Discounts

[sandytmbj]

I am currently considering purchasing a DVC because I visit often however, I am having a problem deciding if ownership is a good choice for me.
I have no children, Being older I do not require 50 years of ownership.
And would like feed back on secondary owner ship because of the above.
From what I am told Florida Residents are given discounts on entrance ticket purchases. Why don't people who are investors in the DVC Program get the same or actually a better discount? DVC owers pay taxes to Florida also.
The company is quite aware that dollars will be spent on the Disney properties by investors that's why one purchases a time share, to come back often.
In my opinion I feel ownership should include more perks than Florida residents and others who have not invested in the Disney family of vacations. I also feel there should be other perks or better discounts that people who are not DVC investors do not enjoy. This would have a greater appeal to purchase and pay taxes, fees, switching fees and such. All add up. Just a thought.

 

[com_op_2000]

Discounts are just that.
They can come and go as Disney/DVC/WDW/whoever is trying to get you to spend more $$$. DVC members are offered $100 off of yearly passes, as one example of hopefully getting you to come into the parks and spend $ to make up for the discount.

 

[Lynne M]

When you purchase DVC, you are purchasing the right to stay at your home resort, subject to availability, for the duration of your contract. Everything else is subject to change, and it says quite clearly in the documentation you receive that discounts, etc, are not part of your vacation ownership.

Yes, we do get some discounts from various parts of the Disney company, and from third-party companies. These are given at the whim of other divisions of Disney and other companies, when it benefits them to do so, and they come and go.

If the potential savings on lodging don't provide enough value to make the purchase worthwhile....in other words, if you would not feel there was enough value in your membership without additional perks and discounts....then DVC may not be for you. The lodging is what you're buying, and you can't count on anything else.

The discounts that Disney gives to anyone - FL resident, AP holder, DVC member - are given because they benefit Disney's bottom line. No different than any other company's discounts. They're not gifts, they're not given to reward us for spending a lot of money on a membership.

As for the FL resident discount, it doesn't have anything to do with paying taxes to FL, or Disney liking FL residents better than DVC members. Disney has determined that FL residents will come to WDW more often and spend more money on food, merchandise, etc, if they're given a discount on certain admission media. Disney gives that discount because their data show that FL residents will spend MORE money if they get that discount.

 

[Dean]

I am currently considering purchasing a DVC because I visit often however, I am having a problem deciding if ownership is a good choice for me.
I have no children, Being older I do not require 50 years of ownership.
And would like feed back on secondary owner ship because of the above.
From what I am told Florida Residents are given discounts on entrance ticket purchases. Why don't people who are investors in the DVC Program get the same or actually a better discount? DVC owers pay taxes to Florida also.
The company is quite aware that dollars will be spent on the Disney properties by investors that's why one purchases a time share, to come back often.
In my opinion I feel ownership should include more perks than Florida residents and others who have not invested in the Disney family of vacations. I also feel there should be other perks or better discounts that people who are not DVC investors do not enjoy. This would have a greater appeal to purchase and pay taxes, fees, switching fees and such. All add up. Just a thought.

The only taxes DVC members pay related to ownership is county RE taxes and that is minimal at best. Discounts and specials are designed to increase usage often both short and long term. If you don't buy a given contract, someone else will, so the benefit to one person buying is nil both to DVC and the state. For resale, as long as someon'es paying the fees, it doesn't matter who owns it and whether they actually use it from Disney's perspective. If the rooms go empty, they'll turn them over to CRO for cash rental and part of the income goes directly to Disney through CRO fees and a portion of the rest (over 2.5%) goes to Disney also. As noted, if DVC ownership doesn't make sense from the room option alone, one likely should not consider ownership. When anyone feels entitled going in, I don't see a positive outcome in buying and owning DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

I am currently considering purchasing a DVC because I visit often however, I am having a problem deciding if ownership is a good choice for me.
I have no children, Being older I do not require 50 years of ownership.
And would like feed back on secondary owner ship because of the above.
From what I am told Florida Residents are given discounts on entrance ticket purchases. Why don't people who are investors in the DVC Program get the same or actually a better discount? DVC owers pay taxes to Florida also.
The company is quite aware that dollars will be spent on the Disney properties by investors that's why one purchases a time share, to come back often.
In my opinion I feel ownership should include more perks than Florida residents and others who have not invested in the Disney family of vacations. I also feel there should be other perks or better discounts that people who are not DVC investors do not enjoy. This would have a greater appeal to purchase and pay taxes, fees, switching fees and such. All add up. Just a thought.

Disney doesn't have to do anything special for DVC owners because DVC owners have to use their points each year or they lose them. If a owner gets tired of Disney, they have to sell their contract to someone else who takes their place. Disney doesn't have to offer any extra incentive or discounts to get a DVC owner to go to Disney.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

In my opinion I feel ownership should include more perks than Florida residents and others who have not invested in the Disney family of vacations. I also feel there should be other perks or better discounts that people who are not DVC investors do not enjoy.

i think you would find DVC ownership very frustrating. it is probably not a good choice for you.

