Ex Guide

[conandrob240]

What is jason saying that is so secretive that you think it would violate anon- disclosure? I think it is a very interesting perspective but he certainly isn't sharing federal secrets or anything.

 

[Jason99]

There is Mickey jail which I have done hard time. Those chocolate ice creams kept me alive but no, I signed nothing and won't have to leave the country from telling you the guides are actually sales people.

It'd be difficult to think DVC doesn't have a disclosure agreement of some sort. Being retired wouldn't protect one from possible action if violated. If it's not applicable, that's great but seems unlikely Disney would put themselves in this situation.

 

[Jason99]

In general, TS experience, most new guides have contacts. Some interview 3 or 4 times before being hired. You impress April, you can get in assuming you can get to her

This is fascinating! Thank you very much.

What are the requirements for becoming a guide? How hard is it to get one of the guide jobs? My husband has been in sales for years ( never real estate or time share, though) and he thinks it might be a great move for him.

 

[Johnny D]

What do you think is a fair price for VGF? When do you think VGF will sell out. Resales currently going for between 140 to 145.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Sorry to re-ask, but do you have any insight what will happen with HHI in 2042. There are rumors they will shut it down.

 

[Jason99]

Not sure specifically about HH. I see now reason why they would shut down but you would never know

Sorry to re-ask, but do you have any insight what will happen with HHI in 2042. There are rumors they will shut it down.

 

[Tigger1]

1. AKL has a few Concierge rooms that are always in high demand. Does DVC consider ever offering Concierge in any other resorts?

2. Will DVC be discountinuing any perks in the near future such as Annual passes?

3. I heard a rumor that Wilderness Lodge main building might convert some rooms to Dvc, is this a possibility?

How long has the Guide Mark W been at DVC?

 

[Dean]

There is Mickey jail which I have done hard time. Those chocolate ice creams kept me alive but no, I signed nothing and won't have to leave the country from telling you the guides are actually sales people.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Dean]

Not sure specifically about HH. I see now reason why they would shut down but you would never know

The real question is whether you have any inside info as to discussions about how the resorts will be transitioned though as you suggested, sometimes the guides are the last to know.

 

[MountainMouse]

Which resort do you own at? Any plans to buy more?

 

[Tracy2014]

Agree- this is great! Thanks for taking the time. Question- how exactly does the ROFR process work? Who makes the decision? Is it a separate department? Do the guides have anything to do with it? Do the guides put in requests for what they need for their clients, and that then drives what gets "taken" or is there just a department that watches and takes what they consider to be good deals that they think they can make money on. Is the goal simply for Disney to make money, or also to help control the resale prices? Thanks in advance and happy retirement!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Commission gates are quarterly and can change.

OK, but what is a "gate"?

OK, this is a tough one,but I think you already answered it above. It goes back about two years ago.....Not only did the room have a bad view, the water was connected incorrectly in the laundry, so, if selected cold water wash, it was hot, and everything was rinsed in hot.

You called maintenance, right? When we did, around the same period of time ago, we found out that they originally thought that it was hooked up wrong when the resort's washers were installed, so they were going in and switching hoses. Then when the problems continued, they realized that it was ALL coming out hot. Wash in hot, it's hot. Wash in cold, it's hot. Turns out it was a chip they needed to replace. Had nothing to do with hoses at all. The dude came in, changed that out, and then cold was cold and hot was hot.

Oh and they were ONLY doing this when they were informed. So it was (and likely still is) vital that we called maintenance.

Its really just a game, crappy guides take it personal. Good guides understand you win some you lose some

We bought 1.5 years after our first tour with our guide. He was ready and willing when we finally called.

Funny you should mention this but 5 years ago one of our daughters and her husband were ready to buy and called their guide to set up an appointment to do so. The guide (a woman) basically told them not to waste any more of her time.

Sad.

 

[bwvBound]

DVC's best kept secret... hmm.. tough question...I dont want to tell you maybe a juicy one so I will give you a fun one, .I love when people say, " oh how nice it was that they called my room ". Well if they don't call within 2 years and you buy somewhere else, they get nothing

Interesting - thanks! So that "touch" keeps the guide qualified for possible 50/50 commission splits.

 

[DizBub]

I agree that this has been a really fun and informative thread. Learned nothing earth shattering or scandalous but a peek behind the curtain. Thanks Jason, you should stick around.

I do want to mention that we never really intended to buy DVC at the time we tagged along with the kids when they bought. I was always put off that we could never get any FACTS from the kiosk people. I know their job is to funnel people to the preview center and let the guides sell and expected to be dazzled with BS. Son-in-law told the new guide he didn't need the full spiel since they had already heard it the year before and were ready to buy. I was shocked when we finally got actual facts and figures rather early in the process and realized this was doable for us and we had wasted years by being resistant to taking the tour. Signed the papers the next day.

Our guide did tell us later that he honestly thought we would cancel after we got home. Probably the easiest sale he made, at least that week. Frankly, the product sold itself.

 

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

Jasin99,
I was told by a Member Service personal that Disney is looking into removing the Choice Season, because all the Seasons are going for a higher point range, So no more low points for a week stay . Do you know if this is true??

 

[luckyman_apd]

This has been a great read. "They" are always talking....and "They" include posters here on the disboards. I think my favorite part was when Jason said he owns.....resale!

Thanks for posting. I've enjoyed my time with DVC and look forward to many more. Thankfully I know exactly what I purchased before buying. I know Disney is all about the $ but the recent pricing really shocks me....and to hear a guide say they are close to pricing themselves out...won't that affect the bottom $? If it was lower, wouldn't they make more by selling more?

 

[conandrob240]

Like anything, I think the trick is to price it as high as you can to squeeze every possible,penny out of your customer base without pricing it so high, you lose too many of them. I guess he means DVC is in danger of pricing so high now that that tipping point has been reached. Makes sense to me. It is high enough now that I would never consider buying directly from Disney anymore.

 

[chalee94]

Question- how exactly does the ROFR process work? Who makes the decision? Is it a separate department? Do the guides have anything to do with it? Do the guides put in requests for what they need for their clients, and that then drives what gets "taken" or is there just a department that watches and takes what they consider to be good deals that they think they can make money on.

post 11 says that guides don't have anything to do with ROFR. he said they'd prefer more contracts get ROFR'd so they had more inventory to sell, but other people make those decisions.

OK, but what is a "gate"?

see post 85.

it comes down to a percentage of the sale that they get on commission. the percentage goes up as production goes up.

so you might get 1% on the first $100,000 in sales that you make. then you get 3% on the next $200,000 or something like that. (the numbers in this sentence are made-up by me.)

disney can apparently move the percentages and the trigger points to get to the higher earnings levels each quarter depending on what they see as achievable.

 

[chalee94]

Jasin99,
I was told by a Member Service personal that Disney is looking into removing the Choice Season, because all the Seasons are going for a higher point range, So no more low points for a week stay . Do you know if this is true??

it would violate the contract for all seasons to go for a higher point range. DVC can only increase points in one area by lowering them elsewhere.

i doubt they tell the guides this sort of thing regardless.

 

[chalee94]

I agree that this has been a really fun and informative thread. Learned nothing earth shattering or scandalous but a peek behind the curtain. Thanks Jason, you should stick around.

agree. this was a fun thread. hope jason comes back.