Discount levels dependent upon # of points

[Clifford@BWV&VWL]

What do you guys think to the DVC providing different levels of discount varying by the number of points you have, e.g.

Band A 150-200 points = 10% discount in the shops
Band B 201-250 points = 15% discount etc etc

This could apply to various discounts not just shops. A threshold level, say at 300 points could bring in a new discount like 10% off hopper passes. This could bring in additional DVC revenue although I know they don't have to try hard to sell but I thought this would be a win-win.

Just a thought, would appreciate your views...

Have a Disney day!!!

Dave.

 

[bicker]

Gosh; with that program, Doc would get everything for free!

 

[ckr]

I think a discount like this would be bad. ALL of us DVCers should get great discounts! We've all made it clear by our purchase (whatever the size) that we love Disney and plan to spend several more decades vacationing there. Why should the number of points matter? A large family with all the kids still at home may need more points than a retired couple who only need (and possibly prefer) a studio. Does that mean that the retired couple should not get the same discount simply because they bought their points to fit their needs?

I think differential discounts based on the number of points you have only brings a sense of snobbery into this that we don't need. Even us Band A folks like to think that we're living large!! :0) Why try to make us feel like we don't deserve the same discount as those in Band B? As a matter of economics, we may actually be the ones that need it! Young families, retired folks, people who work too much and can't get away very often.... There are lots of reasons why people have 150-200 points. Why divide us (the DVC) up?

JMHO...

 

[Diana1]

Sorry...I dont agree with a "caste" system based on # of points you own. I think Disney should offer more to ALL DVC owners

 

[Karen097]

Thank ckr...thats EXACTLY what I was thinking but didn't know how to say it.

DH and I bought 150 points because 1) thats all we can afford right now and 2) honestly, due to our work schedules that is all that we need.

Therefore, why should we get less discounts than someone who has more points? Doesn't seem like a direction I would want DVC to go.

 

[Clifford@BWV&VWL]

Apologies for the "stupid" idea. I can see that it wouldn't really work for the reasons CKR stated. Just thought I'd pop a discussion item in though, interesting responses.

Will think of something else!

Have a fantasmic day!

Dave.inkbounc

 

[bicker]

Just pursuing something CKR said above a bit further, why should DVC members get more discounts than they're already getting? I don't see anything in our disclosure statements that would lead a reasonable person to believe that there is such entitlement, nor do I see a clear compelling business reason for Disney to offer such specific, limited discounts.

 

[ckr]

I didn't mean to imply that I felt we were ENTITLED to discounts. Sorry if I implied that, for I do not feel that way. (See, not so unreasonable after all, eh? ha ha!)

As far as the business reasons for offering DVCers discounts, it's been discussed here before.... I'm sure others who are much more qualified to answer this will chime in. I'll remain quiet and look like a fool rather than open my yap and confirm it on this one... :0)

 

[bicker]

Gotchya. I've always been intrigued by the thought that we are in some way better customers than non-DVC folks. If anything, just the opposite, since we've taken steps to cap our room-rate-cost, while other WDW guests are willing to spend more than we are on their rooms.

 

[caveat lector]

We are not necessarily better. But in the same light, I can't condemn someone's request for premium's, related to long-term loyalty.

Clifford, I don't believe your question was "stupid." It garnered the responses you were expecting. Don't be deterred.

 

[Werner Weiss]

bicker asked:

Why should DVC members get more discounts than they're already getting?

Disney should provide discounts to DVC members whenever it's good business for Disney to do.

For example, as frequent visitors to Central Florida, many DVC members have substantial knowledge of their off-site dining options. And DVC members who stay in 1BR and larger accommodations have full kitchens. Thus it makes sense for Disney to provide incentives for DVC members to dine in on-site restaurants rather than off-site or in their condos. The incentives could involve a dining program that's similar to (or the same as) those offered to Florida residents; or could involve a frequent diner program where dining is tracked and rewarded once certain levels are reached; or could involve an expansion of the simple discount plan that's currently in place.

The number of points that a member has shouldn't matter -- except that members with more points are in a position to stay more nights per year, and thus are in a position to take advantage of more benefits.

 

[bicker]

That's a really good idea Werner. It sure makes sense to discount things that folks otherwise wouldn't patronize.

 

[Clifford@BWV&VWL]

Thanks "Caveat Lector"! I needed that. Interesting replies, like the sound of Werner's idea.

Each to their own!

Cheers Dave (Clifford).

