NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[CarolAnnC]

It has been discussed before, but there is going to be a point in time when Magical Express will be selling tickets, and not a "free" transport to WDW.

In keeping on topic, charging DVC members for valet services seems to have become a topic with far more importance than I would have thought. There was a time when I would never have considered valet parking as it was a "luxury" anyway.

I think there are many options for those who do bring a car on their DCV trips, even for those at the DVC resorts where valet is offered. If you don't want to pay, then skip the valet. Park your car yourself, or use another method of transport.

 

[cutakenta]

I'm with you Mike, I don't like losing a perk but it is hardly a dealbreaker.

Me too, but it is nice to have especially when I spend $200 on dinner. And it would have been really nice when I spent $900 at 1900 park fare for my daughters birthday.


Give us $40,000 and pay dues each year. We will market this as "DELUXE" and when we say deluxe we mean rooms have dvd players and flat screens.

 

[edk35]

WOW people are really fired up about losing this "perk". To me losing the AP discount might warrant people being upset.

 

[Sammie]

If the valet parking was a decent profit center for Disney, the valet services would still be under Disney's roof and not outsourced, wouldn't it?

Yes that is correct. Disney only offers valet service at 8 resorts, the cost to operate it, insurance, wages, etc. got to be more expensive than outsourcing it.

 

[Sammie]

WOW people are really fired up about losing this "perk". To me losing the AP discount might warrant people being upset.

It all depends on what one uses, we use valet or did use alot on our trips, but we do not buy an annual pass. I will miss the perk but not enough to let it ruin my trip. I will either pay it now or self park. I do hope they address the parking lot situation to ensure we have a place to self park.

 

[Disneypubgal]

OK, let's continue along that line. Let's put coin meters on the washer/dryers, why should I have to pay for those if I'm not using them? How about the pools, do like they did at BLT and put a fence around it and you need to have a room key to get in, if you haven't paid the pool use fee you can't get in. Remove the DVD players from the rooms, I've never used one, if you need one you go rent one at the front desk.

Sorry, but I'm from the I'm willing to pay more every year to keep the features/perks that were provide when I purchased DVC group.

I think there is one aspect of this we all may be forgeting.... Disney put Magical Express in a few years back so that your entire vacation experience (i.e. your vacation $'s) would be at WDW... Dining, parks etc....

Perhaps the cost of the parking is not really the issue, but rather to encourage folks not to drive or rent cars so that all of there vacation $$ remain at WDW... All of the costs going back and forth are not really that material in the dollars and cents world of WDW... Mind you I am not thrilled with the perk going away... what upsets me more is the lack of upfront communication and warning that this would take place...

 

[hakepb]

It has been discussed before, but there is going to be a point in time when Magical Express will be selling tickets, and not a "free" transport to WDW.

In keeping on topic, charging DVC members for valet services seems to have become a topic with far more importance than I would have thought. There was a time when I would never have considered valet parking as it was a "luxury" anyway.

I think there are many options for those who do bring a car on their DCV trips, even for those at the DVC resorts where valet is offered. If you don't want to pay, then skip the valet. Park your car yourself, or use another method of transport.

I really do not care about the loss of Valet (I never want to pay a tip for something I can easily do myself), with reasonable notificatioin, DVC is in their rights to change any perk, but the implementation of this perk reduction is a major issue. I will react to any changes with common sense if DVC also uses common sense in changing my member experience.
1) Completely catching members offguard (in the middle of their vacation) is unexcusable. Basically, any perk reduction related to dining should should have a 90 day notice because members make ADR's for various reasons.
2) My members fees pay to maintain a free parking space for my unit during my stay. I better never hear I have to pay a valet to use my parking spot that I already paid for.

Perhaps we should start, now, letting member satisfaction know that any ME charges need to communicated x months in advance. I'd certainly hate to plan and budget a vacation, arrive at ORD only to find out I am now being charged (say $20/family member) to get to WDW.

Acually the timing of this Valet (lack of) announcement is more like letting a use ME to get to WDW, vactaion, eat and spend all their souviner $, then find out they have to pay to get back to ORD because the perk just changed.

 

[Disney93]

I don't mind parking my car myself at the Boardwalk but finding a parking spot is sometimes difficult at best. On our next visit we will have 3 cars, and yes we have 3 memberships. We will have 5 grandchildren with us and that makes things even harder. Granted we will drop them off at the entrance and then go park but can you imagine how much time is going to be wasted? When returning in the evening, the lot is full of cars belonging to people just visiting. The answer might be to charge non guests a $20.00 dollar parking fee just to use the lot. The area in front of the BWV can be very conjested with cars and buses already, making it more dangerous for people walking with small children. I have never lost the knowledge of everything at Disneyworld is about making money, but is the best way??? Please take care of the people that have taken care of you.

 

[edk35]

It all depends on what one uses, we use valet or did use alot on our trips, but we do not buy an annual pass. I will miss the perk but not enough to let it ruin my trip. I will either pay it now or self park. I do hope they address the parking lot situation to ensure we have a place to self park.

