Any DVC'ers out there think we should have more perks?

[tjkraz]

This is probably just a variation on what others said. The core issue here is that most groups think Disney should value them above-and-beyond others, and attempt to stake a claim to extra perks.

Florida residents think they deserve more. Passholders think they deserve more. DVC members want more. D23 members want more. People who pay $600 per night for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Grand Floridian think they should have some extra "magic." Even those who make annual trips to Pop Century (who may well spend more than your average DVC member) want more.

Yes, we DVC members spent a lot of money to buy in. But Disney also gave us something pretty valuable in return--the ability to vacation for decades-to-come at pennies on the dollar. Quid pro quo...both parties knew what they were getting (accommodations or $$$) and deemed it to be of adequate value.

To be blunt, I think the perks today are better than when we first purchased--AP discount, free Internet, access to attraction previews, discounts for after-hours party tickets, spa discounts, discounts for things like La Nouba and Broadway show tickets, etc. Those are all newer perks introduced in the last 4-5 years, and I can't think of a noteworthy perk that was removed. (We used to get 10% off on the price of a Length of Stay pass, but you could buy passes in advance from a third-party ticket seller and still get a better deal.)

As a member I'd certainly take advantage of whatever perks are offered. But by no means do I think I'm entitled to more just because "I'm a DVC member!"

 

[mom2owen&jack]

Well...in my opinion the best perk has been gone for a long while.

The perk that I miss the MOST is the free, yes free, length of stay/hopper passes that we were given for the first years of our membership (we have been members since 1992). It was not a signing bonus or anything, just a part of the actual membership. You received passes for the # of people that were on the reservation up to the maximum capacity of the accommodation size you chose.

If my memory serves me correctly, we were able to obtain these passes until 1996...but I could be off by one or two years. Two children have stolen too many brain cells!

 

[DisneyJoe]

Magic Your Way tickets started January 2, 2005 so it's been since then.

 

[tjkraz]

The perk that I miss the MOST is the free, yes free, length of stay/hopper passes that we were given for the first years of our membership (we have been members since 1992). It was not a signing bonus or anything, just a part of the actual membership. You received passes for the # of people that were on the reservation up to the maximum capacity of the accommodation size you chose.

If my memory serves me correctly, we were able to obtain these passes until 1996...but I could be off by one or two years. Two children have stolen too many brain cells!

Actually that was a sales incentive. The free park passes were promised to folks who bought over roughly an 18-month period in 1992 and 1993. Buyers received free passes through 1999.

People who bought in the mid-to-late 90s did not receive free passes because the promotion had been discontinued.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Just something I was thinking - What's to stop DVC'ers from just using the rooms and not spending a dime at a theme park? What if they use their points at one of the hundreds of other locations that are available to use points at? That's what they need to consider with WDW-related perks.

The perks are just that - perks. I can't say I'm 100% satisfied with the existing perks, but I'm not far from it. However, I believe DVC is somewhat of a special situation, and I think needs to be handled differently than someone spending $3k at the GF. That person may or may not come back. DVC members will come back, in most cases. They also need to spread the good word about DVC, since word-of-mouth does carry significant weight with a purchase of that magnitude.

 

[heliumalias]

My family have been members since '95 and we got the free park passes. It was thru '99 BUT they didn't include Animal Kingdom (in the same way that current tickets won't include entrance to any parks built after 5/1/98).
As a party of 4 (that usually stayed in a 1 bed) we would only get 2 tickets per visit which seems to contradict what mom2owen&jack said in a previous post.

Personally I don't think that any group that already gets discounts should get any more. i don't agree with the VIP passes thing either. VIP relies on some form of exclusivity and there are far too many DVC members to make any kind of "VIP perk" exclusive.

The only discount I would change (which also applies to APs) is the merchandise one which I would extend to include the largest store in each park (i.e. Emporium, Mouse Gears, etc). Mostly because I find it really annoying to have to wait until I go to WoD to buy anything and then have to go round the parks to get the things that they didn't have there.

The best discount/perk list that I have had from Disney was when I was a DL passholder. From memory they got a better range of discounts then WDW (in that you'd get food and merch discounts pretty much everywhere and they could more than pay for the ticket within one weekend)

 

[Disneykidder]

DVCers drop a lot of money to own one and should be given some perks. The existing perks are pretty good, in my opinion. I think the only gripe I would have is during a free dining period. Maybe the Disney powers that be could extend it to DVC owners at a considerable discount. I know it cannot be free but maybe extend it to DVCers at at 50-70% discount. I really don't know the answer to this one but it would be nice to get the free dining, although I undertand it isn't in Disney's best interest to do so. We love the dining plan. We have paid for it and gotten it for free once. We intend to use it on our next vacation. We will be in WDW next summer when the free dining will most likely occur but staying in a DVC we will not be eligible, which is too bad.

