DVC discounts after the demise of Disney Club

[cmark]

Well it looks like the Disney Club is gone for good. Now the question is whether the DVC discounts will stay in place. Alot of the DVC discounts were also discounts under the "Club".

Clearly, DVC discounts on the unlimited magic pass may be more important now that there will be no discounted annual passes(except for Florida residents).

The other thing that makes me wonder if the Disney management is looking is the issue of the great discounts given to Florida residents, but not to "owners" -- maybe we all get regular annual passes so why give us a special discount.

With the price increases, I will most likely stop buying annual passes--and start buying multi day passes. I will miss running into Epcot for dinner, but there are great resturants at the resorts (and out side the world) that I can go to. The annual pass has kept me from going to Universal or Sea World or running over to Kennedy Space center--now I will go see them! That takes money out of Disney's pocket!

I know this is long--and many have posted similar views---I just want to vent and see what you all think about the future of DVC discounts.

 

[alsipd]

I agree. This will be the last year for my Annual Passes too. Unless Disney is willing to give the DVC members a discount on them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Instead of complaining here, we should ALL send these concerns to DVC management and WDW management. I doubt they realize how many of us feel this way.

 

[CrayzeeDiz]

I am disgusted with the lack of discounts we get. We should be getting 50% off our passes and 25% off food. Florida residents should not get any discounts. Fact is we put much more money in Disneys pockets than most Florida residents. I will also be visiting more of Sea World and Universal in the future. Gee I get at least a AAA discount at those parks. There are plenty of fine restaurants in orlando . Next time I visit I will spend my cash outside of Disney World.

 

[Goofy Fan]

I will also be visiting more of Sea World and Universal in the future. Gee I get at least a AAA discount at those parks.

You get a 5% discount on Park Hopper Plus passes and Ultimate Hopper Passes with AAA as well, which is the same discount with DC. In fact, a yearly membership with AAA costs less than the DC annual fee, and you get auto protection benefits as well.

 

[RobDoc]

Fact is we put much more money in Disneys pockets than most Florida residents.

Would you share where that "fact" was obtained? FL residents are what has sustained the parks, resorts and restaurants at WDW over the years and especially during the last year.

FL residents are enticed to come to WDW during the slower times with special room discount programs and admission discounts. These discounts are offered to a group that otherwise might NOT go there and spend their dollars.

While I don't have access to any figures from Disney, I'm certain that FL residents spend far more than DVC members annually- they outnumber DVC members by a huge margin ( even the small percentage that are attracted by the discounts outnumber us by a huge margin).

On any given day, there are at most about 1500 rooms occupied by DVC members at WDW. Even if we assume an average occupancy of 5 (a generous assumption), those 7500 DVC guests comprise a minuscule part of the total attendance.

We may have over 60,000 members total, but we don't effectively represent a significant number in any park on any given day. It will take a lot more to convince Disney that we should be given any more incentive that we already receive.

 

[Dean]

While the DC will be history, I'm not sure the discounts will be. What I've seen has hinted at a replacement program of some type. There are many other locations to get the minimal discounts on park hoppers like travel agencies, AAA and the like.

While per person DVC member may put more money into Disney, I'm sure the total dollars favor Florida Residents as a group over DVC members. I agree that I feel WDW should offer DVC members more discounts and/or options, but they are not required to do so.

 

[Disney Duo]

Please fill me in!! I guess I missed something. What is going on with discontinuing the DC? I have not heard anything about this. When will it take place? I gather whenever it is, they are doing away with the discounts on annual passes. I hate to hear that!!!!

 

[wdeversole]

I believe you can still join DC through Dec 2002 - the program will cease to exist at the end of 2003.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I agree that we (DVC) should be entitled to a discounted entry rate, however, I also feel that $50 spent to walk into Disney is a fantastic rate compared to Broadway tickets, movie tickets, etc.

Family went to a Broadway play and after $500 spent in less than 3 hours, we were looking at each other on what to do next and how much it would cost. Disney is a fantastic value overall.

I am compiling a letter to send to DVC and let them know my dissatisfaction on the discounting program offered to DVC members.

I would encourage others to do so, if they feel the same way.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by wdeversole
I believe you can still join DC through Dec 2002 - the program will cease to exist at the end of 2003.

Apparently you must renew by Dec 12 (regardless of your expiration date) to keep the program going for you until Dec 31, 2003.

 

[Paul in CT]

Not only do the Florida residents spend more money at Disney than DVC members, they also have to put up with all the tourists and pay the taxes for the infrastructure that these tourists pass through.

