Front of Line Perk

[palmbreeze]

I've been a DVC owner since 1999. After one of our trips to Disney, we decided to spend two days at Universal Studios at one of their hotels. It was such a nice perk to offer front of the line (like a fast pass) to all the rides at the parks, simply because we were staying at their hotel. Why can't DVC members have this perk? Of course Disney has several more hotels than Universal so you can't open this up to all guest staying on property, but why not to DVC Owners?

 

[CarolMN]

Probably because the parks division would have to OK it and there is no benefit to them to do so. It would also upset a lot of other on-site guests and they are in the process of implementing the new FP+ system. Just don't see it happening.

 

[k3chantal]

I've been a DVC owner since 1999. After one of our trips to Disney, we decided to spend two days at Universal Studios at one of their hotels. It was such a nice perk to offer front of the line (like a fast pass) to all the rides at the parks, simply because we were staying at their hotel. Why can't DVC members have this perk? Of course Disney has several more hotels than Universal so you can't open this up to all guest staying on property, but why not to DVC Owners?

I agree with you. We were always ONLY Disney but during our last trip we decided to try Universal Studios. After a 7 night stay at AKL we went to the Royal Pacific and were wowed by their service immediately upon entering their hotel. Then, having the Express pass as a perk for just staying in one of their hotels was like a cherry on top of a very good tasting sundae.

Yes, I understand I purchased a timeshare. Yes, I understand that DVC is not a hotel nor is it run like a hotel. BUT, I think there is a lot of competition for my dollars while on vacation and I am now willing to give some to Universal Studios happily. Not having to stand in line for a ride is huge and the staff at the Royal Pacific acted like I expect Disney cast members to act. Let's just say they didn't wow me at AKL. Polite and courteous but not over the top helpful like I feel CM's use to be.

Do I still love my DVC yes....for goodness sakes its Disney but I am now willing to explore other venues because of this positive experience elsewhere.

 

[Sandisw]

I'd be happy if we were able to get a few extra FP's when we are there.

 

[jerseyduke]

Disney (at least right now) does not have to do that.

But it is why competition is good!

 

[Sammie]

Carol pretty much nailed it. There is absolutely no reason for the Parks Division to offer this to DVC over other paying guests and personally I agree.

Just because one is DVC does not mean we are spending more money than others and probably a good many DVC members spent a lot less.

 

[disfanforlife]

I agree with you. We were always ONLY Disney but during our last trip we decided to try Universal Studios. After a 7 night stay at AKL we went to the Royal Pacific and were wowed by their service immediately upon entering their hotel. Then, having the Express pass as a perk for just staying in one of their hotels was like a cherry on top of a very good tasting sundae.

Yes, I understand I purchased a timeshare. Yes, I understand that DVC is not a hotel nor is it run like a hotel. BUT, I think there is a lot of competition for my dollars while on vacation and I am now willing to give some to Universal Studios happily. Not having to stand in line for a ride is huge and the staff at the Royal Pacific acted like I expect Disney cast members to act. Let's just say they didn't wow me at AKL. Polite and courteous but not over the top helpful like I feel CM's use to be.

Do I still love my DVC yes....for goodness sakes its Disney but I am now willing to explore other venues because of this positive experience elsewhere.

I have never been to Universal. I do want to go there sometime. I think the Royal Pacific sounds like a great place to stay when I visit!

 

[DebbieB]

If they were having difficulties selling DVC, that might be something to consider. But they aren't. They do sometimes throw in a few fastpasses to new sales (one time). Universal uses it to draw people to their hotels. Does DVC need to do that? Don't seem to since it's almost impossible to get a reservation October to December this year (except SSR).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Checking the AAA Guidebook, there are about 4,000 DVC units on WDW (compared to about 23,500 non-DVC Resort rooms). That is a lot of FOTL passes. Also, the three Universal hotels have about 2,400 rooms.

 

[brertoad]

Disney doesn't have to do it. And if they did give those staying on-site front of line access, there would be way too many people at the front of the line.
WDW has so many hotels. I don't see them giving the smaller subset of DVC members any front of line access either. We have to use our timeshare points regardless, they don't have to entice us, we're locked in to using them.

The most similar enticement is probably Extra Magic Hours, by allowing hotel guests access to additional hours where we can go on rides with less waiting.
This is for all hotel guests on-site, including DVC members staying on points.


Universal on the other hand needs to entice people to go to their parks, they probably view the front of line access as a win-win because it helps to fill their hotels and their parks, something they desperately need in order to gain market share. They have to do a lot to get customers in the door.

The last time I went to Universal was like 14 years ago for one of their Halloween events. And then the time before that was when they had a soft-opening for Universal and my dad took us as part of a company outing, they had rented the park or something like that, most of the rides didn't work yet. I have been to WDW hundreds of times (annual pass).

I have considered going to Universal to see Harry Potter, but now that they announced they are expanding it, I'll probably want to wait. I would consider staying on-site to have front of line access at Universal, but will have to consider if it's worth paying OOP rather than using DVC points.

 

[brertoad]

Checking the AAA Guidebook, there are about 4,000 DVC units on WDW (compared to about 23,500 non-DVC Resort rooms). That is a lot of FOTL passes. Also, the three Universal hotels have about 2,400 rooms.

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. That is a LOT of FOTL passes. So, EMH is a good compromise, IMO.

Disney has WAY more guests.

