Free Disney Dining Package for DVC Members?

[famgel]

I'll probably be severely criticized for this, but here goes. I strongly believe that we should be given more benefits than what we are. A lot of us spent at least $15,000 on our points and continue to spend at least $1,000 a year in maintenance fees. We have a vested interest that Disney succeeds, and are probably more apt to be the ones who spend more at the parks. I think at if we were given a discount the DDP or free TIW card, possibly more people would eat at the parks instead of cooking at their villas(and it's not as if the food at the parks/resorts isn't overly inflated in price to begin with that a 10 or 20% discount would cause them to lose money off that sale). As for the park tickets, with how they've dramatically raise the prices and added all the different catagories over the past several years, I don't think that a 10 or 20% discount would break them either. Yes, I know that when I brought into DVC what I was getting into and didn't expect any of these to be added. However, it would be a kind gesture on their part to show a little more appreciation to the people whom are their best customers, instead basically bribing people to come with "free dining" and making DVC members compete with them for dinner reservations 90 days out. (Now, let the Mike bashing begin)

Glad to see I'm not the only one that believes Disney should offer DVC members a little more incentives to visit WDW resorts. Just looking for discounts on all meals, not just lunch; discounts on more then one restaurant at each park, (most of these restaurants are in resorts), etc. We supply a guaranteed amount of money to Disney every year with our "dues", that they can bank on, at least they can re-evaluate our "perks" every year for us just like they create more offers for Non DVC members. We personally can't take advantage of discount on AP, therefore we can't buy DDE card, these perks do not work for all members. I too own Disney stock because I believe in them, but there is not reason why DVC Members can't be treated the same as Non DVC people. PLEASE CONTACT DVC ON THEIR SITE AND EMAIL THEM. THEY WILL CALL YOU BACK, IF ENOUGH MEMBERS EMAIL AND EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, MAYBE WE WILL RECEIVED A LITTLE MORE DISCOUNTS. I'M NOT ASKING FOR FREE ANYTHING JUST WANT TO BE TREATED THE SAME.

 

[Brian Noble]

show a little more appreciation to the people whom are their best customers

Discounts, even "loyalty programs" are never to reward past business. They are always to stimulate new business. DVC Members are coming down as sure as there will be summer rain in Orlando, because they've pre-paid for their vacations. There is no need to bribe them with free food.

In fact, if you look at the DVC discounts carefully, you'll notice all of them require that you spend more to save more---the modest dining discounts, discounts on APs, etc.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR FREE ANYTHING JUST WANT TO BE TREATED THE SAME.

Why, you can be---just book a room at rack rate during the promotional period, and you'll get "free" dining too!

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

No bashing here, but looking at the simple economics of free/discounted DDPs and or free TIW for 20% off all meals for 150,000+ families would be a pretty good chunk of change. Figuring the TIW is $75 for AP holders, that would be lost revenue on just the sale of the card of $11,250,000.00 Then figure each family would save $250 annually off of the food, on average, you are looking at another $37,500,000.00 So you're looking at $50,000,000.00 lost profit.

Many already consider the DDP to be a money saver over paying out of pocket, so why give more when the restaurants are already busy? After all, they don't really need to entice DVC owners to travel to WDW.

Then consider that stockholders, that actually DO have a vested interest in the company, don't get any perks or discounts, I won't complain too loudly about what we, as DVCers, receive. We do get several perks and discounts, could they be better? Sure! But they have to be financially justifiable.

Just curious as to how long you have been on the Disney payroll..(JK )

I am heading down for two weeks in June, (they got me there, I drank the DVC Koolaid)

I have 7 people in our party (lots of potential Disney revenue) I would love to do one of the DDP's but at 210-500+ per night for the 7 of us, we will cook in the villa and use the TIW for TS meals on occasion.

Now if DVC offered a member only type discount for DDP's then I might add them. So if a reasonable discount allowed for a reasonable profit and increased volume of sales at restaurants (needed or not for the restaurants, it is still profit) It would be a WIN for Disney bottom line, a WIN for me as a owner, and a WIN for future marketing efforts for DVC sales (and resales), Disney is a business, but no need to be overly greedy.

If people feel like they are receiving more perceived value though Disney making a "little" less profit off our schnitzel at biergarten, then that creates even MORE product loyalty, which in turn creates more revenue for Disney.

Although I anticipate leaving my contracts to my children (hopefully I will outlive the contracts though) wouldn't MORE PERCEIVED VALUE increase resale values? and it wouldn't raise MF's as it is just a "little less" profit... Just my thoughts...Have a good one and hope you that bad weather missed you all down yonder in texas....Al

When I joined almost 10 years ago, the only ticket discount was 10% off Length of Stay (an old ticket plan that included all the days of your stay, park hopping, minor parks, etc). When we got the $100 off AP's, that was huge. At the time it was introduced, it was about 25% off.

