DVC Deal to an Upgrade at SSR !

[Cindie-rella]

I just wanted to share some info I found out from a friend regarding DVC resorts. He informed me that last summer (late July) he and his family members were going to Disney and rented 3 rooms at POR. Meanwhile after they had made this reservation one of them in the party had received a postcard giving them great rates at SSR studio, I believe for the same cost or maybe a bit less than it was costing them at POR. So they took advantage of this offer and switched to SSR. When they arrived they were each (all 3 rooms) "upgraded" to a 1 bedroom ! I think they paid $159./night and ended up in a 1 bedroom !

I was just curious how this might have happened since everyone is always saying how hard it is to get DVC rooms at even the 7 mo. window and here these people not only got rooms at 2 mo. out but then were "upgraded". Maybe it wasn't so busy last summer? Or perhaps SSR is the easiest to get in to. Just wanted to let some of you on the waitlist know that maybe you should try SSR or at least not give up hope.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I... I was just curious how this might have happened since everyone is always saying how hard it is to get DVC rooms at even the 7 mo. window and here these people not only got rooms at 2 mo. out but then were "upgraded". Maybe it wasn't so busy last summer? Or perhaps SSR is the easiest to get in to. Just wanted to let some of you on the waitlist know that maybe you should try SSR or at least not give up hope.

Two different sets of inventory. Inventory on points for member and inventory owned by Disney or to be used by CRO (since a member traded out for another Disney vacation other than DVC). Since SSR isn't sold out yet, Disney can do anything they want with that inventory.

 

[Cindie-rella]

Oh, so Disney keeps rooms aside for non DVC. But you would think that instead of placing DVC members on waitlist that they(DVC members) should get those rooms available 1st. But I guess Disney would not be able to make all that extra money Does each DVC resort set aside so many rooms for non members? Or is it just SSR that hasn't been sold out yet?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oh, so Disney keeps rooms aside for non DVC. But you would think that instead of placing DVC members on waitlist that they(DVC members) should get those rooms available 1st. But I guess Disney would not be able to make all that extra money Does each DVC resort set aside so many rooms for non members? Or is it just SSR that hasn't been sold out yet?

Not quite correct. They don't set aside rooms for non-DVC. When a resort isn't sold out or Disney has purchased points back with ROFR, they sell those stays for cash to anyone. DVC can only sell points stays for as many points as have been sold AND not traded for a non-DVC vacation. So if you want to go on the Disney Cruise using your points, they have to get back the money that they paid DCL for your trip on points. So they sell a like number of points through CRO for stays. You can't book a room more than once with points. When you traded out for the DCL, you "booked a room at a DVC resort using your points", then they sold that room to pay for your cruise.

 

[Chuck S]

Any resort that still has points available through Disney is not fully sold. Those points are developers points, and can be used by Disney/DVC as they see fit, as those rooms are not owned by members.

Disney also gets cash rooms to use when a DVC member trades out to the Disney Collection, Adv. by Disney, Cruiseline, Concierge Collection. etc (except II trades). Once those rooms go into Disney inventory they are rented fo cash to offset the cost to DVC of the trade. Thiese rooms can not be rented by members on points, as under FL timeshare law, legally Members are using that room already, only they used it to trade.

Cash room also become available if the DVC invntory of rooms is not fully reserved by members at 60 days out, these rooms can be reclaimed for member use, if they are not already rented for cash. Income from these rooms shows up as "breakage" income in our dues.

Disney also retains about 4% ownership in all DVC resorts, it allows them to take rooms out of inventoty for rehab and maintenance as needed. However, if those rooms are not needed fr maintenance or rehab, that are also made available for cash reservations.

It is not a case of Disney "keeping rooms aside", it is that those rooms are either being used by members for trades, or are not owned by members in the first place.

 

[Cindie-rella]

Ok, I get it. Thanks Deb & Bill, you are always so informative ! Being interested in buying DVC I'm so glad I have these boards to turn to. It's people like yourself that make things so much easier for those of us in need of answers.

