A potential way to get member ID faster

[dmunsil]

As everyone knows, when you're buying your first resale, the wait for Disney to get your member ID out to you so you can start booking your trips is agonizing. Some people (including me) have had luck with a CM giving it to them over the phone, but most won't, and a CM told me this morning why: Disney trains every CM for security purposes to get at least one non-public piece of information, which is one of the following.

- Member ID
- Club ID (which normally you only use once to set up your online access)
- SSN (which they only have if you're financing through them)
- Password

That last one seemed interesting so I asked about it. It's an option for people who want a higher level of security on their account. In order to set it up, you need to write an actual letter, requesting that a password be added to your account and including the following information:

- Full legal name of all owners, exactly as on the deed
- Mailing address (the same as Disney has on file)
- Member# (if you have it, see below if not)
- Phone #
- Desired password or passphrase
- Signatures of all owners

This needs to be mailed or faxed to Member Administration:

DVC Member Administration
1390 Celebration Blvd.
Celebration, FL 34747
Fax: 407-938-4151

They said there's no limit to the length of the password and a "pass phrase" is fine. If you add one, you cannot access the account via phone without knowing the password, even if you have one or more of the other items. But you don't need the other items. It becomes your one and only ID needed, though if you don't have another item, they'll also ask you to verify some other stuff like your phone number, home resort and number of points.

Anyway, I asked if you could set it up when the member account was created, by asking the title company to send the letter along with the deed. Obviously in that case you don't have a member number. She checked with Member Administration and they said, "Sure." So if you can get the broker or title company to include this letter with the deed when they send it over, you will be able to call in as soon as the account is created, and tell them you don't have your member ID but you do have your password. They'll ask you to validate some other stuff and then they'll help you set up your online access.

If you're already closed, I suppose you could try faxing the letter anyway. Couldn't hurt. If you haven't closed yet, call the title company and see if they'll add this in. Keep in mind that it's only going to get you access maybe 2-5 days earlier, since they mail your member IDs as soon as they get your account set up.

Of course, if Disney gets a flood of these, they might start disallowing passwords at account creation time, but I wouldn't think it adds much time to the process.

Keep in mind that if you do this you must have the password to access your account via phone. You cannot remove or change the password without faxing a new letter to Member Administration. If you lose or forget the password, you cannot get anything done via phone until you remove or change your password.

If you do this just to get access to the site as soon as possible, you can certainly fax over another letter telling them to remove the password as soon as you get your Member ID.

The password is totally separate from your password to access the online member site, though there's nothing to stop you from making them the same if you'd like.

 

[disneynutz]

Seems like a lot of work. Our resale broker requested my social security number which I included on the resale paperwork. They provided it to Disney and the last 4 digits is my password.

Social Security numbers are required when selling real estate now anyway so providing it was no big deal.

Bill

 

[Countryrunner262]

Sounds like a lot of work. We closed yesterday, but I'm just going to wait it out until they mail it to me. I've learned patience I never knew I had through this process. ;-)

 

[dmunsil]

Sounds like a lot of work. We closed yesterday, but I'm just going to wait it out until they mail it to me. I've learned patience I never knew I had through this process. ;-)

It does seem like a lot of work, but let me tell you I would have done it if I'd known about it before I started this process. We've been trying to plan a trip at XMas, and every day counts when the 7-month clock starts ticking.

 

[disneysled]

It does seem like a lot of work, but let me tell you I would have done it if I'd known about it before I started this process. We've been trying to plan a trip at XMas, and every day counts when the 7-month clock starts ticking.

Just wanted to thank you for posting this information - I tried it and was successful in getting my member number. It might come tomorrow or maybe next week but as you stated every day counts and I was able to get my reservations set up and am thrilled!
Thanks again - I greatly appreciate it!!

 

[dmunsil]

Just wanted to thank you for posting this information - I tried it and was successful in getting my member number. It might come tomorrow or maybe next week but as you stated every day counts and I was able to get my reservations set up and am thrilled!
Thanks again - I greatly appreciate it!!

