Buying DVC Merchandise

[disneymom8589]

The other day I called our home resort (SSR) to see if they had any SSR shirts that I could buy for my DH for Christmas. They said they did, but they do not ship them. You have to go to the resort in person to purchase anything. Since I'm from WA, it's a little hard to get down there before Christmas! My DH and I were talking about the DVC merchandise situation and were wondering why DVC does not market their merchandise better. We think they're missing a big market in not selling their things outside of the gift shops as well as not having DVC items for sale on the "members only" DVC site. Seeing people with DVC resort products (i.e. shirts, hats, key chains, mugs, etc.) seems like a great selling tool. Maybe this has been addressed before (relatively new members), but Disney seems to be missing out on something big, IMHO!

 

[Esmerelda]

This is a VERY good topic. When my husband and I were even at Disney in the summer, the DVC merchandise was very scearce. I don't get it, don't they know they we will purchase nice items with their logo on it? We did manage to find a couple of white polo shirts on the Boardwalk area somewhere that have the original DVC member logo on them. We snagged them. Other than that, there were very few items and the shirt sizes were quite large (I'm very petite, xs sorry) so it was slim pickens.

I even asked at 3 different hotels why there weren't more DVC items?

Anyone have any input on this topic?

great question!
Esmerelda

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Did you try the WDW Merchandise Mail Order #?

407-363-6200

 

[simzac]

I'm also a new member and was going to buy some DVC merchandise on our upcoming trip in January. I figured each of the DVC resorts would have alot of merchandise for their particular resort, guess I was wrong. I have found a few items on Ebay, but not alot. I would rather buy directly from DVC if possible. As the DVC resorts continue to grow, maybe this aspect will grow with it.

 

[DMKEDM]

Off-topic, but a mite related: we just got back from our first DVC triip--to SSR (loved it!)...I checked out the DVC merchandise in the gift shop and wasn't "taken" w/any of it...but my son surprised me w/a DVC keychain (to thank me...very sweet)...and he told me the CM required him to show proof of DVC membership (he has his own m'ship card, fortunately) before they would sell it to him...the CM told him only DVC members may buy DVC merchandise! Weird...but sort of nifty, in a way...I like having my keychain and like it even more knowing it wouldn't be sold to a non-DVC member...

 

[jekjones1558]

disneymom8589.
If you know what you want, I will buy it and ship it to you. We leave tomorrow (Sunday, 12/3). I will check back here tonight to see if you're interested. We leave early in the morning. Wish I had seen this thread earlier. I would have replied sooner.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I offer to be a back up buyer if you don't see jekjones1558's offer in time. We leave home on December 15th.

For DH's 60th birthday we did a 3 night DCL cruise. DSis wanted to surprise DH with some DCL things in a gift basket. She ran against the same problem, but a Dis'er who was cruising before us, did the trick for us. She purchased the shirt, and it was included in the gift basket.

Bobbi

 

[Erie Islands]

We think they're missing a big market in not selling their things outside of the gift shops as well as not having DVC items for sale on the "members only" DVC site.

I agree...I would definitely buy stuff. And if you're purchasing from the member's sight, then obviously you would be a member.

 

[pb4ugo]

I couldn't agree with the OP more!!! And I would like to know who is responsible for the selection of merchandize that gets branded with the DVC logo - the clothing like is deplorable! I find better Disney apparel at the super Wal-Mart out on the highway! Why oh why can't DVC have something along the line of the regular WDW clothing? I tried to purchase a windbreaker at HHI last month - none to be had...the only adult clothing was a thin and poorly screened blue [only color] long sleeve t shirt - left it on the rack. DVC surely has missed the merchandising boat by not selling their wares on the member site!

Maybe I'll try to create iron-ons for shirts - or do my own hand embroidery!

 

[LisaS]

I agree that DVC has missed the boat in this area. I wasted a lot of time on my first trip as a DVC member going from resort to resort trying to find a decent t-shirt. I had seen one I liked at one shop but they didn't have it in my size. Unfortunately, that particular shirt was discontinued and none of the other stores had any left in my size either. I spoke with someone in one of the stores we visited who told me "if you don't manage to find one in your size while you're here, just buy it online." I thought that was a great idea until I got home and learned the hard way that they don't sell DVC merchandize online!

