DVC non-restricted environment

[sethschroeder]

I don't think you're understanding what I'm trying to say. Whatever perks have been suspended won't come back. They don't need to give us any perks because we will just go back anyway.

In what part of the contract says we are entitled to AP perks?

Okay let me break this down for you.

Right now DVC direct is selling based on AP discounts being a thing and the discount it brings.

They also have updated contractual language/disclosures multiple times since COVID19 started including last in January of this year.

People are still buying with those extended perks in mind not just "only future resorts".

I am stating at some point they can't outline that AP discounts is a thing with DVC and not offer it. Right now Disney had exactly 0 points sold without any perk except future resorts.

In additon there would be questions asked regarding APs coming back but DVC not taking part. If they have crossed legal lines yet I am not sure but I do know they can't say "there are AP discounts" indefinitely and never offer anything.

I also find it extremely unlikely they don't bring back AP discounts or don't have plans to do so. If they already planned internally to never offer it again and they kept marketing it and having it in legal disclosures they would likely be in hot water.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

This is the paragraph they need to obsolve them of any legal ramifications. Aka Disney can offer/advertise anything they want and get away with it. It's on the bottom of the perks page on the DVC site.

 

[Sandisw]

I don't think you're understanding what I'm trying to say. Whatever perks have been suspended won't come back. They don't need to give us any perks because we will just go back anyway.

In what part of the contract says we are entitled to AP perks?

We are not guaranteed those. That is true. They can change things if they want to.

However, to have no blue card perks would pretty much kill a reason to buy direct.

The AP discounted pass is negotiated with the ticketing division and you are correct in that they control its sale.

But, the only reason it was suspended is because they could not honor entrance to more pass holders due to Covid.

Now, what comes back? We don’t know but our Gold pass mirrors a FL pass. If it’s gone For them and replaced with a different type, that may be what we are given.

But, completely eliminating blue card vs white card differences...staying a new resorts has nothing to do with being blue card..doesn’t seem logical at all.

No one should buy for perks but there is language as long as a product is available still then owners are guaranteed a certain amount of time. That is in the POS as well. So, as long as Disney brings back an AP, current owners who bought recently should be eligible for it during that guaranteed time. IIRC it’s 3 years.

ETA: DVD did not remove the dining abs merchandise discounts so there still are some!!

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

staying a new resorts has nothing to do with being blue card..doesn’t seem logical at all.

I guess people are misunderstanding what I meant. Let me clarify my earlier post. The only perk of direct going forward (in my opinion) are the very same resale restrictions at RIV. If you buy direct at RIV or DLT, the DVC resort catalog is open to you. Buy a resale of RIV, DLT or any future resort confines to your home. That's all. We've been given less and less while expecting to pay more. COVID has been the perfect excuse for them to take it all away and leave us with nothing but scraps. I'd love to be wrong though.

 

[sethschroeder]

View attachment 578805
This is the paragraph they need to obsolve them of any legal ramifications. Aka Disney can offer/advertise anything they want and get away with it. It's on the bottom of the perks page on the DVC site.

Again this is not about if perks get discontinued this is about advertising and disclosing perks that no longer exist and you have no plan to offer.

I find it difficult to believe that you can disclose perks and market perks you never intend on offering.

Again not about the ability to remove but instead market for the next 20 years an AP discount and never give it to anyone.

Plus lets be clear the DVC AP is being offered to whoever Parks will will sell AP to which is renewals only right now.

 

[sethschroeder]

The only perk of direct going forward (in my opinion) are the very same resale restrictions at RIV.

Except they are not....

There is discounts at restaurants and merchandise locations already. There are people able to renew AP at a discount. There are people able to book DCL on points.

Probably missing other things as well.

 

[Sunnyore]

I may be a sucker but I bought into my blue card during covid for the benefit of unrestricted points, but also thinking benefits will be back again at some point. People complained and worried that APs are going to be eliminated. But if that's the case, why would they make a point a point to call me up when my Premier pass was sunsetting to let me know that I can still renew at WDW? I agree that the passes may change it's structure, but I can't see it be totally eliminated as a perk. I truly believe even if we don't the same suspended perks as before, there will be new perks. Why bother raising the min for blue card if there's not going to be much different from white card members?

 

[Sunnyore]

Except they are not....

There is discounts at restaurants and merchandise locations already. There are people able to renew AP at a discount. There are people able to book DCL on points.

Probably missing other things as well.

You missed DVC lounge at Epcot. People knock it but I've enjoyed my experience using the lounge a lot especially when it's super hot outside.

 

[DVCsloth]

I'll be really sad if they don't bring back Moonlight Magic! This was a very nice event offered to members.

 

[Sandisw]

I guess people are misunderstanding what I meant. Let me clarify my earlier post. The only perk of direct going forward (in my opinion) are the very same resale restrictions at RIV. If you buy direct at RIV or DLT, the DVC resort catalog is open to you. Buy a resale of RIV, DLT or any future resort confines to your home. That's all. We've been given less and less while expecting to pay more. COVID has been the perfect excuse for them to take it all away and leave us with nothing but scraps. I'd love to be wrong though.

Maybe that’s why I was confused. Where you can use your points is a benefit of direct but different than membership extras which is what is not guaranteed.

