NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[Chuck S]

So you went from an estimated cost earlier of $100K to $262K, and you use the smallest resort to make your case. Wouldn't there be far fewer cars using valet at a resort that's what... 1/5th the size of BWV? You may be right, and it may be higher (may be way lower)-but at least someone is finally talking app costs, and I for one, appreciate that because we are not in favor of a generic membership.

The $100K figure was using a discounted rate of about $5 per car, or based upon funding some employee costs only, not full funding of $12 per car.

Another unknown is the actual average number of cars parked per day. I figured 100 turns, with DVC being 60% of those turns. It may be more, it may be less...but it think it would make sense that there would be more "free" turns than paid turns.

The point is still, where is the tipping point for a dues subsidy to pay for this perk?

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know, but you just increased their revenue from $0 to app $100K to $262K (plus tips) for VWL-and that's just the DVC portion of customers.

Tips are not revenue for the contractor, only the individual valet, and really aren't considered in most decisions for major corporations. The corporation needs to provide a minimum wage in FL of $4.19 per hour to tipped employees, no matter how much additional they earn per hour in tips. They also have to pay employment taxes, business expenses, coorporate and accounting salaries, unemployment insurance. And we don't know if they are provided health insurance. Given that, the $100K figure seems a little low. It isn't like a restauant or other location that offers valet for only a few hours per day, there needs to be valets available 24/7, and that requires more employees.

 

[CT_Bev&Jeff]

I am with you 100% Chuck. I don't think it is fair to ask all the members to pay for perks that only some use. Let them pay as they go.

Which is why I want the "free" internet to go away. I really don't understand why that was something that DVC decided to add anyway.

I don't use that, and therefore don't see any reason why any of my dues should be used to pay for that.

As you can see this discussion can follow the pay as go plan far enough until someone has their pet perk brought up, then it becomes important to explain why we need to keep that one.

I understand the need to keep costs down, I do not understand why DVC management cannot find a way to keep the members informed in a timely fashion. That is my biggest frustration, period.

CT_Jeff

 

[RAD]

I am with you 100% Chuck. I don't think it is fair to ask all the members to pay for perks that only some use. Let them pay as they go.

Which is why I want the "free" internet to go away. I really don't understand why that was something that DVC decided to add anyway.

I don't use that, and therefore don't see any reason why any of my dues should be used to pay for that.

As you can see this discussion can follow the pay as go plan far enough until someone has their pet perk brought up, then it becomes important to explain why we need to keep that one.

I understand the need to keep costs down, I do not understand why DVC management cannot find a way to keep the members informed in a timely fashion. That is my biggest frustration, period.

CT_Jeff

OK, let's continue along that line. Let's put coin meters on the washer/dryers, why should I have to pay for those if I'm not using them? How about the pools, do like they did at BLT and put a fence around it and you need to have a room key to get in, if you haven't paid the pool use fee you can't get in. Remove the DVD players from the rooms, I've never used one, if you need one you go rent one at the front desk.

Sorry, but I'm from the I'm willing to pay more every year to keep the features/perks that were provide when I purchased DVC group.

 

[tjkraz]

OK, let's continue along that line. Let's put coin meters on the washer/dryers, why should I have to pay for those if I'm not using them? How about the pools, do like they did at BLT and put a fence around it and you need to have a room key to get in, if you haven't paid the pool use fee you can't get in. Remove the DVD players from the rooms, I've never used one, if you need one you go rent one at the front desk.

Cost is going to play a big role in these decisions.

DVD players are practically disposable these days. You can buy one for $20 and with normal hotel use will probably last for a couple of years.

A washer/dryer is probably $800-1000 and could last for 5 years or more.

I believe pool use is guaranteed by the POS so that really isn't a valid pay-for-play option.

By comparison, if an average of 60 resort guests are valet parking per day, that's a $720 dues charge every single day of the year. In two weeks' time the amount spent on valet parking is about equal to putting DVD players in every BWV room or equipping a full laundry room for years to come.

Sorry, but I'm from the I'm willing to pay more every year to keep the features/perks that were provide when I purchased DVC group.

In the face of rising costs, not every member shares that philosophy.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Cost is going to play a big role in these decisions.

DVD players are practically disposable these days. You can buy one for $20 and with normal hotel use will probably last for a couple of years.

