Does anyone else feel this way?

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would like to see and EMH just for DVC members.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would like to see and EMH just for DVC members.

and MVMCP/MNSSHP

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, you know it always makes me wonder when threads like this pop up if this "I'm entitled" attitude is what might be WRONG with DVC.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As far as Disney, it's the "Why pay for the cow when you can get the milk for free?" syndrome, they don't have to entice us with anything, they've already got us! You are also welcomed at anytime to go on a cash basis and take Disney up on any of their offers. You can keep, bank your points for other types of trips and or cruises.

 

[Crystal_27]

I'll take DVC over any discount offered by Disney every time....all I have to do to make myself feel great about DVC is price out an upcoming vacation. For our December, 2010 vacation, paying cash would have cost right at $6,000 versus my $800 in MFs for the year. Even with any discount or gift card that Disney could give me, it wouldn't come *close* to that type of savings.


ETA: I actually was mistaken in how much my December, 2010 trip cost. A standard view studio at BLT costs $550/night, so my 14 night stay actually would have cost $7,700 (plus tax), not the $6,000 I mentioned above. Again, there is nothing Disney could offer that beats my getting it for points.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney doesn't offer discounts and specials to be nice, they do it to make money.

With DVC members, they give us certain perks that actually doesn't cost them a thing. Discounts at restaurants, many of which aren't Disney owned and a discounted AP. How many days does the average DVC member use their AP, 8 days, 12, 18? How long are they in the parks, and how much do they spend on food and other items? I get the feeling that the discounted price that we pay is still a money maker or Disney Parks wouldn't give us the discount.

Bill

 

[DenLo]

How many years before you bought into the DVC did you go to WDW and stayed on property without any discounts or freebies? To me the free offers are a sign of the times and poor economy. When things improve the room rates will go up and the free dining will be gone and we'll still have our DVC villas and everyone else will pay dearly to stay at WDW.

 

[dmoore22]

I'll take DVC over any discount offered by Disney every time....all I have to do to make myself feel great about DVC is price out an upcoming vacation. For our December, 2010 vacation, paying cash would have cost right at $6,000 versus my $800 in MFs for the year. Even with any discount or gift card that Disney could give me, it wouldn't come *close* to that type of savings.

We actually did a similar comparison and found the same thing to be true. The "Three for Free" and "Free DDP" still cost more than our points/MF for our comparable trip this past December. We still came out ahead including the use of TIW instead of the DDP. The deals sound great when you listen to the 15 second sound bite until you get out your calculator. Your paying a non-discounted rack rate for those four days.

 

[acejka]

I get what you are saying! And I agree... looks like I'm in the minority though.

I love my DVC and I bought in knowing what I was getting, but it would still be nice to see something like that.

Maybe not as extravagant as an annual pass, but a discount on tickets, or a 2 base ticket or something. Just a little "hey, we appreciate you gesture," it's nice to feel appreciated. And maybe not every year, but once in a while its nice to feel that way.

Now I would never take part in those 4/3 deals of free dining because I am spoiled by the size and the ammenities of the rooms I get to stay in now, and I couldn't justify paying $300 a night out of pocket for them, and there is no turning back to a normal hotel room at disney now .

 

[hakepb]

Disney's main marketing focus in offering promotions is getting people on site. In regards to that focus, DVC happens to be the best promotion Disney has ever offered.

I do sometimes wonder why Disney does not work harder to upsell us on package add-ons (i.e discounted DDP or tickets). I think DVC's desire to treat everyone equally, year round perhaps prevents Disney from offering us some better occasional or seasonal promotions.

 

[Deb & Bill]

... Just a little "hey, we appreciate you gesture," it's nice to feel appreciated. ...

But they don't appreciate us. They appreciate our dollars.

 

[Chuck S]

Disney's main marketing focus in offering promotions is getting people on site. In regards to that focus, DVC happens to be the best promotion Disney has ever offered.

I do sometimes wonder why Disney does not work harder to upsell us on package add-ons (i.e discounted DDP or tickets). I think DVC's desire to treat everyone equally, year round perhaps prevents Disney from offering us some better occasional or seasonal promotions.

Wouldn't seasonal specials, like free dining for DVC, also have the potential to knock the demand further out of balance, leading to further, and more severe, point chart reallocations?

 

[Crystal_27]

I do sometimes wonder why Disney does not work harder to upsell us on package add-ons (i.e discounted DDP or tickets).

Well, I personally think that the argument can be made that Disney *is* giving us discounted DDP this year in that we don't have to pay the holiday surcharges during peak periods. Sure, not everyone who is a DVC member gets to take advantage of the "discount" but, I am sure appreciative that Disney is giving it.

