DVC Perks slowly disappearing....What do you miss ?

[edk35]

I miss the free valet parking, and the better golf discount. I am sure the OKW old timers miss the free park passes that came with their memberships. Also, we added on in December and when the fedex box arrived I noticed that it was missing the $16,000.00 tote bag!!!

We bought Jan 31 2007 and our guide sent us 3 of those glorious tote bags. HE told us when we signed up that he hooked us up. We weren't sure what he meant. So we have 3 kids...so maybe that is why he sent three. OR....we split our SSR points into three 100 point contracts so maybe that is why. Who knows!?? Anyway...I gave one to a friend and we still have two. THEN we added on another 100 points in Aug./Sept. of 2008 and got another. So we have totes to last a lifetime.

 

[Luvdisney]

Biggest Perk I miss is free valet parking. We used it all the time.

 

[keishashadow]

I think ME was available to members from when it was started. The dining plan was not, it was over a year before members on points could buy it. A couple of perks for members on that - no ticket purchase required and no holiday season surcharge.

I never realized this before, thanx for pointing it out. Still tossing around the idea of Xmas visit someday.

I agree with DebbieB. The $100 off an annual pass is worth 8 valet parking perks ... per person. For a family of 4 that's 32 parking experiences!

Come to think of it, though, I do miss the peach towels

it's reaching, yet i'd luv to see more of a spending account approach, with $100 off minimum tix purchase equal to AP rate, for those of us whose habits don't really justify an AP every year.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I would not call the OKW free park passes a "perk". It was a sales incentive that clearly stated was ending 12/31/99.

Free park passes or free valet parking, they're both perks to me.

 

[DebbieB]

Free park passes or free valet parking, they're both perks to me.

There was recently a promo to get 4 AP's with an add-on. So when those AP's expire, is that a perk taken away? Same thing with OKW, that pass incentive explicitly expired 12/31/99. They knew that in advance, nothing was taken away. It was only offered to OKW members who bought from opening to mid 1996, it was not all members. They ended the promo when BWV opened in July 1996.

 

[Chuck S]

Free park passes or free valet parking, they're both perks to me.

Not really, as the free passes were more akin to a "discount" on the price of a point. DVC has had many different purchase incentives over the years...For instance, you could get your current use years points, or "sell" them back to Disney for $10 per point. There was a plan that creditied the amount you spent on your current Disney cash resort vacatio to your DVC purchase price (in essece making your cash reservation free), there was the "free cruise" incentive, the "developer points" incentive, etc.

Surely you received some sort of discount or incentive if you purchased directly from Disney?

For those of us that purchased early, the free LOS passes were the incentive...and they were only available for half the occupancy of the room, so studios and 1 beds received 2 passes, two bedroom received 4 passes and GVs 6 passes...so if your party was at room capacity, it was, at best, a 50% pass discount incentive.

 

[aan1701]

It was only offered to OKW members who bought from opening to mid 1996, it was not all members. They ended the promo when BWV opened in July 1996.

I was not going to get involved with thus thread for the simple fact the only DVC perk I use is the Internet. I will not be using the AP perk anymore due to the premire pass but that is a whole other story. I had to jump in because of the above. This is soooooooo not a true statement and here is how I know this. I was about 16 when DVC started when OKW was in fact called "Disneys Vacation Club Resort". My mom and dad and I went on the tour as my parents know that if anything I would be coming back for years to come and them maybe only every now and then and wanted me on the tour so I could understand the program right from Disneys mouth. My Dad loved it. Was about ready to sign us up, then asked " Any chance on getting some free park tickets, or at least a free AP for us fir the first year if I am going to drop this kind of money today?". (My parent did inded bring the check book and were ready to sign up and pay for it right there). The answer he got was " Sorry we do not give those out". So he refused to sign the contract. I know how that sounds, but to him it was a matter if principal. Anyway. Since then my DW and I bought 270 at AKV and made mom an accociate and to this day, dad has no clue we joined. That is another story and thread.

 

[FOXFIELDZOO]

I get your idea........... However, I personally don't like it. I mean - a "perk" in my opinion is something you get for "free" - I wouldn't consider it a "perk" if I were paying for it.

As new members, obviously we don't feel like we're missing anything - we LOVE the AP discount, LOVE the free internet and DH thinks the Golf discount is good.......... however, he never had the other one. As for the valet parking........ we could care less about that........ so no loss there, also, we CAN still pool hop - the restrictions may be tighter, but it is still allowed - or am I totally out of the loop on that? Either way - our home resort is AKV - so, we essentially have 2 pools.
The MAJOR perk for us is the AP discount - I'm SO greatful for that one - and would take that ANY day over any of the "lost" perks. JMO

What is the golf discount ?We are going in May Didn't know there was one

 

[Chuck S]

I was not going to get involved with thus thread for the simple fact the only DVC perk I use is the Internet. I will not be using the AP perk anymore due to the premire pass but that is a whole other story. I had to jump in because of the above. This is soooooooo not a true statement and here is how I know this. I was about 16 when DVC started when OKW was in fact called "Disneys Vacation Club Resort". My mom and dad and I went on the tour as my parents know that if anything I would be coming back for years to come and them maybe only every now and then and wanted me on the tour so I could understand the program right from Disneys mouth. My Dad loved it. Was about ready to sign us up, then asked " Any chance on getting some free park tickets, or at least a free AP for us fir the first year if I am going to drop this kind of money today?". (My parent did inded bring the check book and were ready to sign up and pay for it right there). The answer he got was " Sorry we do not give those out". So he refused to sign the contract. I know how that sounds, but to him it was a matter if principal. Anyway. Since then my DW and I bought 270 at AKV and made mom an accociate and to this day, dad has no clue we joined. That is another story and thread.

