Digital Member Cards

[scoobdoo]

I think part of it is productivity and employee time checking cards. If the system automatically gives the server or cashier less to do per transaction. If you can shave off 30 to sixty seconds per transaction, that is more money for Disney.

Nah, it's just cheap, mindless, senseless cost-cutting from DIS.

 

[badeacon]

I received a new blue card in mail yesterday, which I did not request, with an expiration date of 12/31/21. Also telling me about changes coming in 20022. What a waste of money!
Anyone else receiving new cards out of the blue?

 

[CraigInPA]

They could do that with a physical card too. They get to design the card and put whatever they want on it. Including a barcode with the member number. Then the system could check that automatically for eligibility.

They could also get membership cards with NFC tags included. I recently purchased ones for a project. They are really inexpensive and can be easily to have imprinted.

 

[sethschroeder]

Based on feedback not like you need your card anymore anyways they give discounts to anyone who asks.

 

[Stargazer65]

I missed that this was happening!!! I just now noticed it in my email today.

Wow, what an incredible new benefit! I can still use my existing card until the end of the year, and to top it all off...an incredible new digital experience starting next year!!!

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

I missed that this was happening!!! I just now noticed it in my email today.

Wow, what an incredible new benefit! I can still use my existing card until the end of the year, and to top it all off...an incredible new digital experience starting next year!!!

The new perks just keep rolling in!!!!!

 

[JETSDAD]

Based on feedback not like you need your card anymore anyways they give discounts to anyone who asks.

I think most people had to show either white or blue (not always but most of the time). A lot of CM's just don't know the difference. If they eliminate the white card altogether then that goes away for the most part. Of course we don't know yet exactly what will be coming with this 'upgrade'.

 

[Lehuaann]

I just received the email. Here’s what the link states

 

[nuhusky123]

Why even have a white card at all. There are no benefits. They should just limit the cards to blue owners and call it a day

 

[JETSDAD]

Why even have a white card at all. There are no benefits. They should just limit the cards to blue owners and call it a day

They would have to remove TOTWL access and pool hopping as benefits in order to eliminate the white card (which they might do).

 

[CarolynFH]

They would have to remove TOTWL access and pool hopping as benefits in order to eliminate the white card (which they might do).

Neither has returned since reopening, so I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. They could open community hall access, DVD rental (if that still exists), etc. to anyone staying at the DVC resorts or anyone staying on DVC points. Actually, I'm not sure those services are being restricted to DVC members currently anyway, or even if they still exist - I think I've read a post or two about using the community halls, maybe.

 

[kristenrice]

I have a few thoughts rolling around right now that I'd like to throw out there...

First, agree that we may soon see a distinction between "owners" (resale, or less than 150 point direct) and "members" (direct with over 150 points). Until now, we have seen DVC "grandfather" everyone when changes were made. For example, I own 100 resale points bought in 2008 which are completely unrestricted and treated as direct in all regards. I also own 50 points that I bought direct at another resort in 2011. *IF* DVC were to implement a "member" vs "owner" system, do you think they would opt to remove the grandfathered "permissions" and make them compliant under the new system? It seems like it would be easy to do, but would it be legal under the POS? I would then change from "member" to "owner" status because my resale points are, well, resale, and I do not own the minimum of 150 direct points. I would NOT be happy if this were to happen (naturally) because this was NOT the system that was sold to me when I purchased, but it was "subject to change" so I agreed to it.

Second, I agree that on my recent trip, the DVC discount was much more "unrestricted" than on our previous trips. I never had to show my ID...not once! Just for kicks, I gave my card to my friend when she went to pay for a shirt at the Emporium and she showed it to the CM and got the discount without batting an eye! (FWIW, she charged it to our room which was on my credit card so I ended up "paying" for it anyways) We ate at Boma on our checkout day and asked that our tab be split because we wanted to pay separately and I have the DVC discount and she does not. Our waiter split the tab and gave us BOTH the discount. I am wondering....are they perhaps giving the discount to EVERYONE to get us accustomed to it with the plan to soon take it away and restrict it to MEMBERS ONLY?? It would be incredibly silly because resale is still the more financially prudent decision, but getting 10% off food and 20% off merchandise on the spot and repeatedly throughout the vacation is such a mental boost.

My friend started talking to me about purchasing DVC and she made a comment about how she would "definitely want to be eligible for the discounts". I told her that, reasonably, she should expect to pay about $6000-$8000 MORE (minimum) upfront to be eligible for discounts. Then, I pointed out that I saved about $170 on food and merchandise on our 6-night trip, which was 1 year's worth of points. So, based on that math, she would have to take 30 trips (or one per year!) before she would break even and start to see a discount! She'll be 80! Simple math would dictate that the 10/20% discounts that DVC offers to "qualified" members/owners is not enough of a perk to persuade an educated buyer into buying a direct contract. So that makes me wonder...are more/different/better benefits on the horizon? Or are they planning to further restrict and take away more from the resale buyers??

