DVC & Dream Cruise

[TChrist05]

My DW and I are DVC members and we like to cruise DCL also. Two weeks ago we did the 3 night Dream. Got a call from the Vacation Club on Monday telling us about the Member gathering on sailaway day. We like to go to get the mug and catch up on the new things. Well I have to tell you that they no longer give out the mugs--actually they give you nothing now. We sat through the whole presentation and got a bottle of water and heard about the new offers to add on to your membership. They did not even tell you what the current cost of points are. I did stop at the member desk to find out they are $171 per point now. What a waste of time. They had a listing of times to meet with a rep on board and not one time was taken. Nice to see what my annual dues is paying for. Last member gathering we will ever attend.

 

[ivanp91]

Nice to see what my annual dues is paying for.

Your annual dues are to pay for things at your home resort, such as maintenance, refurbishments, taxes and general operating expenses. It doesn't go to other resorts nor does it pay for anything that DVC may offer elsewhere (including the cruise gathering). I know you must be a little flustered that the quality of the gathering has dropped off, and I agree it sounds disappointing, and maybe that comment was more out of frustration than actual belief that your dues pay for it, but it's an incorrect statement all the same.

 

[Geomom]

We are DVC members, did our first cruise (7 days) on the Wonder to Alaska this past August--and I was pleasantly surprised by all the things we came home with. Our member gathering (day 2, at sea, in the AM) had free drinks (champagne, mimosas, sparkling cider with a cherry, and Evian bottled water), a Meet and Greet with Belle before the gathering started, and everyone got a 25th anniversary pin at the end. (As well as some random flash drives thrown to the crowd and the raffle drawings.) We had a card in the room that had a token to redeem for a new DVC hat. By going up to the DVC desk, we got our free lanyards the first day, got light up rubber bracelets for frozen night, and got a copy of the Walt and Lilly print that was hanging in our room. We had multiple messages on our machine during the trip to tell us about all these things.

Here's the link to my post in the DVC area about what we got:
http://disboards.com/threads/disney-cruise-line-dvc-freebies-pics-added-8-19.3537419/

Sorry your Dream cruise didn't have these things! Perhaps it's just stuff they only do on longer cruises now? I am surprised that they didn't at least give you the pins at the end of your meeting.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am on current Member Cruise and we are getting plenty of nice things!

 

[dclpluto]

I am on current Member Cruise and we are getting plenty of nice things!

Yes on a dvc member you get a lot more stuff. But you are actually paying for the stuff yourself. DVc cruise costs a lot more than a regular cruise.

 

[SnowWhite2]

I was surprised in Jan/Feb on our B2B cruise that we got nothing. I said something to the lady at the back of the room when we left and she said they don't give things away daily or at the meeting. That is how it is now but in the past we got lots of goodies. Once we got leather portfolios for attending the meeting on the first day. We've had sand cups, pins, pics of DVC resorts, pirate tattoes, wood boxes, journal with pens, backpacks, hats, etc. Every day you went to the desk and got a prize. Some were nicer than others but every day was a prize. Now, you get nothing. It was even hard to get a free drink.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes on a dvc member you get a lot more stuff. But you are actually paying for the stuff yourself. DVc cruise costs a lot more than a regular cruise.

You are prepaying gratuities and getting excellent entertainment. It is a package deal, and I think this year's has been exceptional.

Joe Rhodie (Sp?) has done presentations as well as a special TV documentary on the snow leopard!

 

[islandsnoopy]

You are prepaying gratuities and getting excellent entertainment. It is a package deal, and I think this year's has been exceptional.

Joe Rhodie (Sp?) has done presentations as well as a special TV documentary on the snow leopard!

I believe the OP is referring to the DVC information presentations that are held on most cruises.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I believe the OP is referring to the DVC information presentations that are held on most cruises.

Ok!
I was in one on the Dream Sept 5, plenty of drinks, bottles of water, but no hats. Got one in March on Wonder cruise.

 

[Quellman]

I was surprised in Jan/Feb on our B2B cruise that we got nothing. I said something to the lady at the back of the room when we left and she said they don't give things away daily or at the meeting. That is how it is now but in the past we got lots of goodies. Once we got leather portfolios for attending the meeting on the first day. We've had sand cups, pins, pics of DVC resorts, pirate tattoes, wood boxes, journal with pens, backpacks, hats, etc. Every day you went to the desk and got a prize. Some were nicer than others but every day was a prize. Now, you get nothing. It was even hard to get a free drink.

Odd. We did B2B on the Dream in February. Coloring book for my son. Treats from Vanellopes. Champagne was plentiful along with water. They also had plenty of the chinese tumblers, some bags for sharing member stories, and the raffle. Didn't do the desk side goodie pick up because I have some many pictures of Walt and Lily now I certainly don't need any more.

 

[edith76]

We did a Fantasy cruise in August and out of 34 cruises this Member thing was the worst. There were a few people with beverages but don't know where they got them because they weren't being handed out. Haphazard purchase presentation. You needed to do a little math to figure out what the price per point was and you had to pick up your hat later with a card they left in the room. Really a waste of time.