DVC 2007 Member Cruise - Preferred booking to first time cruisers

[Sammie]

That's not exactly an accurate comparison. More like they are paid according to their job skills. But I was talking any kind of extras, which a Member event certainly is, such as company parties, special items such as the company has custom logoed polos, sweaters, jackets, etc. And they are provided equally to everyone.



Again, not exactly an accurate comparison. The home resort booking advantage is about free choice, not setting one member above another. Everyone has an 11 month booking window someplace. You choose which resort to buy into. So, by that choice decide here you want to be able to book at the 11 month window. I chose Boardwalk and Vero, those are two places I have been and will continue to be booking at mostly. It was my choice, not DVC making it for me, as it has been for the next Member Cruise.

But my point is someone decided that certain skills deserved higher pay. That was a business decision. DVC has decided in a business decision that they want to offer those that have not been on the cruise the first booking. Most decisions are made on what the company sees as being best for them.

As to the 11 month window, you are right you do know about it going in and therefore can make a decision as to what you want to do. Same with the cruise. DVC did make the decision to have an 11 month and 7 window without any imput from members.

I can see where you might not agree with the decision, but I can't see how you can think that it is not a business decision that many if not all companies make every day.

 

[MarkRG]

But my point is someone decided that certain skills deserved higher pay. That was a business decision. DVC has decided in a business decision that they want to offer those that have not been on the cruise the first booking. Most decisions are made on what the company sees as being best for them.

As to the 11 month window, you are right you do know about it going in and therefore can make a decision as to what you want to do. Same with the cruise. DVC did make the decision to have an 11 month and 7 window without any imput from members.

I can see where you might not agree with the decision, but I can't see how you can think that it is not a business decision that many if not all companies make every day.

I actually said previously it was a buisness decision. I said that I did not like this change in the buisness model, and I'll append my first statement in this thread in that it is a wrong buisness decision.

"Most decisions are made on what the company sees as being best for them."

or,

For the good of the company. How many times a bad buisness decision has been justified by these words. You said companies make ones like this every day, but just because they do, that does not make them a good thing.

The fact of the matter is, without the members, all of the members not a segment of them, there would be no company. I stand on my original statement, excluding any part of the membership is wrong.

One thing DVC has had to its advantage up to now has been word of mouth referrals in making sales. It was how they developed their reputation as a timeshare a cut above the others. How many times have you talked to someone who was curious about DVC, and when it got to the word timeshare, you then had to make a statement along the lines of oh, no there's no pressure. You just contact them they'll send you info and you get to decide in your own way. After this past cruise and this change in policy towards the next one, I really can't say that anymore. Their reputation via word of mouth is going to change, and not in a good way.

 

[Scratch42]

One thing DVC has had to its advantage up to now has been word of mouth referrals in making sales. It was how they developed their reputation as a timeshare a cut above the others. How many times have you talked to someone who was curious about DVC, and when it got to the word timeshare, you then had to make a statement along the lines of oh, no there's no pressure. You just contact them they'll send you info and you get to decide in your own way. After this past cruise and this change in policy towards the next one, I really can't say that anymore. Their reputation via word of mouth is going to change, and not in a good way.

I know that I used to help others and I come from a part where I am not part of the "Elite" that receive incentives for referrals. Even though on my March Cruise I was told differently. Not no more! Once bitten, twice shy!

I'll quietly wait until VAKL is available, and maybe, if the hurt has gone away, I might reconsider and buy.

As stated, Not All Changes are for the Better!

j

 

[fishermouse]

information. Now I feel as if they (DVC) of course knew about it, and just didn't want to let the cat out of the bag. No wonder, as I'm sure the tone of the cruise would have been very different if those of us on the ship would have known for certain then that we were going to be excluded in the future. Can you say "man overboard"?

My feel is that DVC is taking a turn in a direction that I don't like it to be going. If this is the wave of the future, along with the hard sell approach to existing members, I'm not sure this is the type of membership I care to be a part of anymore.

I'm sure I read the same artcle as everyone else and I did not see it this way. Sounds to me like only a set number or cabins are being set aside for new cruisers, not new DVC owners, these cabins will then be put into a lottery. One week later all cabins will open up the same as they do every other year. DCL is obviously trying to hook new customers, I wouldn't be to offended, it's a bussiness decision.
CM are told when information is to be released, to release that information ahead of time could very well cost them thier job. "There has been no official anouncment is probably the answer they are instructed to give, and should be acceptable to everyone, even when the anouncment comes 5 minutes later. I work in a hospital and have seen people very upset because no one told them so and so was in the emergency room or had a test done. My reply is "sorry but I like my job".

 

[Sammie]

I actually said previously it was a buisness decision. I said that I did not like this change in the buisness model, and I'll append my first statement in this thread in that it is a wrong buisness decision.

