Buy Four Get.....

[DizneyNutz]

I know as DVC members, we are ALL FORTUNATE to have what we have and be able to do what we do, and I for one am honestly thankful!

I am however discouraged by the type promos that WDW does to get folks in there. Right now the "buy four, get three, and a 200.00 gift card" infuriates me. When was the LAST TIME DVC MEMBERS were offered incentives such as that????

Granted, we get discounts on certain activities, dining and shopping...do the math folks, with a Disney CC you can just about do as good, as far as "discounts" go. Granted, WDW is VERY willing to offer you "discounts" to add on....and spend THOUSANDS more than you've already spent, and let's face it, we TRUE DIE HARD DISNEY LOVERS HAVE WILLINGLY (at least in our case) spent THOUSANDS and continue to spend every month and on every vacation we take.

Flame me if you must, but I'd LOVE to get a $200.00 gift card, or even "free dining" once every 5-10 years!

I think the last "gift" we got, other than the BEAUTIFUL print, and "bonus dollars" to add on, was a refrigerator magnet.

Sign me, discouraged....it kind of hurts to see this type stuff done for folks that DON'T spend the kind of $$ we do with WDW. While I am sincerely THANKFUL that anyone that wants to go to WDW can go, as I've been there, wanting to go, couldn't afford it, investing in DVC was/is a HUGE comittment to us, and remains just that, dues every month, saving for airline fare, etc., so to me, WDW could remember us "DVC'ers" a little better, since WE are what has helped make it possible to build EVERY SINGLE DVC RESORT

 

[cigarboo]

It's deals like this that makes DVC maybe not such a great deal for folks on the fence as far as considering joining. Just remember though, Disney is a business. They are not offering the deals because they want to make it more affordable for people who don't spend as much at Disney as DVCers. The deals are because they are trying to fill rooms. Bookings are down and they need to stay in business. DVC folks already pay for the rooms and are a "guaranteed" group. The rest are folks who may or may not come. Disney's costs are mostly fixed, so they want to fill up the parks and fill up the hotels. DVC folks don't ride the wave of bad economy and good economy pricing. Don't worry, in a couple of years, bookings will be up and room prices will rebound...that will probably make you feel like you're getting a deal again.

 

[Dean]

I don't have a problem with it but it does emphasize the fact that DVC might not be as good a deal as it could be otherwise. IMO, one needs a 20% discount compared to usual promotions to justify ownership. Still, one needs to look beyond the special deals and look at the big picture. Owning less DVC points and taking advantage of the better promotions might be the best of all worlds for DVC.

 

[DizneyNutz]

Oh no, make no mistake, I feel like we got a good deal, in fact, I know we got a good deal, and I TRULY LOVE WDW, and am so THANKFUL to be a DVC Member, I just wish WDW would spread it around a little, it cost the DH and I the same thing to fly, eat and play as it does everyone else.

Gas, groceries, etc. cost the same too, so we're all hurting, some more than others, and thankfully, we are blessed to still be able to pay our bills and live pretty good, but it's a stretch right now to come up with the extra $$ for the cost of a trip to WDW. Tickets alone could set you back a mint.

Just venting, hoping my DVC family understands.....

 

[Dean]

Just venting, hoping my DVC family understands.....

I do understand but I don't really agree. Disney is not doing this to reward but to induce people to attend and spend money. Technically DVC is a separate company. IMO, the question is whether owning makes sense given these type of promotions. It really doesn't for many including many that are very happy with owning. I wouldn't turn down any freebies but don't expect them and doubt they'll ever be offered other than as a sales incentive.

 

[Lynne M]

Discounts such as the 4/3 package aren't thank-you gifts for spending a lot of money, and they're not given just to be nice. They're bait - incentives for people who weren't otherwise coming to WDW to book a trip.

A discount of that size is an indicator that bookings are down a lot, because it's a big gamble on Disney's part - that guests will come and spend more on food, tickets and souvenirs than they saved on their package.

