DVC Member Lounge Benefit Backfire

TinkAgainU

Trust In The Pixie Dust
Joined
Dec 11, 2021
Messages
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So... recently at Disneyland... I was with friends who know I have DVC I use fairly regularly. As we went past the old Carousel of Progress I mentioned it's now a DVC Member Lounge, which they would have liked to see. I explained I purchased less than minimum points direct (I have some direct, but not 150), so we couldn't go in.

These are definitely people who could afford 150+ points, but laughed at the idea they would talk to a timeshare salesperson at a booth, or go to a sales presentation while on vacation. DVC lost a chance for a current DVC member to give them a free presentation ;) Silly DVC.
 

I see your point, but then again, if you, as a resale buyer, had access to it, would you have encouraged your friends to buy direct? Or enlightened them on how much money can be saved going resale?
That's true too. I forget Disney sells some BIG contracts to the newbies. Most of us with resale would support "some" direct points, but would freak a bit at someone buying 500 or 1000 points direct ... and we're not always around to guide (haha, irony there) them ...
 
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Then why would those people want to visit a timeshare-owner's lounge?
That's the point. They would not go into a timeshare situation on their own, but would go to see what it's all about as My guest without a second thought. And I would not be handing them over to a salesperson anyway, just showing them a benefit of DVC (and probably chatting their ears off about my last trip as a DVC owner. With people next to us jumping in to talk about how fun Their last trip was ...
 
Then why would those people want to visit a timeshare-owner's lounge?
I haven’t ever felt a “timeshare sales pitch” vibe while at the lounge. Free coffee and cold drinks, snacks, AC, charging stations, restrooms. It’s a nice addition if it’s not too crowded.

Most people “who have enough money to afford it” understand that most businesses have tiered perks for people and want to be in the level that has some exclusivity. However, most businesses will dilute the value of perks over time while increasing the baseline costs of what is required to attain those perks.
 
I re-read your original post. They just wanted to see it. It’s pretty busy up there most the time - not really room for tours. Now if they bring the people mover back maybe they can have it zip through the lounge and dvc members munching on Oreos can be on view.
We need some sort of DISsy award for “post of the year” so I can nominate this post (emphasis added by moi).
 
The park lounges help resale and non-members see ways that DVC direct is more magically ::MickeyMo terrific!

The people bringing friends are already happy direct owners who made a good case for it in their decision to buy. Resale owners aren’t sold on direct so those leads are less likely worth the cost of addition lounge operations when they also cost the downgrading of a distinct perk for direct.
 
The park lounges help resale and non-members see ways that DVC direct is more magically ::MickeyMo terrific!

The people bringing friends are already happy direct owners who made a good case for it in their decision to buy. Resale owners aren’t sold on direct so those leads are less likely worth the cost of addition lounge operations when they also cost the downgrading of a distinct perk for direct.
We haven’t had to wait for StarView station access (yet?) and that’s part of what makes it magical. It’s super annoying to trek over to the EPCOT lounge only to be told that you will be called back in 40-60 minutes (and then get called back in 20m when you’re almost to the front of a line…). So I’m not in favor of dramatically increasing the number of people crowding the lounges. I am more in favor of extending member benefits for the perks that are not very limited in supply.
 
The park lounges help resale and non-members see ways that DVC direct is more magically ::MickeyMo terrific!

The people bringing friends are already happy direct owners who made a good case for it in their decision to buy. Resale owners aren’t sold on direct so those leads are less likely worth the cost of addition lounge operations when they also cost the downgrading of a distinct perk for direct.

And for those of us that are blue card members, they remind us of how little a blue card is worth. Really, no one is going to be convinced to buy into a timeshare for the benefits of the member lounge.
 
And for those of us that are blue card members, they remind us of how little a blue card is worth. Really, no one is going to be convinced to buy into a timeshare for the benefits of the member lounge.
Yep, not the reason we bought. It does make me happy we went direct, which is good word of mouth for DVD.

If I’m talking up DVC and direct to my friends and helps them see direct can be a good choice, that’s great for DVD.

If I’m talking up DVC and resale to my friends, I’m encouraging resale which matters much less to DVD.
 
Yep, not the reason we bought. It does make me happy we went direct, which is good word of mouth for DVD.
I am happy we went direct but I'd trade all the lounges for more Moonlight Magic opportunities.
If I’m talking up DVC and direct to my friends and helps them see direct can be a good choice, that’s great for DVD.

If I’m talking up DVC and resale to my friends, I’m encouraging resale which matters much less to DVD.
I agree with you in general, BUT I also think that it's dangerous for Disney to write off the importance of value retention on the resale market. I probably would have bought 150-250 points either way (and should have bought them sooner!), but there's no way I would own more than 500 points (especially 350 of them direct) if I expected them to lose 75% of their value (or more) in less than a decade... I think even my BCV will have at least half its value (I bought it at $115 last year) a in 2033, maybe more than half in nominal terms. Again, I wouldn't recommend buying to save money or to assume you'll get any money back later (I'm riding BCV to $0!) BUT I think seeing a strong history of a resale value retention gives many of us confidence to buy more DVC points.
 
Reminds me of getting a certain platinum credit card with a $700 annual fee just to show up to an airport, have a flight delay, and 50 people waiting in line to get in the lounge already. All to say, capacity capped benefits are just that.
 
I am happy we went direct but I'd trade all the lounges for more Moonlight Magic opportunities.

I agree with you in general, BUT I also think that it's dangerous for Disney to write off the importance of value retention on the resale market. I probably would have bought 150-250 points either way (and should have bought them sooner!), but there's no way I would own more than 500 points (especially 350 of them direct) if I expected them to lose 75% of their value (or more) in less than a decade... I think even my BCV will have at least half its value (I bought it at $115 last year) a in 2033, maybe more than half in nominal terms. Again, I wouldn't recommend buying to save money or to assume you'll get any money back later (I'm riding BCV to $0!) BUT I think seeing a strong history of a resale value retention gives many of us confidence to buy more DVC points.

I would agree about more Moonlight Magic. Need more things such as this and not more lounges.

We tried the lounge at Epcot but our callback time was several hours. Not good. I don't see member lounges being a great perk. Other perks are much more tangible such as the Sorcerers AP. Wish they would do something at DLR like that.

We bought direct in 96 at BWV. Since added on direct at BLT (had great incentives) and DLH. We are going resale for hard to get contracts such as VGC.

Also agree that DVC is not a typical real estate investment where you count on your holdings appreciating over time. For us it is about staying at great locations in great rooms. (we always stay in 1 br or 2 br with DGD in tow). I am with you in riding it down to $0!
 



















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