Do you think they will ever give DVC discount on DCL?

[alldiz]

Hi,
I know they do the "member cruise"....in hurricane season

but do you think they will ever give a member discount on DCL.....
It seems to make financial sense.....people that have "prepaid" accomodations
will now spend more money to go on DCL(not points....money already spent)

Seems like a win/win.....Dying to do a cruise...and I know a DVC discount
would push me over the edge of booking.
What do you think?
Kerri

 

[SnowWhite2]

DVC does give a discount on DCL. Within three days of returning from your cruise, MS will reduce the points required for your future cruise. It used to be 10% off but I've noticed it is not as much lately.

There are no discounts on DCL except on-board booking for future cruises. DCL does not have to discount as they sail with full ships each week. If for some reason the ship is not filling, DCL will offer FL resident discounts or cast member discounts. The Magic and Wonder sail each week with 50-60% of the guest as repeat DCL cruisers. On our last cruise three weeks ago, there were 800 DVC members on board and over 1000 repeat cruisers. So DCL has no reason to offer DVC members reduced rates.

Maybe once the new ships are in service they might need to offer a discount but I am not expecting it to happen.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Slightly O/T...but you might want to look into the DIS Unplugged Pod Squad cruise on 5/10/09. It's being sponsored by Dreams Unlimited Travel and there are group rates plus the DIS Unplugged team has been busy planning some special activities for us. So far there are 40 cabins booked and room for lots more Disney lovin' fans. Here's a link to get information:
https://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/podcast-cruise-pricing.cfm

Just wanted to add that this either needs to be booked directly by DU Travel or booked thru DCL and then transferred to DU Travel...can't be booked thru Member Services with points or cash.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think one of the things that might make sense in the future as a possible DVC venture might be a DVC/cruise membership.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I think one of the things that might make sense in the future as a possible DVC venture might be a DVC/cruise membership.

Wouldn't that be great!

 

[alldiz]

DVC does give a discount on DCL. Within three days of returning from your cruise, MS will reduce the points required for your future cruise. It used to be 10% off but I've noticed it is not as much lately.

There are no discounts on DCL except on-board booking for future cruises. DCL does not have to discount as they sail with full ships each week. If for some reason the ship is not filling, DCL will offer FL resident discounts or cast member discounts. The Magic and Wonder sail each week with 50-60% of the guest as repeat DCL cruisers. On our last cruise three weeks ago, there were 800 DVC members on board and over 1000 repeat cruisers. So DCL has no reason to offer DVC members reduced rates.

Maybe once the new ships are in service they might need to offer a discount but I am not expecting it to happen.

Yeah.....I guess thats why they are none.....Why sell for less when you
can sell for full price

Slightly O/T...but you might want to look into the DIS Unplugged Pod Squad cruise on 5/10/09. It's being sponsored by Dreams Unlimited Travel and there are group rates plus the DIS Unplugged team has been busy planning some special activities for us. So far there are 40 cabins booked and room for lots more Disney lovin' fans. Here's a link to get information:
https://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/podcast-cruise-pricing.cfm

Just wanted to add that this either needs to be booked directly by DU Travel or booked thru DCL and then transferred to DU Travel...can't be booked thru Member Services with points or cash.

Those prices don't look so bad.....and it's in May....of course I barely understand what a podcast is

I think one of the things that might make sense in the future as a possible DVC venture might be a DVC/cruise membership.

I wonder if any of the new ships will have that.....hmmmm.
Kerri

 

[macosx]

I think one of the things that might make sense in the future as a possible DVC venture might be a DVC/cruise membership.

I doubt it. Not that many cruise timeshares, barely experimental, and Disney isn't a trailblazer in the industry. Just look how slowly they've moved outside their home base (HHI is probably the furthest existing, and HI in a few years). Besides, they haven't gone international yet, and since Disney ship fly the Bahamas flag, it would need to be Disney's first "international" timeshare.

 

[dzorn]

The DVC rep gave a (cannot remember exactly) percentage of cruise passengers that were already DVC members on our cruise. I'm thinking it was over 40%. Why would they offer a discount to an already captured audience, especially when the cruises sail full. It would not make much good business.

Denise in MI

 

[beachblanket]

DCL does not have to discount as they sail with full ships each week.

That's easy to do when you grossly limit capacity with a tiny two ship fleet. If people here think DCL can continue to do that when the number of cabins available per week immediately goes up by about four times (which it will when the new ships arrive in 2012), they have a lot to learn about both the cruise industry and the basic laws of economcs. Demand for nothing is unlimited, ever for Disney. Want proof? two words: value resorts.

 

[alldiz]

The DVC rep gave a (cannot remember exactly) percentage of cruise passengers that were already DVC members on our cruise. I'm thinking it was over 40%. Why would they offer a discount to an already captured audience, especially when the cruises sail full. It would not make much good business.