Universal is positively boutique @ 2400 rooms compared to WDW hotels @ 27,500 rooms in total!

 

[hakepb]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. That is a LOT of FOTL passes. So, EMH is a good compromise, IMO.

Disney has WAY more guests.

Universal is positively boutique @ 2400 rooms compared to WDW hotels @ 27,500 rooms in total!

The All Stars as a complex have at least 5400 rooms..

 

[taaren]

I saw a suggestion on one of the FP+ review blogs, that one thing Disney might do eventually, is throw in extra FP+ passes for staying on-site at different levels ...

eg. One extra + per day if you stay value, two if mod, three if deluxe.

This might incentivize people to stay at a higher level resort, spend more, and also would probably be given to DVC owners since they are considered deluxe resorts ... and be an extra quiver in the quill of DVC guide sales pitches.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

IMO, extra magic hours more than make up for any lack of front-of-the line access. Also, we use the unofficial guide plans as a loose basis for our days + watch the Lines app and we have not only been able to avoid fastpassing/ waiting on broken rides but we have been able to basically get on any ride in 15 min or less. Extra Magic hours are basically a more efficient front of the line pass since they just designate times that resort guests get priority--and exclusivity. We had THE best time doing the night extra magic hours last year at the MK. Kids in a candy store, even though we were not kids at all

 

[bakerworld]

I've been a DVC owner since 1999. After one of our trips to Disney, we decided to spend two days at Universal Studios at one of their hotels. It was such a nice perk to offer front of the line (like a fast pass) to all the rides at the parks, simply because we were staying at their hotel. Why can't DVC members have this perk? Of course Disney has several more hotels than Universal so you can't open this up to all guest staying on property, but why not to DVC Owners?

FP drives DH - I don't even know how he'd react to 'front of the line' - maybe if the handed out free beer

 

[crisi]

I saw a suggestion on one of the FP+ review blogs, that one thing Disney might do eventually, is throw in extra FP+ passes for staying on-site at different levels ...

eg. One extra + per day if you stay value, two if mod, three if deluxe.

This might incentivize people to stay at a higher level resort, spend more, and also would probably be given to DVC owners since they are considered deluxe resorts ... and be an extra quiver in the quill of DVC guide sales pitches.

I wouldn't set my expectation there. Disney doesn't consider DVC Deluxe Resorts, they have a different category for them. And if I were paying cash for a room at the Beach Club at $400 a night, I wouldn't want to find out that DVC owners were getting the same perks. They need to protect the cachet of their Deluxe resorts far more than they need to treat existing DVC members well - and probably even more importantly to Disney's bottom line, people who rent DVC points - people who stay Deluxe are a huge continuous income stream.

 

[LSchrow]

it's almost impossible to get a reservation October to December this year (except SSR).

for the heck of it, i checked studios in october availability (using the same 2 week range for all DVC resorts).
no surprise: there were zero nights available at the EPCOT resorts.
OKW had slightly less available nights (4) than SSR (5), kidani had even less (3). BLT had 1 (LV).

jambo (savanna), however, had most availability with 7 out of 13 nights open. at all resorts, nights were spotty, with mostly 1-2 consecutive nights available.

of course, things change, rooms open up, etc - but thought it rather interesting that SSR didn't have the highest availability (as is often posted).

and back on topic:
there are just waaaaay too many resort & DVC rooms to offer FOTL (offering it only to DVC woudn't work, as others have noted).

just as EMH wouldn't work as well at US/IOA (not enough on-site guests, who would use it, to make it economically worthwhile).

i agree it woud be nice tho

 

[OKW Lover]

I've been a DVC owner since 1999. After one of our trips to Disney, we decided to spend two days at Universal Studios at one of their hotels. It was such a nice perk to offer front of the line (like a fast pass) to all the rides at the parks, simply because we were staying at their hotel. Why can't DVC members have this perk? Of course Disney has several more hotels than Universal so you can't open this up to all guest staying on property, but why not to DVC Owners?

DVC will offer whatever perks it feels it needs to in order to get people to buy. Since there currently isn't a FOL feature available at WDW, I don't see how DVC could even consider offering this. While some members might be interested in this feature, others might be more interested in other perks.

 

[smidgy]

because there are too many non dvc members who spend tons of money every year. (like us!) this would not be fair at all. and disney needs to keep offering us incentives to return, whereas DVC members are locked in to a disney vacation (or rent out the points).

we love Royal Pacific, by the way. we have an oct. disneyLAND trip planned. 23 or so trips to WDW, and we have never been to DL. so what arrives in the mail yesterday? a "pin code" from Universal 30% off the room! they sent us this last year and it was great. now, with the transformer ride open......

yup, the express line at Uni is great (it's not front of the line). the'r new value resort they are building will not be offering this perk. there would be too many; just like there would be too many at disney.

 

[taaren]

I wouldn't set my expectation there. Disney doesn't consider DVC Deluxe Resorts, they have a different category for them. And if I were paying cash for a room at the Beach Club at $400 a night, I wouldn't want to find out that DVC owners were getting the same perks. They need to protect the cachet of their Deluxe resorts far more than they need to treat existing DVC members well - and probably even more importantly to Disney's bottom line, people who rent DVC points - people who stay Deluxe are a huge continuous income stream.

I have no expectations. I was just reporting an interesting rumor I saw on a blog. I'm not even planning on heading back to WDW anytime soon after November, so I'll be watching from the sidelines.