NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[TiggerAllie]

We are checking in at VWL on Friday, so I will be calling MS tomorrow to ask about this change. Currently dvcmember.com still lists:
"Valet parking is complimentary at Disney's BoardWalk Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Disney's Beach Club Resort. Just show your Disney Vacation Club Member ID Card. Complimentary valet parking is not available at other valet parking operations or for Theme Park access."
However, it also says:
"All offers are subject to availability and may change without notice. The Disney Vacation Club Member discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or promotions. Please refer to the Member Benefits Guide for important information with regard to the above benefits."
I'll post back what I hear from the MS CM tomorrow. We use this service a lot (along with via the TiW card) as we rent a car and tend to eat at different resorts for dinner each night. I find it particularly useful at BW. I will be calling TiW on Monday to ask them about the free valet privilege.
I notice that CR/BLT and AKL have never been added to the comp valet list.

 

[disneynutz]

Exactly, it is by far one of my pet peeves with them. They flood me with crap, like that, mailings for referrals, addons, etc. but let it be about a significant change to the membership and we get the info here, never from them.

There is no way they did not know this was coming and could have easily emailed the membership and put up a notice on the website letting us know the change was coming.

Someone earlier asked for the email for member satisfaction:

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

This is just another example of Disney focusing on sales and ignoring the members. The marketing folks don't seem to have trouble sending sales information and emails, but membership issues are never communicated. Even MS doesn't get current info. I spoke to Membership Satisfaction today and the Valet issue wasn't mentioned but they did say that no one in the company has talked to them about the Merry Mixers for this year. All of these types of events are paid for by the marketing department and the two departments don't share information.

I'm getting pretty tired of Disney wanting more money for less service. Not communicating with the Membership shows a lack of caring and disrespect towards the members.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The question is why do member services cm's open their mouths before an official announcement? This seems to happen with CRO cm's too. In my job, when there is advance notice of an announcement, we will be told when we can talk about it outside the company. I know better than to tell a customer something before the company announces it .

We will be at BWV next week. I would not have known about this change if it weren't for this thread. I picked up the phone, called MS and they confirmed the change EFFECTIVE TOMMORROW!!

I'm not happy about this change. We normally rent a car and an extra $150, for valet parking and tip, would not have set well with me. Limo service, roundtrip, is less than a week of parking. We can take a taxi, for anything else, if the need arises.

This is one perk I will really miss.

 

[DVCBELLE]

We are checking in at VWL on Friday, so I will be calling MS tomorrow to ask about this change. Currently dvcmember.com still lists:
"Valet parking is complimentary at Disney's BoardWalk Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Disney's Beach Club Resort. Just show your Disney Vacation Club Member ID Card. Complimentary valet parking is not available at other valet parking operations or for Theme Park access."
However, it also says:
"All offers are subject to availability and may change without notice. The Disney Vacation Club Member discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or promotions. Please refer to the Member Benefits Guide for important information with regard to the above benefits."
I'll post back what I hear from the MS CM tomorrow. We use this service a lot (along with via the TiW card) as we rent a car and tend to eat at different resorts for dinner each night. I find it particularly useful at BW. I will be calling TiW on Monday to ask them about the free valet privilege.
I notice that CR/BLT and AKL have never been added to the comp valet list.

I laready called BWV directly and they confirmed the change. It goes into effect tomorrow. She had to check with the valets and seemed sympathetic - particularly when I told her I would most likely not book with BWV anymore despite it being our favorite resort b/c their parking was not sufficient.

I told her I knew it wasn't her issue and that I would be sure to take it up with member services. She seemed very surprised that there was a change in the policy and that there wasn't even a discount for members.

They could have charged us the difference - say it is currently $5 for DVC - and the company now wants $7 - they could charge us $2 - shoot I would probably even be okay at $5!

This could be a game of chicken. The outsourced company may think that DVC members will continue to pay the fee....DVC thinks they won't - so DVC told them to go for it.

 

[Chuck S]

Internet access per day is close to the valet rate in terms of CRO, that's no different. I'm sure if you look at percentages, usage is not that much different for DVC guests using this feature daily and valet.