"Most decisions are made on what the company sees as being best for them."

or,

For the good of the company. How many times a bad buisness decision has been justified by these words. You said companies make ones like this every day, but just because they do, that does not make them a good thing.

The fact of the matter is, without the members, all of the members not a segment of them, there would be no company. I stand on my original statement, excluding any part of the membership is wrong.

One thing DVC has had to its advantage up to now has been word of mouth referrals in making sales. It was how they developed their reputation as a timeshare a cut above the others. How many times have you talked to someone who was curious about DVC, and when it got to the word timeshare, you then had to make a statement along the lines of oh, no there's no pressure. You just contact them they'll send you info and you get to decide in your own way. After this past cruise and this change in policy towards the next one, I really can't say that anymore. Their reputation via word of mouth is going to change, and not in a good way.

This I will agree with. I guess time will tell if the decision is wrong. I think the thing I see many times with complaints about the decisions that Disney or DVC makes is that many, especially on these forums and not necessarily you, want Disney to appeal to them specifically and not the masses.

If that is the case they chose the wrong company. Disney is always going to go with mass appeal and truly do not care if that bothers some. As long as they can keep their numbers where they want them, they don't care who the numbers are. Which is why they don't have a frequent guest rewards program, they don't need one.

I am not saying I agree with that, or appreicate it, but I understand it and I have a choice accept it or leave it.

I think some are simply beating a dead horse to get them to change. Especially with the current management team there right now.

 

[iluvdisney]

I am one of the already cruised members who has mixed feelings about the method used for booking the next Member Cruise but most likely if I can find a way to justify the points needed will try and do so. I have been lucky enough to go on every member event thus far and think it would be a shame to miss out on the great entertainment and friends on board. So, will I try again? Most likely I will try calling.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Given the limited event space, maybe this is DVC's way of preventing their member cruises from being taken over by such a large non-changing contingent from the DIS.

Maybe DVC received numerous complaints from members about special event availibility. Most DVC members probably rely on the DVC mailings for thier information about "what's new" at DVC. They know nothing about member cruises until they get a post card (usually too late).

Every "extra" perk DVC does for it's members is about sales. That's their business afterall. Every "gift" we receive as members has the DVC logo on it. There is a purpose behind that...$sales$.

Member cruises are a member perk which you can choose to take advantage of or not. It has been my longstanding belief that most member events are nothing more than a money making venture for DVC/Disney by charging big bucks for the "exclusive feeling" created by such events. Many events have been way over-priced for the value received...and DVCers get the cash cow treatment, IMO.

Just as with many Disney operations (booking CRT, character meals, hoppers/MYW tickets)...as soon as you get the system down, Disney changes it. This booking change fits right in with how Disney traditionally operates.

 

[MarkRG]

Given the limited event space, maybe this is DVC's way of preventing their member cruises from being taken over by such a large non-changing contingent from the DIS.


Member cruises are a member perk which you can choose to take advantage of or not. It has been my longstanding belief that most member events are nothing more than a money making venture for DVC/Disney by charging big bucks for the "exclusive feeling" created by such events. Many events have been way over-priced for the value received...and DVCers get the cash cow treatment, IMO.

And we've already done the dance around our differing opinions and I'm not going to go into that again with you. The only thing I will say is yes, it's about exclusive, the exclusive speakers like Roy Disney and Art Linkletter, the exclusive entertainers like Jodi Benson and Susan Egan. Not going to find any of them entertaining on a regular cruise, and for me that is value recieved.

Just a bit of info on Dis attendance for you as I've been the one to do the Dis meets for all three cruises, where we've used excel sheets to keep all the button making straight.

Member cruise 2003 - 70 buttons
Member cruise 2005 - 205 buttons
Member cruise 2006 - 153 buttons


Out of those groups, less than 20 have been on all three. Less than 50 have been on two, mostly the last two. We've had a large number of new people on each cruise. I can count it out if you really want me to bother, but it's enough for me to say easily that there has been plenty of changeover each year.

And on a cruise that has had approximately 2000 people each cruise, we're not exactly a huge contingent. Significant on the last two, sure, but not that big.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

While these crusies may be about exclusive feeling for DVCers, they may be more about sales for DVC. There is no doubt that these crusies cost DVC a lot and I doubt DCL gives DVC big discounts. Some of the extra costs (over a regular DCL cruise) may include:

--Chartering an already existing cruise date and bumping existing cruisers.
--Upgrading cabins for displaced cruisers to other cruise dates.
--Cabins for DVC staff, special guests and families.
--Decorations
--Gifts and give-aways.

These costs are paid for by:

--DVC members who choose to attend
--DVD with the expectation of making SSR sales
--And to some small extent, member dues.

If the cost/profit ratio is not what DVD expects, they may not be putting the "extras" into the cruise that they have in the past. It seems that the 2006 repeat cruisers where not as happy with the event "feel", and some will not be returning as the event has lost its charm.

