NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[waltfan1957]

Clearly, the entity doing the deciding is DVC. How they make the decisions is never clear. As per usual, they did not solicit input first, because that's not the way DVC---or, for that matter, The Walt Disney Company---does things.

come on, you know it was to enhance our membership

 

[VrBchJ]

come on, you know it was to enhance our membership

Or because members requested it.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Some may take the other side. That the attitude of the members expect special treatment and free things is part of hte problem.

The only fair way is it look at each component and make an informed decision as to what is appropriate to be included and what is appropriate pay to play based on the % of members using a given option, the ease or difficulty of doing pay to play, the economy of scale for that item and the like. No everything can be pay to play and not everything could be included, one has to draw a somewhat arbitrary line but based on appropriate data. As such valet parking clearly falls on the side that should be pay to play because it's relatively expensive, there's little if any economy of scale and it's easy to define to the appropriate subgroup. I would venture that the original agreement made the economy of scale work in favor of a cheap option and those savings have evaporated.

This change will have little or NO affect on the number of cars at the resorts in question, the only question is how they're parked and how many spaces valet needs or doesn't need.

I have said it before but I will say it again...

if you really look at the concern - most members are upset at losing this perk at BWV ONLY - why? Because the parking situation there is a mess. I don't think it is an unreasonable expectation that there be ample parking available for me at the resort I am staying at.

I don't anyone who would be okay with making reservations at a hotel and showing up to find out that there is no where on grounds for them to park b/c people visiting the resort have used up the free parking lot.

This isn't about being greedy and having unreasonable expectations - it is about wanting to feel like you can continue to stay at your favorite resort and know that parking will be available for you.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

. . .This change will have little or NO affect on the number of cars at the resorts in question, the only question is how they're parked and how many spaces valet needs or doesn't need.

As a BWV owner who has always rented a car and used valet, this change will make it more likely that we will not rent a car at all. We actually enjoy using the busess to get to MK and AK, so we only used our car for grocery trips and to DTD. With rental rates skyrocketing anyway, we were spending a lot of $$ for the convenience of having a car vs. using taxis. With no free valet, this either increases the cost or reduces the convenience.

I would suspect that others staying at BWV will also decide not to rent a car. -- Suzanne

 

[crisi]

Parking has always been a mess at the Contemporary as well - I'd expect that to be a problem with BLT being open.

Its a mess at the Poly, but that isn't a DVC resort. But its STILL a mess - and its no more pleasant to have to pay for valet when you are paying for a hotel room than when you are paying via points. Especially at Deluxe resort prices.

When I went to dinner at the GF over a year ago, they ONLY allowed valet - no self park at all.

Disney needs to do something about the parking situation at Deluxe resorts.

 

[Sammie]

Parking has always been a mess at the Contemporary as well - I'd expect that to be a problem with BLT being open.

Its a mess at the Poly, but that isn't a DVC resort. But its STILL a mess - and its no more pleasant to have to pay for valet when you are paying for a hotel room than when you are paying via points. Especially at Deluxe resort prices.

When I went to dinner at the GF over a year ago, they ONLY allowed valet - no self park at all.

Disney needs to do something about the parking situation at Deluxe resorts.

You can self park at the GF, its just a long way across the street and yes the situation at the Polynesian is horrible. If and if is the operative word, they add DVC to the GF and the Polynesian can you imagine the headaches with parking.

 

[disneynutz]

As a BWV owner who has always rented a car and used valet, this change will make it more likely that we will not rent a car at all. We actually enjoy using the busess to get to MK and AK, so we only used our car for grocery trips and to DTD. With rental rates skyrocketing anyway, we were spending a lot of $$ for the convenience of having a car vs. using taxis. With no free valet, this either increases the cost or reduces the convenience.

I would suspect that others staying at BWV will also decide not to rent a car. -- Suzanne

So you could say that Disney was successful in making the policy change. Take away a perk, make more money from people who continue to use Valet while causing others to not rent cars, stay on property, and spend more money.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I have said it before but I will say it again...

if you really look at the concern - most members are upset at losing this perk at BWV ONLY - why? Because the parking situation there is a mess. I don't think it is an unreasonable expectation that there be ample parking available for me at the resort I am staying at.

I don't anyone who would be okay with making reservations at a hotel and showing up to find out that there is no where on grounds for them to park b/c people visiting the resort have used up the free parking lot.

This isn't about being greedy and having unreasonable expectations - it is about wanting to feel like you can continue to stay at your favorite resort and know that parking will be available for you.

