NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[tjkraz]

I feel like I have been slimed. Welcome Home! Gimme your $12!

We used the free valet service every day of every trip and always tipped well. Does Disney really think that they will improve the bottom line by nickel and diming their very best customers (DVC Members)?

We just got back from a week at CSR/AKL. My wife and I love to have dinner at the nice "sit down" restaurants around WDW. Not this time. We decided to support some of the local area restaurants where our business was appreciated and the parking was free and close to the door. I don't think Disney will miss a few hundred bucks, but, who knows. A flood starts with a single raindrop.

As multiple posters have confirmed, if the "free valet" service were to continue, the fees would have been charged to member dues and shared by all members. If Disney's primary concern were the bottom line, they could have easily billed those MILLIONS of dollars worth of valet fees to members. It would have been well within their rights to add the service to member dues, and undoubtedly would have increased revenue for TWDC.

Although I used the free parking perk myself, I'm forced to agree that it's a service which is best paid for by those who use it rather than spreading the costs among everyone. Free self-park lots are available for those who do not wish to pay the valet fees.

 

[Terry]

$12 to valet park is not an outrageous sum. We have all probably paid more than that somewhere. The point is we bought memberships that included free valet parking. That perk is now gone. What's next? Should the free high speed internet perk be paid for by only the members who use it, too? How about DVC member discounts? Why should we all subsidize discounts on meals and souvenirs if we don't all partake? How about the trash & towel service? We can wash our own towels and empty our own trash. Why should I pay for a maid to do that for someone else? Free parking anywhere on Disney property? We can all take a bus for free. Those are perks we were all sold. This is how big business works. When the budget isn't being met, executive incentives don't get paid unless costs are reduced and operating income increases. The customers pay more and get less.

Don't get me wrong. We still love Disney and will continue to go. Unfortunately, the business side of this takes some of the shine off of the experience.

 

[Brian Noble]

Except that, in this case, Disney would clearly have made *more* money by continuing to include it as a "free" perk, but charging the costs back to the Members via dues. More people would use "free" valet, therefore more valet revenue---plus the management fee percentage taken off that operational cost.

By passing the charge through explicitly, valet is generating less money, not more.

 

[Terry]

Your argument makes the assumption that Disney would indeed need to increase fees across the board via dues if the valet parking remained "free". Mine does not. I understand that. My point is, what is next? Certainly there are costs associated with the other "perks". When does Disney start spreading out the costs for those perks as well? The answer is...they already have. Costs go up or services go down. It is simple math. In this case, rather than increasing everyone's dues a few bucks, they elected to eliminate this perk. Probably not the best financial move and certainly not a good PR move.

 

[dis2cruise]

today I received a phone call from dvc in regards to my email to DVC about no more free valet parking. They told me their DVC leadership team is working on this perk that was "taken away" and also trying to get "new perks" for us .

That's all I can tell you but at least they called me back and did appoligize about taking this perk away. We will see what happens next.........

 

[Chuck S]

$12 to valet park is not an outrageous sum. We have all probably paid more than that somewhere. The point is we bought memberships that included free valet parking. That perk is now gone. What's next? Should the free high speed internet perk be paid for by only the members who use it, too? How about DVC member discounts? Why should we all subsidize discounts on meals and souvenirs if we don't all partake? How about the trash & towel service? We can wash our own towels and empty our own trash. Why should I pay for a maid to do that for someone else? Free parking anywhere on Disney property? We can all take a bus for free. Those are perks we were all sold. This is how big business works. When the budget isn't being met, executive incentives don't get paid unless costs are reduced and operating income increases. The customers pay more and get less.

Don't get me wrong. We still love Disney and will continue to go. Unfortunately, the business side of this takes some of the shine off of the experience.

Except that we didn't buy a membership that included free valet. We bought an ownership interest in a leasehold timeshare...at least according my documents. Everything else, except those items necessary to maintain and operate the resorts and membership data, are perks.

The membership does not subsidize the AP discount, the dining perks, and few shopping discounts. Those are offered as a courtesy by those vendors to members to encourage us to purchase APs and dine at those locations. The same could be offered. There is likely nothing stopping the vendor of the valet services from offering an unsibsidized discount if they would like to do so.

