Disappearing perks question

[StitchFan73]

So, for me--the problem isn't any one perk or process changing, it's that the "parade of changes" is fairly constant. I've come to the conclusion that you really cannot count on Disney/DVC for anything beyond the villa that they promise in the POS. If you know that walking in (I did, but didn't really realize it) you may be fine.

I do think the issue is "expectations." So much of the appeal that caused me to buy has changed or gone away.


Good luck w/your decision.

You brought up a good point and a good way to look at it. Thanks!

Financially, DVC was the best thing we have done for our vacations to WDW, and DLR. And probably better for Disney, as we now stay overnights at the villas at the Grand Californian.
Mentally, and physically we come back from vacations relaxed now. We spend less time running around the parks for rope drop, getting on attractions, dinner reservations etc. We sleep in, cook our own meals when we want them, or go out have a fine dining experience we wouldn't normally do. We sip coffee in the morning, not gulping it, because housekeeping wants to do our room. We pack less clothes, and carry less luggage to the airport, because we have a laundry in room. We spend at least one day, just staying in the room, reading, napping, or go for a walk around the resort, and exploring everything. We have taken an afternoon just riding all the boats, for free, around the canals by the Swan/ Dolphin/ BWV. We have cocktails poolside at VWL while our laundry is in the wash back in the room, and watched everyone come back on the boat from late hours at MK. Or check email for free on our laptops. We never rent a car, so we have never used the valet. We do use the discount for our WDW annual pass. But we bought the room, not the perks.
DVC is the best thing we have done for Ourselves.

Thank you for putting it this way. It gives a good perspective that you are getting more than just a room.

My standard answer is this. Am I happy I brought in, with out a doubt. would I recommend DVC to some one else. No Way.

My vacations are an "overall" experience. Sure I know I did not buy specifically for the perks but they "enhance" my overall enjoyment of any vacations. When I go to the airport there is a difference in the perception of a flight if skycaps handle my luggage rather then me checking them in myself.

For me it's not only dvc it's cutbacks all around Disney that are making my "experience" less and less magical. For example.

-mediocre dining. sure I don't go to disney specifically for restaurants but having subpar food or mediocre offerings does effect my vacation
Couple that with cutbacks in park entertainment and rising ticket prices and dues...

sure I didn't buy in for the valet but I used it every day and once again it was great to simply pull up at the WL at the end of a long hot day and walk right into the lodge. So once again my "magic" is diminished.

see what I mean.
I have had fabulous vacations at the mouse world and I'm probably not going to sell my points but we are taking a break from Disneyworld.
I'm due back to Orlando for my anniversary but I'm staying at the Waldof Astoria.

I totally get what you are saying. I noticed an overall lightening of the magic at Disney. We are pretty much set on the idea of buying a timeshare. What we are wondering about if is Disney the one we want to spend the money on? What I mean by that is, will it get to a point, DVC aside, where Disney will no longer have any value to us? If we can buy a room anywhere, will Disney keep cutting back on the very things that make us want to go to Disney-even after our DD isn't vacationing with us?

 

[dallastxcpa]

My advice is Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware. We are not planning on getting rid of our points, but I am very dissatisfied with the changes that have taken place in the last few years and the lack of communication and no longer recommend DVC to friends/family.

First is the waitlist change that someone else had mentioned.

Second is the point reallocation. We used to be able to book a two bedroom in the summer at almost any resort. Now the only two bedroom we can afford is a value at AKL (there are only 10 of those so fat chance). Couple that with the new waitlist and it looks like we will be staying in two studios.

We had planned to add on points so we could take multiple vacations however after these changes I probably will not purchase anymore points with DVC.

If you feel your family will use the accomodations then go for it. Just be cautious and know that things can and do change in the blink of an eye without any prior notification.

 

[gmboy95]

I think the perks that disney provides DVC members has always been substandard, given the commitment that members make financially!!

The loss of the valet parking really stinks because it felt like getting something....I like the discount on the annual pass as well....but frankly it is not enough. If you think about the amount of money that DVC member bring in through their initial commitment, dues, and money spent in parks. it is IMO ridiculous that there is not at least half price passes available, even if they where base tickets!

