NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[disneynutz]

Maybe it's just me, but this news doesn't at all upset me. We've never valeted our car at Disney (or ever...really), so this perk I won't even miss. It does stink for those who routinely use the service, though.

It should upset you. Disney continues to take perks and benefits away without notice. You may not use valet, but at this rate, wait another month and they will take away something away that you do care about.

It's the trend and lack of caring about the Members/Guests that has me concerned.

I expect the Osborne lights to become a hard ticket event next.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I expect the Osborne lights to become a hard ticket event next.

Don't give them any ideas. We'll be going back to E-tickets and you'll still have to pay an entrance fee.

 

[DVCBELLE]

But a business isn't really concerned about whether the individual valet is making $ through tips, they are concerned about the amount of overhead that they are required to pay, including $4+ per hour that they have to pay to that valet employee regardless of the amount of tips they may have. If the valet is making $100 per hour in tips, it still has no bearing on the business having to pay them a set amount. Plus, no doubt, they have to provide health insurance, liability insurance for car damage, Workmen's Comp, a set fee to Disney for using their property, pay their accounting staff, lease on a location for a business office, payroll taxes (incl. medicare, income tax and unemployment insurance) and a salary to the business owner.

I understand that but since they are tipped employees they are able to pay them lower than minimum wage and then rely on tips to make sure they meet those requirements. If they do not make up the salary in tips - then the company has to make up the amount to make sure they are making minimum wage. So it is important to the company that they make tips. That is what I thought your were talking about.

 

[tjkraz]

But I don't pay yearly maintenance fees to such companies as a "member." There's a big difference. DVC knows who all their members are and how to contact them.

I don't see it as being any different. No matter what tag you put on it, we're still just customers. Disney doesn't contact Passholders or people who have ordered free vacation DVDs to tell them about negative changes.

If you do any amount of business on the Internet there are dozens of companies who have your email address. Unless it impacts a recurring charge where they are required to tell you about changes, no company will regularly contact you to draw attention to price increases or quality decreases in their products.

On the first page of the DVC member site, there is a "Latest News" section. It tells us all about the latest adventures of Deevy Cee, but stays nothing about their decision to take away a very popular member perk.

Not surprising that the member website isn't updated yet. Given the magnitude of the change I assume there will be some sort of statement made, but it also wouldn't surprise me if they simply edited the resort pages to remove mention of complimentary valet.

 

[Dean]

It's hard to believe the valets didn't make enough to meet minimum pay requirements. I would suspect the problem may have been with valets not reporting their income. We tipped $5 for drop-off and $5 for pick-up. Surely, that amount is pretty standard. They seemed appreciative and very attentive during our stays. ????

The min hourly pay for tipped positions in FL is over $4 ($4.19 I think) an hour and the employer would not be able to recoup that from the tips taken in legally is my understanding unlike the Federal standards. This amount was increased early in 2009. I'm sure they're factoring in all of these issues and will likely need a smaller valet force to deal with this change.

 

[MinnieGi]

I am soooo bummed to hear about this. We used this perk ALL the time. We stay at BWV aot. It is probably the one perk we really did use!!! With the kids and strollers it was just so nice to valet the car after a park day and not have to deal with a parking lot walk in addition to the walk to the room.

 

[Chuck S]

I am soooo bummed to hear about this. We used this perk ALL the time. We stay at BWV aot. It is probably the one perk we really did use!!! With the kids and strollers it was just so nice to valet the car after a park day and not have to deal with a parking lot walk in addition to the walk to the room.

Assuming that there are two or more adults in your party, if it is convenient, you can still drop the kids and strollers off, then the other person can can go park the car. It might be better than having to heard the little ones through the parking lot.

 

[MinnieGi]

Assuming that there are two or more adults in your party, if it is convenient, you can still drop the kids and strollers off, then the other person can can go park the car. It might be better than having to heard the little ones through the parking lot.

Yes, thank you Chuck for that suggestion. We will probably be doing that alot now with the valet perk gone.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Why did this thread get moved, it should be in Planning as it is directly related to perks?

 

[Chuck S]

Why did this thread get moved, it should be in Planning as it is directly related to perks?

I moved it because it is also a discussion about DVC's response to change, member notifications, etc. Which really isn't "planning." Plus there were 3 other valet threads here on mouse, so it seemed folks were looking here rather than on planning.

 

[toocherie]

Crystal,

I think for most people they aren't necessarily upset about this specific perk being removed but about how they went about notifying us (they didn't) and that this is a growing trend with WDW in perk removal AND perk denial.

It's a growing dissatisfaction with the way things are being operated that you are hearing. This may, for some, be the straw they breaks the camel's back

Actually, I think some people ARE concerned about this particular perk being removed.

It should upset you. Disney continues to take perks and benefits away without notice. You may not use valet, but at this rate, wait another month and they will take away something away that you do care about.

Exactly! That was a point I tried to make earlier--this particular change may not directly impact you, but eventually something will. It's the gradual diminishing of the membership since apparently DVC doesn't feel it needs to keep "perks" to keep people buying. It's clear they don't really care about existing members.

 

[tjkraz]

Actually, I think some people ARE concerned about this particular perk being removed.

I agree with that. I'll even go so far as to say that the communications issue seems like it's being used as a lightning rod for this discussion. Rather than focus on the change itself, it seems more convenient criticize the timing/manner in which the information was disseminated.

IMO, this is no different than people finding out about ticket price increases from wdwinfo.com or Allears or MouseSavers. This is the role that fan websites and message boards fill. I don't think I've ever heard anyone criticize Disney over the fact that they read about a parking fee increase on the DIS rather than in an email or press release from Disney.

