disney vacation (club) leaves me feeling a little dirty

[KevGuy]

I can confirm that DVC does in fact do the group presentation at the far back theatre at Tony's, I did it last year in April. I was waiting for a photo CD to be made from pics on my camera that broke at the emporium and sitting on the porch in rocking chairs I believe, when we started talking to a lovely cm from Connecticut. After about a half hour of good conversation between her, myself, and my wife about her hometown (I worked in Conn for a while and know the area well) she asked us if we would like to hear about DVC and get some VIP fastpasses and ice creme free just for listening, no pressure at all. We said sure but what about the kids, we have two ages 7 & 10 they might not last lol. They had a fenced off area with several cast members there as well, basically a day care area where only parents can take them out of so they would be fine and we could see them from the sitting area as well. We did it, enjoyed it as the DVC staff were very nice and professional and not pressuring in the least bit. Played some Disney trivia for a few prizes and listened to the aspects of DVC ownership. We made no decision at that time, it was wonderful. Needless to say the most pressure came from my kids to join "the club" lol. So after getting free plane tix for this year to come back on the way home, we thought it was an omen lol, and called up went over the numbers and bought into SSR with our DVC giude James Stinson an excellen person too I might add. We are heading home in 14 days to enjoy DVC as members.

So the OP stating the location is correct, but I highly doubt the tactics are as was posted myself. Regardless imo you wanted the fastpasses and seconds after getting there you knew what it was about and didn't leave I assume, so regardless no harm no foul you got what you wanted so I really don't see the problem you could have left if it was that big a deal.

 

[Traveliz]

I'm having problems with a few things.

For one thing, first post, plus drama. Feeling "dirty"??

Second, no one at the bus stop asked what the "show" was?

Third...IF that did occur, how far into the "show" did they find out it was a timeshare presentation? I'm assuming no one was held hostage and had a right to leave at any time. Unless, the draw of a "VIP fastpass" (which is what...one ride? more than one ride? all day?) kept people there, which is still by choice. Tell me it's all day, and I'll go too.

The more I read it, and some posts, the more I could believe that perhaps this, or some version of it, did happen. However, I don't see the drama of "feeling dirty" nor feeling misled; it's up to the big grown up guests to decide how much information to give out, how to spend their time at the parks, when to leave something they didn't want to attend, etc.

The fast pass is unlimited and immediate and good for three days. You put the card into the machine and it spits out a fp good for a minute from now - I think you can do that twice on each card and then you have to wait a couple of minutes to do it again. Someone had two on my last trip and was on their way out and asked if we wanted them - we took them and it was really awesome.

So yes its all day for three days -- good luck in getting one.

Liz

 

[Dean]

I've been a long time lurker and I want to first thank all the advice I got from these boards for my families recent vacation. We had a great time, but one experience we had has been bothering me for a few days and I wanted to ask peoples advice. Am I being too sensitive or do I have reason to feel this way.

We had a great vacation at the Caribbean beach hotel, but one incident has left me feeling uncomfortable and is casting a shadow over the whole trip. My husband thinks I am being silly and this is just the way things are in these tough economic times ( he works in sales for a car company).

Anyway this is the situation.

While waiting at the bus stop at the hotel we were approached by a disney employee who asked all those waiting for the bus who was going to Magic Kingdom and did they want "VIP fastpasses" for attending a show. All she wanted was our name and address and told us to go to tony's restaurant at 1:00 . When we got to this "show" we found out it was for a timeshare presentation ( disney vacation club) and it took almost an hour to finish. The presentation itself was fine and there was no one hassling us to sign up to anything but I feel we were misled by not being told what we were attending. I feel this type of tactic has no place at Disney, I thought timeshares had a legal duty to let us know that was what we're attending.

Am I being naive or is there some justification for the way I feel

thanks for your views

Suzie

No requirement to let you know. DVC is the ONLY system I know of that doesn't do "owner updates" to try to sell them additional points. I've recounted some of our good and bad experiences on previous threads, mostly bad to indifferent. Many are very sneaky about it. Also all those OPC (off premises contacts) you see for timeshares in various tourist type places get paid a commission for each and every person they get to attend no matter how good or bad a candidate they are. There are usually income minimums and if you don't meet the criteria on what you signed, you may not get the perks promised.

 

[JimMIA]

Interesting FIRST post...

 

[jarestel]

None of the poll choices apply to the way I would view a similar situation, so I passed on voting. You weren't promised VIP fast passes for nothing, there was a condition for receiving them, ie attending a "show". Sometimes it pays to ask questions up front rather than purchase the proverbial "pig in a poke". (BTW, I have no idea what a poke is, so if anyone could enlighten me...)

Anyway, after attending the "show" you may or may not have determined that the process was worth the reward. But that's the gamble one takes when looking to take advantage of "free" stuff.

