Any idea when member benefits like midnight magic nights are usually announced?
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DVC 2019 member benefits
- Thread starter EngineerMom
- Start date
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
Usually at the December Condominium Association Annual Meeting
DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
The EPCOT Moonlight Magic is already taking reservations. I really wish Moonlight Magic would be replaced by a night a week where it was only Extra Magic Hours for DVC members. I mean the Moonlight Magic events are fun but they're really pretty few and far between and I would actually rather sacrifice the free Mickey bars and cookies and lemonade and what not to just have the parks to ourselves. I've talked to other members that like my idea as well. A few weeks ago at EPCOT EMH we were in line with some other DVC members and they were talking about how EMH is still almost as crowded as a regular night at the park with non-resort guests and it's true. The Moonlight Magic events definitely allow you more time to ride without lines for sure.
Wishful thinking, but won't happen. Moonlight magic is more than we used to get. I just hope they continue.
DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
Yeah they are better than nothing. I would like to at least see them become a little more frequent though. The EPCOT one is fully registered already. The in-staters really take advantage of it.
The thing is, they're private events that DVD pays P&R (parks and resorts, or whatever the new division is called that now includes merch) to host. Their entire purpose is to sell DVC. Yes, it's all Disney, but the individual companies compete. Sure it's a lot of locals taking advantage, but that's a win for DVD. The locals post pics on social media, make YouTube videos, etc., which motivates new DVC sales.
Something like EMH is within P&R so it's just modifying park hours slightly or adding some. They still sell food & beverage and merch, etc. Maybe a slight extra cost but it's an incentive to stay on property. EMH would go away if they calculate that it's not necessary. I understand that was planned, but the bean counters must have figured out that it was still a net gain for them so they're still around for the time being (albeit reduced to 2 hours in the evenings now instead of 3)
Something like EMH is within P&R so it's just modifying park hours slightly or adding some. They still sell food & beverage and merch, etc. Maybe a slight extra cost but it's an incentive to stay on property. EMH would go away if they calculate that it's not necessary. I understand that was planned, but the bean counters must have figured out that it was still a net gain for them so they're still around for the time being (albeit reduced to 2 hours in the evenings now instead of 3)
nickys
Premium Member
Registration is in two waves. The first one is only for those who have on-site reservations for the night in question, and usually the cut-off date for having booked is a few weeks before the registration day. Whilst locals can certainly take advantage, they need to have booked in order to do so.
The second wave is open to everyone else (OK, so to those who qualify). That's where locals can really benefit.
The second wave of egostration for Epcot isn't done yet. So Epcot isn't full, but the first wave filled up within the hour. As opposed to Pandora which was open well after the AP days.
DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
I actually met Big Fat Panda at the AK event a couple of years ago. The events themselves are really fun and it's nice to feel like we sorta "have the parks to ourselves" but as rapidly as DVC is growing these days those events might even start to feel cramped.
nickys
Premium Member
Unlikely for two reasons.
Primarily because they limit the numbers. And more and more people buy in resale, so although the numbers are growing, the growth in members who qualify for these events is growing much more steadily. Especially now the minimum buy-in is 75 points for qualifying membership.
Right. The limit is because it's a private event and DVD pays by the head count just as an outside company would (albeit at a discount I'm sure, considering it's all in the family so to speak). Plus the idea is to be an escape from crowds and stuff as well, so it wouldn't be as fun if the park were half full.
The minimum direct buy in is exactly indicative of the purpose of these events (and the Epcot lounge as well). We go, we post pictures, wear the moonlight magic shirt, vlog, even discuss it here, and it's all just marketing for prospective direct buyers. It's a win/win effectively, but if some owners get left out, it's no skin off their back.
You want to buy resale now? Just look at all the fun you could be having at moonlight magic had you spent a few grand more for the same product ultimately. That's the pitch.
DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
I think the resort guests members that are allowed in on the Moonlight Magic nights are actually required to be staying on their direct points contract aren't they? All of our points are direct but we're probably about to finally buy a resale contract after 10 years. Speaking of the lounge that's another thing I wish they'd expand upon as well by putting one in each park. I know the numbers are limited for the MM events but I've always actually been curious just how full the parks would be if they'd do EMH for DVC members only. Surely it wouldn't be "that" crowded would it? I think at the AK event we were at they might have told us there was like 5,000 people in there or something. You could literally ride Everest over and over and over. The only thing they really limited was the Safari by giving you a ticket with a specific time to ride. Riding it late at night like that was absolutely awesome. The lions were actually active and so were the crocodiles. Everybody should experience that ride at night.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I think both of those things are 100% indicative that they have grossly overpriced the thing and it’s showing at Saratoga and celebration...
I thought my buyin was low many moons ago - the minimum was double.
And I thought it was a good deal. But apparently it’s not to the point were they had to crack down on those willing to buy resale and go dump hoards of ancillary cash (the point) into the coffers.
nickys
Premium Member
You can book MM even if you're staying on cash, but not online! The booking system is useless. The guest rule is up to 5 guests or up to the number staying in your actual villa.
But I think someone had it right. DVC would have to pay for the park, unless WDW thought there was a benefit to them. MM is a private event and DVC do pay for it.
The thing is, the current lounge is in space that was otherwise sitting vacant and they serve coke that they get for free. So, the overall cost is extremely low. There'd have to be a comparable space in other parks, and I doubt they'd find it worth the cost. Heck, it remains to be seen if the current one will stay open every year. So far it's through 2018 but beyond that who knows? It all depends if the bean counters think it's helping drive sales.
The price is rather outrageous for what it is, but people sure are buying a lot of points, so I'm not sure "overpriced" is accurate. All Disney resorts are priced WAY above what you could get elsewhere for a comparable price.
The booking system is hosted by a 3rd party, and DVC's API just doesn't provide the fully correct information for it to work properly in those instances. Others have reported an issue where they own some direct and some post-4/4/16 resale points, yet their current DVC villa room booking was made with only the "unqualified" resale points so it thinks they're not eligible and won't let them book MM. Calling in resolves it, but again, another oversight. Such is the result of constantly changing the policy and creating so many different "tiers" of ownership.
DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
Well by DVC "paying for it" it would be more accurate to say our dues WHICH RAISE ANNUALLY actually pay for it. LOL! There were a lot of us joking at the MM event at AK a year or so ago that at least we were getting some good Mickey bars out of our dues payments that night.
That is entirely incorrect, though. The legal term for "membership extras" (such as MM, the EPCOT lounge, etc.) is incidental benefits which are not part of your ownership interest and thus CAN NOT be funded with members' annual maintenance fees. They are paid for out of DVD's own budget, the ultimate purpose of which is to drive more sales.
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DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
I didn't realize that actually.
It's all good.
Many folks don't even know about the special events at all, or that you can stay at any DVC resort or that there's even a resale market. I'm one of those weirdos that reads the entire condo declaration for the fun of it
DuckTalesWooHoo1987
Well-Known Member
Yeah I keep up with all things DVC but not the financial side of it. It's amazing how many people don't know about booking windows and availability and the friends and family discount they get as well.It's all good.