I understand that people are unhappy they lost it but this thread is crazy.

 

[disneynutz]

I understand that people are unhappy they lost it but this thread is crazy.

I think that losing free Valet has been a tipping point for a lot of Members.

In the last year or so there have been several changes made to the membership that don't, IMHO benefit the members.

Disney's no/short notice of changes is unacceptable and the info provided on the website is often inaccurate.

All of these issues combined has been a wake up call to the fact that Disney doesn't value their DVC Members and for many, it's a hard pill to swallow.

Bill

 

[LIFERBABE]

I understand that people are unhappy they lost it but this thread is crazy.

For all those that find this funny, please send me my $12 back!! We checked in on 10/10 and Valet parking was a perk. Said so in my Portable Perks. No mention from anyone that it was going away the next day. We drive up to CR on 10/11, announce we are DVC and valet park. No mention by the Valet, that perk had ended. Drop $200 in resort restaurant and go to retrieve our vehicle and all of a sudden it's $12! Ask when did this happen? Told today. Check with front desk confirms effective 10/11 all DVC pays. No notice, no call to the room, no nothing!!

I dont make it a habit to be ripped off no matter how small the sum. This was a ripoff to the membership that was staying at the resorts at the time of the switch. This decision was not made the morning of 10/11/09 and I have a real problem with the way it was handled for guests.

DVC knew this would affect current guests and they basically said "So What!"

And I was going to yet again add on additional points at BLT before the price increase on Nov 1 2010, because I really enjoyed my 2 stays there so far, but the continued poor treatment of the membership has caused me to reconsider.

My DH does not like valet parking at all, but this time we were travelling with another couple this trip so we decided to use the perk for an adult dinner. Here we are telling our friends how DVC Members receive free valet only to be embarrassed to learn that it was taken away that day and scrambling for cash to pay!

 

[edk35]

For all those that find this funny, please send me my $12 back!! We checked in on 10/10 and Valet parking was a perk. Said so in my Portable Perks. No mention from anyone that it was going away the next day. We drive up to CR on 10/11, announce we are DVC and valet park. No mention by the Valet, that perk had ended. Drop $200 in resort restaurant and go to retrieve our vehicle and all of a sudden it's $12! Ask when did this happen? Told today. Check with front desk confirms effective 10/11 all DVC pays. No notice, no call to the room, no nothing!!

I dont make it a habit to be ripped off no matter how small the sum. This was a ripoff to the membership that was staying at the resorts at the time of the switch. This decision was not made the morning of 10/11/09 and I have a real problem with the way it was handled for guests.

DVC knew this would affect current guests and they basically said "So What!"

And I was going to yet again add on additional points at BLT before the price increase on Nov 1 2010, because I really enjoyed my 2 stays there so far, but the continued poor treatment of the membership has caused me to reconsider.

My DH does not like valet parking at all, but this time we were travelling with another couple this trip so we decided to use the perk for an adult dinner. Here we are telling our friends how DVC Members receive free valet only to be embarrassed to learn that it was taken away that day and scrambling for cash to pay!

I did not say it was funny that the valet parking was taken away. I just think this thread is crazy in that so many scenarios have been been played out about everything PERK related. If people are that unhappy then they all need to call and let their voices be heard....every person on DIS and those DVC members that don't know about Dis. I have not read every single page because I can no longer keep up with it so I get them hit or miss but it is not the end of the world as far as DVC goes. I doubt anyone thought "I guess I will buy since they offer valet parking". I understand people are upset because members are starting to feel that we are no longer valued. Well everyone that feels that way...needs to send letters, make phone calls and let their voices be heard. I don't think it is funny that this perk was taken away.....however it is not like they changed our 11 month home booking window.

 

[edk35]

I really do not care about the loss of Valet (I never want to pay a tip for something I can easily do myself), with reasonable notificatioin, DVC is in their rights to change any perk, but the implementation of this perk reduction is a major issue. I will react to any changes with common sense if DVC also uses common sense in changing my member experience.
1) Completely catching members offguard (in the middle of their vacation) is unexcusable. Basically, any perk reduction related to dining should should have a 90 day notice because members make ADR's for various reasons.
2) My members fees pay to maintain a free parking space for my unit during my stay. I better never hear I have to pay a valet to use my parking spot that I already paid for.

Perhaps we should start, now, letting member satisfaction know that any ME charges need to communicated x months in advance. I'd certainly hate to plan and budget a vacation, arrive at ORD only to find out I am now being charged (say $20/family member) to get to WDW.

Acually the timing of this Valet (lack of) announcement is more like letting a use ME to get to WDW, vactaion, eat and spend all their souviner $, then find out they have to pay to get back to ORD because the perk just changed.

I completely agree with this and yes DVC members should have had a warning and a date that this was changing. Why this happened...is beyond me too. I just think that if this upsets people they need to get on the horn and start writing letters/emails and make a point. Who knows....maybe they will change it back, offer a discount off valet. If they don't know how badly this affected DVC members then it goes unnoticed.