 

[WolfpackFan]

The perks are not important to us. I could care less about valet parking - I don't like other people driving my car. The only perk we really use is the AP discount, but I see us using that less and less in the future as we do more park free trips.

 

[eliza61]

You brought up a good point and a good way to look at it. Thanks!



Thank you for putting it this way. It gives a good perspective that you are getting more than just a room.



I totally get what you are saying. I noticed an overall lightening of the magic at Disney. We are pretty much set on the idea of buying a timeshare. What we are wondering about if is Disney the one we want to spend the money on? What I mean by that is, will it get to a point, DVC aside, where Disney will no longer have any value to us? If we can buy a room anywhere, will Disney keep cutting back on the very things that make us want to go to Disney-even after our DD isn't vacationing with us?

That's a good question and a very difficult question. I adore Disney and I can honestly say this is the first year we have struggled with some many noticeable differences. We didn't rush into buying our dvc so we are going to take our time deciding on the future. We could simply be suffering from Disney burn out. A few trips away from the parks may make us fall right back in love.
Also since our kids our older we do spend days outside the parks so perks like restaurant deals, valet parking, access to the health club were great for us.

Another thing to take in consideration is Disney is offering great discounts. Now no one can predict discounts in the future but I'm thinking they will be around for the next couple of years at least, so that may be a factor to consider also.
Or start out with a very small contract resale. If it fits you can always add on.

 

[StitchFan73]

That's a good question and a very difficult question. I adore Disney and I can honestly say this is the first year we have struggled with some many noticeable differences. We didn't rush into buying our dvc so we are going to take our time deciding on the future. We could simply be suffering from Disney burn out. A few trips away from the parks may make us fall right back in love.
Also since our kids our older we do spend days outside the parks so perks like restaurant deals, valet parking, access to the health club were great for us.

Another thing to take in consideration is Disney is offering great discounts. Now no one can predict discounts in the future but I'm thinking they will be around for the next couple of years at least, so that may be a factor to consider also.
Or start out with a very small contract resale. If it fits you can always add on.

I do wonder this. If this same situation (disappearing perks, and other things that have members displeased) were happening in any other timeshare, how would folks feel about it? Is Disney so good at the timeshare game that is really doesn't matter? Or is it simply the blind unwavering love a lot of us have for Disney? Myself included. I guess my biggest fear is, am I overlooking things that I normally wouldn't, just because it Disney?? I mean I feel bad in even saying that we noticed some definite changes already and not for the better. It's like talking bad about your momma-LOL.

 

[pearlieq]

I will say that I am much more reluctant to recommend it to people than I used to be. I am very careful to point out the many cons that go with the pros.

For myself, regret may be a bit too strong of a word, but I do wish I didn't own as much as I do and I'm not crazy about being locked in since I feel like it takes away my flexibility. Without DVC, if I didn't like a change a hotel made (like when the Swan and Dolphin started charging for self parking) I just never stayed there again. I don't have that freedom with DVC and the recent valet change makes me feel it.

 

[hakepb]

I think the perks that disney provides DVC members has always been substandard, given the commitment that members make financially!!

The loss of the valet parking really stinks because it felt like getting something....I like the discount on the annual pass as well....but frankly it is not enough. If you think about the amount of money that DVC member bring in through their initial commitment, dues, and money spent in parks. it is IMO ridiculous that there is not at least half price passes available, even if they where base tickets!

I still think perks exist to get members to spend more money, not to make anyone feel special. The benefit of the large financial committment is a huge accomodation discount.

I do think there are more ways Disney could entice us to spend more money (i.e combined ticket and DDP discounts..) but Disney is, overall, rather good at getting us to spend money.

 

[corpcomp]

We bought into DVC in 2006 and still love it. Every time I get annoyed at a perk or process change and think about going back to Disney as a resort guest, I run the numbers and DVC remains a good deal for me and my family.



I agree. Its all about running the numbers. It is still a great deal and the rooms are so much nicer than the non DVC resorts. We actually enjoy going back to the room or to SAB after a day in the parks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I totally get what you are saying. I noticed an overall lightening of the magic at Disney. We are pretty much set on the idea of buying a timeshare. What we are wondering about if is Disney the one we want to spend the money on? What I mean by that is, will it get to a point, DVC aside, where Disney will no longer have any value to us? If we can buy a room anywhere, will Disney keep cutting back on the very things that make us want to go to Disney-even after our DD isn't vacationing with us?

