NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[jmsdvc]

I agree my feelings are it is not the cutting off of the benefit as much as the lack of communication to DVC members.
I wonder if members would care if they cut off our use of the pools or towels?
We don't seem to have a say in the decisions.

 

[Chuck S]

We checked into BCV Oct 20. I had not gotten an email or any other information until I went to leave the car with the valet. When I checked in I asked to speak to a manager, who I know had nothing to do with the DVC decision. I explained that I was at the annual meeting last year and nothing was discussed about this and that I was not infomed of the change. In addition I was upset that I had paid my annual fees last January and they were cutting off something in essence I had already paid for. He seemed suprised that I was not informed but promised to look into it.

I then called Member services and got a supervisor who I repeated all of my concerns to and this is the line I got. They were discontinuing the service in my best interest. (I love when other people do stuff in my best interest b/c they know more than I do and yet somehow it never seems to be in MY best interest). It was explained that with valet fees going up they had to stop the service or my annual dues next year would go way up. In addition they had done a study and found that a lot more members were utilizing DME so they were keeping it instead.

I asked the obvious question if more people use DME than valet how could costs be going way up for valet service? I never got an answer for this, however I did get the answer that annual dues do go to pay for the valet service. When I asked if I was going to get a refund for the portion of my annual dues paid last year for valet that was cut off before the end of the year, I never got an answer for that either.

A short time later the BCV manager called back with in essence the same corporate line.

My problems are that I was not informed on something that I had already paid for through the end of the year, they took something away in the middle of the year, and they did it in my best interest to save me money. I would like to know how much of annual dues goes to DME. I wonder how much we are subsidizing a service that Disney is providing to other guests to keep them on property vs something that really was just to my benefit. just my 2 cents worth.

Poor communication aside, we have no way of knowing if dues actualy paid for the valet service. It has been by other reliable sources that it was paid by DVC Marketing, who chose no longer to pay for it.

Plus, if dues did pay for it, we do not know if it was really paid until the end of the year, or only through the end of an existing contract. Also, DME is available to all resort guests, so if dues do go towards it, it is part of the management agreement with Disney. Remember that Disney also owns an interest in DVC resorts, and they rent out those rooms to cash guests. So, it would be a resort cost, where valet is not a shared resort cost, as non-DVCers pay for the service.

 

[Chuck S]

I agree my feelings are it is not the cutting off of the benefit as much as the lack of communication to DVC members.
I wonder if members would care if they cut off our use of the pools or towels?
We don't seem to have a say in the decisions.

Once again, pools and towels are physical parts of the resort, not perks. Valet service was a non-guaranteed perk.

 

[toocherie]

Once again, pools and towels are physical parts of the resort, not perks. Valet service was a non-guaranteed perk.

Chuck--while there are existing towels I daresay that those probably get worn and have to be replaced periodically--not to mention the costs of laundry and stocking/re-stocking. Maybe it would be a good idea to charge those people using the pool an additional fee for use of the pool towels and the replacement/laundering of same. I've never used the pools (me in a bathing suit would not be a good thing) so would not want to pay these costs. I doubt the DVC documents "guarantee" towels at the pool.

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck--while there are existing towels I daresay that those probably get worn and have to be replaced periodically--not to mention the costs of laundry and stocking/re-stocking. Maybe it would be a good idea to charge those people using the pool an additional fee for use of the pool towels and the replacement/laundering of same. I've never used the pools (me in a bathing suit would not be a good thing) so would not want to pay these costs. I doubt the DVC documents "guarantee" towels at the pool.

But they are a "furnishing" of the resort as represented. They can not simply discontinue pool towels any more than they could switch the king beds for a single bed. The towel replacement costs are part of the maintenance funds.

 

[Pooh for Presid]

I have no way to prove it, and I guess Chuck S does not believe me, but I was told both by the manager at the Beach Club and and the supervisor at member services that the decision was made to cut off the service to prevent a increase of my annual dues and this was done in my best interest.

 

[Chuck S]

I have no way to prove it, and I guess Chuck S does not believe me, but I was told both by the manager at the Beach Club and and the supervisor at member services that the decision was made to cut off the service to prevent a increase of my annual dues and this was done in my best interest.

I never said I didn't believe you. But, if the valet was being paid by DVC Marketing, and they decided to no longer cover it, then dues would have to do so...so yes, either way, to continue the service would mean an increase in dues. If it was previously provided by marketing, it would mean a BIG increase in dues. If dues were previously paying for it, it would mean a smaller increase, but still an increase.

I simply said that many here on the DIS were told that dues had not been previously covering the valet services.

