DVC perk wish list...

[Lynne M]

Why do you think Disney encourages you to "charge to your room?" Hint: this is one reason. What's more, if you pay for anything with a credit card, it's fairly easy to track and correlate that back to an identified individual. The only way you can remain anonymous is by using cash, and how many of us do that for more than the odd bottle of water here and there?

In short: Disney already knows.

Yup. The KTTW card is one of the niftiest consumer-tracking devices ever.
If you use it to its fullest, charging all of your purchases to your room, and putting your park tickets on the card.....

They know what parks you frequent the most, and what time you like to arrive at the park. They know if you take a break in the middle of the day and come back. They know if you're a park hopper. They know where you spend most of your money on souvenirs. They know what kinds of souvenirs you usually buy, and how much you spend. They know what restaurants you like to visit, and how much you spend there. Whether you prefer counter-service burgers to signature restaurants. They know what time you return to your resort at night. They know if you always forget to bring toothpaste and have to buy it in the resort gift shop.

For DVC members, who are regular visitors, they have YEARS worth of consumer behavior data. They know the habits of DVC members with a level of detail you can't imagine.

But this raises a good point. I think a lot of people tend to see discounts as a reward for spending money, and that's why some feel that DVC members should get a lot of discounts.

Discounts are a tool for driving consumer behavior. We get discounts for certain restaurants because Disney wants to drive business to those eateries. We get AP discounts because their market research has shown them that we spend MORE money in the parks and restaurants when we have APs. If that pattern changes, the AP discounts are history.

 

[BeesKnees]

If they were really smart they would incent us individually based on the data they have collected. What they know about me is:

1) I am spending less and less time at the parks. The last trip was parkless.

2) I am not spending much at all on souvenirs. We buy a year pin for each year that we go and that is about it.

3) I am not eating on property hardly at all. Last trip did not include a single on property meal, not even a snack.


When I book my next trip if they want to try and get me in the parks they might want to send me a bunch of fast passes or something. A couple of buy one entree get one free might get me into a restaurant.

If they don't my habits are not likely to change.

The one thing I don't get is why they don't occasionally offer discounted point rooms for bringing guests like full points for the first room and half the points for a second or third. We will be taking family in December this year and they will spend money like mad people the entire time they are there because they don't get to go very often.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I am all for a discount on MYW passes....We got 7 years of free park passes when we bought our DVC and got really spoiled not having to pay for passes for that time.

Yep. We also bought OKW points way back when the purchase included park passes to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, and Disney-MGM Studios through the end of 1999. Staying in a 2BR (max. capacity 8) provided up to 4 park passes per night.

The key point, however, is that Disney Vacation Development (DVD) paid the theme parks a negotiated amount for those passes. They were part of DVD's cost structure in those days (just like construction costs and marketing costs). DVD still pays for and provides purchase incentives of one sort or another these days, but they're not as generous as the old Limited Park Pass Program.

What some people on this thread are looking for now is something different. They essentially want the theme parks to sell MYW tickets to DVC members for less (possibly significantly less) than to guests staying in deluxe, moderate, value, and off-site properties.

The question is what would be the business justification for the theme parks to provide special discounts to DVC members? The parks are trying to make as much money as possible, and there's no reason for them to reward DVC members for buying points from DVD in 1993 or 2011 or anytime in-between.

 

[princessdawn2011]

I agree with Brian, "they" completely know where we are & what we're doing!

I want to play along though. I think it would be great if:
1. No AP needed for TIW.
2. Better Discount on Premium Passport (for WDW & DL).
3. Extra shampoo please! What a joke, I really just need extra shampoo!
4. A FULL set of towels every time the room is serviced (they only fill it in if you're down a few towels).
5. How about just the great service we thought we were paying for?

An aside: On many threads & in reviews on this & other sites, it seems there are a LOT of complaints about DVC villas, service to members, etc. That's a shame. We just want what we paid for and will be paying for in years to come: MAGIC!

It would be great if all wishes could be met, but we want a well maintained resort & and superior service. We built a great deal of the resorts that other guests are using, I paid for a nice place to vacation. & for shampoo

 

[starbox]

I would also love a return of free valet parking - but in terms of a perk that would cost nothing and make Disney money, I agree with PP about opening an earlier window for ADRs. I was completely shut out of the dining reservations I wanted on my 40th birthday because it was the last few days of free dining and everything had been booked by freeloaders, oops - free diners - at the start of the week.