 

[rayelias]

As far as I'm concerned, just another slap in the face to the loyal DVC members who built and maintain these resorts, with OUR money, for Disney.

Yes, they're Disney (DVC's) rooms to do with what they want. But, when they upgrade from a value or moderate ($99-129/nite - many times less) to a DVC Studio ($250+/night) or a 1BR ($400+/nite) it cheapens the brand. Why aren't they upgrading people from Grand Floridian, Contemporary, or Poly?

Plus, last year, they were upgrading people from value that were on the free dining plan! So, for $99 a nite, your family of 4 got to eat for free AND stay in a studio (or 1BR if you complained) in DVC!

But, they can't upgrade US, because that's a different set of points. Bull. You an use those points for outsiders, but you can't use them for US?!? Swap the points around so WE get some upgrades (from Studio to 1BR, or 1BR to 2BR, etc), and give the outsiders the swapped points.

Other than the AP discount, there's really nothing special. No upgrades, no free dining... we get a few minor discounts (5-10%) on things, but in order to get THAT perk, we have to spend more money - so, it's really a perk for Disney.

They up our exchange fee, they take away our dishes(?!?)...

I'm all for giving some perks to guests, but instead of rewarding those of us who are they loyal, spending thousands every year, they're giving these awesome deals to one-time visitors.

Where's OUR love?

(and I know they don't OWE us anything, but they don't owe any of the OTHER guests anything, either. Spread some magic our way.)

 

[Muushka]

(and I know they don't OWE us anything, but they don't owe any of the OTHER guests anything, either. Spread some magic our way.)

 

[Chuck S]

Of course, they could recitify the situation by simply discontinuing any non-II trades.

Someone has to pay for those trades, either through room rentals or dues.

As far as why they don't "upgrade" from GF, Poly or Contemporary, personally, if I had reserved, and paid the $$$ for a tower room, a GF room or Poly room, I would be disappointed to be in an SSR or OKW one bedroom, as nice as those rooms are. They are not on the monorail circuit, and they do not have the MK view, which would certainly be a considerable factor in my reserving those deluxe rooms in the first place.

 

[TSMIII]

Yes, they're Disney (DVC's) rooms to do with what they want. But, when they upgrade from a value or moderate ($99-129/nite - many times less) to a DVC Studio ($250+/night) or a 1BR ($400+/nite) it cheapens the brand. Why aren't they upgrading people from Grand Floridian, Contemporary, or Poly?...

Plus, last year, they were upgrading people from value that were on the free dining plan! So, for $99 a nite, your family of 4 got to eat for free AND stay in a studio (or 1BR if you complained) in DVC!...

You an use those points for outsiders, but you can't use them for US?!?...


I'm all for giving some perks to guests, but instead of rewarding those of us who are they loyal, spending thousands every year, they're giving these awesome deals to one-time visitors...


(and I know they don't OWE us anything, but they don't owe any of the OTHER guests anything, either. Spread some magic our way.)

I agree it would be nice to also get upgrades if available, and like you said since we've already become members they don't really owe us any upgrades.

But I don't think it's cheapening the brand as much as it is showing it off.

With extra points available, due to trade outs,etc. it makes sense they'd try to make new DVC owners out of the cash paying customers by showing them firsthand what they'd be getting.

As Chuck S said, probably not a clear advantage if you're coming from a GF, Poly or Contemp. room but from a Mod or Value? You bet.

I think of it like something similar to those other timeshares that call you and offer X number of free nights at one of their resorts if you'll come and listen to their spiel for 3 hours. This is just a little more subtle. Afterall, they've already paid whatever they're going to pay for their room wherever it ends up being so DVC isn't making money on them - unless they buy in. Upgrading them just increases the odds that they'll consider it since they may not have been aware of DVC previously, and perhaps would not be enticed into taking the tour just by seeing the literature/advertising in their Mod or Value room or in the parks.

