Valet parking no longer free for DVC members.

[arielrocks]

Is $12 the normal rate for valet parking? If so, at the very least couldn't Disney have given DVC members a discounted rate? I mean, seriously, you go from free to $12? I don't think they should have pulled the perk at all, but if they insist upon it, at least make it half, $6.00 instead of the full rate.

Couldn't agree more.I am livid about this. How dare they just decide to
remove a member perk like that! So we pay 18k dollars in advance for vacations so that Disney can dump on us whenever they like. Not ok. WhAT will we loose next? Ap discounts? I am furious!

I say bombard ms with complaints until they review the policy

 

[TommyTutone]

Is there a list of perks that have been lost in the past 2-3 years? I will be at Disney next week and when confronted by the DVC folks, I want to let them know that is exactly why I am not interested anymore, when I was 18 months ago.

Thanks!

 

[Paul in CT]

I am so mad! I just confirmed this with member services!

Am I late to the game? Is this old news?

There is a very long thread on this subject on the DVC Mousecellaneous board. I learned of the bad news when I tried to valet park at BWV on Sunday evening. I dropped my party off and self-parked. It's not worth $12 + tip to me even when it is 95 degrees and humid as it was Sunday. They picked a great time to change the policy with no warning.

 

[doconeill]

I'm not sure about all the things we've list (we've only been members a couple of years now), but don't forget to include gains as well. Although the only one I can think of right now is free internet...that overall probably costs more than the valet parking did per member. But it certainly was a greater value to me than valet parking.

 

[Demosthenes]

Weird. I'm at BLT right now, and its still free to DVC members here. Maybe the valets haven't caught on yet.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Weird. I'm at BLT right now, and its still free to DVC members here. Maybe the valets haven't caught on yet.

Have you checked your room charges?

 

[disneynutz]

Here is the link to the DVC thread on losing the valet perk.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2305423

Bill

 

[Launchpad11B]

This sucks. I guess we're walking from now on.

 

[ADP]

This sucks. I guess we're walking from now on.

I'm right there with ya. I guess in the grand scheme of things another mile or 2 of walking doesn't matter too much when you've already walked 20.

 

[dpuck1998]

I'm right there with ya. I guess in the grand scheme of things another mile or 2 of walking doesn't matter too much when you've already walked 20.

Ditto, I'll become the family valet Wonder if they will tip me??

 

[baby1disney]

Hi people!!

I'm usually a person that always sees both sides of the issue at hand, but I really have to be honest here: I'm totally on the DVC side!!!

My in-laws are DVC members and that was one reason why they got it. For one, they're older(both 62yrs young) and for my MIL, this was great because she has bad knees and arthritis. So, that helped them out. My FIL does most of the driving on the way down and when he gets there, he liked the comfort of knowing that he could have them park his car for him. Now, it will probably be one of us "kids" that will park it for him.

I just don't understand why the parking(whether DVC or not) isn't included in your ticket price!! As much as they charge for tickets, that should be included. But, then again, they'll just find something else to charge you for.

 

[cocowum]

Ditto, I'll become the family valet Wonder if they will tip me??

Paul doesn't know it yet but he has been nominated to be the family valet.

Seriously though, if changes had to be made, I wish we were given some notice. I hate being treated poorly by a company I love so much.

Does this change this change how I feel about being a DVC member? No, not really. Will I still rent a car? Absolutely. Will we pay to valet? Probably, depending on the resort. Definitely at BW.

 

[doombuggy]

Frankly, if it boils down to raising maint. fees vs. "free" valet, get rid of the "free" valet. I would prefer to keep the fees down, thanks.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I am good with the charge.
We do not use it and see that either dues could increase to offset the cost or the members who use it can pay and the ones who don't won't have to subsidize the cost.
Parking is still free and there are many slots available. When you get groceries, you can drop off the family and the bags at the entrance and one go park just as if you used the valet. I don't understand the complaint of the parking lot being too hot--are you just coming from a theme park which is the same temperature?

 

[OKW Lover]

Frankly, if it boils down to raising maint. fees vs. "free" valet, get rid of the "free" valet. I would prefer to keep the fees down, thanks.

Unfortunately, its not either/or. I have not doubt that it will be both.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Parking is still free and there are many slots available. When you get groceries, you can drop off the family and the bags at the entrance and one go park just as if you used the valet.

Have you checked out BWV's parking lot during Wine & Cheese or Flower & Garden Festival? It's bad enough on weekends, but it's impossible during special events. There are many guests, who park their car, and are not hotel/villa guests. They are there to dine or shop.

Not everyone has more than one driver in their party.

 

[OKW Lover]

Interestingly enough, we got our bill this morning (we're at BWV) and there was no valet charge on it. We checked in on Sunday (the day the change was effective) but didn't have a car. But on Monday our guests arrived and they did have a car, which we had valet parked. I was expecting to be charged for the one night they used it, but it didn't show up.

I wonder if DVC is having second thoughts?

 

[Demosthenes]

Have you checked your room charges?

I checked this morning. Still no charges. We did check in last Friday, so maybe we "beat" the charge.

 

[dpuck1998]

Response from DVC:

Hello Don,

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

As part of the normal course of doing business, we regularly evaluate
and adjust our pricing. As a result, effective Sunday, October 11,
2009, complimentary valet parking for Disney Vacation Club Members at
the Walt Disney World Resort has been discontinued. The valet parking
charge is $12.00 per day, however complimentary self-parking is always
available. Similar to other fee-based services, such as additional
housekeeping service or additional room amenities, only those Members
who choose to valet park will be charged instead of increasing the
annual dues for all Members.

Thank you again for contacting us.


Sincerely,

XXX

Member Services
Disney Vacation Club

 

[ADP]

Response from DVC:

Hello Don,

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

As part of the normal course of doing business, we regularly evaluate
and adjust our pricing. As a result, effective Sunday, October 11,
2009, complimentary valet parking for Disney Vacation Club Members at
the Walt Disney World Resort has been discontinued. The valet parking
charge is $12.00 per day, however complimentary self-parking is always
available. Similar to other fee-based services, such as additional
housekeeping service or additional room amenities, only those Members
who choose to valet park will be charged instead of increasing the
annual dues for all Members.

Thank you again for contacting us.


Sincerely,

XXX

Member Services
Disney Vacation Club

Thanks Puck!
Seems like a "canned" response/answer, but at least it's a response.