NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[fers31]

I got this email too and actually responded using this as an example or how they're treating their members. Purposefully didn't include my phone number or address again this time and even wrote that I'm sure nobody will bother reading my complaint since I didn't include the info.

 

[Tara]

I got the same email and responded:

I am copying my original email below and including the requested information. It is frustrating, however, to have my feedback shuffled back to me when even the contact form on the DVC member website does not as for phone number or address, only name, member number, email and country. If this information is required, it should be stated on the "contact us" form. (I have given feedback about the inaccurate or incomplete nature of information on the member website - this is yet another example of that problem.)

This is ridiculous, though.

 

[puente0629]

I sent an email as well letting them know about the valet parking issue and this is what they wrote back...

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.
Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,
Nikki
Member Services
Disney Vacation Club

**********************************************

Basicly, if we want free valet they would have to raise our due's so that's why they are removing it...IMO, that's bull!!!

 

[Chuck S]

Your dues may not go down, as other resort cost increases may eat up any savings from the valet perk drop. For instance, say valet costs were 5 cents a point, but 2010 wage increases for housekeeping and front desk are 10 cents a point, your dues still increase, but by less then they would have with subsidizing free valet.

What other "perks" would be subsidized by dues? Few probably. Dining discounts, tour discounts, etc would not be subsidized. AP discount would not be subsidized.

The dining discounts, especially at non-Disney operated restaurants, are granted by the individual companies that operate the restaurants to incease overall traffic, just like a valet discount could be granted by Mears, without a subsidy, if Mears chose to do so. Why should dues pay for it?

 

[Brian Noble]

But Disney isn't interested in browsers that don't spend.

Perahps. But Disney is also masterful at converting browsers to buyers.

 

[Simba's Mom]

WRONG! I did email through the site after signing into my account, and I got that same stupid email. I do agree it is necessary for them to know they are being contacted by a member, but shouldn't they be able to see that when I send it from the member site? I too was complaining about the IT problems with the website....it certainly made my point clear to me....probably not to them though.

Exactly! The same thing happened to me a few weeks ago regarding a different matter. Although I'd contacted them through the website, they sent me an E-mail that they wouldn't discuss anything with me because I hadn't given my member #,so they didn't know if I was a member.

I'm here now,and I've met several DVC members who were unaware of this change re valet parking. However,the CM at check-in confirmed it for me. I haven't noticed as much valet activity (valets running to get cars,etc.) as in the past.

 

[Chuck S]

Also remember that dues are limited to a 15% increase per year.

Minimum wage in FL increased 19% in 2005, 8.5% in 2007, 1.7% in 2008 and 6.1% in 2009. So that can cut into allowed increases, along with increased employee health insurance and benefits cost. So it may be that DVC had to drop the valet perk, especially if their employee benefits are now on Mears shoulders. Increased transportation, energy, employee and other costs may have put too big a dent into the 15% limit to make a valet subsidy possible.

 

[Mlissa88]

Wouldn't you rather have Member Satisfaction/Member Services replying only to members? Really, without your membership number, they'd have no real way of knowing if this complaint was coming from a member, or a renter, or some other person.

Certainly. I don't have an issue with them wanting my info but it reminded me of the "fill out this form in triplicate" type brush off. Sort of like they wanted me to re-evaluate if it's worth it to log on, send it again or just say "whatever".

I don't really care about the perk or loss there of, I'm more miffed about the lack of communication and changes on the fly...

I've never used valet. Would I have used it at some point, sure...if it was raining or I was going to another resort for dinner. But again, it's the lack of proper communication that bothered me. I feel sorry for the poor guys/girls who are working in valet that end up having to explain the new policy to folks arriving.

That's what I wrote to them about....I'm hoping to get an actual response back rather than a cut and paste of what everyone is receiving regarding the perk because it doesn't really apply to what my email was about - which was poor communication to it's members.