 

[drommer0]

Don't valet cost come out of the maintenance fund. Isn't that what our dues pay for just as they pay for the pool towels. If they can't discontinue pool towels how can they discontinue valet?. Just wondering

 

[hakepb]

Pool towels must be a very minimial cost because even Values include pool towels. (and really, how many full-time housekeeper(s) are being paid for this service?)
I think it is in member's best interest to include pool towels because there would be even more wet people dripping through the halls...

 

[Chuck S]

Don't valet cost come out of the maintenance fund. Isn't that what our dues pay for just as they pay for the pool towels. If they can't discontinue pool towels how can they discontinue valet?. Just wondering

No, Valet isn't resort maintenance, there is nothing to "maintain" no upkeep. If it was paid by dues, it would either be a shared common area expense, or a direct employee expense, likely the former, as the valets have been contracted out for at least a year, maybe two.

But since it is contracted, they likely receive their operating income from the parking fees, so someone would have to have been paying those fees...likely DVC Marketing.

Towels, on the other hand, are a represented furnishing at time of purchase, just like the furniture in the rooms.

 

[Dean]

We have only recently joinged DVC and am a little disappointed in having no valet parking. I do have a question though. Some have mentioned how this is fair as all should not be charged for a benefit only some use. What about the bus service from the airport to the resorts? Is this free for DVC members? In doing some looking today, it appeared to be free. We would never use this as we are a family of 6 and need a car to get to the grocery store and prefer a car to the disney transportation. We have always rented a car at the airport. Anyway, my thought is this is a big expense that if free, we are all paying for wheather we use it or not. I would think more people would use the valet then the bus from the airport. Any thoughts...

I don't think we know if the DVC dues pay for any of the ME and if so, how much. There was a charge for ME at one time. ME is free if you use it, I'm not sure how it's paid for otherwise. I think we all agree there are things that should be paid and things that shouldn't and things that fall in middle. Ultimately someone has to make a decision based on the facts of the case. To go from paying nothing to $12 per day per user is a very clear cut decision IMO. Were there a major economy of scale, the appropriate decision might be different, it would depend on the specifics. However, the fact there are some things that are paid for that not everyone uses makes little difference in this discussion unless they are things where there is no economy of scale, the cost is significant, a relatively small % of people use it and it can easily be segregated into those that do and do not use that service.

Unreasonable maybe, but sitting back and not voicing ones opinion is weak, it's like complaining about the political process but not working to change it and voting in the same incumbent each time, or talking about crime and turning your back if you see something happen. People need to stand up and complain, complement and all around voice their opinions, because if you don't nothing will ever change.

I'm all for working for change from the inside, however, I'd suggest that complaining to member services and member satisfaction is not doing so. It's really only complaining to hear yourself complain and/or asking to be patronized. That's not to say it's totally worthless but pretty close, IMO. I'm also all about complementing the positives when they occur, and to me, the re-allocation was a positive.

I think one of the more interesting aspects of this discussion is the fact that it is likely to COST Disney money.

If the "free" valet parking perk were to have continued, member dues would have been used to pay some fee per guest or per vehicle parked. It seems reasonable to assume that the daily parking fees are split between the outsourced vendor and Disney. So they could easily have gouged our dues on the fees, kept the "perk" in place and increased their bottom line.

Elimination of the "free" perk means lower revenue for valet. It also means the self-park lots will fill up quicker and guests who otherwise want to dine or shop at resorts will be turned away when the parking lots are full (or restricted to resort guests.)

If there's any sniff test that this change does not pass (IMO), it's the suggestion that DVC wasn't acting in the best interest of members. I think Disney stood to make considerably more by having our dues charged millions per year in parking fees.

I don't believe Disney gets any windfall from this, only elimination of liability for both incidents and personnel. Certainly there are subtle risks. Say when the contract is up next time and the system is not paying for itself, the contractor may want more money or a guaranteed subsidy. I think the likely end point is no valet for most, if not all, resorts.

They were discontinuing the service in my best interest. (I love when other people do stuff in my best interest b/c they know more than I do and yet somehow it never seems to be in MY best interest). It was explained that with valet fees going up they had to stop the service or my annual dues next year would go way up. In addition they had done a study and found that a lot more members were utilizing DME so they were keeping it instead.

Not necessarily in your best interest but the membership as a whole because otherwise it would have been an increase in dues for others to pay for your valet parking. The info I have, and what others have received as well, is DVC would have gone from paying nothing to paying the entire $12 per day per vehicle.

More applicable than pool towels is the laundry the pool towels, a much larger expense comparatively from what I've been told.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I never said I didn't believe you. But, if the valet was being paid by DVC Marketing, and they decided to no longer cover it, then dues would have to do so...so yes, either way, to continue the service would mean an increase in dues. If it was previously provided by marketing, it would mean a BIG increase in dues. If dues were previously paying for it, it would mean a smaller increase, but still an increase.

