Customer Loyalty Rewards

[Takeitforgranite]

Generally speaking, I've always been of the opinion that being a loyal customer should account for something. After two years, I think my satellite TV subscription should go down a little, not up by $25. But, I guess that's the name of the game these days. Lure people in with discounts on the front end and forget about them once the contract is signed. Keeping existing customers is low priority.

WDW isn't as extreme as others, but the discounts are available to everyone, based on dates, not loyalty. There isn't anything out there, other than DVC, to reward those of us who keep coming back year after year. We just can't afford DVC, and I am sure there are many regular visitors in the same boat. It would be nice if there were some sort of reward system where those who come and stay on property often can get a bit of a break, even if it only gives us a larger window of dates for the public discounts.

In reality, there is probably no financial reason to extend discounts, if they have data that suggests that the core of repeat customers will keep coming back, anyway.

What say you?

 

[G8rchamps]

I have over $200 toward my next magical vacation saved up on my Disney rewards Visa card from Chase Bank

 

[popcenturylover]

It would be great if they had a loyalty program but, it's probably not going to happen! We are in the same boat can't afford DVC but, LOVE Disney. We just look for the best offer/deal & go with that. My Son-in-law is in the Navy so, we've been able to go with my daughter the last couple of times & took advantage of the Military discounts.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Oh I agree. Customer loyalty is what businesses count on and businesses should do all they can to earn it. Unfortunately when businesses see that the numbers are there, they dont necessarily see the need to reward loyalty. I'd love to see some kind of perk given out to guests who've kept coming back. Even if it was something minor like an extra FP or food credit upon checking in. It wouldnt cost Disney much but would go a long way in making you feel appreciated. As a business, giving a little goodwill always gives you more in return. But then youd surely get the crowd crowing about the more fortunate repeat guests getting something the one timers dont get and how unfair it is.

 

[popcenturylover]

I have over $200 toward my next magical vacation saved up on my Disney rewards Visa card from Chase Bank

We have that too but, it takes some time to build that up. I think we have about $150 right now.☺

 

[Lucky]

"Loyalty" programs are designed by companies to keep your business when there's not much else differentiating them from their competition - credit card issuers, gas stations, hotel chains, airlines. That doesn't describe WDW, so it doesn't need one.

 

[mgpan]

Well, they do say "Welcome Home" at many resorts even if you're not DVC, and ice water is free! Lucky is right, just not seen as necessary at the moment.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Well, they do say "Welcome Home" at many resorts even if you're not DVC, and ice water is free! Lucky is right, just not seen as necessary at the moment.

Last trip I didnt even get a "Welcome home". After checking in and I stepped away from the counter it dawned on me that the CM hadnt said it. I almost turned around and went back and said... What do I get because you failed to say it?

 

[MickeyMomV]

The bounce back offer would be considered a loyalty or frequent visitor program. Other than that I'm sure they could put something on a button for you. "Celebrating" 12 visit.

 

[Brad Bishop]

"Loyalty" programs are designed by companies to keep your business when there's not much else differentiating them from their competition - credit card issuers, gas stations, hotel chains, airlines. That doesn't describe WDW, so it doesn't need one.

That's a good way of putting it.

The thing with DirecTV and luring you away from cable is just that: They're trying to lure you away. Generally speaking, if cable "just works" people pay the bill and don't normally think about it. If the bill goes up a good deal then they'll think about it and something like DirectTV and their lure may be enough to get you to switch.

The ultimate problem with cable is that the content is both crappy and expensive. It's why they really can't keep you at the discounts for any great period of time. People may complain if their bill goes up but they'll scream if they lose a local or ESPN due to fee negotiations. You won't get people championing the cable/satellite provider for fighting the increased content fees.

The Disney Visa is one of the worst rewards programs out there. At best you get 1% back on your spending in Disney Dollars (only good at Disney or their stores or online presence). You can get higher rewards in flat out cash that can be used anywhere, including Disney. It's mainly about people feeling good that they have a picture of Mickey on their card. The one good thing about their cards is that if you have a vacation and pay via the Disney/Chase travel deal (which probably won't get you the discounts you'd get elsewhere) then you'll get 6months interest free to pay. I suspect it's like all other similar programs where if you don't pay it in full in those 6 months then you're paying interest all the way up to day one. I don't know for sure but that's how those deals usually are.