 

[Chuck S]

A lot of stuff was taken away, suspended, restricted, or re-planned due to COVID. What do you think DVC sales reps will be working with to pitch direct purchases once DVC is operating in a non-COVID restricted environment?

When parks are fully open, perks will return. They are still selling APs, not to everyone, but to those that had them during the closure. If they were doing away with them, they wouldn't be selling new ones. So far, the only perk that seems to be gone permanently is Magical Express, and that is because the contract is up and one or both parties didn't want to renew it. I'm thinking both. Disney didn't want to pay more and Mears wanted more, so the contract is being allowed to lapse with Mears charging directly for the service starting next year. And DME wasn't even a DVC specific perk.

 

[Bjaiken77]

You missed DVC lounge at Epcot. People knock it but I've enjoyed my experience using the lounge a lot especially when it's super hot outside.

I think the Epcot lounge is a good example. I know it comes at a cost, but how much really? While there, they can promote new DVC resorts and Disney products. I mean, these are the people that are your biggest fans and likely to buy. How expensive is it to throw out some cheez-its or give out some soda? But it makes people feel valuable and that they are part of something exclusive. As we’ve read, people really enjoy this stuff, and it goes a long way.

 

[Brian Noble]

However, to have no blue card perks would pretty much kill a reason to buy direct.

Maybe, maybe not. Remember that it wasn't that long ago that there was no Blue/White distinction, yet Disney was perfectly capable of selling points.

 

[sethschroeder]

Maybe, maybe not. Remember that it wasn't that long ago that there was no Blue/White distinction, yet Disney was perfectly capable of selling points.

Ya but something changed right? I think not long ago YouTube and internet search was not the primary action of a target purchaser. Disney is starting to target a new demographic.

Also I think maybe a slight clarification to add to @Sandisw remarks would be that without perks it's harder to get people to justify the price tag of direct. Not that they would purchase resale they just wouldn't purchase. Ticket discounts have pretty much always been around.

So maybe they go back to length of stay ticket discounts we will see but seems like Parks would just want DVC to match whatever FL residents get to make it easy.

 

[Sandisw]

Maybe, maybe not. Remember that it wasn't that long ago that there was no Blue/White distinction, yet Disney was perfectly capable of selling points.

But when there was no distinction, you got membership extras regardless.

So, even though there was no card difference, people got the discounts so that helped direct sales.

If they get rid of membership magic all together then yes, I think it would impact sales and would have years ago as well.

 

[davidl81]

I’m 99% sure the AP discounts will continue. My AP expired and I call member services and they got in touch with the AP center and they were able to renew my AP and I still got the gold discount. I highly doubt they would be doing that a few months ago if they were getting rid of the discount all together.

 

[Chuck S]

I’m 99% sure the AP discounts will continue. My AP expired and I call member services and they got in touch with the AP center and they were able to renew my AP and I still got the gold discount. I highly doubt they would be doing that a few months ago if they were getting rid of the discount all together.

I agree, APs will be back whenever they are able to be at a higher park capacity. The last thing they want right now is to sell APs to locals, and then have to limit their access to the park. Imagine the bad publicity of selling an unlimited access ticket, but having to limit access...or having the parks fill with locals and not being able to admit resort guests. Neither is a good situation. Add to that the huge number of new Disney bloggers trying to make a living by covering the parks on the various assorted social media sites.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I'll be really sad if they don't bring back Moonlight Magic! This was a very nice event offered to members.

Moonlight magic looked great but it also seemed like something that would be too tough to book for our family. Can't beat rare characters and short lines for free though.

 

[Chuck S]

Moonlight magic looked great but it also seemed like something that would be too tough to book for our family. Can't beat rare characters and short lines for free though.

The Moonlight Magic only benefitted a small portion of the membership, though. You had to be traveling when an event was scheduled, and since many of us plan our trips 11 months out...As far as rare characters, open a special meet and greet every two or three days for blue card members for a few hours, like Chase Bank did for their special photo ops for card holders, except theirs was daily. And give Blue Card Members one or two anywhere fastpasses for their entire party for every day they are staying at a DVC resort, like you get when a ride breaks down. That would likely be just as good for sales marketing as the Moonlight Magic events, and wouldn't cost them nearly as much. And it would benefit every blue card member, not just those lucky enough to travel at a select time.

 

[zavandor]

The Moonlight Magic only benefitted a small portion of the membership, though. You had to be traveling when an event was scheduled, and since many of us plan our trips 11 months out...As far as rare characters, open a special meet and greet every two or three days for blue card members for a few hours, like Chase Bank did for their special photo ops for card holders, except theirs was daily. And give Blue Card Members one or two anywhere fastpasses for their entire party for every day they are staying at a DVC resort, like you get when a ride breaks down. That would likely be just as good for sales marketing as the Moonlight Magic events, and wouldn't cost them nearly as much. And it would benefit every blue card member, not just those lucky enough to travel at a select time.

So true. In the 3 or 4 years they were scheduled, I have been able to go only to one. I like the lounge benefit so much more. It's not a huge perk, a free coffee or soda and some time off you feet in air conditioning, but it's cute that you have a secret space only you can access and it's always there, available to everyone and anytime. I'd prefer if they remove Moonlight Magic and replace with a huge discount on one after hours party of your choice (75% or 50%). So you can pick one whenever you're at WDW.