Disappointed

[Tink-n-Belle]

Sorry you are so disappointed with the lack of perks you can use.

In the past 6 trips I probably have taken advantage of only 4 or 5 of these perks -2 in the past trip with a 15% discount at the Basin White Store & 10% of lunch in Germany.

It is frustrating that it cost me $150 for dinner at the 1900 Park Fare restaurant (3 adults, 1 child) and $3.75 for a mickey bar when every one else pays $110 for a value per night and gets it free.

However, if you look at it in the LONG RUN and yes you have to look at it in the LONG RUN we are so much better off. I just came back from staying at the BLT and its simply amazing. The experience of cooking dinner (yes I cooked a roast) and watching the monorail and the castle change colors right from my living room while dinner cooked is priceless. (I felt like I was living in EPCOT (Walts EPCOT). It was sooo nice to have the space as we had cold and rainy weather the whole week. We have it so much better than them and we have it for a good 33-50 years. I wouldn't trade my BW or BLT for free dining. Please enjoy DVC for what it is-- the ability to get fantastic rooms at a fantastic price.

 

[Dean]

I agree that anything not listed in the contract is not guaranteed. However, we (DVC) are a large group, and we should be able to bargain with the companies that support Disney.

I would like to see DVD/DVC put a little effort into that for us. As a block of people I would think getting better rates wouldn't be that hard. They keep dropping perks like the valet parking, and saying it's because members want it or to keep the fees down. Well let us know how much you saved us in fees or tell us what "member focus group" didn't want the perk? I have to say I'm very suspect of those excuses. I don't think we need to vote on everything, I really want the association to make the calls. But how about some transparency. We are all adults, they don't have make up reasons.

Reminds me of a few years ago when the company I was working for at the time sent out an email to the whole company explaining they surveyed every other company in the area, and since none of them where closed on Patriots Day, we wouldn't be closing either. Well we all came in and the building parking lot was EMPTY, this is in downtown Cambridge there are never any parking spots. If someone made a call and said "we don't want to close for patriots day" then just say so.

johno

I don't disagree with you at all, I've said so many times. However, there has to be risk on other side of the table for such negotiations to be successful. Basically DVC must be willing to walk away and not offer a given option while effectively playing one Disney component against another then promoting those that are willing to offer the perks/discounts. IMO, if they did so they could easily offer 30% discounts at many restaurants, preferred seating/wait times, etc, and they could likely reduce the points for many options by 20-30% as well using the same tactics. I realize they're not going to buck the system too much by approaching competing companies and I wouldn't expect them to for options covered by Disney choices.

I understand the OP's concerns. I am sure we all understand they are not a gurantee as many here keep reminding us but... During our sales pitch the sales person made a big deal about them and how we are getting these and the rest of the world is not. now we did not buy for the perks but they were mentioned many times to us. when they start to disappear, it just makes one think, gee whats next and why did they make such a big deal about them. it just lowers the sale to that of a guy selling used cars and tells you whatever. We will continue to enjoy our membership but please folks stop making excuses for Disney everytime they remove a perk expecially when they use there same perks as a selling feature...smjj

No excuses, just common sense and appropriate expectations. IMO, what a sales person said to make the sale has no bearing on the issue. Overall there are far better perks now than when many people bought into the system. Obviously if a given person's main perk goes away that has more of an effect on them but does not change the underlying principles.

 

[manning]

IMO, what a sales person said to make the sale has no bearing on the issue. .

I believe in all states,by law, all promises have to be in writing in the contract to mean anything. What the saleman says verbally carries no weight and cannot be enforced.

 

[Husurdady]

Below is what I have written to DVC, always been very happy with DVC, but diminishing perks are really bothering me. Annual pass holders are getting the same if not better perks than DVC member, I have been both a DVC member and a annual pass holder, but what is DVC going to take away next?


Just came came from a vacation at the Boardwalk Villas which I had no problem with, but I'm very disappointed at DVC as our perks are diminishing. There were two perks that were gone during our last visit, first it was the valet parking and the second was the golf membership that I had purchased on a prior trip. DVC members have to purchase a golf membership to get the same savings as a annual pass holder? that is ridiculous. There is a feeling of being ripped off when these perks go away, we have purchased a interest in your company but are not valued customers.