I simply said that many here on the DIS were told that dues had not been previously covering the valet services.

It seems to be that previously, there was no charge to DVC for the free parking. Then there was some sort of change in the valet contract. DVC could no longer offer it without charge. They either had to stop it, or increase dues.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm all for working for change from the inside, however, I'd suggest that complaining to member services and member satisfaction is not doing so. It's really only complaining to hear yourself complain and/or asking to be patronized. That's not to say it's totally worthless but pretty close, IMO. I'm also all about complementing the positives when they occur, and to me, the re-allocation was a positive.

So if you have a problem with your mobile phone service, you don't complain, you don't send communications (written/verbal) to the service provider? You suggest that change should only be worked on from inside?

Honestly, if I am understanding you correctly, I cannot disagree more with your stance. Complaints written and verbal do go a long way, they do at my company and one can only hope they do at Disney (refer back to service versus marketing dollars statistic I provided before).

In regards to the reallocation, I'm indifferent, I see the positives on the whole, but again, it was poorly handled I think on the whole (granted it was marginally better then this current event).

 

[Anjelica]

Anyone else gotten a call from DVC regarding email they sent on this issue? They called and left a message for me to call them back - I got their voicemail when I returned their call. Will let you know what they say when they get back to me.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Anyone else gotten a call from DVC regarding email they sent on this issue? They called and left a message for me to call them back - I got their voicemail when I returned their call. Will let you know what they say when they get back to me.

Yes, received one last night, I was unable to take the call at the time, but I plan on calling them back.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Anyone else gotten a call from DVC regarding email they sent on this issue? They called and left a message for me to call them back - I got their voicemail when I returned their call. Will let you know what they say when they get back to me.

Yes, I spoke with them a couple of weeks ago. I just gave my input, they told me they decided to go with the "pay as you go" model and that was about it. Nothing more I expected than to give my feedback. Even if it is a bit patronizing as Dean says (and it is) at least the next time I see the phrase - due to member requests - I will know whether I requested it or not.

At the same time I mentioned my hope that point charts for 2011 would not be as delayed as 2010. I was told that had happened b/c of the change with RCI.

 

[Dean]

So if you have a problem with your mobile phone service, you don't complain, you don't send communications (written/verbal) to the service provider? You suggest that change should only be worked on from inside?

Honestly, if I am understanding you correctly, I cannot disagree more with your stance. Complaints written and verbal do go a long way, they do at my company and one can only hope they do at Disney (refer back to service versus marketing dollars statistic I provided before).

In regards to the reallocation, I'm indifferent, I see the positives on the whole, but again, it was poorly handled I think on the whole (granted it was marginally better then this current event).

I suspect you misunderstand my position. I don't own part of the cell phone company, if I have a problem, I question what's going on and I go up the ladder if need be until I get to someone that can do something about it. I'm with Sprint and it seems they always screw something up every time they have to add or delete a phone or there is a rebate involved. So I call and get usually to 2 levels of CS, none of which have any authority to do anything that involves money. They tell me they agree but can't do anything and generally direct me to the right group. Unfortunately the right group is usually the retention department but they always seem to get it fixed.

My stance with DVC is that MS and Members Satisfaction have little or no power other than over minor issues and one time fixes. They cannot change system issues and their input after a change means little in all but extreme and obvious circumstances. I'm not saying one should not complain if it's appropriate, only that this level is a waste of time to do so in policy matters such as this. And specifically to complain to MS and Mem Satisfaction ONLY is an invitation to keep getting the same result, patronized.

I don't see the re-allocation as being one of the items that was all that poorly handled. The 3 months notice was reasonable IMO and I truly don't expect a flashing billboard every time something is changed.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't see the re-allocation as being one of the items that was all that poorly handled. The 3 months notice was reasonable IMO and I truly don't expect a flashing billboard every time something is changed.

3 months notice? They released the 2010 charts about 10 days before January 1, 2010 reservations could be made (1/21/09).

 

[Dean]

3 months notice? They released the 2010 charts about 10 days before January 1, 2010 reservations could be made (1/21/09).

You're right, 11 months and 10 days ahead.

 

[DebbieB]

You're right, 11 months and 10 days ahead.

No, not 11 months. If I wanted to make a January 1, 2010 reservation, I could call on February 1, 2009. So about 10 days before I found out I need more points for that reservation. Actually even less than that because I could book a stay arriving December 26 that includes January 1, calling on January 26, 2009, 5 days after the notice.