 

[dizkneedoll]

Many, many of us ARE sending emails to Member Satisfaction ... all we seem to be receiving in return are "canned" messages obviously showing that our emails are not even being read ... I know I asked several questions ... no answer ... just the "canned" response signed by Buffy. As some have said ... it's not necessarily the valet issue but the lack of respect for the DVC members.

 

[edk35]

Many, many of us ARE sending emails to Member Satisfaction ... all we seem to be receiving in return are "canned" messages obviously showing that our emails are not even being read ... I know I asked several questions ... no answer ... just the "canned" response signed by Buffy. As some have said ... it's not necessarily the valet issue but the lack of respect for the DVC members.

Is there a way to go higher up the chain?

 

[toocherie]

My DH does not like valet parking at all, but this time we were travelling with another couple this trip so we decided to use the perk for an adult dinner. Here we are telling our friends how DVC Members receive free valet only to be embarrassed to learn that it was taken away that day and scrambling for cash to pay!

That is truly terrible. I also don't understand why dropping $200 at a restaurant doesn't entitle one to "free" valet? I'm sorry you had this experience.

I did not say it was funny that the valet parking was taken away. I just think this thread is crazy in that so many scenarios have been been played out about everything PERK related.

Actually--I think this one is quite tame compared to the one where the points changed for 2010. (you want crazy?) Also, use of the emoticon like this (which appropriately enough, stands for lmao) also led people to believe that you thought it was funny--even though you didn't mean it that way.

I just know that someday something in DVC is going to change that is important to you and then you (and others) will understand. And I have contacted member services--and my guide--and got the canned response.

However, I will say I think we need to keep up the messages. I know it's a pain--but MS needs to know how we feel.

 

[Sammie]

Is there a way to go higher up the chain?

How high do you want to go? You can always go higher; but more than likely it will simply be forwarded right back to the member satisfaction team.

 

[Dean]

Dean, are you saying that you would have handled informing the members exactly like Disney or that you would have handled the blowback in the exact same manner?

My response wasn't in relation to the notification but rather the response system and method to those complaining. A company has to be very careful what goes out, what gets put in writing, etc. That's one of the reasons they either call you or suggest you call them with many of the email questions. And they do limit who they allow to send such information. The emails and satisfaction team conversations are intended to patronize while making you think they were really doing something. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, it's standard issue when a difficult decision has been made and damage control is ongoing and they will collect the data on the complaints to review but they knew there would be complaints.

As for the different question of how I would have handled this, I've said several times we don't have the information. Ideally would have been to make the decision with lead time, send out info to the members, post it on the website, even get it in the DF prior. This was not done which suggests this was an overnight change OR multiple people dropped the ball. However, even if it were something that had to change that quickly and there was no other choice, I think one can still fault them for their approach and handling of the matter. If I'm in charge and this decision has to happen tomorrow and I find out today, everything else stops. IT is working late and coming in early to get the web page ready for a change and that change is front and center highlighted, etc. Management is working late and coming in early to make sure it's the way we want it. We make sure we have the MS supervisor on the phone letting them know where we stand and as soon as final decisions are made, that we let that supervisor know what is done, an idea of why, how to phrase it, to pass it down to the front lines and what to expect on the website.

In addition, I'm looking for a way to delay the implementation by 2 weeks even if I have to take it out of reserves or raise fees next year to cover the short term overage. I would also want to get a basic summary of the process. Something like the following:

We've decided to make Valet Parking Pay to play because there was an emergency re-negotiation of the contract which required payment of X additional dollars for the next year that was not budgeted. Rather than raise the membership fees by $X. X% of the membership used this perk last year and the costs to the members was $X.

BTW, I would have taken a similar approach to the reallocation giving a summary of specific numbers. IMO DVC really let the members down on the two AKV room issues and potentially in this case as well by HOW they handled it even if the decision itself was appropriate.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I understand that people are unhappy they lost it but this thread is crazy.

Sounds like a new member still snorting the pixie dust and drinking the Kool-aid.

This is just one more incident of DVC not communicating with members. It's happened before and it will happen again until they finally decide that the members are important. Many members contact MS by e-mail and either get nothing in response or a canned response. It gets tiring after a while.

So when they take away a perk you like or change something you like, will you respond the same way??

 

[JimC]

...
Quote:
Sorry, but I'm from the I'm willing to pay more every year to keep the features/perks that were provide when I purchased DVC group.

In the face of rising costs, not every member shares that philosophy.

And thus is the inherent tension in common interest real estate -- the differing abilities and philosophies for maintaining properties and operating the association. I'm still of the mind that the advantages of such arrangements far exceed the disadvantages.

Glad Disney makes the decisions for DVC because all I want to do is enjoy a great vacation. I do not agree with every decision. But as long as the overall enjoyment exceeds the cost I am fine. I am surprised that free valet parking seems to be a significant factor for many and a deal breaker for some. Yet each member is likely to have different priorities and this may have tipped the scales for them.