Anyone else get the DVC survey re: DVC 'elite' club?

[twinklebug]

The question I have is IF they do institute an elite club based on the number of points owned, what are the perks and WHO is paying for them if there is a value involved? I don't think the dues paid by anyone not invited into said group should be used on these perks.

 

[disneynutz]

I heard rumors of this a year ago. I do know that DVD keeps track of points that members own for the purposes of marketing.

I wouldn't be surprised if members who meet the magic number get moved to a Senior Guide or group who specializes in selling to the VIPs. I also would expect a special team to process their requests and make their reservations.

 

[hakepb]

The question I have is IF they do institute an elite club based on the number of points owned, what are the perks and WHO is paying for them if there is a value involved? I don't think the dues paid by anyone not invited into said group should be used on these perks.

And, of course, once you start up an ongoing perk, you got to keep it going forever, otherwise you will have a bigger outlash than you currently have.
A Club store with special logo merchandise for sale or an explicitly one time thank you, OK. Ongoing red-carpet treatment, bad idea. As Disney has proven in the past, they like to cost reduce. In fact, if they did not keep cost reducing, they would not have to consider this rediculous club.

 

[jjpenguin]

We can't do referrals over here in Europe, so I vote for a club for the Non-US members

 

[Anal Annie]

I heard rumors of this a year ago. I do know that DVD keeps track of points that members own for the purposes of marketing.I wouldn't be surprised if members who meet the magic number get moved to a Senior Guide or group who specializes in selling to the VIPs. I also would expect a special team to process their requests and make their reservations.

I think they DO keep track of how many points people own 'cuz we never receive their mailings in the first group that reports getting them - we're ALWAYS at least 10 days out from when some people first get them. And even though I have signed up for the emails on the member website multiple times we NEVER get the emails from DVC. Never, not ever. I think there is definitely a point trigger somewhere to say we're not in the top ownership group so why bother contacting us.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

"Member Treasures"?

I'm sorry - it just sounds like the title of a DVC "adult video".

Please no.

 

[Scott H]

I think they DO keep track of how many points people own 'cuz we never receive their mailings in the first group that reports getting them - we're ALWAYS at least 10 days out from when some people first get them. And even though I have signed up for the emails on the member website multiple times we NEVER get the emails from DVC. Never, not ever. I think there is definitely a point trigger somewhere to say we're not in the top ownership group so why bother contacting us.

And I thought it was a just being in Wyoming thing. Pony express etc , we are also late to receive the mailings.

I must disagree about the point trigger.

 

[Terry S]

Let's be honest here... Isn't the real question on everyones mind......


How many points do I have to own to be in the club???

 

[DVC Grammy]

From what I've read on this (and other) DVC forums, there have been suggestions that some of the owners with large amounts of points "dabble" in renting them out.
If the determining factor for perks IS the number of points, there's a good possibility that in the future, the rental boards will show a higher price pp for reservations with "special perks"!

 

[Scott H]

Let's be honest here... Isn't the real question on everyones mind......


How many points do I have to own to be in the club???

Me thinks you have said it all.

 

[Scott H]

From what I've read on this (and other) DVC forums, there have been suggestions that some of the owners with large amounts of points "dabble" in renting them out.
If the determining factor for perks IS the number of points, there's a good possibility that in the future, the rental boards will show a higher price pp for reservations with "special perks"!

I believe that there are times, i.e. financial, medical issues etc, that would preclude a person from using their points and renting may be an option, on limited basis.

I am not a fan of owning to rent. My .02 worth. But that is another show, thread we don't want to get going here.

Heck I am borrowed into the future on our points anyway.

 

[Terry S]

Could they make "The Club" membership be based on the number of stays instead of the number of points owned? That would weed out the renters.

 

[nunzia]

The question I have is IF they do institute an elite club based on the number of points owned, what are the perks and WHO is paying for them if there is a value involved? I don't think the dues paid by anyone not invited into said group should be used on these perks.

