NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[Chuck S]

I don't think that's a major issue though I guess it is one factor. I have had a lot of experience with luggage carts over the years and I prefer them. The issues you raise are controllable and minimal, IMO. As a rule you want to either have luggage carts for guests or bell services, both make non sense for most situation. However, the setup of most DVC resorts are not especially conducive to the use of carts. AKV is and maybe SSR and OKW. VB has a few and I think HH does as well. The rest really aren't set up for cart to be a good fit to varying degrees. For Kidani they could do away with valet totally and really cut back on bell services and have carts. SSR & OKW have a streamlined bell system already just without valet and without the carts which they should have given the setup of those 2 resorts.

At a Hampton Inn in the FL panhandle they had luggage carts for guests use, Some guests would basically collect the cart at night, and keep it in their room so they had use of it at their convenience. One of those guests had kids, and they were skateboarding on two carts down the second floor hallway. After a call to the front desk, the manager took the carts to the normal storage area near the door, where they quickly disappeared back into someones room for the duration of the night.

Why would it be different with unmonitored carts at Disney?

 

[Brian Noble]

Don't be silly, Chuck. Disney guests would *never* do something so inconsiderate.

 

[Dean]

At a Hampton Inn in the FL panhandle they had luggage carts for guests use, Some guests would basically collect the cart at night, and keep it in their room so they had use of it at their convenience. One of those guests had kids, and they were skateboarding on two carts down the second floor hallway. After a call to the front desk, the manager took the carts to the normal storage area near the door, where they quickly disappeared back into someones room for the duration of the night.

Why would it be different with unmonitored carts at Disney?

As I noted, it is an issue but a small and controllable one. Hoarding is an issue but usually only if there really aren't enough carts. Once people figure out they can always find one, this practice really decreases. But there certainly is another side as you point out. However the overall benefit outweighs the risk IMO, esp compared to me having to drag multiple items from the car to the room then back again. YMMV.

 

[Sammie]

At a Hampton Inn in the FL panhandle they had luggage carts for guests use, Some guests would basically collect the cart at night, and keep it in their room so they had use of it at their convenience. One of those guests had kids, and they were skateboarding on two carts down the second floor hallway. After a call to the front desk, the manager took the carts to the normal storage area near the door, where they quickly disappeared back into someones room for the duration of the night.

Why would it be different with unmonitored carts at Disney?

I don't imagine it would be any different, I have to dodge scooters, and strollers while at WDW, I do not want to have to dodge luggage carts out of control. I have no problem with them remaining in the hands of Disney.

Every resort has luggage assistance if you need it. So I see no reason to have the carts.

 

[Doctor P]

At a Hampton Inn in the FL panhandle they had luggage carts for guests use, Some guests would basically collect the cart at night, and keep it in their room so they had use of it at their convenience. One of those guests had kids, and they were skateboarding on two carts down the second floor hallway. After a call to the front desk, the manager took the carts to the normal storage area near the door, where they quickly disappeared back into someones room for the duration of the night.

Why would it be different with unmonitored carts at Disney?

My conception of the luggage carts would be of the type they have at the HH resort. I don't think those carts would fit into a room, nor would anyone want one in their room, LOL. They are for heavy duty moving of large amounts of luggage. They would fit in elevators and would fit in the hallways. BTW, I would add BCV as a place where I think the luggage carts would work as well as the ones that Dean speculated about.

 

[Doctor P]

I don't imagine it would be any different, I have to dodge scooters, and strollers while at WDW, I do not want to have to dodge luggage carts out of control. I have no problem with them remaining in the hands of Disney.

Every resort has luggage assistance if you need it. So I see no reason to have the carts.

I was quite glad to tip the bell services for their assistance while we were using valet parking. Perhaps the answer is to put a bell stand in the self parking area if that is the issue.

 

[Sammie]

I was quite glad to tip the bell services for their assistance while we were using valet parking. Perhaps the answer is to put a bell stand in the self parking area if that is the issue.

You can still use bell services even if you don't valet, and even at OKW and SSR where there is no valet. Just pull up, ask them to take your luggage and then park your car.

Not as convenient as valet but at least you don't have to deal with your luggage unless you want to.

