DVC Merchandise

[hayesdvc]

I am trying to finalize my first DVC contract (ROFR submitted 10/30 !!!).

How are you "notified" of the available DVC merchandise?

From time to time do you ever get "free" stuff?

 

[Murron]

I am trying to finalize my first DVC contract (ROFR submitted 10/30 !!!).

How are you "notified" of the available DVC merchandise?

From time to time do you ever get "free" stuff?

Free? Thanks I needed that! The only Free items I've received is a DVC magnet for your car. And, as I think on it, they sometimes have member meetings with free juice and cookies. Other than that, you do get discounts with your DVC membership. As for merchandise, now that you are a DVC member (Congratulations by the way!!!!!) you will be in the system and probably receive all sorts of emails with Disney merchandise. Ad nauseam! LOL

 

[disneynutz]

DVC is a different animal, they don't support you in the ways that you probably expect. The resorts have some DVC items for sale, Disney stores online may have some items, membership magic offers some pay-as-you-go events, everything else, gatherings, mingles, parities, are all paid for by member dues.

Bill

 

[southerngirl528]

I own another TS with a very competitive (translate: at least as high-end as DVC) company and I can promise you they don't give me "free stuff" either so it's not just DVC. I can think of next to no purchases of any time of property and/or real estate where one can get freebies after purchase.

 

[amcnj]

Aside from the aforementioned magnets, there have been a few other free items sent over the years. They were few and far between, and of course the past is no predictor of future behavior!

 

[Barbydoll8]

Nothing is "free." You paid for it with your dues. While I've received hats, magnets pins etc (especially while cruising), there are no free things at all. You may get a perk bauble thrown at you now and then but don't expect it. If you cruise DCL you will get them everyday of your cruise. If you cruise on the members cruise, you'll get more and bigger but again, not free.
I did receive a "free" AKL cooler while staying club level but it was also my B-day. Not DVC just AKL. This is the only thing I ever thought of as free but then again…I used points to stay.

 

[Judique]

I've received free pins mailed to my home - Wilderness Lodge Villas pin, Mickey head flag pins after 9/11, BCV & BWV pins.

Also a free Giclee picture. I think that was in recognition of SSR opening.

Each resort purchase resulted in an unframed picture of the resort mailed to us. (4 resorts.)

DVC magnets for the car.

Ornaments at the Xmas gatherings.

I used to go to the member update every time I went to Disney in the early years. They served coffee, juice, pastries and fruit. There were prizes for trivia questions. DVC cups, hats, albums, pull down car window shades, koosies for your drinks. Lots of stuff. At a BCV gathering for members (free event) my daughter won a DVC watch and we also won DVC key chains and other DVC marked items. Only a handful of people showed so many of us left after 'winning' multiple items.

At Hilton Head at updates I won a DVC umbrella and a DVC beach bag on different trips.

When we toured the Poly model and sat through the spiel and the dance routine we were invited to attend, they gave us a Poly pin.

As the members multiplied the little gifts probably became an unnecessary promotion.

 

[disneynutz]

To be clear, if you attended a marketing meeting or promotion, the items received were provided by DVD, the sales people and the cost was added to the price of buying direct.

All other items are paid for through our dues, all mailings, magnets, ornaments, tax bills, magazines, along with all costs to run the DVC resorts, clean the rooms, utilities, security, soap, front desk. Disney pays for nothing out of their pockets.

Bill

 

[tjkraz]

Gee, OP, I bet you never thought you'd be raked over the coals for having the gall to use the word "free" in your post...

Over the years we've received a number of small items sent to our homes: prints, postcards, magnets, pins, bumper stickers, etc. And an exclusive member magazine is sent quarterly.

More substantial items are often distributed at member events or meetings at the Disney resorts or DCL, things like baseball caps, window clings, luggage tags, passport holders, beach towels, Christmas tree ornaments, etc.

Some of the items are funded by member dues. Some are funded by Disney as a sales and marketing expense. Nobody truly knows how the accounting works from item-to-item and event-to-event. It's well within Disney's rights to spend dues money on promotional parties and giveaways if they wish.

DisneyStore.com has a selection of DVC items available for purchase, and similar merch is stocked in most of the resort gift shops.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO it's important that readers understand that DVC items aren't really free. We have had conversations with guests at WDW who have asked about the free stuff that we get as DVC owners.

Bill

 

[rocketriter]

Gee, OP, I bet you never thought you'd be raked over the coals for having the gall to use the word "free" in your post...

I thought that was pretty grumpy myself. If I'm given something that's not in the contract, I'm happy to consider it free even though (since I have an IQ larger than the number of fingers on my foot) I know it comes out of the DVC budget.

 

[DVC-Don]

The best selection of DVC items is on eBay. There is occasional freebies. I got a call from DVC yesterday about our cruise coming up this weekend and was told there'd be a gift package in our cabin when we got there.

 

[Micca]

Welcome to the Dis & Welcome Home to DVC Hayesdvc. The real mystery is the small amount of merch available for purchase. I hope you enjoy your membership, we've had a lot of fun with it over the years.

 

[DiznyDi]

We did get that nice giclee in 2006 in celebration of DVC's 15th year...... And we have gotten a few embroidered totes when adding on....

Welcome !

 

[carlbarry]

As an owner since 2009, here are the "free" things I've received:
1. Used to get a free print for watching on-line updates. They stopped that.
2. Got some stuff at various promotions at the DVC store at a local mall. They closed the store.
3. Used to get a free hat, refreshments, and sometimes a pin at Welcome Home Wednesday. They stopped that.
4. Get a snack and an ornament at Merry Member Mixer, with paid admittance to Epcot.
5. Got into Blizzard Beach once for free, and there were free refreshments and a free water wallet.
6. Attended a free party at AKL, got refreshments and a free hat. I don't think they have that anymore.
7. Went to a sales presentation at SSR for the Poly. Got a free lei, button, and Dole Whip.
8. Got 2 free car/refrigerator magnets in the quarterly "free" magazine.
Then again, as a Wyndham owner, I can tell you Wyndham wouldn't spit on my head if my hair was on fire. Although at some resorts they'll pay members to sit through being tortured for a couple of hours at a sales presentation.