Disney Club ends end of 2003

[Disneyolic]

I am pretty upset now. I just spent over ½ hour with WDW Travel Company making our ressies for next Fall. We got room only rates at 20% discounted - 3 rooms. How great was that savings over $200 for the week at PO-FQ.

At the end of all the ressies and confirmation #s the agent informed me that the Disney Club will cease to exist in 2004. My membership ends in 5/03 and they will not let anyone renew unless it is before 12/02. I called Disney Club guest services and they confirmed all this and pretty much saying that I am SOL. They were all informed about this on Friday and the public has not been officially informed. All Club members will be getting letters sometime soon.

I better buy those tickets soon to get that discount! I guess I will just cancel the ressies and start looking for other codes. I have quite a bit of time but it stinks because I did so much research and finally went ahead and did it. Oh well.

 

[Poohnatic]

I'd blow the 30 bucks to get a new membership this November or December, so that the expiration falls after your trip.

It's worth 30 to save 200, in my opinion. Plus there's the hotel discounts and car rental discounts through the club that I'd get the membership fee out of!

Suzanne

 

[A kid at heart]

I've come to the conclusion that its not worth it anyways. They've put so many restrictions on getting a discount with it when you buy things anymore. With all the codes that come out the resort prices are so much better using those. It's just not worth it anymore.

 

[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

 

[CarolMN]

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

While I believe ohanafamily was told this, I just don't buy it. Disney didn't "give" members any benefits - those were incentives to purchase the products/services and I'm quite sure that Disney made $$ on every DC transaction.

It's just speculation on my part, but I think Disney will be using DC-like perks/benefits to promote its new Visa credit card. Someone must think that the card would do better (make more $$) if DC wasn't in the picture. Again, JMHO. YMMV.

 

[sgtdisney]

I wrote the Disney Club at guest.mail@disneyclub.com to express my concern and disapointment. I would recommend anyone else to do this to.

 

[B3LM]

I just sent off my e-mail to them expressing my disappointment.

 

[ReneeQ]

I was the "director" of the Disney Club where I work. I got this letter from The Disney Club in the mail today.

"Because you are a Disney Club Chapter Director, we are sending you advance notice of our decision to close The Disney Club on 12/31/03.

While we will be announcing the Club's closing to each of our Members in October, we would like you to be prepared, should they have any questions.

We would also like your help with the following during the close of the Club:
Please discontinue all distribution of Disney Club info. We will stop processing renewals and new memberships after 12/12/02.
Please remove and dispose of all Disney Club materials from your work locations immediately, including enrollment forms and posters.
Please remove all mentions of Disney Club or Disney Sampler from your company intranet, internet site or employee communications immediately.

To help make your part easier, we have enclosed answers to a few questions you and your employees might have.

Closing the Disney Club on 12/31/03 has been a difficult decision to make. We thank you for your continuing support and for being such a special part of the Club.

Sincerely,
Dinah Keefe
Disney Club Vice President"

 

[baileybrad]

Disney management strikes again..."people were wanting too many benefits for $29.95". This sounds so familar to the "people have let us know that they really don't want EE (the old Surprise Mornings) anymore". How does having discounts for MKC members at National cost Disney money? It provides a steady stream of customers to a car rental company that (bankruptcy) can use all the customers it can get. Disney decided to include a subscription to the "Disney Magazine" with membership in the club not the members. Disney is the one with rooms sitting empty. And the one with resorts not even open (Pop Century)...this will surely help that situation. There are way too many excellent choices with more space and amenities opening up all the time near Disney's front door.

It would not surprise me if the Disney Magazine was one of the next things to be done away with by Corporate Disney.

Obviously, the cash grab that Corporate anticipated by charging everybody for the old MKC program didn't develop.

Universal should start a club similar to the old Disney one by encouraging corporations to purchase company memberships for their empolyees and reap the benefits of a large group of consumers that are being abandoned by Disney.

We never "bought" into the new "club" but I am sorry for those that it brought benefits and better vacations.

 

[SueEllen]

Universal does have a club program with discounted corporate tickets.

I'm sad to see the Disney Club go. I have been a member since 1990 and club director since 2000.

Sue Ellen

 

[AKASnowWhite]

That is such a bummer! We've used our DC card extensively over the last five years. In addition to Disney-related purchases, it can be used as part of the Entertainment network.... although it's not as widely accepted as the Entertainment card/book itself, it does provide some discounts.

 

[beansmom]

Well, see, this is all part of Disney's plan to make your trip to DW the 'vacation of a lifetime'...because that's all you'll be able to afford...one trip per lifetime.

Sad to see it go but am gonna use the crud out of it til the expiration.

Gonna fire off a little 'ear-mail' as well.

 

[tink2dw]

With this info;

With our decision to close The Disney Club....We will stop processing renewals and new memberships after 12/12/02.....our decision to close The Disney Club on 12/31/03.

I think we should Definately do all we can to support www.MouseSavers.com!!
That way we will still have access to all the Codes and Discounts. And they are all Organized for us!!

Thank-you Mary for www,MouseSavers.com!!

 

[Disneyolic]

I am going to renew my membership early because I still believe it is worth the $30 to get the discount for the accommodations. Booking 3 rooms with the discount I saved lots of bucks. I have also used my current card already for car rentals and Entertainment hotel accommodations and it has definitely been worth it.

While I believe that we may be able to find codes, maybe even better than the discount we have, I don't want to take my chance and wait it out. I want to be sure of the price I have and can always make changes later. The restrictions on room-only bookings are not that bad. You can cancel and/or modify up to 5 days prior and receive your full $100 deposit. I checked and double checked that one.

This is a big disappointment about the Club ending. I am really curious about the VISA card coming out and what it's all about.

 

[KimOhio]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...1,0,6111045.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
well lets see if I posted this right here is the write up in the orlando sentinel

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Yes Kim, your link worked. Thanks! DH and I use a *reward* Visa card for EVERYTHING. So, this may have potential for us. I'll have to keep watching for details to emerge!

 

[love the magic]

I was just going to post the Orlando Sentinal article, but you beat me to it....just when we get back one thing ("magic hour"/early entry) we seem to lose something else.....I love all things Disney, I guess I just wish that those making these decisions would remember how it all started and respect the standards we have come to know and value over the years... better days MUST be coming!

 

[laf0165]

Originally posted by SueEllen
Universal does have a club program with discounted corporate tickets.

I'm sad to see the Disney Club go. I have been a member since 1990 and club director since 2000.

Sue Ellen

With the Universal Fan Club Card, you also get discounts at on-site hotels. I booked a Club Level room at the new Royal Pacific Hotel for $209.00 with the Fan Club Rate. The Regular rate for the same room is $299.00 and the AAA Auto Club rate is $239.00. I consider $90.00 per night discount excellent, especially when the card costs absolutely nothing to get.

 

[beansmom]

well, I just came to an epiphany. I hate losing the DC but hope to get a good room rate with a code or AP (of course, *that* will probably come to an end as well). Ticket discounts were nominal at best and while I love the 10% off merchandise at WOD, I'm not going to nickel and dime my vacation to death.

I'm NOT going to pass up a souvenir that I love because I can't save a couple of bucks on it. I'm not gonna split three french fries six ways to save a couple of bucks. And I'm not gonna make myself miserable over a few dollars.

Won't DW just love me and my wallet?