Fairytale Pkg Perks-When Do We Get Ours?!?

[DISNEYMOMx5]

Okay, I don't pretend to know everything (we've only been DVC owners for a year), & don't get me wrong, I love BCV, but I guess I'm a little miffed at this new Fairytale Pkg thing. Why is the general public getting these great deals? Honestly, we are using our pts this summer, but I don't think we are visiting the parks b/c with 5 kiddos, it is expensive. Oh, I wish, I wish they would throw us a bone w/ some discounted AP's or something. We've discussed this at length regarding getting AP's or what to do, but the AP's aren't really a great value at this point b/c the kids like to have some relaxation days, so between 2 trips, we wouldn't get our money's worth. I would love to feel like we could take a day or two to meander through the parks instead of feeling like we have to "bust it" from morning to night to get our money's worth. I'm sorry if this is rambling, but I guess I needed to vent. I love the accomodations we can get for our large family, but I wish they gave their loyal members a few more perks. I've been reading these boards for a long time...I hope I'm not too far off base w/ my frustration, but if I am, be gentle w/ me!

 

[Pa@okw95]

I would not look for any discounts from DVC that amounts to anything. What I would suggest is you buy park hopper passes. They are good for any day and can be used for the next visit. They never expire. I think I am right.

 

[mickeys#1fan]

Just remember, you've bought a hedge against inflation for 40 years. While everyone else will pay an increased price for accomodations (which would be minimum deluxe or rack rate for Home Away from Home) for the next 40 years, your price will remain frozen at whatever you paid for your membership. The only increasing cost is dues, which can be paid back in one trip per year (probably even faster than that).

If you wanted to get real complex about it, you could project the cost of accomodations for a family your size at WDW for the next 40 years, times how many times you go in a year, times an average annual price increase. Take that total figure and calculate its value in today's dollars (a net present value calculation). Compare that to your DVC costs.

I've never actually worked out these numbers, but expect you'd come out the winner by a wide margin every time. This is a discount all by itself. We've all bought vacations 40 years into the future at today's costs. Too many people would look at this as an investment and, therefore, expect some other kind of perks. It's not an investment. We've all bougt ourselves a hedge against inflation for something we expect to use fairly often for the next 40 years. Other bennies would be nice, but as far as I'm concerned, Disney's already done me a favor.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
I would not look for any discounts from DVC that amounts to anything. What I would suggest is you buy park hopper passes. They are good for any day and can be used for the next visit. They never expire. I think I am right.

I agree - buy the PHP tickets. Neither the major park days or the plus options expire, so a 7 Day hopper might last your family 3 or more visits. If the weather cooperates, you can spend some time at the water parks, too!

DVC does offer some dining discounts and recreation discounts. Does your family like mini-golf???

I wish DVC would offer discounts on all types of park tickets, too, and not just the UPH. But IMHO, it's very unlikely to happen.

 

[DebbieB]

I think this "fairytale package" is alot of smoke & mirrors. 7 nights for 4 nights rate is about a 43% discount. The discount codes they have offered in the past have been in this range, they have just found a better way to market it. They are also encouraging longer stays, which means increased spending.

I think we already have a great deal with DVC. My 7th trip is coming up and when you add up the rack rates of my stays, I am up to my initial purchase price. So now I am staying in a 1 bedroom for 12 nights a year for about $1,000 maintenance.

 

[DISNEYMOMx5]

See, I knew I could count on the veterans to get me back on track! I think every once in a while (remember, I'm still making monthly payments on this) I start wondering if we did the right thing...I know we did. You can't beat the Disney resorts, especially the 2 BR w/ a kitchen & washer/dryer. Thanks for helping me go back to my happy place!

 

[bbowers]

I started off with my knickers in a twist over it, myself, but while making lunch I suddenly realized that it ends the day before we arrive - so hopefully everyone will have taken advantage of it and the place will be deserted!

 

[TnRobin]

Having picked apart alot of these packages before my DVC days, I soon realized that there really wasn't a true discount on these packages. I could usually book the components that I intended to use, cheaper than they price of the package.

 

[laceemouse]

MOMx5, I know where you are coming from. We have 4 kids and just joined DVC at BCV! I just made our first ressies for next march, our spring break. My oldest daughters will be 12 and 11 at the time, we will need 4 adult tickets and 2 childs. We hope to buy 5 day park hoppers and split them between 2 trips. I haven't figured out where to get the best prices on this but I will. Most people we know only have 2 or 3 kids, but I wanted 4 or more so now I have to pay for them!!! Have you ever seen very many other families with as many kids as you have at Disney? I never have, and the folks I know with 4 or more kids hardly ever go anywhere!!! Most of them don't even go out to eat. Have a great trip! My youngest is 5 and would never let us go to Disney without going to the MK.

 

[erikthewise]

The goal of the Fairytale Package is not to be fair to everyone, but to fill the resorts and parks with paying customers; I hope it works. But I don't think DVC members are being mistreated in any way. As everyone has pointed out, we've got our own sweet deal going; let's not be too jealous if others get a different one.

