New Vendor Drop-Off Policy? Update: CONFIRMED exclusive drop off vendor = Scooterbug

[OurBigTrip]

Has a Disney concierge ever been able to get you into a fully booked Victoria’s and Albert’s 30 minutes before you want to eat or has your bellman ever been able to get you that 11 am Slinky Dog Dash FP+?

Never tried, as I have no desire to eat at Victoria and Albert's, and I haven't been there since TSL opened. But they've gotten me everything else I asked for, including a very last minute fireworks cruise (within two hours) including full meal catering and drinks, which to us was a dream come true, as it was a wish for a family member on what he knew would be his last trip.

Like I said, if you don't feel like you're getting good value, then stay off-site. Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Lilsia]

So you have never been to Vegas. The hotels in Vegas will have multiple times the amount of ECVs to deal with. They just install the proper infrastructure and properly plan to handle it so you never notice. They know that the country is not only aging, but that senior demographic has more disposable income than younger generations.

But sure it is smart of Disney to make it harder for grandparents that are paying for their grandkids and their families vacations.

I have been to Vegas just as recently as a few months ago. Stayed on the strip and walked up and down it numerous times, went into most of the resorts and saw less then a dozen people on ECVs. There is NO WAY that a Vegas resort has more guests in ECVs then WDW does. Show me the numbers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The hotels in Vegas will have multiple times the amount of ECVs to deal with.

Of course Las Vegas would have multiple times the amount of ECVs to deal with. The city has multiple times the rooms https://www.askdeb.com/travel/how-many-hotel-rooms-are-there-in-las-vegas/

Las Vegas hotels pretty much all now charge resort fees, sometimes higher per night than the room rate. Should Disney follow suit?

 

[Brianstl]

We live in a free market economy - the vendors who want to stay in business and stay busy will adjust their business model to meet the needs of the customers. If that means having night shifts, on-demand scheduling, etc., the ones who want to survive and thrive will do it. But its for the vendors to handle, not Disney.

Vendors and guest don’t adjust for other deluxe hotels. The hotels adjust for their gusts that are paying a premium to stay at their resort. In a free market economy every other deluxe resort adjusts to make their customers as comfortable as possible because those customers are paying a premium to stay with them.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Vendors and guest don’t adjust for other deluxe hotels. The hotels adjust for their gusts that are paying a premium to stay at their resort. In a free market economy every other deluxe resort adjusts to make their customers as comfortable as possible because those customers are paying a premium to stay with them.

Really? From the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Studios...they only allow four vendors to deliver, and it doesn't say whether they can be delivered to bell services or whether the guest needs to meet them. Surely, a deluxe hotel, they should adjust their policies and allow any and all vendors to deliver ECVs on their property, correct?

 

[Brianstl]

Of course Las Vegas would have multiple times the amount of ECVs to deal with. The city has multiple times the rooms https://www.askdeb.com/travel/how-many-hotel-rooms-are-there-in-las-vegas/

Las Vegas hotels pretty much all now charge resort fees, sometimes higher per night than the room rate. Should Disney follow suit?

Right now I can book a strip view at the Four Seasons Vegas with the resort fee added for less than I can book a water view room at Yacht Club.

 

[SueM in MN]

Ok - let‘s get back to the subject and stop debating who has more ECVs or what constitutes ‘deluxe’

 

[bobbiwoz]

I did send a letter complaining to WDW.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am disappointed. Just not as convenient to have to be present.

No it is not. But neither is it the end of the world, as some are making it sound. Nor does it make it impossible for Grandma and Grandpa to take their grandkids to Disney World.

But I'm hoping it frees up bell services to do things like get guests luggage and groceries to them quicker. Which is what is supposed to be their main function. I'm thinking of a stay at CSR where they pretty much begged me to let them deliver my groceries to me 8 hours later (I arrived around MIdnight) because they said they had so much luggage to deliver.

 

[SueM in MN]

I know many people are talking about asking Disney staff at Bell Services.
Disney front line staff don’t usually get told about things like this until close to the time it actually affects their work, so they may not know anything or any earlier than we do.

I would not expect Disney to come up with anything official until after October 1.
For this particular situation, they may not actually announce anything to the public.
I expect the Featured Provider information to just disappear from the website.
There may be a story on the Disney Blog; that’s more likely if they are discontinuing the current vendors and replacing them with one or more different providers. It’s also more likely if they are changing the vendor for the in park rentals (they may not mention anything about the company and just have a story about ‘new equipment’).

They might just leave it up to the individual companies to remove the ‘Featured Provider’ and any references to delivery/pick up at Bell Services. Whatever the date is that has been grandfathered in, the individual companies would be expected to let their renters know what the process is.

 

[Evita_W]

Would you share where you meet to get your scooter from Gold. Is it at bell services? Is it at your room? Is it somewhere's else, where? Can you pick a place or does Gold tell you where?

In general they meet you wherever is most convenient for you. I have had them deliver to my room the next morning when we came in at 2 AM. That was at OKW, so bell services took us to our room. I have also had them meet me as we were getting off Magical Express right in front of the resort. If you need a specific spot, just ask, they will do all they can to accommodate.

 

[Lewisc]

I think that's the strollers. I don't think any mobility device company has made any official statement.

Again , I disagree. Gold Mobility is fairly new. Randy's Mobility, which has offered rentals for many, many years (more than ten) has always delivered directly to the customer. But Walker now, and all the other companies - including the currently featured ones - have demonstrated for years that using Bell Services works. Until the property owner says "no more."

I don't care what term Disney uses, until October 1 3 (or 4) vendors are given preferential treatment by Disney.

