$95 fee and MS comments

[highoctane]

It is not hard to find Jim Lewis' email address I found it by just typing "Jim Lewis Disney Email" in google. If his box gets flooded with responses to this and other issues maybe he will open his eyes.

 

[dvc at last !]

subscribing...............

 

[jekjones1558]

My e-mail to Jim Lewis (subject: DVC Simplifications?):

You have got to be kidding! 2 months less to bank points? $95 fee to book a non-DVC WDW resort? Automatic 15 year extensions at OKW at $25/point? You call these good things for DVC members? Ridiculous.
Spend some time and effort getting mousekeeping back up to standard and forget about these money-grabbing changes to the DVC we have, up to now, loved. For the first time since we first bought into BWV (we now have 1150 points), we are thinking that we may have made a mistake and need to sell some points before the whole DVC magical experience is gone. Our family's discussion about buying points at AKV or any other new DVC has ended abruptly.
We are so very, very disappointed in the way loyal DVCers are being jacked around.

Will probably go un-read, but at least I stated our frustration.

 

[Dean]

When DVC simplified the II exchange options, they actually raised the costs overall. But they did make it more simple and easier to understand and the members have increased their usage of the plan. Those that understood the old version could do much better than under the new system.

 

[mlayton14]

Members dont seem to understand the real issue at play here .. those DVC points you give up for the room at the Poly are WORTHLESS to Disney (they already received their money for those points). To make up for it .. they will have to find a cash reservation (which at OKW or SSR especially isnt so easy to do it seems) to offset giving away that Poly room for free (in essence).

It makes perfect sense ... Disney is not going to open up its Deluxe resort inventory in exchange for points whose value is in Monopoly money when there are a whole bunch of people willing to spend cold, hard cash on that same room.

I can understand people being angry who were sold on the idea that Disney and DVC resorts are more or less interchangeable .... reading the fine print however is always a good idea

 

[simzac]

DVC members spend thousands of dollars each year on Disney, and we're bickering over $95. I just don't get it.

 

[Mickey Moose]

DVC members spend thousands of dollars each year on Disney, and we're bickering over $95. I just don't get it.

The bickering is not over $95, it is about principle, and folks feeling like loyal Disney fans and club members and being gouged at every opportunity by Disney because they can.

 

[all4fun]

That was way too easy to find.

Mr. James M. Lewis
Disney Vacation Club
200 Celebration Place, 2nd Floor, Suite 210
Celebration, FL 34747
Phone: 407.566.3840
Fax: 407.566.3850

EDIT: Mr. Lewis' email has been removed. It is against board policy to post the non-public internal corporate Disney email addresses. -Chuck S

 

[diznyfanatic]

DVC members spend thousands of dollars each year on Disney, and we're bickering over $95. I just don't get it.

People probably don't/won't get if IF they think people are only upset because of the fee being charged for the trade.

For us, and many others it seems, it isn't about the money. It''s a general concern with the direction DVC seems to be heading and the way these changes are being presented and packaged as if they "Simplify" things for members.

As a start, and to recap for anyone else who thinks its ridiculous to get upset over $95:

- Why isn't Disney as concerned about Mousekeeping and Maintenence as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for quite a while.
- Why isn't Disney as concerned about ensuring their MS/CM staff are properly trained as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for quite a while.
- Why isn't Disney as concerned about upgrading their computer and telephone systems to more efficiently handle the basic operations of the member base as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for quite a while.
- Why isn't Disney as concerned about the effects of outsourcing jobs as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for a while.

It would seem as if DVC is only interested in "Simplifying" things for members as long as it generates capital for Disney. Not so interested if it might cost DVC anything.

THAT'S what has people upset.

 

[Orelover]

Oh, DVC has simplified things for me. I can stay at a moderate for a week for less than my annual dues. I will get full houskeeping everyday, the rooms now have a fridge, the resorts have food courts, and I'm treated better as a cash paying guest. So, let them impose their $95 fee, DVC has simplified me to the point of I no longer wish to stay a member.