A washer/dryer is probably $800-1000 and could last for 5 years or more.

I believe pool use is guaranteed by the POS so that really isn't a valid pay-for-play option.

By comparison, if an average of 60 resort guests are valet parking per day, that's a $720 dues charge every single day of the year. In two weeks' time the amount spent on valet parking is about equal to putting DVD players in every BWV room or equipping a full laundry room for years to come.



In the face of rising costs, not every member shares that philosophy.

Then let's go this route

Magical Express and Property Transportation. I always rent a car - so I rarely use the bus systems at WDW. I propose that goes to a pay per play plan

Disney pays Mears for ME and since I am not using that then they could use the ME fees they saved on my party of 5 and apply it to my valet fees...

A price quote from mears show that it costs $151 RT for my family from the airport...I could valet for 12 days and they would still be ahead. That doesn't include the fact that they don't have to have someone pull my luggage and transport to the resort as well.

 

[wdwstar]

Lives changes everyday, just like vacations. Maybe you have never used the
valet parking, DVD players, interenet service, washer/dryer, etc. Maybe you will use them on vacation in the future. How many complained when you bought into DVC that you didnt want part of your dues that you pay to go towards DVC for the perks?. How many didnt buy into DVC because of the dues going towards the perks? How many bought into DVC because of all the little extras?

It is kinda hard to have nice perks and then the perks are pulled out from underneath us.

I think the BWV will be the most difficult resort to stay at because of the parking. We will see if the attendance falls at the BWV.

DVC should have sent everyone a letter or email about the valet parking, this was a big perk for members.

 

[dizkneedoll]

Got my "canned" response from "Buffy" this morning after sending an email to member services last evening. It was obvious my email was not even read. They are probably at the point that they just read the title and shoot off the canned response. Figured it would be what I got. Oh well ... another wonderful perk down the drain ... wonder which perk will be the next one to go. .

 

[whitfamily]

I got my canned response as well. They did not even answer 2/3 of the questions I asked regarding announcement, impact on MF's, etc.

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

As part of the normal course of doing business, we regularly evaluate
and adjust our pricing. As a result, effective Sunday, October 11,
2009, complimentary valet parking for Disney Vacation Club Members at
the Walt Disney World Resort has been discontinued. The valet parking
charge is $12.00 per day, however complimentary self-parking is always
available. Similar to other fee-based services, such as additional
housekeeping service or additional room amenities, only those Members
who choose to valet park will be charged instead of increasing the
annual dues for all Members. Members and Guests who have disabled
parking permits will continue to receive complimentary valet parking.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Member Services | Online Communications
Disney Vacation Club

And of course between lose of valet and transportation energy cost dropping almost 30% this year I am looking forward to the transportation costs associated with MF's going down

 

[crisi]

Tips are not revenue for the contractor, only the individual valet, and really aren't considered in most decisions for major corporations. The corporation needs to provide a minimum wage in FL of $4.19 per hour to tipped employees, no matter how much additional they earn per hour in tips. They also have to pay employment taxes, business expenses, coorporate and accounting salaries, unemployment insurance. And we don't know if they are provided health insurance. Given that, the $100K figure seems a little low. It isn't like a restauant or other location that offers valet for only a few hours per day, there needs to be valets available 24/7, and that requires more employees.

By federal law they need to make sure that base + tips = federal minimum wage of $7 something. So if the valets aren't getting tips to bring them up to $7 something, Mears needs to make up the difference. And I'd guess that liability insurance for valet services is not cheap.

 

[RAD]

And of course between lose of valet and transportation energy cost dropping almost 30% this year I am looking forward to the transportation costs associated with MF's going down

Yea, like that's going to happen.

 

[tjkraz]

Then let's go this route

Magical Express and Property Transportation. I always rent a car - so I rarely use the bus systems at WDW. I propose that goes to a pay per play plan

Disney pays Mears for ME and since I am not using that then they could use the ME fees they saved on my party of 5 and apply it to my valet fees...

A price quote from mears show that it costs $151 RT for my family from the airport...I could valet for 12 days and they would still be ahead. That doesn't include the fact that they don't have to have someone pull my luggage and transport to the resort as well.

In that case, the driving force behind the perk is probably Disney's own desire to market airport and theme park transportation is being included in their vacation offerings. For better or worse, we are subject to Disney's whims when it comes to most issues. Not saying that it's right or wrong...just that it is what it is.

