Concierge Collection Complaint

[Eric The Red 1966]

Did any other DVC member notice that the Concierge Collection destinations have been radically altered without any notice to the DVC members? Help me communicate our displeasure with this boneheaded management decision.

Please send an email to dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com.

They took away over half of the Concierge Collection destinations! Did they ask your opinion or your permission? NO! Let them know how upset we all are about this.

 

[DVC Mike]

Hmm. You must be really upset about this to post this on all three DVC forums!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22790106&postcount=2

 

[Eric The Red 1966]

Mike

YEP! I'm really upset. We just returned from Keystone and planned to visit Tanque Verde and Mackinac Island in 2008. Now we can't. The other issue is they did not replace the destinations they removed! What a crock!

 

[pistonfan32]

I saw the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in the 2008 planner but I would never stay there for 70-80 points per night.

 

[PamOKW]

...no they have put "the focus on iconic resorts offering the greatest value and range of experience for Members....." blah blah blah. I'm with you on the disappointment factor. I'd prefer more Concierge options, not less.

These are always a "year to year" thing so we have no guarantees. My guess is they are moving the 3 and 4 day Interval option to possibly replace the "concierge" collection.

Doesn't hurt to express your opinion to DVC.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Mike

YEP! I'm really upset. We just returned from Keystone and planned to visit Tanque Verde and Mackinac Island in 2008. Now we can't. The other issue is they did not replace the destinations they removed! What a crock!

Prior to owning DVC, we skiied at Keystone and loved it. How was your stay? Also, Keystone is still in the new planner but I though they were removing it? I understand your frustration about the properties that have been eliminated. It can't hurt to send the emails!

 

[wdw1972]

While anyone is certainly free to share their opinions with DVC.....all the concierge collection stuff is simply an "extra", or a "perk" which is subject to disappearing at any time. It's also a terrible use of your points, unless you're really stuck and have no other way to use them & are beyond the banking window.

For me personally, I wouldn't care if all the concierge collection disappeared. I bought dvc to stay at dvc resorts, and will pay cash for trips to other places. All we're assured of with our memberships is the ability to stay at dvc resorts for extremely affordable prices....nothing more. Anything else is "gravy" - we can be happy when we're given perks, but have no business complaining when we don't....as long as we get our dvc lodging.

 

[DebbieB]

I think DVC is making it very clear that they want to reduce members booking outside DVC. Reducing the conceirge collection, adding the $95 fee for WDW resorts. My guess is because that leaves them with rooms to book through CRO and it's hard to get the value back. They also want to curb renting because that is competition for these rooms.

 

[Dean]

My guess is they're having trouble raising the cash to pay for the other options and rather than raise them to the level it would require to have them break even, they eliminated the ones not willing to have low enough prices to keep the status quo.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney doesn't do anything without a plan. They are much smarter than we are and they have a reason for everything they do. Usually the reason is money related. They know that several small changes are accepted and ignored better than one big change. If they can keep you on Disney property you are worth much more than someone on a ski vacation. They also have plans to build many more off property resorts and they want you to consider them first.

 

[Eric The Red 1966]

Keystone skiing is awesome. We had a great stay at the Lone Eagle which is the closest ski in/ski out at Keystone. While I understand DVC wanting members to stay on property, the value in the membership for us was the flexibility in not having to return to a Disney property each year and giving us some FLEXIBILITY on options for vacations. As my family ages, our vacation destinations change. We feel cheated that we were not informed of this change. I personally hope that members will send emails to the email address and voice their complaints. If we don't, DVC membership will continue to make changes without seeking input from us and could errode the value in our memberships.

 

[Inkmahm]

While anyone is certainly free to share their opinions with DVC.....all the concierge collection stuff is simply an "extra", or a "perk" which is subject to disappearing at any time. It's also a terrible use of your points, unless you're really stuck and have no other way to use them & are beyond the banking window.

For me personally, I wouldn't care if all the concierge collection disappeared. I bought dvc to stay at dvc resorts, and will pay cash for trips to other places. All we're assured of with our memberships is the ability to stay at dvc resorts for extremely affordable prices....nothing more. Anything else is "gravy" - we can be happy when we're given perks, but have no business complaining when we don't....as long as we get our dvc lodging.

Agreed.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

While I understand DVC wanting members to stay on property, the value in the membership for us was the flexibility in not having to return to a Disney property each year and giving us some FLEXIBILITY on options for vacations.

AGREED.

DH is a big skiier (and I enjoy the sport as well). A big draw for him was that we could do a big Disney trip one year, then go skiing the next, etc. We'll still take other vacations but the flexibility of DVC's other options was attractive. We're being patient though, hoping for (maybe) a DVC ski property to be announced someday soon. As I said before, I understand your frustration. This is not a "you're right and I'm wrong" topic. Some people bought in solely for Disney vacations, some were attracted to the other destinations as well. Personally, I will always love the Disney parks and will be happy to always use my DVC vacationing there. The other options were/are very attractive destinations we'd hoped (hope) would stay.

Back to Keystone.........is it STAYING in the collection??

 

[dianeschlicht]

My guess is they're having trouble raising the cash to pay for the other options and rather than raise them to the level it would require to have them break even, they eliminated the ones not willing to have low enough prices to keep the status quo.

I'm quite sure that is exacatly the case!

Those options were certainly the most expensive ones on the list, and I'm sure folks would have objected loudly if they had doubled the points required for them as well.

As someone else said, these are "perk", and not the "real" program. They will change often over the course of a membership. I purchased DVC to mostly stay at WDW. Those high point options were never part of my "plan" anyway, because there wasn't enough value in them.

 

[Dean]

I'm quite sure that is exacatly the case!

Those options were certainly the most expensive ones on the list, and I'm sure folks would have objected loudly if they had doubled the points required for them as well.

As someone else said, these are "perk", and not the "real" program. They will change often over the course of a membership. I purchased DVC to mostly stay at WDW. Those high point options were never part of my "plan" anyway, because there wasn't enough value in them.

My guess is they will eventually do away with this program and the DC for WDW as well.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My guess is they will eventually do away with this program and the DC for WDW as well.

I agree, and frankly, I'm surprised they have allowed DC at non-DVC resorts at WDW for this long. I always assumed it was an enticement to get folks to try out DVC in the begining. There really is no need for such a program now to get folks in. I'm also going to guess that there might even be a specific DVC cruise ship sometime down the road. That would certainly be new and different....a timeshare cruise line.

 

[Dean]

I agree, and frankly, I'm surprised they have allowed DC at non-DVC resorts at WDW for this long. I always assumed it was an enticement to get folks to try out DVC in the begining. There really is no need for such a program now to get folks in. I'm also going to guess that there might even be a specific DVC cruise ship sometime down the road. That would certainly be new and different....a timeshare cruise line.

I'd be surprised by a DVC cruise ship but could see a portion of a ship. I don't think ResidentSeas has done all the well from what I've heard.

 

[maciec]

Having part of a cruise ship would be nice. I think that I am only dreaming though that if they were to do this our points would come down for taking a cruise. But a girl can always hope!

Also, with the advent of the concierge level at AKV any future DVC's will also have a concierge level and that will play a part in doing away with the DC at WDW.

 

[keys2kingdom]

Did any other DVC member notice that the Concierge Collection destinations have been radically altered without any notice to the DVC members? Help me communicate our displeasure with this boneheaded management decision.

Please send an email to dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com.

They took away over half of the Concierge Collection destinations! Did they ask your opinion or your permission? NO! Let them know how upset we all are about this.

Quite frankly I couldn't care less about the Concierge Collection. Needless to say this is one email campaign I won't be joining. Sorry.