I think the parking area is fine there, just how they use it and how they police it that's the problem, namely people not staying there parking, some for the parks. There are no more cars now than there were this time last year. This is not a parking lot issue, and this is not a valet parking issue, there is a parking lot management issue. I've parked at BWV many times over the past 13 years or so, I own there and I go at least once or twice every trip for the times I don't stay at BWV so I am well versed in the ins and outs. Figure that anyone not staying at BWV will be directed across the street, even if they have dining reservations. If there are no spaces open there, they those not staying at the resort will be one their own. It's also very possible that pool hoping will end at BWV as a result of this change and it likely should. It really is as simple as who pays for valet parking and it is not a perk that should be subsidized by other members given specifics.

As a BWV owner who has always rented a car and used valet, this change will make it more likely that we will not rent a car at all. We actually enjoy using the busess to get to MK and AK, so we only used our car for grocery trips and to DTD. With rental rates skyrocketing anyway, we were spending a lot of $$ for the convenience of having a car vs. using taxis. With no free valet, this either increases the cost or reduces the convenience.

I would suspect that others staying at BWV will also decide not to rent a car. -- Suzanne

I'm sure a few will make this choice and it will actually help out with parking, there is no negative to Disney if a certain percentage of people no longer have a car that did before, if anything, it is a plus for them. However, it's unlikely to be enough people changing their car vs no car habits to make any real difference overall due to this issue or the increase in costs from $10-12 or from free to $12 for DVC members.

As Crisi notes, BWV is not the worst parking on Campus. CR, GF, Poly are all worse in many ways and while BCV is closer, I've had more problems there than at BWV so I don't think it's really much different or better overall.

 

[RAD]

Parking has always been a mess at the Contemporary as well - I'd expect that to be a problem with BLT being open.

We drove over to BLT a couple weeks ago and was able to get a parking space very close to the entrance, much closer to any spot at BWV self park. Does BLT even have valet at that building? If not there's no reason to valet at the main Contemporary entrance since the walk would be farther then the self park spots.

 

[Dean]

but to get that 50 they are giving discount after discount.

They are giving discounts either way or in the case of DVC, they have the money already and don't need to discount so how they get there doesn't really matter.

come on, you know it was to enhance our membership

Or because members requested it.

It's no wonder DVC doesn't ask for input or give much explanation regarding decisions with statements like these. If I felt this way about a system, I'd sell and move on even if I had to take a loss. This change is reasonable (though not implemented well), the reallocation was necessary, the reservation system change (1 week at a time) was reasonable. I can't think of a given system change that was not reasonable given the circumstances. I can think of a few method issues I disagree with but no policy issues that were inappropriate. And to date I haven't seen anyone upset that has actually taken their concerns to a level they could actually be addressed with real information.

 

[JimC]

But does Disney care if they get one person who spends 120,000 at Disney or 50 who spend $2400?

They care because they track average spend per guest in many categories.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Parking has always been a mess at the Contemporary as well - I'd expect that to be a problem with BLT being open.

When I stayed there this past August after Bay Lake Tower had opened parking was not a problem and there are actually three self parking lots available. The 1st one is right in front of the Tower Magic Kingdom Views and the first two rows is where the valet cars get parked. The 2nd parking lot is all the spots in front of Bay Lake Tower and the 3rd one is in front of the South Garden Wing, so those spots would be best for anyone staying in that section.

 

[JimC]

...And, my question STILL hasn't been answered. WHY if we're picking and choosing what "perks" should be kept, shouldn't they ALL go away. A'la cart for all! I can chose not to pay for additional housekeeping, gyms can have a swipe locked door, you can surf the net on your Iphone. And dues can decrease..!...

We may be owners, but we make no decisions. DVC runs the show. It is pretty simple. Don't like it -- don't buy or leave. Like it -- buy or stay.

Disney wants returning guests spending money on property. DD was to capture the crowd going to Church Street in Orlando. ME got people out of rentals, eliminated some of the arrival hassles at MCO and the resort, and captured more guest time and money on property (even after the cost of ME is included). The valet parking could get more people into ME and eliminate a hard dollar cost paid to the sub-contractor.

I don't know if DVC or DVD was responsible for the valet parking perk. So it either reduces DVD costs or will lower DVC dues. I doubt that valet parking is a significant cost item. The major costs in a timeshare resort are housekeeping, maintenance, front desk and management.

There is no advantage to unbundle some perks. Some may not capture marginal revenue that would otherwise go elsewhere. Some may cost more to unbundle then to leave in the dues. Some are simply not material items. For example, high speed Internet probably costs us a penny a point.