These two issues may also fall under the heading of "what serves the greater good." You may not use theme park buses, but I suspect the vast majority of your fellow members do. That alone justifies making it a common cost. The same may be true for DME as well.

As for the cost, unlike Mears DME is almost certainly run as a non-profit. Program costs are charged back to resort hotels so it doesn't make sense to show any sort of profit associated with the DME services at the expense of resort profits. It's a resort service similar to housekeeping or front desk staff...not a profit center. DME charges are certainly far less than any quote you would get from Mears.

 

[tjkraz]

And of course between lose of valet and transportation energy cost dropping almost 30% this year I am looking forward to the transportation costs associated with MF's going down

Don't assume that members were paying anything for valet in the past. Removing the perk probably will not have a positive impact on dues, but continuing it definitely would have had a negative impact.

As for dues going down, that certainly could happen. It has in the past.

From 2008 to 2009 the Front Desk fees for SSR owners went from .3020 per point to .2906 per point. BWV front desk went from .6380 to .6138. And those weren't the only reductions at either resort.

All transportation budgets went up sharply from '08 to '09. With gas prices taking a dive in '09 and showing some stability, it's entirely possible that the budget for '10 will be lower.

 

[cutakenta]

Tips are not revenue for the contractor, only the individual valet, and really aren't considered in most decisions for major corporations. The corporation needs to provide a minimum wage in FL of $4.19 per hour to tipped employees, no matter how much additional they earn per hour in tips. They also have to pay employment taxes, business expenses, coorporate and accounting salaries, unemployment insurance. And we don't know if they are provided health insurance. Given that, the $100K figure seems a little low. It isn't like a restauant or other location that offers valet for only a few hours per day, there needs to be valets available 24/7, and that requires more employees.

Do you know that for sure? How do you know that tips aren't "pooled"
together?

My brother had a valet business 17 years ago and paid a "fee" to the nightclub to provide service. All tips were pooled together and paid for the hourly rates on his guys.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

As for the cost, unlike Mears DME is almost certainly run as a non-profit. Program costs are charged back to resort hotels so it doesn't make sense to show any sort of profit associated with the DME services at the expense of resort profits. It's a resort service similar to housekeeping or front desk staff...not a profit center. DME charges are certainly far less than any quote you would get from Mears.

Isn't DME run by Mears, so Disney must be providing them a revenue that is profit substaining? I do believe DME is a loss-leader for Disney though, costs born are intended to increase revenue and make people a captive audience.

 

[Chuck S]

Do you know that for sure? How do you know that tips aren't "pooled"
together?

My brother had a valet business 17 years ago and paid a "fee" to the nightclub to provide service. All tips were pooled together and paid for the hourly rates on his guys.

Under FL law, tips can not be used as an offset to the $4.19.

 

[tjkraz]

Isn't DME run by Mears, so Disney must be providing them a revenue that is profit substaining? I do believe DME is a loss-leader for Disney though, costs born are intended to increase revenue and make people a captive audience.

Good point about Mears running it.

But from Disney's POV, whatever they are paying Mears is part of the operating costs. Those costs are divvied up among the resorts. And Mears' cut of the action is certainly nothing like the rates they independently charge tourists for airport shuttle service.

The poster in question said that it would cost $151 RT for his/her family to use Mears' own shuttle service to and from MCO. There is no way Disney is paying a total of $151 to provide RT shuttle service for 4 guests.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The poster in question said that it would cost $151 RT for his/her family to use Mears' own shuttle service to and from MCO. There is no way Disney is paying a total of $151 to provide RT shuttle service for 4 guests.

I definately don't hold the same belief.

Considering the resources of baggage, actual bus transfer and staffing of the podium that DME requires it very well could be close to the $37/person round trip. My guess is that contact is very lucractive to MEARS.

 

[photobob]

No free valet parking is a dealbreaker for buying a timeshare?

I'm with you Mike, I don't like losing a perk but it is hardly a dealbreaker.

 

[cutakenta]

Under FL law, tips can not be used as an offset to the $4.19.

I will call my brother tonight and ask him but I am pretty sure he paid between $9-15 an hour and that was around 1992-1994.

Next time I am there I will ask if the tips are pooled.