DVC 7 Resorts In 7 Weeks - Cost of "Being Flagged"

[AaronEuth]

Wellll - we are DVC owners at BRV. Not sure how WDW could "flag" us on boards? We don't tend to use real names on Boards. NEVER publish DVC or AP numbers....

So curious - how could WDW track us?

We are referring to Pete and the people on the DIS DVC weekly show, vlog, and reviews.

 

[gharter]

I appreciated the ethics of them being upfront about unusual treatment.
For me, it doesn't really matter in terms of cost.
For the size of the resort, having 1-2 staff super clean a room or rooms, add a few snacks and drinks in the room is really not a lot of money.
Even comping them a meal at the restaurant given the nightly revenue is not much as well.
However, then giving a review without mentioning that these things happened is an entirely different issue. And that is where i appreciste the Dis unplugged being upfront about everything that happened.
I would not even mind with them giving a complete review and stating that this is their experience and they know they had "extra pixie dust" that the average guest will not have.

 

[crisi]

You know, it kindof reminds me of my Disney Wonder cruise. We shared a table with another family. When dessert came each night, the other family's son only wanted chocolate chip cookies. They weren't on the menu, but every night, without fail, and without asking, our server brought him more and more cookies. By the end of the week he had at least a dozen cookies. It doesn't cost the other passengers anything and, come on, that's funny!

On the cruise it doesn't cost you anything - because the cost of getting cookies out of the kitchen (which are readily available from room service for "free") is built into the cruise price. They paid for those cookies up front and - although they aren't on the menu - they are available for everyone for "free."

Your DVC dues don't cover cookies. Now, its likely that the freebies that the crew are offered that cost money are coming out of the DVD marketing budget. In which case it just costs me money as a shareholder, but Disney sees it as a good investment. But other things - like priority room assignments - are taking something away from the rest of us. To make sure Pete gets a great room that is ready when he wants it, they are prioritizing giving him a great room - which means someone else is stuck with one way down at the end of the hallway, or overlooking the savannah that doesn't have giraffes - which if room assignment were more random, everyone would have an equal chance of getting stuck with, And the cleaning crew is prioritizing that room, meaning someone else is waiting longer to get into theirs.

Now, I don't really care. About the cookies or the view. But some people on here really value the view, and I can understand getting upset when someone else gets preferential treatment on room assignment and gets a great view - and you end up overlooking the dumpster.

 

[JPKnapp]

It's a great use of funds (DVC dues or otherwise). By helping the resort team understand what excellent service looks like, it helps ingrain that level of service as "the new normal". Not necessarily treats in the room, but certainly the level of cleanliness. "If we are what we repeatedly do, excellence is not an act but a habit" - mis-attributed

Room assignment isn't a cost but is reflection on fairness which bothers me way more than anything else.

 

[DSLRuser]

"influencers" are whores. They flat out advertise themselves as whores.

"Give me some good stuff for free, and I will post nice things about you and influence people to buy your product." the 17-30 year old no talent *** clowns like the kardashiens, with no real skill see this as a way of life and a career.

Pete and this site are not influencers. They are running a business and are fans of the business they are running. It behooves them to remain impartial. the more honest the travel agent is, the more trusting people are, and the more they book with you.

 

[Disney_Bliss]

Perks and extras and incentives, freebies and upgrades are all built into the business plan, I guarantee it. So the extras the DVC Store team received are not going to cost DVC members any extra money - we are already paying it. I can assure you DVC and Disney build in funds to their budget for this kind of thing - it is no different than if you told them you were celebrating your anniversary and they surprised you with something in your room. It is all built into their budget and pre-caclulated into the MF and costs for DVC contracts already.

 

[Disney_Bliss]

Your DVC dues don't cover cookies. Now, its likely that the freebies that the crew are offered that cost money are coming out of the DVD marketing budget. In which case it just costs me money as a shareholder, but Disney sees it as a good investment.

Exactly!

 

[The Jackal]

If you saw the episode of Pete's review of the Grand Floridian Resort, not VGF, then you would know that Pete gives a "true" review of resorts. I think he has enough money of his own, that he doesn't need anymore from Disney (think he has bought over 1000 points in the last 6 months).

Yup I remember he said he is over 1,300 points. I don’t want to pay those maintenance fees in January

 

[vacationer1954]

Pete and this site are not influencers. They are running a business and are fans of the business they are running.

Many of the influencers are also running a business and enjoy doing whatever it is they influence. While many may endorse whatever they can get for free, many others are reputable and reliable recorders of the experience that they're having.