 

[Donna]

People probably don't/won't get if IF they think people are only upset because of the fee being charged for the trade.

For us, and many others it seems, it isn't about the money. It''s a general concern with the direction DVC seems to be heading and the way these changes are being presented and packaged as if they "Simplify" things for members.

As a start, and to recap for anyone else who thinks its ridiculous to get upset over $95:

- Why isn't Disney as concerned about Mousekeeping and Maintenence as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for quite a while.
- Why isn't Disney as concerned about ensuring their MS/CM staff are properly trained as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for quite a while.
- Why isn't Disney as concerned about upgrading their computer and telephone systems to more efficiently handle the basic operations of the member base as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for quite a while.
- Why isn't Disney as concerned about the effects of outsourcing jobs as they are about resort trades? Members have been expressing these concerns for a while.

It would seem as if DVC is only interested in "Simplifying" things for members as long as it generates capital for Disney. Not so interested if it might cost DVC anything.

THAT'S what has people upset.

THANK YOU for defining the REAL point here!

 

[fishermouse]

We'll see... I don't buy the "upgrade our phone system" response. That should have been budgeted with the expansion of DVC and the increase in members.
Peace,
G4L

Being someone that would never use points to stay in a non-DVC resort at WDW I agree with the fee. By useing DVC resources free of charge they would be in effect billing all members for a service that very few use. With this fee it just lumps all non DVC reservations together and IMO does streamline the system. Another effect it will have is just what many of you have already stated, you will not use your points for non-DVC onsite resorts, IMO this is one of the goals of DVC, I doubt if DVC makes out very well on exchanges. At best they might break even on an echange, whtever is made on the trade is paid to the resort that is traded into, seems to me it's all work and no pay, the $95.00 just evens things out. This is just one persons opinion so don't flame to hard.

 

[Donna]

Being someone that would never use points to stay in a non-DVC resort at WDW I agree with the fee. By useing DVC resources free of charge they would be in effect billing all members for a service that very few use. With this fee it just lumps all non DVC reservations together and IMO does streamline the system. Another effect it will have is just what many of you have already stated, you will not use your points for non-DVC onsite resorts, IMO this is one of the goals of DVC, I doubt if DVC makes out very well on exchanges. At best they might break even on an echange, whtever is made on the trade is paid to the resort that is traded into, seems to me it's all work and no pay, the $95.00 just evens things out. This is just one persons opinion so don't flame to hard.

Just wondering how long you've been a member? Early on in our membership, mid-90s or so, we said the very same thing. Well, in the 10 plus years of owning, things change. Your vacation styles change and we all KNOW DVC has changed.
No flaming here, just stating "never say never".
i DO agree, though, that it would not be fair to saddle all members with a dues increase to complete this so-called "computer upgrade". I just don't feel there's any upgrade happening regarding this matter nor was such a large fee necessary at all.

 

[fishermouse]

It would seem as if DVC is only interested in "Simplifying" things for members as long as it generates capital for Disney. Not so interested if it might cost DVC anything. .

Instead of posting the whole quote I just picked this part because many seem to forget this one detail. DVC members are DVC any cost is going to be made up in AD increases. DVC MS is tasked with keeping our dues as low as possible, Can't imagine the outcry if dues went up significantly year after year. Everything members want must be evaluated and judged as to how it will benefit the majority of members and a cost analysis must be done to see how it will effect dues. DVC is a bussiness and must maintain a budget. If any one feels strongly about an issue you will have to go to the annual members meeting, start collecting signatures, if it is proven enough members are concerned about an issue MS will listen. A couple dozen emails from disboard members really does not carry much weight. Membership is reportedly over 300,000 and growing, the entire disboard membership makes up a very small percentage, like it or not MOST members just pay they're dues and enjoy the resorts, as long as dues stay consistant they're HAPPY and don't even notice the things that are discussed on these boards. Whether I agree or not with the fee is really not relevent, I posted my opinion on that already, if they drop or keep it will not affect me, as I always stay DVC and so far am very happy with MS.

