First post and DVC dissatisfaction

[BlazerFan]

You should be able to upgrade to a Disney premier ticket which is good at both WDW and DL. It is about $950 now but they will apply all the money from your previous Disneyland Premium pass to the new ticket. The expiration date will remain the same as the old ticket and there is no discounts for renewal

Depending on when OP met with his guide and was given the info about upgrading, $200 was about the additional cost needed if it was before 6/3 when the prices went up. It's closer to $350 now so the information may have been correct at the time it was given.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Depending on when OP met with his guide and was given the info about upgrading, $200 was about the additional cost needed if it was before 6/3 when the prices went up. It's closer to $350 now so the information may have been correct at the time it was given.

I also agree that you can upgrade to the Premier Pass that is good at both WDW and DL and that prior to the price increase it would have been in the $200 range to do so from the DL Premium pass. Unfortunately as with everything prices change but I don't believe the guide misinformed you with any incorrect info for the time you asked. MS is ok with DVC info although even that is not perfect and they can be the pits about passes, dining etc. You often get better info here than from them.

Regarding the FP's. It's not the first time someone has had troubles with that but it sounds like the new guide has helped out. Just to point out - the term "guide" is a bit of a misnomer. They are timeshare sales people and once the sale is completed they really don't have much or anything to do with your use of DVC. That is what MS is for although they are not perfect either.

 

[Minniesgal]

I am sorry that the information on pass upgrades hasn't been clear for you and that you feel duped. Please remember though that you have your points which are access to many years of vacations which for us have been wonderful and no reason why they couldn't be for you. That is what you really bought not the discounts or the perks.

I would however say people are mentionning the cost of transportation, this is something you really need to take into account before you decide to buy. We live in the UK and flights are expensive. Before we bought we worked out how often we could afford to fly and that told us how many points to buy. Our current target is once every three years.

As for the dining plan costs, you don't need the dining plan. You can snack and even make simple meals in the room, you could eat cheaper offsite in fact you could even eat cheaper onsite without the dining plan please don't allow the dining plan to take away from the product you bought.

As for the fastpasses I get the impression they are being phased out. A lot of people have reported not getting any. Again these are a really small perk not a serious consideration when spending thousands on a lifetime of vacations. Annoying to miss out i understand but don't lose the bigger picture.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I also hope the OP doesn't think they get an allotment of FPs for every trip.

I've heard that the DVC CM's do give out FP's as a kind of thank you, but it is a one time thing.

With FP+, it's looking like there will be FP allotments, but its not a DVC perk. It will be for anyone who meets certain criteria, and there may be different criteria for different allotments.

 

[lorie13]

I am sorry about your experience. You had an expectation that was not met and now you have a sour taste in your mouth.

Guides are there to sell you the property, unfortunately not all of them are honest. Making a complaint to Disney is your best action, hopefully they will acknowledge your concerns.

As for park tickets, watch for special offers to DVC members. Last year DVC was offered WDW annual passes for $399. With a little pre planning you can go twice in the year. Which is what we are doing and it does save you on tickets. With the WDW annual pass you also receive 20% off merchandise purchases just like the Disneyland Premium Pass. The only savings on your Disneyland Pass would be $20/year as a DVC member, which is really nothing compared to the $669 purchase price.

I found the upgrading from the Disneyland Premium Annual Pass to the dual park Premier Pass was not worth it. But if you purchase just the Premier pass after your Premium pass expires for $979 and you are planning on doing WDW in that year there may be a savings if you plan on going for more than 10 days.

AKV Kidani is beautiful, you will really enjoy it. This is also one of our home resorts. Do you have an online account at dvcmember.com? You can also wait list Jambo house, though at this point it is probably too close to do it.

I hope you have a fantastic vacation and you find that despite the bad start you really enjoy DVC. We have been members for 5 years have found it is the best timeshare out there.

 

[bugzy]

Morning/Afternoon folks. I wanted to provide you all with a update. I just spoke to a gentleman within the executive office down in Florida. Without getting into the details to much they are looking into the matter. They were also very upset as to why we never received calls back from the guide as it's Disneys expectation that it should happen since they represent the company. While they are sales people they should be assuring us or pointing us in the right direction.

