FireDancer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2008
I think my biggest issue with D23 is that it isn't what I want. I don't want a fan club, I want a loyalty program and I think the main disconnect between the two D23 camps is just that. The people who like it want a fan club while many who don't like it, at least here where we are park-centric, want a loyalty program of some sort.
I don't belong to any fan clubs. Not for my favorite sports teams, athletes, or bands. I just don't see the value in it. I don't think they are bad, I don't even really think D23 is bad, none of them are what I want. D23 and a loyalty program aren't mutually exclusive as far as I'm concerned. They can be packaged together but if a loyalty program replaced what D23 is now you still have the same lines in the sand, people would just switch sides.
The thing that really makes little sense is that anyone who is in a position of authority at Disney should know that most loyalty programs don't actually cost the company much. Customers tend to purchase the product or service of a company in higher quantities when they perceive a future reward for doing so. Lets say that as part of the loyalty program someone gets a free upgrade to concierge after they spend 10 nights at a deluxe resort (cumulative but with a minimum of 3-night increments). That might get someone to decide on staying at a deluxe instead of a moderate or stay twice for five nights instead of twice for four nights. Disney will make up the cost of that perk because so many guests will alter their vacation plans in Disney's favor to take advantage of them.
It is win-win. The guests who who are loyal get something from Disney and Disney gets more loyal guests who spend money. The management at Disney is very short-sighted but unfortunately that is rewarded in the market.
I don't belong to any fan clubs. Not for my favorite sports teams, athletes, or bands. I just don't see the value in it. I don't think they are bad, I don't even really think D23 is bad, none of them are what I want. D23 and a loyalty program aren't mutually exclusive as far as I'm concerned. They can be packaged together but if a loyalty program replaced what D23 is now you still have the same lines in the sand, people would just switch sides.
The thing that really makes little sense is that anyone who is in a position of authority at Disney should know that most loyalty programs don't actually cost the company much. Customers tend to purchase the product or service of a company in higher quantities when they perceive a future reward for doing so. Lets say that as part of the loyalty program someone gets a free upgrade to concierge after they spend 10 nights at a deluxe resort (cumulative but with a minimum of 3-night increments). That might get someone to decide on staying at a deluxe instead of a moderate or stay twice for five nights instead of twice for four nights. Disney will make up the cost of that perk because so many guests will alter their vacation plans in Disney's favor to take advantage of them.
It is win-win. The guests who who are loyal get something from Disney and Disney gets more loyal guests who spend money. The management at Disney is very short-sighted but unfortunately that is rewarded in the market.