 

[hakepb]

Wouldn't seasonal specials, like free dining for DVC, also have the potential to knock the demand further out of balance, leading to further, and more severe, point chart reallocations?

I do not think there would ever be a reason for free DDP on points (unless it was combined with some "tour a day" package that cost more than DDP) I was just rembering my pre-DVC days where I'd book a value, call back to change something, then getting offered (because of Disney Visa) a discounted DDP (i.e $29 instead of $39/day, although back in the day it was more like $25 instead of $32/day) Sometimes I wish we were offered a discounted DDP, too.

 

[dmoore22]

Well, I personally think that the argument can be made that Disney *is* giving us discounted DDP this year in that we don't have to pay the holiday surcharges during peak periods. Sure, not everyone who is a DVC member gets to take advantage of the "discount" but, I am sure appreciative that Disney is giving it.

My kids seem to be surgically attached to their computers. Not having to pay for their internet access free's up some cash for other things. The DVC discounts individually do not appear to be much but when added together they count for a significant amount of change over the course of a vacation.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I wish I had bought more (have 300) and earlier (2005). We stay at other resorts when we run out of points and sincewe have fla res, ap discounts it still works out to get the best of both worlds. I booked 5 weeknights in May ,1br,at BCV but did not have enough for FR, SAT, got it at passholder rate for 288 a night. Can't beat that. I think for us it evens out.

 

[franandaj]

The bottom line is that we all bought in for the right to make reservations on our points, not for perks and other things. Perhaps those who bought in when the free passes and free valet parking were available have reasons to complain, but we didn't buy in for possible perks, just accomodations which are top notch.

We could certainly take advantage of the offers for lesser accomodations and pay cash, but if I stayed in studios I might consider it. We always stay in 1 br + at WDW because we want the kitchen so there's no comparison for us. At GCV we are staying in studios but that's only becuase we only live 20 min away and just the fact of staying overnight is a total luxury.

While any DVC perks would be nice (and I know we have some) I don't expect anything other than the ability to make reservations because that's all they guaranteed us.

 

[rutgers1]

I am in the "more perks" group. Contrary to what many people say, I don't think that DVC is a "no brainer" for most folks. If I didn't own DVC, I would be visiting Disney every other year at most, and the span between visits would undoubtedly increase as my kids got older. I would have been perfectly content to stay at a moderate resort. However, now that we are members, Disney is getting a much larger share of our vacation dollars than they would have previously - and they are getting it for decades. That's why you see DVC being advertised all around the parks.

So, with that said, and knowing that DVC is such a money maker to warrant advertisements and kiosks all over the place, I don't mind requesting more perks. I'm not talking anything extraordinary, but I'd like to see things added each year, and perhaps some of the less popular ones dropped.

 

[dmoore22]

I wish I had bought more (have 300) and earlier (2005). We stay at other resorts when we run out of points and sincewe have fla res, ap discounts it still works out to get the best of both worlds. I booked 5 weeknights in May ,1br,at BCV but did not have enough for FR, SAT, got it at passholder rate for 288 a night. Can't beat that. I think for us it evens out.

I agree. There is a ripple effect in discounts/perks with DVC. We purchase our AP with the DVC discount. Now we have the AP discounts and benefits in addition to the DVC perks. Being an AP holder we can get the TIW card which provides additional dining discounts and access to TIW events. For our family the AP discounts more than cover the cost of TIW with $$$$ left over. Considering our dining habits the TIW is a better deal for us than the DDP. Love the discounted libations! Of course we can get discounts at select merchandise and dining establishments at DTD. Then, if we choose to drive to the parks we park for free. If you really examine it you will find that the perks are there -- hiding in plain sight.

 

[Sandisw]

I actually am not bothered by it at all. Matter of fact, I like NOT having to read the boards and hear about all those pin codes, knowing I wasn't getting one.

I have looked at my DVC investment in so many ways and as others have said, it is for the long term and years of Disney trips.

For someone who is planning the occasional trips to WDW, the current discounts are great. But, for us, over the long haul, we make out.

Even if I only look at it for the next 10 years, my MF's and initial investment, are the SAME as what I would be paying if I continued to go my 6 nights in a CR tower room with a 30% discount.

And, instead of staying in a hotel room, this assumes I will be in a 1 bedroom most of the time.

So, I guess, I am getting some of those discounts--not quite the same as 4/3 but pretty close. The only difference is I am locked in to the discount and don't have to worry about Disney changing it (which they will as the economy gets better). Even the free dining codes this year are only offering QS at the values so things are not as good as last year.

Of course, after 10 years, I will still own DVC, will still be going 6 nights, for only the cost of MF's (about 70% discount) at that point--not to shabby, if you ask me!

But, I do agree--if you feel that banking your points, and going with one of the cash deals works out better for you--go for it! DVC offers you the flexibility to do that!