 

[PamOKW]

Clifford, feel free to pop in "discussion ideas"....helps break the monotony we sometimes hit on these boards. I don't think the the caste system would work either. If DVC membership as a whole isn't deemed large enough by Disney to deserve discounts, then why would they offer anything to smaller segments?

 

[ckr]

Werner said:
" except that members with more points are in a position to stay more nights per year, and thus are in a position to take advantage of more benefits."

Having more points does not always equal more nights... The member who only uses the studio can stay up to 2 or more times longer than those who need the 2BR and/or GV.

Bottom line for me on the differential discounts is that we are such a diverse group (if this board teaches you anything, it is this!) and no differential treatment will work out to the advantage of us all.

As Alladar said in Dinosaur, "Stand together." (My kids love that part!! Almost as much as hearing Mom try to make the Dinosaur noises!! he he!)

 

[Werner Weiss]

I chose my words carefully when I wrote, "except that members with more points are in a position to stay more nights per year." The key words are "in a position." I didn't write that they always stay longer, only that they're in a position to stay longer than those with fewer points.

The focus should be on DVC benefits that make business sense for Disney and that are attractive to DVC members -- not on the number of points of the length of someone's stay.

Any other ideas for win/win benefits? (Remember, there are folks from Disney who read these DIS boards).

 

[Doctor P]

Just got to make sure I wasn't misunderstood. I think this was a great topic to bring up. I still think that the idea is a stupid one (and I chose that word carefully and knowingly), but that in no way reflects on you, Clifford or anybody that disagrees with me. I have lots of stupid ideas, but part of the fun of floating somewhat radical ideas is to see if they will float or be shot down. Welcome to the boards, Clifford...and thanks for starting an interesting and energetic thread!

 

[Lisa F]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
Any other ideas for win/win benefits? (Remember, there are folks from Disney who read these DIS boards).

I'm not sure I have any ideas for any other win/win benefits, but I do wonder if DVC members are more and more beginning to reflect the behavior patterns of FL residents rather than "regular" tourists. I just wonder as time goes on, how many DVC members will stop going to the parks very often (maybe 1 or 2 days out of a trip?) I don't have the answer, but I think it's an interesting question. I think that if disney perceives the vacation patterns of DVC members to be more like FL residents that we may start to see some of the FL resident deals... but right now they can't build resorts fast enough and people who first buy into DVC tend to still spend a lot of time in the parks. It does seem like many "oldtimer" OKW members have stopped going to the parks as much (just based on the posts I've read here). I wonder how long before people just go to stay at a resort and don't want to pay the expensive ticket prices.

I think the dining thing is a GREAT idea. I would be happy just to be able to participate in the "disney dining experience" program (even paying the $60 program fee to do so). If we had the discount card it would certainly make the difference between going to a sitdown and grabbing something quick a lot of the time.

Lisa

 

[Caskbill]

Having more points does not always equal more nights... The member who only uses the studio can stay up to 2 or more times longer than those who need the 2BR and/or GV.

This is true, but also you might have more people in a 2BR or GV than in a studio. If a group of 6 staying in a 2-BR or 8 in a GV all got discounts to something, and a Couple staying in a Studio also got the same discounts, as far as the total goes, the couple may have paid only 1/3 or 1/4th the points, but also only got 1/3 or 1/4th as many benefits on a total person-benefit basis.

It's all in how you want to look at things. You could make a number of permutations using this kind of logic.

As Werenr said, it's an opportunity for all members, and this is what would make it a very fair deal for everyone.

As far as the business sense of Disney, I think the last few years we've probably eaten less at Disney restaurants ourselves, and have gone more outside the park or even cooking in the units more.

For Disney, a DVC program would be a lot like a frequent flyer program, or any hotel's frequent stayer program. It's an incentive to keep you coming back to them. Disney's incentive would be for us to use their restaurants. Without even guessing at their profit margins, I would think they would still be ahead giving substantial discounts. If they normally make 30% profit, then give a discount and make only 20% profit on a DVC member, rather than make 0% profit on a DVC member who eats somewhere else

 

[bicker]

Originally posted by Lisa F
I'm not sure I have any ideas for any other win/win benefits, but I do wonder if DVC members are more and more beginning to reflect the behavior patterns of FL residents rather than "regular" tourists.

I'm not convinced that DVC members reflect the behavior patterns of FL residents, but more importantly I am not sure that FL resident discounts are given solely due to behavior patterns: there is a political consideration involved that may have more to do with the resident discounts (yes, even though in California only half the state is offered those discounts.)