The internet wasn't free until the vendor has recouped the initial investment to wire the resorts, it was two to three years after the wired internet was installed before it was offered free, and likely the actual price of the service is extremely cheap, as it does not need to be manned 24 hours a day by at least 2 people per resort.

The limited maid services are actually detailed in the POS. The valet service is not. On the otherhand, why should al lthe members pay for your washer water usage dryer electric usage to lander a handful of towels? Overall, it may actually cost us more than the $6 a towel pack would cost...but of course the corect answer is that the laundry services are part of the "furnishings" of the resort as represented in the POS and at the time of purchase...again, the valet services are not. And again, free parking at the parks can be discountinued, and is likely not subsidized by dues, as it is offered to all onsite guests. We do pay for the bus/boat/monorail transportation as part of our dues.

 

[disneynutz]

Just because the gouging for Valet is lower at WDW doesn't make it right. I wish that people would stop making excuses for Disney.

Bill

 

[Chuck S]

Just because the gouging for Valet is lower at WDW doesn't make it right. I wish that people would stop making excuses for Disney.

Bill

Who do you think should pay for the service if it is proveded "free" to DVCers?

Disney (ie the Disney stockholders) DVC marketing, or the members via dues? Someone has to pay those valet's wages, and the the operating expenses of the contractor.

 

[Terry]

This is exactly why I don't usually post on this site. I know what the documents say. So does everyone else. Should that make us all feel good about this? Not me. Perception is reality. We were "sold" on features and benefits. I'm not trying to make a legal argument, just stating the facts. There have been thousands of phone calls and emails to member services and to the DVC Member Satisfaction Team on this topic. It would appear that the membership is not pleased. Happy customers spend more money. Unhappy ones spend it somewhere else. Disney is certainly not doing anything wrong according to our contracts, but, this was a PR mistake.

 

[Chuck S]

This is exactly why I don't usually post on this site. I know what the documents say. So does everyone else. Should that make us all feel good about this? Not me. Perception is reality. We were "sold" on features and benefits. I'm not trying to make a legal argument, just stating the facts. There have been thousands of phone calls and emails to member services and to the DVC Member Satisfaction Team on this topic. It would appear that the membership is not pleased. Happy customers spend more money. Unhappy ones spend it somewhere else. Disney is certainly not doing anything wrong according to our contracts, but, this was a PR mistake.

Again, whom do think should pay for the valet services?

 

[zalansky]

This is exactly why I don't usually post on this site. I know what the documents say. So does everyone else. Should that make us all feel good about this? Not me. Perception is reality. We were "sold" on features and benefits. I'm not trying to make a legal argument, just stating the facts. There have been thousands of phone calls and emails to member services and to the DVC Member Satisfaction Team on this topic. It would appear that the membership is not pleased. Happy customers spend more money. Unhappy ones spend it somewhere else. Disney is certainly not doing anything wrong according to our contracts, but, this was a PR mistake.

I have said it before several times on this thread and I will say it again. Those who didn't use this perk are not bothered by it being removed. We get it. I cannot wait until a perk that those members DO use is taken away. (DVC annual passs discount being on top of MY list of things to go) We'll see how much support these same people are giving to DVC then.

 

[disneynutz]

We don't know why it went from "free" to $12 over night so everyone is just guessing. We also don't know how much profit is in the $12 fee or how their contract reads. We don't know what our dues paid towards Valet before and we don't know why they don't charge a DVC discounted fee.

I do know that Disney out sourced Valet due to the liability issues and claims resulting from vehicular damage. I also know if you currently have a claim that Disney will refer you to the contractor and the contractor will tell you to "prove it".

I also know that there are a lot of services that Disney could switch to pay for use and I hate to think that this could be the start.

What's next, Bell Services, Front Desk, Concierge, laundry room, activity room? My dues pays for all of these and I don't use most of them.

DVC is going to have to offer perks and reduced fees to it's members to keep up the value of the product. If they told the truth and only offered you a room for your DVC purchase would you have many buyers?

