What an interesting question. Interesting enough to have me respond for the first time in at least 15 years, perhaps 20. I feel as if the initial question, while mentioning exclusivity wouldn’t define it solely by financial terms or ones ability to join without an interview-like process. There are many clubs in all walks of life where entrance is merely a formality of ancestry, income, legacy, etcetera. And so, my reply is a bit more emotionally based.
I bought my “club” contract in 1994. Then added four more contracts over the next 15 years. So, obviously I was all in. Having a career in finance I knew I wasn’t buying as an investment, but did recognize the cost benefit. But that wasn’t why I bought more points. Yes, we were made to feel more special in the early years. But just about every trip finds a new way for me to surprised at Disney service levels and offerings. While many complain about what’s being taken away, I tend to think of all that is, has or will be done when contractually Disney doesn’t have to do so many of what they do provide. One could say, I would get that same feeling as a rack rate hotel guest, but this is where I feel the tribalism and consistency the original poster hinted at sways my response.
My children were 1 and 4 when I first bought...and I remember soon thereafter them enjoying the point of a cast member to the Hospitality House and a “Welcome Home”. Surprises and special moments were around every corner. One year, my son slipped in the hot tub and split his chin open and Disney folks while obviously there concerned about litigation and what-not, did far more that night and in the coming days than was necessary. We began to take other families with us on DVC vacations becoming WDW experts and they would posit to others about this club we were in. WDW jingoism began to infiltrate our vernacular...”have a magical day” became something that not only my boys would echo, but our friends would soon join in on. While at home or somewhere other than WDW DVC chasing the elusive magic, my kids would say “it smells like Disney” or “it’s almost like DVC”. Now, we’re empty nesters and my boys are men living lives on their own. But they still join us at the World from time to time and it’s not just because Mom and Dad will pick up the tab. While perhaps the use of “exclusivity” is too multi faceted a word — they and my wife and I feel special. Sure there’s some aspect of spending $30K, but it’s more. It’s sometimes just sitting poolside and invariably a new conversation will turn to “when did you get in”? Yes,the purchase price was the cost of admission, but there is a social and specialness component which comes with it.
My older son is getting married soon. At a family dinner, he playfully was telling his wife to be, “it’s time to talk about DVC”. She has already been with all us and knew plenty already. But my son continued to tease at her that she needed to “respect” Disney and our family DVC ancestry.
Going back to the original question, yeah, I believe there’s a sense of exclusivity (if nothing more there’s the binary aspect of either you’re in or you’re out. There’s history—certainly for me and my family’s 25 years. There is a verbiage and Disney-speak which is a cultural component. There is a familial facet, despite me not suggesting we are one big happy family. Like any family, or group, or nation, we have things we are proud of, and others bringing ******* or shame.
I’m in the beginning stages of creating the first Italian-American chapter club in North Carolina. I only hope that we are similar to Disney and DVC in culture and aspiration.