Don't buy DVC for the prospect of staying elsewhere. Buy it to stay at DVC resorts. There are much cheaper timeshares out there that you can use to trade. Even better may be just renting a timeshare or condominium from an owner instead of trading. Many of the places we like to do don't have timeshares (like the national parks - we stay IN the national park, not out in the surrounding areas). We had looked at buying a timeshare to trade, but are now deciding just to work with owners directly. There are many websites out there to help you do this.

I stopped recommending DVC when the price per point got ridiculous. We bought at $50-70 per point and anything more than that is just too much for what you are getting for it. The newer resorts have much smaller rooms, sometimes poorer construction.

 

[rigsby25]

Although I still don't really regret buying DVC - we've had some great vacations and great accommodations- I wouldn't recommend it now to anyone. We've gotten tired of the parks. Nothing new after we've gone 3 - 4 times a year. I don't like the realocation of points. At the beginning they pushed us into the Sunday - Thursday thing, and I got quite used to it. I don't like to stay 7 days anymore, but it hardly seems worth it during the week now without adding the weekends. We've been using our points at Vero Beach and have been really happy campers with our membership. We're going next week to try out the new Kidani Village villas, but we won't be going to the parks or eating on site. I don't want to waste my money on Disney Tickets until the parks have something new or refreshed. I have one ticket for MNSSHP and the other time will be spent on other Orlando attractions/restaurants, etc. and at the pool. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm getting disenchanted with Walt Disney World and although I now that it is not DVC's fault, let's face it. Its not called "Disney" vacation club for nothing.

 

[MikeyNS]

Perks were a bonus for us, so we're not too worried. I'll self park our rental car if I have too. The point re-allocation was a bit of a bummer, but we're going to work through it. If I have to borrow every year than that's what we'll do. When/if we get tired of the Disney experience in a few years we'll move on and try something else out. Without DVC we wouldn't be taking the vacations we're taking now with our little guys.

 

[StitchFan73]

What is the "points re-allocation"? And why is everyone so bummed about it?

Also thank you for the replies. It has really given me a lot of new perspective

 

[Sammie]

What is the "points re-allocation"? And why is everyone so bummed about it?

Also thank you for the replies. It has really given me a lot of new perspective

The number of points needed to make a reservation was changed. The total number of points can't change but they can shift them. It affected many people who have a limited number of points and bought them specifically to stay in a certain size unit on a 5 night week day stay. The points required for that went up, while Friday and Saturday came down some.

Also the communication of this change to members was as usual with DVC, not very good.

I like the perks but I can manage without them. I am however disappointed in the lack of better communication between members and management. They flood us with crap like that annoying Deevy Cee and yet when things that are important to us as members happen, they are reluctant to inform us.

Also in the last 3-4 years I have had issues with housekeeping and maintenance, while in the past that was not the case.

For the price of points now I could not recommend buying. The price has risen while quality has gone down.

 

[hakepb]

What is the "points re-allocation"? And why is everyone so bummed about it?

Also thank you for the replies. It has really given me a lot of new perspective

The points re-allocation caused a really really long thread (the current valet thread is short in comparison)
There are differences between the 2009 and 2010 points charts in DVC resorts.
For the most part, DVC lowered weekend points and raised weekday points (aparantly too many people were avoiding weekends)
There was also some changes from unit to unit (i.e perhaps Grand Villas use fewer points, but a 1BR uses a few more) or season to season.
All of these changes were done in accordance with the DVC terms of service that everyone signed. (It was very, very poor timing for owners that bought BLT, only to see points change before they stayed there)

Per Law, DVC cannot change the total yearly points needed in the resort, however some owners that relied on one form of points savings are now being negatively affected, of course there are an equal number of other owners being positevely affected so it balances out...

 

[dianeschlicht]

You know, I used to agree with this. But I just sent DVC member "satistfacation" an email detailing that while I was very happy with my purchase 13 years ago, I've stopped recommending ethusiastically to others.


