Are DVC "Perks" Really DVC Perks at All?

[kilik64]

We're about as "blue card elite" (Your words.) as it gets, and it doesn't upset me at all. I think any membership paying dues that holds a deed should be entitled to any benefit anyone else gets. If it upsets a class that DVD created explicitly for the sole purpose of selling more points direct, maybe those upset should re-evaluate their entitlement.

Was being tongue in cheek with that

Im not saying all Blue Card Elites would be upset, but definitely the ones who mainly went direct for discounted passes etc would be. Its one thing for White Card Plebs to get food and merch, is a whole other ballgame when it comes to the coveted pass discounts.

 

[JETSDAD]

Kinda back full circle to my original assertion. DVC isn't the tail that wags the dog. Parks are. It isn't even a race.

But that also shows that the parks page is meaningless with regards to what actually is required. Previously you couldn't get the gold pass without being a blue card member even though the parks page did not say such.

Personally, I'd love to see the entire white vs blue card distinction eliminated and just have everyone be members having access to the same events, discounts, resorts, etc (and yes, I am a blue card member).

 

[Sandisw]

Definitely an issue of CM not knowing what they are doing since this is happening only in person.

More power to brazzle not being upset if a white card pleb member got a pass discount, but I'd put money that the majority of The Blue Card Elite would be super pissed at having spent all that extra money for no reason if their main objective was to be able to get discounted passes.

All I will have to add to that is one should never buy DVC without understand that perks are not guaranteed.

Before there was a difference for perks, resale and direct buyers didn’t pay the same. Direct has always been more expensive.

Now, many did use the benefit in the calculation and it can certainly play a role. This is why I think if DVC gets wind that the CMs in the park are giving the pass to those not officially eligible it will stop.

I know of people who tried via phone and were denied so it has not been a deliberate decision by DPEP to ignore the terms and conditions by DVc/DVD

 

[kilik64]

Too bad DVC doesnt see it the same way as you fine folks, gotta have the cudgel to beat people with to get em to buy direct through that power of FOMO of not getting a blue card.

 

[brazzledazzler]

Too bad DVC doesnt see it the same way as you fine folks, gotta have the cudgel to beat people with to get em to buy direct through that power of FOMO of not getting a blue card.

We bought direct because we wanted RIV and the PPT was $186 and we wanted direct points for future resorts.

My parents bought a small resale contract at Poly at the same time.

We are all Florida residents, so the AP benefit didn’t factor into any decision.

We are all happy & the mouse will get our money for years to come

Direct perks are pretty slim. I fear it may be that in the future DVC does less of the carrot and more of the stick approach to getting people to purchase direct. (resale restrictions and what not…)

 

[Suzabella]

You may be able to buy an Sorcerers Pass but will you be able to activate it or will they make you pay the difference to the UP when you can't show that blue card? That's my guess.

Never mind. Just saw that purchases were in person. I wonder how many of those passes got thru.

 

[JETSDAD]

Multiple people have now contacted MS to see if there was a change and if the Sorcerer AP would be available to white card members and have been told that there has not been a change. I was told that the sales in the parks are due to CM's making mistakes.

 

[drusba]

I suspect this is an error due to some MS personnel not being up to speed and actually asking if the member is entitled to member benefits. A problem is that if someone purchases over the phone that does not determine whether that person can actually get the pass. You get a voucher. The actual pass is provided when you first show up at a ticket booth at a park and for that you need to provide personal ID and DVC blue card. I suspect there is going to be some problems for non-blue card members who are purchasing the voucher at this time, including because the requirement for being entitled to membership extras is information publicly available to members. They may be unable to actually get the pass when they show up at the park, similar to a member's purchasing for another person in their group who cannot then prove same residence as the member when the party shows up to get the actual passes. Disney might honor the sales but it might choose not to and instead just refund the purchase price.

 

[JETSDAD]

I suspect this is an error due to some MS personnel not being up to speed and actually asking if the member is entitled to member benefits. A problem is that if someone purchases over the phone that does not determine whether that person can actually get the pass. You get a voucher. The actual pass is provided when you first show up at a ticket booth at a park and for that you need to provide personal ID and DVC blue card. I suspect there is going to be some problems for non-blue card members who are purchasing the voucher at this time, including because the requirement for being entitled to membership extras is information publicly available to members. They may be unable to actually get the pass when they show up at the park, similar to a member's purchasing for another person in their group who cannot then prove same residence as the member when the party shows up to get the actual passes. Disney might honor the sales but it might choose not to and instead just refund the purchase price.

The ones posting on FB are purchasing in person at the parks so those passes were activated. That being said, they weren't dealing with MS at all and MS is saying that those should not have been sold.

 

[Keith801]

I am a resale owner out of OH. When I go online, the only pass available to me is the Incredipass. Even though I could technically get around the system and buy FL/Resale Pass, don't you have to show proof to use of residency or blue card to use it? Or are these people at Disney World already and activated today? I don't know that those in a different state should attempt this without expecting to pay the total price upon arrival.

The person on FB reported that it happened AT EPCOT. So, they received their passes at Sorcerer rate. (I too am resale from Ohio).

 

[DonMacGregor]

However, the blue card asset is probably worth more on resale-if they chose to sell.

Ummmmmmmmm.........

 

[Marionnette]

I haven’t seen DVC “class” warfare between members, but I’m new to ownership.

To me, a DVC member is DVC member no matter how they purchased. We all pay the same maintenance fees to the Mouse!


