DVC blue card replacement

[DonMacGregor]

5 minutes in photoshop and you can "fake" a paper one. They are very easy to fake.

The argument about not having a smart phone is going to get you into trouble pretty quick. So much in Disney is becoming technology driven, and technology driven means technology dependent. Even if Disney IS accepting paper, that is a CM based decision - the technical "rule" is that they are supposed to see a digital copy of the card that has the same name as your ID. Some CM's are being nice, but they are not required to, and that's going to go away over time as more and more things are pushed into the digital world. As it is, you are quickly being shut out of things like Genie+ and ILL and QS dining. Disney is just not going to be non-technology friendly in the future - you will have to accept that there are some things you will not be able to do without a smart phone. Blue card access is likely to become one of them, and probably already is in some places (CM dependent).

Just about every loyalty program in the travel and hospitality industry uses digital cards exclusively. As do most insurance carriers (all three of mine, Farmers, Kaiser and Geico do). Come to think of it, aside from Sam's Club, Costco, and most credit cards, I haven't received a physical card from anyone in years (even retail credit card issuers like PayPal, Apple and Amazon offer you the option to forego a digital card, even for their co-branded MasterCards and Visas). Given that such a vast majority of people now own a smart phone, the trend towards all digital is only going to continue.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We are going to Disney on Saturday and my husband is driving down to vero beach on his own for a few days before he meets up with us. I just assumed I could download and print cards for both of us from the web site. I was going to print one out for him and just text him a copy Or bring it with me when i see him. But then I found out that because the DVc web site is in my email, I can only print out or Download my card. He has to set up his own account to get a card in his name. He needs the original activation number that I used to set up an account but of course thst is long gone since we have been members since 1998 and I don’t even remember when I set up an account. Anyway, I tried to do it for him yesterday, both through the chat function and then calling. But they treat this card like it’s private medical information and won’t even talk to me. He has to call himself. My husband is barely functional on his email let alone figuring out how to set up a DVc web site account. That’s why I did it initially.
I have to admit I got irritated with the representative and said…why in the hell have you made this so difficult, you Can clearly see thst our membership is in both our names! All I want is to get him a card! She said, yes I know I’m sorry, before I just hung up. I’m not one to get angry at customer service people who are just following the rules, its just said hard to understand why they have made getting a digital or printed out membership so difficult for couples thst are clearly listed as co owners. Anyway when I see him, he will have to call the number. Wait forever, get his activation code so thst I can then Set up his DVc account Online.

Sorry for The rant, I should have figured this out when actual cards went away but I always assumed we could get cards in both our names without difficulty and never bothered to try until now. He will talk to the concierge desk at vero beach when he gets there and maybe they can help. It’s certainly not that important in the great scheme of life but it’s annoying.

 

[tjkraz]

Counterpoint: It's a one-time step and DVC has been reminding people to do it for more than a year now.

 

[LPnerd]

Not really sure what you mean, but really hope it doesn't mean causing problems for cast members who are only trying to do their jobs. If it means complaining to those who made the decision, I'm all for it.

who do recommend talking to about this problem. It's not cast members. last time we went, I had a pretty big issue with something, I have never had to complain at disney, but was told city hall is the place. So I went, explained the problem, like 3 times to be understood, and the girl actually rolled her eyes! Not my disney any longer.That was the straw that broke. it.

 

[LPnerd]

Counterpoint: It's a one-time step and DVC has been reminding people to do it for more than a year now.

not for people who don't have their lives attached to phones.

 

[tjkraz]

not for people who don't have their lives attached to phones.

Prior poster's frustration involved the spouse not having access to the DVC website via their MDE account. Setting that up would have required a 10 minute phone call to Member Services anytime over the last 12+ months. The temporary card is still be displayed & printed once web access is enabled.

 

[CarolynFH]

who do recommend talking to about this problem. It's not cast members. last time we went, I had a pretty big issue with something, I have never had to complain at disney, but was told city hall is the place. So I went, explained the problem, like 3 times to be understood, and the girl actually rolled her eyes! Not my disney any longer.That was the straw that broke. it.

You could email wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com and explain the issue you had as well as the CM’s response and any other concerns you have. The more often they hear from guests the more likely they are to make changes.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Prior poster's frustration involved the spouse not having access to the DVC website via their MDE account. Setting that up would have required a 10 minute phone call to Member Services anytime over the last 12+ months. The temporary card is still be displayed & printed once web access is enabled.

They actually told us in early November of 2021 that our plastic cards were all expiring on 12/31.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Counterpoint: It's a one-time step and DVC has been reminding people to do it for more than a year now.

I don’t disagree at all but it just seems silly to have two accounts when both members are clearly shown as owners. Once he gets his activation number I’ll take care of setting up his account which he will never actually use. Life is full of small irritants. And yes I should have paid closer attention.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I don’t disagree at all but it just seems silly to have two accounts when both members are clearly shown as owners. Once he gets his activation number I’ll take care of setting up his account which he will never actually use. Life is full of small irritants. And yes I should have paid closer attention.

I think it's the unfortunate result of people abusing the system and continuing to utilize the plastic cards for discounts after they sold their contracts, or giving the cards to others to use. Some people will try to tell you Disney is making it "hard" to get the discounts as a way to save money, but it took me literally 5 minutes to get my two associate members set up with their own DVC accounts (I know because I saved the chat transcript). No discounts, but access for booking, etc. Once and done.

