cheaper tickets for dvc members

[crisi]

Kevin, sorry you took it personally. My apologies, I was out of line. It wasn't your post by the way, it was that yours was the most recent. And that over the holidays we had two different sides of the family assume that since we were family and could afford it our responsibility was to get them expensive Christmas presents they wanted. The "we're family" cry pushed a few completely unrelated buttons.

Florida residents vote in Florida. The legislature that Florida residents votes in then votes in laws that can help or hurt Disney's business. Want the Food and Wine Festival to run six weeks? Disney lobbies the Florida legislature for a change in the law and its easy. Want rail to run straight from MCO to Disney. A lot of lobbying and a lot of money later and it looks like the towncar companies may be looking for a new business model. Disney doesn't want the residents of Florida calling up their legislators and fighting these changes (my understanding is that the rail line was fought tooth and nail), giving them discounts is a cheap way to help keep them happy.

 

[jersey shark]

Here's a perspective from a non-DVC member who has been thinking about buying into DVC for about a year now though fence-sitting now and leaning away from buying. (family of four, kids ages 3 and 5).

My knee-jerk reaction to all things DVC-related as a newbie was...

a) the point system is very fairly constructed and flexible (we're Marriott owners as well and they work on a week-by-week system)

b) The "expiry"/time limit situation is a little strange (but not a deal-breaker).

c) 8 days to break-even for an AP seemed high to me...I was expecting something more like 6 days use to break even here (which is what the cost is for a Florida resident AP isn't it?)

d) I was amazed that the DVC people just wouldn't budge as far as throwing in perks/bonuses/sthings to make one feel good about the purchase...I was ready to buy 225 points cash (just swipe the credit card!) but was surprised that they couldn't give what I had asked for as a perk (family of four APs, 2 years worth, to be used up in 6 years)....in fact they had nothing to offer me as a perk (or anyone else). I personally feel that it I have done my homework, am ready to buy, need no convincing whatsoever, will pay 100% of DVC up-front with credit card....this should entitle one to a special discount or perk as well....no effort on DVC sales staff at all to "sell me". I have found that with virtually any other big-ticket purchases, I can usually win a case for a special "easy customer" discount.

Since my "plan" was to save up points for a big extended family trip every 3 years or So ...it didn't mean much to me to miss out on DVC so I walked away.

We ended up buying APs this year and really enjoy staying in the nearby Grand Cypress Hyatt (kids suites are spectacular, Regency CLub provides complimentary breakfast and evening appetizers)

The point? We now probably won't go the DVC route....
have since learned we'll probably "burn out" on Disney (after multiple trips with this years APs) and not return for 3-4 years.

But, it makes you wonder....how many others out there like me are NOT joining DVC because they'd like to see Florida resident AP rates OR bigger discounts on site at shops/restaurants OR special perks/discounts that are "our (DVC owners) little secret!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by jersey shark
....(snip)....The point? We now probably won't go the DVC route....
have since learned we'll probably "burn out" on Disney (after multiple trips with this years APs) and not return for 3-4 years.

But, it makes you wonder....how many others out there like me are NOT joining DVC because they'd like to see Florida resident AP rates OR bigger discounts on site at shops/restaurants OR special perks/discounts that are "our (DVC owners) little secret!

Sorry you won't be joining, but it's better for your family that you realized ahead of time that DVC is not for you. Based on your "burn out" statement, I would say your family is not in "DVC's target market" anyway.

FWIW, DVC is not having trouble selling memberships. The types of "perks for purchase" you suggest are just not necessary to keep sales at the level DVC desires.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Greetings, jersey shark!

Seems like you made a thoughtful, well-researched decision. A few comments, though:

1. From everything I've heard and read, most DVC buyers are "Easy Customers". Not only does DVC sell out fairly quickly, but there's a booming resale market (yes, thanks to Disney's ROFR) - some early DVC purchasers have actually made money when they sold; how many other timeshares can boast that? So the need for sales incentives - or high-pressure sales people (like in Las Vegas, ugh) just isn't justified.

2. I'm not sure if this is still true (Disney reshuffles the organizational deck every now and then) but the people who could offer ticket discounts are not the DVC. So any discounts on tickets would have to make sense to the Ticket division, or be paid for by DVC - which is us.

3. It seems that, for people who run the numbers - and who already plan on spending a week or more annually at a WDW moderate or deluxe - they are already saving money when they purchase DVC. So, although desirable, a $37 savings on an AP isn't a deal maker/breaker.

4. Assuming you were looking into SSR, 225 pts @ $84 = $18,900. 8 APs (assuming 10+ ages) @ $370 = $2960 (yeah yeah, intradepartmental discounts....). That's a 15% perk - quite a bit for something that sells out almost as fast as it comes on the market.

Glad that your decision is working out for you and your family.