NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[Opie100]

Bottomline for me: I don't care much about valet, but if I arrive at my home resort (BCV) and there is no self-parking available, I will politely ask the hotel manager to cover costs for valet parking until a spot opens up.

 

[snackyx]

I am also an owner at Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu, the same location Disney is building next to. Owner's at Ko Olina are charged $5.00/day for valet parking. Non-owner's are charged $30/day for valet parking. Disney could certainly offer members a reduced rate.

We are OKW owners so valet there is not an issue. We do rent a car every trip and make frequent trips to BWV to dine at Flying Fish, ESPN, Spoodles (now Kouzzina), etc. The free valet at the Boardwalk was a real plus in our decisions to visit there. I have used non-valet at BWV and its a mess. The bus links from OKW to the Boardwalk is a long trip to make for dinner. How about getting a validation from a Boardwalk restaurant for valet parking? Trust me--without valet we may rethink our dining choices there due to the parking hassles at Boardwalk for the abovementioned reasons.

 

[hakepb]

I am also an owner at Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu, the same location Disney is building next to. Owner's at Ko Olina are charged $5.00/day for valet parking. Non-owner's are charged $30/day for valet parking. Disney could certainly offer members a reduced rate.

We are OKW owners so valet there is not an issue. We do rent a car every trip and make frequent trips to BWV to dine at Flying Fish, ESPN, Spoodles (now Kouzzina), etc. The free valet at the Boardwalk was a real plus in our decisions to visit there. I have used non-valet at BWV and its a mess. The bus links from OKW to the Boardwalk is a long trip to make for dinner. How about getting a validation from a Boardwalk restaurant for valet parking? Trust me--without valet we may rethink our dining choices there due to the parking hassles at Boardwalk for the abovementioned reasons.

There's no doubt that this will affect some visits. But Disney probably has good numbers from other Deluxe hotels and has decided there is little statistical difference.

It's not like there was so little parking at DTD to merit closing the Adventurer's club..

 

[jennyjuops]

We just returned from a stay at the Beach Club Villa's and they do charge DVC members for Valet Parking. Not only were we charged, but the price went up from $10 to $12 overnight! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that they took away this "perk." They are giving away so much to other tourists (3 free nights, free meal plans,etc) and what do we get???

 

[crisi]

More to my theory.....

Several years ago when Mears got the contract, the economy was flying high and people were throwing around money on vacation. Mears probably didn't care that it parked DVC cars for free, there were plenty of people paying $10 a pop for valet at the Deluxe resorts.

The economy crashes, and even those people taking a Deluxe vacation trim their expenses a little. Like maybe less signature dining. Less alcohol. And they self park.

So the contract comes due again, and Mears reviews their numbers. They've seen a significant drop in revenue with the economy. They need to get their revenue up. They are much less likely to give concessions to discount DVC members or park them for free - and they are going to raise the price.

 

[Tara]

We just returned from a stay at the Beach Club Villa's and they do charge DVC members for Valet Parking. Not only were we charged, but the price went up from $10 to $12 overnight! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that they took away this "perk." They are giving away so much to other tourists (3 free nights, free meal plans,etc) and what do we get???

I see this is your first post - welcome to the DIS.

What you get is a great rate on pre-paid, spacious accommodations with lots of amenities in an attractive setting. No special deal can beat that in the long run.

 

[twinklebug]

So the contract comes due again, and Mears reviews their numbers. They've seen a significant drop in revenue with the economy. They need to get their revenue up. They are much less likely to give concessions to discount DVC members or park them for free - and they are going to raise the price.

You may be right Crisi. It's also quite possible that when Mears won the contract they didn't read all the terms carefully and weren't aware of the free valet service for DVC members, or underestimated the quantity who'd be using it. And if the contract was up for renewal, they took advantage of the timing to make sure they got paid for their services.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd bet that it won't be too long and they will start to charge a nominal fee for ME, like $20 each way per adult, $10 each way for children (3-9). Enough to keep guests from renting cars and using town cars, but enough to make some money on the deal.

