best incentives ever?

[snoopy5386]

We took the tour last week and our guide was telling us that the incentives they were offering now were the best they had ever offered - $8 off a point, matching developer points and the $500 disney dream reward dollars (if you put it on the disney visa) - this was all for a 160 pt contract. I didn't really believe him, was he being truthful or not? Also he very much alluded to the price of DVC increasing once BLT opens.

 

[AlexTina]

My guide alluded to the same thing. He stated that he felt that the prices would likely go up soon and that if BLT is DVC it would likely cost much more as far as points per night go. He also stated that all the current incentives were pretty outstanding. Of course everyone here is going to remind you that a guide is no more than a salesman so basically do what you feel is right. We felt that the current incentives along with the beauty and savannas of AKV were well worth our initial purchase, however, we still plan on a small add-on once BLT opens.

Tina

 

[Chuck S]

Those are good incentives, as far as the best, that certainly is debatable, as what may be considered the "best" for some purchasers may have no meaning to others.

For instance, when we purchased in 1992, we received free theme park admission for 1/2 the capacity of our villa (studios and 1 bedrooms received 2 passes, 2 bedroom 4 passes, and Grand Villas received 6) during a stay at OKW until the year 2000. Given the price of APs, that would have been about a $4800 incentive for studio and one bedroom dwellers, over the course of the incentive. But they were NOT actually APs as this only applied when you stayed at OKW, they were like the old length of stay passes, but did not include water parks, PI, Disney Quest or Animal Kingdom, only the 3 main theme parks in existence in 1992 were included. Minimum contract at that time was 230 points. So an average of $20.87 per point incentive, estimating a $300 value per year per pass.

If you had to try to put a value on the current incentive, it would be a $8 per point discount for $1280, estimate $8 per point for the developers points, so another $1280 plus $500 reward dollars, for a total of $3060 for 160 points, or an average of $19.13 per point. So pretty close in value per point to the original incentive. Of course, the selling price per point has increased over the years, but the actual incentive is close. And depending upon the actual value of the passes we received, vs. the actual value of the developers points, it may indeed be a better incentive.

 

[Claire L]

Our double developers points were good at 400 points for a 200 point purchase, even if renting that would of cost $4000, hate to think what the price of an actual room would of been for the number of nights we actually stayed!

Claire

 

[Claire L]

Now you got me thinking! Out of our developer points we had 13 nights at SSR in a studio last October and then this May we used the remainder of the points for 12 nights in a savanna view studio at AKV, so the total cost using rack rate prices would of been near on $10000

 

[tedisney]

We've purchased twice:

1. 200 AKV points: $8 off per point, 200 developer points, and two Annual Passes

2. 200 (more) AKV points: $8 off per point, 270 developer points, and two Annual passes

Those were amongst the best incentives I've seen in the few years I've been following DVC.

 

[CarolA]

No... LOL!

The best incentive ever was the VERY first one for OKW like Chuck talks abuot FREE TICKETS! Never happened again and probably never will, but it was the best (and no I didn't buy early enough LOL!)

 

[culli]

No... LOL!

The best incentive ever was the VERY first one for OKW like Chuck talks abuot FREE TICKETS! Never happened again and probably never will, but it was the best (and no I didn't buy early enough LOL!)

You know the free ticket thing has me wondering.......I would think by providing AP's for an incentive and possibly even multiple years, wouldn't that benefit Disney better than a $500 gift card. This would entice people to visit more often and spend more at the parks? We bought AP's this year because we took FULL advantage of our "banked" points and developer pts we received. If they would have given us free AP's I'm sure we would have ate dinners, character dinning, bought more souvenirs, utilized spa activities etc at the parks...maybe a little more "loose" with the cash since the passes were free? I know there are multiple "profit" divisions within Disney but bottom line goes to the mother ship. I'm have not done a CBA on this (nor do I plan too unless Disney hires me!) but would be interesting to see how it would pan out.

 

[Goofy DVC]

CULLI, you are so right.We joined in 93 and because of the free passes we found ourselves staying on property the entire time to take advantage of the tickets.That meant, no Sea World, no Universal. All Disney, all the time!!! And of course, more $$$$$ to the mouse

 

[Chuck S]

I know there are multiple "profit" divisions within Disney but bottom line goes to the mother ship. I'm have not done a CBA on this (nor do I plan too unless Disney hires me!) but would be interesting to see how it would pan out.

But therein lies the problem. It is likely much cheaper for the DVD/DVC dmarketing division to give the $500, than to pay a negotiated price for length of stay passes, or APs, for X number of years. And as each dividin must show profits, well as the overall corp...why should DVC Marketing spend more than what is necessary to sell the product?

Remember, in the early years of DVC, timeshares in general had bad reps. High end timeshares were a "new thing" and no one knew for sure if DVC would extend beyond OKW.

Now that high end, point-based timeshares are more well known, and that DVC has considerable history, such freebies as free passes were expensive. And as far as marketing, free passes were a great onsite sales tool for people touring DVC while at WDW, but DVC has switched their marketing to offsite resorts, like Hawaii and national advertising, like free memberships as game show prizes, to reach a much larger potential customer base.

 

[MagicalPins]

I think the incentives they offered during the Travel Expo thingy not to long ago at Disneyland were the best I have ever seen.

 

[culli]

But therein lies the problem. It is likely much cheaper for the DVD/DVC dmarketing division to give the $500, than to pay a negotiated price for length of stay passes, or APs, for X number of years. And as each dividin must show profits, well as the overall corp...why should DVC Marketing spend more than what is necessary to sell the product?