 

[nuhusky123]

Con of restricting ownership
- those cast out of dvc ownership perks will be upset
- some may stop going to Disney

pro
- incentives to buy direct and get perks
- i bet less than 10% if that of those cast out stop going to disney
- disney now makes more money from those cast out
- those who do have the perks now have benefits above those other guests and subjectto what benefits include less competition thereby making buying direct even more appealing. Resulting in yet again more money for Disney

there are way more pros here than cons for Disney. I can see things changing in the coming years and not in a good way for anyone who has not purchased direct

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually I wonder if this is going to make it harder, more time-consuming for the CMs, or am I the only minimally-MDE-savvy person. I just see CMs having to tell people "This is how you access your card. Push this button here, then..." You access the mobile order for restaurants, maybe virtual queue, etc. more regularly at WDW, but I don't regularly access my card. And what about members who don't own a smartphone?

 

[CarolynFH]

Actually I wonder if this is going to make it harder, more time-consuming for the CMs, or am I the only minimally-MDE-savvy person. I just see CMs having to tell people "This is how you access your card. Push this button here, then..." You access the mobile order for restaurants, maybe virtual queue, etc. more regularly at WDW, but I don't regularly access my card. And what about members who don't own a smartphone?

The announcement says it will be integrated with MDE, so hopefully they can scan your MB, check your ID and give your discount or whatever. Currently at the digital member card on the member website there’s a Print button, so hopefully that will stay and allow members to print their card for each trip - the digital one is only good for one month, not 3 months as before.

 

[smjj]

I really do not have a problem using the digital cards but would prefer having the physical card in hand. It ought to be an option for those people who for whatever reason want or need to have the physical card even if they charge a processing fee for this.I would probable pay for it...ºoº

 

[jo-jo]

I mean, you pretty much have to have your smart phone with you at all times now anyway to do anything at Disney. But no, you could probably print off the digital one and carry that with you instead if having the digital one. 85% of americans have a smartphone anyway, and according to statistica that correlates to income. If your income is below that threshold, you probably don't own DVC.

We've own DVC for 15 years. I got a smart phone 3 years ago and my DH less than a year ago.

 

[mustinjourney]

I have a few thoughts rolling around right now that I'd like to throw out there...

First, agree that we may soon see a distinction between "owners" (resale, or less than 150 point direct) and "members" (direct with over 150 points). Until now, we have seen DVC "grandfather" everyone when changes were made. For example, I own 100 resale points bought in 2008 which are completely unrestricted and treated as direct in all regards. I also own 50 points that I bought direct at another resort in 2011. *IF* DVC were to implement a "member" vs "owner" system, do you think they would opt to remove the grandfathered "permissions" and make them compliant under the new system? It seems like it would be easy to do, but would it be legal under the POS? I would then change from "member" to "owner" status because my resale points are, well, resale, and I do not own the minimum of 150 direct points. I would NOT be happy if this were to happen (naturally) because this was NOT the system that was sold to me when I purchased, but it was "subject to change" so I agreed to it.

Second, I agree that on my recent trip, the DVC discount was much more "unrestricted" than on our previous trips. I never had to show my ID...not once! Just for kicks, I gave my card to my friend when she went to pay for a shirt at the Emporium and she showed it to the CM and got the discount without batting an eye! (FWIW, she charged it to our room which was on my credit card so I ended up "paying" for it anyways) We ate at Boma on our checkout day and asked that our tab be split because we wanted to pay separately and I have the DVC discount and she does not. Our waiter split the tab and gave us BOTH the discount. I am wondering....are they perhaps giving the discount to EVERYONE to get us accustomed to it with the plan to soon take it away and restrict it to MEMBERS ONLY?? It would be incredibly silly because resale is still the more financially prudent decision, but getting 10% off food and 20% off merchandise on the spot and repeatedly throughout the vacation is such a mental boost.

My friend started talking to me about purchasing DVC and she made a comment about how she would "definitely want to be eligible for the discounts". I told her that, reasonably, she should expect to pay about $6000-$8000 MORE (minimum) upfront to be eligible for discounts. Then, I pointed out that I saved about $170 on food and merchandise on our 6-night trip, which was 1 year's worth of points. So, based on that math, she would have to take 30 trips (or one per year!) before she would break even and start to see a discount! She'll be 80! Simple math would dictate that the 10/20% discounts that DVC offers to "qualified" members/owners is not enough of a perk to persuade an educated buyer into buying a direct contract. So that makes me wonder...are more/different/better benefits on the horizon? Or are they planning to further restrict and take away more from the resale buyers??

there’s a lot of FOMO that drives people to buy direct now.

a lot of people don’t want to be left out of ability of booking future resorts.

 

[LynJ]

Hubby doesn't have an MDE account, but we both have blue cards. We'll be there over the December 31-Jan 1 change. I'm not about to risk park reservations, etc., by setting him up with a new MDE account at this point. Guess he can't shop without me after Dec. 31.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I think this is a plus for members if they integrate the digital card into MDE so you automatically get the DVC discount at restaurants, etc.