DVC and Gold Plan... Not Fair!

[Tinkrbell]

We have reservations with points at WLV in Oct. and I just received the new brochure from CR indicating ticket prices packages etc.

There is an ADD-ON Gold Plan package for $139/pp/pn extra, which includes meals, recreation, admission to La Noube, Childrens Centers, and Theme Park Tours. I have tried with every avenue to add this on as well as tickets, but with no luck!

I have tried MS, CR, DC, and MS called the front desk for me and they won't budge. I think this is very unfortunate for all DVC members, I would gladly pay the add on price, or more and not have to "Worry about it" later. It's almost like your punished as a member not to receive(pay for) these benefits while STAYING at a DISNEY Resort! We have Hilton points we can stay at and NOT receive these benefits.

Anyway, if enough people (members) would like to see this as an option, you can voice your opinion to MS and it might be available But, with the way Disney changes packages so often, it may not be neccesary.

 

[wilderness01]

Ok I am lost. You are a DVC member who has a ressie for VWL in Oct, right? Did CR just happen to send you a brochure? Is this just for CR or for all the Disney resorts? Is it for October only or through the end of 2003? That is $139 extra for all meals, park hoppers, etc? That sounds like a deal. Why not save your points and book for cash? I know it defeats the points but maybe you can go twice next year? Just a thought?????

 

[Michelemouse]

I think the original poster was using CR for Central Reservations, not Contemporary Resort.

 

[DebbieB]

The gold package is an add on for the overpriced dreammaker package (which includes UMP passes). You can also say it's not fair for AP holders, because the base dreammaker package includes UMP Passes, you cannot add it to "room only".

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wa...groupingindex?id=PK2003VacationsPackageGrping

 

[Kirk]

OK. After studying the plans and doing the math I don't think the plan is for me but I really don't like the idea of nonmembers having more benefits than DVC or AP holders. It really seems to me that DIS should offer everything and more to there loyal members! (And stock holders for that matter!) I suggest an email to both MS and the CEO from everyone that feels the same way. Please make some suggestions so we can get all our ducks in a row and I'll go see if I can find some adresses. More to come...

 

[Dean]

You could always cancel your points reservation and reserve with cash then add this on. WDW in general has a history of giving you packages where the individual components are actually less expensive than the total package price. I was told by someone in CRO one time that it was for the convenience and was not intended to be a savings of any kind. There are many examples of this type of behavior. It's no different than a package deal with hotel, air and a car going to HI or Cancun (All inclussive instead of a car) or many other examples. Actually the DC, DCL, CC and the like are other examples of the same issue where we pay a premium for choices and convenience.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by Kirk
but I really don't like the idea of nonmembers having more benefits than DVC or AP holders. It really seems to me that DIS should offer everything and more to there loyal members! (And stock holders for that matter!) I suggest an email to both MS and the CEO from everyone that feels the same way. Please make some suggestions so we can get all our ducks in a row and I'll go see if I can find some adresses. More to come...

What don't people understand. Disney is marketing to a select group. This offer seems to be for the uninformed group.*edited thanks to Gillian*

As a DVC member, stockholder and PAP holder I could care less what they offer in their packages. In 5 years when the resort rates double and I'm just paying maintenance fees I'll remember why I own DVC.

 

[Gillian]

Originally posted by Eeyore2U
This offer seems to be for the uniformed group.

What kind of uniform do you have to wear?

I can see the OP's point. The add on part IS a good deal! And the new Disney dreammaker package has been offered at a discount too, making the whole thing pretty nice. But I don't want passes, so it won't work for us. It would great if you could do the add on to a room only reservation or discounted basic package, but I don't expect it to happen.

 

[wilderness01]

DUH! Sorry I had the Contemporary on the brain not Central Reservations. Now it all makes sense.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Bottom line is, whether we like it or not, we're hooked into many future stays. Disney doesn't have to attract us with additional packages that they offer to other guests to attract them to staying in thier hotels as a preference choice to the many offsite options and other park alternatives. When Disney is unable to attract guests to stay in thier resort hotels and visit their parks, we see cutbacke like the loss of early entry, reduced parades, activities and hours, etc. which we end up not being able to take advantage of and enjoy. Whether we like it or not or think it's fair or not, we don't have to be inticed like other groups need to be inticed, we already took the biggest plunge, they have our money up front for far into the future.

I don't know, is the boat and bike plan available to non-DVC members staying at the resort? That seems like a nice perk. There are some others listed on the members site, but I don't think we ccan expect to take advantage of every other perk that comes along as they try to market thier resort hotels. You'll just convince yourself out of the great deal your aready getting by being a member in IMHO. I also don't think we should use these boards as a rally point for letter writing or calling in campaigns, although I know it is easy to get caught up in when it's an issue close to you. It's not in the spirit of the posting guidelines.

