NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[Dean]

Well, free valet was a big deal to me. I have fibro and frequently rent an ECV for the parks. Not only is it a pain to find a parking place at BWV, but the walk can be very tiring. So, valet will now cost over half the price of an ECV. An occaisional taxi will be more cost effective.

On top of everything? I'm ticked MS couldn't find the time to post the change on their website.

If it's enough of an issue to be a problem from a medical standpoint, you should be able to get handicap documentation. While I agree they should have posted it earlier, what difference would it really have made unless one had a trip short enough notice that it affected the trip planning?

You may not be far off Eliza. I spoke with member satisfaction and was told the reason valet had gone from free to $12 was that a decision had been made to do a pay as you go for services rather than spread it out across the membership. That doesn't bode well for other amenities. I expressed that I don't want to see items go this way - we've only used valet once and I'd expect our use to be minimal in the future but I don't want this trend to continue.

I've been called crazy for suggesting such a thing for things like banking, borrowing, transfer fees, etc as possible pay to play items. As I noted previously, every system struggles with what items to spread across the entire membership and which ones to do pay to play. You have to consider both the % of members that use a certain item as well as the economy of doing it on a larger scale. They also struggle with how to posture to direct the habits they want and don't want. If you don't want transfers, etc; you might institute a fee to do so not from a financial standpoint but to control the behavior.

 

[disneynutz]

Well, free valet was a big deal to me. I have fibro and frequently rent an ECV for the parks. Not only is it a pain to find a parking place at BWV, but the walk can be very tiring. So, valet will now cost over half the price of an ECV. An occaisional taxi will be more cost effective.

On top of everything? I'm ticked MS couldn't find the time to post the change on their website.

Get a blue handicap placard and you will get free valet.

 

[Chuck S]

sorry, didn't read thru whole thread, so if this has been addressed already forgive me...

i thought valet was complimentary for those w/HC plates/placard

has this changed too?

No, it is still free for H/C plates and/or placards.

One point...if Mears is the valet contractor, as Sammie said...I wonder if there is anything in the contract that forbids Mears from giving DVCers a discount, if Mears chooses to do so? It may, as the business takes place on Disney property, but it would be kind of an unusual contract to say they could not give a group discount, to say, a convention that is based at BWV or BCV. But they may feel that it just isn't warranted/needed to sustain the business, and would prefer to operate with a few less personnel in some shifts rather than discount.

 

[Paul in CT]

Has anyone actually confirmed that it happened? The release on this board seems to indicate that the price went up but that it was still free for DVC members. Confusing.

I can confirm that this has happened. When we attempted to valet park at BWV on the evening of 10/11, the attendant told me that effective that day, valet parking was no longer free to DVC members. I was surprised since there had been no notice and the DVC member perks still lists free valet at DVC resorts as a perk. When he asked me if I still wanted valet service, I dropped off my party and self parked. Earlier in the week we used the perk with no problem and no mention of the upcoming change. When I asked the DVC CM at the BWV kiosk, she indicated that they were told only that morning.

To add "insult to injury", I found a $12 charge on my bill on check out even though I did not use the service. The CM apparently turned in a ticket with my number from the parking pass in the car. In any case, they credited it back to me when I called the front desk.

IMHO, a change like this should have been posted on DVC site at the very least and even better, members should have been alerted by email. Also, a explanation for the change would be appreciated. We have not used this perk much over the years, but it was appreciated from time to time. This policy change will definitely reduce the need for valets.

 

[disneynutz]

You may not be far off Eliza. I spoke with member satisfaction and was told the reason valet had gone from free to $12 was that a decision had been made to do a pay as you go for services rather than spread it out across the membership. That doesn't bode well for other amenities. I expressed that I don't want to see items go this way - we've only used valet once and I'd expect our use to be minimal in the future but I don't want this trend to continue.

How does everyone feel about the new fee for riding the Disney buses and monorail?






Not really, I just thought that I would get you ready for what will come next.