Should Disney engage in this activity? I don't really know, but then again I usually pass on any & all offers of wonderful, free stuff for just a "moment of my time".

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

A lot of people go through life in a daze on auto pilot. My guess is that the CM made this rather obvious but OP didn't bother to realize what was going on. However, hitting people up for timeshares at the bus stops. Please!

I really, really hope that DVC has not gone with this tactic. I grew up within Westgate's Marketing area for Gatlinburg and am very well versed in the term "SLIMESHARE." I was also very reluctant to purchase DVC because of SLIMESHARES, but eventually convinced myself that DVC was different.

DH and I really haven't shook the "They are gullible enough to buy a Slimeshare !" image with the extended family. Now this.

Does this mean that we can look forward to a 3 day 2 night vacation in Las Vegas for just $129.99... and ...a brief 90 minute presentation? Give me a break. Maybe they'll give us a VCR.

I'm really looking forward to having worthless BWV points that I can't give away with really high maintenance fees.

 

[Inkmahm]

A lot of people go through life in a daze on auto pilot. My guess is that the CM made this rather obvious but OP didn't bother to realize what was going on. However, hitting people up for timeshares at the bus stops. Please!

I really, really hope that DVC has not gone with this tactic. I grew up within Westgate's Marketing area for Gatlinburg and am very well versed in the term "SLIMESHARE." I was also very reluctant to purchase DVC because of SLIMESHARES, but eventually convinced myself that DVC was different.

DH and I really haven't shook the "They are gullible enough to buy a Slimeshare !" image with the extended family. Now this.

Does this mean that we can look forward to a 3 day 2 night vacation in Las Vegas for just $129.99... and ...a brief 90 minute presentation? Give me a break. Maybe they'll give us a VCR.

I'm really looking forward to having worthless BWV points that I can't give away with really high maintenance fees.

How in the world did you make the leap from presentations about DVC being offered to guests on property to your BWV points being worthless?

 

[Chuck S]

(BTW, I have no idea what a poke is, so if anyone could enlighten me...)

From phrases.org.uk

A poke is a small sack or bag and is the origin of the word pocket. The word is still in use in several English-speaking countries, notably Scotland and USA. A poke is just the sort of bag that would be useful for carrying a piglet to market.

 

[fishermouse]

Looks like I'm a minority on this one but I think the CM should have said DVC presentation rather than "show". Especially with YMD going on, at first glance I thought you were going to say how you were selected for a Disney show and a fast pass. IMO very misleading and I would even more PO'd then the OP. It is suprising though since I have never seen a DVC CM aproach anyone except at the kiosk and even then they are very polite and will only make an appointment for you and answer a few basic questions. Glad you had a good time on your trip. If you have seen any of my previous posts you'll knowI am a big DVC supporter and visit WDW several times a year, I love my DVC, but this was IMO out of line.

 

[chalee94]

Sometimes it pays to ask questions up front rather than purchase the proverbial "pig in a poke". (BTW, I have no idea what a poke is, so if anyone could enlighten me...)

stolen from wiki:

Pig-in-a-poke is an idiom that refers to a confidence trick originating in the Late Middle Ages, when meat (like beef and pork) was scarce but apparently rats and cats were not. The scheme entailed the sale of a "suckling pig" in a "poke" (bag). The wriggling bag actually contained a cat—not particularly prized as a source of meat—that was sold unopened to the victim.

but when the victim got home, opening his purchase "let the cat out of the bag." the poor guy was left "holding the bag."

who knew the DIS could be so educational...

 

[fishermouse]

The OP may be from another timeshare company. Probably trying a lame attempt at preventing further DVC sales and coming here, they are trying to talk to thousands of lurkers who are just learning about DVC.

Since the OP hasn't returned, I think its a done deal. Moderators, time to close?

OP could be hiding on the grassy knoll.. Sorry I'm not big on conspirecy theory's.. also can't spell conspirecy...

 

[Inkmahm]

Looks like I'm a minority on this one but I think the CM should have said DVC presentation rather than "show". Especially with YMD going on, at first glance I thought you were going to say how you were selected for a Disney show and a fast pass. IMO very misleading and I would even more PO'd then the OP. It is suprising though since I have never seen a DVC CM aproach anyone except at the kiosk and even then they are very polite and will only make an appointment for you and answer a few basic questions. Glad you had a good time on your trip. If you have seen any of my previous posts you'll knowI am a big DVC supporter and visit WDW several times a year, I love my DVC, but this was IMO out of line.

We still don't know if the CM was wearing full DVC clothing or not. I'm guessing "yes" and the OP didn't pay any attention to the obvious.

 

[Grandbuddy]

From phrases.org.uk

or burlap bag (says someone reared in the deep south, which is maybe the only part of the USA where we would immediately understand what a "pig in a poke" means...buying something "sight unseen," or without inspecting it.)

