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

[Dean]

Maybe the Elite Club will get free valet parking.

Good idea, maybe so.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So Elite Members will require a different color Member ID and their room key will say "DVC Elite Member" as will the room ID of their renters.

 

[snappy]

Then the Elite DVC members can charge more for the rentals!

 

[Sammie]

Good idea, maybe so.

If so who is going to pay for it,

 

[Dean]

If so who is going to pay for it,

I was really joking around but I'll answer the question as asked and it's likely not what you want to hear. Generally such programs roll the costs into the overall program. In effect, any inherent costs are shared by all members but the benefits go to a select group. Of course there are inherent savings of such a group as well, esp with DVC, since it costs less proportinally to service larger contracts than smaller ones and those savings go to supplement those with smaller contracts so it'd likely be a wash. Here ae some of the differences with Bluegreen for those at the top compared to those not in the Premier group to give you a real life comparison.

• A special number to call which is easier to get through to and tends to be staffed by the better, more knowledgeable employees.
• The ability to use points to pay for fees, cruises, hotels, etc. While some in lower groups also have this option, the $49 a year charge is waived for the highest group.
• The ability to use points in many of the Shell vacation club properties as well similar to the BVTC options for DVC.
• While reservation cannot be made any earlier for one group than the other, if you're in the top group you can go on the wait list as much as 4 months before the lowest group.
• Up to 3 free off season weeks per year.
• The ability to do upgrades and extensions free of charge on short notice and subject to availability.
• Cancellation fees are waived.
• Members are recognized by name with a listing at the front desk upon check in.

There are actually 4 levels of Premier and I've listed the max benefits. Those in lower groups have similar but proportionally less benefits. In the past they did offere these benefits to those that bought resale, a later version gave those that bought resale the chance to move to the in group with a nominal retail purchase. Currently, only grandfathered points and retail (or authorized resale) purchases count for these purposes.

 

[Sammie]

I was really joking around but I'll answer the question as asked and it's likely not what you want to hear. Generally such programs roll the costs into the overall program. In effect, any inherent costs are shared by all members but the benefits go to a select group. Of course there are inherent savings of such a group as well, esp with DVC, since it costs less proportinally to service larger contracts than smaller ones and those savings go to supplement those with smaller contracts so it'd likely be a wash. Here ae some of the differences with Bluegreen for those at the top compared to those not in the Premier group to give you a real life comparison.

• A special number to call which is easier to get through to and tends to be staffed by the better, more knowledgeable employees.
• The ability to use points to pay for fees, cruises, hotels, etc. While some in lower groups also have this option, the $49 a year charge is waived for the highest group.
• The ability to use points in many of the Shell vacation club properties as well similar to the BVTC options for DVC.
• While reservation cannot be made any earlier for one group than the other, if you're in the top group you can go on the wait list as much as 4 months before the lowest group.
• Up to 3 free off season weeks per year.
• The ability to do upgrades and extensions free of charge on short notice and subject to availability.
• Cancellation fees are waived.
• Members are recognized by name with a listing at the front desk upon check in.

There are actually 4 levels of Premier and I've listed the max benefits. Those in lower groups have similar but proportionally less benefits. In the past they did offere these benefits to those that bought resale, a later version gave those that bought resale the chance to move to the in group with a nominal retail purchase. Currently, only grandfathered points and retail (or authorized resale) purchases count for these purposes.

Not saying it could not happen, but why would DVC take free valet away to keep from having everyone pay for what they feel is only being used by some then turn around and do that.

To me that would not make any sense at all and would cause a greater uproar than now.

 

[Brian Noble]

Generally such programs roll the costs into the overall program. In effect, any inherent costs are shared by all members but the benefits go to a select group.

In some systems, the costs of elite/VIP/premiere benefits is charged to sales---and in those systems, resale buyers cannot qualify. Wyndham comes to mind. Sales pays a fairly hefty fee into the system to account for VIP owner perks (free housekeeping, upgrades/point discounts on last-minute reservations, etc.)

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Not saying it could not happen, but why would DVC take free valet away to keep from having everyone pay for what they feel is only being used by some then turn around and do that.

To me that would not make any sense at all and would cause a greater uproar than now.

For one thing the cost to the system would be significantly less in providing to a few high point members compared to all members. Also, considering what Brian said it also could convince some members that are near the elite level to purchase more points.

Current Disney is offering a lot more VIP events/services and DVC may end up following along.

This is one thing that I for one wouldn't protest even though I wouldn't qualify unless they went lower in point totals than I think they would. At this point it's pretty nice for 25 or 50 point contract holders to get everything the same as someone who has over 1,000.

In some systems, the costs of elite/VIP/premiere benefits is charged to sales---and in those systems, resale buyers cannot qualify. Wyndham comes to mind. Sales pays a fairly hefty fee into the system to account for VIP owner perks (free housekeeping, upgrades/point discounts on last-minute reservations, etc.)

 

[Chuck S]

So Elite Members will require a different color Member ID and their room key will say "DVC Elite Member" as will the room ID of their renters.

Then the Elite DVC members can charge more for the rentals!

That is exactly why I doubt it would be noted on the room keys. I think a designation or different color on the Membership Card would probably be used, as it is highly unlikely an owner would release their membership card to a renter.

 

[Dean]

Not saying it could not happen, but why would DVC take free valet away to keep from having everyone pay for what they feel is only being used by some then turn around and do that.

To me that would not make any sense at all and would cause a greater uproar than now.

I'm not saying this will happen or anything else along these lines, only that it could. IF they did anything along these lines it would be for one reason only, retail sales = money. They would then tie in certain perks to such a group and likely, only to those who bought retail at least going forward though they could make it retroactive if they so chose. Given that very minor things cause this group to be upset including things that any reasonable person should have known was a risk (reallocation, reservation changes), I doubt they're worried too much about that issue going forward. The question isn't whether some would be upset but whether they would get more retail sales enough to justify the management work and inherent costs. IF they were to undertake such a program, they'd have to make it something to make current and future potential owners sit up and take notice. Something that encouraged future buyers to go retail instead of resale more than currently and likely something that encouraged current owners to do a retail add on. There really are quite a lot of items they could define as different to the in group vs the basic group. And yes, it would purposefully devalue resale purchases and those with smaller packages. It's likely they would grandfather current owners but that would not be guaranteed and would not be a legal risk if they didn't assuming they satisfy the requirements in the POS for the resort involved. They can change any and everything they want in the multi-site POS that would not conflict with the resort POS. They could even write the POS for new resorts accordingly to allow for such differentials even at a given resort.

Many of the benefits could be more member specific rather than stay specific but there certainly are options that could be stay specific. My personal view is that if anyone is using the members time it's the same as the member using it but I realize not everyone shares that view.