DVC magic band is now Direct only

[Maistre Gracey]

What I think is VASTLY undervalued or considered is not that new people spend more, because I am not convinced they do. DVC people right off the bat are paying $$$ in dues, which pay for taxes, upgrades to facilities, parking lots, salaries, etc. that Disney does not have to pay. If we all left, imagine how much money they would need from "new people" to make up the thousands I spend right off the bat, let alone the money they make from direct sales. All of this without us even being there. So to only look at meals, park, souvenirs is so short sided and was ultimately the business side that Paycheck never really understood. The other side is that when we are underappreciated, people openly come to us and say...why should we go. And I can tell you Disney has lost hundreds of new people attending in the last 2 years just from what I have shared with them. So, the Pay grab they made is hurting them, whether they know it or not.

Hotel guests also pay for parking lots, building maintenance, etc. It’s just not in the form of itemized dues.

 

[MICKIMINI]

There are numerous Wyndham & Marriott timeshares very close to WDW. The closest being Bonnet Creek Resort which is *almost* on property.

We bought WBC over the summer (for net $200 yes, really) and have been here for two weeks. Love it! We are in Tower 5, 2 BR which is beautiful, large and well equipped and more updated than our 500 or so DVC points. We put our son and DIL at BWV/BLT this trip and are on the reservation so we can park/share a rental car.

Oh, and I went by *The Adventurers Club* two days ago and lit a candle for you - LOL!

 

[jimim]

Im resale only, ever. And was able to buy one at the discounted rate as part of our next room stay.

White card or blue card resale? Just for others reading out there?

 

[Sandisw]

White card or blue card resale? Just for others reading out there?

The only place the current restriction for purchase is through shopDisney.

You can preorder for trips and purchase in person without even being DVC

IMO, it may be that they simply decided to limit the purchase online or, they are testing to see if they can put limits based on qualifications.

 

[Nursemanit]

The only place the current restriction for purchase is through shopDisney.

You can preorder for trips and purchase in person without even being DVC

IMO, it may be that they simply decided to limit the purchase online or, they are testing to see if they can put limits based on qualifications.

Or Disney just screwed up the roll out as they have done in the past.

 

[tjkraz]

What I think is VASTLY undervalued or considered is not that new people spend more, because I am not convinced they do. DVC people right off the bat are paying $$$ in dues, which pay for taxes, upgrades to facilities, parking lots, salaries, etc. that Disney does not have to pay. If we all left, imagine how much money they would need from "new people" to make up the thousands I spend right off the bat, let alone the money they make from direct sales. All of this without us even being there. So to only look at meals, park, souvenirs is so short sided and was ultimately the business side that Paycheck never really understood. The other side is that when we are underappreciated, people openly come to us and say...why should we go. And I can tell you Disney has lost hundreds of new people attending in the last 2 years just from what I have shared with them. So, the Pay grab they made is hurting them, whether they know it or not.

The short answer is that a single infrequent guest spends far more per person, per day than a DVC member or a pass holder.

Infrequent guests are spending $500+ per night for a hotel, $700+ per person, per week for MYW tickets, eating most meals at Disney restaurants, PhotoPass add-ons, Genie add-ons, dessert parties, 50th anniversary gear to commemorate the trip, etc.

As DVC members, we're staying on discounted accommodations, historically have access to Annual Passes to help drive down daily admission costs, can prepare meals in our villa rooms with full kitchens or kitchenettes and have little use for refreshing merchandise purchases annually.

You, as a DVC owner, may spend more IN TOTAL than a single infrequent guest. Either annually or over the course of many years. But you're also getting many more hotel/villa room nights and days in the theme parks for what you are spending. This took on greater importance during the pandemic when park attendance was heavily constrained. If there's a cap on the number of guests that can be admitted to each park, most business owners would favor those whose average daily spending runs in the $250-350 range rather than a DVC owner or pass holder who could easily come in under $100 per day.

That said, Disney has always found room for both guests. Yes they want to sell DVC points to get the high up-front dollars and the guaranteed repeat business. But they also value the hotel business too. I mean, there's a reason Disney has about 5000 villas vs 25000 hotel rooms. There are a lot of people out there willing to pay $300 per night for a "value" room and $800+ for a deluxe. Even if they have to save for years and/or put the debt on a credit card to make it happen.

Under Chapek, the emphasis probably shifted too far toward the infrequent guest. Again, attendance limits played a big role in this. But he failed to grasp the idea that when you sell someone enough DVC points to stay 20-30 days per year, there's some obligation to not rape and pillage on the park tickets (taking away APs.) He seemingly did not realize that it was in the company's long term benefit to placate the most avid fans, not totally alienate them.

We'll see how much that changes in the coming years. Many of Chapek's failings were on the PR side and Iger has fared better there. But often their policies were not altogether different. There were rumors for 10 years that Disney was trying to move Fastpass to a paid service. I don't see that being rolled-back now. DME probably ran its course. Most people hope they will loosen the reigns on annual passes, but that will invariably lead to larger crowds in the parks than we have today. Plus they still have people like Josh D'Amaro and Ken Potrock running WDW and DL. What changes will they recommend?

Many fans seem to want lower prices (bring back APs) and elimination of Park Pass (no attendance controls.) I'm not really sure how those two moves would lead to a better in-park experience.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Many fans seem to want lower prices (bring back APs) and elimination of Park Pass (no attendance controls.) I'm not really sure how those two moves would lead to a better in-park experience.

they can’t, unless Disney massively expands the parks, which they won’t. I’ll be happy if they just brought back APs with no DVC discount. DME would also be nice but that’s probably pushing it.

 

[Brett Wyman]

White card or blue card resale? Just for others reading out there?

White only.

 

[DebbieB]

I was talking to a couple on the boat yesterday, he had the DVC one, got it at Beach Club. He said he’s not a member, just liked it. So obviously not checking.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Or Disney just screwed up the roll out as they have done in the past.

They were on there before apparently, with no restriction (?). I think Sandi might be on to something. They pick a somewhat obscure (DVC-specific), relatively low-cost item with limited appeal (again, DVC), and add the restriction to test the water. I can see them doing this on something as simple and ubiquitous as a Magic Band, rather than a Dooney or Loungefly bag, for example. I suppose they could have done it on one of those random tee shirts they sell, but that might prove to be TOO obscure as I don't think ANYONE buys those and they'd get zero metrics...