I’m happy if all DVC members can purchase Sorcerer APs. So many things have gone up in cost at Disney, for all of us, it’s good we all can get this pass.

However, this all may be a temporary oversight on the part of Disney. So, take advantage of it while you can!

All of my contracts are resale. I have a blue card because I bought before that resale restriction went into place. For the most part, I have witnessed very little in the way of elitist attitude coming from direct purchasers on this forum. In fact, there are quite a few blue card members who own a mixture of resale and direct points.

The superior "I bought direct" attitude seems to be more prevalent on FB and IRL conversations with other DVC members while on vacation. They're the ones who get bent out of shape when they learn that my little 25-point resale contract entitles me to a blue card.

Personally, I don't care if a white card member is able to purchase a discounted AP. More power to them if it's not a mistake. Like you, I wish that every dues-paying member could do it. But I can imagine some of the FB elitists getting all purple in the face over it.

 

[jade1]

Huh? The blue card doesnt stay with the contract, if you buy resale you dont get a blue card now period. Only way to currently get a blue card is to have at least 150 direct points.

Ummmmmmmmm.........

My point was if a resale gets the benefits (after all), like the example being discussed-wouldn't it be easier to sell the asset on the used market?

 

[Sandisw]

My point was if a resale gets the benefits (after all), like the example being discussed-wouldn't it be easier to sell the asset on the used market?

So far, the resale market hasn’t suffered because of the change to needing the blue card.

And it was strong when everyone got them. I think the only sales helped is direct and even then, not sure how much.

 

[jade1]

So far, the resale market hasn’t suffered because of the change to needing the blue card.

And it was strong when everyone got them. I think the only sales helped is direct and even then, not sure how much.

Fair point, but I'm simply saying selling a resale would be easier if the AP discount was allowed on that resale.

It certainly wouldn't make it harder anyway.

 

[Jwaire]

We're about as "blue card elite" (Your words.) as it gets, and it doesn't upset me at all. I think any membership paying dues that holds a deed should be entitled to any benefit anyone else gets. If it upsets a class that DVD created explicitly for the sole purpose of selling more points direct, maybe those upset should re-evaluate their entitlement.

I agree. Although I don't expect there are many DVC owners who would be bothered by this change. In fact, that's how it used to be anyway. Up until what 2014? or so, everyone was treated this same.

If a "white card" member sneaks in a Sorcerer Pass, more power to them!

If anything, the new annual pass structure (and lack of discount on IncrediPass) should turn smart buyers into resale buyers. Perks keep disappearing. So unless you just don't want to wait for the resale process to complete or can't find your use year/contract, go resale in most cases. There are some circumstances (like small point contracts or Rivera) that may warrant a look at direct, but direct is looking less and less important in the current regime.

 

[jbreen2010]

Just got back from a trip. White card member only (I don’t have blue card). For the 10% restaurant DVC discount I’ve found if you mobile order at locations that give the discount they automatically apply the discount even though technically I’m not supposed to get it. In my opinion the whole white card vs blue card perks are just silly - has to be a lot of IT headache all to make sure I don’t get that $.60 off my cheeseburger purchase!?

 

[kilik64]

I agree. Although I don't expect there are many DVC owners who would be bothered by this change. In fact, that's how it used to be anyway. Up until what 2014? or so, everyone was treated this same.

If a "white card" member sneaks in a Sorcerer Pass, more power to them!

If anything, the new annual pass structure (and lack of discount on IncrediPass) should turn smart buyers into resale buyers. Perks keep disappearing. So unless you just don't want to wait for the resale process to complete or can't find your use year/contract, go resale in most cases. There are some circumstances (like small point contracts or Rivera) that may warrant a look at direct, but direct is looking less and less important in the current regime.

Being locked into the O14 or Riviera is the main difference at this point with the current lack of perks. Who knows what next 10+ years will hold as far as any new resorts (ie Reflections is currently dead but will it come back to life?) and 20 years out you have 3 (BWV BCV and BRV) all ending, plus the two outside WDW (VB and HHI), so you're dropping from 14 resorts to stay at to 9. 20 years is a long ways off, but if youre buying for the long haul and you're getting say CCV and PVB and VGF resale, thats eventually gonna lock you into like 3 or less hotels you can stay at for the last 10ish years.

 

[gisele2]

White Card Plebs

You made me laugh ! I am a new white card member. I have been renting points before and at times CM would give me the 10% discount even if I did not have membership at that time and did not ask for it !!!!

 

[gisele2]

Being locked into the O14 or Riviera is the main difference at this point with the current lack of perks. Who knows what next 10+ years will hold as far as any new resorts (ie Reflections is currently dead but will it come back to life?) and 20 years out you have 3 (BWV BCV and BRV) all ending, plus the two outside WDW (VB and HHI), so you're dropping from 14 resorts to stay at to 9. 20 years is a long ways off, but if youre buying for the long haul and you're getting say CCV and PVB and VGF resale, thats eventually gonna lock you into like 3 or less hotels you can stay at for the last 10ish years.

In 2042 we will have VGF, PVB, CCV, BLT, OKW, SSR, AKL, Aulani and VGC.

In 2054 we will loose SSR and in 2057 OKW. My BLT contract is good untill 2060, I will be old by then.

I think I will be OK, and if I want to try the new ones, I will rent or get transfered points.

That being said, I will go see VGF when visiting WDW.