 

[MouseMomx2]

In my opinion I feel ownership should include more perks than Florida residents and others who have not invested in the Disney family of vacations. I also feel there should be other perks or better discounts that people who are not DVC investors do not enjoy. This would have a greater appeal to purchase and pay taxes, fees, switching fees and such. All add up. Just a thought.

Disney is a business. The perks exist to fill rooms/restaurants that are not filling on their own. Many Florida residents visit WDW every week and some at least once a month. That is far more than the typical DVC member visits. As DVC members we are purchasing our accommodations for a set number of years and only that. If you see it any other way you are sure to be disappointed.

That said, Disney does offer us several nice perks...access to the TIW discount card, $150 off the purchase of annual passes (in sync with the Florida resident discount on APs), restaurant discounts, etc. These perks change from time to time and can be discontinued at any point, but in more than 15 years of membership we have been more than satisfied with them. We understood that we were buying our accommodations through DVC and have never needed more than that. The perks are just a nice bonus.

 

[k3chantal]

i think you would find DVC ownership very frustrating. it is probably not a good choice for you.

I agree; I think you would be frustrated. Look at it this way, a person purchasing DVC has already made a commitment to go to Disney AND to stay in their 'deluxe' accommodations, discounts are given to try to make you purchase or stay at Disney.....if you are a member you already made that decision.

Don't get me wrong; I love any discount I can get my hands on but I completely understand that they can be taken away and are not part of the package I purchased with my membership. Disney is clever.....currently they decided to allow DVC members the ability to purchase the TiW card (saves 20% at many restaurants). Not because they were being 'nice' but because they are encouraging DVC members to use the restaurants instead of the kitchens in the villas.

 

[Jousey]

Disney is a business. The perks exist to fill rooms/restaurants that are not filling on their own. Many Florida residents visit WDW every week and some at least once a month. That is far more than the typical DVC member visits. As DVC members we are purchasing our accommodations for a set number of years and only that. If you see it any other way you are sure to be disappointed.

That said, Disney does offer us several nice perks...access to the TIW discount card, $150 off the purchase of annual passes (in sync with the Florida resident discount on APs), restaurant discounts, etc. These perks change from time to time and can be discontinued at any point, but in more than 15 years of membership we have been more than satisfied with them. We understood that we were buying our accommodations through DVC and have never needed more than that. The perks are just a nice bonus.

That is a good point they kinda have us in a vice. But I would like to see more benifits to alure us to buy more.

i think you would find DVC ownership very frustrating. it is probably not a good choice for you.

I agree; I think you would be frustrated. Look at it this way, a person purchasing DVC has already made a commitment to go to Disney AND to stay in their 'deluxe' accommodations, discounts are given to try to make you purchase or stay at Disney.....if you are a member you already made that decision.

Don't get me wrong; I love any discount I can get my hands on but I completely understand that they can be taken away and are not part of the package I purchased with my membership. Disney is clever.....currently they decided to allow DVC members the ability to purchase the TiW card (saves 20% at many restaurants). Not because they were being 'nice' but because they are encouraging DVC members to use the restaurants instead of the kitchens in the villas.

I too really like the discounts especially the AP discount and the tour discount. I would like to see more Swag being offered.

i also would like to see more DVC branded apparel and accessories. Maybe a catalog or online store. As someone who can not just up and leave on a whim it would be nice to buy merchandise from home. especially the yearly pins released to DVC members.
Just my two cents. i understand why they offer the FL and CA (at Disneyland) the instate discounts they do. And I understand the argument that we are already owners and they make more off "new" owners but it could really have a more Club feel and special feel. Again just my opinion of what the DVC means to me, it would not have changed my choose to buy either way. i bought to stay the next 50 years at a Disney resort.

 

[LisaS]

The DVC discount is now $149 off the list price of $574 for an adult AP, making the DVC members' price $425 pre-tax. The complete list of AP price discounts can be found here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm#ap

OP: Perks come and go. It's best to focus on just what is guaranteed to DVC members when determining whether it works for you. Perks are not "thank you" gifts for being good customers. They are granted only if the suits believe it will benefit Disney's bottom line. I'm very grateful that the AP discount falls into this category!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have a couple of things i always advise folks thinking about DVC that might need to be considered by OP.

1. If you can't give up the 'hunt for discounts' walk away. You will be whining every time you see "Free" Dining or whatever the "deal du jour" is.
2. If you can't accept that Disney is in COMPLETE control of the DVC and doesn't have to give you ANYTHING but a place to stay within the contact rules, walk away. Don't buy for "perks", discounts or "special treatment" (Because the first two are not guaranteed and the third doesn't happen)
3. it's not an "investment" it's a TIMESHARE. Disney dresses it up cute, but.... do not put money into it thinking "Investment" but "expense" LOL! Assume that you will not be able to sell at a profit. (Look at those resale prices....)

I am a single female and have enjoyed my DVC, but everyone is different. And at today's price points I am hard pressed to tell anyone it's a good idea!

 

[Greysword]

Florida residents get the discounts for two reasons: flexibility and good neighbor.

Florida residents are able to visit on any given weekend, so WDW uses them to fill the voids. Back in the day, the discounts used to be targeted for specific times of the year.

In addition, WDW likes to provide the perception of being a good neighbor to the State, thus the small token on admission media.