I agree that some improvements to the parking lot situation need to be made and I shared my concerns with MS and I feel they will pass them on. I also shared them with Disney guest communications since most of the problems are the resorts with shared facilities.

 

[Doctor P]

You can still use bell services even if you don't valet, and even at OKW and SSR where there is no valet. Just pull up, ask them to take your luggage and then park your car.

Not as convenient as valet but at least you don't have to deal with your luggage unless you want to.

I agree that some improvements to the parking lot situation need to be made and I shared my concerns with MS and I feel they will pass them on. I also shared them with Disney guest communications since most of the problems are the resorts with shared facilities.

Fully understood and realized. Actually, I think the only issues are at resorts with shared facilities because I don't think there is valet parking at resorts with non-shared facilities.

 

[SteffyLou]

Hello All,

Just wanted to let you know what happened to my husband and I yesterday.

We are DVC members and did not know about the valet being taken away until yesterday.

We were staying at another hotel and pulled up to the Boardwalk so we could eat lunch there. We showed our DVC card at the gate and pulled up to valet. When we got up there we were told that we no longer received free DVC however if we had Tables in Wonderland we could receive it. While we do have TiW, we forgot the card at home.

So then we said forget it, we will just self park. Well they have changed this at Boardwalk. Every parking lot now has a security guard standing at it. You can't get into it unless you are staying at the Boardwalk.

So we went across the street to the other self parking lot. There was another guard there who told us, "Sorry we are full. You can't park here, " even though we were hotel guests and DVC members.

We ended up having to go to the Beach Club and walk to Boardwalk for our lunch reservations.

 

[Sammie]

Fully understood and realized. Actually, I think the only issues are at resorts with shared facilities because I don't think there is valet parking at resorts with non-shared facilities.

No valet at OKW and SSR but they do offer luggage assistance if you need it.

In fact if you need it there, they will meet you at your room and help you unload it from the car and take it to your room.

At the shared facilites, BWV, VWL, BLT, AKV and BCV you can still use bell services to take your luggage.

So while the loss of valet services is something I will miss, it should not affect anyone in dealing with their luggage. That has not changed.

 

[jekjones1558]

You can still use bell services even if you don't valet, and even at OKW and SSR where there is no valet. Just pull up, ask them to take your luggage and then park your car.

I don't know how things are working now but my experience with bell services has been different since valet was outsourced. When we have pulled up to the entrance it is valet who has taken the luggage. Then, when the luggage gets inside the hotel, responsibility is transferred to bell services. Since the two services have different employers and do not share tips, it seems to require tips for those unloading (valet) and a separate tip to those who bring luggage to the room (bell services). I have not seen bell services outside of the building since valet was outsourced. Perhaps others could post regarding this issue.

 

[Sammie]

I don't know how things are working now but my experience with bell services has been different since valet was outsourced. When we have pulled up to the entrance it is valet who has taken the luggage. Then, when the luggage gets inside the hotel, responsibility is transferred to bell services. Since the two services have different employers and do not share tips, it seems to require tips for those unloading (valet) and a separate tip to those who bring luggage to the room (bell services). I have not seen bell services outside of the building since valet was outsourced. Perhaps others could post regarding this issue.

Even if you do not wish to valet your car, you can still use assistance to get your luggage. I have confirmed this with the BWV. I was instructed to simply ask them to hold your luggage and then go park your car. When you get your room call for your luggage.

Also as noted due to the Food and Wine and change to Valet they are securing the parking lot to make sure all guests staying at the resort will have a place to park.

As to tipping, it has always been seperate to me. I tipped the person taking my luggage and the person bringing it to me, as it was different people.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Even if you do not wish to valet your car, you can still use assistance to get your luggage. I have confirmed this with the BWV. I was instructed to simply ask them to hold your luggage and then go park your car. When you get your room call for your luggage.

That's exactly what my family and I have done each time we have stayed at the Contemporary. Now since we stay Club Level it's a bit different because a Cast Member takes us up to our floor so we can check-in and the bellman takes our luggae up going on some service elevator only for Cast Members. However the process is still the same when we arrive because they un load our luggage and my dad says he wants to park our car which they don't mind him doing.