There's simply no valid financial reason for Disney to give us a discount of that size. Sure, they want us to come to the parks and spend money, but we already have a big, built-in incentive as DVC members: We already paid for the lodging. If we don't go, we effectively lose money. So why would they give us hundreds of dollars in discounts?

Sure, it would be very nice of them to do that. Financially speaking, it would also be pretty stupid of them to do it. Businesses give discounts to get you to spend money, not because you spent money.

A $100 dollar discount to encourage the purchase of APs is a good example. For them, it's a small amount of money, very low-risk. For members, having an AP makes it easier for us to justify taking an extra trip every now and then. So it works well as bait, and they still come out ahead because we're likely to spend more than $100 in food and souvenirs on that extra trip.

The odds that we'd somehow spend enough to offset free dining, or free tickets.....not good at all.

 

[Deb & Bill]

What about all the newer DVC members who got bonus points just for signing on the dotted line - one free vacation? Some got double developer points. What about those people who took the DVC tour - gift cards for free dining (one meal, though). That's enough to make me mad. Oh, wait, I only paid about $50 a point for my first contract. About half what the new members are paying. And I only got lemonade and cookies when I signed on the dotted line.

These are nothing more than enticements. They already have you. They don't need to entice you to come to WDW and spend your money. But if they don't fill the rooms, they don't need all the housekeepers and bell services and servers, desk clerks, etc. They could decide to shut down parks earlier in the day, entire days. Or just close down attractions, like Fantasmic, Illuminations, Spectromagic, etc. Disney is out to make money and if it takes a little money to make a lot of money, they will do it.

 

[Scott]

Do DVC members have an advocacy group that allows them to throw their weight around (so to speak)? Seems to me that with the size of your group, Disney would want to keep you happy. And I don't buy the argument that they already have your money, therefore, they don't need to entice you to spend. DVC members can choose to go to other parks and/or spend their money on groceries...unlike other WDW hotel guests. Plus, DVC people are probably Disney's best and cheapest marketers! Not trying to be a rabblerouser, but a lot of folks seem upset by these incentives to non DVC folks and I'm wondering if Disney really started to ignore its DVC base if there were options for DVC owners.

 

[disneynutz]

DVDs job is to sell contracts. Once a contracts sold, it's sold for good unless DVD buys it back or it's foreclosed on. They may lose family "A" as a member but they have to sell to family "B" to leave the DVC.

That's one reason that the emphases is place on getting new members and not on maintaining them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd bet 90-95% of DVC owners who stay in one bedrooms or larger almost ignore the ornaments in the kitchen. A lot of members get the APs, and, thereby, also get the Tables In Wonderland card to get discounted dining.

The best way to vote is with your feet, but if a member doesn't use their points, it doesn't hurt DVC in any way.

A really disgrunted member can sell those points, but someone else will eventually buy them and be a happy member.

If DVC wasn't a money making deal for Disney, there wouldn't be three resorts under construction waiting to open.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Short term losses versus long term ones...to Disney, room discounts are the first, and DVC reductions are the latter.

 

[nickspace]

Better perks would lure more people to join DVC and in this economy coupled by the number of units Disney has to sell in BLT it would be a good move. Why not build your base as large as possible? Better perks would help build that base. I am sure there are many people who don't become DVC members because the perks are not very good.

In my opinion a small discount at a restaurant is nothing to get excited about. I like eating at home most of the time so having a kitchen at a Disney resort was huge. Park discounts and not just AP discounts would really motivate people to buy.

If the perks appealed to a larger base of people more would join.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Perks are not what new members are looking for. There have always been perks. DVC used to give discounts on length of stay tickets. I'd bet DVC members can get a similarly discounted ticket from resellers. They can't get a discounted AP from anyone but DVC. Perks are the frosting on the cake.

Potential new members see "Free DVC vacation" ie, developer points and they get stars in their eyes. They see "MK view" at BLT and they get that checkbook out. DVC is expensive. And not every one can afford it. Perks do not reduce the price of points.

Anyone who buys DVC for the perks is foolish because the perks don't last. They change all the time. Buy DVC for the prepaid (except for the continuously rising dues) ;uxury lodging it provides.

