DVC Direct Member Benefits Digital Card Questions

[muppets3d]

I always have my wallet on me. I don't always have my phone. My wallet never runs out of battery or gets shared with one kid while I go somewhere else with another. To me pulling out a QR code and my ID is much more convenient and just as secure, assuming ID is checked.

Unless the printed cards had QR codes, what I'm talking about is completely different. I'm not asking for the cards back, just alternatives to relying on your phone for everything.

So what's the solution if you don't have a smart phone (fairly uncommon), your phone dies (very common nowadays with having to do everything), or you don't have your phone for whatever reason (probably more common than people think)? Sure, DVC could just say sorry, you're out of luck but they don't have to when there's a very simple solution available.

If your phone runs out of battery, you don't get your 10% off at Wetzel's Pretzels. Life goes on.

 

[Sandisw]

If your phone runs out of battery, you don't get your 10% off at Wetzel's Pretzels. Life goes on.

Just like if you forgot your DVC card in the room back in the day. Plenty of times I did.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

Because a QR code on a card/pass in your wallet can be automatically updated (like an airline boarding pass or your Starbucks balance) by DVC. If you simply printed out a QR code or took a screen shot, then the POS at every vendor that offers discounts (both Disney and non-Disney) would need to be linked to the DVC membership database in order to verify that the member is still eligible for discounts. Otherwise, we'd be right back where we were with plastic cards.

With the QR code only accessible from the digital wallet, DVC can update that digital card whenever they need to and if necessary, change it from DVC-Y to DVC-ND if a member's eligibility changes. When scanned, it doesn't need to link the POS to a database, it just needs to translate into the member's name and Y or ND.

All of our Disney related information is accessible by anywhere that can scan a magicband, which is most if not all places where DVC-Y would matter. This information can be updated and accessed realtime just as easily as going through a digital wallet.

Maybe instead of static qr codes, the better question is why can't we just use magicbands? Even more convenient than having to pull out a phone or qr code. Plus you have the option to use your phone with MDE if you don't have a magicband or insist on being glued to your phone while on vacation.

 

[muppets3d]

All of our Disney related information is accessible by anywhere that can scan a magicband, which is most if not all places where DVC-Y would matter. This information can be updated and accessed realtime just as easily as going through a digital wallet.

Maybe instead of static qr codes, the better question is why can't we just use magicbands? Even more convenient than having to pull out a phone or qr code. Plus you have the option to use your phone with MDE if you don't have a magicband or insist on being glued to your phone while on vacation.

Thus far the only time they read that data off the card/magic band is for access - extended evening hours, special parties, admission to the DVC or AP lounges, etc., or when at the front desk of your resort. I guess it's probably just a training/equipment issue. They don't want to supply cast members at the thousands of POSes around the resort with that equipment, when they can just ask the member to show their card in the wallet.

 

[Stormalong Smiths]

Thus far the only time they read that data off the card/magic band is for access - extended evening hours, special parties, admission to the DVC or AP lounges, etc., or when at the front desk of your resort. I guess it's probably just a training/equipment issue. They don't want to supply cast members at the thousands of POSes around the resort with that equipment, when they can just ask the member to show their card in the wallet.

While I personally would love to just scan my MB, DVC also has to account for the people who don’t use them. I’m sure they have data on what % of people use MBs vs. smart phones and determined that smart phones was the more “universal” option.

 

[muppets3d]

While I personally would love to just scan my MB, DVC also has to account for the people who don’t use them. I’m sure they have data on what % of people use MBs vs. smart phones and determined that smart phones was the more “universal” option.

It works the same with a ticket hard card. In this case, magic band is a stand-in for any kind of ticket media - actual magic band, ticket card, or magicmobile on a smartphone (which some people here are afraid of apparently)

 

[matt and beth]

Maybe it’s because we try to be nice to cast members and they are trying to return the favor… but they usually ask any discounts? DVC, annual pass, or Disney visa? My response is DVC non discount or Visa. They respond the way they see fit.