 

[disneymom8589]

Thank you, so much, jekjones1558 and bobbiwoz for offering to buy something when you're on your trips to DW! DH and I are touched and grateful for your generous offer. You are two examples of what's so awesome about the DIS board people!! He said he doesn't mind waiting until we go next summer so he can see in person what they have. Maybe by then DVC will have some more selections!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I never understood why they didn't sell the mdse on the member site.

Only thing I could figure was because MS wasn't set up to receive money...

I wish they would though.

 

[TAKitty]

Off-topic, but a mite related: we just got back from our first DVC triip--to SSR (loved it!)...I checked out the DVC merchandise in the gift shop and wasn't "taken" w/any of it...but my son surprised me w/a DVC keychain (to thank me...very sweet)...and he told me the CM required him to show proof of DVC membership (he has his own m'ship card, fortunately) before they would sell it to him...the CM told him only DVC members may buy DVC merchandise! Weird...but sort of nifty, in a way...I like having my keychain and like it even more knowing it wouldn't be sold to a non-DVC member...

They don't always ask. I got a DVC shirt at BC at they didn't ask for my ID.

I agree that the DVC website should sell shirts etc.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I so so so agree with this...not enough DVC merchandise, what there is lacks in quality, and it should be easier to come by. I'm not sure that the website is necessarily the answer (even though I would love to be able to buy DVC stuff online), as that is part of MS and I would like to see them making sure vacations get booked properly as opposed to dealing with retail merchandise sales issues. However, it seems to me that it would be easy enough to add a few pages at the end of the magazine that acts as a "catalog" section or something.

Well, at least we know that MS reads these boards...hope they are getting this message. They are missing out on a great $$$ opportunity here.

 

[shovan]

I totally agree that the quality of the clothing is the pits. We purchased a BC polo shirt for my DH. I washed it twice and it looks worse than his 3 yo Old Navy polos! They really need to do something about this.

 

[Disney-For-Life]

I find most of Disney's clothing to be of poor quality and expected way more from the DVC items. I was so looking forward to buying a really high quality DCV golf shirt but couldn't find anything decent. My husband lucked out at SSR (we went there just to shop at the pro-shop) and found a Nike shirt with a Mickey logo on it. We were happy to pay $59.99US for it but thats about all we found.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I got a nice polo at VB with the DVC logo that said "Vero Beach Resort" and was hoping to get something similar from HHI. No such luck, just a thin v neck t-shirt. I saw a nice polo at SSR last week but I wasn't buying for myself right before the holidays. If DVC had stuff available online I KNOW I would buy things more often. I only go on vacation a couple times a year-but I'm on the computer every day!

Ok, DVC spies-you've heard us! There's a way to make money here!

 

[cobbler]

I couldn't agree with the OP more!!! And I would like to know who is responsible for the selection of merchandize that gets branded with the DVC logo - the clothing like is deplorable!

I don't know if anyone has answered as I haven't read farther in the post yet, but at the Condo meetings there is a lady there standing by all the merchandise that is in charge of that.

We talked to her before one of the condo meetings and asked her why BC / BW had nice thicker robes while SSR had the waffle robes. She said because the waffle robes were at the spa and she put them out to SSR, kind of a matching thing. We kept telling her there need to be some warmer clothing options and she kept saying - "But it's Florida". We kept telling her that there are a LOT of members who live in the north where it is cold a good chunk of the year.

 

[cobbler]

PS - There isn't much new coming out in 2007 either. Just a couple of things that aren't that fantastic - IMO. A long sleeve gray type T-shirt and something else.

We did give her an idea of a DVC robe, a nice one, not specific to any resort.

 

[diznyfanatic]

I purchased a DVC navy, long sleeve tee at VB last Spring and it has become my absolute favorite running around shirt because it is super soft. However, it has faded horribly and I wanted to purchase another with no such luck yet.

BTW, I purchased this during our trip to scout out DVC so we were not members yet and was not asked to show any member ID in order to purchase it.

I agree that making DVC merchandise available on the website or as part of their newsletter would be great.