 

[Donna]

300,000 members? when did THAT happen?

oh how i long for the day of 5,000 members when everything was much "simpler".

 

[jagson]

how did dvc come to the $95 fee? it seems exhorbitant, and probably enhancing their bottom line. is there a timetable on this "upgrade" in the system, and would they like to share it with us? is this a permanent, or temporary charge until the "upgrade" is completed? is the "simplification" just code for exploitation of its membership? it sounds like the dvc hierarchy did not consider the members' wishes, and made a unilateral decision to initiate this fee. has anyone of the more computer literate members considered a poll of the membership regarding yea, or nay, on this fee? it seems like being forced gruel, and told its caviar. i've tated both, ande neither one appealed to me.

 

[BeccaG]

I guess I am a little confused at this point and thought I would throw my two sense into the ring. Why are people defending DVC and putting down those folks who are frustrated about the fee? I guess I understand the fee (although I feel that the "streamlining" and "system upgrade" excuse is a bogus one, and as others said they should have just said it was to make the difference in cost. However, getting a speeding ticket is justified but everyone complains about paying one of those and rarely if ever have I heard some one say to them, "well that's fair, suck it up and deal." I think the frustration here, as others has pointed out, is the fee seems to be one more thing that devalues our purchase of DVC. I did read the small print and did do a lot of research before I purchased DVC. I did finally make the purchase because I like DW, but felt that if one or two years in the next 40 I did not want to do the whole Disney thing, or I wanted a different experience, the system gave me an opportunity to explore other vacation opportunities. I knew quite well this would never be guaranteed but it was a selling point. So when DVC does thing that detracts from the overall value and limits my experience it is a downer to me and makes me think I may want to spend my vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

[msdis]

And there goes the big "500 other places to use your points" selling point for DVC.

I agree! I just took the survey I was sent before I read all these posts and learned of the new fee and when they asked why I had not used the collections I said that I didn't want to pay the fee among other reasons. I also said that I had used the WDW resorts because of no fee among other reasons. So much for that!

Seems like this has a connection to the new banking deadline. I'm thinking that this gives DVC 4 months to rent out unused points rather than the 2 months of the 25% from before or 50% at 3 months.

 

[MouseHouse71]

It seems obvious to me that Disney does not want DVC Members staying at resorts other than DVC resorts. For me, the points needed to stay at a moderate or deluxe resort are way too inflated to make financial sense. I refuse to spend 40 something points (or more) to stay at the CR or POLY. I would rather change my vacation dates or rent my points and pocket the $400 or $500 I could make off the transaction.

I agree that $95 is a lot of money. Florida residents can get MOD rooms for $99 or $104 per night at various times throughout the year.

The last thing that Disney would want is copmpetition for rooms between DVC Members and cash paying customers.

If a DVC member is spending many of their points to stay at non DVC resorts they are not getting the kind of value they could get at a DVC resort.

Just a thought.

 

[jagson]

The email address that was posted on this site a couple of weeks ago was:

Disney Vacation Club Member Satisfaction email is DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

This is the email address my husband used. The general DVC email doesn't do anything but get a general response back so we used this one.

I stuck my neck out and wrote re: my disapproval of the fee. i listed specific questions, and hope i get specific replies. what a misnomer, ie the dvcmembersatisfactionteam. lets see if they do satisfy, or if this is just a cute cliche their marketing geeks developed. below is the letter i sent:
DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam
This missive is to express my dissatisfaction with the "upgrade" fee of $95 to improve the communication system. I have a few specific questions about it.
1: Who thought and decided this would satisfy the membership?
2: Did the members of DVC have any input into this decision?
3: How did you come to the $95 estimate?
4: What are the details of the upgrade in the phone system? (I assume you must have details if you have the cost estimated).
5: When can we expect these upgrades?
6: Is this fee perpetual, or temporary until the upgrade is completed?
7: Do you listen to the members' wishes/feedback?
If you could specifically address and reply to the above questions in a timely fashion, I would be appreciative. A form letter need not be sent.