Any perks, discounts, upgrades, etc. on the DCL?

[DVC Mary]

How is the treatment of DVC members on the DCL? Are there any perks, upgrades, specials, discounts on excursions, etc.? Does it show DVC on everything you do while on the DCL? We have another couple traveling w/us & we used our points for both rooms, will DVC show on their stuff?

 

[Michelemouse]

We used our DVC points for our 10/11/03 Magic cruise. We were not upgraded and were not expecting to be as upgrades on DCL are few and far between. Your Key to the World cards did not say DVC Member (like WDW resort IDs do) and there were no discounts on excursions/merchandise/etc. Basically you are treated like any other DCL guest...which is plenty! We did receive some nice DVC lanyards in our stateroom and were invited to the DVC members get-together.

At the get-together they had coffee and pastries and we were given mouse pads, pens and beautiful, embroidered DVC Member baseball caps. They also gave out prizes by pulling a number out of a bucket (you were given a ticket with a number on it when you arrived - one per family). If your number was chosen then you were asked a question. Even if you didn't get it right you got the prize. They had everything from fanny packs to t-shirts to beach towels. Larger prizes when to harder questions but, again, even if you didn't get the question right you got the prize.

They also had a couple of information sessions for non-members but they asked members to attend if they could. They did a drawing for a prize for the members that attended but I don't remember what the prize was.

Hope that helps.

 

[DVC Mary]

Thanks for the very well written response.

Do you remember when they had it? I would hate to be on an excursion & miss it?

 

[Mary Anne]

Thank you very much for your answer. I too have booked on points, so I booked a stateroom I would be happy in for the week. No upgrade expected.

I just read a trip report of someone who did the DVC on board "meeting" I think it was one of the sea days.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by DVC Mary
How is the treatment of DVC members on the DCL? Are there any perks, upgrades, specials, discounts on excursions, etc.?

The only perks for DVC members are the following...........

1.Charged $75 to book it
2.Can only book 11 months out
3.No rebate or on-board credit
4.pts for cruising go up every year

 

[DVC Mary]

Nick,

Your list does not seem like perks?? Any stories to share????

I don't really expect any upgrades> I just wondered if anyone had ever been upgraded. Mostly I just curious about other perks. Thanks for all the responses. Keep them coming!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by DVC Mary
Your list does not seem like perks?? Any stories to share????

It just seems like the DCL takes DVC members for granted. We looked at using pts for our feb cruise, but decided not to.

1.We were able to book it at 18 months out with DU(Dreams Unlimited)
2. We got a $50 on-board credit and a $50 rebate going with DU for our 4 day cruise
3.There is "no charge" for booking with DU
4.If we had to cancel with DU ..we would have got a full refund up to 30 days before.

Cruising with DVC points is very easy,convenient,less time consuming,etc. I am sure down the road we may do that we have some pts expiring,etc. But for us..........it was way more expensive using pts............so we chose not to use pts and paid cash through DU.

 

[Mary Anne]

I know using DVC points are not the best use of points however, we have a large cash outlay in the next year with school tuition payments.

I did not want to deal with selling/renting points.

We bought into the DVC with enough points to be able to do a trip like this every few years with only a $75 payment due.

 

[Vals]

Hi. I am a dvc member as well 210 pts. went on the DCL in Sept 03 with my DD 25 & DS 20-I used this yrs pts & borrowed from 04 most of my pts to go. the cash outlay would of been over $5000. I am from canada so at the time exchange would of been plus 35% approx. No way I could of afforded the cash amt-wouldnt of gone. I felt that we got great value-in fact I bot 100 pts for SSR & I am trying to buy another 100 pts resale. $75 fee was very reasonable & we did get an on board credit of $100. Kids wanted to use it but no way -we used it @ Palos -gave a nice tip as well & then I used the rest @ the Spa. We had a fabulous time, in fact im trying to get on the New years cruise-on a waitlist.

 

[Mary Anne]

I agree Val. This is what DVC is for, to do what works best for you and the moment of time you are in.

How did you get the $100 shipboard credit? Did they just give it to you?

Just wondering! I think it's great.

 

[Vals]

I had my daughter do all of the booking for me-they just told her that there was the $100 on board credit! We also got upgraded to a verandah room!! it was wonderful, but we really didnt use the verandah much! we were too busy doing everything else.