Maybe if they kept the discount percentage in step with the ticket prices vice giving a 100 dollars off, give 25% off..

 

[circhead]

I don't care about the "free" dining, as we're getting a much better deal in the long run. What I'd love, though, is the ability for DVC members to buy a TIW card without having an AP!

Free Dining holds no appeal fro me whatsoever, and never has. DVC doesn't have to earn my business, they have it lock stock and barrel. Quite frankly, beyond the ownership issue, it's one thing to have a counter lunch or dinner out once or twice but breakfast, lunch and dinner for 6 or 7 days, strictly Disney, can't do it. I guess this is why I fell in love with a 1br or 2br villa at OKW., I use the kitchen. If I preferred the hotel type of stay where I only eat out, I wouldn't have bought into DVC.

Now this would be a great perk
and woudn't it be nice to have discounts on all park tickets not just the AP's

I agree with most of the points raised in this post about DVCers already getting a great deal and not having to eat every meal in a Disney restaurant. I would like the ability to purchase a TIW card without an annual pass and some level of discount an all park tickets not just AP's. But Disney knows us - DVCers are hard core Disney fanatics and we'll all be back for the Disney fix. As in a different thread

Repeat after me " Hi, My name is ________(Pat) and I'm a Disney addict."

 

[mjlass11]

Discounts, even "loyalty programs" are never to reward past business.

Not true...... Harrahs always comps my rooms, meals, shows..... based on past play, not future play

 

[mjlass11]

I agree with most of the points raised in this post about DVCers already getting a great deal and not having to eat every meal in a Disney restaurant. I would like the ability to purchase a TIW card without an annual pass and some level of discount an all park tickets not just AP's. But Disney knows us - DVCers are hard core Disney fanatics and we'll all be back for the Disney fix. As in a different thread

Repeat after me " Hi, My name is ________(Pat) and I'm a Disney addict."

LOL...... true.....very true

 

[crisi]

Not true...... Harrahs always comps my rooms, meals, shows..... based on past play, not future play

Well...they are using your past behavior to project your future behavior. In the past you've been a good customer, so if they comp you a room, the chances you'll continue to blow your money in their casino are pretty good. If they didn't think you'd gamble, they wouldn't comp your room for a future trip.

In Disney's case, they don't need to do that for DVCers. We showed our hand to Disney when we purchased. Instead, they'll send codes to those people who haven't made the commitment, but have a really good chance of showing up and spending more money than the code ends up costing Disney.

 

[Chuck S]

Although I anticipate leaving my contracts to my children (hopefully I will outlive the contracts though) wouldn't MORE PERCEIVED VALUE increase resale values? and it wouldn't raise MF's as it is just a "little less" profit...

Why should stockholders want a little less profit/dividends? Why should DVC care about resale prices? Eventually resale prices will be next to nothing as the contract years dwindle, no matter what. Outside of maintaining the "brand name" through ROFR, Disney doesn't care what type of return an owner receives on their resale. And they really can't maintain ROFR on a resort that ends in 2042 forever, they'll simply build new resorts and let the others expire at some point, even if they extend the current resorts they'll expire eventually, they'll have to have major renovations after 50 or 60 years. Better to tear down, build new, and sell new memberships, no? Look at all the other timeshares that are pennies on the dollar resale, and they are still selling full price new ownerships, too.

Maybe if they kept the discount percentage in step with the ticket prices vice giving a 100 dollars off, give 25% off..

They would do that if they felt they could justify it through increased time in the parks, or substantially increase the number of APs sold. But the reality is, if an AP makes sense for your DVC travel patterns, you likely already have one. At what point (and I'm sure they've analyzed it in detail) does discounting the AP improve overall profit more than people that buy MYW tickets with the non-expiration option.

 

[mjlass11]

In the past you've been a good customer, so if they comp you a room, the chances you'll continue to blow your money in their casino are pretty good. If they didn't think you'd gamble, they wouldn't comp your room for a future trip.
In Disney's case, they don't need to do that for DVCers. We showed our hand to Disney when we purchased.

Points well made/taken. To me, I just consider us a population/demographic whom have proven with our DVC purchase that we have the means and/or devotion to Disney that we will more than make up any discount with additional spending at their location. Maybe it's just me, but when I go to Disney or Vegas, I don't scrimp, and the more perceived discounts that I have, the more I'll spend.

