Another "Best Guide" Thread

[disneynutz]

Like many of you we are looking for a new Guide. I have read all of the Guide posts and I am still having trouble finding someone to meet my requirements. I am not looking for a friend or someone who is funny. I am looking for a Guide who does their job and as Walt used to say, "Pluses" it. Someone who goes above and beyond. Here is a list of what I am looking for:

Professional
Attentive
Available
Looks out for my best interests
Offers deals and or perks when available

I am sure you get the idea.

Please provide a recommendation with a brief note as to why you recommend your Guide. Please provide their name and phone number.

Thanks
Bill

 

[skibum]

We have been happy with Ron Brumbaugh at (800) 827-7160. He has been with DVC forever, is available, and returns calls. Nice guy and no pressure. It took a long time for us to buy (years), but he worked with us in a professional manner.

 

[jemiaule]

Our first guide sucked. I came on DIS posting about things I had been told by him and our interaction with him. I think pretty much everyone here agreed he sucked too.

I believe it was Lisaviolet who recommended her guide to me. I gave him a call, chatted for quite a while and felt he was a good fit from the get go. His name is Mike Brunson, 1-800-827-1474. A phone call with a manager and I was able to be switched from my previous guide to Mike.

Mike is an extremely pleasant fellow but at the same time is no nonsense. You ask him a question and he will give you a to the point, truthful answer. I do not feel he has ever tried to give me a hard sell or any kind of sell. He listens to what I am considering and tells me if he has felt it is a good fit...and yes, he has swayed me from a purchase before; and not just to try and sell me something different.

Really great guy, I would highly recommend him.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Professional: Yes, but friendly at the same time
Attentive: Very attentive. She really listens and answers question accurately. When she doesn't know she checks and calls back promptly.
Available: I almost always get her voicemail- leave a message and get a call back within the hour. It is usually 10-15 minutes- but has never been more than an hour. When she went on an extended vacation, she called me two days prior and told me the dates she would be gone and a number I could call during her holiday. (granted, this was when I was in the buying stage)
Looks out for my best interests: Well, she is not at all pushy, really just gave me info and let me make up my mind during purchase. I have not really been in a situation since my purchase where I could gage the answer to this one, though.
Offers deals and or perks when available: None have come up yet- I will let you know if she calls me about AKV.

Good luck!

 

[barlitz]

We also use Ron, no pressure always calls back.

 

[mikron]

My brother sister and myself have been using Gib McCain, he has been on top of everything for us. I called his 800 # for info on AKV, voice mail said he was on cruse till 2-7-07 and to call 800.800.9100 and ask for a guide to help me if I couldn't waite for him. If I decide to buy into AKV, I will waite for him.

 

[disneynutz]

Great responses so far. Please keep them coming.

One of the things that frustrate me is when I have to pull information out of a Guide. An example was the recent SSR promotion. We were offered $10.00 off per point if we bought within 3 days of our visit. The next day while on a tour I talked to a DVC Member who told us that the discount was $15.00 with a referral from a existing DVC owner. When we called our Guide and asked about the $15.00 he said "oh you know about that". Sure we can do $15.00. DAH

 

[Mom+4]

I was very happy with Nicki McKinney during my tour in January, and since then through my many questions, ponderings with my husband, and final purchase. She is very professional, knows or will get the answer to everything, takes all the time you need, but is NOT pushy at all. My husband was not with me when I took the tour, so he had lots of questions, and Nicki answered them all, and took the time he needed. As far as being responsive, I called her several times and never waited more than 30 minutes to get a response. She even called me to remind me that the recent Friends and Family promotion was going to be coming to an end, and left her schedule for the rest of that week so I would know when to contact her if I wanted to (I did). As far as offering perks/promotions, when I went to the tour I knew that there was a promotion, but did not remember the name or details. Nicki immediately told me about the F&F promotion, and asked if I knew a DVC member. I told her that I know the daughter in law of a member, but not the member's name, but she was able to determine the member's name and got me the $86 deal. She is truly a credit to Disney. Her 'phone number is 866-807-9844. Good luck with your decision, and hopefully your purchase.

 

[mattnday]

Doug Rapp - Only handles referrals and repeat businees - He is a senior representative that has been with DVC since the beginning. I like DOug because he never pressured us despite numerous phone calls over a 7 year period. I know with a purchase over the phone it is hard to get special service. However, when we went in person not only my wife and I got the warm fuzzies but our 5 year old as well.

If you want great service Doug is the guy as he is always working the phones instead of the showroom like other cast members.

 

[greenban]

Bill:

My guide is Kelly Jo Williamson. She had been the DVCs # 1 seller for many years. She is allowed special lattitude because of her performance and now mostly does referrals and repeat sales. She started out as a Kiosk Sales/Information person, many years ago, and she knows the system cold. She is also a DVC Member.

So, she is smart, personable, knows the system and loves Disney. These are very important to me.

