DVC Annual Planner Format

[karrit2000]

Since a lot of us are unhappy about the timeliness of our Annual Vacation Planner as evidenced in several recent threads and others posted in previous years I thought I would conduct a poll to see what type Planner my fellow members here would prefer. Those of us who joined back in the early days remember the binder and many of us still have them. Newer Members have only ever seen the slick glossy brochures that look more like an advertising gimmick.

For those who are unfamiliar with the binder it was a Cloth binder with the DVC logo. It contained numerous sections with pages of detailed information about our membership. Each resort had it's own section complete with a map of the resort similar to the map you get when you check in. All the details about the different resorts that we currently get was there including the floor plans for the units. All the different vacation options were included as they are now including the maps that show where the Timeshares and other options are around the world that we are eligible to trade for. The pages were in full color. We received updated point charts as soon as they were established for the next use year and they were color coded by resort. When there were changes we received new pages to replace old ones and when there were new sections to be added we also received the corresponding divider pages to place in the binder. We would sometimes get several updates during the year in a much more timely fashion than our present day planner. There were also special pages where we could record our points usage, banking & borrowing.

 

[DebbieB]

To be honest, if it is coming from dues money I would prefer it just be online. Or maybe every 2 or 3 years.

 

[Ctsplaysinrain]

I would prefer neither. It's just a waste of paper, energy etc.. I prefer to just be able to access online

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Another vote for online only. I'd love to see email confirmations, too.

Every time I look at how big of a percentage mailings are of the annual operating budget, it just steams me. I think it was even higher than housekeeping this year.

 

[toniosmom]

I vote for online only as well. However, if they need to put something in a hard copy, I vote for the binder. It appears to be the most environmentally-friendly and cost-effective.

 

[RoutemanDan]

I vote for online only as well. However, if they need to put something in a hard copy, I vote for the binder. It appears to be the most environmentally-friendly and cost-effective.

Ditto.

 

[oct2014]

I'm pretty sure we don't pay for it and that it is for marketing. Nonetheless, whether for a potential, new, or long-time owner I think the focus should be on DVC resorts and not all these other options that are not guaranteed in any way whatsoever. I save everything now because I find that little details are including in one communication and not another. I can appreciate that people feel the website should be sufficient, but even that is lacking.

Caroline

 

[AndriaRose]

So many business's are pushing "go green" opt-outs available in your preference settings in your online profile. How simple would that be? We could all choose, and those who want or need hard copy could get it, those who don't could opt out. That would be my vote

 

[bookwormde]

I think that we all forget that that the Planner is a sales tool also and that is why it is so "glossy" and expensive and enviromentally challenged.

bookwormde

 

[zulaya]

I like the opt-out option.

But agree with PP who say that these tools come from Marketing's budget and is not paid for with our dues.

I do like the binder idea and then mailing out just the updates needed. It's more cost-efficient that way.

And anyone who wants to go-green could still opt out of the mailings and just print out the updates from the website.

 

[Nikisha421]

online would be fine by me...no need for all of that wasted paper; however, I wouldnt mind a hard copy update every two to three years

 

[Goofyhouk]

I'm not sure how this would be paid for with marketing money, since I couldn't find that marketing statement that always accompanies all the other mailings I get throughout the year.

Maybe DVC gets money from the other Disney divisions for promoting their products (other non-DVC hotels, Adventures by Disney, DCL) and from RCI?

Anyway, I like the idea of opting out of printed materials and receiving just emails. I hate to say it, I'm that way with the Disney Files also. I rarely read the whole thing - just skim it. Maybe I'm too busy, or maybe because there isn't anything new in it that I haven't already read about online or heard about in a podcast.

 

[bookwormde]

When this is done I hope someone forwards the link to member satisfaction.

It is safe to say that the member a paying for everything exept the cost of the actual copies that are uase for sales.

bookwormde

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

I think online would be fine. But, if a paper version continues--I would love to see something like the binder you describe being used.
At this point I am still waiting for my planner and like many many others I have already planned and booked my 2011 DVC vacation.

 

[karrit2000]

Keep the comments coming. I'll be leaving the poll open for at least the next couple of weeks as I will be heading to WDW Wednesday for a much needed vacation. If anyone is attending the D23 event next weekend maybe I'll see you there. I definitely plan to send the results along with comments to Member Services when we are done with the Poll. I knew there would be a lot of you who would opt for online only. Personally I like to have a hard copy for reference but find the current online set-up lacking since they rarely alert us to important updated info.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I do everything online but I also love the binder idea and wouldn't mind seeing that change happen. I also agree there should definitely be an opt out option.

 

[Geezer]

Bring back the binders.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I loved the binders, and they make MUCH more sense than sending out the book that is nothing but a bunch of fluff. I don't even mind printing the charts and information out on my own and inserting them in the binder, but I must say, after 13+ years, my binder is shot! I think we need to get a new one at the 10 year mark.

 

[lsutigger2]

I really should have voted for "What planner?" since I still haven't gotten the 2010 one.

But I voted for the binder choice.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

Online is the easiest for me. Plus the fancy brochure is great for when you first join DVC but honestly I do not need all the fluff and pictures to decide where I am staying and the type of resort I want to stay at.