Anybody who expects Disney to communicate effectively regarding reductions in service...doesn't know Disney very well. This isn't simply a DVC shortcoming.

Exactly! That was a point I tried to make earlier--this particular change may not directly impact you, but eventually something will. It's the gradual diminishing of the membership since apparently DVC doesn't feel it needs to keep "perks" to keep people buying. It's clear they don't really care about existing members.

Here I'm forced to disagree. In order for it to be a "diminishing" of the membership, we would have to see things consistently taken away with no replacement to speak of.

2-3 years ago we didn't have any member perks at Disneyland. Two years ago we didn't have free Internet access. Six months ago we didn't have sleeper chairs at Vero.

There was a time when members didn't get access to new attraction previews or discounted tickets for MNSSHP / MVMCP. It wasn't all that long ago (about 4 years) that we didn't have an Annual Pass discount and DVC members could not buy the Disney Dining Plan.

Over the last 4-5 years DVC has added a host of new features to the website (with more reportedly to come) and Member Services hours expanded to 7 days / week within the last year.

All of the resorts are being retrofitted with amenities like new style sofabeds, new mattresses, new patio furniture, DVD players and iHome clock radios. We're starting to see older properties updated with new appliances and flat panel TVs. We're getting rooftop lounges, concierge accommodations and resort keycard entry systems. We have access to new destinations and accommodations which are larger and better furnished in the past--certainly a benefit since these rooms are available even to members who have owned at OKW since 1991.

You're right that eventually we all will lose something that we like. But the hope is that a new perk or benefit will emerge to fill the void. Perks come and perks go. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[anna08]

We normally do not have a car so I am not familiar with WDW valet usage - are you expected to pay the $12 to the valet or does this get added to your itemized bill from the resort?

A medical office building valet service here switched from free to only a $3 charge and the valets' tips plummeted.

I think it is crummy of the administration to leave it to MS and the valet attendants to spread the news.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...2-3 years ago we didn't have any member perks at Disneyland. Two years ago we didn't have free Internet access. Six months ago we didn't have sleeper chairs at Vero. ...

We had member perks in DL as far back as 2005 when we were there because we got Portable Perks from the GC desk. I wasn't there before that, so I can't say further back or not. I don't really see the sleeper chair as a perk, but as a negative - crowding rooms that shouldn't be crowded with extra guests.

What about banking rules? Those were manageable in the past, but they reduced the amount of time you could bank those points. Sure, you had to bank 100% sooner, but you could still bank them 9 months out. That was for the convenience of MS, not the member.

I'd just like DVC to enforce the rules they already have on the books before they start adding new ones or changing the ones they have.

 

[Tara]

We normally do not have a car so I am not familiar with WDW valet usage - are you expected to pay the $12 to the valet or does this get added to your itemized bill from the resort?

A medical office building valet service here switched from free to only a $3 charge and the valets' tips plummeted.

I think it is crummy of the administration to leave it to MS and the valet attendants to spread the news.

You can pay it directly, but it can also be put on your room bill.

 

[DVC Mike]

If the cost for valet service was going up, why didn't DVC just change from "free" valet to a discount on valet? Why eliminate the valet perk completely?

Why go from free to $12 a day? Why not give us a reduced rate as a perk, say $5 a day for valet? Why eliminate the perk completely?

 

[Chuck S]

If the cost for valet service was going up, why didn't DVC just change from "free" valet to a discount on valet? Why eliminate the valet perk completely?

Why go from free to $12 a day? Why not give us a reduced rate as a perk, say $5 a day for valet? Why eliminate the perk completely?

How would DVC have any control over it, if the valet services are contracted out by Disney to a third party?

 

[Tara]

If the cost for valet service was going up, why didn't DVC just change from "free" valet to a discount on valet? Why eliminate the valet perk completely?

Why go from free to $12 a day? Why not give us a reduced rate as a perk, say $5 a day for valet? Why eliminate the perk completely?

This is my thought exactly. Does the valet contractor really believe they'll keep enough customers at $12 per day to make as much or more than more customers at some reduced rate?

ETA - as I've said already I believe I will still definitely pay the $12 per day because it's worth it to me. I have appreciated the 100% discount and certainly wouldn't look sideways at a smaller discount, but at 0% discount I still think it's a great deal.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I've been thinking about this for a day or two and have come to this conclusion about the valet parking.

I'm one of those no-nonsense girls that don't get spa treatments, don't go to concierge suites in hotels, and don't pay for valet parking.

DVC has allowed my husband and I to take wonderfully extravagent trips to Walt Disney World. We get to stay at wonderful resorts, and be more free wheeling with restaurants and souvenirs. The free valet parking was part of that package.

I won't pay $12 plus tip for valet parking, so DVC won't feel quite as special to me.

 

[photobob]

If the cost for valet service was going up, why didn't DVC just change from "free" valet to a discount on valet? Why eliminate the valet perk completely?

Why go from free to $12 a day? Why not give us a reduced rate as a perk, say $5 a day for valet? Why eliminate the perk completely?

I agree. I might have been more inclined to continue to use it at a discounted rate, but to go from free to full price, no thank you.

I bet the valets are going to miss our business. If you cut the amount of tips a valet is making significantly (and I definitely think that is going to happen) he'll find something better paying to do, so you'll probably end up with the quality of employees dropping as well. It may not affect the amount of money the company makes but their employees are going to take a hit, and when they do they'll be leaving in droves.