You're welcome! Glad to hear it worked. It seems like some people have had success just asking their title company to send Disney their SSN with their final deed, so that might be worth trying because it doesn't have the downsides of the password approach (that you can't access your account at all if you don't have the password).

 

[dneuby]

I tried this today with both member services and member administration and they both said there is no way to add a password without your member number in hand. I was then scolded by the member administration lady for calling so soon after we closed on the sale. I would assume if the stuff shows up on the orange county website, then disney must also have rwcived the paperwork. I must say if this is how they treat you once you join, I'm really wondering if this was worth it. I've gotten better service calling the regular Disney world number every time.

here is a question. I know SSR is a dvc resort, but are all the rooms there for dvc or are some for anyone to book. are there a certain number of rooms at each dvc resort for dvc members only and the rest are open for general reservations?

 

[Chuck S]

I tried this today with both member services and member administration and they both said there is no way to add a password without your member number in hand. I was then scolded by the member administration lady for calling so soon after we closed on the sale. I would assume if the stuff shows up on the orange county website, then disney must also have rwcived the paperwork. I must say if this is how they treat you once you join, I'm really wondering if this was worth it. I've gotten better service calling the regular Disney world number every time.

here is a question. I know SSR is a dvc resort, but are all the rooms there for dvc or are some for anyone to book. are there a certain number of rooms at each dvc resort for dvc members only and the rest are open for general reservations?

If a resort is fully sold out (meaning all the available points have been purchased), there will still be some rooms available for cash. These rooms result from:

1) Members trading their points for use in the Disney Collection; like for cruises, Adventures by Disney, or staying at a non-DVC cash resort, like Disneyland Hotel. Points traded are translated in to rooms turned over to cash reservations. The income is used to help offset the cost of the trade.

2) Points retained by Disney, about 4% to 5% of all resorts are retained by DVC/Disney to use for maintenance rooms. Any room not needed to offset out of service DVC rooms are turned over to cash reservations.

3) Points that have been foreclosed for none payment of dues or loans, as well as any remaining unsold points. These points are not owned by members, but are owned by DVC and are used at their discretion. They can be sold as "new contracts," used for cash reservations, or even used for promotions and prizes, like when the family would stay at Disney from Funniest Home Videos or Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

4) Breakage Inventory - this is room inventory that has not been reserved by members. At 60 days out, any room unreserved on points are turned over to cash reservations. Income from these rooms help to offset annual dues for members.

 

[dmunsil]

I tried this today with both member services and member administration and they both said there is no way to add a password without your member number in hand.

You cannot do this over the phone. You must either have the title company include it with your deed when they send it over, or maybe you could get it done with a fax. Over the phone, they're not even supposed to talk to you without your member number or one of the other pieces of data.

First, write the letter and sign it. Next, get it to member administration either directly or via your title company. Third, wait at least 6 business days. Now, start calling member services and when they ask for your member #, just say, "I don't have my member number but I have my password." They will look up your account by your name, ask for your password, and then you can get your member number.

But do not call them asking to add a password. This is not going to work. It won't work even if you have your member number, because they need a signed request.

 

[disneysled]

Dmunsil comments above are exactly correct - you can not do this over the phone. I used the instructions posted originally by Dmunsil above and faxed over a request letter with all the information as listed needed (with the exception of the members number of course) first. I waited 2 days after the fax and then called member services to see if it was set up. My account had been created so I think it was pretty easy for them to set up. When I called on Tuesday it had not been set up yet but yesterday it in there so I gave them my name and the password and that's all I needed to give them. You must fax over the request first or have it provided to them by the title company in order for this to work.

Either way - you would think that treating a member disrespectfully would be frowned upon - hope you have better luck if you try again!

 

[Hettie]

When you call in with your password do they give you both the member number and activation code? Are those two pieces of information generally available at the same time?

 

[disneysled]

When you call in with your password do they give you both the member number and activation code? Are those two pieces of information generally available at the same time?