 

[childsplay]

I can confirm that this has happened. When we attempted to valet park at BWV on the evening of 10/11, the attendant told me that effective that day, valet parking was no longer free to DVC members.

 

[mwmuntz]

Man, this was a perk that I used a lot! This will definitely cut into my Mickey Ice Cream Pops budget. Just sent an email to member sat. Hopefully they can add it back someday.

 

[Brian Noble]

I don't think we have to worry about this move putting valet out of service, with parking lot fees costing more than the valet fee, I think it will increase, which might be the reason they booted DVC out. To make room for the increase.

There's been a $1-$2 difference for quite a while now---before the recent changes, theme park parking was $12, and valet was $10. So, no real difference. Plus, when you add in tips, valet is about as expensive, or maybe a little more, depending on how you tip.

How does everyone feel about the new fee for riding the Disney buses and monorail?

I don't know what comes next, but this won't be it. The *last* thing Disney wants to do is give you a reason to have your own transportation, because you could use it to leave the bubble and spend money with someone else.

 

[carolina_yankee]

Chuck, you seem to keep saying that the outsourced valet company provided the free parking perk. (I may have misread you - I'm genuinely curious in this question). Do you know for certain that is the case?

My impression was that they took our member numbers down (they always did with me) so they could charge back to DVC (or do some sort of accounting).

What I'm getting at is that if DVC covered the cost of member valet parking through member fees, then if they were trying to keep dues increases low (who knows what's coming down the pike this January), eliminate the valet perk might make sense if only because most DVC members probably don't take advantage of it.

Of course, the same argument could be made for internet and other amenities, but the costs to DVC on those are probably minimal compared to valet.

Dirk

 

[TLSnell1981]

If it's enough of an issue to be a problem from a medical standpoint, you should be able to get handicap documentation. While I agree they should have posted it earlier, what difference would it really have made unless one had a trip short enough notice that it affected the trip planning?

It's more difficult to obtain handicap parking permit than you think. Fibro's painful and exhausting, but not "hang tag" worthy. If you can walk 100 feet, you're out of luck.

I'm leaving for Disney in a few days, so I was a little blind-sided by the change. Rental car, ECV plus valet parking...it adds up. This change tipped the scale for me.

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck, you seem to keep saying that the outsourced valet company provided the free parking perk. (I may have misread you - I'm genuinely curious in this question). Do you know for certain that is the case?

My impression was that they took our member numbers down (they always did with me) so they could charge back to DVC (or do some sort of accounting).

What I'm getting at is that if DVC covered the cost of member valet parking through member fees, then if they were trying to keep dues increases low (who knows what's coming down the pike this January), eliminate the valet perk might make sense if only because most DVC members probably don't take advantage of it.

Of course, the same argument could be made for internet and other amenities, but the costs to DVC on those are probably minimal compared to valet.

Dirk

Actually, what I said was the outsourced company may have been required to offer the perk as part of a contract agreement assumption when they first outsourced. Likely their outsourced employees, which had previously been Disney employees, were grandfathered into some Disney employee benefit package where the cost was covered under a common area services arrangement like other shared resort services until this contract renewal date.

For them to bill out each car directly, based upon a membership number, to DVC, it would almost have to appear as a line item in our annual resort budgets that members receive every year...like transportation. Especially given the sheer percentage of valet cars that were DVC members. I never had them take a DVC Membership number, or DDE/TiW number, for free valet...just showed the card and they noted the reason for the free service.

Even if they gave a 70% discount, and billed DVC $3 a car, it would have been a substantial amount annually. Also, if it was actually billed per car, there would have been no reason to have restricted it to DVC resorts only, they could have billed it for all resorts.

If you figure even 150 DVC cars per day, spread through the resorts at $3 each, that is over $160K annually.

I agree, the internet service cost, since it wasn't free for a few years, until the wiring, modems and other equipment costs were recouped by the existing resorts, is likely very minimal. New resorts would cover this equipment cost as part of the initial purchase price budget. And any needed repair replacement would be covered under normal maintenance, like DVD players and telephones. I'd think it would be rare that a modem would actually fail. I've had the same cable modem for years.

