NO MORE free valet parking for DVC members.

[TLSnell1981]

.... but some have talked about it in terms of hurting Disney and DVC, IMO, that is wishful thinking.

Well, if they all spent as much as we did? It would definitely hurt Disney.

 

[Dean]

Well, if they all spent as much as we did? It would definitely hurt Disney.

Unlikely enough to matter and even if so, they'll make it up somewhere else. Also, most people who say they won't spend as much end up doing so anyway after a couple of trips. My reference was to those who somehow feel their important enough that if they change their habits specifically to "hurt" Disney that it'll actually be noticed or they'll care. They'll only care if the overall profits in a given area are hurt and in this situation it won't matter anyway because it's not a general Disney profit question (in spite of what some would like to think) but rather a DVC maint fee cost issue.

 

[DebbieB]

I used the car tonight, the posts are still blocking the main driveway entrance at BWV, had to go around to the side. No problem finding a space tonight around 9:00pm.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Unlikely enough to matter and even if so, they'll make it up somewhere else. Also, most people who say they won't spend as much end up doing so anyway after a couple of trips.

There are several factors that have caused a reduction in our expenditures. The change in the dining menu, the quality of the food. and now...the discontinuation of free valet. It's no longer worth the hassle...the straw that broke the camel's back.

If Disney doesn't want my money...so be it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If Disney doesn't want my money...so be it.

1) I don't understand the statement.
2) If you own DVC, they already have your money and annual dues.
3) If you sell to someone else, Disney still has THEIR money.

 

[Dean]

There are several factors that have caused a reduction in our expenditures. The change in the dining menu, the quality of the food. and now...the discontinuation of free valet. It's no longer worth the hassle...the straw that broke the camel's back.

If Disney doesn't want my money...so be it.

But that's all irrelevant to the discontinuation of valet IMO and the others have no direct bearing on DVC as a timeshare entity. It may all be relevant to your personal decision and you should make the best one for you given the circumstances at hand. As changes happen, DVC may no longer be right for a given member and they should make decisions accordingly as well. One who buys DVC should do so with it making sense for them assuming certain negative changes including elimination of all perks, increasing fees and a negative reallocation OR be in such a situation that it's worth taking the chance they know could happen. An example of such a situation would be one that buys a smaller package mainly for the perks, I know of several that have done so in large part for the free valet, PH and AP discount.

 

[jdg345]

I think everyone realizes that and we all know it's creating issues at present. I, for one, expect them to be ironed out over time.

This is one of the issues I don't understand. Many have argued that Disney knew what they were doing here, and this was a well calculated decision and then took all of these things into account and measured and weighed before making this very difficult decision.

If that's all true, then why all this ironing out over time? If this was all calculated, didn't Disney know these issues would arise and shouldn't they have taken steps to remedy them before/at the change?

IMO, it simply points to this all being knee-jerk and a last minute decision. Just look at the way it was [not] announced.

 

[jdg345]

Well, for me? It's no longer worth the money or the hassle to rent a car. We enjoyed dining and shopping at WDW, but don't like the buses. It's much easier to hire a car...drop off and pick up (used to be door to door). We go to AK once and suffer the bus. We now have the majority of our meals in the Villa and skip the shopping. I don't care to haul my purchases on the bus.

Maybe, we are the only ones who have changed our habits. Loss of free valet was the tipping point for us.

Just as an aside, you can typically have your purchases delivered to your resort for free. Just so you know.



You are obviously someone that used the perk, and it seems that the majority of valet parkers were DVC members (from antecdotal evidence of lot usage before/after the change). I wonder what Mears and Disney are going to decide to do? In the end, it's better to get some of something rather than all of nothing. The best thing people can do is not valet park and hit them in the only place they care: The pocket.

 

[jdg345]

That's certainly your choice and I'm sure there will be others that take that approach as well. Everyone has to make their own choices based on their personal situation but some have talked about it in terms of hurting Disney and DVC, IMO, that is wishful thinking.

I suspect the number of spots is tied to contracts to a degree, hopefully there's an out clause if so or the contract is year to year. Obviously that's what needs to happen.

Number of spots and the location of those spots are contracted.

 

[cj9200]

The best thing people can do is not valet park and hit them in the only place they care: The pocket.

I always use valet when staying at Disney. Not any more. My tips were generous both when dropping off the car and picking it up. Hey, it was otherwise free. I will also make it known to everyone that I am not happy with the cutback. Will the new policy take away from my future trips? No, but it doesn't mean I like it.

 

[DVCPAT]

1) I don't understand the statement.
2) If you own DVC, they already have your money and annual dues.
3) If you sell to someone else, Disney still has THEIR money.

When I joined DVC, I questioned my guide how Disney benefits from offering me a room at such a reduced rate? He said Disney makes the real money when were on vacation. On site dining, shopping and park tickets are WDW best profit generators. As DVC membership grows, so does our spending. Disney knows DVC member spending contributes to the bottom line. On my recent trip, a cast member said the DVC members were a Godsend during slow periods. In another thread, a poster mentioned DVC member spending was mentioned in a Disney financial report.

 

[thelionqueen]

We also heavily used the free valet perk. It made our trips so easy and hassle free, it is something that will DEFINITELY be missed, and I am NOT happy about it!!

I understand Disney makes these decisions for MANY reasons I may not be aware of, but this decision affects many of us in ways they are not aware of. For example, I will now be dining at other DVC restaurants less frequently if at all. I will be visiting/shopping less as well. By taking away this perk, they have EASILY forefeited $50-100 PER day from MY FAMILY ALONE in dining/shopping areas. This amount is a very low estimate, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who dines/shops (or used to now) using the convenient valet perk. So if you factor in the $15-$20 they are "saving" by taking away this perk vs the $50-100 they are losing by doing it, then multiply that by hundreds (or thousands) of other members who do the same thing, maybe they would take notice.