She is very busy, and sometimes I have to wait 48 hours for a call back, BUT I always get a call back, always. And she will call me at work, home and my cell, not just leave a message at home and stop trying. She will call me day after day until we reach each other. Thus she makes me feel important, not just another customer.

If this is what you're looking for I'd be happy to give you her number.


Oh, I almost forgot, she is very ethical. She will only accept you, if it is allowed (I don't know the rules for guide switching), she will not backstab a colleague, or break the rules for a sale.

Hope this helped.

-Tony

P.S. WARNING, I now own over 3,200 DVC Points (Well I will tomorrow) and Kelly Jo and Jason (of the TTS) are both to blame!

P.P.S. My disclaimer DOES NOT APPLY to this post, I stand 100% behind the above statements.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We started with Randy Krueger back in '94, but by the time we purchased, our guide had been changed to a woman who is no longer there. Then we were given to another guide who is no longer there, and who would not communicate. Even when she did, I had difficulty understanding her. Now we are on our 4th guide, and sorry, but I can't remember his name! We did meet with him last December, and I think we will like him. I have to say though, I miss Randy!!!! He was the best!

 

[Plutofan]

Kelly Jo and Gib McCain are both excellent. I would highly recommend either one. They are both very professional and have a great personality. You can not go wrong with either one.

 

[Geoff_M]

Randy Krueger was our guy too when we bought back in 2003. Top notch dude! He was great. Zero pressure... he didn't even ask for a sales decision from us after the first presentation. He just said "Think about it, and let me know if there's anything I can do..."

 

[dumbo71]

Doug Rapp - Only handles referrals and repeat businees - He is a senior representative that has been with DVC since the beginning. I like DOug because he never pressured us despite numerous phone calls over a 7 year period. I know with a purchase over the phone it is hard to get special service. However, when we went in person not only my wife and I got the warm fuzzies but our 5 year old as well.

If you want great service Doug is the guy as he is always working the phones instead of the showroom like other cast members.

Doug is my guide as well and I've always been pleased with his professionalism and his knowledge.

ETA: Wow, Greenban!!!!! 3200 soon, congratualtions, you the man!!!!!

 

[MinnieFan]

I believe it was Lisaviolet who recommended her guide to me. I gave him a call, chatted for quite a while and felt he was a good fit from the get go. His name is Mike Brunson, 1-800-827-1474. A phone call with a manager and I was able to be switched from my previous guide to Mike.

Mike is an extremely pleasant fellow but at the same time is no nonsense. You ask him a question and he will give you a to the point, truthful answer. I do not feel he has ever tried to give me a hard sell or any kind of sell. He listens to what I am considering and tells me if he has felt it is a good fit...and yes, he has swayed me from a purchase before; and not just to try and sell me something different.

Really great guy, I would highly recommend him.

Mike is our guide as well and he really makes the extra effort when necessary. We were waitlisted for some hard to get BCV points, and they became available when we were on vacation at Disneyland. After calling our home and my office, he actually took the trouble to find out where we were and left a message for us at our hotel. He could have simply sold to someone else, since there is always big demand for BCV points, and we never would have known - but he knew we really wanted them and expended the effort to make sure that we didn't miss out on the chance. I've recommended him to many friends and work associates who were interested in DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks Everyone for your input and suggestions. It's the wonderful people on this board that takes the WDW experience to a whole new level.

 

[KristineN]

I highly recommend Byron Helgeson...

He is a "senior DVC guide" as well.

• friendly, courteous always willing to take the time to talk to us
• prompt return calls
• calls when there is a promotion and/or perk
• when we wanted to do several add ons....kept on top of it and got the job done

 

[Lady V]

Doug Rapp - Only handles referrals and repeat businees - He is a senior representative that has been with DVC since the beginning. I like DOug because he never pressured us despite numerous phone calls over a 7 year period. I know with a purchase over the phone it is hard to get special service. However, when we went in person not only my wife and I got the warm fuzzies but our 5 year old as well.

If you want great service Doug is the guy as he is always working the phones instead of the showroom like other cast members.

he is my guide also and I just adore him. Seriously, I trust every thing he tells me and I feel like he is a friend who is looking out for me. Great guy!

 

[Caskbill]

Great responses so far. Please keep them coming.

One of the things that frustrate me is when I have to pull information out of a Guide. An example was the recent SSR promotion. We were offered $10.00 off per point if we bought within 3 days of our visit. The next day while on a tour I talked to a DVC Member who told us that the discount was $15.00 with a referral from a existing DVC owner. When we called our Guide and asked about the $15.00 he said "oh you know about that". Sure we can do $15.00. DAH

There may have just been a misunderstanding.

The $15 off per point using a referral is available to NEW members only, not current members, and requires a minimum 150 point purchase.

Current members could get $15 off per point for doing an add on of 115 points minimum.

Current members could get $10 off per point for doing any add-on that was less than 115 points. (EG, 25 points up to 114 points)

Of course, all those promotions ended Jan 20th.

 

[Samlaw97]

She is our guide and we love her....She is very professional but never pushy...She is always quick to respond and if she doesn't have an answer she gets us one quickly.