 

[scotttrippett]

I don’t disagree at all but it just seems silly to have two accounts when both members are clearly shown as owners. Once he gets his activation number I’ll take care of setting up his account which he will never actually use. Life is full of small irritants. And yes I should have paid closer attention.

Also be prepared for them not accept the printed version. They really want the digital one now as you could give a printed one to anyone

 

[BWV Dreamin]

"I refuse to play by the rules so I’m just gonna go into Karen mode instead."

Be careful what you say here! There are certain words you never want to use at an airport ( like bomb) or on a cruise ( like suicide). I feel “Karen” may fall into those categories…..LOL…

 

[Tigger7570]

I just spoke with MS on Monday. My husband has a flip phone and doesn’t do email. I needed to set up an account for him to be able to print a card. The cast member had to speak to my husband to get his permission to work with me so he could help me set up my husband’s account. The cast member had to give me the id number which is different from your membership number and he had to help with the activation code because we have been members since 93 and there was no website back then so I never had an activation code. The cast member was terrific and it took several tries with different activation codes. I have the digital card but he needs a paper copy to carry. According to the cast member, they should absolutely accept it. He said just to make sure that I printed it just before our trip because it expires a month from the date you print it. He did this same thing for his 85 year old father who has a flip phone.

 

[kilik64]

Get what you mean by flip phone but they make smart flip phones too now with foldable screens lol

 

[DonMacGregor]

Be careful what you say here! There are certain words you never want to use at an airport ( like bomb) or on a cruise ( like suicide). I feel “Karen” may fall into those categories…..LOL…

Or "smart phone"...

 

[n2mm]

why Are people still making this an issue. We have 3 members on my account. All 3 have dvc accounts and MDE accounts. No, my 70+ husband did not put his digital card in his wallet, I did. He could’ve if I helped him because I make him do these things himself normally. No he does not use the dvc account, but does know how to check MDE to see where he’s eating or to check wait times. I call it a memory game for him. I’m the only one that uses the dvc account. We have had separate accounts since day one of becoming members. It’s not that hard. btw, we are seniors btw, I’m tire of seeing posts on FB of resale members boasting about getting discounts even though they have a white card. They get away with showing just their dvc status from their profile page in MDE. (Both merchandise and dining) Just this week I saw one post that they were able to renew their sorcerer AP even though they are resale owners….why is this allowed? So blue card members can’t even buy a sorcerer pass, but a resale member can! This is why dvc is trying to enforce the restrictions.

 

[mz-s]

why Are people still making this an issue. We have 3 members on my account. All 3 have dvc accounts and MDE accounts. No, my 70+ husband did not put his digital card in his wallet, I did. He could’ve if I helped him because I make him do these things himself normally. No he does not use the dvc account, but does know how to check MDE to see where he’s eating or to check wait times. I call it a memory game for him. I’m the only one that uses the dvc account. We have had separate accounts since day one of becoming members. It’s not that hard. btw, we are seniors btw, I’m tire of seeing posts on FB of resale members boasting about getting discounts even though they have a white card. They get away with showing just their dvc status from their profile page in MDE. (Both merchandise and dining) Just this week I saw one post that they were able to renew their sorcerer AP even though they are resale owners….why is this allowed? So blue card members can’t even buy a sorcerer pass, but a resale member can! This is why dvc is trying to enforce the restrictions.

Resale owners getting the discounts is a training issue for CMs. The CMs just need to be trained to look for the specific DVC Y affiliation in the wallet. My last trip CMs made me open my digital wallet and show my DVC Y affiliation, perhaps they have had issues of people screenshotting the Wallet app and sharing screenshots. I think it will prove to be less and less of an issue as time goes on.

Of course there will probably always be CMs who apply the discount even though an owner may not qualify for it, simply to avoid confrontation. It is what it is. Perhaps eventually, Disney will require scanning the digital card to apply discounts which would seem to take care of the problem such as it is.

 

[n2mm]

Resale owners getting the discounts is a training issue for CMs. The CMs just need to be trained to look for the specific DVC Y affiliation in the wallet. My last trip CMs made me open my digital wallet and show my DVC Y affiliation, perhaps they have had issues of people screenshotting the Wallet app and sharing screenshots. I think it will prove to be less and less of an issue as time goes on.

Of course there will probably always be CMs who apply the discount even though an owner may not qualify for it, simply to avoid confrontation. It is what it is. Perhaps eventually, Disney will require scanning the digital card to apply discounts which would seem to take care of the problem such as it is.

A scan would solve the issue. That’s a good point. So many retailers require a scan now here at home. Heck even my husband knows how to bring up his QR code at Home Depot to get his military discount and as a note Home Depot’s QR code changes everytime you pull it up so you can’t even screenshot it. This prevents someone from sharing it.

 

[jimim]

I am not that 'tech savvy' but I Even have a smart phone.
I think you would hard press to purchase a cell phone now that is NOT smart. They are not expensive.

Maybe ask for one for Christmas

my father can only use flip phones. I gave him a old iPhone to use cause flip phones are garbage anymore and it was a freaking nightmare. lol he is so rough on phones. if my kid tried to call him via FaceTime he would hold it up to his ear. so many things. lol. I love my dad dearly but him and a smart phone just isn't going to happen at 80 now. lol. my mom she is ok. . . took her a few years though. lol

 

[jimim]

Also be prepared for them not accept the printed version. They really want the digital one now as you could give a printed one to anyone

and they want to too the letter or whatever to show if u are direct (r grandfathered in resale) or resale. I was asked that a ton last trip.