 

[harryk]

As a DVC member since 3/01 I did not pay much attention to the so-called perks when I became a member. All I was interested in at the time was the ability to make reservations early (11 months) and to get the type of room which I wanted. Moving the reservation to another DVC resort was no problem for the next few years (that changed as more members came on board and the popularity of the time that we chose to visit WDW became more crowded).
The value which my family obtained far outweighed the perks.
The only perk which I would like to see changed would be to be able to make ADRs 7 months in advance (i.e. one month before non DVC members) .. this is if the 90 day ADR is changed back to 6 months - as it is I would like to see DVC get 120 days now.
The remainder of the perks are just fine as they now stand.
We all knew what we purchased when we purchased -- there were no 'hidden' fees, etc. So let's get on board and if we want to see any changes they should be brought up at the annual meetings - or some way to get in touch with those who do attend to get our views presented.

146 days to VWL :xmas::xmas:

 

[kapeman]

One big perk that hasn't been mentioned is the free valet parking at DVC resorts.

I didn't think much about it until we started using it and I LOVE it!

 

[breakin2]

I think the OP wants to be taken to each ride by rickshaws that are pulled by the "lesser" guests of the park who didn't work as hard as he and don't have his level of job.

 

[slappy magoo]

Just to add something about DVC. Yes the dues rise every year and so does point values. Something that cost 167 points last year may cost 169 points this year, meaning that in a few years someone owning 175 points will need to purchase more to be able to have the same length vacation. DVC will only allow a 100 point minimum and right now that runs about $12,000. Resales are cheaper but would still need to be purchased. So, it kind of is not locking you into a deal.

I think the perks for DVC are great (we are currently becoming a member) but more would always be cool. )

Investing in a DVC is like paying for a car upfront, rather than financing it over time, but can also be financed. I'm not so sure why their seems to be amamosity towards DVC owners.

I know others have corrected you, but I think it always bears repeating, because it's one of the most-often asked questions of DVC agents, and one of the biggest misperceptions.

DVC may alter the point values from day to day, but wherever they add, they MUST subtract somewhere else. If certain seasons become more popular than they used to be, they may up the point values there, bu then they make other weeks cost fewer points. If they add point values to weekdays, they may subtract from weekends (or vice versa).

The places where point values go up and pretty much never go down are in NON-DVC resorts. To use points to stay at a moderate resort, or at one of the Deluxes with no DVC wing (like Poly or GF), THOSE points will go up as the regular cost of the room goes up. Resorts in other Disney parks also will go up until/unless they add a DVC wing. Disney Cruises will go up. But not the DVD resorts unless, as has been said, they go up certain days and down for others so the differences balance out.

Also, I believe for new members, they must have at least a 160 point minimum to buy in. Not 100 points. Used to be 100 points, but not anymore.

Back to the OP, while I would certainly accept more perks, and I've occasionally written some "wouldn't it be great if they did this" posts or threads, I knew what I was getting when I bought in, thought it was a good value then and still do.

 

[DVCOwner]

Everyone is right about the total points not changing. They are adjusted day to day, season to season in order to balance out demand. Weekend demand was down, so the amount of points needed to stay on a weekend went down and the number of points to stay on a weekday went up. The total for a week stay remind the same and the total points for all rooms all days stay the same.

The one thing that I would like Disney to do is discount the meal plan when they give away free dining. I for one am going in early December and I will not be eating out a dinner this time due to the problem of getting reservation due to the number of people using the free dining. If it was discount to me I might consider using the plan on this trip. I would save some money and Disney would get some income even if a little less than full price.

 

[DisneyJoe]

If it was discount to me I might consider using the plan on this trip.

Disney offers free dining and reduced priced rooms in order to fill empty resort rooms.

What incentive do they have to offer a discounted dining plan to someone who is already planning on traveling to WDW (and most likely is already booked) and filling a room using their DVC points?

If you haven't booked your room at 11 months or 7 months would a discounted dining plan make you book a trip with your points?

Just playing devil's advocate.

 

[tjkraz]

The only perk which I would like to see changed would be to be able to make ADRs 7 months in advance (i.e. one month before non DVC members) .. this is if the 90 day ADR is changed back to 6 months - as it is I would like to see DVC get 120 days now.

Just to play devil's advocate, here's why I don't think Disney would consider giving DVC members any extra ADR perks.

Once the Bay Lake Tower opens, there will be 2800-4000 DVC rooms at Walt Disney World. (Varies depending on how the lock-offs are booked.) With those sorts of numbers, DVC members could easily book all of the LeCellier openings on most nights.

We could also grab all of the prime slots at other popular restaurants. Imagine a non-member spending $500 per night for the Grand Floridian. Said individual calls exactly 90 days out (or 90+10...whatever their first calling day might be) for Chef Mickey's and is told that the only availability is for lunch at 1:30pm or dinner at 8pm.

