Frustrated with member benefits

[DG25]

Okay, rant a bit. I am a member, bought Poly thru Disney. Last year we went 15 days, everything I tried to use my membership on I could not either because the days where wrong or everything was booked.
Tried soaring tour booked both Wednesday's. Tried to book cruise for wishes, booked thruout our stay. Tried to book Mother's Day, sold out. Tried to book typhoon, one week off. Okay no problem.

Booked 16 days this year, tried to book soaring tour, nope not available. Tried to book paint around the world, no availability, and it came out the day I tried to book for our weeks. Tried to book Mother's Day brunch, no availability. Wanted moonlight experience but none happening during our stay.

When they only have something once a week, and only allow 10 or 20 people in like soaring and paint the world, and they have 200000 members, I feel a little ripped off when I can't get any benefit from being a member.

Okay rant over. But really 10 people a week, with 200000 members, why say they are benefits. Only if you know a cast memBer who can book for you 180 days out, 3 minutes before the window opens.

 

[BillPA]

Hey, Welcome to the wonderful world of DVC.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This is why I say (and they do too, although they say it in fine print) that most of the member benefits will never impact most members one way or another. They're a marketing thing.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The "buy direct for the benefits" spiel is just that - part of the spiel to sell an expensive product direct. What rarely happens is for people check and see if you can ever do or get into any of these where it make sense to buy that option. Timing has to line up perfectly for most of the events and the majority that you list are all new and could go away again any time.

The Soarin' tour? Have to just chalk that up as something that's good if you can get in but it's so limited it's unlikely.

 

[disneynutz]

Most of all DVC benefits are used as a marketing tool, and are paid for with DVD's marketing budget. The pay to play membership extras and the holiday meals are paid for by the participants.

Bill

 

[DG25]

The "buy direct for the benefits" spiel is just that - part of the spiel to sell an expensive product direct. What rarely happens is for people check and see if you can ever do or get into any of these where it make sense to buy that option. Timing has to line up perfectly for most of the events and the majority that you list are all new and could go away again any time.

The Soarin' tour? Have to just chalk that up as something that's good if you can get in but it's so limited it's unlikely.

Yes, when DCA opened and for about 5 years, the DGC hotel would let each case member checking people in pick one family a day to go 30 minutes before the park opened. And you got a small tour and the first ride of the day, but they let 90 to 100 people in, not just 20. I just don't understand the 20, since the ride holds what 90 ro 100, so why not fill it up. It just sucks. Honeymoon and the two things hubby wanted I can't get a ressie for, painting on top of the world only allows 10 guest, and scoring only allows 20, and both are only 1 day a week.

 

[DG25]

Oh he wanted Mother's Day for me, and spent an hour trying to get a ressie today and no one even knows anything about it, but it states they have it in the ball room of contemporary, but if even DVC can't book you, that what the heck.

 

[bumbershoot]

I just don't understand the 20, since the ride holds what 90 ro 100, so why not fill it up.

It's a tour, not just a ride. It's a bummer that it's so restricted, but it has been like that since they started it the DVC thing.

Oh he wanted Mother's Day for me, and spent an hour trying to get a ressie today and no one even knows anything about it, but it states they have it in the ball room of contemporary, but if even DVC can't book you, that what the heck.

Is it even happening? Googling I find nothing for this year. Looking up "brunch" and "mother's brunch" on DVC there's a link that mentions 2016, and then Stitch ate the page, but again, it mentions *last* year. So is it even happening?


They schedule these things and if people are VERY lucky their trips happen during that time AND they can get in. I literally cackled madly for an hour when we walked into Magic Kingdom for Moonlight Magic. I felt like we had stolen MK or something, I felt so incredibly lucky that our trip, which had been planned for a year, happened to coincide with the special event. There was nothing but joy about it on my part, and I was glad for that. If it ever happens to you, feel lucky. As it is, you're lucky to be going to the place where you want to go, and on your honeymoon? Very nice.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

In all likelihood, DVC do not control the number of people permitted on the Soarin' tour. That is something they contract with Theme Park Operations on, and Ops says 20.