1st work in caption should be "think." Sorry

 

[mjy]

OP could be hiding on the grassy knoll.. Sorry I'm not big on conspirecy theory's.. also can't spell conspirecy...

It's conspiracy. And that's all right that you don't know how to spell it.

The only word we need to know how to spell on this thread appears to be the word Troll.

 

[fishermouse]

We still don't know if the CM was wearing full DVC clothing or not. I'm guessing "yes" and the OP didn't pay any attention to the obvious.

Either way I still LOVE my DVC

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

How in the world did you make the leap from presentations about DVC being offered to guests on property to your BWV points being worthless?

I was putting all my thoughts on slimey timeshares in one bag [or poke]. Like I said earlier, I had a very NEGATIVE opinion of the timeshare industry before purchasing DVC - and have known to hang up the phone asap as soon as anyone called my house. No, I don't think my points will be worthless tomorrow, but this does concern me.

Maybe Dean or some of the more experienced timeshare people can be helpful in this regard. Is this kind of how the less well regarded timeshares operate?

Anyway, here's how I made the leap...

1. All emphasis goes from customer satisfaction to marketing.
2. After all word of mouth advertising is gone...timeshare company reverts to slimey "trick" tactics.
3. Upkeep at the resorts becomes a thing of the past.
4. Owners get fed up and stop paying dues and visiting the resort. (I think this worked really well for timeshares when people owned the 3rd week in January.)
5. Maintenance fees go through the roof - um 15% increase per year, indefinitely to cover the non-paying maintenance fees. (15% means mfs could double every 4.8 years.)
6. You wake up finding that you bought into a dump that has outrageous maintenance fees.
7. You can't give it away.

I've now seen evidence of #s 1,2,3 listed on the DIS. I think bad timeshares never attempted to please owners or maintain the resorts. I don't know.

I've never had a badly maintained room and the common areas of BWV and HH (where I have visited) have been immaculate. I also think the point system makes DVC easier to use, and it is in a primo location, and I think allowing DVC to go down would be a huge hit on the Disney reputation.

So I guess I was over reacting.

 

[shovan]

I had forgotten about something we noticed on one of our recent trips until I read this post.

During last year's F&W fest in the Festival Hall, DVC had "actors" mingling with visitors & engaging them in conversation then spouting the wonders of DVC. They were dressed as a vacationing couple in somewhat loud Disney clothes. But it was not clear that they were "plants" at first.

We saw two different couples, one that was rather inconspicous & engaged us & some others in conversation in the Fest book shop. We didn't even realize they were not other guests. We didn't really think about it, until we noticed another couple in rather outrageous clothing & very animated dialogue talking with some people using the same dialogue. We felt it was sneaky & tacky, we stopped at the closest DVC booth & asked them to register a complaint to DVC about it.

 

[dcamdad]

We still don't know if the CM was wearing full DVC clothing or not. I'm guessing "yes" and the OP didn't pay any attention to the obvious.

Totally agree, for the most part people hear what they want to hear.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I had forgotten about something we noticed on one of our recent trips until I read this post.

During last year's F&W fest in the Festival Hall, DVC had "actors" mingling with visitors & engaging them in conversation then spouting the wonders of DVC. They were dressed as a vacationing couple in somewhat loud Disney clothes. But it was not clear that they were "plants" at first.

We saw two different couples, one that was rather inconspicous & engaged us & some others in conversation in the Fest book shop. We didn't even realize they were not other guests. We didn't really think about it, until we noticed another couple in rather outrageous clothing & very animated dialogue talking with some people using the same dialogue. We felt it was sneaky & tacky, we stopped at the closest DVC booth & asked them to register a complaint to DVC about it.

I think its sneaky and tacky too and not what one would expect from Disney, in the parks or at the bus stops. So maybe she didnt miss the DVC gear? These people were not dressed in DVC gear.

As for the OP, if I was attacked and called a troll, I would not come back either. This post really should have been left on the Resorts board away from such overprotective owners who would not have experienced what the OP did.

Disney has never had to be sneaky about getting our money so this is of definite concern to me.

 

[Chuck S]

I think its sneaky and tacky too and not what one would expect from Disney, in the parks or at the bus stops. So maybe she didnt miss the DVC gear? These people were not dressed in DVC gear.

As for the OP, if I was attacked and called a troll, I would not come back either. This post really should have been left on the Resorts board away from such overprotective owners who would not have experienced what the OP did.

Disney has never had to be sneaky about getting our money so this is of definite concern to me.

There is truly no way to know if the "other guests" that a previous poster encountered were or were not truly guests, is there? I know we have struck up conversations about DVC with people. And some folks do dress differently on vacation, have you looked around at the resorts lately? Unless we are also to believe that DVC employs "fake guests" to lounge around at the resorts.

As far as the situation with the OP, again, as you say, we don't know what the CM may or may not have been wearing, or how the conversation regarding the fast passes were presented. There are two sides to every story, and most of us didn't witness the interactions.