Let DVC members who are paying for dining have a chance to book first. It seems like there's some kind of free dining year round, and the most in-demand reservations are never even an option for people who pay to eat.

 

[sweetdana]

Ok dreaming here... I would like to see a discounted number of points needed for trips booked at the last minute.

Boy THAT WOULD BE an easy win. I booked through rent/trade board when there were 5-7$ last mins points.. They are not there any more over the last ohhh 4 months ish.. but It worked for me. .. or even cash discounts on last min rooms. DVC or not for that matter.

Also they could really do alot with WH Wed. Free stuff, more fun, more exclusive, make it worth going. Have an out side hot dog party; bring people to SSR, trying to advertise maybe near the THV or something fun. Add in Mickey and a photo pass photo person, even a free print WOW. It would drive up people coming, prolly buying more points, and cost could be minimal.

I think better discounts on Dis-Cruise line too. Dis-cruise are so over priced, to begin with.

Better discounts with kid's club and a discount with a kids night out.

Maybe a spa-watch your kids-dinner package exclusive for DVC. Offer 2 dinner, 2- 30 min massages, and 2 hour sitter for 150$ or 4 TBS and 50$ or something it would bring in $$ and fill up spa at SSR.

How about free app on DP, and 20$ off DDP?

Free photo stop (like with Dis-Visa) EXCLUSIVE for DVC, make it at MK, maybe with some retired char like figment, KP, 3 little pigs, ariel in a fin. Have it behind the scenes and change it, to suprise people. Throw in a free print. You get 2-3 per yr for each 100 points you own, to try to get people to up there contracts that are really low amounts. Or add them up to a next level.

 

[princessdawn2011]

Oh, yeah! Forgot about the ADRs that is a good one!

So, an addendum to my list is:
6. ADRs before other guests, 2 wks or 1 month earlier AND
7. More assistance going to DL. Member services can only make a villa reservation @ this point and they don't know much about DL. Well, neither do I. Some help please!

 

[princessdawn2011]

Dana- you got some fantastic ideas! Especially got WHW-not been yet, maybe next trip. And that character meet & greet. I still want extra shampoo!

 

[ABCanada]

Allow DVC members the Florida and Southern Cali Resident Annual Pass options & pricing (including the ability to buy TIW without an AP)

We enjoy the parks but there have been Adult only trips where we spent very little time in the parks. If we had not had an AP from a previous trip we would not have gone to the parks at all. With one of the lower cost Florida Resident options (Epcot after 4, Seasonal, or Weekday Select) we could go to the parks for a meal, show or slower period.

I see the number and length of Adult only trips both increasing. This option would get us in the parks, spending money, at non peak times.

Couldn't they just consider all DVC members honorary Floridians? (Didn't most of us buy DVC because we wanted to live there, at least in the winter?)

 

[Brian Noble]

Allow DVC members the Florida and Southern Cali Resident Annual Pass options & pricing (including the ability to buy TIW without an AP)

This will NEVER happen for Florida. Why not? The only plausible "Florida Residence" would be DVC. But, if you were a "resident" of DVC, that would entitle you to vote in the Reedy Creek Improvement District. RCID is Disney's very own private government. The very last thing Disney wants is to have any "civilians" voting in RCID elections.

Ever read the fine print on a Disney resort stay? It always says that you agree not to claim the resort as "your domicile". This is why.

 

[mic_KY_mouses]

I would love to see an ADR booking advantage of some sort.

Also, one fast-pass per person, per night of stay, would be awesome. It should be for members only. I dislike getting to a park later in the day and finding long waits or no more fastpasses available. Part of the draw of DVC was so we could enjoy the parks at a slower pace.

 

[Geezer]

We like our AP discount, and we also enjoy being able to use the TIW card each trip. I have always thought that one perk was almost enough for me, but I really wish DVC would leave one of those magic fast pass cards that they gave us when we toured BLT last year for us in the villas each trip.

I'm not sure how they would enforce it so that only members get them, but how about 1 of the triple instant fast pass cards per guest staying with a member? Maybe they could have it as an option when you pick up your keys. You could show your blue member card and get enough instant fast pass cards for each person in your party. It doesn't sound like much over the length of a trip, but I'd be happy with it.

