DVCNews Debates: Member treatment

[idratherbeinwdw]

DVC never said we were entitled to any more-if people feel that way, then they bought into DVC for the wrong reason.

I didn't see any posts with anyone saying they were entitled to anything. All I saw were posts where people wanted or wished for things. People are allowed to have wants and desires and still be happy they are DVC members.

[TMurphy]

While we have never been treated differently from that of cash paying guests, I do think that DVC members should receive the best discounts available, i.e. AP holders get 50% off at putt-putt, where as DVC gets 10% off. Many DVC members (if not all) shelled out some big money to join the DVC, and I think that Disney should reward us with the best discounts that meet or exceed other types of memberships such as AP or Fla. resident, etc.

[TimK]

But what about a discount on a meal-plan ? The cash customers get one ..

I'm not aware of any promotions which provide discounts on meal plans. Disney does run "free dining" promos at times but if you look at the offer closely, in order to get the free meal plan they need to pay for their room at full rack rate (plus 12.5% tax) and buy park tickets for a multi-day stay.

In nearly all situations I've looked at, booking on points and paying for the meal plan still costs far less than these "free dining" promos.

How about a "sale" on reservations when using points during the "slow times of the year" ?

We already get that. That's why the nightly point costs are cheaper in September & January than Christmas and Easter.

-or- how about a discount at the restaurant instead of having to buy Tables in Wonderland ?

We get 10-20% discounts at many restaurants without TIW. No it isn't an all-encompassing list but the discounts are there if you're willing to take advantage of them. We've used the DVC discounts many times over the years.

To our faithful moderator ...
Does DVC at any time read any of the posts here ?

Maybe if they did -- they would recognize that not everything is
"magic" in the Magic Kingdom" with the DVC members ..

Disney does monitor many forums but I'm quite sure they realize that "you can't please all of the people, all of the time." They do listen to feedback from members. The TiW perk is a great example of this--a benefit many members requested since it became available to passholders a few years back. After several years of members requesting it, DVC was able to negotiate it as a perk for owners.

But we also need to be realistic about perks. Yes, members committed many thousands of dollars to DVC but that commitment was made to lock-in discounted room rates for decades to come. DVC is a quid pro quo--something for something. We give them a lot of money and they give us 60-70% savings over the long haul.

I don't think we can expect Disney to start handing-out millions of dollars worth of free dining credits just to say "thank you" to DVC members.

[cruiseralmary]

We bought into DVC membership after attending a preview. After we bought we were invited to add more points by attending events and also invited others to go with us. The events were great because they gave away cruises, gifts,, etc. We eventually added points, however, the events were downsized so that TODAY they do not have any and there are NO MORE Gifts or offers ie.. giving free annual passes, etc. Disney now takes us for granted. We do not receive any big discounts for being a DVC Member. There is no Big Discount for the Annual pass which would allow us to visit both DISNEYLAND AND DISNEYWORLD. We bought the Premium pass at first but NOW,the price went way up. We want to stay at the resort for the 5k ,10 k or 1/2 marathon and we get no discount to enroll. Disney DOES not encourage us to partake in these events as well as stay at the Resort.

[3princesses1prince]

If I was given more discounts as a DVC member I would spend more on dining, the parks, tickets, shows, tours, merchandise, etc. We tried TIW during our vacation in June and I feel it was not worth the $100 price. We just about broke even and I will not purchase it again. We purchase a 10-day-no-expiration tickets and use maybe 2 or 3 days each time we go. So our tickets have lasted 3 or 4 years. We try to eat our big meal at lunch time, since they are usually cheaper and occasionally there is the 10% DVC discount. There is so much to do in Orlando so as the girls have gotten bigger we visit the museums, parks, and take a day trip to Vero Beach.

My brother visits WDW several times a year because he gets discounts for just about everything using promo discounts and his military discounts. He has looked into DVC and feels it is not worth the price he does better with the discounts he is offered.

I would love to see a discount on park tickets or a larger discount on shows and tours; and I hope they continue to have the 10% discount at selected restaurants. I am a coupon clipper and bargain shopper, if Disney wants more of my money, the way to my pocket is discounts. I will not give up my DVC, I love the accommodations but I do seem to spend less and less money at Disney each time we visit.

[delaneyc52]

I'm not aware of any promotions which provide discounts on meal plans. Disney does run "free dining" promos at times but if you look at the offer closely, in order to get the free meal plan they need to pay for their room at full rack rate (plus 12.5% tax) and buy park tickets for a multi-day stay.