Good point.
I bought a small resale to get into the club, and plan to buy my bulk at GCV. If that will bring me up to 'real' membership status remains to be seen if they count real as the minimum buy in of 160, 100 or whatever else they come up with.
Really..I don't care if big point owners get some goodie, but I don't think it's right for that cost to be passed onto all, or that perk to dilute what we all get.
The poster who said that big owners pay so much more in MF than us little point holders but got tons of vacation time is right. My DH doesn't have that much vacation time to use, so my little points at OKW for once every three years and my hopeful points at GCV for some time every year is what fits for me. That's what Disney sells..adaptable to different vacation needs. What are they going to do? Buy all small resale contracts? Not allow contracts to be broken up into small chunks?
But also..this is all speculation as others have said. I just hope DVC thinks this through (and not leap into something like the infamous mug swap out in studios)

 

[magicmommy]

I think whatever "perk" they offer should be to the member only. This would certainly take care of the commercial renters "selling" the perk. I would think a DVC member card and photo ID would serve the purpose as it does for the annual pass discount.

 

[Jaaron2]

Be careful what you ask for:

Your ultimate DVC perk.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2016788

 

[dizfanz]

Why is everyone getting so upset. First off, we have 150 pts at VWL. IF they want to have an elite club, I say go for it. They will not get an extra month to book reservations. Think of what hotels offer for gold members like Marriott. They get a dedicated phone number for their reservations. Maybe a free newspaper delivered daily. Perhaps a small fruit basket. Whatever. Like a couple others have said, their are membership rewards for everything. You get special coupons at grocery or pet stores, can stand in a special line or no line for rental cars, etc... Those of us with fewer points will not lose anything, we just won't enjoy what little perk they give those with more points. And I am OK with that. If you want fair and equal, go to Cuba or some other socialist country. Otherwise, quit your

 

[ILIKEWDW]

I think I would be resentful if they took away perks from those of us at lower levels, but not if they simply gave new perks. I might be a little envious, but it wouldn't sour my experience with DVC. (We're not likely to ever have enough DVC points to be in any high point owner club; we like to vacation other places too much.)

I wouldn't think it a terrible thing to have one set of perks for those with under 100 points, another set for owners with 100 - 500, and a third set for owners with more than 500 points (or more than 1000, or whatever they set.) That said, I don't really want to see something that specifically discriminates against resale buyers, although I guess I can see somehow penalizing (or at least not rewarding) people who own fewer points than the minimum buy in from Disney.

I DEFINITELY agree with you.

It would not costs us (the ones with not a lot points) nothing if they give extra perks to whom owns more points than us, we see it everywhere, why not here. But they must be aware of those owning points for rent, so I also agree, the club may be formed with people that are really using points for themselves.

And your idea or three kinds of perks is excellent as I am in the middle line with a no so big, no so small contract..............

 

[DVC Grammy]

If they DO giver extra perks for some, I could live with the kind that are given to "Founding Members" at a new DVC...............a Tapestry, maybe a Name- brick (for whatever path they need to build anyway ), possibly a Picture-thingy on "Stonehenge" (or whatever they call those monoliths at Epcot).............

IMHO, any of those types of "extras" wouldn't make the "non-elite" (my words) feel like second-class members.

 

[alldiz]

This concerns me. One of the things I really like about DVC is that they treat all members equally. It doesn't matter if you bought resale, it doesn't matter that you only own 25 points, every member gets the same perks, and the use of there membership. In many other timeshare points programs they have different levels of membership. If you only buy a few points, or buy resale, you become second class citizens, not entitled to the same benefits as the VIP owners.

Exactly....I dont' like it
kerri

 

[WolfpackFan]

So basically this is like the old "class" system on ocean liners. I guess I'm in steerage. I really dislike this idea completely. You should either give perks to everyone or no one gets them IMO. Sometimes I really wonder how DVC comes up with these things. Do they have this room full of 20 somethings sitting around just making random decisions? I still don't understand why they did the redesign on Vacation Magic.