While people that only go to Disney every 10 years get free dinning and increased perks and free stuff, the ones that visit your resorts and parks multiple times a year like DVC members are getting diminishing perks, how are these people expected to feel? I do ask you do re-consider all perks you have taken away from your members and the ones you plan on taking away in the future, people make a 50 year commitment to DVC as a Disney customer and you only appreciate future customers. While marketing to new customer is understandable you cannot forget the customers that are already there.

And you forgot to say anything about any perks NOT giving out to the other 49 states........Florida gets them, Canada gets them.

 

[Dean]

I believe in all states,by law, all promises have to be in writing in the contract to mean anything. What the saleman says verbally carries no weight and cannot be enforced.

That is my understanding as well but it goes beyond that. It's just common sense to not put much weight in what is stated if not backed up in writing.

 

[zev]

As said before in other perk posts, I am still waiting for Disney to pay me to vacation at WDW. Gotta be able to make some sort of deal. Still not sure why this has not happened yet?

 

[jco_direwolf]

So you know what the biggest perk of all is? the 7-month resort booking window.

I can't wait for that one to go away. Talk about people having a meltdown.

One of the reason that I told my wife I want to buy at DAKV instead of SSR. So that we always have the option of booking at DAKV.

Our guide kept pushing SSR, since you can always book at DAKV at 7 months. I said "what if they pull DAKV out?" "Oh, that won't ever happen." "well the contract says it can." (something about they have to put that in there.)

johno

 

[jco_direwolf]

As said before in other perk posts, I am still waiting for Disney to pay me to vacation at WDW. Gotta be able to make some sort of deal. Still not sure why this has not happened yet?

You aren't a big enough player. Spend few $100k per visit and I bet, just like Vegas, you'll get all sorts of perks like being paid to vacation at WDW.

johno

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

I do not base my Disney experience on food that I get on property. I certainly understand and appreciate your logic--but I bought DVC for a room not perks.

It effects my level of "Member Experience" More free/discounted stuff makes me feel like I am getting a better deal, perhaps more likely to spread the word, that is one of the factors that separates disney from the others, IMO,

 

[Granny]

I like perks, and some of the ones that have been discontinued have been perks I used frequently. But I went into DVC assuming that the perks would not be around forever.

In fact, I think almost all WDW perks will disappear whenever Disney stops building and selling DVC resorts at WDW. I think they are mostly sales tools, not "rewards" for loyal WDW vacationers. The only perks I see them keeping would be those they could see a financial break even/profit from.

 

[tjkraz]

Objectively, the current perks are as good as they have been in the years since we joined. While there have been some reductions (valet, and golf program, most notably) there have been far more new discounts introduced in recent years. Free Internet tops the list but there are also things like MNSSHP and MVMCP ticket discounts, Broadway ticket discounts, special shopping days at Downtown Disney, PhotoPass CD discount, no seasonal price increases on DDP, inclusion in new attraction previews and so on.

Restaurant discounts are the same 10-20% off of select locations and select meals that we've had for a decade or more. Locations have changed but the number of restaurants is about the same.

Tour and recreation discounts (aside from golf program) are pretty much the same.

That said, obviously individuals will value some perks more than others. That's understandable. But I guess we have to take the good with the bad. Some members have never picked up a golf club in their life and would gladly see that perk sacrificed in exchange for something else.

Many members do not drive a car to WDW and/or have always chosen to self-park. Those members are glad to hear that DVC did not decide to subsidize free valet by charging their dues.

Overall, I don't see any evidence suggesting that perks are systematically being scaled-down. For the most part it appears to be normal evolution of some perks being phased-out while others are introduced. Disappointment over seeing a valued perk disappear is understandable, but there are thousands of non-golfers and non-drivers who would love to see the addition of a discount which benefits their Disney vacation budget.

 

[gkrykewy]

Many members do not drive a car to WDW and/or have always chosen to self-park. Those members are glad to hear that DVC did not decide to subsidize free valet by charging their dues.

Yeah, this is me.

 

[dmoore22]

Many members do not drive a car to WDW and/or have always chosen to self-park. Those members are glad to hear that DVC did not decide to subsidize free valet by charging their dues.

Yeah, me too!