As a DVC member, stockholder and PAP holder I could care less what they offer in their packages.

I'm not sure I agree with this, I need them to use effective marketing tactics to draw people to thier resorts to obtain good returns on my stock and to continue with the activities and attractions I enjoy. I'd actually like to see new attractions and entertainment options next to my second home for my family and I to enjoy and improvements in the transportation system some day.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by CaptainMidnight
I'm not sure I agree with this, I need them to use effective marketing tactics to draw people to thier resorts to obtain good returns on my stock and to continue with the activities and attractions I enjoy. I'd actually like to see new attractions and entertainment options next to my second home for my family and I to enjoy and improvements in the transportation system some day.

I agree with you on this on an overall level. The point I was trying to make was that to me, personally, the Add On the OP wouldn't matter. It doesn't upset me that others get percieved benefits that I, being in those categories doesn't get.

 

[zulaya]

I think maybe the OP was wanting this available to DVC member, not just the general public.

Personally, while I might not use it at this time, it might be nice to be able to purchase the package if I could get my own tickets on there.

Disney would still be making money. They probably haven't even thought about making this available to DVC members. They probably think they wouldn't get enough takers with kitchens being in all our units. Who knows exactly how the decisions are made?

 

[CaptainMidnight]

...It doesn't upset me that others get percieved benefits that I, being in those categories doesn't get.

Good point.

 

[Regina]

Over the years, they did offer various "add-ons" for food and recreation. They stopped a few years back.

We never used them. I would think that if they were popular, they would have been continued.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by dvcreg
Over the years, they did offer various "add-ons" for food and recreation. They stopped a few years back.

We never used them. I would think that if they were popular, they would have been continued.

I don't know how often they were used but the original food n fun plan was a great value.

 

[Regina]

That's just it Dean. No one knows who took advantage of the offers.

Logic would tell you that they wouldn't discontinue it if it were popular, but Einstein probably couldn't figure out why Disney does what it does.

Since so many joined after the program was stopped, I just wanted to let them know that there used to be a "Food & Fun" plan.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by dvcreg
That's just it Dean. No one knows who took advantage of the offers.

Logic would tell you that they wouldn't discontinue it if it were popular, but Einstein probably couldn't figure out why Disney does what it does.

Since so many joined after the program was stopped, I just wanted to let them know that there used to be a "Food & Fun" plan.

The problem from a DVC perspective seems to be that early on OKW had the passes and now many use AP, PAP and seasonal passes. That makes it hard to do an everything included for DVC members and get much traffic. I'm sure the FnF plan was discontinued because it was too good of a deal early on and not a deal at all at the end. It was LOS and I remember a trip where we only stayed 3 days and it was the one time we got it. It was only 2 meals a day plus recreation. We spent less than $400 for the 3 days and I kept up with what it would have cost separately and it was around $970. Of course we would never have done all those things and eaten all that food on our own. Early in the program they charged the kids like $13.50 pp and didn't restrict them to kids meals, big mistake with my kids. By the end of 3 days we were telling them not to even show us the desert menu even if it was included and that's at only 2 meals per day.

 

[Paul in CT]

Even if DVC'ers could get it, $139/pp/pn doesn't sound like a deal to me UNLESS it includes park passes, which it appears it does not. That would be nearly $1000 per person extra for a one week stay! One would have to take a lot of tours and eat plenty to make out on that deal!!

 

[Tinkrbell]

As the OP I really wanted to bring up the fact that while staying at a DISNEY owned resort you aren't alowed to buy this plan.

Yes, the FnF plan, probably like the DC, is Losing the company money, therefore they discontinue it.

My family may not be ably to eat OR take that many tours, play golf, go boating, use the kids centers, see La Noube, or all of the other various things listed. But, if I want to pay for it it should be an Option.

Maybe I want to go to a character breakfast every morning, lunch at the parks, and a dinner show every night, put my kids in the Cubs Den while I go to Pleasure Island, Golf, and take the water mice on Bay Lake or Crescent Lake. All while not having to worry about the bill later.

Personally, I do not ever want to stay at a Regular hotel room again (or cook while on vacation) thats why we have a 2/br. So paying for a room cash w/CR is not an option, but it seems that buying the Gold plan isn't either.

 

[Gillian]

The $139 does not include passes, as it is an add on to the Dreammaker package, which does have passes. But it includes just about everything else.

Disney's Dream Maker Package - Gold Plan

-Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Per Person, Per Night (includes applicable gratuities, excludes alcoholic beverages)
-Unlimited Recreation including golf
-Admission to La NoubaTM by Cirque du Soleil
-Unlimited Access to Disney Children's Activity Centers
-Unlimited Access to Tours: (restrictions apply to selected tours)