Denise in MI

I didn't realize how many DVC'ers make up a cruise.....thats a lot.
I guess they are already getting the extra cash from them..(DVC on points
is very expensive)...IMO.
I am dying to do the Disney Cruise though....
Kerri

 

[beachblanket]

I didn't realize how many DVC'ers make up a cruise.....thats a lot.
I guess they are already getting the extra cash from them..(DVC on points
is very expensive)...IMO.
I am dying to do the Disney Cruise though....
Kerri

I don't know if you can still do this, but back when we cruised DCL in 2002 you could book just the first passenger on points and do the rest in cash, which was a great way to limit the point damage. Renting our point balance more than made up for the expense of three cash DCL ressies.

Also, I'm very sceptical of the prior "statistic" thrown out about the % of DCL passengers made up by DVC members on a given cruise. How would DVC or DCL compile that? Not every member who cruises them does so via a DVC ressie using points, and registration doesn't mandate identifying yourself as a DVC member. And as someone who is professionally familar with the flaws in client databases, no, a surname match of a passenger list against some DVC file ain't going to do it.

 

[macosx]

The DVC rep gave a (cannot remember exactly) percentage of cruise passengers that were already DVC members on our cruise. I'm thinking it was over 40%. Why would they offer a discount to an already captured audience, especially when the cruises sail full. It would not make much good business.

Denise in MI

I'd be very surprised if the number were really that high. Maybe for the member cruise, but not some random cruise. I don't think there are that many members out there, over 100,000 by some reports and at best you can multiply that by 4 for an average family size or 6 if you count friends/family DVCers bring along. We'd all have to take 2 cruises a year (every year) to meet that average for all ships/sailings

 

[Anjelica]

DVC does give a discount on DCL. Within three days of returning from your cruise, MS will reduce the points required for your future cruise. It used to be 10% off but I've noticed it is not as much lately.

Do you mind explaning that a bit more. When you say MS will reduce the points required for your future cruise is that only 3 days after (i.e. you have to rebook 3 days after your last cruise)? Or is it anytime 3 days after the last cruise taken? We are looking at using our points for our December cruise but I would love to get a discount off the points - if we could.

 

[alldiz]

I don't know if you can still do this, but back when we cruised DCL in 2002 you could book just the first passenger on points and do the rest in cash, which was a great way to limit the point damage. Renting our point balance more than made up for the expense of three cash DCL ressies.

Also, I'm very sceptical of the prior "statistic" thrown out about the % of DCL passengers made up by DVC members on a given cruise. How would DVC or DCL compile that? Not every member who cruises them does so via a DVC ressie using points, and registration doesn't mandate identifying yourself as a DVC member. And as someone who is professionally familar with the flaws in client databases, no, a surname match of a passenger list against some DVC file ain't going to do it.

I'll definately have to check into the points/cash scenerio....I would love that.
200 pts isn't enough for cruising.....considering I can't stand to bank
and not go to WDW
Kerri

 

[macosx]

That's easy to do when you grossly limit capacity with a tiny two ship fleet. If people here think DCL can continue to do that when the number of cabins available per week immediately goes up by about four times (which it will when the new ships arrive in 2012), they have a lot to learn about both the cruise industry and the basic laws of economcs. Demand for nothing is unlimited, ever for Disney. Want proof? two words: value resorts.

Demand for DCL is very high, just look at the pricing in West Coast cruises. No doubt, the additional ships will drive down costs, but I think they're profitable in the Caribbean as things stand, and will simply expand out to other regions (West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, South America/Asia/Africa, etc.) There's plenty of room for expansion for a dozen ships if not more.

As far as value resorts, some have described them as Disneyfied (glorified) Super 8's or Motel 6's costing twice as much, hence they only have to be half full to be profitable (and Disney is doing a great job keeping them nearly full year-around). Granted, there are additional costs (decorations/furnishings), free transportation, etc. But land costs are pretty much "free". Yes, they've paid real cash for it years ago, but there's plenty of land that remains undeveloped, so no out of pocket costs right now that another developer would have to front.

 

[byoung]

The member cruize sells out in hours. No they will not give us any discounts.

 

[beachblanket]

Demand for DCL is very high, just look at the pricing in West Coast cruises.

Which if one gets beyond all the hype aren't filling in 30 nano-seconds, just like the over-hyped Mediterranean ones didn't.

As far as value resorts, some have described them as Disneyfied (glorified) Super 8's or Motel 6's costing twice as much

$82 a night for a Disney Value resort is twice as much as the Super 8 Motel on International Drive, which comes in at $79.99? I'm having problems learning DIS math!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortOverview?bhcp=1

http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/check_avail?brandCode=SE,MQ,DI,HJ,KG,RA,TL,BU&searchWithinMiles=25&areaType=1&destination=Orlando&stateName=Florida&state=FL&countryName=United%20States&country=US&checkInDate=03/21&numberAdults=2&numberRooms=1&checkOutDate=03/30&numberChildren=2&rateName=Best%20Avail&rate=000&variant=&id=15034&propBrandId=SE&force_nostay=false

Again, the basic point here is irrespective of the imaginations of some, Disney does not have the sort of iron clad brand equity that always results in endless demand and premium pricing in every product category. Value resorts are one great example, the failed Disney Stores an even better one and the cruise industry the next coming battleground.

