DVC presidential history

[BeccaG]

At various times, I have read posts complaining about DVC's changes and how the new president Jim Lewis, is partially, or fully, to blame. I have not been around long enough to know one way or the other, but can any of those who have been around DVC a bit give me a history of DVC, who has been in charge, how they were as leaders etc?. . Kinda curious but also trying to manage expectations as well . .

 

[Chuck S]

Lewis is about par. I did bump into the original DVC VP (they used to be corp VPs, not Presidents) one night at the original Chef Mickey's at DtD after OKW first opened. We had on member jackets, and he asked if there were any problems. I mentioned that the bus stop at EPCOT for OKW was the farthest from the park, and that offsite guests were filling up our OKW benches waiting for their offsite bus. On our next trip OKW (then known at the Disney Vacation Club Resort) had the closest, and fully covered bus stop at EPCOT, with the Disney Vacation Club name prominently displayed...I'm thinking good subliminal marketing .

I think whoever they had picked to be the current head of DVC, we would be seeing changes similar to what we are seeing now. There are so many members that the "little" things really aren't practical to provide on such a large scale. A lot of those were paid not out of dues, but by marketing, and it just isn't possible anymore. For instance, we used to receive small member gifts, like hats or photo albums, every time we visited OKW. All the resorts used to have in-room delivery of park packages, now we pick them up at the resort gift shops. The point charts would likely have changed anyway, I'm surprised they hadn't been adjusted earlier than 2010, the last adjustment was in 1996. The glassware that was removed from studios temporarily is back. Enforcing the one transfer per year rule needed to be done, IMO. Maintenance/housekeeping issues have always seemed to be cyclic. I think Jim Lewis is a little more active from the stand point of being involved in the professional timeshare organizations , and wanting to bring DVC a little more in line with typical timeshares, which probably is better for him personally (and maybe the corporation) than it is for us individual members, but there are some positives to that, too.

I think it is much like those that championed the ouster of Michael Eisner, and now they are complaining about Iger...be careful what you wish for.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

When did Jim Lewis become president of DVC?

We've owned since 2006, and it seems like Jim Lewis has always been the "new" president.

How long do you have to be in a position to no longer be new?

 

[zev]

When did Jim Lewis become president of DVC?

We've owned since 2006, and it seems like Jim Lewis has always been the "new" president.

How long do you have to be in a position to no longer be new?

I think its like an NFL quarterback or coach these days. Once you are fired, replaced and found another job with a diffrent team.

 

[BeccaG]

When did Jim Lewis become president of DVC?

We've owned since 2006, and it seems like Jim Lewis has always been the "new" president.

How long do you have to be in a position to no longer be new?

Ok who can tell me about those who came before the current president?

 

[tjkraz]

Lewis joined DVC around late-2003 / early-2004. We were members for a year or so before he came on board and I couldn't tell you the name of his predecessor if my life depended on it. Lewis is MUCH more visible than whomever came before him.

(I seem to recall seeing the prior VPs name on the member website when we first joined. Of course, that was back in the day when the website had no individual user accounts and everyone used the password "welcomehome" to access it. )

For the most part I agree with what Chuck has said. Many of those little things that DVC used to do simply aren't sustainable when you have 10 resorts and 400,000 members. These days people play the "I hope my dues aren't paying for that!" card over things like referral literature, member magazines and anniversary giclees. Can you imagine the uproar if they were still passing out free baseball caps to all guests?

For better or worse, Lewis is DVC's figurehead. Certainly he has control over many aspects of the business and I won't argue that there are areas in which he as dropped the ball. But there are also changes made at WDW/TWDC over which he has no control. Chuck mentioned changes to package deliver--IIRC this was actually a resort-wide change to the current pickup system rather than having items delivered to rooms.

Some changes are necessary regardless of how they may impact individual members. The point reallocation comes to mind.

Many changes benefit one group of members at the expense of another group. Take the point banking changes, for example. We lost the ability to bank 25% of our points late in the Use Year while gaining the ability to bank 100% of points for a longer period. Good or bad? You decide.

IMHO Lewis is a convenient place to point a finger. Again, sometimes it's justified. Other times it borders on the absurd. You can't please all of the people all of the time, and JL is usually on the receiving end of any anti-DVC sentiment. The Internet is a great thing but just remember that each of us speaks for an audience of one. If you look far enough you'll find people complaining about the DVC Annual Pass discount or free Internet service. But you're welcome to question whether those posters represent any sort of majority.

BTW, DVC does still give out a fair amount of swag to members. You can get plenty of caps, lanyards, pins, Christmas ornaments, etc. by attending the weekly member meetings, special holiday events or even sailing on DCL.

