NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[DVCBELLE]

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.

I spoke with her this morning. She was very sweet and listened to my concerns.

The official line is that they feel only those who want this perk should pay for it - just like housekeeping - if you want it more than every 4 days or whatever the schedule - then you have to pay for it.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I spoke with her this morning. She was very sweet and listened to my concerns.

The official line is that they feel only those who want this perk should pay for it - just like housekeeping - if you want it more than every 4 days or whatever the schedule - then you have to pay for it.

That explanation would be acceptable to me if no housekeeping was given at all (other than in between guest changes). But why should I pay dues for those who want trash/towel and/or a full cleaning?

 

[Tara]

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.

There are at least a couple of reports of members being charged and of valets confirming the change directly.

I haven't said much because I am obviously in the minority here but I could actually care less about the valet parking. We were there 2 weeks ago and didn't use it and never have. We even went to Boardwalk twice and never used it. I really don't get it.

Park your car and walk. What is the big deal? It's not like that's all the walking you do at WDW. LOL I would say what some of you sound like but Carol would definitely kick me off if I did.

Some of us really like valet parking - it can be a great time saver and convenience. It's a shame the perk is gone, but I didn't buy for the perks and I like valet enough to pay for it. I can, however, understand why others are upset, not over the practical matter of paying, but the principle - the abrupt way this happened.

I sometimes get tired of reading complaints (in general), too. However, when that happens, I just stop reading instead of posting implied criticism of the people doing the complaining. It's not for me to judge what is important to anyone else, or why. If other people are bothered, why should that upset me, or anyone else?

 

[kristenrice]

The official line is that they feel only those who want this perk should pay for it - just like housekeeping - if you want it more than every 4 days or whatever the schedule - then you have to pay for it.

I agree with the premise behind this. The "pay-to-play" idea is not all bad, but what I do not understand is who has been "paying" for this service until now? If the cost was spread out over all of the members, including those who do not utilize the service, then we should see a reduction in our dues, right? If our annual dues have been paying for the valet and now they want to make it "optional", shouldn't the dues be lowered?

In reference to the comment about the housekeeping...If DVC said that there would no longer be ANY housekeeping included, and you could pay for the services you wanted, what would happen to the housekeeping budget? Shouldn't there be a significant reduction in MF's if that service were cut by 70% or so?

I know very little about the inner workings of businesses so I have a minimal knowledge base. I don't have any idea how much the free valet has cost members in terms of annual dues. Since it is spread out over so many people, I doubt the reduction in MF's would be more than a few pennies per point.

FWIW, we are new members and have never used a valet service, at WDW or anywhere else, so I have no strong opinion on this matter. I agree with a lot of other folks that the "announcement" (or rather lack thereof) was not done in the best manner. Obviously, the decision to eliminate free valet parking did not come about overnight. One would think that they could have given a 30-day notice. I honestly do not expect any notice from DVC anymore when it comes to changes in perks and such. Especially after the way they handled the point reallocation. I just wish they would make as much of an effort to notify me of these types of changes as they do to let me know that the point cost is increasing. We've known for over a month that the point cost at BLT is going up on November 1. Why are they just springing the valet cost on us now?

 

[Longhairbear]

When one goes to a restaurant, the price of the salt and pepper on the table are factored into the price of all the menu items, so everyone pays for those salt shakers, whether or not you used them. My point being, free valet was paid for somehow, and probably buried into the overall operating costs, passed on to consumers.
I am curious as to who paid for the free valet service. Did only BWV,BCV, and VWL owners pay for it through dues? Did everyone pay?

 

[SCFIREMAN]

I spoke with her this morning. She was very sweet and listened to my concerns.

The official line is that they feel only those who want this perk should pay for it - just like housekeeping - if you want it more than every 4 days or whatever the schedule - then you have to pay for it.

So does that mean before we get our next annual dues bill we will get a survey asking what services we use so we can be billed accordingly? I think thats just what they came up with as an excuse hoping that there is more people not using valet than there is that use it. Although that is most likely the case. I look forward to my phone call.

 

[keishashadow]

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.