If they required all resort guests to enter their own resort parking lot using a card key and all others to go through the guard shack/toll booth, that would cut down on the non-resort guests from parking there. If you were checking in, your name would be on the list, kind of like they do now.

 

[Dean]

I'm sure you meant that tongue in cheek...but there are some non-Disney operated onsite resorts that charge a daily self parking fee...and Universal resorts also charge a self parking fee.

While I doubt they'd ever charge DVC for self parking, as the maintenance of the lots is covered by dues, I guess they legally could.

As I suggested, many resorts do charge for self parking though timeshares that do are still a minority. Many of the Marriott's charge for parking to non Marriott members but they all are free for Marriott owners even if not staying at their resort.

just got back from AKV at Kidani

the parking "slip" thingy means nothing, what they are looking for when you go through a "gate" is the "keys to the world" room key you get at check in and this applied to the main magic kingdom gate we went through when we were visiting Wilderness Lodge/Polynesian Resort

It varies. Usually at the resort you are staying at (though not always), they will waive you through. Usually for the parks likewise they won't ask for a card of ID though there are exceptions to both. I'd say it's roughly 60/40 at other resorts that they'll ask why you're there and for either a picture ID or your room key vs just waiving your through. And which resort also matters, the EPCOT resorts and resorts near MK are far more likely to ask than are the moderates or values it seems and that makes sense.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If they required all resort guests to enter their own resort parking lot using a card key and all others to go through the guard shack/toll booth, that would cut down on the non-resort guests from parking there. If you were checking in, your name would be on the list, kind of like they do now.

With the exception when you arrive the day you check-in, don't all the resorts have this option? Whenever my family and I drive back to the Contemporary sometimes we will go in the area where the Disney buses enter, insert our KTTW card and the barrier will go up.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With the exception when you arrive the day you check-in, don't all the resorts have this option? Whenever my family and I drive back to the Contemporary sometimes we will go in the area where the Disney buses enter, insert our KTTW card and the barrier will go up.

Uh, yeh. But they would require them to go this way instead of through the toll booth to save time.

 

[dvcbrad]

I am not a user of valet parking, as I thoroughly enjoy not having to drive while on vacation at WDW. Nevertheless, I understand how this does impact the users of this perk.

What concerns me, and I have contacted MS regarding this as well, is the lack of advance notice and the precedent this sets for other unannounced, impromptu perk reductions and/or eliminations. I don't feel entitled to them, but they exist and you expect them to be there when you are.

I have read here how this has impacted current guests, and would imagine that some might have made other plans had they have know of the change. Let's face it - no one is happy when a reduction/elimination of a perk is made. It does happen though, and when it does, it's best handled with proper notification. THAT'S where I think Disney/DVC REALLY dropped the ball. And, as I said, what other overnight changes could happen without first notifying the guests? It's a rough economy, and when a change is made that will cost people additional vacation dollars, they should be forewarned rather than just having it dropped on them. It then could be managed rather than having to come up with the extra money - and it may have influenced someone's decision to go or not - or rent a car or not, etc. Poor execution on the part of Disney/DVC!

 

[Tara]

With the exception when you arrive the day you check-in, don't all the resorts have this option? Whenever my family and I drive back to the Contemporary sometimes we will go in the area where the Disney buses enter, insert our KTTW card and the barrier will go up.

The difference would be that in the case of the example given, the resort key access lane would connect to resort parking that couldn't be accessed by other drivers who go through the guard shack lane. As it stands now, all people entering the resort have access to the same areas.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The difference would be that in the case of the example given, the resort key access lane would connect to resort parking that couldn't be accessed by other drivers who go through the guard shack lane. As it stands now, all people entering the resort have access to the same areas.

Ok now I understand.

 

[DebbieB]

They could do like they do at CSR. There's the main guard gate but then to get into the parking areas where the rooms are you have to use a room key.