 

[DebbieB]

Of course, they could recitify the situation by simply discontinuing any non-II trades.

Someone has to pay for those trades, either through room rentals or dues.

As far as why they don't "upgrade" from GF, Poly or Contemporary, personally, if I had reserved, and paid the $$$ for a tower room, a GF room or Poly room, I would be disappointed to be in an SSR or OKW one bedroom, as nice as those rooms are. They are not on the monorail circuit, and they do not have the MK view, which would certainly be a considerable factor in my reserving those deluxe rooms in the first place.

I agree, I would not consider SSR an upgrade from one of the monorail resorts or even from one of the deluxe epcot resorts. SSR just does not have the same "wow" location. DVC is using the empty rooms (that they still own) to try to sell DVC to new members. They are DVC's rooms (not member rooms) to do with as they please.

A friend of mine bought DVC when she got a promotional deal for Hilton Head in February a few years ago (a time when the resort is not highly occupied). They gave her and her husband a 2 bedroom really cheap, they were required to attend the DVC presentation.

 

[Queenofthecastle]

Doing this doesn't cost Disney anything, and they can only make more money from it if they can get another family to purchase DVC.

 

[dzorn]

I think Disney does it to help sell a resort. What better way than to have them enjoy a resort to get them to come back.

Denise in MI

 

[rayelias]

They gave her and her husband a 2 bedroom really cheap, they were required to attend the DVC presentation.

I have NEVER heard of DVC doing this.

Anyone?

 

[rayelias]

With extra points available, due to trade outs,etc. it makes sense they'd try to make new DVC owners out of the cash paying customers by showing them firsthand what they'd be getting.

Doing this doesn't cost Disney anything, and they can only make more money from it if they can get another family to purchase DVC.

I think Disney does it to help sell a resort. What better way than to have them enjoy a resort to get them to come back.

There's no argument as to WHY Disney's doing this. Of course, they're trying to get more members.

My beef is where is OUR love? - WE paid to build and maintain these awesome resorts so that Disney can give them away as perks to perpetuate the cash machine known as DVC.

Where is OUR free dining? Where are OUR upgrades to a larger room or a better view?

Did you ever notice that the more you spend at Disney the less you get? They practically give away Value rooms for as little as $55/nite (what is that a 60% discount?) at times. Or, as I previously mentioned, during free dining, spend $99 a nite at value (as part of a package) and your family of 4 can eat for free (your room is better than free. You can stay at a value for $79-99/nite or a Mod for ($99-$129/nite) and get upgraded to a $450+/nite 1BR.

Rarely, if ever, do they offer comparable discounts or perks to people staying in Deluxe resorts (paying 3-5X more). They don't give comparable discounts to DVC members (who spent $16+ to join AND $50k in maintenance over the life of the contract).

The less you spend, the more perks you get. It's like some freaky social experiment. Spend $16k to join DVC (and build Disney a resort) and $1000 in dues (and maintain the resort for Disney), and you get squat. Spend $10k on a Grand Floridian vacation, and you get squat. Spend $1500 for a family of 4 to spend a week, and you get free dining, park tickets, and a potential upgrade to, not a moderate, not a deluxe, not a studio at deluxe villa, but a 1BR at a deluxe villa. If Disney wants to upgrade people, let Disney stick the family of 4 at Pop Century at Grand Floridian. I wonder what the response from GF guests would be if they knew that the same room they spent $600/nite for is going to someone paying $99/nite AND getting free dining to boot.

Oh, and by the way - those who say DVC is a "downgrade" from Deluxe, that's not how Disney is marketing it... http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...mparison?id=BOSOPResortCategoryComparisonPage
DVC is top of the list (as it should be).