 

[keishashadow]

It would be nice to have a discount on MYW tickets in case you are bringing guests or not getting the AP for the trip.

Or for something that might not cost anything, allow an upgrade to no expire on a MYW ticket for free.

the no expiry option has skyrocketed, that would be a great perc for those of us who in the past would buy 10 day non-expiry MYW tix

When I recently did the on line survey after a DVC stay, there were questions regarding a special type of DVC ticket and if I would be interested in buying it. Perhaps the type of tickets that are mentioned here will be available to DVC members.

i'm sure they swore you to secrecy, but can you share any details?

Permitting DVC members to buy APs @ FL resident rates is certainly doable, just a matter of offering the same discounted rate.

Since so many DVCers seem to (gasp) cook in their units it'd be interesting if they'd offer a package to members with substantially discounted MYW tix tied into level of dining plan selected.

 

[ABCanada]

This will NEVER happen for Florida. Why not? The only plausible "Florida Residence" would be DVC. But, if you were a "resident" of DVC, that would entitle you to vote in the Reedy Creek Improvement District. RCID is Disney's very own private government. The very last thing Disney wants is to have any "civilians" voting in RCID elections.

Ever read the fine print on a Disney resort stay? It always says that you agree not to claim the resort as "your domicile". This is why.

Considering DVC members honorary Floridians and allowing them the same discounts as Florida Residence has nothing to do with "your domicile". It is a pricing strategy.

It would have value to us and would get us in the parks spending money on off peak times when we are not willing to pay the regular price for park tickets for the amount of use we are planning.

 

[Anal Annie]

I agree with Brian, "they" completely know where we are & what we're doing!I want to play along though. I think it would be great if:

GOOD. Then they know my family is not visiting at all this year. NOW if they would only ask us WHY NOT?! Something tells me they don't really give rats behind.

 

[Kathi OD]

....

The question is what would be the business justification for the theme parks to provide special discounts to DVC members? The parks are trying to make as much money as possible, and there's no reason for them to reward DVC members for buying points from DVD in 1993 or 2011 or anytime in-between.

Sure there is. As more and more DVC members start to spend less time in the parks, a reward to draw them back in would give the parks division additional income.

 

[BeesKnees]

Permitting DVC members to buy APs @ FL resident rates is certainly doable, just a matter of offering the same discounted rate.

Since so many DVCers seem to (gasp) cook in their units it'd be interesting if they'd offer a package to members with substantially discounted MYW tix tied into level of dining plan selected.

We don't really know the habits of most DVCers though. I know my commando days are long since past but there are thousands of relatively new owners that may be hitting it hard from opening to fireworks. DVCers that only own enough points for a nice vacation every other year may never slow down. People that go 2 and 3 times a year that are buying APs are not giving Disney any reason to discount us.

I have to think that if enough of us were lounging by the pool and eating in our rooms Disney would be addressing it. As it stands it Disney seems happy with the status quo.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

fast passes for DVC owners and a free TIW discount card are at the top of the list. Free no expiration on MYW tickets is close behind.

I guess the benefit of this thread is that if anyone from Disney is monitoring the boards they will see what it is we would like. I know its just a wish list but this is Disney...wishes can come true!

Better dining discounts for DVC owners would definitely help drive traffic at the restaurants during the off season and during non free dining periods. From what I am seeing on the thread a lot of people are opting for meals off property or more in the villas. We are the same. We used to eat two to three meals a day on property. Now we eat one with maybe a Dole whip or float as a snack or an ice cream cone in the evening.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[Brian Noble]

Considering DVC members honorary Floridians and allowing them the same discounts as Florida Residence has nothing to do with "your domicile". It is a pricing strategy.

But they already have a pricing strategy. It's called the DVC AP discount. They may want to extend DVC discounts to other ticket media, but so far they have chosen not to.

But, they will never all it the "Florida Resident discount", simply because they don't even want a hint of a toe in that water.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The good thing I see on this thread is that really, no one is proposing perks with huge costs to DVC, but they are things with specific benefits to Disney World in general, because it gets more people returning to the parks and restaurants on a more regular basis.