I agree with Lucky, though: They don't have one because they don't really need one.

In addition to that, they would typically treat guests very well in the parks and the resorts to where they just had your loyalty. You had a good time, they made sure of it, and you were loyal to them. They didn't need another tease to keep your loyalty.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

you're not a customer you're a guest.

show me the money

 

[Donillary Crumpton]

"Loyalty" programs are designed by companies to keep your business when there's not much else differentiating them from their competition - credit card issuers, gas stations, hotel chains, airlines. That doesn't describe WDW, so it doesn't need one.

Exactly. And Disney draws a much more passionate; salivating crowd eager to storm the gates & spend, far easier than these other goods & services do. You won't see too many online threads started on subjects such as: "It's been 8-months since my last flight on Delta...I need my fix." Or "What sights & sounds remind you of being back at Red Roof Inn?"

When your company can reel in the stampeding masses with wallets open & eyes-a-gleamin'... just by being itself, the incentive to offer incentives seems far less compelling.

 

[sgtbtlbailey]

I have a Disney Premier Visa and my husband and I use it to pay for everything we can, including our cable and cell phone bills, just to rack up the points and then we just make a weekly payment to the card for the same amount. We do pay a $49 annual fee, but we've only been using it since last September and have over $700 in reward points that we're planning to use for spending money on our first Disney Cruise in February 2017. Sure, we could get straight cash back with another card, but we figure Disney is such a big part of our lives, why not earn money towards the things we love - be it the parks, cruise, movie tickets, or merchandise? The 6 months interest free has really helped us out in the past when booking a vacation that has to be paid off before our tax return comes in and if you're looking for "perks", Disney Visa cardholders get advance booking opportunities for things like free dining and room discounts when they're offered, as well as special packages for Broadway shows and Disney On Ice. I don't mean to sound like I'm advertising the card (I don't work for them, I promise), but I think the value of the perk/reward is different for each person. Sometimes, simply returning to a WDW restaurant you've visited multiple times and having a cast member remember you and your family is a "welcome home" of its own.

 

[Brad Bishop]

My main argument with the Disney Visa is that the cash back (Disney Dollars only) is pretty minimal (1%) and you could easily get that or more with another card (Discover is I think 1% or 2% normally and then they have revolving 5% categories). The big difference is that what you get back on Discover (or any other brand, practically) is something that could be used anywhere.

So let's say you spent $12,000 on your Disney Visa over the last year and you're planning on using that towards a vacation at WDW. 1% is DD120 (only can be used at Disney). 1% from any other card is $120 (can certainly be used, at your discretion, at Disney but could be used anywhere else).

If you spent $12,000 on something like Discover then I think (correct me if I'm wrong) you get 2% back in cash as a standard which would be $240 which could certainly work at Disney BUT works everywhere else but if you'd probably get more back because you'd probably qualify for 5% back on various purchases throughout the year (hard to calculate because it depends on what you buy but it'd all equal to more than 1%).

I've had this discussion with Disney Visa folks on this and other forums before and the answer they always give me is the same: "But this 1% helps go towards our vacation." That's usually where it dies.

Having had a Disney Visa in the past the other perks can be useful like at Disneyland they'll flat out ask you if you have a Disney Visa card and I think it qualifies you for 10% off on meals and merchandise and it appears to be fairly universal (not like "Oh - you need to go to this particular merchant or dining location"). So that's good.

I'm not trying to knock you for it - just saying that the 1% back on Disney Visa never made much sense to me.

 

[mousehockey37]

Disney loyalty is something you have for Disney. I imagine it could get rather nasty with a rewards program. For instance, to institute one now, all of your prior visits wouldn't count. Everyone would start at 0. Just because you're able to go back every year or multiple times a year, well, pat yourself on the back because that's all you'll get.