 

[Stormalong Smiths]

It works the same with a ticket hard card. In this case, magic band is a stand-in for any kind of ticket media - actual magic band, ticket card, or magicmobile on a smartphone (which some people here are afraid of apparently)

Sure, absolutely. But they aren’t generally scanning your ticket media at cash registers and dining locations… so that leads to an equipment issue, as you mentioned. I imagine the current situation is the path of least resistance/investment.

 

[muppets3d]

Sure, absolutely. But they aren’t generally scanning your ticket media at cash registers and dining locations… so that leads to an equipment issue, as you mentioned. I imagine the current situation is the path of least resistance/investment.

That's what I think as well, adding the affiliation to the back of the MagicMobile card was a compromise - it gives cashier cast members a way to verify membership without Disney needing to purchase special equipment for each and every POS around the property.

 

[DonMacGregor]

That's what I think as well, adding the affiliation to the back of the MagicMobile card was a compromise - it gives cashier cast members a way to verify membership without Disney needing to purchase special equipment for each and every POS around the property.

And there’s the issue of third-party vendors like restaurants or merchants that offer discounts in places like Downtown Disney and Disney Springs.

 

[MartyParty]

Perk programs are not covered by member dues. So these benefits all exist literally as an incentive for members to purchase direct points.

I often roll my eyes whenever people (non-specifically) gripe about DVC member perks getting worse. Yes things like DME and Extra Magic Hours have changed over the years. But those aren't DVC perks, they were resort benefits offered to all guests. (And DME didn't debut until 2005, so many people were frequent WDW guests before that appeared.)

As for DVC, when we purchased in 2003, the list of discounted restaurants included about 20-25 locations across all WDW. There were modest discounts backstage tours, spa services, waterspouts rentals and mini-golf.

The two things which come to mind which were actually lost over the years were valet parking and the golf membership. Members used to get free valet parking at all deluxe resorts. Gratuity was expected, though members reportedly weren't the best about tipping. And when Disney still owned and operated the golf courses, members could buy an annual discount pass which offered some nice price reduction off the normal rate.

What perks weren't offered prior to 2010-ish? Well, pretty much every other perk we have today including:

• Moonlight Magic
• Private members-only lounges
• Annual pass discount / access to Sorcerer pass
• 20% merchandise discount
• 10% discount at almost every table service restaurant
• Discounts for after hours parties (Disney After Hours, MNSSHP, etc)
• Exclusive photo spots at after hours parties
• Halloween / Christmas / Valentine's Day "meet n treat" events
• Kiosk giveaways like magic band sliders, collectible coins, magnets

DVC is funding all of these items. And they aren't doing it as some magnanimous "thank you" to owners. They exist to help promote new point sales. To sway people to buy into DVC in the first place, and to choose direct over resale.

Some of these perks are also available to groups like Passholders and Disney Visa cardholders. But I expect DVC to continue investing in things like the lounges and Moonlight Magic. Things that they can put in front of prospective members and say "you only get this if you buy from me!"

Are they reason enough to buy points at the Cabins for $200+ apiece vs Hilton Head resale for $70? No, of course not. But the math works differently, depending upon resort, contract duration and the buyers' preferences. And FOMO can be a powerful thing. Skeptics will correctly point out that things like the Sorcerer pass are not guaranteed to exist down the road. But right now, a family of 4 looking to visit enough to justify an annual pass will save about $1800 per year over buying the Incredipass.

Thanks for sharing this Tim. Very informative with the history of perks. Got me to thinking about our choice to buy direct.

The one perk (although not technically a perk) for direct is access to new DVC resorts. That’s the one benefit for us that is appealing. We bought VDH points but have used them all up. We will instead be staying at VDH for our next trip using OKW points. I’d like to try out a stay at Riviera but DW isn’t a fan. We both want like to try out the cabins and bring our dog Tazzie. As you say, does the direct price justify resale? Probably not but that’s the one benefit that draws us. All the rest are nice to haves and can change or disappear.