EDITED TITLE: Should DVC Owners get more Perks?

[WilsonFlyer]

We will ALWAYS pay for parking in our dues. We didn't suddenly get something free that we use to pay for. There's nothing to 'trade.' Cash guests are paying for it also. They just aren't seeing it as a line item anymore.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No, the last time I stayed on-site was 2002 until I bought DVC last year. Off-site was crazy-cheaper.

And where, exactly, did I ever mention that I was upset? I looked back at my posts and don't see anything that was hostile or insulting. I just thought it might make for a good discussion. Sheesh...

I was personally wondering if you were that upset because of how you were insistent something should be done about it because as you saw it now everyone got it. Yes, DVC didn't have to pay for parking but the main point is no one had to pay for parking before until Disney basically came up out of nowhere in 2018 and said "industry standard" to charge for parking for overnight guests. What you think is a special perk wasn't really a perk at all for DVC. From reading the comments I honestly think you might have just forgotten about the change. Yes I truly did wonder if people not having to pay for overnight parking after several years of inconsistently paying for it got to you that much

 

[J-Dog]

I was personally wondering if you were that upset because of how you were insistent something should be done about it because as you saw it now everyone got it. Yes, DVC didn't have to pay for parking but the main point is no one had to pay for parking before until Disney basically came up out of nowhere in 2018 and said "industry standard" to charge for parking for overnight guests. What you think is a special perk wasn't really a perk at all for DVC. From reading the comments I honestly think you might have just forgotten about the change. Yes I truly did wonder if people not having to pay for overnight parking after several years of inconsistently paying for it got to you that much

Yes, I understand. The point was more about the fact that Iger is clearly "trying" to make guests happy and reverse the recent "less for more" stigma that Disney has, so I was simply trying to start a discussion as to whether something would be extended specifically for DVC.

And somehow it came across as me being pissed that everyone else got an old benefit renewed....

 

[StarCruzer]

I'm a resale owner and I personally think it's ridiculous how few perks blue cards get. Most of the discounts are ones you can get through having a Disney Visa, AP or (in our case) active duty military. One of the main reasons we even got resale was because we didn't think the direct purchase perks were enticing enough.

I say do away with Club level at the resorts and swap those perks to blue card holders--if they need to add a caveat to prevent overcrowding, make it that you can only use the Club level lounge when staying at your home resort. Now that would be a REAL perk!

 

[tjkraz]

I'm a resale owner and I personally think it's ridiculous how few perks blue cards get. Most of the discounts are ones you can get through having a Disney Visa, AP or (in our case) active duty military. One of the main reasons we even got resale was because we didn't think the direct purchase perks were enticing enough.

Military isn't worth comparing. That's a class all unto itself. Some of the benefits may be subsidized by the DOD. And the qualifications are...somewhat steep (respect!)

Disney Visa card members get very few perks. 10% off a handful of restaurants with blockout dates. 10% off merchandise purchases over $50. Maybe behind-the-scenes tour discounts. And those perks are only offered when the Visa is used for the purchase.

Some Annual Passholder perks are similar to DVC. Passholders do not have private lounges, exclusive (free) nights at the theme parks or chartered cruise ship voyages. There are special magic bands, pins and magnets for passholders...and different ones for DVC.

Most DVC members are not annual passholders. So there isn't always crossover.

And DVC members have the most substantial "perk" of all: a guaranteed discount on lodging for the next 40-50 years. I've said this before and I'll say it again: aside from the lack of active AP sales, DVC perks today are as good as they've ever been. Yes members paid a lot of money to be DVC owners. But that was done with the promise of years of discounted accommodations. It's not realistic to expect Disney to heap added benefits on top of that.

 

[DeeBee3]

Just give me a ticket deal. Something to reduce the exorbitant park tickets.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Most DVC members are not annual passholders. So there isn't always crossover.

One of our DISer friends that's the way with them as a couple. Both are on the deed as DVC owners to my knowledge but the husband doesn't go much the wife does. The wife has the AP and the husband doesn't just because it doesn't make financial sense with how little he ends up going. Actually we had this discussion a bit back when the renewal rates for the APs were released that the amount of trips to make it worth-while was now pushing over that line. Just a few years ago the DVC renewal rate was in the $600s and it's over $800 now which includes the discount.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And somehow it came across as me being pissed that everyone else got an old benefit renewed....

Honestly, probably because of these comments.

Since free resort parking on points is a perk that is now being extended to all resort guests (so it's not really a "perk" for DVC points anymore)

But that doesn't change the fact that DVC points did get free parking, and now everyone does. Therefore, it's no longer a specific DVC benefit compared to everyone else.

Posters were trying to mention that included parking wasn't a perk set apart from others just because you were DVC as part of the DVC program like a reason to purchase DVC. I think you just started your premise with the wrong example (I mean that nicely). Should DVC members get adjustment in perks over time that are positive? Sure I think people can agree with that but the parking example is one that isn't quite tit for tat.

