Feelings on free D23 membership and new levels?

[DsnyFevr]

I am kind of annoyed being a Dvc member as we were supposed to get a free D23 membership and that was before they came out with all of this. I though we were getting something great as paying as much as DVC members pay ($35,000 loan for membership) that we should get more perks than we do. I am pretty annoyed that everyone/anyone can now get a free D23 membership.

 

[Californian Elitist]

There's really no need to be annoyed, since the free membership doesn't even included events and the magazines. All you get is the exclusive merchandise, the e-newsletters and a few other lackluster things. I'd rather pay the full price.

 

[llrain]

anyone can get one now cause this whole d23 thing is a big fail. It was touted as a exclusive die hard fan club
and alot of suckers bought into it only to be let down by the inablilty of even being able to attend the convention due to its location and if able to attend there was nothing exclusive about them.
Pretty much any major announement that was supposed to occur there never did.
People quickly learned that disney was trying to make a quick buck and stopped joining.
Even offering it to me for free still leaves no interest in my business, the whole concept was a joke from the beginning.
Dont sweat it, you arent missing anything.

I am kind of annoyed being a Dvc member as we were supposed to get a free D23 membership and that was before they came out with all of this. I though we were getting something great as paying as much as DVC members pay ($35,000 loan for membership) that we should get more perks than we do. I am pretty annoyed that everyone/anyone can now get a free D23 membership.

 

[BCVTalsJam]

I think it's all crap lol

 

[Disneykidder]

I was a bit annoyed, too. I thought it would be an exclusive thing for DVC members but wasn't. I heard that we'd be offered the silver but would be able to upgrade from the silver to the gold for a small fee, which I would have done. Oh well.

 

[DsnyFevr]

I was a bit annoyed, too. I thought it would be an exclusive thing for DVC members but wasn't. I heard that we'd be offered the silver but would be able to upgrade from the silver to the gold for a small fee, which I would have done. Oh well.

That's exactly what I thought too.

 

[Sumrdog]

Well I think since I already paid thousands of dollars to be in the Disney Vacation Club. I already feel like I am a member of the original die hard Disney fan club. So I am indifferent about this D23 thing...it didn't look like anything that special when it cost money.

We do get some pretty cool perks as DVC members, advance screenings of movies, previews of new rides, discounts on tickets, merchandise and mini golf, which is my favorite...

 

[Zman-ks]

There's really no need to be annoyed, since the free membership doesn't even included events and the magazines. All you get is the exclusive merchandise, the e-newsletters and a few other lackluster things. I'd rather pay the full price.

Me too.

 

[tjkraz]

9 months ago DVC and D23 had an agreement to make it a DVC exclusive. Then the D23 folks decided they would get more bang for their buck if they opened up the gates to all. D23 certainly doesn't feel beholden to DVC members, and there was nothing DVC could do to reverse the decision.

Beyond that, Disney knows there are DVC members who expect to be treated like kings and queens at every turn, and they don't lose any (proverbial) sleep when those folks are annoyed.

 

[Disneykidder]

9 months ago DVC and D23 had an agreement to make it a DVC exclusive. Then the D23 folks decided they would get more bang for their buck if they opened up the gates to all. D23 certainly doesn't feel beholden to DVC members, and there was nothing DVC could do to reverse the decision.

Beyond that, Disney knows there are DVC members who expect to be treated like kings and queens at every turn, and they don't lose any (proverbial) sleep when those folks are annoyed.

I don't think we feel like we are kings and queens. I know I feel honored to know that I am a DVC member and have wanted it for years. Being a DVC member hasn't changed who I am, it only made me look at my vacations a little differently....better. With that said, a few perks for fronting a lot of money would be nice. We should have a few extra things that the general public cannot get or have, not because I feel entitled, but because I joined DVC for these kinds of reasons.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't think we feel like we are kings and queens. I know I feel honored to know that I am a DVC member and have wanted it for years. Being a DVC member hasn't changed who I am, it only made me look at my vacations a little differently....better. With that said, a few perks for fronting a lot of money would be nice. We should have a few extra things that the general public cannot get or have, not because I feel entitled, but because I joined DVC for these kinds of reasons.

There are many DVC members who have unrealistically high expectations of what Disney owes them. They seem to believe a $10,000+ DVC purchase is worthy of status as the best / most dedicated / most important of all theme park guests. If other guests are receiving equal or (heaven forbid) better treatment, it's often portrayed as an affront to all DVC members.

I regularly follow about a half-dozen different discussion boards plus things like the DVC Facebook page, Disney Parks Blog, etc. Seems like not a week goes by when some member chimes in with a comment to the effect of "our perks keep getting worse and worse...Disney doesn't care about us...I don't know why I bought in the first place."

Often I'll challenge that by saying "please tell me what perks we've lost" and it's pretty rare that I will even get a response. Other than the obvious removal of valet parking about 3 years ago (due to contractual issues with parking provider), member perks have only improved over the last decade. They added the AP discount and even increased its value in 2012. Members are exempt from DDP seasonal pricing. Members have gained access to new attraction previews, discounts on MNSSHP, MVMCP, RunDisney events, broadway show discounts, Owner's Locker, golf, dozens of restaurant discounts, free days at Blizzard Beach, etc.

Others don't seem to understand why DVC members are not included in "free dining" offers. They refuse to see those promos for what they are: an inducement to spend THOUSANDS of dollars on FULL PRICE accommodations and park tickets for a single trip.

The value in a DVC purchase was/is deep discounts on Disney accommodations for many years to come. Anyone who believes Disney will collectively place DVC owners on pedestal and grant them the best of everything is setting themselves up for disappointment.

Those who truly believe cash guests booking with "free dining" are being treated better--are getting a better deal--are welcome to sell the DVC points and book that offer. Based upon my own calculations, I think most are in for a rude awakening if they actually start pricing those offers. "Free dining" sounds appealing, but it loses a little shine when you're paying $500 per night for a standard hotel room.