Saving $$ - Cut Dining Reservations from Member Services

Amy5000 · Aug 2, 2015

Hi all. I've been busying making Disney plans lately and I've been thinking about the cost and use of my DVC contracts. Both my resorts had 5.3% increases in MF this year and I understand this is based on the cost of running the resorts, but there is one thing I don't get:

Why do we permit Members to use Member Services make dining reservations?

I've never used Member Services for dining because I didn't want to increase my costs of owning DVC. I always used the WDW-Dine phone system or online reservations. Is this thing a feasible cost saving measure? Would any cost savings be limited? Would it start a crazy amount of complaining by members who have been making reservations this way forever?

Just figured I put it to this knowledgeable crowd.

Amy

melissafox18 · Aug 2, 2015

The big value from my perspective is when a split stay is involved - MS can make dining reservations through the split stay. Online and through the dining line, only the first 1/2 of your stay can be done at the 180 day mark. The remainder has to be done when the 2nd half of the reservation comes within the 180 day window. I wouldn't be too keen on MS doing my reservations anytime outside of that. seems faster and easier to do it online or through dining when there are problems online.

disneynutz · Aug 2, 2015

I think that there are two things in play here. Prior management intended that the DVC be exclusive, a one call place for members to get reservations, dining, tickets, and DME. Disney may have also had an issue with DVC members making reservations that are intended for cash guests so they told DVC to take care of their own.

:earsboy:

Bill

erionm · Aug 2, 2015

Amy5000 said:
Why do we permit Members to use Member Services make dining reservations?

I've never used Member Services for dining because I didn't want to increase my costs of owning DVC. I always used the WDW-Dine phone system or online reservations. Is this thing a feasible cost saving measure?

What about those members that don't have internet service and don't have unlimited long-distance phone service? MS has a toll free number, Disney Disney dining does not.

DenLo · Aug 2, 2015

More I think about it why should our dues pay extra for MS to have CM's make ADRs? Members like everyone else can call Disney Dining or book it online. In this day and age when many have free long distance in the United States, having an 800 number isn't that big a deal. Perhaps it would affect members not living in the United States the most. Or would Disney require DVC to pay them a fee for any DVC member booking through Disney dining?

DebbieB · Aug 2, 2015

What bugs me is Member Services spending time on IT issues with Magic Bands and FP+. Not a DVC issue.

supersnoop · Aug 2, 2015

Will it really save money, or will it just reduce hold times? I can't imagine it would actually affect staffing levels.

KAT4DISNEY · Aug 2, 2015

I also have expressed more than once that I disagreed with MS handling MB issues and anything similar related to MDE. That was Disneys created mess, not DVC and trouble shooting should not have been a cost to DVC. The dining? I also personally don't feel MS should do that and so I make the choice to not use them to make reservations but can see how some members might feel it's a service they want offered by MS although I don't know that as fact.

My hold time for MS was over 30 minutes 2 days ago which is unacceptable IMO although calls a month or two ago were not bad and either answered immediately or within 5 minutes.

rcchello · Aug 2, 2015

I figure the savings would be a lot less than you would think. After a back of the envelope calculation, the savings might be $5 on $1000 of dues, if the Walt Disney Company(TWDC) did not turn around and increase the fees that DVC pays them because of increased load.

The magic band support is a similar problem, if MS did not support the magic bands TWDC would probably increase the fees to DVC by an equivalent amount.

suebeelin · Aug 2, 2015

There was no wait today at 10am.

supersnoop · Aug 2, 2015

rcchello said:
I figure the savings would be a lot less than you would think. After a back of the envelope calculation, the savings might be $5 on $1000 of dues, if the Walt Disney Company(TWDC) did not turn around and increase the fees that DVC pays them because of increased load.

I think you're estimate is high. I think that $5 per $1,000 might cover the entire member services team. I bet it would be closer to $1 savings per $1,000 in dues.

DebbieB · Aug 2, 2015

I'm looking at my 2015 BWV dues budget. Does member services come under the Management Fee? The management fee is equal to 12% of the budget. For 2015, it was .48 per point at BWV.

I think dining reservations are something they should do if requested (I do mine online). Disney Dining doesn't have an 800#.

vicki_c · Aug 2, 2015

I've never used MS for dining and also felt that they probably didn't need to be in that business.

tjkraz · Aug 2, 2015

DebbieB said:
I'm looking at my 2015 BWV dues budget. Does member services come under the Management Fee? The management fee is equal to 12% of the budget. For 2015, it was .48 per point at BWV.

It has always been my understanding that yes, the Management Fee covers all operations of Member Services, Member Accounting, the website, phone lines, administrative mailings, etc.

The Management Fee is fixed at 12% of most other dues categories per the terms we all bought into. Disney pockets the difference between what they collect for the Management Fee and what it actually costs to operate the program. As such, reducing costs and creating efficiencies at Member Services doesn't actually benefit members.

If correct, it doesn't really matter where phone calls are going for Magic Bands or ADRs. Disney pays either way.

If anyone has a different understanding, please share details. But AFAIK, the main purpose of the "Management Fee" is to cover expenses associated with managing the program.

skier_pete · Aug 2, 2015

I think the cost there is so marginal it isn't even a concern. I think most people book online or even on the regular #. (I've never called them for that myself.) If it's 5% of what member services does I would be surprised.

goofy friend · Aug 2, 2015

I've never used MS for dining and have always did mine online.

disneynutz · Aug 3, 2015

tjkraz said:
It has always been my understanding that yes, the Management Fee covers all operations of Member Services, Member Accounting, the website, phone lines, administrative mailings, etc.

The Management Fee is fixed at 12% of most other dues categories per the terms we all bought into. Disney pockets the difference between what they collect for the Management Fee and what it actually costs to operate the program. As such, reducing costs and creating efficiencies at Member Services doesn't actually benefit members.

If correct, it doesn't really matter where phone calls are going for Magic Bands or ADRs. Disney pays either way.

If anyone has a different understanding, please share details. But AFAIK, the main purpose of the "Management Fee" is to cover expenses associated with managing the program.

So DVCMC is rewarded for not hiring more CM's to reduce telephone hold times or programmers to fix the website.

:earsboy:

Bill

Saving $$ - Cut Dining Reservations from Member Services

Amy5000

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melissafox18

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disneynutz

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erionm

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DenLo

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DebbieB

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supersnoop

What time is the three o'clock parade?

KAT4DISNEY

Glad to be a test subject

rcchello

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suebeelin

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supersnoop

What time is the three o'clock parade?

DebbieB

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vicki_c

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tjkraz

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skier_pete

DIsney-holics Anon

goofy friend

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disneynutz

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