This is going to come out wrong, and I don't want to sound "elitist", but frankly, if I pay to stay at the Four Seasons, I don't want Motel 6 to be sending their customers to stay at my resort (and for 1/5 of my cost). If I want to stay at Motel 6, I'll stay at Motel 6. (And FWIW, I usually stay 1-2X a year at POP or All Stars, so I'm not a "resort snob". But, when I stay at DVC, I want my experience to be a DVC experience.)

 

[Chuck S]

Oh, and by the way - those who say DVC is a "downgrade" from Deluxe, that's not how Disney is marketing it... http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...mparison?id=BOSOPResortCategoryComparisonPage
DVC is top of the list (as it should be).

Again, if I were to pay $400 + per night specifically for monorail access and a CR tower view of MK, I would consider a one bedroom DVC room a downgrade. You may not agree, but it is definately how I would feel. 2 Queen beds is not the same as a bed & sleeper sofa, and if I had planned on a tower room at the CR, a full kitchen would not be an upgrade, as I would not be planning on cooking anyway.

This is going to come out wrong, and I don't want to sound "elitist", but frankly, if I pay to stay at the Four Seasons, I don't want Motel 6 to be sending their customers to stay at my resort (and for 1/5 of my cost). If I want to stay at Motel 6, I'll stay at Motel 6. (And FWIW, I usually stay 1-2X a year at POP or All Stars, so I'm not a "resort snob". But, when I stay at DVC, I want my experience to be a DVC experience.)

But whether those other Four Seasons guests came from Motel 6, or if other DVC guests came from POP, what impact (and truthfully how would you know where they came from) would it have on your experience? There would be no impact to you at all, whether those rooms are occupied by other members or by cash guests.

 

[Queenofthecastle]

Let's not forget that these upgrades are still very few and far between and rarely happen. It is the exception, not the norm. I agree that we as DVC owners could use more perks (I seriously could use a private chef when I'm in a 1 bedroom ), but think about it this way. Buying DVC is already a perk in itself. We bought DVC because we knew we want to be going to WDW at least every other year and DVC will save us a tremendous amount of money over the next 40 or so years, even with the dues(ick!) The families who get upgraded from POR to SSR (for example) are very lucky, and will hopefully enjoy SSR so much that they DO buy in to DVC and help us all pay dues to help maintain and build our beloved community. I think it is really smart on Disney's part since those who like POR will probably also like the peacefulness of SSR. As DVC owners we are already blessed with being able to go often thanks to the perks that we DO have such as great AP/PAP discounts.

 

[ZekeKelso]

This is going to come out wrong, and I don't want to sound "elitist", but frankly, if I pay to stay at the Four Seasons, I don't want Motel 6 to be sending their customers to stay at my resort (and for 1/5 of my cost).

Uh, keep in mind that, normally, we are the Motel 6 customers paying cheap rates to stay in Deluxe accomidations, while the CRO folks pay top dollar.

 

[CarolA]

It's called marketing.

And they haven't done it since last year so do we REALLY need to beat this dead horse?

If they do it again then maybe it's an issue.....

 

[rayelias]

Uh, keep in mind that, normally, we are the Motel 6 customers paying cheap rates to stay in Deluxe accomidations, while the CRO folks pay top dollar.

Sorry, I don't see spending $175,000+* as being "Motel 6 Customers". (And, if you add 2 AP's a year into the mix, that brings the total up to over $325,000)

* $16k up front + $800/yr in dues increasing 5% annually over the life of the contract (eg. 160 pts at SSR (expires 2054) purchased in 2006))

And, that doesn't count the additional money we spend on dining, souvenirs, park tickets, etc, etc.

I VERY MUCH doubt that, other than DVC members, other Disney guests will spend $175,000 on accommodations alone between now and 2054.

And yet, Disney is giving away more and better perks to people spending $99/nite (or less) than to DVC members, who over the life of the contract, spend over $3600/year just to DVC.

Again, I have no problem that Disney gives away these perks. My problem is that why aren't DVC members getting at least comparable perks (if not more - we deserve it - we spend more, we promote more, we've invested more).