Either way, I understood when I signed that perks come and go, and I didn't buy my membership because of them. It is just one that will change our travel habits greatly and I wish they would bring it back (wishful thinking I know)

 

[DVCPAT]

I always use valet when staying at Disney. Not any more. My tips were generous both when dropping off the car and picking it up. Hey, it was otherwise free. I will also make it known to everyone that I am not happy with the cutback. Will the new policy take away from my future trips? No, but it doesn't mean I like it.

I agree….but look at the bright side. This change will save us money. I would easily tip valets $50.00 a week, not any more. When I do go to my car, it’s actually more convenient and a lot less expensive to eat off site. I don’t have to drop my family off at the resort entrance and find a parking spot a mile away. While we’re off site, we usually hit the outlets and spend more money. Disney is removing the convenient golden handcuffs that kept us and our money on site.

 

[Chuck S]

When I joined DVC, I questioned my guide my guide how Disney benefits from offering me a room at such a reduced rate? He said Disney makes the real money when were on vacation. On site dining, shopping and park tickets are WDW best profit generators. As DVC membership grows, so does our spending. Disney knows DVC member spending contributes to the bottom line. On my recent trip, a cast member said the DVC members were a Godsend during slow periods. In another thread, a poster mentioned DVC member spending was mentioned in a Disney financial report.

As a stockholder, I've never seen a financial report that specifically breaks out DVCer spending vs other resort guest spending, other than the income generated by the initial sale of points.

Seriously, if "free valet" was the only thing that encouraged you to dine and spend $$, the TiW card should be a good option. You get free valet AND a 20% dining discount on table service restsurants. Of course, you need to be an AP holder to get the card.

 

[MELSMICE]

As a stockholder, I've never seen a financial report that specifically breaks out DVCer spending vs other resort guest spending, other than the income generated by the initial sale of points.

Seriously, if "free valet" was the only thing that encouraged you to dine and spend $$, the TiW card should be a good option. You get free valet AND a 20% dining discount on table service restsurants. Of course, you need to be an AP holder to get the card.

Which is something that also irks me..............you can get a discount if you pay for the card! And now you have to pay for the 2nd card. We have AP's & I used to have the card when it was DDE card (I think that was the name). It was nice, but I was never convinced that it was the great bargain that Disney made it out to be.

I'm sure if you always eat at Disney restaurants this might be a good deal, but if you eat off-site at more reasonable priced restaurants then it's not so great. JMO!

 

[Chuck S]

Which is something that also irks me..............you can get a discount if you pay for the card! And now you have to pay for the 2nd card. We have AP's & I used to have the card when it was DDE card (I think that was the name). It was nice, but I was never convinced that it was the great bargain that Disney made it out to be.

I'm sure if you always eat at Disney restaurants this might be a good deal, but if you eat off-site at more reasonable priced restaurants then it's not so great. JMO!

Actually, now that DVCers don;t get free valet, that can be figured into the savings from DDE/TiW, and make it more economical than before.

Also, we travel to WDW 2x per year for 8 to 10 days per trip. We do eat some meals offsite, but even with two people who have their main table service meal at lunch, the DDE/TiW always saved some money over the course of a year.

 

[crisi]

As a stockholder, I've never seen a financial report that specifically breaks out DVCer spending vs other resort guest spending, other than the income generated by the initial sale of points.
.

And that's really how Disney benefits - DVCPAT's guide probably doesn't understand the business well. Disney builds a resort and recovers 100% of its cost of capital, plus a significant profit margin, in 3-5 years by selling the points. They guarantee themselves pretty full "hotels" - even in down seasons and down years.

I doubt DVC members spend more than the average "three trips in a lifetime" Deluxe guest - but we have near instant ROI on the capital, and after that, we spend relatively consistently. In a recession, we might spend less, but compared to people without a commitment, we are an almost guarantee to Disney that we will show up - without requiring promotions that cut significantly into their margins.

 

[MELSMICE]

Actually, now that DVCers don;t get free valet, that can be figured into the savings from DDE/TiW, and make it more economical than before.

Also, we travel to WDW 2x per year for 8 to 10 days per trip. We do eat some meals offsite, but even with two people who have their main table service meal at lunch, the DDE/TiW always saved some money over the course of a year.

We are a family of 5, so the discount, when we got it was substantial, however, I always have a hard time justifying having to pay for something so I can get a discount.

Another name for a discount is a coupon - I don't pay for coupons.

 

[disneynutz]

And that's really how Disney benefits - DVCPAT's guide probably doesn't understand the business well. Disney builds a resort and recovers 100% of its cost of capital, plus a significant profit margin, in 3-5 years by selling the points. They guarantee themselves pretty full "hotels" - even in down seasons and down years.

I doubt DVC members spend more than the average "three trips in a lifetime" Deluxe guest - but we have near instant ROI on the capital, and after that, we spend relatively consistently. In a recession, we might spend less, but compared to people without a commitment, we are an almost guarantee to Disney that we will show up - without requiring promotions that cut significantly into their margins.

I don't know about others but we seem to spend almost $1000 just on Disney stuff each visit and we visit 2 or 3 times each year. Restaurants, tours, tips, and DDP, it all adds up.

Bill

 

[cj9200]

I agree….but look at the bright side. This change will save us money. I would easily tip valets $50.00 a week, not any more. When I do go to my car, it’s actually more convenient and a lot less expensive to eat off site. I don’t have to drop my family off at the resort entrance and find a parking spot a mile away. While we’re off site, we usually hit the outlets and spend more money. Disney is removing the convenient golden handcuffs that kept us and our money on site.

Good points. I will make sure to point that out to them on our next trip.