In an industry that already has far too much capacity, enlarging your fleet -- irrespective of your supposed differentiation (which in DCL's case is based on a relatively thin veneer of theming; neither their service, food or itineraires are unique and the newer vessels of competitors offer as much or more in terms of cabins and facilities) rolling out thousands of new beds will impact pricing. Just wait and see...

 

[Muushka]

I kind of had to scroll back and forth to read the PP thread, but I did get this:

rolling out thousands of new beds will impact pricing

I agree! When those new ships come on line, I think there will be more realistic DCL pricing.

Right now we will not cruise with DCL if it is more than a few hundred ($300) more than a comparable cruise. For us (as adults only) there are other cruise lines out there that more than satisfy us. Yeah, we love the Mouse, but not with huge price tags.

 

[CarrianneB]

I don't know if you can still do this, but back when we cruised DCL in 2002 you could book just the first passenger on points and do the rest in cash, which was a great way to limit the point damage. Renting our point balance more than made up for the expense of three cash DCL ressies.

Also, I'm very sceptical of the prior "statistic" thrown out about the % of DCL passengers made up by DVC members on a given cruise. How would DVC or DCL compile that? Not every member who cruises them does so via a DVC ressie using points, and registration doesn't mandate identifying yourself as a DVC member. And as someone who is professionally familar with the flaws in client databases, no, a surname match of a passenger list against some DVC file ain't going to do it.

Very easily! They key all reservations to the same database - name, address, birthdays, emails etc.

There are numerous instances of DVC members getting recognized on DCL cruises even when they pay cash. When I log onto dvcmember.com I use the same login as i do for DCL. If anyone has an incentive to recognize repeat customers it is disney and they definitely are tracking.

 

[macosx]

Which if one gets beyond all the hype aren't filling in 30 nano-seconds, just like the over-hyped Mediterranean ones didn't.

Disney follows a different tact than the other cruiselines, they'd like very room sold out, but aren't willing to sacrifice their margins as quickly as the others. Also, competition from families is limited by the other cruiselines. They've all got their child care centers, but they're not the destinations that many families seek out in Disney, but more of a side show. Disney isn't oversaturated like the other cruiselines, and sells a different product. Interestingly, Disney is somewhat successful at drawing some childless couples (overgrown children?) with their amenities (spa, etc.).

$82 a night for a Disney Value resort is twice as much as the Super 8 Motel on International Drive, which comes in at $79.99? I'm having problems learning DIS math!

Try comparing similar seasons. The $82 rate is for low season, and my first search at Super 8 got Kisseme location at $44.99 for weeknight ($10 more weekend), dates 9/9-9/18. If I recall correctly, peak season, which you're quoting the $79.99 rate at Super 8 goes for $109, $119 or more. I had trouble at the disney booking site, but I believe PopCentury might be sold out that period. I haven't personally stayed at the value resorts, so I can't say which group is correct, those that claim them similar to Super8/Motel6 or those that say they're a better level, more like the Holiday Inns (which the moderates have been compared to).
In any case, if the price is similar, then to me, it would be a no-brainer in my book to stay inside Disney property.

Again, the basic point here is irrespective of the imaginations of some, Disney does not have the sort of iron clad brand equity that always results in endless demand and premium pricing in every product category. Value resorts are one great example, the failed Disney Stores an even better one and the cruise industry the next coming battleground.

In an industry that already has far too much capacity, enlarging your fleet -- irrespective of your supposed differentiation (which in DCL's case is based on a relatively thin veneer of theming; neither their service, food or itineraires are unique and the newer vessels of competitors offer as much or more in terms of cabins and facilities) rolling out thousands of new beds will impact pricing. Just wait and see...

Disney isn't without it's share of failures, and you're right to point out the Disney Stores. Even EuroDisney had it's bad days. Still, I believe that DCL will be very successful, and we'll be seeing ships 5 & 6 on the drawing board when ships 3 & 4 start sailing. I think there's plenty of room for Disney to grow, and some of it may come at the expense of other cruise lines, but they're responsible for adding much more capacity than Disney. I think any suffering from overcapacity will be the big cruise lines. Similarly, I think the Disney Resorts will maintain a lower vacancy rate than the offsite hotels, and are better suited to survive any downturn in visitors. There are plenty of other non-Disney hotels being developed near Disney World, and they're the ones who need to worry most about overcapacity.