Communication is key. Without it, who knows....one day I'll get to the Magic Kingdom to see a big sign outside like in National Lampoon's Vacation - "Sorry folks! We're closed for two weeks to clean and repair America's favorite family fun park!"

 

[DebbieB]

But Disney isn't interested in browsers that don't spend. If you validate on spend, you've made money on the spend - if people don't spend and need to pay for parking, you've made money. Win win for Disney. It might cut down on foot traffic and impulse purchases, but I suspect the parking fee would more than make up for the people coming who don't intend to spend anything at all, and spend less than the validate amount.

The key is getting people there and then they may spend. If I know I'm going to have to pay $20 to park if I don't buy a certain amount, I would probably say forget it. There are other places I could go for free. If they were going to do this, they would have done already it at Downtown Disney. DTD at Disneyland charges for parking over a certain time. I just don't see them doing it at BW, it's not a big attraction to start with and they need to draw people.

 

[crisi]

They do have the problem at all the park attached resorts, and they DO need to provide parking to people paying $300 a night for those BWI rooms (or the ones at the Contemporary). If Disney has brains (which at this point is debatable) they should stop disappointing a $300 a night guest trying to park for someone who MIGHT buy $14 of chocolate covered Mickey shaped pretzels from the gift store.

 

[TiggerAllie]

I finally got in touch with Sheila from DVC Member Satisfaction this afternoon after a few days of phone tag.

As expected, she doesn't really have a lot of information to offer and is just calling to calm upset members and collect information for "those in leadership positions".

I'm sure I reiterated a number of issues that other people here have said. Notable points from the 20-min or so conversation:

According to her, Member Services/Member Satisfaction was only made aware of this change SUNDAY MORNING, when it went into effect. (We discussed why there might be a problem with communication.)

After describing that they wanted to go to "fee-based system" for valet, like they do with extra housekeeping, I asked her if this was going to be a trend for the future. She seemed confused--I said, "What about DME, fitness centers, bus service, etc? Are these going to become fee-based as well? These are perks I don't use but I'm sure my dues subsidize for other guests who do." She apparently hadn't considered this before (the housekeeping line seemed like a formulaic response they were told to use).

She kept saying how "leadership" makes these decisions--I told her that they needed to consider the domino effect of these decisions, like if they are going to take away free valet they should consider offering more parking for resort guests only because these resorts are very limited in parking. (She placed the blame for the over-parking at BW on the security guards not turning people away, as I had told her I knew of guests who checked in at BW only to be told they had to pay the valet fee because there was no self-park available.) She said that she hadn't considered this "domino effect" before, and that was a good point she would take to "leadership".

I asked how much the valet service had previously cost in our dues, on a per point basis (which she obviously didn't know) and how much it would have cost in 2010. She said she would have to research this and implied she might get back to me, but I doubt it.

She did encourage people to write, call, etc. and make there opinions known, because that's how changes are made, like the addition of being able to add DDP to DVC points reservations.

This wasn't a totally formulaic call, as she did seem to have my letter in front of her and made a point to ask specifically about all the concerns I brought up. We'll see if we get anywhere with these comments--maybe some valet discount will come back in the future, or they will change some of the parking rules. I'm not sure I like the idea of everything becoming "fee-based"--because I'm sure the dues will continue to go up at a regular rate and will simply cover less. I also really like the "pre-paid" nature of DVC vacations (+amenities) and that DVC makes me feel a little bit "extra special" to be a part of it.

Dang, her job sucks though. I know I couldn't sound so nice and sincere over and over and over again. I tried to remain polite (but forceful in my points/questions) though I'm sure she must talk to some people who don't (probably about issues other than this).

 

[dizkneedoll]

I have sent my dissatisfaction regarding the change in valet parking for DVC members to Member Satisfaction today. I don't care if they were notified on Sunday ... it's now Thursday and I still have seen no communication regarding this ... guess they decided to let the valet folks do the communicating and take the heat for them ...