The way this latest change hasn't been communicated to us is appalling. Changing it while members are already there is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!

And there have been a lot of questionable dumbing down of DVC in the last few years, including:

$95 booking fees
The gutting of the concierge collection
The change in the banking rules, which are a nightmare for us -- they don't work with our vacating style at all and mean that now we don't have a good use year

And those are just the ones that come to the top of my head.

So DVC now has a member who has gone from "DVC is the best thing ever" to "Well, it USED to be good."

I think you have said the most significant part of this discusion. It isn't the taking away of perks that's the problem....it's the loss of "value" and "user friendliness" that's the issue with the recent changes.

 

[DVCPAT]

My standard answer is this. Am I happy I brought in, with out a doubt. would I recommend DVC to some one else. No Way.

My vacations are an "overall" experience. Sure I know I did not buy specifically for the perks but they "enhance" my overall enjoyment of any vacations. When I go to the airport there is a difference in the perception of a flight if skycaps handle my luggage rather then me checking them in myself.

For me it's not only dvc it's cutbacks all around Disney that are making my "experience" less and less magical. For example.

-mediocre dining. sure I don't go to disney specifically for restaurants but having subpar food or mediocre offerings does effect my vacation
Couple that with cutbacks in park entertainment and rising ticket prices and dues...

sure I didn't buy in for the valet but I used it every day and once again it was great to simply pull up at the WL at the end of a long hot day and walk right into the lodge. So once again my "magic" is diminished.

see what I mean.
I have had fabulous vacations at the mouse world and I'm probably not going to sell my points but we are taking a break from Disneyworld.
I'm due back to Orlando for my anniversary but I'm staying at the Waldof Astoria.

I agree 100%. The loss of DVC perks is a broader trend in WDW. The things that attracted me to WDW are disappearing. Disney’s attention to detail, cleanliness and quality are disappearing. They continue to raise prices and deliver less.

Disney has such a good reputation, it will take them a while to tarnish it. The change in management philosophy will increase profits in the short term. Long term will be a different story.

 

[StitchFan73]

I agree 100%. The loss of DVC perks is a broader trend in WDW. The things that attracted me to WDW are disappearing. Disney’s attention to detail, cleanliness and quality are disappearing. They continue to raise prices and deliver less.

Disney has such a good reputation, it will take them a while to tarnish it. The change in management philosophy will increase profits in the short term. Long term will be a different story.

We noticed this on our recent trip and were kinda taken back by it. We used the restrooms just outside or Citricos in GF and it was dirty-not messy, dirty. I was really surprised about that.

Another thing that was interesting was we went to both water parks while there and no photopass photographers. Last year they were everywhere handing out cards and snapping pictures, this year, not one. And in the parks I only saw them in the usual places like on Main St. and on the bridge into AK. Makes me glad I didn't pre-order this year.

 

[TDC Nala]

The things that attracted me to WDW are disappearing.

This is my situation as well. It's not DVC that is turning me off as far as I am concerned, it is Walt Disney World itself. Valet parking - it was nice but I can certainly do without it. The current management is no longer interested in my demographic as a guest at all.

But they do still have a food & wine festival, and I can use the points to go to Disneyland or take a cruise or something if I would like to.

 

[Crystal_27]

I'm a new member and just bought into DVC in March, but I just don't feel the outrage about this perks issue that so many members are feeling. I bought DVC for the financial sense it makes (or is going to make when we go on enough trips to break-even), not for any perks or discounts. I'm celebrating DVC every time I think about the fact that my 2010 Christmas vacation would have cost me approximately $11,000. AND, I get to stay in a one-bedroom villa with a washing machine/dryer, kitchen, and free Internet access. AND (as of now, at least), as an added bonus, I get a discount on APs for the three of us during the trip.

Please don't read me as saying I don't believe those who are disappointed with this valet parking issue (or the past loss of perks or the recent points reallocation) are not justified in their feelings. I'm just bringing about a different perspective. I'm getting everything I was promised when I signed my contract - 220 points every year to use as I see fit. As long as DVC continues to provide me with that, I'll be a happy camper.