I had thought that Disney would hook the guests on the ME benefit then start charging for it the following year, until i realized net result of having a captive audience apparently outweighs the cost of the program

TLSnell1981 - appears as though the requirements to obtain the HC placard may vary from state to state; perhaps you should recheck your state DMV for updated criteria. The following is from PA's site:

Applicant:
(1) is blind.
(2) does not have full use of an arm or both arms.
(3) cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
(4) cannot walk without the use of, or assistance
from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person,
prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistive
device.
(5) is restricted by lung disease to such an extent
that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory
volume for one second, when measured by
spirometry, is less than one liter or the arterial
oxygen tension is less than 60 MM/HG on room
air at rest.
(6) uses portable oxygen.
(7) has a cardiac condition to the extent that the
person’s functional limitations are classified in
severity as Class III or Class IV according to
the standards set by the American Heart
Association.
(8) is severely limited in his or her ability to walk
due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic
condition.
(9) is a person in loco parentis of a person
specified in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6),​

(7) or (8) above.

 

[TiggerAllie]

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.

Yes... 321-939.. something so other than 321 it sounds like a Disney #. I just looked up 321, and it's Brevard Co. FL.

 

[LauraLea]

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.

Yes, it appears Disney will do about anything to keep DME and the WDW transportation free. Eliminating the expense related to this DVC perk, helps to keep the other services free.

Laura

 

[Tigger031266]

The official line is that they feel only those who want this perk should pay for it - just like housekeeping - if you want it more than every 4 days or whatever the schedule - then you have to pay for it.

This is STUPID. I could use this for any of the benefits.

Community Hall - PAY UP
The Swimming Pool - PAY UP
The work out facility - PAY UP
Pool Towels - PAY UP
Transportation - PAY UP
Parking - PAY UP
That stupid Welcome home Wednesdays - PAY UP (although no one would)

Where is the data that DVC memebers wanted to get rid of this perk instead of any of the others?????? I sent an email with no respose yet.

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, it appears Disney will do about anything to keep DME and the WDW transportation free. Eliminating the expense related to this DVC perk, helps to keep the other services free.

Laura

Maybe, maybe not. If the expense was a common area maintenance item, then Disney would have paid a share and DVC would have paid a share. But with the valets being farmed out to Mears, I would assume it really had less to do with the "perk" and more to do with Disney reducing payroll and employee benefits, that's the reason outsourcing has become the popular solution for many companies. The question then becomes which type of outsource contract is it...it is the type where Disney pays a subsidy/payment to Mears to legally be the employer on record to reduce the cost of benefits, or is it the type of outsourcing where Mears is the independent contractor, and make their profit from a share of the paid parking receipts...the second case seems more likely, and explains the end of the free parking perk.

WDW transportation, on the other hand, is subsidized by both a percentage of the park ticket sales and billings to each resort as operating costs...which are included in the pricing of cash rooms and covered under DVC budgets as the Transportation item for the DVC resorts. Don't worry, the costs for the DME service and internal transportation is covered and billed out on paper some where in accounting. That is not to say that at some point they couldn't go to a "pay for transport" system, but we would have to see that change reflected in the transportation area of our dues if they started charging people at the resorts a fee for each use of the system.

 

[Chuck S]

This is STUPID. I could use this for any of the benefits.

Community Hall - PAY UP
The Swimming Pool - PAY UP
The work out facility - PAY UP
Pool Towels - PAY UP
Transportation - PAY UP
Parking - PAY UP
That stupid Welcome home Wednesdays - PAY UP (although no one would)

Where is the data that DVC memebers wanted to get rid of this perk instead of any of the others?????? I sent an email with no respose yet.

You don't see a difference between a service and a physical resort amenity, like a pool? Legally they are quite different.

 

[dizfanz]

Maybe, maybe not. If the expense was a common area maintenance item, then Disney would have paid a share and DVC would have paid a share. But with the valets being farmed out to Mears, I would assume it really had less to do with the "perk" and more to do with Disney reducing payroll and employee benefits, that's the reason outsourcing has become the popular solution for many companies.

