Disney Club Closing??

[hopemax]

I wonder if the amex discounts and rewards will go away now as well.

Most likely yes. People have already mentioned that this deal with Visa makes Visa the official card of WDW and other's have mentioned that AMEX's sponsorship of "The American Adventure" will end 12/31/02 too.

 

[Bob O]

Ditto's to Dr's great post!!!! Another way of reducing benefits to the guest and another way to try to take more moeny out of our wallets!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Rebates, yes, but discounts up front? That is pretty darn rare.
The reward will be for being a person who channels a very high dollar amount through the account, and I doubt it will really matter how much of that you spend with Disney.

We've been closely following the releases concerning the new VISA, as we do use reward cards. Even if they give the points on a 1-$1 basis, odds are that the required points for pass rewards are going to be quite high. For example, the Starwood Preferred Guest program requires 10,000 points for a free night at the S/D, or 5 nights for 40,000 pts. Even at rack rates, rooms there go for around $300/night, so you must spend close to $40K in order to get a $1500 value reward. (There are occasionally special offers where one can get several hundred bonus points for staying at a featured property, etc., but most people can't count on taking advantage of enough of those to cut more than about 5K off the needed expenditure.)

I'm guessing that it will require somewhere in the area of 10K points to earn a free park hopper pass. Even if cardholders earn higher point value for $ spent at Disney outlets, it will still probably take an expenditure of several thousand dollars to get a few hundred dollars' worth of tangible rewards. I contrast that with the DC, where, with a 10% room discount, one can essentially get one free night for every 10 nights purchased; thus getting, say, a $130 reward for spending $1340 dollars. I've never seen a point system come close to that kind of value for an initial expenditure that small. (Yes, I know, $1340 isn't chump change, but it's a darn sight less than $10K.)

At this point, we have been using the Starwood AMEX to get room rewards, and the DC or AAA for pass discounts. That way, the money we spend on passes contributes to getting a free or discounted room. If I have to give up playing the cards against one another, then I'm going to lose value.

 

[ohanafamily]

I just got off of the phone with them. The stated reason for the removal of the DC is that members were wanting too many benefits for the $29.95 Annual cost. They are getting rid of the club and even the lifetime members are loosing their benefits.
They will take memberships up through the first week in December, so if you renew 12/5/02 (ish) you can get service through the next year. They do it a year in advance of when you renew. They are not planning any replacement program.


OTR, I personally think it is another cost saving measure. I guess I need to write a letter... Here is the address

Disney Club
Attn: Kitty Comer
PO Box 4489
Anaheim, CA 92803-4489

 

[hopemax]

The stated reason for the removal of the DC is that members were wanting too many benefits for the $29.95 Annual cost.

Ah, yes, after 40+ years of operating a free discount program (Magic Kingdom Club started in 1958), it's the guest's unreasonable expectations that ruined everything!

 

[Bob O]

It was ruined by eisners inability to properly run the company that caused the demise of the program!!!

 

[Luis Rodriguez]

Besides "forcing down our throats" a Visa card, Has anyone thought that *maybe* we just wanted to belong to a Disney Club?
Is there anyone at Disney's management that believes, even for a moment, that there are some loyal Disney Fans that still want to identify themselves with Walt's dream?

I, for example, am a Disney Club member because of the Magazine, the store's discounts and the FUN factor of having a membership card with big ears. I am afraid that the current CEO of WED has forgotten about that.

Also, for some of us International members (I reside in Venezuela), an US Visa card it is not practical.

 

[papagooch]

I will take the card if it is a no fee card. I would consider the 1.5%
bank fee per transaction that they get every time you use it to
be a very healthy revenue stream and pay it off every month like I do with my current credit cards. As for the discounts I went to The Disney Store to buy Park Hoppers for our trip in Jan. and the DC price was higher than the price they are offering for everyone else just for buying in advance.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

In reference to Sheryl's comment:

They seem to think the new Bank One Disney Visa will be the replacement.

The article doesn't mention that Bank One is the Visa partner. Did someone read that somewhere else?

 

[RoutemanDan]

Bank one is indeed the partner,It's been in numerous articles that have been posted on this board.

 

[manning]

Got a Visa, happy with it

Use American Express Starwood and got gold status starwood membership. Gives me room upgrade when available. Got a 450 dollar room in Hawaii for 160. Plus 35% discount.

Think I'll pass on Disney visa card.

 

[Bob O]

I have a charge card via a home equity loan at a low rate and it is tax deductable so little need for another charge card. Unless the perks are outstanding which is highly unlikely.

 

[larry_poppins]

The problem is this Disney Reward program is not a true reward program. It is just a way for Disney to get money from Visa.

True reward programs keep track of the client's consumer habits and reward them accordingly.

Airlines and hotel all have reward programs that give you miles or points for frequent guest stays. They know how often you fly with them and how much you are spending with them. If you spend more money with them you get greater rewards. Airlines/Hotels also offer you a cobranded visa card as a way to earn more miles/points. Still they hope you will fly and sleep with them.

Disney doesnot care if you sleep in Grand Floridian or stay off property. They don't care if you shop in their stores. If you always dine in the California Grill they are not keeping track of this and will not offer you a discount there in the future. They just want the fee from Visa.

Just my thoughts,

Larry Poppins

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Just what we need is another example of Disney telling us what we want! Isn't the credit card with rebates and awards a little passe? Gee, can't they think of something a little more original. It should have never gotten to this point to begin with. What happened to the 'don't fix it if is ain't broke'? (Magic Kingdom Card)

 

[ohanafamily]

I spoke the other day with Cheryl, Kitty Comer's assistant, and I think the people in her department are as upset as we are. I was told that there is nothing in place to replace the program YET. I think that they are aware of, but not permitted to comment on the new Visa program.

I also think that all of the bad stuff happening, i.e. the Disney stores losing their gallery items, the closing of the Magical Engagement department, the loss of the disney club are a direct result of pressure being put on Michael Eisner to cut costs. I feel that he just told his department heads to cut. These cuts do seem to be in places that do not make sense. I Don't think ME would cut these programs to some of his best guests out of arrogance! There must be some reason.

 

[TiggerFreak]

Personally, if they follow through on this and eliminate the DC, I'll NEVER get the Visa. I'll remember to use my AMEX exclusively and EI$NER can put his Visa where the sun don't shine!

 

[WDW2002]

I am curious, how many were "excited" about the new Disney Visa Rewards card before they learned that the DC would close and the visa would "replace" it??

I know when it was first rumored/anounced that disney would be introducing a rewards visa MANY disney fans were excited about it. But it seems now that it means the end of the DC no one is nearly as excited about the Visa.

DC did what it was suppose to for me, save me money on my AP's, hopefully on my DL AP's and maybe another few $$ between now and the end of Sept. (when my card expires). I didn't plan on renewing anyway. I carry one CC. If the Disney Visa, if "free" as I have heard it would be, the rates are competetive, I will likely switch to the new Disney Visa.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think it would be different if guests REALLY thought they were going to get some good perks with the Disney VISA. I don't think anyone is expecting that.
And with Disney's track record of late, if they gave perks, how long would they be around for anyway? They givith a little, and take away a lot and quickly, with very little notice.
Disney execs seem to have a dart board or spinning wheel in their office to decide what is currently on and when it stops.
I think long term planning for them is 30 hours to 30 days.

 

[Carnotaurus]

if you renew in december, do you get the disney store discount and the disney magazine through next year??

or do you just get the privilege of carrying the card for another year?

 

[ohanafamily]

From what I can understand you get a year from the end of the month that you renew reguardless of when your existing card expires.