 

[Dean]

BTW, I would add BCV as a place where I think the luggage carts would work as well as the ones that Dean speculated about.

One of the criteria I used in thinking about which ones would work well was a place to store the carts, another was the distance and retrieving the carts back for those departing. These were the areas where BCV, BLT, VLW and BWV didn't fit to me, even for the side entrance at BCV & BWV. Still, that doesn't mean they're unworkable at any of them if DVC chose to go that route.

 

[Sammie]

Why would Disney provide carts when they have staff getting paid and wanting tips to provide that service.

 

[Tara]

Why would Disney provide carts when they have staff getting paid and wanting tips to provide that service.

And frankly, guests are already hard enough on the resorts as it is. The last thing I want to see is luggage cart dings and scrapes all along the hallways in my DVC home.

 

[cutakenta]

Hello All,

Just wanted to let you know what happened to my husband and I yesterday.

We are DVC members and did not know about the valet being taken away until yesterday.

We were staying at another hotel and pulled up to the Boardwalk so we could eat lunch there. We showed our DVC card at the gate and pulled up to valet. When we got up there we were told that we no longer received free DVC however if we had Tables in Wonderland we could receive it. While we do have TiW, we forgot the card at home.

So then we said forget it, we will just self park. Well they have changed this at Boardwalk. Every parking lot now has a security guard standing at it. You can't get into it unless you are staying at the Boardwalk.

So we went across the street to the other self parking lot. There was another guard there who told us, "Sorry we are full. You can't park here, " even though we were hotel guests and DVC members.

We ended up having to go to the Beach Club and walk to Boardwalk for our lunch reservations.

I guess Disney wants everyone to sit on the bus like a herd of cattle. I hate the buses and refuse to be at the mercy of them.

Disney is starting the "New Disney Experience", drive up to the front on the resort and throw your money out the window and just use your imagination on how good it might have been.

 

[photobob]

Hello All,

Just wanted to let you know what happened to my husband and I yesterday.

We are DVC members and did not know about the valet being taken away until yesterday.

We were staying at another hotel and pulled up to the Boardwalk so we could eat lunch there. We showed our DVC card at the gate and pulled up to valet. When we got up there we were told that we no longer received free DVC however if we had Tables in Wonderland we could receive it. While we do have TiW, we forgot the card at home.

So then we said forget it, we will just self park. Well they have changed this at Boardwalk. Every parking lot now has a security guard standing at it. You can't get into it unless you are staying at the Boardwalk.

So we went across the street to the other self parking lot. There was another guard there who told us, "Sorry we are full. You can't park here, " even though we were hotel guests and DVC members.

We ended up having to go to the Beach Club and walk to Boardwalk for our lunch reservations.

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I am glad that they are monitoring the parking lots making sure resorts guests have a place to park, but on the other hand I think a dining reservation at the Boardwalk should allow you to have a place to park.

 

[disneynutz]

I don't know how things are working now but my experience with bell services has been different since valet was outsourced. When we have pulled up to the entrance it is valet who has taken the luggage. Then, when the luggage gets inside the hotel, responsibility is transferred to bell services. Since the two services have different employers and do not share tips, it seems to require tips for those unloading (valet) and a separate tip to those who bring luggage to the room (bell services). I have not seen bell services outside of the building since valet was outsourced. Perhaps others could post regarding this issue.

You are correct. We have found this to be true at all Valet locations. Valet expects a tip and Bell Services expects a tip. Also your luggage may sit on the cart for awhile due to Bell Services being busy or short handed. Last year they lost all of our food and luggage between the Valet and Bell Services. A couple of hours later they found the cart in a storage room.

Bill

 

[adminjedi]

I guess Disney wants everyone to sit on the bus like a herd of cattle. I hate the buses and refuse to be at the mercy of them.

Disney is starting the "New Disney Experience", drive up to the front on the resort and throw your money out the window and just use your imagination on how good it might have been.

You have the option of staying home - I don't think they have cornered the market on mind control and are forcing you to spend your time and money there!
That would mean one less person on the bus for the rest of us to enjoy the ride!