Needless to say we are now completely satisfied with the outcome, that our voice was heard and that Disney really does care about the people they service. We are both now very excited for our trip and expect to have a great albeit hot/wet time in Florida.

 

[RobDoc]

Morning/Afternoon folks. I wanted to provide you all with a update. I just spoke to a gentleman within the executive office down in Florida. Without getting into the details to much they are looking into the matter. They were also very upset as to why we never received calls back from the guide as it's Disneys expectation that it should happen since they represent the company. While they are sales people they should be assuring us or pointing us in the right direction.

Needless to say we are now completely satisfied with the outcome, that our voice was heard and that Disney really does care about the people they service. We are both now very excited for our trip and expect to have a great albeit hot/wet time in Florida.

Thanks for the update. I'm glad you gave them an opportunity to reach some sort of satisfactory outcome!

Have a great trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

1. We would be able to upgrade our California Premium Annual Passes to Disney World passes that would allow us to visit all the theme and water parks in Florida. We were told this would cost us around $200 to do so. We were excited about doing this as we calculated it be to around a $400 savings from buying normal park tickets, money which we could then spend to buy things at the theme park, go to the spa or just upgrade airlines tickets to first class. We have now been told through Member Services that this cannot be done. Not only can we not upgrade our California annual passes to Disney World passes, but the cost of buying tickets will be over $350 per person. This will come out to around $700 for my wife and myself to visit your theme parks. This is a complete reversal of what we were told by our "guide" when we signed up.

Can you just explain to us a bit more about this? Disneyland and WDW can absolutely upgrade from one pass to the other. Member Services doesn't do this. So the guide misspoke or you misheard, or there's some other situation.

If you're near Anaheim, just go to a ticket booth and upgrade. Or wait until you're in Orlando.

But the upgrade keeps your same expiration date; you're not going to get an extended expiration at all. So if your current DLR passes expire before your trip, then yes you'll have to buy new admission.

But you have to do it AT a park; it can't be done in another way.

Hello J - Just wanted to share in case you did not know. The Annual prices went up a couple of weeks ago. You would have needed to upgraded your Premium Disneyland Annual Passport to the Disney Premiere Pass. Which the difference was 200.00 plus Florida tax.

Yeppers!

If you'd upgraded to Premier at the time you were there in Anaheim, you would have gotten that lower price. By waiting you let a price increase happen.

I'm in California and we bought AKV. The transportation costs alone will not allow us to visit WDW except every 2-3 years.

FWIW, prices are incredibly varied. If you're only seeing super-high prices, look more often. Alaska especially can have some great deals on x-country trips, but you have to catch the fares when they are there. If you aren't already, join various airlines' frequent flier programs and make sure you're signed up to get their sales emails. I've been seeing some great LAX to MCO rates even through Virgin America; and theirs is a nonstop, which would be lovely if we could ever do it.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Morning/Afternoon folks. I wanted to provide you all with a update. I just spoke to a gentleman within the executive office down in Florida. Without getting into the details to much they are looking into the matter. They were also very upset as to why we never received calls back from the guide as it's Disneys expectation that it should happen since they represent the company. While they are sales people they should be assuring us or pointing us in the right direction.

Needless to say we are now completely satisfied with the outcome, that our voice was heard and that Disney really does care about the people they service. We are both now very excited for our trip and expect to have a great albeit hot/wet time in Florida.

After reading your VERY detailed and lengthy post explaining your unhappiness, I am happy to hear that you are now happy, but your reply was quite short and vague. What did they do that left you "completely satisfied"? I ask because you were so very upset, it seems odd that them simply looking into the matter made you completely happy.

On another front, I wanted to let you know that I don't think you were lied to at all by your initial guide about upgrading your DLR AP to a WDW AP, but more that you just misunderstood.

You can indeed upgrade your DLR AP to an AP that is valid at WDW; however you cannot upgrade to a "WDW AP." What you need to do is upgrade your DLR AP (which is called either a SoCal, SoCal Select, Deluxe, or Premium Annualpass) to a Premier annual pass. The Premier annualpass is good at BOTH the two parks at DLR AND all the parks at WDW. That is what your initial guide was telling you. And, at the time, he told you the correct pricing. So he did not lie to you about that, nor give you incorrect information.