Yes, but internet services were not free for several years. The initial cost of infrastructure had to be recouped first...the wiring, modems, billing system, etc. When a service position is outsourced like the valets, those costs never really are "recouped" they are an ongoing expense...the expense is whatever the parties agree to in the contract. And remember that DVC is not the primary contractor here, Disney is, Disney operates the cash resorts, Disney contracts with the valet vendor. The resorts that are truly a freestanding DVC resort (SSR and OKW) do not offer valet services at all.

It could also be that the valet company is in a bit of a financial bind, between the current economy and a wage increase. Remember, the company has to pay the valets a wage, even if it is considered a tipped position. It they aren't making enough in fees to do that, they can not operate. There may be additonal problems, maybe they need to refinance or extend a business loan, and the lender is telling them "No." So they look at the logs and see lots of cars being parked with no income from them at all, or at a cheaper negotiated bulk rate from DVC (however the contract works?) We really don't know what is prompting this change, but I'll bet DVC Management has had very little input into the decision.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Thanks to the previous posters that answered my questions about the convenience of self-parking lots at DVC resorts. I had considered driving from AKV to most parks, but will now stick with the busses. (Dh likes forgetting about cars.)

Thanks Sammie for the Member DIS-Satisfaction email address.

 

[LarryM]

If these changes really take effect then the question I have is does the DVC membership own a percentage of the parking lot according to our pwnership of the resort.(I always figured this was the reason that DVC was put at the resorts so that common area fees could be split up and lower Disney's cost by passing it on to us.)If this is the case does the valet lot sit on the hotels portion or DVC portion. If we don't own a portion then will our dues be reduced to reflect the change in this service.

 

[Chuck S]

If these changes really take effect then the question I have is does the DVC membership own a percentage of the parking lot according to our pwnership of the resort.(I always figured this was the reason that DVC was put at the resorts so that common area fees could be split up and lower Disney's cost by passing it on to us.)If this is the case does the valet lot sit on the hotels portion or DVC portion. If we don't own a portion then will our dues be reduced to reflect the change in this service.

We, as individual members, do not own any portion of the parking lots. They are a common area expense, but we have no physical control over the lots. No right to say, "This spot is DVC, that spot is cash guest, this spot is valet."

 

[Tara]

If these changes really take effect then the question I have is does the DVC membership own a percentage of the parking lot according to our pwnership of the resort.(I always figured this was the reason that DVC was put at the resorts so that common area fees could be split up and lower Disney's cost by passing it on to us.)If this is the case does the valet lot sit on the hotels portion or DVC portion. If we don't own a portion then will our dues be reduced to reflect the change in this service.

I don't see how this would make a difference - the dues would be to cover the cost of operating the valet, not the land the lot sits on.

 

[Longhairbear]

Just my 2 cents.
We fly in to WDW, and have never rented a car. While quite a few say that the last thing they want to do on vacation is cook in the villa, the last thing we want to do is drive anywhere. I love cooking in our villa. We enjoy the transportation from parks to resorts etc., and have never used the valet parking, and it was only available at 3 resorts. One of them was our home base at VWL, and we never used it.
However, in CA at DLR, we drove in, and will always drive in to that resort. The parking for non valet was, maybe, a few minutes walk back to the VGC. Just for the sake of expediency, it would take as much time, or less for me to walk to my car, then to wait for the valet to bring it to me at VGC, and I am sure of the same for VWL.
My only reason for wanting my car during a stay at my DVC, would be to get groceries, to cook dinner in my villa, something everyone else claims to hate.
I'll take better food over valet anytime.

 

[drusba]

If these changes really take effect then the question I have is does the DVC membership own a percentage of the parking lot according to our pwnership of the resort.(I always figured this was the reason that DVC was put at the resorts so that common area fees could be split up and lower Disney's cost by passing it on to us.)If this is the case does the valet lot sit on the hotels portion or DVC portion. If we don't own a portion then will our dues be reduced to reflect the change in this service.

No, the reason is because your dues go to pay all the expenses of the resort (shared with the hotel portion of the resort) and those expenses include paying for valet services (managers, employees who park the cars, etc.). Thus, if they charge us for valet it would be the same as charging us twice and making a profit for something we have already paid for in our dues. If in fact those expenses will now not be charged to us in dues then they can fairly do this. If otherwise, then they are cheating us unless the $12 charge goes to offset dues.