 

[DebbieB]

Amazing MS was notified SUNDAY morning when it was posted here on SATURDAY. The Boardwalk parking situation has been a complaint for years, they are acting like this is the first time it became a problem. I think it was my first trip in 2000 that I discussed it with the Boardwalk GM after the annual meeting.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I finally got in touch with Sheila from DVC Member Satisfaction this afternoon

After describing that they wanted to go to "fee-based system" for valet, like they do with extra housekeeping, I asked her if this was going to be a trend for the future. She seemed confused--I said, "What about DME, fitness centers, bus service, etc? Are these going to become fee-based as well? These are perks I don't use but I'm sure my dues subsidize for other guests who do." She apparently hadn't considered this before (the housekeeping line seemed like a formulaic response they were told to use).


This wasn't a totally formulaic call,

Hmmm....I discussed these very points with Shelia. I believe it was on TUESDAY!!!

She definitely had talking points. I felt the whole conversation was scripted...well except when I told her she'd been mentioned on the Disney forums.

 

[Sammie]

Amazing MS was notified SUNDAY morning when it was posted here on SATURDAY. The Boardwalk parking situation has been a complaint for years, they are acting like this is the first time it became a problem. I think it was my first trip in 2000 that I discussed it with the Boardwalk GM after the annual meeting.

This is what bothers me. I understand things have to change, and at times I don't like the changes such as this, but it really bothers me that they act like they think that regardless of what changes, that members are suppose to just buy into the DVC Kool-Aid theory of well gee it's ok.

If we as members can realize that BWV has parking issues why is it so hard for them to see that too. Why do the members have to bring this to their attention. I am sorry but if that is truly what the leadership at DVC is, it is not very bright.

 

[AJKMOM]

Are the resort staff still saying "Welcome home!" at check in? I don't pay for parking at "home". I wonder if 'the leadership' knows that?

 

[DVC Mike]

Glad I review the Dis boards regularly.

We had some friend that were ready to pull the trigger on a DVC ownership at WDW.

I asked them if they were aware that the rules changed re free valet parking. They did not.

Based on that info they have decided not to buy. I think they made a good decision.

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

 

[Chuck S]

Are the resort staff still saying "Welcome home!" at check in? I don't pay for parking at "home". I wonder if 'the leadership' knows that?

You have valet parking at home?

 

[jade1]

Did you ask your friends how much additonal dues they'd be willing to pay to retain the perk?

Again, I haven't seen a poster in this thread say "Yeah, I want my dues raised to pay for it!"

We use ME, and sadly do not own at BWV. But out of curiosity, how many points are at BWV and how much would it cost to get the $100K or so needed? It's likely way to high, esp for those that don't use it, but we prefer a more upscale membership (within reason) even if we use some perks rarely. Also, does anyone even know on average how many DVC valet parks are made at BWV over a month/year?

 

[Deb & Bill]

You have valet parking at home?

When my son or husband is driving, yes, I do.

By the way, my husband happens to be a patient advocate at our hospital, so he gets these types of calls all day long, five days a week, 48 weeks out of the year (he gets four weeks of vacation based on his service). I get to be his sounding board when he can't take them anymore. Sometimes I'll be in his office while he is on the phone and he is sounding as nice as can be. Then when he gets off the phone, he says same old stuff.

So Sheila's behavior is learned behavior and anyone can learn it. Even Vilma, Nikki and anyone else answering the phone. You think the member satisfaction team members get a raise over their last job and every month they stick around? Sheila has been there a while, not so sure about Nikki and Vilma.

Finally, why not just take "DVC Member" off the KTTW and require the member ID AND a current KTTW to valet park. I know some members use valet when they are staying off site and I know lots of non-members renting from a member use valet. That would reduce the number of "DVC Members" valet parking by a percentage. And add a nominal fee (like the statement on the website says - say $5-7 ) to valet park for members staying on site at DVC resorts.