Largely Disney has been making direct DVC the more exclusive product. The perks are essentially changing. Now your main perk will be the ability to stay at the other resorts whereas resale cannot with Riviera, etc. So I don't think you're going to get more perks directed at DVC members vs non-DVC members. They already have special pricing on things, invitations to previews, Moonlight Magic events, etc. I think you might see more perks or rather maybe less restrictions put towards direct DVC members as opposed to those who get them resale. The price difference between direct and resale and just what those perks/less restrictions are may or may not be the biggest issue although I don't think anyone can argue that not allowing the points to be used at other resorts makes resale look all that attractive.

 

[crisi]

So then that makes it even worse, if we pay for it but now everybody else gets it for legitimately "free".

If you really believe that, sell your timeshare NOW. Because you own a timeshare. You pay for EVERYTHING related to resort maintenance through your dues. Cleaning, linens, refurbs, pool maintenance, transportation and parking lot maintenance. Your dues pay for the flowers in the pots and the wi-fi in the room. Of course, cash resort guests also pay for those things, they are built into the cost of the room, but we are obligated to pay by contract. You do not pay for negotiated discounts (but neither are you entitled to them) or marketing events (such as Moonlight Magic) though your dues - you paid for those when you bought points.

 

[DonMacGregor]

It honestly took longer for this topic to pop than I thought it would...

 

[J-Dog]

If you really believe that, sell your timeshare NOW. Because you own a timeshare. You pay for EVERYTHING related to resort maintenance through your dues. Cleaning, linens, refurbs, pool maintenance, transportation and parking lot maintenance. Your dues pay for the flowers in the pots and the wi-fi in the room. Of course, cash resort guests also pay for those things, they are built into the cost of the room, but we are obligated to pay by contract. You do not pay for negotiated discounts (but neither are you entitled to them) or marketing events (such as Moonlight Magic) though your dues - you paid for those when you bought points

So, wait... you're saying that I should be kicked off the team because I didn't know 1 obscure clause in the contract? That doesn't change the amount of dues I pay because of my lack of knowledge. Why exactly should I sell?

 

[DonMacGregor]

 

[WilsonFlyer]

{Sits down beside Don and says, "May I?"}

 

[J-Dog]

{Sits down beside Don and says, "May I?"}

Meh, this is nothing. I am on a different (non-Disney) forum in which you are pretty much mandated to cuss someone out within the first 3 posts or you are completely ignored. Even the mods do it.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Meh, this is nothing. I am on a different (non-Disney) forum in which you are pretty much mandated to cuss someone out within the first 3 posts or you are completely ignored. Even the mods do it.

Dat's funny right dare I don't care who you are!

Thank you. I needed that. I'm on a few of those myself. LOL

 

[Sandisw]

So then that makes it even worse, if we pay for it but now everybody else gets it for legitimately "free".

Okay, that's true. So maybe some of the old DVC perks will come back too?

It seems like the answer to my question is "NO"...

Parking areas are paid by two groups…DVC owners for the DVC resorts and Disney for the WDW resorts.

All that has happened is Disney has decided to no longer pass the cost of maintaining their lots onto the guests as an additional charge but instead roll it back into the room charge, like it was before.

Comes down to the fact that parking was not charged to DVC points reservations because Disney did not have any authority to charge the fee when they were not the ones who “owned and maintained” the lots for DVC resorts.

 

[J-Dog]

Parking areas are paid by two groups…DVC owners for the DVC resorts and Disney for the WDW resorts.

All that has happened is Disney has decided to no longer pass the cost of maintaining their lots onto the guests as an additional charge but instead roll it back into the room charge, like it was before.

Comes down to the fact that parking was not charged to DVC points reservations because Disney did not have any authority to charge the fee when they were not the ones who “owned and maintained” the lots for DVC resorts.

Thanks for the explanation

 

[808blessing]

So can DVC get a credit for lots from Disney since they are covering hotel guests or are we no longer hotel guests? I don't know if that is a good or bad question but I'm asking it to ask.

 

[davidhr]

I love this!

Jim has 5 apples. Mark also has 5 apples.

One day the teacher teacher took one of Jim’s apples.

The next day the teacher gave Jim back his apple. Mark filled a complaint because Jim now has the same amount of apples as him, and he believes it isn’t fair as he had one more Apple the day before.

I want more perks, but this is not the reason I want more.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I love this!

Jim has 5 apples. Mark also has 5 apples.

One day the teacher teacher took one of Jim’s apples.

The next day the teacher gave Jim back his apple. Mark filled a complaint because Jim now has the same amount of apples as him, and he believes it isn’t fair as he had one more Apple the day before.

I want more perks, but this is not the reason I want more.

I tried to explain it this way: you own your own home and you get to park in your own driveway for free (because you own it). Disney owns the house next door to you and charges people to park in their driveway (your neighborhood is close to the local high school football stadium or something). If Disney decides to stop charging people to park in their driveway, there's no reason to expect someone should drop by every Friday night and give you a check just for continuing to park in your own driveway (that you still own).