I do find it a bit humorous when some suggest that DVC is more sales-focused these days vs. having been more member-focused in years past. Apparently a free DVC baseball cap given in 1992 was a warm "thank you" gesture from the good folks at DVC while a free cap given in 2009 is just another attempt to market the DVC product. Hmmmm.....

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck mentioned changes to package deliver--IIRC this was actually a resort-wide change to the current pickup system rather than having items delivered to rooms.

Yep, that was resort-wide, however, it could have been continued for DVC members...but it is also likely that our dues would have increased to pay for an additional employee...and Disney/DVC would have been leaving themselves open for accusations if they would have accidentally left it in the wrong room, or if anything "turned up missing" from a room that they had entered. In fact, that may have been the reason for the change in the first place. Look at the occasional posters here on the DIS that are "sure" a Disney employee stole something from their room, even though there is no record of entry in the computer, and they'd left their balcony door unlocked.

I do think DVC tries to address what is best for members and the DVC program as a whole, even if it is to the unfortunate detriment of some individual members.

 

[Sammie]

George Aquel was before Jim Lewis. I liked George a lot, he cared about the membership, he was not one that was into getting his name into the forefront, many members probably did not even know him. He was a behind the scenes kinda of guy.

Jim Lewis was fine with me when he started out, he was all about the Membership but once the bright lights hit him and expansion became the way to make a name for himself in the company I consider his focus to have changed.

I feel like now he is using DVC to promote his gains instead of being for the membership.

I will be glad for him to move on to bigger things and I am sure that is where he is looking. I just hate DVC is the stepping stone for him.

I could care less about freebies, if I want something with DVC on it, I will buy it. To me it is a waste. As to what I think is wrong with the current management, upkeep and maintenance. When Disney resorts are better cleaned and maintained than DVC ones, I do blame the person at the top.

I am fine with expansion but do not let the exisiting resorts fall into disrepair in the process and I will be very happy.

 

[disneynutz]

George Aquell was before Jim Lewis. I liked George a lot, he cared about the membership, he was not one that was into getting his name into the forefront, many members probably did not even know him. He was a behind the scenes kinda of guy.

Jim Lewis was fine with me when he started out, he was all about the Membership but once the bright lights hit him and expansion became the way to make a name for himself in the company I consider his focus to have changed.

I feel like now he is using DVC to promote his gains instead of being for the membership.

I will be glad for him to move on to bigger things and I am sure that is where he is looking. I just hate DVC is the stepping stone for him.

You got it! Lewis was a corporate financial guy who happened to be the head of DVC when it went from being the red headed step child to a profit center for Disney. Was the change because of Lewis? I don't really know, but Disney now expects continued improving results from the unit and as a result, the sales pressure is on.

Improving the infrastructure for member support isn't important because it doesn't generate revenue. The crappy MS computer system and some of the Advisers continue to mess up my accounts. The Member website, after a year, it still doesn't display our pending vacations correctly. I have spent hours on the phone working to get this fixed and the only answer that I have received is that we have too many contracts/points/UY's for the program.

MS did get a brand new custom built office building and guess who has the large office on the top floor, Jim Lewis.

 

[Chuck S]

:... but Disney now expects continued improving results from the unit and as a result, the sales pressure is on....

And in today's economy, it is doubtful it would be any different no matter who would be in the position of DVC President. Corporations are profit driven more so than ever before. They have to answer to mutal fund managers and investment houses, who are only concerned with profits.

 

[disneynutz]

And in today's economy, it is doubtful it would be any different no matter who would be in the position of DVC President. Corporations are profit driven more so than ever before. They have to answer to mutual fund managers and investment houses, who are only concerned with profits.

And as a result, Disney will get screwed up like most other large companies. No customer service, prices that are too high and a management team who only cares about their next multi million dollar bonus while cutting benefits for employees.

Disney does have the power to be different, sadly it seems that they choose not to.

 

[Chuck S]

And as a result, Disney will get screwed up like most other large companies. No customer service, prices that are too high and a management team who only cares about their next multi million dollar bonus while cutting benefits for employees.

Disney does have the power to be different, sadly it seems that they choose not to.

Do they really have the power to be different? I'm not so sure. Remember, part of the reason the Investment Houses and Mutual Fund managers gave a vote of no confidence to Michael Eisner and some board members was, indeed, lack of substantial profits to entice investors and raise the stock prices.

 

[dan and scott]

Ok who can tell me about those who came before the current president?

I think being members at BW since 98
Matt Omiett(spelling)
A.K.A former Disney Cruise Pres.
A.K.A former Disneyland Resort Pres.
...and now President of Westin resorts and hotels worldwide

Scott