Actually, the incentive did end fairly early in 1996. All my add-ons, except the last one (June 14, 1996) had the incentive. My 1996 add-on did not not include the passes. But, owners at Vero Beach (and maybe HHI) were included, if they stayed at OKW on points, they received the passes.

 

[wendypooh]

What is the golf discount ?We are going in May Didn't know there was one

It's the DVC World of Golf Program. If you go to the member website, under member benefits, click the member benefits guide - there is an entire section that explains it in detail.

DH is planning on getting it on our trip in May!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I was not going to get involved with thus thread for the simple fact the only DVC perk I use is the Internet. I will not be using the AP perk anymore due to the premire pass but that is a whole other story. I had to jump in because of the above. This is soooooooo not a true statement and here is how I know this. I was about 16 when DVC started when OKW was in fact called "Disneys Vacation Club Resort". My mom and dad and I went on the tour as my parents know that if anything I would be coming back for years to come and them maybe only every now and then and wanted me on the tour so I could understand the program right from Disneys mouth. My Dad loved it. Was about ready to sign us up, then asked " Any chance on getting some free park tickets, or at least a free AP for us fir the first year if I am going to drop this kind of money today?". (My parent did inded bring the check book and were ready to sign up and pay for it right there). The answer he got was " Sorry we do not give those out". So he refused to sign the contract. I know how that sounds, but to him it was a matter if principal. Anyway. Since then my DW and I bought 270 at AKV and made mom an accociate and to this day, dad has no clue we joined. That is another story and thread.

When was that?

 

[aan1701]

When was that?

Right when they first stated selling. I believe a month into sales. U swear this is the only reason my Dad refused to sign the contract. He will tell you to this day, if they would have at least given us at least one ticket for one day for each of us he would have signed on the dotted line.

 

[DebbieB]

Right when they first stated selling. I believe a month into sales. U swear this is the only reason my Dad refused to sign the contract. He will tell you to this day, if they would have at least given us at least one ticket for one day for each of us he would have signed on the dotted line.

Maybe Doc or an original member could jump in to say when they started the free pass promo, I did not join until 1999. But my point still stands - it was a sales promo that had a specific end date, not a "perk" taken away.

 

[aan1701]

Maybe Doc or an original member could jump in to say when they started the free pass promo, I did not join until 1999. But my point still stands - it was a sales promo that had a specific end date, not a "perk" taken away.

No argument from me on that one. I was just trying to point out that it they were not offering tickets at the very begining. Sorry if I ruffeled a few feathers.

 

[Chuck S]

My May 1992 contract had them, and the Limited Admission Program is listed in my POS, which I think is the original from when OKW/DVC opened in Octocer 1991. It shows 4 passes for a GV, 3 passes for a 2 bedroom, 2 passes for a one bedroom and 1 pass for a studio. This was amended, apparently, after we purchased to 1/2 the occupancy of the room.

 

[aan1701]

My May 1992 contract had them, and the Limited Admission Program is listed in my POS, which I think is the original from when OKW/DVC opened in Octocer 1991. It shows 4 passes for a GV, 3 passes for a 2 bedroom, 2 passes for a one bedroom and 1 pass for a studio. This was amended, apparently, after we purchased to 1/2 the occupancy of the room.

Thanks for the dates Chuck. Now I really know I am
right as our family trips were always over Labor day and in sep 1991 I was 16. Trust me when I tell you mom wanted to kill my dad for not signing up because of no tickets. I guess maybe because the resort was not open yet they did not feel the need to offer tickets. Anyway maybe it was my dad that gave them the idea to offer tickets. Who knows. All I know is I will never forget that day in Sep. 1991.

 

[Chuck S]

Thanks for the dates Chuck. Now I really know I am
right as our family trips were always over Labor day and in sep 1991 I was 16. Trust me when I tell you mom wanted to kill my dad for not signing up because of no tickets. I guess maybe because the resort was not open yet they did not feel the need to offer tickets. Anyway maybe it was my dad that gave them the idea to offer tickets. Who knows. All I know is I will never forget that day in Sep. 1991.

Especially at the pre-opening prices of what $48 per point? I would bet you would have been included in the passes retroactively, if you'd have purchased...given it was mentioned in the POS.

 

[dclfun]

I feel we have more perks now than when we joined- love the little "Perks" book with specific discounts listed. My most-utilized perk is the free internet access. I never used valet parking so I don't miss it. Also love the Merry Member Mixer which is fairly new ( 4 years?) and consider it a perk to be able to enjoy such a fun event at no cost.---Kathy

 

[aan1701]

Especially at the pre-opening prices of what $48 per point? I would bet you would have been included in the passes retroactively, if you'd have purchased...given it was mentioned in the POS.

Maybe, who know. It is a funny story, well I think it is funny. Anyways I am a member now and very happy I am. It is fun hiding the fact from my dad, esspecialy when DW and I take Mom with us.

 

[mac_tlc]

My May 1992 contract had them, and the Limited Admission Program is listed in my POS, which I think is the original from when OKW/DVC opened in Octocer 1991. It shows 4 passes for a GV, 3 passes for a 2 bedroom, 2 passes for a one bedroom and 1 pass for a studio. This was amended, apparently, after we purchased to 1/2 the occupancy of the room.

We toured in November 1991 and purchased in March 1992 (actually signed in late February 1992) and the limited park admission program was included. Our price was $51/pt. It didn't include the Animal Kingdom when it opened in 1998, so we had to buy some tickets, either one-day or multi-day with no expiration to use at AK until 2000.

I remember them modifying the deal to include 2 passes for the studio rooms, not sure when, but it was early on.