It may not cost Disney significant overhead to implement a DVC member preferential booking window, but the negative impact on other groups could certainly "cost" them in the end. Doesn't matter whether they give us a one month preference, one week or even one day. DVC members are pretty shrewd and we would undoubtedly make life difficult for scores of other Walt Disney World guests who just want their own fair shake when it comes to securing reservations.

 

[Disneykidder]

Okey dokey, I stand corrected...about 6 times. I get it. My guide never explained that but now I know, thx.

What I meant with the 100 points was add ons. If you add on through Disney, it is a 100 pt. minimum unless you get a resale, which can be any amount of points.

I also stated that DVC owners should be given a dining discount when free dining is offered. I know they don't have to because we will be using our points anyway, but it would be a nice courtesy. "Would be nice", not saying they need to do it. We have paid for free dining and have also gotten it for free and love it! It works for us.

 

[slappy magoo]

I've got a "perk" that'd be ideal, one that DVC members would by-and-large love, AND one that wouldn't necessarily cost WDW/DVC any money that they'd then have to pass off in membership fees...

There are various restaurants that aren't open for lunch and/or breakfast. Open them up, and make them deluxe character meals, ones where the crème de la crème of Disney characters show up. And make them only available to DVC members, or at least, give DVC members top priority, and only open it up to non-members a few weeks before each day. I'd bet a lot of DVC members at SSR would be grateful to have a character breakfast at Turf Club before hitting the parks, OR a character lunch upon returning for a nap. Artist Point is only open for dinner, and I'm sure some people would prefer a nicer upscale breakfast at least once in their trip while still giving their kids face time with Mickey. I don't think Olivia's is open for lunch tho I could be wrong. Cape May doesn't have a lunch and hell the characters are already there! I'm not sure if the new restaurants at VAK & BLT are open for all meals, but if they're not...

They pay for themselves, so it doesn't really cost Disney money beyond startup (and since these are already functional restaurants, startup should be minimal). DVC members would pay for them as they would any other meal, it's just that it's easier to get into them because they're only fighting other members, not the general public. And while the general public might feel left out (hey, membership has its privileges), it does free up other restaurants a little bit throughout the world. And since these DVC character meals would be outside of the parks, it allows a little more circulation of guests throughout the parks. It may even be the sort of thing that could be used as a selling point for potential members, something ONLY members can experience...

Dunno, seems good to me.

 

[DisneyJoe]

They pay for themselves, so it doesn't really cost Disney money beyond startup (and since these are already functional restaurants, startup should be minimal). DVC members would pay for them as they would any other meal, it's just that it's easier to get into them because they're only fighting other members, not the general public.

Not a bad idea, but it would only make it worthwhile to Disney if enough DVC members attend on a regular basis to keep the cooks and waitstaff busy - because if they are standing around idle for a few hours then they'll shut this down pretty fast.

 

[tjkraz]

I think it's a pretty big leap to assume that added character meals would be immediate profit centers. Disney used to have a character breakfast at OKW's Olivia's years ago but it was eliminated.

When it comes to adding restaurants or opening for additional meals, I'm sure that Disney looks at the entire resort complex as a whole. Sure a character breakfast at The Turf Club would attract business. But if it's drawing mostly guests who would otherwise have dined at 1900 Park Fare, Ohana's or Crystal Palace, then it really isn't adding to the bottom line. You're just taking business from one restaurant and shifting it to another.

Character meals are pretty expensive to operate, too. The performers receive equity wages, plus there are added positions for handlers, photographers, etc. That makes for thousands of dollars in added salaries and benefits each day above-and-beyond a non-character meal.

When all else fails, I tend to believe that Disney is pretty good at wringing every nickel, dime and quarter from our pockets. If their accountants demonstrate that a character meal at Whispering Canyon or The Turf Club would be profitable, it will get added.

 

[dizzney]

Granted as DVC members we have perks, but we have also invested heavily in the world, I would like to see some discounted dining (not free - discounted) avaialble to us when free dining is given out,

With all that a DVC family spends on Disney in a year, it should get some benefit on dining, not free, but some benefit

 

[Master Yoda]

I often hear DVC members gripe a bit about the general public getting such promotions as free dining. Understandably most want a piece of the action. However, most fail to realize what a regular guest has to do to get "free" dining. They have to pay full price for their room and tickets which something a DVC member will never have to do. That is why you bought into the DVC isent i?. So you could lock in today's prices forever.

The reality is financial gain is the only incentive for a company to do a promotion. How would WDW make additional money by offering a segment of guests free or reduced dining when they are already financially bound to be at WDW, buy tickets and eat on property ? I know some will say "loyalty to dedicated customers". Disney does not really need to be all that loyal to DVC members. Again as I mentioned before your are financially obligated to be there. Sure you could use your points on another vacation but we all know that the dollar to point value always ends up in Disney's favor if you do that.

I would like to pose a question.

How would WDW gain financially by offering free or reduced dining to existing DVC members?