At BWV, they could put a gate on the entrance to the parking on the right. Others could use the left. All the resorts have the valet parking areas with gates, they could do something similiar.

 

[crisi]

I'd bet that it won't be too long and they will start to charge a nominal fee for ME, like $20 each way per adult, $10 each way for children (3-9). Enough to keep guests from renting cars and using town cars, but enough to make some money on the deal.

I think they will - particularly with DVC members. With hotel guests they can build it into the room rate. With DVC members Disney is more fond of the "pay for play" model - which is fair. I don't want to pay for someone else's valet from my dues, and they shouldn't pay for my ME out of theirs.

And, frankly, I wouldn't mind. If its a fair price we'd pay it. If it wasn't, we'd grab a cab.

 

[Sammie]

I'd bet that it won't be too long and they will start to charge a nominal fee for ME, like $20 each way per adult, $10 each way for children (3-9). Enough to keep guests from renting cars and using town cars, but enough to make some money on the deal.

If they required all resort guests to enter their own resort parking lot using a card key and all others to go through the guard shack/toll booth, that would cut down on the non-resort guests from parking there. If you were checking in, your name would be on the list, kind of like they do now.

I have made this suggestion to MS in the past. I hope now they see a real need for it especially at BWV, BCV and VWL and even BLT. They need to have a restricted parking area for resort guests only, easily restricted the same way the valet area is that is accessed with the Resort ID card.

I hope they listen. I don't have a problem of going through the guard shack upon arrival but after you recieve your resort ID, they need to restrict parking to Resort guests only and have a very small area for those dining or shopping, that is further from the resort. At BW it needs to be the lot behind the Hess gas station.

If they do not address this problem of guests that are staying at resort not having a place to park, you will see some parking on the grass, double parking and who knows what else.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have made this suggestion to MS in the past. I hope now they see a real need for it especially at BWV, BCV and VWL and even BLT. They need to have a restricted parking area for resort guests only, easily restricted the same way the valet area is that is accessed with the Resort ID card.

I hope they listen. I don't have a problem of going through the guard shack upon arrival but after you recieve your resort ID, they need to restrict parking to Resort guests only and have a very small area for those dining or shopping, that is further from the resort. At BW it needs to be the lot behind the Hess gas station.

If they do not address this problem of guests that are staying at resort not having a place to park, you will see some parking on the grass, double parking and who knows what else.

I don't think they can add a parking lot area only for Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower guests, because there doesn't seem to be any room. A Cast Member once told me if they didn't have the convention center where it is then it might have beeen possible to have guests just visiting to park there, however they don't expect to ever add that.

Also doesn't the Boardwalk already have seperate parking for guests not staying there, because whenever my family and I went to visit there we were always told to park in the visitors lot to the left of the guard gate and not in the general parking lot.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't think they can add a parking lot area only for Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower guests, because there doesn't seem to be any room. A Cast Member once told me if they didn't have the convention center where it is then it might have beeen possible to have guests just visiting to park there, however they don't expect to ever add that.

Also doesn't the Boardwalk already have seperate parking for guests not staying there, because whenever my family and I went to visit there we were always told to park in the visitors lot to the left of the guard gate and not in the general parking lot.

Then they need to offer convention guests free valet as part of their convention fees.

At the BW, there is no requirement for non-resort guests to park at the further lot on the Hess side of the street. All the person coming up has to say is that they are dining at the BW.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'd bet that it won't be too long and they will start to charge a nominal fee for ME, like $20 each way per adult, $10 each way for children (3-9). Enough to keep guests from renting cars and using town cars, but enough to make some money on the deal.

If they required all resort guests to enter their own resort parking lot using a card key and all others to go through the guard shack/toll booth, that would cut down on the non-resort guests from parking there. If you were checking in, your name would be on the list, kind of like they do now.

We have a friend who's a former CM who's told us that there was a contract for the DME thru like 2010. So who knows what changes they will implement by the end of 2010.