Chuck is right. Valet is a very expensive perk. DW and I work at 2 restaurant's in suburban Indianapolis that both offer valet. She pays over $1000/month and we pay closer to $2000/month to the valet company. Valet is complimentary to both restaurants' guests. Years ago, she tried to run valet in house instead of outsourcing. Too expensive for them. It's not employee wages, it is the liability insurance a company needs to carry. Also, quite frankly, valet is a pain to manage. Consider the prices above, our geographic location and cost of living here, and further consider that we both have our own lots for the cars. The valets literally pull the cars into spots 20 feet from our front door. The kids park maybe 20-40 cars a night. Compare that with BW. I can only imagine how much Disney has to pay.

I am ticked at the change. I will drop off bags and pick up bags at the door while I go and park my car. Hopefully, my TIW will get me free valet. However, since you are supposed to be using it for dining, I could see them restricting this to no overnight valet parking. That is how they may restrict that.

Not selling my points. Will park my car. What's a couple of more steps when you are walking a few miles a day anyway. Can't wait to hear "Welcome Home" in January.

 

[laurenspop]

Just back from WDW last night. Was staying since 10/08. When we checked out yesterday (10/12) there was a charge for 2 day valet parking ($24) - with no notice - and I had been going and coming at least once a day.
I have NEVER complained about free dining - but get this. Was told that valet parking is not complimentary for DVC anymore as of 10/11 - but IS COMPLIMENTARY IF YOU ARE ON A DISNEY DINING PLAN!!!!!
and yes that made me just a little upset!

 

[dizfanz]

Was told that valet parking is not complimentary for DVC anymore as of 10/11 - but IS COMPLIMENTARY IF YOU ARE ON A DISNEY DINING PLAN!!!!!
and yes that made me just a little upset!

Was it DDP or TIW? Big difference here.

 

[Chuck S]

Just back from WDW last night. Was staying since 10/08. When we checked out yesterday (10/12) there was a charge for 2 day valet parking ($24) - with no notice - and I had been going and coming at least once a day.
I have NEVER complained about free dining - but get this. Was told that valet parking is not complimentary for DVC anymore as of 10/11 - but IS COMPLIMENTARY IF YOU ARE ON A DISNEY DINING PLAN!!!!!
and yes that made me just a little upset!

It is not complementary for the Disney Dining Plan...it is complementary for the Tables in Wonderland (formerly Disney Dining Experience) card holders....with restrictions, including proving a dining receipt from the resort and the card. I would expect that further limitation will be placed on that in the future, like no all day or overnight parking. It is also free for handicap guests with plates or placards. The name was changed because of the confusion between the names of Disney Dining Plan and Disney Dining Experience.

Many long term employees still occasionally refer to the TiW as the "Disney Dining Card"

 

[disneynutz]

Just back from WDW last night. Was staying since 10/08. When we checked out yesterday (10/12) there was a charge for 2 day valet parking ($24) - with no notice - and I had been going and coming at least once a day.
I have NEVER complained about free dining - but get this. Was told that valet parking is not complimentary for DVC anymore as of 10/11 - but IS COMPLIMENTARY IF YOU ARE ON A DISNEY DINING PLAN!!!!!
and yes that made me just a little upset!

It isn't free on the DDP, it's currently free if you are on the TIW card.

 

[laurenspop]

Understand what you are saying here - I have a TIW card. I was told by both the valet manager and the front desk that valet parking was free for DDP.

 

[disneynutz]

But with the valets being farmed out to Mears, I would assume it really had less to do with the "perk" and more to do with Disney reducing payroll and employee benefits, that's the reason outsourcing has become the popular solution for many companies.

The Valets were outsourced to reduce liability expenses. Every time a Guest would report a ding on their car caused by the Valets, Disney Security would have to take a report and Disney would have to deal with the claim.

Now if you report a ding, Disney tells you that it isn't their problem, contact BAGS. A couple of DISers have reported that BAGS takes the position of, "prove it". So legally Disney doesn't have any liability, and BAGS could care less.

 

[clutter]

I will drop off bags and pick up bags at the door while I go and park my car. Hopefully, my TIW will get me free valet. However, since you are supposed to be using it for dining, I could see them restricting this to no overnight valet parking. That is how they may restrict that.

The biggest problem is that there is insufficient self-service parking at many DVC resorts. Twice we had to use valet at Kidani because there was not one single self-park space available. I'm sure the BCV and BWV run into the same problems. I don't use valet when we travel, so I'm not unhappy about the change, unless there are no self-park spaces available.