If DVC doesn't work out for you, well, then, that sucks, but it is what it is. I agree that Disney is expensive, but they honestly don't care about repeat customers. They're more interested in the "Once in a lifetime" visitors who don't know everything, and pay rack rate to stay on-site. Those of us that could use a break in the prices, yeah, we're stuck. So it's either suck it up and pay for it or don't go unfortunately.

As far as your Satellite TV, call and say you're going to leave to go back to cable. Get them to price match another company. A little threatening on your end can go a long way (Look up the California CEO on the phone with Comcast Retention Specialist on Google). As far as the bill going up? Well, better equipment, more channels, network costs, etc, all play into your bill going up. Likewise, refurbs, new rides, new lands, etc all factor into the costs of Disney ticket prices. As the rides get more technical, the prices for those rides aren't cheap, and we, the customers/guests, footing that bill with the increased costs.

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

We are in DVC but honestly even THEY are just now starting to do more "special" things for their members. In general, yeah we get big discounts on Annual Passes BUT even they are still pretty high. Also we always get Tables in Wonderland but even that has gone up $50. We do tons of character meals and special sit down dining but with that price increase it basically means we have to do a little more for the deal to still be worth it. For everyone that feels like DVC is too expensive I can tell you that we are definitely not "rich" or even "wealthy" but we were blessed enough to buy in before we had kids. If you check the resale market you can find really good deals. HOWEVER, I'm not sure Disney is telling people this anymore, but if you buy resale points as of this past April you are now no longer eligible for ANY discounted perks like those of us get who bought "directly". I can honestly say that in the long run being in the Club has saved us a ton of money because we take 3 trips a year and always have Deluxe accommodations on each one. If you break down how much it cost for just ONE trip with Deluxe accommodations it is unreal. So always keep looking at the deals on that market and you might find something that works for you. I can say that I love being a member and wouldn't take anything for my membership and the many trips it has afforded me that I would not otherwise have been able to afford. There IS a little loophole that can supposedly help you get perks still if you don't buy direct but you'd really have to crunch some numbers to see if it's actually worth it to do it or not.

 

[POLY LOVER]

Generally speaking, I've always been of the opinion that being a loyal customer should account for something. After two years, I think my satellite TV subscription should go down a little, not up by $25. But, I guess that's the name of the game these days. Lure people in with discounts on the front end and forget about them once the contract is signed. Keeping existing customers is low priority.

WDW isn't as extreme as others, but the discounts are available to everyone, based on dates, not loyalty. There isn't anything out there, other than DVC, to reward those of us who keep coming back year after year. We just can't afford DVC, and I am sure there are many regular visitors in the same boat. It would be nice if there were some sort of reward system where those who come and stay on property often can get a bit of a break, even if it only gives us a larger window of dates for the public discounts.

In reality, there is probably no financial reason to extend discounts, if they have data that suggests that the core of repeat customers will keep coming back, anyway.

What say you?

There is always the Visa card rewards and the discount on the early renewal on your annual pass.

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

A lot of loyalty rewards programs are used to justify higher prices like at Safeway, Raleys or Game Stop. Look at Winco, Grocery Outlet and Steam in comparison. I'm not saying no since they're gonna do what they want, and I guess some "free" swag is nice, but if Disney incorporates a reward system they're gonna increase prices (further like they already have been doing).

 

[DrummerAlly]

The closest thing to what you're describing are the bounce back offers which are in your room. The discount usually ends up being pretty similar, but slightly better than, what's available to the general public as far as I've seen. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I think this is Disney's attempt at a "loyalty program" and probably about as good as you'll get.

I'm a proponent of the Disney Visa, but I see where the previous posters are coming from. I have the premier visa (for $50) a year and because of the amount we spend in groceries, gas, and restaurants we easily make way more than the $50 in rewards. We've been racking up points now for 3.5 years and I had $990 disney dollars. If you do Disney cheap, that can be a really good chunk (or all?) of your vacation.

I paid the $1k off of the vacation in Disney Dollars from my visa card and then paid for the rest using gift cards purchased from target with my Red Card to save an additional 5% on the remaining balance. All in all it makes for a cheapER vacation.

 

[Susan Savia]

We've been loyal WDW visitors since 1984. My son got a free cupcake on his birthday a couple years ago...........