Hopefully, this will help with your view of those who helped you all along, as it sounds as if you were indeed told correct information. You just needed a little clarification to understand what was being said.

HTH,
Dreams

 

[nunzia]

Although it is only 2 short term and in the long run minor issues, I would also be VERY upset about the lies by a Disney CM. Yes, buyer beware, do your research, etc., but the Disney brand is supposed to mean something, and that is one thing we usually agree one...that although our Guides are nothing more than timeshare salespeople, they are supposed to be a bit above the norm, not be pushy and represent Disney. In the past there have been all kinds of little extra throw ins from DVC so why would someone doubt what they were told by a Disney CM?
OP, I would also be very angry and the experience tainted, but hopefully your actual ownership experiences will have the purchase lies fade. My only suggestion on the letter is to make it shorter and to the point, as it seems too long to really make your points.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Am I missing something? I don't see why saving a fee hundred on the AP upgrade one time would justify a timeshare purchase

 

[MoreTravels]

Am I missing something? I don't see why saving a fee hundred on the AP upgrade one time would justify a timeshare purchase

No you did not.

That is what I said earlier in my thread... Some people get upset for trivial things, not realizing a few hundred dollars over $150,000 you will spend at Disney ($5000 per trip x 30 trips) is really not worth spoiling your mood.

It's like making a big deal about not getting table lamps included after buying a house, writing to real estate agency complaining. The happy feeling of such big purchase is wiped out by such trivial thing. Life is short, enjoy it, look at the bigger picture. That is my opinion.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Don't feel bad about getting Kidani instead of Jambo. You will find as most of us did, that Kidani has a lot to offer that Jambo doesn't. MUCH prefer Kidani over Jambo, and like you, I didn't expect to feel that way.

 

[keishashadow]

Depending on when OP met with his guide and was given the info about upgrading, $200 was about the additional cost needed if it was before 6/3 when the prices went up. It's closer to $350 now so the information may have been correct at the time it was given.

Perhaps most DIS'rs are more sensitive to disney ticket prices and signed up for emails from various sites as to park updates than the OP? imo it was hard to miss advance notice that the ticket prices were rising a bit early this year.

No offense to the OP (i assume receiving the upgraded APs for $200 is the desired outcome? good luck) or their recollection of events, but if you ask any long-time sales professional (especially one dealing with real estate transactions) selective listening/mis-interpretation can easily come into play when listening to a detailed sales presentation. As another has stated: as with all contracts, if it's not in writing it's difficult to enforce any sort of sales promo. unless you sign on the spot, the sales incentives could change at any time. Right of recissions are helpful if utilized within the stated time period in this sort of instance.

 

[bugzy]

Morning everyone. I see a lot of people are saying we might have had selective hearing or misinterpreted information from our guide. Needless to say after speaking to the Disney representative in the Executive offices yesterday he sided with us and indeed we were misinformed of a lot of information. While i couldn't sit on the phone for a hour to go through a new sales pitch and get the correct information, he did clear up several things which were complete opposites of what we were told. I felt much better after finally getting the correct information. He will also see if we an sit down with another guide to clear up any further misconceptions.

As i stated in my earlier post about Disney rectifying things to our complete satisfaction I do not want to get into what exactly transpired. I will say however that we did receive a apoligy from them for us being treated poorly and receiving such bad information. As far as any "good-faith" stuff might go, i will just say again we are completely satisfied.

 

[Dean]

Morning everyone. I see a lot of people are saying we might have had selective hearing or misinterpreted information from our guide. Needless to say after speaking to the Disney representative in the Executive offices yesterday he sided with us and indeed we were misinformed of a lot of information. While i couldn't sit on the phone for a hour to go through a new sales pitch and get the correct information, he did clear up several things which were complete opposites of what we were told. I felt much better after finally getting the correct information. He will also see if we an sit down with another guide to clear up any further misconceptions.

As i stated in my earlier post about Disney rectifying things to our complete satisfaction I do not want to get into what exactly transpired. I will say however that we did receive a apoligy from them for us being treated poorly and receiving such bad information. As far as any "good-faith" stuff might go, i will just say again we are completely satisfied.

