Would you have gone with him? Valet question.

[floridafam]

Last month, I met some friends for dinner at the GF. After dinner I went to get my car from the valet. I gave him my ticket and he took off to go find my car. He came back and said he couldn't find it and asked me to get in his truck and go with him to help him find my car.

Would you have gone with him? I declined. It was pretty late and he was the only one working the valet station.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Probably yes, then again, it's a REALLY short walk over to where the cars for Valet are parked, you could have just walked over too.

 

[vicki_c]

I really don't know what I would have done in that situation, but I think you did totally the right thing if you were uncomfortable with it. It was an odd request and you're perfectly within your rights to decline on that basis. I think going with your gut is always important.

I assume he found your car eventually?

 

[rcortese711]

Probably not. While he is Disney employed and is probably highly supervised, that just crosses a line.

While it probably wasn't a threat, you made a good call by declining.

 

[brendaziz]

I definitely would not have. I would have walked inside and found another person that worked there and asked if they could assist.

Def good to follow your instincts- and even if your instincts dont say "this is bad, run away"- it's still just not smart to be alone w/ any stranger like that.

 

[catne]

would I have gone with him...no. But then I am a woman, and would not go with a stranger-guy anyway, walking or driving.

Last I was told (September of 2008) the valet guys are NOT Disney employees -- the whole valet system was contracted out. When we got ready to check out in May 2008, we looked at the bill and saw that the valet service & a tip had been added to our room bill, but we had paid cash for both at The Contemporary valet kiosk when we used the valet parking there. When we complained at the POFQ desk, they removed the charge immediately, no debate, and apologized profusely. We were told this kind of billing after people had already paid cash was just all too common ever since they hired an outside company to run the valet parking.

 

[hockeymom3]

I am also a woman, and I probably would have gone but I believe in intuition and if you weren't comfortable with it, you made the right choice

 

[geenerbell]

No, you did the right thing. Always, always trust your instincts they rarely steer you wrong. When you say his truck do you mean his personal vehicle or company vehicle? Just curious. Did you report the incident to anyone?

 

[tink2dw]

Did you get your car? eventually?

 

[bcuinohio]

Were there other Disney employess in the near area? If so, he should be legitimate. I don't understand why he would use his own truck. When we were at the GF they used golf cart type vehicles. I wouldn't have ridden in his personal vehicke but I would have gotten one of the golf carts. The bell staff used one to pick us up when we checked in.

 

[fall08CP]

I would have asked for my keys and a security escort instead. I have worked in close contact with the valet team at one of the resorts and even accepted rides home with them (when I used to live down there), and as a whole they are pretty good people. However, if I were at the resort I would feel more comfortable in the security vehicles. In my experience, they have always been super helpful.

 

[Justsyd2]

You did the right thing. I would not have gone with him! No way.

 

[praline3001]

There is something really fishy about this... I know had there only been 1 human being in front of the GF ... that would be enough of a red flag for me.

There is always someone at Bell services desk. There is also a head valet in charge ... then their are the runners who go get the cars... then there are the bell hops waiting with their gold luggage carts.

Seriously ..only 1 person was out front?
I have come back to my resort at 1am and there were at least 3-4 employees outside.

Its against policy for them to use a private owned vehicle to transport guest, they aren't insured and could be fired on the spot. The valet ..had he pulled up in his own truck ..well then he wasn't looking for your car. Seriously ~ how could he drive 2 cars at once LOL

I am by no means saying your wrong ... but it would have been HIGHLY suspicious event and in no way would I get into the truck. I would have gone to the outside bell services desk or the concierge desk that is right inside the lobby and explained it to them.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

It sounds odd to me too. Why would he go in his truck anyway to get your car from valet? He couldn't have driven them both back.

 

[J&J]

if it was late then why could;t he find it the cars shoud have been less.
you werre right not to go. how long did it take for him to find your car?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Absolutely correct, praline3001. NEVER let your guard down, even on vacation. This was wrong, wrong, wrong.

floridafam, PLEASE contact the Grand Floridian and tell them what you experienced.
The phone number is (407) 824-3000. Ask to speak to a resort manager.

 

[praline3001]

The whole thing just seems so strange.
More often than not there are more cm's in the valet area than guest

They always have a few (or at least one) person out there with a luggage cart. Being the *flagship reosrt* they make sure to have someone there to grab your luggage anytime, day or night... there is a bell services desk outside that handles the luggage calls and also for CL guest check in.

Then there is a manager who is in charge of everyone in the valet area... this includes hailing cabs (who are parked in the parking lot) making sure guest's needs are met and is usually the nice guy who interacts with the guest and answers most questions.

I just can't see a case where there was nobody in the front of this flagship resort. Especially after a dinner as the parks don't close until late

 

[floridafam]

It was about 11:30 p.m. give or take a few minutes. I didn't see anyone else out there other than the creepy valet guy. Another couple asked him to hail a cab and he had to tell them to hold on until he found my car. Sure, all I had to do was walk inside and get someone else but it was still just odd.

When he said his truck I have no idea if he meant his personal truck or a WDW vehicle. There were 2 vehicles parked to the right of the benches in the valet area and he gestured over toward them.

That's exactly what happened. There could have been other people on their way back from break or something but he was the only valet employee I saw at the time.

It was Saturday, March 14. He did say what he said. I'm sure it was harmless but it still felt odd.

 

[praline3001]

Oh please don't think in no way am I saying your lying ... not at all!

What I am thinking is if someone saw a chance to *play* valet... if that makes sense?

The GF cm's use golf carts to get around the resort... not trucks.

Due to the usual amount of cm's in the front ~ this shouldn't have happened.

But as it did happen it would be a huge red flag~ as in someone was stalking the place and saw his chance .. if that makes sense?

As I said ~ there are always at least 4 cm's out there at any given time BUT if they left for a break or to handle another matter ... then this creep slips in and offers you a ride ... see where I am coming from?

 

[WDWKOOK]

It was about 11:30 p.m. give or take a few minutes. I didn't see anyone else out there other than the creepy valet guy. Another couple asked him to hail a cab and he had to tell them to hold on until he found my car. Sure, all I had to do was walk inside and get someone else but it was still just odd.

When he said his truck I have no idea if he meant his personal truck or a WDW vehicle. There were 2 vehicles parked to the right of the benches in the valet area and he gestured over toward them.

That's exactly what happened. There could have been other people on their way back from break or something but he was the only valet employee I saw at the time.

It was Saturday, March 14. He did say what he said. I'm sure it was harmless but it still felt odd.

You made the right move getting away from that weirdo.

It WAS odd, and may or may not have been harmless. As I mentioned earlier, please report this to the GF's mgt. Let THEM confirm or deny your (and my) fears.