Are things changing?

[KNWVIKING]

***"Really, if you think about it, don't you feel to some extent they are taking DVC owners for granted? " ***

Well, yeah, but only because we make it easy for them to do so. Until we change our spending habits they will simply treat us as the cash cows we've allowed ourselves to become. Look at the restaurants in EPCOT. Where else are you charged $52.00 just to get into the restaurant and then know you are going to be charged more then the meal is really worth ? And you do this three times a week , three to four weeks a year. Do you expect DVC or WDW to say "Thank you loyal customer, we're going to knock 20% of pure profit off your bill because your special to us". I don't. Note: the 52.00 is obviously an exageration because I doubt any DVC'er buys single day passes. But the point is DVC/WDW knows we will buy some kind of park admission just to eat in Japan.

Now look at the discounts they do offer. Fulton's & Portabello's are always on the list. Why ? Think maybe they're trying to drum up business for PI ? IMO, there is an ulterior motive behind every discount- as is normal for all business- and it's not because they want to show us how much they care.

 

[DisneyMeMa]

I too have long term concerns about the changing DVC. When we were there earlier this month, I really didn't see any real differences in maintenance and housekeeping. Overall, I think it is very good and I always enjoy the landscaping and general atmosphere. The real concern to me is that I now feel hastled by WDW in general. In years past I would feel like with APs and DVC, all of WDW was for our family to enjoy. Now, with added security (much of it 9/11 related and I realize it is for our protection and is probably necessary) the multiple forms and releases we fill out and sign for many activities, the arrive "15 minutes before" priority seating times policy only to be told we will be seated in 40 minutes or less, wrist bands for SAB, and top it off with demagnetized room keys ...I feel hastled and question if WDW in general is for us long term. Since 1973 we've always accepted queing for rides and waiting for transportation, but now with all these other "requirements" there seems to be less and less time to just enjoy being there and being together. Maybe I'm just cranky!

 

[SlyHubby]

Originally posted by DisneyMeMa
Maybe I'm just cranky!

Not at all - they are legitimate concerns and anyone who has visited recently has no doubt experienced them all.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Originally posted by DisneyMeMa
Maybe I'm just cranky!

I have to say we were down at WDW last week and none of the things you mentioned bothered me at all. I am glad they have extra security. The only time I saw it slow things down was one day at MGM and it slowed us down by about 5 minutes - big deal. We did have to wait about 15 minutes for several PS's - another big deal, I just had a cold one while we waited. I'm not sure about the signing of releases and stuff, I didn't experience this any. Also not sure what the issue is with demagnitized room keys - ours worked fine all week.

I do know one thing, we came back from WDW last Saturday and last night my DW and I were talking and I said I'd head back down this Saturday for another week if possible and she agreed.

 

[PamOKW]

Some changes are really changes in society in general. Many people are just ruder than they used to be. People are more afraid (rightly so) to let their children interact with strangers. Things have changed in my own town, how could they not also change at WDW? Is shopping at the mall the same as it was 10-15 years ago?

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Originally posted by DisneyMeMa
the multiple forms and releases we fill out and sign for many activities, the arrive "15 minutes before" priority seating times policy only to be told we will be seated in 40 minutes or less, wrist bands for SAB, and top it off with demagnetized room keys

You forgot to add stupid pool rules like...the inability of a parent to slide down the baby pirate ship slide while holding their 3 yo. Also, your 3 yo must sit on their butt to go down, or face being ejected. These types rules go well beyond safety concerns, and deminish the family fun of WDW.

WDWs efforts to prevent lawsuits are unlikely to actually prevent one, and often times inhibit the free flowing fun of a vacation. If someone is going to sue, it will happpen no matter what. Hire another lawyer or two and stop trying to micromanage all aspects of family fun.

 

[DisneyMeMa]

I couldn't agree with y'all more - things are changing in society in general. My concern is more related to WDW. Vacation time is so important and valuable to all of us (especially if we are getting to share it with the people we love) and we want it to be stress free and fun. The PS I was referring to was 1900 Park Fare at the GF. The reservation was made months in advance. At that time, the CM said to arrive 15 minutes before the PS time. All 11 of us did this. After waiting is a line at the podium, we were told "we would be seated in 40 minutes or less" - it actually was about 25 minutes. IMHO this is not fun. Everyone is hungry and wants to do other things than wait one more time. By the way, again IMHO the food was quite poor and so was the seating arrangement for our group. I realize some hassles can't be avoided. But, IMHO this attitude is not acceptable...it is almost like we are there for their benefit and their convenience rather than ours. Another thing I wrote was about the room key problems. I was told by one the the CMs that Disney doesn't use very good magnetic strips because they are only needed for a few days. Almost anything will demagnetize them. That's OK until your room key doesn't work - and of course it is raining - and you have to go to the front desk - and wait in a line - to get a replacement. My point is all of these things are inconvenient and take time (and pleasure) away from the reason we made the trip. There are so many wonderful things we all love about WDW and DVC. I haven't forgotten them and do appreciate the many great trips we have had. I like to think we will have many more trips - at least until 2042 - but I am concerned about the changes, as we perceive them, it attitude and atmosphere.