BTW..... one doesn't "blow" their money in a casino. One attempts to "parlay" it into millions...... it just never turns out that way

 

[crisi]

Points well made/taken. To me, I just consider us a population/demographic whom have proven with our DVC purchase that we have the means and/or devotion to Disney that we will more than make up any discount with additional spending at their location. Maybe it's just me, but when I go to Disney or Vegas, I don't scrimp, and the more perceived discounts that I have, the more I'll spend.

BTW..... one doesn't "blow" their money in a casino. One attempts to "parlay" it into millions...... it just never turns out that way

And most of us will tell people coming to this website that DVC is a great deal. That we save a ton of money. And I suspect Disney sees that in our spending patterns already - without a hotel bill at the end of the stay, my guess is that DVCers tend to be free spenders without additional discounts.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Why should stockholders want a little less profit/dividends? Why should DVC care about resale prices? Eventually resale prices will be next to nothing as the contract years dwindle, no matter what. Outside of maintaining the "brand name" through ROFR, Disney doesn't care what type of return an owner receives on their resale. And they really can't maintain ROFR on a resort that ends in 2042 forever, they'll simply build new resorts and let the others expire at some point, even if they extend the current resorts they'll expire eventually, they'll have to have major renovations after 50 or 60 years. Better to tear down, build new, and sell new memberships, no? Look at all the other timeshares that are pennies on the dollar resale, and they are still selling full price new ownerships, too.


They would do that if they felt they could justify it through increased time in the parks, or substantially increase the number of APs sold. But the reality is, if an AP makes sense for your DVC travel patterns, you likely already have one. At what point (and I'm sure they've analyzed it in detail) does discounting the AP improve overall profit more than people that buy MYW tickets with the non-expiration option.

Ah ha...so you are on the payroll.... Disney, gets more profit by increased volume generated by marginal discount. Owners keep higher resale longer, Disney sells more DVC based on customer satisfaction claims.....Win/Win/Win....

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Points well made/taken. To me, I just consider us a population/demographic whom have proven with our DVC purchase that we have the means and/or devotion to Disney that we will more than make up any discount with additional spending at their location. Maybe it's just me, but when I go to Disney or Vegas, I don't scrimp, and the more perceived discounts that I have, the more I'll spend.

BTW..... one doesn't "blow" their money in a casino. One attempts to "parlay" it into millions...... it just never turns out that way

I agree with all you have said, I am "Parlaying" my cash into disney magic for my whole family....

 

[Deb & Bill]

...BTW..... one doesn't "blow" their money in a casino. One attempts to "parlay" it into millions...... it just never turns out that way

I live in a town with five casinos. We love for all the people to come and leave their money for us to use. If there was a real chance to "parlay" it into millions, the casinos wouldn't be open. I haven't spent one dime on gambling at any of the five. I'd get as good a return on my money by throwing my money into the river. But if you enjoy it....

 

[Chuck S]

Ah ha...so you are on the payroll.... Disney, gets more profit by increased volume generated by marginal discount. Owners keep higher resale longer, Disney sells more DVC based on customer satisfaction claims.....Win/Win/Win....

Again, I'm sure they've analyzed (and over analyzed ) increased projected volume related to discounts. After all, they've had years of experience.

And again, it makes no difference to DVC if an individual owner keeps or sells their membership via resale, they get the dues either way, and new sales are still strong. Would they like more new sales...of course, any business would...but I'm sure they've done all kinds of sales projections and cost analyses to see what promotions may meets their ROI criteria.

Look at the recent KFC Oprah coupon. Families were going in for free dinners, some were buying beverages, others were only having water. Does an increased beverage sale warrant the loss of profit, plus the cost of product, to get it. In other words, was it a wise promotion for KFC to give a family of 4 $16 worth of free food, to sell an extra 2 beverages. Likely not, notice the promotion has ended before scheduled, has resulted in folks now having to mail the coupon, KFC having to return mail the coupon, taking even more employee time. Our local franchisee in our small town gave out $10,000 in free meals over two days...it leads to the conclusion that this promotion didn't perform a positive income stream. All businesses have to weigh the cost over the benefits of any promotion or discount.

 

[crisi]

My husband and I were just having the volume/margin discussion. He works for a big retailer and is involved in making those sorts of decisions. They really try and laser target their disounting - the amount of volume that they need to make up in order to increase bottom line profit off a top line discount is incredible. The other problem is that its a strategy that doesn't permit for real growth - only short term growth as people adapt to the new discount pattern. After that, you need to find a new trick to increase growth, but now you have less capital to do it with.