Sue doesn't think featured vendors pay Disney. Webmaster Doc thinks they do. Gold Mobility told me dropping off at bell services would cost $$ which would be passed on to renters.

JMO, It appears when the dust settles guests who want to pickup and return to bell services will have one vendor to pick from. I suspect it might be the same as the parks and Disney Springs, you'll be renting from Disney but a vendor will be handling it.

Disney isn't stopping vendors from meeting customers directly. From all the posts you'd think the sky is falling. Disney could, legally, stop companies from entering WDW to deliver scooters. Gold Mobility can't deliver to Westgate. Only one vendor is allowed to deliver to Westgate. Disney isn't doing that, yet.

 

[SueM in MN]

Someone who had been a Bell Services CM posted about his experiences with space. He wrote they frequently ran out of space in Bell Service and had to store checked bags wherever they could fit them, which he felt was the biggest reason for the change.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...endor-drop-off-services.3771674/post-61115406

 

[Lewisc]

Someone who had been a Bell Services CM posted about his experiences with space. He wrote they frequently ran out of space in Bell Service and had to store checked bags wherever they could fit them, which he felt was the biggest reason for the change.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...endor-drop-off-services.3771674/post-61115406

Luggage services at POP had to open a second storage room. They had to check 2 different places, not close together, to locate my checked luggage. I have no doubt ECV storage is a big issue.

 

[gap2368]

Someone who had been a Bell Services CM posted about his experiences with space. He wrote they frequently ran out of space in Bell Service and had to store checked bags wherever they could fit them, which he felt was the biggest reason for the change.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...endor-drop-off-services.3771674/post-61115406

Wow that is scary they left bad in unsecured location being on vacation and having a bag with your messed with it stolen would put a real damper on a trip. And ever worst if it was medical that could be really bad. As one of my medical equipment there was a shortage after one of the hurricane 2-3 years ago destroyed one of the plants it was made in. So even if insurance or the person could pay for it there might not be any available. I do hope everyone finds a. Solution Thst works for them.

 

[As Bob Sees It]

I am waiting for a response from WDW Press Relations in reference to this report. So far, it's one stroller company talking to one website (who has been wrong before). All other reports quote this as a source and Disney shows no press releases.

I am very involved in the disabled community visiting the parks, and I literaly just heard about this today,

I have my own powerchair but, have rented in the past. Basically, if correct, someone would need to meet the provider to directly accept the scooter/wheelchair/stroller/whatever.

I also asked Disney how this would effect door deliveries (like the cabins at Fort Wilderness Campground.

Frankly, I've never understood why Disney agreed to be a third party in a possible thousand dollar he-said / she-said argument.

It may inconvenience people using Disney's Magical Express of Disney Cruiseline Buses. Kingdom Strollers (the "original" source) said they are adopting a six a day schedule to make it easier on guest to schedule delivery when they can be there.

 

[Starwind]

I am waiting for a response from WDW Press Relations in reference to this report. So far, it's one stroller company talking to one website (who has been wrong before). All other reports quote this as a source and Disney shows no press releases.

Actually, no, multiple stroller and ECV/wheelchair rental companies and grocery delivery companies have stated on their own social media pages that either Disney reached out to them and advised them a few days ago or they reached out to Disney managers and confirmed the information. So the information is coming from Disney, just not via a public statement.

At least one company has been advised by Disney that the public statement will occur October 1.

Guests currently staying at the resorts have reported on social media having spoken to Bell Services at their resort yesterday or today and confirmed the change and that it applies to stroller, wheelchair and ECV delivery, but not grocery delivery.

Where I think the biggest impact will be will be those who have very early or late arrivals, or whose daytime arrival gets delayed so they end up with a very late arrival. The current hours the "meet and greet" vendors have are not compatible with these "out of hours" departures and arrivals -- most will only meet between at the outside 8 am to 8 pm or so. Hopefully some will step up and offer longer hours or an "out of hours" option, even if it is for a reasonable additional fee.

If the rumours of a single provider for the resorts are true, another option would be to use them for a known early/late arrival for one day then switch to one's preferred provider, but at current rates that is at least an extra $50 [and many have a minimum 2 day fee, so that is actually $100...].

Already one stroller rental company has announced that they will be opening a kiosk at MCO airport at the same level as Magical Express; no info on hours yet. And that doesn't help people arriving by car or at Orlando's other airport.

We are fortunate that we won't be directly affected. Our plan for our upcoming trip is to use Gold Mobility and we booked them months ago (Prepaid) so were already doing the meet-and-greet thing with them. But it was a deliberate choice and one we had to accommodate into our schedule. It works well for this trip, but may not work so well on an future trip.

SW

 

[OurBigTrip]

Guests and vendors who currently use bell services for drop-off will have to adjust, and given that many, many guests already have to meet the vendor due to them not being featured vendors, it's obviously possible. Some vendors may go to a more flexible schedule, including overnight hours to accommodate late flights and guests who want to stay in the park until closing, and some guests may find that they need to schedule arrival times (flights, driving, etc.) to meet the schedule of the vendors. Or, if Disney decides to contract with a single vendor to allow bell services delivery with Disney receiving payment, guests who want that option may need to pay more. Bottom line, no one is going to be stopped from getting a length of stay rental from a third-party vendor.

 

[ameetee]

It would make sense that the public statement would be made 10/1 when it is too late for people to get grandfathered in. I'm glad I found out about it yesterday since I was procrastinating on making my ECV reservation from Scooterbug.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Buena Vista has a recording telling about the change, thanking all of their customers and mentioning that bookings made before October 1 would be grandfathered, no matter when the reservation at WDW was. I booked a scooter for October and December.