 

[TDC Nala]

They don't need to offer us incentives like that. We're going to come anyway.

I'd rather they brought Pleasure Island back than gave me free stuff.

 

[dallastxcpa]

In 2003 they were offering a very similar package called the Fairy Tale package. We participated and rented a 2 bedroom villa at the Boardwalk for 4 nights and received 3 nights free (including park tickets). Even so with the money I payed for that week in July I could have easily paid for half of the 150 point I bought less than a year later at SSR.

So I say let the cash guests have their one time incentive to vacation. I know that every year for the next 45+ years at least once a year I will have a wonderfully magical vacation.

 

[lugnut33]

Honestly, the 4+3 isn't much better than getting a bounceback discount. I stayed at POFQ during the summer for the same price as they are charging now.

Honestly, I'm glad I only have 120 points because I can decide to not use the points for a year and use a hotel if the prices are right. Although this year, I will use the points because I need a two bedroom. If I had a ton of points I'd be forced into using them.

 

[rogerram]

actually, not making DVC members feel slighted because the perk are not as good as a cash paying guest can also hurt them. If they annoy the members, then these people(members) in turn can give their opinions to possible future members. I would think that a member feeling they are not treated equally because" Disney already has them" is a dangerous thing. It can bring out negatives. When asked by someone about DVC and the response is "I love it, but you can get as good of a deal with discounts regularly ,without shelling out big bucks for the initial investment" might hurt the sales.

Throwing the members a bone once in a while can go a long way.

 

[cigarboo]

just remember folks, these are unusual economic times. It's not like a deal like the buy 4/get 3 free comes around every year. The last time was after 9/11, almost 8 years ago. If you're depending on these kinds of deals as deals good enough to come to Disney, then you'll have to be hoping for a lot of bad times. And you'll be waiting a long time between each trip.

I agree, if you are flexible with your travel times, Disney seems to offer a lot of good deals during their slower periods. But, if you have to travel during peak times/school holidays, there still aren't many great deals. I think for this ongoing 4/3 offer, it excludes the 2 weeks around Easter, which is my spring break and also ends just when my school year ends. I'm sure Disney is aware that the more deals they offer, the harder it would be to sell DVC. A business have to weigh the risks. It's even a risk for Disney's reputation to be offering such a huge discount as they would like to keep to their triple D motto: Disney Doesn't Discount. But times are tough. They need to keep making money. All that magic comes with a big price tag.

But I do understand the need to vent...

 

[bwvBound]

I am however discouraged by the type promos that WDW does to get folks in there. Right now the "buy four, get three, and a 200.00 gift card" infuriates me. When was the LAST TIME DVC MEMBERS were offered incentives such as that????

Well ... I tried to book a 4/3 promotion for my visit in January. If the promotion price was competitive with my point costs -- why not? Pay cash for the visit and use my points later.

What I found is that I couldn't make the promotion work for my visit. There was no availability at the resorts I'd accept (Dolphin, Swan, Yacht Club or Boardwalk Villa/Inn) for my dates using the 4/3 offer. The system did offer my dates using a "10 days of play" promotion -- but the rates were far more expensive than using my points. (Package consisting of 10 room nights plus park tickets for 2 exceeded $5000; my room on points runs closer to $1900 using [current MF + pro-rated purchase price].) Promotions come with lots of tricky restrictions?!?

Bottom line: I'm happy with my DVC reservation at BWV booked and locked in waaaaay back in June.

 

[TDC Nala]

Well ... I tried to book a 4/3 promotion for my visit in January. If the promotion price was competitive with my point costs -- why not? Pay cash for the visit and use my points later.

What I found is that I couldn't make the promotion work for my visit. There was no availability at the resorts I'd accept (Dolphin, Swan, Yacht Club or Boardwalk Villa/Inn) for my dates using the 4/3 offer.

They probably aren't offering for the Dolphin or Swan - those are not Disney resorts and you can't book a Disney package at them. That would have narrowed your choices way down.