I have always assumed that these were part of the reason Disney has made discounts available to them. Sure, I would like some DVC discounts, but let's not begrudge the FL residents theirs! They deserve them and they have helped to maintain park attendance this past year.

 

[Lyndarella]

Is the AAA discount really the same as DC on passes? If so, I don't need to renew DC. I do like the magazine, tho.

 

[msdis]

Something I noticed last night on Disney's web -if you buy passes on line they do give a discount. It's between 4 & 5 %. Not a great deal but better than nothing.

 

[sratay]

Paul,
I agree that FL residents probably spend more at WDW totally than all DVC members and I agree that they have to put up with the tourists, but to imply they exclusively support the infastructure all Florida visitors use is incorrect. How about all the fuel taxes that tourist driving in the state? That all goes to FL roads, or is supposed to. How about all the sales taxes that visitors pay while spending their money? That all goes to the state. Much of the infastructure for FL, especially the transportation systems is Federally funded. The main reason FL residents get discounts is simple...it makes business sense. I'd do the same thing and I hope they get discounts forever. I just wish they'd do something for DVC members until 2042. I don't expect it, but I can alsways wish
Steve in Iowa

 

[mitros]

Sorry, but I disagree with crazeediz regarding florida residents discounts. We residents spend far more money at wdw as we do not go to the world once a year for a weeks vacation. We are here all the time. My wife and I go to wdw at least 25 to 30 times a year, and we live 90 miles away. At lot of the local people {witin 25 miles of wdw} go there every day and spend their hard earned $.And beleive me, the $s are much less salary-wise down here.

 

[Jollymon]

I too am a Florida Resident and can honestly tell you that if it wasn't for the seasonal pass, I would:
1) Not be a DVC owner
2) Not have planned the 4 WDW vacations that I have for the rest of this year and the 1st quarter of the next one.

There are simply too many options in Florida for a resident. I had not gone to DWD for over 12 years when I returned this September for a week's vacation; I live 2.5 hours away. Of course, lot's has changed since my last visit to WDW in 1990, of most importance is my 2 kids of 3 years and 7 months of age. Seeing how much my oldest one enjoyed the water parks, the relative savings of purchasing a seasonal pass, the relative closeness, I decided not only to buy into DVC, but to come back once a month for a couple of days in the off season.

I don't like crowds, so I won't venture near WDW in the summer time, plus we have other recreations in the summertime that we enjoy better than going to WDW and baking in the summer heat (we bake in the summer heat in the Bahamas aboard our boat).


Andrew

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

What we all fail to realize is that DVC is NOT Disney per se.
They are a separate entity and have to negotiate with WDW for any and all discounts we receive.
Again I say, we bought a time share (to put it simply), we (well most of us) were not promised anything except a real estate interest in DVC until the year 2042. IMHO, anything we get past that is gravy.
At this time we have many discounts and while I would love to see a larger discount on passes (expanded also) I am content with what I purchased, because that is exactly what I received.
To sign a contract and then start to complain after is not rational.
If you wanted discounts or a slide at the pool etc, then you should not have purchased at DVC. This is akin to buying a house and then after you signed the contract wanting more land, a bigger house, another bathroom, etc. Folks, you bought a time share, nothing more. You have a guaranteed place to stay (space available of course) until the year 2042. The only thing you pay for past the purchase price is annual fees. With the way prices increase at the resorts, you are getting one he** of a bargain for the accomodations you receive.
I absolutely do not begrudge the FL residents any of the discounts they receive. They do pour many more dollars into the economy of FL than we will ever "donate", not to mention they have to put up with us crazy tourists all year long.
Rather than looking at what we do not receive, it might benefit us all to look at what we do receive.

 

[Dean]

Gail, while you are technically correct, I do not see asking for the discounts that WDW gives for free to other groups is unreasonable nor do I see it as whining. I am a FL resident and get all of the benefits already that I think WDW should extend to DVC members, I just think it's the right thing to do. Will it upset me if they don't, lord no. We're just discussing the issue.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Dean
Gail, while you are technically correct, I do not see asking for the discounts that WDW gives for free to other groups is unreasonable nor do I see it as whining. I am a FL resident and get all of the benefits already that I think WDW should extend to DVC members, I just think it's the right thing to do. Will it upset me if they don't, lord no. We're just discussing the issue.

Dean , I agree with you. But a word of "warning". Gail takes everything "personal" for some reason, so be carefull. Especially on the "

" topic.