Just as likely your guide didn't understand all of your issues as well. At the end of the day you're in the same place you were when you posted initially. You own a timeshare you don't understand very well and that may or may not work for you. I wonder where you're psyche will be if you find it's not a good fit for you once you truly understand it, I truly hope it works out for you.

 

[bumbershoot]

On another front, I wanted to let you know that I don't think you were lied to at all by your initial guide about upgrading your DLR AP to a WDW AP, but more that you just misunderstood.

You can indeed upgrade your DLR AP to an AP that is valid at WDW; however you cannot upgrade to a "WDW AP." What you need to do is upgrade your DLR AP (which is called either a SoCal, SoCal Select, Deluxe, or Premium Annualpass) to a Premier annual pass. The Premier annualpass is good at BOTH the two parks at DLR AND all the parks at WDW. That is what your initial guide was telling you. And, at the time, he told you the correct pricing. So he did not lie to you about that, nor give you incorrect information.

Ooh, good catch. I would HOPE that someone with an AP at one park would know about the both-parks AP, and not think they could just switch it over, but maybe that's what was going on.

I remember having a conversation with a CM where I was asking xyz and he was saying abc, and neither of us could figure out what the other was talking about, and as it went on, what the other was getting upset about. Thankfully no one rushed off in a huff, we kept talking, and suddenly the lights went on for us and we were able to translate what the other was saying. Turns out no one was wrong and no one was right, we just weren't using words that meant the same thing for the other one.

Almost seems like a similar situation. The OP says WDW AP, meaning just that...the rep hears the words but translates it into WDW/DLR AP, doesn't clarify b/c it's so obvious to him, gives the right info. Later the OP uses WDW AP with MS, MS doesn't translate it so easily, says "no" but still doesn't give FULL info, that there's another level of AP, so the OP goes away thinking the upgrade isn't possible at all.

Just as likely your guide didn't understand all of your issues as well. At the end of the day you're in the same place you were when you posted initially. You own a timeshare you don't understand very well and that may or may not work for you. I wonder where you're psyche will be if you find it's not a good fit for you once you truly understand it, I truly hope it works out for you.

I agree. Hope it works out, but not sure the OP totally knows what they bought. Even I with my obsessive research ahead of time missed understanding one thing our guide (who was pretty awesome and I miss him being our guide but he left the company) said. Luckily that was one of the things DH did understand from our conversation, so he was able to explain it before I contacted our guide. If someone who researched had a blank spot in understanding, it's easy to imagine lots of non-researchers have bigger blank spots.

 

[bugzy]

Just as likely your guide didn't understand all of your issues as well. At the end of the day you're in the same place you were when you posted initially. You own a timeshare you don't understand very well and that may or may not work for you. I wonder where you're psyche will be if you find it's not a good fit for you once you truly understand it, I truly hope it works out for you.

I understand perfectly well that we own a time share in Aulani. We knew that going in. We were lied to and given bad information on other things. I have no problem with the timeshare, in fact we are totally happy witht hat part and can't wait to visiting Hawaii next year as we feel in love with the islands on our honeymoon. We also totally love that fact that as we have children we can grow further into the timeshare and pass it down to them.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I understand perfectly well that we own a time share in Aulani. We knew that going in. We were lied to and given bad information on other things. I have no problem with the timeshare, in fact we are totally happy witht hat part and can't wait to visiting Hawaii next year as we feel in love with the islands on our honeymoon. We also totally love that fact that as we have children we can grow further into the timeshare and pass it down to them.

Do you also understand that your timeshare is not only good in Hawaii, but at many other places as well? Just hoping to help you see that you have much more than that, at the moment.

And I hope you see that you were not lied to about the AP, as I explained above. You can indeed turn your DLR AP into an AP that is ALSO good at WDW.

Enjoy,
Dreams

 

[Dean]

I understand perfectly well that we own a time share in Aulani. We knew that going in. We were lied to and given bad information on other things. I have no problem with the timeshare, in fact we are totally happy witht hat part and can't wait to visiting Hawaii next year as we feel in love with the islands on our honeymoon. We also totally love that fact that as we have children we can grow further into the timeshare and pass it down to them.

I truly hope it works out for you and you enjoy your membership.