 

[toocherie]

And to date I haven't seen anyone upset that has actually taken their concerns to a level they could actually be addressed with real information.

Dean: if someone were that upset at what level should those concerns be addressed? I admit I have not gone back to look at the docs to see what information--if any--we are entitled to receive to try to ferret out just how much the valet perk was costing DVC. (I've been at Disneyland and am getting ready to go again, followed by a trip to WDW. (too bad there's not a "guilty" smilie))

ETA: I found the "guilty" smilie but it's too late to add it!

 

[manning]

Yes, but DVC also reserves the right to implement a minimum number of nights per stay, it is in the contract...and if they see a lot of members doing split stays and increasing dues because of the additional housekeeping required during a single WDW stay...guess what the next rule is going to be?

That's when I vote with my feet. Sell and let someone else deal with it...freedom of choice.

 

[tammymacb]

Yes, but DVC also reserves the right to implement a minimum number of nights per stay, it is in the contract...and if they see a lot of members doing split stays and increasing dues because of the additional housekeeping required during a single WDW stay...guess what the next rule is going to be?

Just wondering if you've shared your concern with split stays with any of the number of posters who write about split stays daily. Or is it just mine that brought on such strong feelings?

 

[Chuck S]

That's when I vote with my feet. Sell and let someone else deal with it...freedom of choice.

You realize that we could be restricted to only our home resort, and even so, they could institure minimum stays. I would expect to see either, or both, instituted for the last year or so, along with banking/borrowing restrictions in the last 2 to 3 years of the ownership.

Just wondering if you've shared your concern with split stays with any of the number of posters who write about split stays daily. Or is it just mine that brought on such strong feelings?

Actually, it was in response to your statement that you don't use housekeeping during your stay, as a way to justify keeping free valet. Just pointing out that that is an incorrect statement, as every time you move, you do get additional housekeeping that members who stay put do not receive. And that there are costs associated with it.

And it is true, if DVC sees that split short term stays cause housekeeping costs to rise or front desk costs, or any of the other costs associated with split stays, they have specifically reserved the right to institute a minumun stay. It is in the POS.

 

[Doctor P]

As an owner of BWV, the elimination of the valet parking benefit opens another issue, in my opinion. When we first bought at BWV, I tried to use self parking so that I could get to my car easily and didn't have to wait for the valet attendants. Each night when trying to park, I could not find a space due to the others visiting Boardwalk and potentially Epcot. The lots were full and I had to park across the street in the lot behind the gas station. My only choices were to walk a long way across a busy road, or use valet parking. Valet parking became the lesser of two evils. I, wrongly, assumed that Disney was using valet parking as a way to help the self parking issue.

I will gladly go back to self parking if Disney will limit the parking area in front of the Boardwalk to "Boardwalk Resort Guests Only". They should also make sure there is enough parking by reducing the spaces reserved for valet parking. It is my opinion that any Boardwalk resort guest that wishes to self park have space available.

The fee is not my issue. It's the lack of self parking at Boardwalk that needs to be handled properly.

Thanks for listening.

You hit the nail on the head.

 

[Doctor P]

But there is nothing different in the tips - DVC members still needed to tip for this service even when the service itself was free to them. As I said (and I was very careful to label my comments as my opinion), even at $12 for the service it is still an outstanding deal. The amount of tipping is irrelevant to me as that is the money I paid or any other member paid already.

This isn't New York. $12 is not an "outstanding deal" in the real world.

 

[Dizholic]

As an owner of BWV, the elimination of the valet parking benefit opens another issue, in my opinion. When we first bought at BWV, I tried to use self parking so that I could get to my car easily and didn't have to wait for the valet attendants. Each night when trying to park, I could not find a space due to the others visiting Boardwalk and potentially Epcot. The lots were full and I had to park across the street in the lot behind the gas station. My only choices were to walk a long way across a busy road, or use valet parking. Valet parking became the lesser of two evils. I, wrongly, assumed that Disney was using valet parking as a way to help the self parking issue.

I will gladly go back to self parking if Disney will limit the parking area in front of the Boardwalk to "Boardwalk Resort Guests Only". They should also make sure there is enough parking by reducing the spaces reserved for valet parking. It is my opinion that any Boardwalk resort guest that wishes to self park have space available.

The fee is not my issue. It's the lack of self parking at Boardwalk that needs to be handled properly.

Thanks for listening.

This is almost word for word what I told a manager Friday night when we had to park across the street in the overflow lot.