 

[Dean]

Thanks to the previous posters that answered my questions about the convenience of self-parking lots at DVC resorts. I had considered driving from AKV to most parks, but will now stick with the busses. (Dh likes forgetting about cars.)

Thanks Sammie for the Member DIS-Satisfaction email address.

We find driving much better except 2 situations. One is when going to MK, the other when the driver is moving from one park during the other without return to the room. Of course that would change if they removed the free parking while staying on site benefit.

 

[Dean]

If these changes really take effect then the question I have is does the DVC membership own a percentage of the parking lot according to our pwnership of the resort.(I always figured this was the reason that DVC was put at the resorts so that common area fees could be split up and lower Disney's cost by passing it on to us.)If this is the case does the valet lot sit on the hotels portion or DVC portion. If we don't own a portion then will our dues be reduced to reflect the change in this service.

If there were a profit to the resort, a prorated portion of the income should go to offset dues. I'd guess there isn't an excess coming in and the choices Disney had to make was whether to pay more, take it back over (pay more), do away with the service, increase the charges to those who were paying or spread the costs out among a larger group (us).

 

[DVC Mike]

My DW loves to valet, while I like to self-park.

She won't like this change at all, since it gives me a reason to self-park ("honey, it's free while valet is $12 plus tip!").

I should still get free valet while dining using the TIW card.

 

[Dean]

I should still get free valet while dining using the TIW card.

I would expect that perk to go away soon as well if it doesn't in this round.

 

[n2mm]

I should still get free valet while dining using the TIW card.

I'm holding my breath on this perk too. I plan to call tomorrow and check. We really enjoy this perk when dining at the GF mostly.

 

[going/again]

and like Jim mentioned above, if they keep making changes like this--and communicating them so poorly--many members will stop being the DVC advocates they have been in the past.

most of our friends were jealous we got to go every year, we told them to buy DVC, but how can we justify that now, contrary to what most DVC lovers say ( discounts wont be around for ever) yet again for next year they are selling holidays with 42% off and free dining, what with this and all the perks gradually being eroded and MS telling us nothing, DVC is something we cant in all honesty recommend to friends, never thought we would say that when we first bought in, we think being a captive audience is not working in our best interests.

 

[going/again]

The resorts that are truly a freestanding DVC resort (SSR and OKW) do not offer valet services at all.

no need to, you park outside your room block

 

[chrisw127]

most of our friends were jealous we got to go every year, we told them to buy DVC, but how can we justify that now, contrary to what most DVC lovers say ( discounts wont be around for ever) yet again for next year they are selling holidays with 42% off and free dining, what with this and all the perks gradually being eroded and MS telling us nothing, DVC is something we cant in all honesty recommend to friends, never thought we would say that when we first bought in, we think being a captive audience is not working in our best interests.

As someone who has been saving to buy DVC and has researched it pretty fully, this scares me. Free valet parking is not a huge issue for me, having never gotten used to it, but if this is part of a bigger trend, it definitely worries me.

 

[CarolMN]

If this is true, there darn well better be a space for me in the self park at BWV when I stay there. There have been times I've gone round and round and just gave up and valet parked.

There's always parking at the overflow lot and it'll be needed more than ever now unless they close down the valet area entirely or move it across the street.

When I complained to BWV managers about the parking situation for guests staying at the resort, I was told DVC members received free valet so it wasn't an issue.

If self parking is not available in the resort lot for guests of the resort, I will be complaining. Those actually staying at the BWI or BWV should not have to park in the lot across the street so that others can go to the parks.

IMO, the resort lot should be reserved for BWI/BWV guests and those with a handicapped sticker. Everyone else should be directed across the street, even if they have a WDW parking pass from another on-site resort.

In all fairness, they do seem to be much more proactive in policing the BW parking during Food & Wine Festival, at least on the weekends.

Truth be told, the Boardwalk needs more parking, period. My guess is that this change will mean the size of the valet lot can be significantly reduced.

P.S. I am having a very hard time believing that the BWI is paying the entire amount of the valet contract. It's a common expense. Until someone with the authority to speak for DVC says otherwise, I will continue to believe members are paying a prorated share, just as we pay a prorated share of housekeeping and front desk operations.