DebbieB, I think maybe your usual impeccable insight missed something. I did a quick sample calculation for another thread in Resorts that the new package would beat best past deals by a respectable margin. The "43% off" quoted at Mousesavers refers to the entire package cost, not just the resort component. Self-quote follows:

"Here's an example from mousesavers:
7-night Polynesian Garden View for two adults: $1855.21 incl tax

The best (non-AP) code rate available for this room type is typically $179 plus tax, almost exactly $200/night. So you'd be looking at $1400 for lodging. If you buy two adult advance purchase 6-day park hoppers, that would be another $600, for a total of $2000. If you actually bought 7-night UHPs it would be even more. So this package appears to beat the best rates available in the past."

However if your length of stay is different than 7 days, it won't be quite as good a deal. And perhaps other resorts, other party sizes give different results.

 

[InstImpres]

I've been running numbers all morning. I am torn if I should upgrade from VWL to AKL Conc. this trip and bank my DVC points. The one thing it will make me do is stay longer than I planned in order to get the package. I have until Monday to make up my mind.

 

[Chuck S]

So, is that the price 1855.71 of the pkg? Does it include more than UHP passes and room?

In my particular circumstance:

345 pts perch in 1992 @ $51/50years = $1.02 + $3.49 OKW dues = $1555.95 + ~$700 for 2 adult APs = $2255.95. I can get at least 10 nights in an OKW studio AND 10 nights in a 1 bedroom at OKW (depending on season) - Much better than the Fairytale Pkg.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Don't hold your breath for Disney Corp to give DVCers anything. They won't even give us the FL-AP rate. We're a captive audience as far as their concerned. When it works to your favor and budget, I'd take advantage of any cash discounts you can get. For example, stay at your favorite non-DVC resort on the 7 for 4 deal, then move to your DVC unit on points and visit non-entertainment like USIOA or SW.

DVCers = cash cow.

Love DVC Don't love being taken for granted

 

[CarolA]

If you are like me and do short stays the Fairy Tale package actually makes you appreciate DVC more. My next visit is 3 nights in October. There is no discount on FariyTale for that.

 

[skelooch]

I definately think the 7 day park hopper plus pass is the way to go, you can get them much cheaper from some of the authorized Disney ticket sellers. I just purchased adult 7 day park hopper plus pass for $298 incl. tax. I think the cheapest you can get them online from Disney is currently $307 plus 6.5% tax, a savings of about $29 a ticket. I expect to get 2 to 3 trips out of a ticket.

The place I bought was floridaorlandotickets.com, they will mail them to you for a fee, they will deliver them to your resort at your check-in day for a fee, or you can pick them up at their office 7 days a week for no charge. they're located only 5-10 min from Disney.
The prices are only good for online purchases.
I was a little skeptical at first but was told by other DIS members that they were OK, I'll be picking up my tickets this saturday so I'll let you know if there are any problems.
GOOD LUCK

 

[Coach Rick]

Hey I would like to see some kind of perc for paying, but you know as well as I that if this were to happen we would just be paying for it in increased Maint. fees. Nothing is ever for nothing, so I guess it's ok the way it is.

 

[Chuck S]

JF, How is DVC a cash cow for Disney? I'm spending roughly the same amount annually for 20 days with APs, in much nicer accomodations (10 days studio/10 days 1 bdrm) than what this Fairytale Pkg cost for 7 days at the Poly. And the Pkg is supposed to be a 43% discount, so that makes our DVC roughly what a 70% discount? Even at todays price of $84/point for 39 years the difference is basically the price of the APs when compared to the Fairytale Pkg., still figuring 345 points and 20 days. You really can't compare a rate of $10/pt. (Common rental fee). To be fair comparision it should be ACTUAL expense for DVC to ACTUAL expense for the package.

 

[msdis]

I know some of you will disagree, but I calculate the cost of my DVC rooms based on dues only. The value of what I paid and what I can sell it for are like stocks, paper loss/gain only while held. So, based on that assumption, I have a 2br and a studio booked for 9 people in July. Seven have 5 day ph passes and 2 have AP's. When I divide out the room only for 9 people based on dues, and divide out the 5 day ph passes that comes to $68.40/pp per day and our rate(2 AP's) is even less because the mileage is greater. So I would love to see how many have gotten that rate with DVC quality accomodations on the FT pkg. We do have a good thing and for the mileage we get out of our AP's we get a good deal too. I'm happy with what I have. Yes, the FT pkg is a good deal, but we still have a "better pkg". It's all relative.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

DVC itself is a cash cow for Disney otherwise they would have stopped selling after OKW. There isn't a comparision between the DVC/non-DVC resorts. DVC is great and IS the best of WDW accomodations.

However, IMO Disney takes DVCers vacation habits for granted especially when it comes to perks and discounts. They know we will be back, so why bother offering any real discounts, etc. to us. If you look at the portable perks, they are just the run of the mill discounts that anyone with a DC/AAA/Visa/AmEx card can get.

The OP feels slighted (and I agree) because right now Disney is offering great discounts on hotel AND park passes while the loyal DVC crowd isn't offered any real discount on passes.

Pretty soon, you'll see Disney charge DVCers MORE for our park passes, after all, since we get free accomodations we can afford to pay more for passes....right?

 

[chris1gill]

Actually, I agree with the OP, we should be getting park discounts that are actually worth something.... 10 or 15% off an over-priced UPH is not worth much...

Has anyone actually emailed MS to voice their desire? I know this is a topic that's often brought up, but I wonder if people are actually telling the higher up's what they think? Just curious... I know I never have...