered less than 24 hours prior, her 1st and only post) on resorts board - has anyone seen/heard anything from a more credible source?
thx

 

[Dean]

I agree there are some advantages if the number of short, fragmented stays were reduced. However, there are probably as many disadvantages if there is a significant decline in split stays.

By its very nature of primarily being a points system, DVC probably has lots of orphaned nights of 1-3 days in length that are scattered throughout the year at every resort. Isn't it better to have these nights occupied by members doing split stays rather than having them go vacant?

Disney benefits the longer guests stay on property. If a split stay lets a family extend a stay from 5 to 7 days, Disney stands to benefit from increased Park attendance, more food sales, more souvenir sales, etc.

DVD benefits from members who buy small 25 or 50 point add-on deeds so they can do a short split stay at a new DVC resort. If split stays are discouraged, would members be less willing to buy a few more points at a different home resort?

Obviously there are a number of factors and some of the issues that we have little to no real info about. I would agree that the nature of a points system set up as Disney does has a small amount of waste due to the nature of fitting the puzzle together, I don't think they have much of an issue of orphaned days simply due to this issue. Since they don't link reservations to actual villas up front and thus have the flexibility to match them to minimize usage, I doubt it's very much. So I don't see this part as an issue personally.

I'm not sure they make much on selling 25 pt contracts but I'd agree it might discourage some of those sales and that might be a good thing. Reasons would include that the cost to sell and manage those smaller packages is likely not worth it, that a portion of those people would simply buy larger contracts and that it would discourage split stays and encourage longer or non split stays.

It might cause one person not to stay as long but it'd likely cause another to stay longer, we simply don't know how the balance would end up but I doubt it'd make much difference on average other than longer single stays. A minimum stay accomplishes this as well as several other approach.

My guess in the long run is it'd be neutral to slightly positive from a sales (profit) standpoint then one would be back to the question of usage vs cost which would clearly be beneficial $$$ wise to discourage short split stays. Then the question becomes is it enough to fool with and we truly don't know though my guess is it would be. I deal with 4 other systems that use points and all of them have some type of minimum stay criteria. One haas a minimum stay up to a full week for the highest demand weeks but little restrictions otherwise but is out of the country so people aren't likely to do just a day or 2. One has minimum stay criteria based on when one books and tied to their VIP system with higher levels having more flexibility. One has a 2 day minimum stay with one exception, you can get a single night by paying for 2 nights where available. The last has a 3 day minimum stay until you get to short notice then they drop it to 2. Most also have some type of fee structure related to multiple reservations or cancelations but not all. The one thing Marriott does, which I really like but suspect most people here won't, is they require you to have and commit the points for a wait list.

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip).......The one thing Marriott does, which I really like but suspect most people here won't, is they require you to have and commit the points for a wait list.

So you couldn't book a reservation and then waitlist for what you prefer unless you actually had enough points for both reservations?

 

[Dean]

So you couldn't book a reservation and then waitlist for what you prefer unless you actually had enough points for both reservations?

Correct.