I get frustrated because people accept negative change too easily. They don't question or demand answers. The worst is when they feel compelled to defend the change and try to convince others to do the same.

Bill

 

[zalansky]

We don't know why it went from "free" to $12 over night so everyone is just guessing. We also don't know how much profit is in the $12 fee or how their contract reads. We don't know what our dues paid towards Valet before and we don't know why they don't charge a DVC discounted fee.

I do know that Disney out sourced Valet due to the liability issues and claims resulting from vehicular damage. I also know if you currently have a claim that Disney will refer you to the contractor and the contractor will tell you to "prove it".

I also know that there are a lot of services that Disney could switch to pay for use and I hate to think that this could be the start.

What's next, Bell Services, Front Desk, Concierge, laundry room, activity room? My dues pays for all of these and I don't use most of them.

DVC is going to have to offer perks and reduced fees to it's members to keep up the value of the product. If they told the truth and only offered you a room for your DVC purchase would you have many buyers?

I get frustrated because people accept negative change too easily. They don't question or demand answers. The worst is when they feel compelled to defend the change and try to convince others to do the same.

Bill

Exactly. Thank you!

 

[DebbieB]

I have said it before several times on this thread and I will say it again. Those who didn't use this perk are not bothered by it being removed. We get it. I cannot wait until a perk that those members DO use is taken away. (DVC annual passs discount being on top of MY list of things to go) We'll see how much support these same people are giving to DVC then.

I did use it and am fine with it being taken away if it meant higher dues to be shared by everyone. I also think if free DME is being supported by member dues, that should be taken away too. Let everyone pay only for what they are using. The annual pass discount is not being paid by member dues.

 

[arielrocks]

Again, whom do think should pay for the valet services?

how about the people that are covering the Tables in Wonderland valet still??

 

[Terry]

Well said, Bill.

Chuck - I am the customer making a decision on where to spend my discretionary funds (which ain't what they used to be). It isn't my job to figure out how Disney accounts for the cost of the valet service. I don't care how they account for it. I'm a DVC member because I like to get away from that kind of stuff for a couple weeks each year. It is my job to make good spending decisions and to make sure my family has a great vacation. That's really all there is to it.

Again, I am the customer. The value that I am getting today is less than it was before this policy change. I'm not happy about that. Sorry if that is offensive in any way. As a business man myself, I depend on the "voice of the customer" to make sure we are pointed in the right direction. Knowing when my customers are not happy is tremendously valuable information and provides a great opportunity to improve customer satisfaction (that's marketing "code" for improving sales). My guess is that Disney understands this. I am just providing feedback.

 

[MELSMICE]

This is exactly why I don't usually post on this site. I know what the documents say. So does everyone else. Should that make us all feel good about this? Not me. Perception is reality. We were "sold" on features and benefits. I'm not trying to make a legal argument, just stating the facts. There have been thousands of phone calls and emails to member services and to the DVC Member Satisfaction Team on this topic. It would appear that the membership is not pleased. Happy customers spend more money. Unhappy ones spend it somewhere else. Disney is certainly not doing anything wrong according to our contracts, but, this was a PR mistake.

Agreed!

I have said it before several times on this thread and I will say it again. Those who didn't use this perk are not bothered by it being removed. We get it. I cannot wait until a perk that those members DO use is taken away. (DVC annual passs discount being on top of MY list of things to go) We'll see how much support these same people are giving to DVC then.

Also agree!

I did use it and am fine with it being taken away if it meant higher dues to be shared by everyone. I also think if free DME is being supported by member dues, that should be taken away too. Let everyone pay only for what they are using. The annual pass discount is not being paid by member dues.

We used it also & I think it stinks that it has been taken away.

When we entered into our contract we knew that we had yearly dues to pay, we also knew that those yearly dues would increase. DVC is a luxury for us, not an investment. A luxury costs money & usually the expenses for that luxury increase if the luxury is going to live up to it's standards.

My guess (& it's only a guess) is that the cost of dues increase to the thousands of DVC members that there are would be minimal to continue this service.