Remember, in the early years of DVC, timeshares in general had bad reps. High end timeshares were a "new thing" and no one knew for sure if DVC would extend beyond OKW.

Now that high end, point-based timeshares are more well known, and that DVC has considerable history, such freebies as free passes were expensive. And as far as marketing, free passes were a great onsite sales tool for people touring DVC while at WDW, but DVC has switched their marketing to offsite resorts, like Hawaii and national advertising, like free memberships as game show prizes, to reach a much larger potential customer base.

As far as who they are marketing I can't speak to that...but I would think in the big picture getting people to stay at WDW parks instead of just hanging by the pool or going to other area attractions would more than make up for passes. I don't have much insight into how the other divisions at Disney "charge back" or use internal economy on things. There is a retail cost and an actual cost to company, like I said I have not sat down and done a CBA just thought it sounds feasible at a high level.

 

[crisi]

I've always maintained that they'd rather NOT have DVC members in the parks.

DVC members OWN lots of souvieniers - how many Mickey t shirts do you need to own (and all the resorts have gift shops and if there is a DVC member out there who can't find DTD, he's rare).

The restaurants - since the advent of the DDP - are pretty much full to bursting - they can't sell more table service meals than they are selling anyway. However, the hotel restaurants and the DTD restaurants tend to be less full.

So DVC members in the parks isn't much of a revenue add - but we do add to the number of people in line waiting to ride Soarin' - which is a check in the minus column for overall guest satisfaction.

 

[dopey67]

My guide alluded to the same thing. He stated that he felt that the prices would likely go up soon and that if BLT is DVC it would likely cost much more as far as points per night go. He also stated that all the current incentives were pretty outstanding. Of course everyone here is going to remind you that a guide is no more than a salesman so basically do what you feel is right. We felt that the current incentives along with the beauty and savannas of AKV were well worth our initial purchase, however, we still plan on a small add-on once BLT opens.

Tina

I have a dopey question what is BLT???

 

[dopey67]

I have a dopey question what is BLT???

Thanks but my friend grumpy just told me BAY LAKE TOWER

 

[Connears]

Those are good incentives, as far as the best, that certainly is debatable, as what may be considered the "best" for some purchasers may have no meaning to others.

For instance, when we purchased in 1992, we received free theme park admission for 1/2 the capacity of our villa (studios and 1 bedrooms received 2 passes, 2 bedroom 4 passes, and Grand Villas received 6) during a stay at OKW until the year 2000. Given the price of APs, that would have been about a $4800 incentive for studio and one bedroom dwellers, over the course of the incentive. But they were NOT actually APs as this only applied when you stayed at OKW, they were like the old length of stay passes, but did not include water parks, PI, Disney Quest or Animal Kingdom, only the 3 main theme parks in existence in 1992 were included. Minimum contract at that time was 230 points. So an average of $20.87 per point incentive, estimating a $300 value per year per pass.


If you had to try to put a value on the current incentive, it would be a $8 per point discount for $1280, estimate $8 per point for the developers points, so another $1280 plus $500 reward dollars, for a total of $3060 for 160 points, or an average of $19.13 per point. So pretty close in value per point to the original incentive. Of course, the selling price per point has increased over the years, but the actual incentive is close. And depending upon the actual value of the passes we received, vs. the actual value of the developers points, it may indeed be a better incentive.

Oh yeah..that was such a great incentive! We bought in 1994 and enjoyed many visits with passes included thru 1999. It was well worth the purchase, just for the savings in that period. We had such a sticker shock when we had to purchase passes forour 2000 trip


those were the days!

Connears

 

[MAGICX2]

After 3 years of taking multiple tours and going back and forth on whether or not to buy in, we took the plunge when we went on our first Disney Cruise this past Jan. The main reason we went ahead with it is for the incredible incentives we got. We purchsed a 160 point contract at SSR. We received $10 per point, which they applies as half of our down payment. Disney paid all the closing costs and they were offering a $500 on board credit. Now, it was the last night when we decided to do this, so they gave us the $500 on board credit as another $500 towards our down payment. So we only ended up giving like $750 in a down payment. We thought that was great! However, for some reason the guide gave us a $250 Disney gift card to use while on the ship only. It was an awesome deal!

 

[troynkasey]

We were just there two weeks ago, took the tour, and loved everything. With a baby on the way...it's probably not the best time considering we will have other priorities. The guide did ellude to prices going up, but I wonder how much of that was due to "salesperson" skills and trying to nudge us into buying (not that we really need nudged). She even elluded to the fact the first time we talked to her that she thought they'd be sold out before we left (4 days later). When we spoke with her again, she was shocked it hadn't sold out and knew they were REALLY close. Personally I think she was partially correct. It was a great deal and they most likely will sell out soon if not already, but selling out before we leave? No one has a way of measuring how things are going and how much will be sold. That part...a salesperson ploy...

 

[miste76]

She even elluded to the fact the first time we talked to her that she thought they'd be sold out before we left (4 days later). When we spoke with her again, she was shocked it hadn't sold out and knew they were REALLY close. Personally I think she was partially correct. It was a great deal and they most likely will sell out soon if not already, but selling out before we leave? No one has a way of measuring how things are going and how much will be sold. That part...a salesperson ploy...

I believe that SSR is now considered sold out, as of a few days ago. Jamba House is also considered sold out, as of a few weeks ago.

 

[DonDiegoDeLaVega]

We just purchased a AKV unit. We went on the tour back in Feb, but the deal got better in June...160pt contract, $8pt discount, 160 developers points....no maint fees for 1 year. My wife and i were very happy with that so we bought it a week ago. Kidani unit 65d