Yes - they gave me the members number and then I asked for what I needed to set up the online account - she then gave me a club number and one time activation code for the set up of dvc member.com all at the same time. I'm not sure if they were suppose to do this but the MS rep was really really nice to me.

 

[dneuby]

thanks again for the input. When I called I just was trying to find out where to send it to and make sure it would work before I faxed in all of that information. I never asked them to just add a password. Many times I said I wanted to send something in writing so that it was added when they set-up my account. Maybe I'll just fax the letter and see if that gets me anywhere.

I must say, if todays experience was a taste of what DVC customer service is like, I don't know how long we'll hang on to this. Hopefully, everything from here on out is better.

 

[dmunsil]

When I called I just was trying to find out where to send it to and make sure it would work before I faxed in all of that information. I never asked them to just add a password.

Ah, I'm sorry. I misunderstood. The folks in member administration are a little touchy about this subject, because for some reason they're finding the call volume extra-high from resale buyers wanting their member IDs.

I only got this information about the password and how to add it after I already had my member #. Before that, I had multiple calls with both member services and member admin where they just flat refused to talk to me, even though I wasn't trying to get my number, I was asking a general question about DVC. I just said, "sorry to bother you," hung up and called back, and usually I'd get someone much friendlier who would help me. Frankly, I find it just bizarre that Disney would train their staff to refuse to help a guest. I can understand not giving out privileged information, but brusque refusals are not a good idea.

Anyway, I'd write the document and fax it over. What can it hurt? If they won't do it, you're no worse off.

 

[hakepb]

DVC pays for one of the few toll-free numbers to WDW. Usually when one pops up, word gets out, it gets abused and has to be shut down. That plus a busy staff probably results in your experience.

 

[Hettie]

dmunsil, thank you for posting this helpful information. I am going to be trying to beat the 60 day mark to get my member number and login so that I can MAYBE replace a few nights of my cash reservation with some points this fall. Every day will help!

 

[Lostboy32]

Ok the following worked for me today...

Ive been in the system for three days and everyday I called up asking for my member number and hoping to get a sympathetic MA. Policy is DO NOT give out member # over the phone with out the SS# or password.

Today I got creative... instead of asking for my member number I asked the MA if she could help me set up my online account and link it to my My Disney Experience account. She said no problem and asked for my member number. I explained that if had not come yet. Again she said ok no problem. She directed me to the website then she said for verification purposes please give me your full name, complete address and phone number. I gave her the info and she then gave me my CLUB ID# and a one time verification code... I entered them on the screen and boom Im in and there on the screen is my MEMBER ID#!!!! Of course my points aren't loaded but I'M IN!

Hope this helps someone else. I know the wait was killing me!

 

[NolaTinkerBell]

Ok the following worked for me today...

Ive been in the system for three days and everyday I called up asking for my member number and hoping to get a sympathetic MA. Policy is DO NOT give out member # over the phone with out the SS# or password.

Today I got creative... instead of asking for my member number I asked the MA if she could help me set up my online account and link it to my My Disney Experience account. She said no problem and asked for my member number. I explained that if had not come yet. Again she said ok no problem. She directed me to the website then she said for verification purposes please give me your full name, complete address and phone number. I gave her the info and she then gave me my CLUB ID# and a one time verification code... I entered them on the screen and boom Im in and there on the screen is my MEMBER ID#!!!! Of course my points aren't loaded but I'M IN!

Hope this helps someone else. I know the wait was killing me!

I've been in the system with points loaded and still no such luck. Yes, the wait is a killer, even when you know the time line.

 

[Hettie]

Well, this strategy didn't work for me. The title company said they would send the letter, but there is no password associated with my account even though I am in the system now. There's really no way for me to know where the breakdown occurred, so I'll just call it a bust. Could be the title company didn't really send the letter or could be that the password wasn't entered by whoever set up my account-- maybe they're on to us! LOL. Hopefully my letter with membership number will come tomorrow.