 

[tjkraz]

I have said it before several times on this thread and I will say it again. Those who didn't use this perk are not bothered by it being removed. We get it. I cannot wait until a perk that those members DO use is taken away. (DVC annual passs discount being on top of MY list of things to go) We'll see how much support these same people are giving to DVC then.

We did not have an annual pass discount when I joined and I wouldn't be surprised if it went away some day. I believe every ticket that I've purchased since the discount came into being was an annual pass, yet by no means do I feel entitled to it. If the perk is eliminated it may change my approach to Disney park tickets, but it's up to Disney to deal with the fallout of my changes in plans.

What I find most surprising about this discussion is the number of people who apparently don't understand what a DVC purchase gives them. We can reserve discounted rooms under a specific set of guidelines. That's it. If all of the perks went away tomorrow it would neither surprise me nor would it change my perception of the program's value.

Beyond what DVC told me I would get at the time of purchase, I don't feel entitled to anything extra. If they want to offer discounts, so be it. But I'm not going to demand extras, nor will I be upset when they go away.

We don't know why it went from "free" to $12 over night so everyone is just guessing. We also don't know how much profit is in the $12 fee or how their contract reads. We don't know what our dues paid towards Valet before and we don't know why they don't charge a DVC discounted fee.

I do know that Disney out sourced Valet due to the liability issues and claims resulting from vehicular damage. I also know if you currently have a claim that Disney will refer you to the contractor and the contractor will tell you to "prove it".

I also know that there are a lot of services that Disney could switch to pay for use and I hate to think that this could be the start.

What's next, Bell Services, Front Desk, Concierge, laundry room, activity room? My dues pays for all of these and I don't use most of them.

DVC is going to have to offer perks and reduced fees to it's members to keep up the value of the product. If they told the truth and only offered you a room for your DVC purchase would you have many buyers?

I get frustrated because people accept negative change too easily. They don't question or demand answers. The worst is when they feel compelled to defend the change and try to convince others to do the same.

Bill

I get frustrated by people who consistently use Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt to as the primary weapons in their arsenal. Who needs facts and rational discussion when it's much easier to get people worked-up about the possibility of paying for Bell Services, Front Desk (?) and Community Halls.

I get frustrated when anyone who dares to look at changes from another viewpoint is immediately branded some sort of DVC apologist who blindly "defend the change."

I get frustrated by people who completely ignore positive changes while pouncing on anything they perceive to be a negative change.

These aren't black and white issues. There is substantial gray area involved. If you happen to get a look at that contract or can get Disney to clarify why the rate went up so substantially, please share it with us. Until then, all we can do is respond to what we do know to be true (based upon on-the-record or off-the-record comments.)

I don't think it's quite fair to issue a blanket condemnation of every poster who verbally votes against having their dues pay for "free" valet parking.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We don't know why it went from "free" to $12 over night so everyone is just guessing. We also don't know how much profit is in the $12 fee or how their contract reads. We don't know what our dues paid towards Valet before and we don't know why they don't charge a DVC discounted fee.

Bill

I thought I read somewhere in the last many pages that DVC members didn't pay anything in their dues. The change isn't due to the outsourcing, if I understand it right. Didn't the outsourcing happen a few years ago, yet the discontinuation of it being free just happened last month? So if paying the valets is the issue, as Chuck S maintains, well, somehow they got paid for the last few years. I agree with wondering WHY this change happened NOW. Why not at the time of outsourcing, if that's the big issue?

 

[Chuck S]

I thought I read somewhere in the last many pages that DVC members didn't pay anything in their dues. The change isn't due to the outsourcing, if I understand it right. Didn't the outsourcing happen a few years ago, yet the discontinuation of it being free just happened last month? So if paying the valets is the issue, as Chuck S maintains, well, somehow they got paid for the last few years. I agree with wondering WHY this change happened NOW. Why not at the time of outsourcing, if that's the big issue?

It was likely being funded by DVC Marketing, or the contractor, or both, which, given the economy, decided to no longer fund it. Now the cost would need to be assumed by dues.