 

[deerh]

I was told by one the the CMs that Disney doesn't use very good magnetic strips because they are only needed for a few days. Almost anything will demagnetize them. That's OK until your room key doesn't work - and of course it is raining - and you have to go to the front desk - and wait in a line - to get a replacement.

Just back from BWV and the same thing happened to me. My room key got demaganatised, and had to go to the desk to get a new one. Not a big deal, but the CM did play 20 questions, and said did you get it near a cell phone, etc,etc. She did not say "sorry Mr. xxx, we will get it taken care of, have a disney day!" I DO see your point, but that is today's society, and some people are like that, others at BWV were very nice like the lady at the general store at the BWV, very nice, asked where we were from etc.
NO VACATION is perfect, always a little glich somewhere, just go with the flow. I have not been on a "perfect" vacation yet, but don't let it bother you, JMHO.
Deerh

 

[SlyHubby]

Not a big deal, but the CM did play 20 questions, ...

this is a good point, and also gets back to the security thing that someone else mentioned. I personally don't think that CM's follow any uniform method of the questions they ask, or anything security related.

For instance, you had 20 questions. In my case, in January, when we visited just for the Disney Marathon, I wanted a few extra room keys so a couple friends of mine could let themselves in after the race and shower. So, I go to the desk a few days after we had checked in and ask, thinking I might get the third degree as far as why I wanted extra room keys. Nope, the questions "what room", "how many do you need". I walked away pretty dumb-founded at what just took place.

 

[jodifla]

I grew up in Florida and have been going to WDW since a few months after it opened. And since that very first time, I've been wowed by the magic of Disney. I've never had a bad time there, and I must have been to WDW close to 75 times now. I've stayed in Days Inns and the like, I've camped at Fort Wilderness, I've stayed at friends' houses in Orlando, and I've run the gamut of WDW accommodations.

To me, nothing is like DVC. I don't make myself crazy crunching back and forth through the numbers, trying to decide if this is a good deal or not. I know it is everytime I walk through the door of ANY DVC resort. They are all grand in their own ways, and I love the variety they offer, the wonderful theming, the cast members, the home-away-from-home feeling. I look forward to the new Saratoga Springs. If the resort is as attractive as the drawings show, it should be a draw. A destination pool won't hurt, either, and it looks like they're planning on that.

We've owned at OKW since '96. We bought in at the minimum level, which has been fine for the past 8 years. The dues are only $40 or so a month, so it's not a stretch, and we got a lot of bang out of our points by going Sunday thru THursdays and/or using studio accommodations. We recently added on a small amount of points at BCV to have access to SAB through the years, especially when we'll need to go in summer when DS gets into school.

As far as Disney on the decline, I don't see it. The parks have always gone through changes. (I do agree the security is a bit of a drag.) In a down economy, they do have to make hours changes. If you don't have huge crowds, you don't need to be open 16 hours to accommodate them.

So for us, DVC remains a bargain we're happy with. If every little thing doesn't go right for the entire time we're there, I chalk it up to "sometimes things happen" and move on, and I don't immediately rush to the conclusion that the Disney sky is falling.

jodifla

PS For fresh perspective, take some guests on a DVC vacation. I've never had one of my friends or family who wasn't totally blown away by the accommodations.

 

[nydizfan]

I agree that people are way too critical (sp). they should just go with the flow .

 

[CaptainMidnight]

The comment, "if you don't like it then sell" isn't necessarily derogatory. It is, in fact, a viable option. Just as an unhappy employee is not being held in slavery, an unhappy owner doesn't have to continue to own their DVC.

Well, actually, I think it is derogatory.

We are very pleased with DVC, and think it is wonderful. However, if the question is one of whether the value is declining, I'd have to say that I think it is. Has it declined to the point where we no longer want it? No. And we certainly recognize that selling is an option should it ever reach that point. But the attitude that sometimes comes across of 'love it or sell it', discussions over concens about declining value are not welcome are in themselves deragatory IMHO.

There have been reasons posted regarding the state of the travel industry and environment as the cause of some of the declining value which makes good points. But, some of the perks and options are not as good as they used to be. Perhaps because of the market they don't need to be to continue selling.

We're not going to sell right now, we really like DVC. But some things are a legitimate concern to raise. One of those for us is the declining trade value and the point requirements for cruises and non-dvc onsite resorts. We didn't purchase with the sole intention of trading out, but liked the options for some future variety and additional vacation options. IMO the reduced DVC value is real and can be seen in the increasing point requirements for those alternatives.