 

[kimberh]

Ok, I have to add my 2 cents in... We just returned from our second AKV Concierge Stay. Ask my how many Animals that I saw? There were so few from our room it was pathetic. Last year We all Chalked it up to Construction. Well this year... We did the Sunrise Safari, it was wonderful as last year. Our guide came to our table at breakfast, asked us how our stay had been at the Lodge. Our room was perfect, not a complaint. I did tell him about seeing a few birds, a cow of some sort, we did see a few giraffes, once. He did agree that the Sunset Savanna had the least of all Animals on it, so far that was all it was going to have. That hopefully they would get some more this Fall, but the money had to be in the Budget. Kidani Village shares the Sunset Savanna. He told me what hours the animals were off the Sunset Savanna, well that was when We were in the room in the mornings. So, that answered one question that I had... Why we never saw anything when we were getting up and ready to leave...8:30-10:30 AM
Then He said... You need to Complain, We really try hard to take care of our DVC guests. Disney cares greatly about what they think, their likes and dislikes. I have to tell you all, I love Savanna view, but the Sunset View is bad. I love Concierge, but I am going to have to rethink this. We use to take picture after picture, not in the last two years. Not one picture. Either our timing is bad, or... I spent hours on the Balcony.
I don't want my dues going up either, but I do want what I paid for. I have been a Disney Stock holder since 1991. I want their Stock to prosper. I want DVC to prosper. I want Animals when I book Savanna View. Now, If anyone has something to flame me about, then you book Savanna View spend the extra points, and tell me you want 5 animals over 5 days.

Concierge is at the very end of the Sunset Savanna, so the placement is bad. But the guide did agree that there are not many animals on Sunset Savanna. Last year we saw a baby Zebra, this year not even the Zebra.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I recently email DVC by clicking on the "Contact", located on DVC site and expressed how dissapointed I am that DVC members are not getting a fair shake with all these promotional offers. Such as, stay 4 nights and get 5th free, and the now the popular, Free Dining Package. DVC office called me yesterday to discuss, and we did. They did admit that there are a lot of members voicing their feelings of being "left out" of these offers. I pointed out how we, as DVC members, do not have many discounts. Except for the normal 10%, most of the time, only lunch, and most of the restaurants that participate are at the resorts, which are not very easy to get to unless you're staying there. To make a long story, short, PLEASE, PLEASE, COMPLAIN to DVC by emailing them thru the site after clicking on "contact". The more of us that complain maybe we will finally get some nice offers. I'm not looking for "free" but a nice discount on resort stays or on the Dining Plan would be nice.

I'm sorry, but this attitude is WRONG!!! I haven't read the other responses yet, but I was impelled to respond with my gut reaction to this post.

IF you want free dining, you are FREE to do just as anyone else who gets free dinning.....PAY RACK RATE FOR A ROOM!!! It's a promotion...nothing more nothing less. Promotions are in place to SELL ROOMS....Also nothing more, nothing less. SO....If you want "free" dining, go ahead and open the purse just like everyone else who gets "free" dining. Just remember that nothing is ever "free"! No thanks...I'll take my 20% discount on dining I get with the TIW card, and I'll eat when and where and what I want and wont feel tied to a "plan".

 

[famgel]

This is why you need to email "Contact" on the DVC site. DVC makes up a large portion of Disney's wealth and we have every right to speak up if we feel we are not getting our money's worth. You all might not agree with me but that's why we live in "America", freedom of speach! Hope you do email DVC and I'm sure they will call you like they did with me. Not promising anything will happen but at least it makes you feel a little better!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh well, there goes my wish list item! I always seem to have an extra 5 -10 points a year that I can't use and this was my big idea for them.

So you don't bank them and use them next year? If you bank 10 points each year, after a few years, you have enough for 5 nights in a studio. All you have to do is make sure you use at least as many as you bank the next year...That way it rolls forward and those "extra" points eventually turn into extra nights.

 

[famgel]

I'm sorry, but this attitude is WRONG!!! I haven't read the other responses yet, but I was impelled to respond with my gut reaction to this post.

IF you want free dining, you are FREE to do just as anyone else who gets free dinning.....PAY RACK RATE FOR A ROOM!!! It's a promotion...nothing more nothing less. Promotions are in place to SELL ROOMS....Also nothing more, nothing less. SO....If you want "free" dining, go ahead and open the purse just like everyone else who gets "free" dining. Just remember that nothing is ever "free"! No thanks...I'll take my 20% discount on dining I get with the TIW card, and I'll eat when and where and what I want and wont feel tied to a "plan".

You are getting a great deal because you are among the many who choose to buy AP's and the TIW cards. I don't go to Disney every year, therefore it doesn't pay for us to purchase AP's & TIW cards. My family chooses to take advantage of the whole DVC package. For example the Concierge collection, and most recently the RCI timeshare part, there's more to DVC then just "WDW". There's a whole world out there besides Orlando, FL!