Maybe Jim made no on-board 2007 cruise announcement because DVC/DVD management wanted to tally the sales total from the 2006 cruise. Once totaled, the decision could be made whether or not to change the booking procedure favoring 1st timers.

Looks like sales goals may have not been met for the 2006 event.

 

[wdwstar]

This will be an interesting outcome for DVC

 

[mj2vacation]

I don't know, I was on the cruise and never felt the "high pressure" that some are complaining about....

Must have been because I did not go to the sales presentation.......

The nerve of a sales person to sell!

We had a great time.

If we get on in 2007 great. If not, so be it. If anyone is that stressed out over a particular cruise, you can have my slot.

Enjoy what you have and focus on what is really important. Expecting a fortune 500 company to please every one of it's customers is just asking for disapppointment.

 

[dbm20th]

I hate to interrupt this but can anyone tell me if they have seen a price list yet? I see points, but no cash prices

 

[Melrosgirl]

Cash price list was posted the other day. It's on the board. It's running very slow for me now, so I don't dare go look for it, LOL.

 

[cherylp3]

For cash prices check this link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1269575

 

[floridafam]

Not sure if this has been posted.

Can't you just transfer points to a DVCer who gets in the first lottery and have them book the cruise for you?

Can it be done and would it be against the rules?

 

[evaready51]

Is there a review of the 2006 Member Cruise somewhere on this board? I have looked extensively but found very few.

Thanks,

Evaready51

 

[cgcw]

Here's the trip report several contributed to:


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1254492

 

[OhioDVC]

I have enjoyed many hours on these forums reading about what other DVCers felt about our club. The 2007 members cruise reservation policy has motivated me to write in for the first time.

As a long time member, since 4/93, I've seen a significant downward trend in the "Magic" of DVC. I've been a faithful member starting with 200 points and adding on 11 times since the first contract with the last add on during the 2006 Member's Cruise now with 1650 points. I make this point not to brag, but to display my family's love of Disney and DVC. I have more equity in DVC points then in my home. YES, we LOVE Disney and DVC, but now that love is deminishing.

the 2006 Cruise was not the same quality as the two previous cruises, yes we have been on all three.

There was definitely a "hard sell" that I have never seen before in the 13+ years I've been with DVC.

The Cruise was disorganized with ineffective or late communication

DVC game shows were of poor quality, but I did like winning a $500 give away

The 2007 reservation policy is unfair and discriminates against previous cruisers. This is a business decision that DVC can legally make. If everyone has the same chance at the lottery, all members would be treated fairly, but
DVC is openly telling past cruisers that they are not considered valued customers. Look at the airlines, they reward frequent flyers where DVC is discouraging frequent customers. Why?

DVC gives cruisers an unfair advantage over non-cruisers. On the 2006 cruise I added 350 Saratoga points. I was given an Adventures by Disney trip for two to London and Paris as an incentive($7,000 value). Why was this not offered to all DVC members. This was unfair, but I took advantage of the offered. I will try to go on the 2007 cruise partially to add on more points with the best incentives

Because I'm not welcomed on the 2007, I am considering going on another crusie line. I would have NEVER considered this if it wasn't for the unfair reservation process.

Why do I love the Member's Cruise ---We cruise because of Castaway Cay. We love the members cruise because of the two days on Castaway Cay. I don't need any more cheap t-shirts or over priced day trips of the other ports.

Remember, this is a business marketed as "Magic" I hate to say DVC is running low on pixie dust and needs to return to its roots of providing a Magical experience and unparalleled service.

 

[LIFERBABE]

OhioDVC, I think your post was well written and I agree with much of what you wrote as well as many of the MC2006 cruisers. I didnt add points on board, partly because of the hard sell and dirty tactics of one of the guides. My friend is the one that recognized his tactics first, as I will still feeling the Mimosa's from Palo brunch

I feel like they treated us more like a commodity than members. We were the "fanatics" that would pay for anything with a DVC logo on it. Bonnie St. John (whom I enjoyed very much) made a joke about it during her presentation. Since she knew nothing about DVC prior to cruising, Im sure she was told that.

I think that attitude carries over to this booking process. They can appease many of the new cruisers who complained in the past about not getting a ressie (many of whom have decided not to go after seeing the costs) and fill the rest of the ship with all the "fanatics" waiting in the wings for a bone.

I have enjoyed the past cruises (MC2005 was hands down better than MC2006) but I dont treat my friends, families or pets that way and I didnt expect it from DVC. They are free to do what they want, but I am free to spend my money elsewhere.

Fair winds and following seas to all that choose to go, my family will do a 7 day and RCCL's Freedom is looking good to me too!

 

[Scratch42]

A little off topic but not really, just showing the fact that it's no longer "family" since Jim Lewis is now signing off as James Lewis, which I find rather too formal!

It just struck me as odd...............

j