 

[DebbieB]

I've never had to show my card, they always went by my member parking permit.

 

[Dean]

It's more difficult to obtain handicap parking permit than you think. Fibro's painful and exhausting, but not "hang tag" worthy. If you can walk 100 feet, you're out of luck.

I'm leaving for Disney in a few days, so I was a little blind-sided by the change. Rental car, ECV plus valet parking...it adds up. This change tipped the scale for me.

I'm very familiar with the system for getting these, I sign the paperwork at times for them. You can get a temp one if you're having a flare and the restrictions are applicable, most places those are good for 3 months. It does depend on the severity of the underlying condition and situation though as you suggest. I hope you have a great trip regardless.

 

[Paul in CT]

There's been a $1-$2 difference for quite a while now---before the recent changes, theme park parking was $12, and valet was $10. So, no real difference. Plus, when you add in tips, valet is about as expensive, or maybe a little more, depending on how you tip.

Valet parking is now $12 plus tip.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I hope you have a great trip regardless.

Thank you!

I'm having a flare...probably brought on by another health issue, so I'm a "little grumpy" right now. I think, this is the only lost perk I've really complained about. (probably, has something to do with the timing)

 

[whitfamily]

I sent an e-mail, will be interesting to see if I get a response.

 

[asianway]

How does everyone feel about the new fee for riding the Disney buses and monorail?






Not really, I just thought that I would get you ready for what will come next.

Part of the ticket price way back in the day was stated as going toward the WDW Transportation Co. This would not be unprecedented.

 

[carolina_yankee]

Actually, what I said was the outsourced company may have been required to offer the perk as part of a contract agreement assumption when they first outsourced. Likely their outsourced employees, which had previously been Disney employees, were grandfathered into some Disney employee benefit package where the cost was covered under a common area services arrangement like other shared resort services until this contract renewal date.

For them to bill out each car directly, based upon a membership number, to DVC, it would almost have to appear as a line item in our annual resort budgets that members receive every year...like transportation. Especially given the sheer percentage of valet cars that were DVC members. I never had them take a DVC Membership number, or DDE/TiW number, for free valet...just showed the card and they noted the reason for the free service.

Even if they gave a 70% discount, and billed DVC $3 a car, it would have been a substantial amount annually. Also, if it was actually billed per car, there would have been no reason to have restricted it to DVC resorts only, they could have billed it for all resorts.

If you figure even 150 DVC cars per day, spread through the resorts at $3 each, that is over $160K annually.

That's helpful. I've always seen them write my number down for a DVC comp, but not for TiW. I also rarely have the parking permit in my car, so it may be they were more scrupulous with me.

At any rate, there were definately people getting the perk who weren't entitled We had friends renting points at AKV. Their parking permit said "DVC Member" so they were comped valet at Contemporary when they came to visit us at BLT (why they just didn't self-park is beyond me, but . . .) They weren't members, and they weren't even asked to show their card so valet just comped them based on the parking permit from another resort.

Dirk

 

[TiggerAllie]

I got a message on my home phone from "Sheila" at DVC member correspondence, asking me to return her call about an email received at DVC. Of course, the number to call back isn't 1-800. (I wonder if there is a way to call MS and have them transfer me through? I don't have an extension number, just a first name and phone.)

I wondered if others who sent emails, etc. had received phone calls back and what you had heard/discussed during them.

 

[quirty30]

I got a message on my home phone from "Sheila" at DVC member correspondence, asking me to return her call about an email received at DVC. Of course, the number to call back isn't 1-800. (I wonder if there is a way to call MS and have them transfer me through? I don't have an extension number, just a first name and phone.)

I wondered if others who sent emails, etc. had received phone calls back and what you had heard/discussed during them.

Was it an area code 321? I had a very soft spoken message on my answering machine and I think I heard "Disney Vacation Club" as well. I always list my cell # first when I correspond yet they always call my home number instead. I sent an email last night so I was quite surprised to get a call back already. I'll try to figure out what the number was and call them back tomorrow.