Disappointed in DVC Member Site

[thegoods]

I am very disappointed in the lack of information on the DVC Member site regarding the impact of Hurricane Frances at Vero Beach. Sadly, yet thankfully, the only information we have has been provided by contributors on this board. DVC should provide an update on the opening Member page.

When Charley hit Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations Club had nearly a dozen resorts experience damage on the west coast. The HGVC web site gave excellent, almost daily updates, on the types of damage to each building. Estimates of reopening times were also given.

I will be writing DVC but I assume I will get the standard e-mail reply.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I'm disappointed with the site in general. I know that it has been set up for future possibilities but it still isn't much different from the old site with what it has currently.

You bring up a good point about the hurricanes. The web site would be the perfect place for hurricane updates but for some reason DVC doesn't want to take advantage of the site.

HBC

 

[natt]

I agree with "in general". They spent all that time and postage mailing out the "official" pin numbers and "this is what you need to access this exclusive information", but it's really nothing more than the guide book.

I too think, they should be keeping members up-to-date with the hurricanes and the policies for canceling during this time and also structure updates. It would certainly be to their advantage to help free up some of the MS phone lines!

 

[las3888]

Ditto...I find that if I need some real 'meaty' info about Disney I always need to turn to outside sources for that info.

The site can redeem itself in some ways if they ever get to online booking with real-time availability (as just about every other hotel chain in the world can do at this time, including timeshares)...

 

[threegoofys]

I personally think the dis boards are much more informative than the dvc website. In the 2 weeks that I have discovered these boards, I have found out more info about dvc than the last 3 years as a member. I don't understand what the big hype was about the new website, I haven't seen anything on it that has made me think "wow, this is much better than the old website." Such a shame because I think it has a lot of potential. I would also love to see them offer DVC merchandise up on their website.

 

[Paula H]

I agree re how disappointing overall the DVC website is. But has anyone been on disney.com lately? The area re Walt Disney World is AWFUL - you can't find any information - including ticket prices, hours, etc. - without doing a search. Very frustrating.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Originally posted by Paula H
I agree re how disappointing overall the DVC website is. But has anyone been on disney.com lately? The area re Walt Disney World is AWFUL - you can't find any information - including ticket prices, hours, etc. - without doing a search. Very frustrating.

I agree...I absolutely hate the WDW "Official" Website!

 

[trishy]

In case any suits at DVC actually read this site, I'm also very disappointed in the Member's site. It's a waste of space. So much more could be added to improve it, but it's basically a skeleton. Useless!

 

[tjkraz]

DVC has already said that further enhancements will be available by the end of 2005. Sounds like the web site was pretty much neglected until Jim Lewis came on board less than a year ago.

While the new enhancements seem a long way off, I imagine it's a major undertaking to integrate the type of real-time account management functions that have been discussed. It's a little bit more advanced than a standard hotel reservation system. They will need to make allowances for point banking and borrowing, booking windows, multiple contracts (and individual management thereof), allow for transfers of points to and from other members, and so on.

This isn't meant to excuse the years of neglect, but at least we know it's getting the attention so sorely needed.

 

[thegoods]

The Member site finally has information related to Hurricane Frances. The info is vague but at least they made an attempt. I hope to see further updates about VB in the weeks to come when the assessment is farther along.

 

[AnnetteF]

I find it to be so disappointing, too. It's useless!

Does anyone remember a couple of years ago, there was a message on the old members website homepage that a discussion board would be coming later in the year. That message was on there for months and then it just disappeared, never to be mentioned again. I guess they decided they don't like us all comparing notes.

Another thing that bothers me is the old site used to allow you to see actual pictures of the different DVC rooms and there was an arrow that you could point to move the view all the way around the room. I tried to find this but can't, now. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

 

[st92jmdc]

Originally posted by tjkraz
While the new enhancements seem a long way off, I imagine it's a major undertaking to integrate the type of real-time account management functions that have been discussed. It's a little bit more advanced than a standard hotel reservation system. They will need to make allowances for point banking and borrowing, booking windows, multiple contracts (and individual management thereof), allow for transfers of points to and from other members, and so on.

Believe it or not, it's not THAT much of an undertaking. It DEFINTELY shouldn't take over a year and a half to complete. I am a systems analyst / programer for a fairly large educational institution, and our "account management system" developed "in house" only took 4 months to write, test and rollout. Late November 2005 just seems too much of a timeframe. There's something wrong here.

 

[Snowgod]

Disney is run by MBAs and they just don't get the internet. After go.com failed they have not figured out what to do as they are afraid to invest money in something that will not return money directly.

 

[LakeAriel]

I was hoping that by using a pin you would be able to track your points, reservations, etc. Very disappointing!

 

[donald...really]

I agree. There is a lot of missed opportunities, but also a lot of potential. I guess it can only get better.

 

[underdesea]

Throughout the last few weeks, I repeatedly kept logging onto the DVC member site to look for point information for Disneyland resorts in 2005. Nothing was ever listed, so finally I e-mailed Member Services. They e-mailed back a reply with the point information I requested, then added "In the future, please check the DVC Website for point information." Um, hello, I tried that. In the future, why don't you actually put that information there?

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Maybe DVC is waiting for the 2005 dues increase to fund the "enhancements".

 

[Pixie_Dust]

The dvcmember site is less than useless. It tells me nothing after being a hassle to get into. Thank goodness for the DIS, or I would not be able to plan my vacation!

We find out more stuff here than with a phone call to Member Services, too. I have been having to tell them things that I found out that they didn't know because it wasn't on their "script screen" (such as about new member perks -- why doesn't the Vacation Magic magazine info get imparted to other departments in a timely manner? There's a disconnect in the organization).

 

[jdkdorn]

I recently sent a e-mail to DVC through the website stating my dissapointment with the lack of point information for the new additions to the Concierge collection. They notified us of the additions early to mid summer and have still not updated the site. I sometimes feel like the forgotten stepchild to Disney. We never get up to date info on our site.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I just called Member Services about lack of info on the Stitch preview and they referred me to the Members Only web site, which as we know is useless. So she said we could email our concerns to
members@disneyvacationclub.com

That would be the address to write about the web site or any other concern too.