In nearly all situations I've looked at, booking on points and paying for the meal plan still costs far less than these "free dining" promos.



We already get that. That's why the nightly point costs are cheaper in September & January than Christmas and Easter.



We get 10-20% discounts at many restaurants without TIW. No it isn't an all-encompassing list but the discounts are there if you're willing to take advantage of them. We've used the DVC discounts many times over the years.



Disney does monitor many forums but I'm quite sure they realize that "you can't please all of the people, all of the time." They do listen to feedback from members. The TiW perk is a great example of this--a benefit many members requested since it became available to passholders a few years back. After several years of members requesting it, DVC was able to negotiate it as a perk for owners.

But we also need to be realistic about perks. Yes, members committed many thousands of dollars to DVC but that commitment was made to lock-in discounted room rates for decades to come. DVC is a quid pro quo--something for something. We give them a lot of money and they give us 60-70% savings over the long haul.

I don't think we can expect Disney to start handing-out millions of dollars worth of free dining credits just to say "thank you" to DVC members.

Agree! Good reply. I'm not really concerned about perks, meal discounts, etc. (We did the meal discount analysis also.) My only concern is the condition of the room(s). When I bring family, I want to be proud of the timeshare choice we made and that Disney should equate to quality and cleanliness. That's what I paid for. So again, while I agree with your comments, I have to say that my new behavior is one I wish I did not need to have -- that is, I open the door and check the villa entirely before I agree to stay in that villa. If perks come up, I'll take advantage of them. Otherwise, I'm really not expecting anything but what I signed up for --- a clean room(s) in a beautifully themed hotel.

[DuckTalesWooHoo]

I also feel that we get treated like 2nd class citizens but not necessarily from the Cast Members but more from the higher ups at the DVC itself. If you look at the OFFICIAL DVC site you know that it's basically NEVER updated. Also I would like to see us have some kind of incentive for referrals that wind up purchasing because of our recommendation. My main thing I would like to see Disney do for the DVC members is give us better transportation perks. I just wish they could have dedicated Cast Members to pick us up at the airport to help us bypass the HUGE hassle of the Magical Express. I just wish they had some way of arranging for better transportation for the members. I don't know how they could do it but I wish they'd think of something. Am I the only person who hates knowing that I've spent a bundle on my BLT membership and can't wait to use it and then have to sit on a bus waiting for NON DVC members to "fill it up" so we can go. I've even considered taking a cab to my hotel because I hate waiting for that thing. Am I alone here?

[delaneyc52]

I also feel that we get treated like 2nd class citizens but not necessarily from the Cast Members but more from the higher ups at the DVC itself. If you look at the OFFICIAL DVC site you know that it's basically NEVER updated. Also I would like to see us have some kind of incentive for referrals that wind up purchasing because of our recommendation. My main thing I would like to see Disney do for the DVC members is give us better transportation perks. I just wish they could have dedicated Cast Members to pick us up at the airport to help us bypass the HUGE hassle of the Magical Express. I just wish they had some way of arranging for better transportation for the members. I don't know how they could do it but I wish they'd think of something. Am I the only person who hates knowing that I've spent a bundle on my BLT membership and can't wait to use it and then have to sit on a bus waiting for NON DVC members to "fill it up" so we can go. I've even considered taking a cab to my hotel because I hate waiting for that thing. Am I alone here?

I've used Magical Express many times and (shame on me?) never realized they wait to fill it up with non-DVC members! In fact, I don't ever remember waiting any more than 5-15 minutes to board and go. That being said, I do go in off peak times which may explain this. Live and learn!!!

[Caretaker]

For Fl residents there is an "After 6" Epcot pass availible. I would love to have that option.

Lovely

[drsql]

Have not used points to stay yet (Dec 15-22 at AKL is our first DVC trip this year, third of year, woo hoo!) I guess I sort of expect to be treated different.. I expect to be treated as good or better by the staff, but get less benefits than the cash paying people. They have our money, we are going to go to the park, and they did the math about what they could provide to us and still make a (most likely excellent) profit.

We bought 100 points and got 20 free at Animal Kindom Lodge for around 11k (plus interest ), I get 40 years of 1.5 weeks at the AKL. For the 10 years I make payments, my cost is about 2400 a year. 11 nights at the AKL are fairly close to 2000. Getting a few perks/discounts on food or tickets is possible, but after the the DVC membership is paid for, the cost will be more like 400 a year.

Like everyone else, I would love more discounts, I expect that they will market to us less now that I have more or less promised to show up on average 11 days a year for the rest of my life expectancy