Call from DVC

[Paticake]

Got a call last night from DVC. "A welcoming home kind of call". Our vacation is 16 days away and they were calling to make sure we were all set. Wanted to know if we needed the dining plan, told me what groups were playing at Epcot for the summer concert series, and just generally asked if we needed anything for vacation. Nice touch.

 

[disneynutz]

Got a call last night from DVC. "A welcoming home kind of call". Our vacation is 16 days away and they were calling to make sure we were all set. Wanted to know if we needed the dining plan, told me what groups were playing at Epcot for the summer concert series, and just generally asked if we needed anything for vacation. Nice touch.

Did they tell you about the Membership Magic events and outings like bowling?

Bill

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Are you a new member? Or maybe your first stay on a new add-on contract?

I'm trying to figure out the context of why you would have received this call.

If the call was from the DVD salesforce following up on your first reservation, that's one thing. But if it was someone from Member Services, whose salary is being paid from dues, I'm kind of thinking there are more optimal uses for those resources than cold-calling members to see if there's anything they forgot to do.

Maybe it's something the operators do during down times where there aren't any calls in the queue? Or course, it's been quite a while since I've called and not had to wait, so I don't know how often the queue would be empty.

Oh, I just had a thought. Are you staying concierge on this trip? That would be a completely different thing. I could understand that level of outreach and attention for a concierge stay.

Sad that the other thing my mind immediately goes to is a scam. Did they know the specifics of your reservation? What resort, and when you were arriving? Who was on the booking? If it was a general statement like, "Hi. I'm Jane from DVC Member Services, and want to see if there's anything you needed for your upcoming reservation," I'd be wary that it's someone just trying to get a credit card number from you. Easy enough to get names and phone numbers of DVC members, and assume most of us have at least one reservation in the system.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Never got a call and have been a member since 1998 and go at least twice a year. I have gotten email when we stayed in club level at AK.

 

[disneynutz]

The calls are being made by a new group called the Membership Magic Team. They have been in place for a few months, their goal is to make you feel better about being a member, they are the DVC member PR group and activity sales people.

They call and answer some questions but IMO really want you to buy an extra experience. They are currently selling bowling, Senses Spa visits, Member Cruises, Sunrise Safari's, fishing, fireworks cruise, dining experiences, Adventures by Disney, and member mingles.

Other than the mingles these events cost extra and can often be less expensive if booked directly. I was told by DVC that our dues pays for the calls but the profit from the events goes to Disney.

Bill

 

[Paticake]

They did talk to me about bowling, fireworks cruises, fishing trips etc. but she was not at all pushy. I asked about the wind down at Epcot etc. We have owned for 10 years, but we added 1 night onto our res. so my DGS could see AKV at Jambo house. She was calling about this reservation.

 

[GOOFY D]

I was told by DVC that our dues pays for the calls but the profit from the events goes to Disney.

Bill

That does not seem ethical at all (nor is it proper financial accounting). If they get the benefit of the revenue generated by the calls, they should incur the matching costs that generated those revenues.

 

[daisyx3]

We leave in 8 days and no call....but our answering machine is not hooked up and if we aren't home they will be treated to a fax machine beeping sound, so maybe we missed it.
Daisyx3

 

[Norm1]

I also received a call and my reservation, which is in 3 weeks. is at AKV. I have been a member since 1995 and this was the first call that I have ever received from member services. I have to say I enjoyed the extra touch. I do have caller ID and noticed it was from DVC. My first instinct was that it may be a scam but the woman was very knowledgeable, mentioned some things that I was not aware of and answered questions that I had. Never asked for any of my personal information. I also thought that it was a mistake and they thought I was concierge. IMHO I like the new perks, the new special DVC events, the new website etc. There was a long period of time when nothing was happening with DVC. I hope they continue with all the little extra touches.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And while these calls are being done the wait times for calls into MS have remained long.

 

[DonnaL]

As another poster said MS has been making these calls for several months now as "Membership Magic" team. We received a call in late December/very early January for our trip this past January (20th to 25th). Basically, the CM just went over Magic Bands, My Disney Experience, and informed us of anything new ....don't remember bowling specifically, but, it may have been mentioned. I don't know if they are random calls or if they are specifically targeting members who may not have visited in the past year or so...we had not been to WDW since Fall 2012 so it had been about 15 months since our last visit.

 

[cinderella97]

We received a call about a week ago. DH answered it. Of course he was a deer in head lights since I do all the planning. I wish I was home so I could have taken the call. Seems to me they should plan these calls about 60 days put so if you have questions about magic bands or fast pass+

 

[LisaRN97]

We got a call in February prior to our cruise - they left a message as we were working. The CM just wanted to wish a good trip and said to make sure we visit them to receive our gifts on the cruise. I thought it was a great touch.

 

[Donna M]

We have been members for years and we received a call before our last trip too.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I hate to be a whiner but I agree that the wait time for MS should really be a focus--I think once they've mastered incoming calls they can start with the outbounders...

That said I think it's a great idea and I love all the recent outreach (mailers, etc). It really augments the anticipation!