I wouldn't blame DVC for the capacity issue so much as I'd side-eye their trumpeting this amazeballs benefit that is 20 people per week, and the 180 day booking is awkward at best for. The capacity is due to Ops, as, in all likelihood, is the ability to only offer it once per week.

Most "member benefits" are contracted. That;s why DVC say they can be ended at any time. They aren't 50-year contracts, and they aren't part of the real estate interest controlled by DVC. That includes every discount and tour, and events DVD marketing pay for, like renting out a park for Moonlight Magic.

 

[zavandor]

I was lucky enough to get the tour and it was nice, but not great. I enjoyed much more the Behind the seeds tour, sure it's a paid tour but the fee is minimal and we get a discount on it.

 

[DG25]

It's a tour, not just a ride. It's a bummer that it's so restricted, but it has been like that since they started it the DVC thing.



Is it even happening? Googling I find nothing for this year. Looking up "brunch" and "mother's brunch" on DVC there's a link that mentions 2016, and then Stitch ate the page, but again, it mentions *last* year. So is it even happening?


They schedule these things and if people are VERY lucky their trips happen during that time AND they can get in. I literally cackled madly for an hour when we walked into Magic Kingdom for Moonlight Magic. I felt like we had stolen MK or something, I felt so incredibly lucky that our trip, which had been planned for a year, happened to coincide with the special event. There was nothing but joy about it on my part, and I was glad for that. If it ever happens to you, feel lucky. As it is, you're lucky to be going to the place where you want to go, and on your honeymoon? Very nice.

The Mother's Day lunch or brunch is offered this year. It is listed in the magazine files, but when you call it took them forever to find it, they say yes it is listed, yes it is available at the ballroom at contemporary, but they have no idea when the ability to book will open up. Since we are less than 60 days, or just at 60 days out, doubt I will get a ressies, since I can not call and stay on hold for an hour everyday just to be told they can't book it yet, and when they can, I'm sure only those who know someone who works for Disney will be able to book it and not the average joe.

 

[Sammie]

I could care less about the extras. If I happen to be there and able to get one, fine. If not I still get what I paid for.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm happy to have the tour booked for next week.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

The Mother's Day lunch or brunch is offered this year. It is listed in the magazine files, but when you call it took them forever to find it, they say yes it is listed, yes it is available at the ballroom at contemporary, but they have no idea when the ability to book will open up. Since we are less than 60 days, or just at 60 days out, doubt I will get a ressies, since I can not call and stay on hold for an hour everyday just to be told they can't book it yet, and when they can, I'm sure only those who know someone who works for Disney will be able to book it and not the average joe.

I was looking at the Wave of American Flavors for May 14, and it appears that the Mother's Day Brunch is there. I was not able to see any open times for reservations except for dinner times, but I do not have resort reservations that week, so I would not be able to book them anyway.
I would call back and see if you can get brunch at WAVE for Mother's day. It may be sold out.

 

[DG25]

Thanks but that is not the one for DVC members, he said the one for DVC members is in the ballroom at the contemporary, and it has not opened up to book yet. And with everything else, it will open and be sold out within seconds, because they probably have a limit of 10.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks but that is not the one for DVC members, he said the one for DVC members is in the ballroom at the contemporary, and it has not opened up to book yet. And with everything else, it will open and be sold out within seconds, because they probably have a limit of 10.

No, it's not limited to 10. But it's going to be a lot like eating at a convention banquet. I'd go for the Wave personally as I'd expect it to be a better dining experience. I haven't done any of the DVC dinners but I've had many meals in the convention center so I know what they are typically like.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I agree with KAT4DISNEY. Book the brunch at the wave and move on. I agree it will probably be a much better experience.

We've been members for years and the only event we have even been there to attend was one Merry Mixer. We were hoping to do that again this year, but it is gone. I am just happy to be able to stay at the Boardwalk.

Have a great trip!

 

[anonymousegirl]

I live in California and only get to WDW about twice a year if I am lucky, so I never bother with the member perks. If one is happening when I am planning to be there, I try to do it (did the late night AK last Fall and enjoyed it). But I bought DVC to pre-pay my Disney vacations for the next 50 years, not for the member benefits.

 

[bumbershoot]

The Mother's Day lunch or brunch is offered this year. It is listed in the magazine files, but when you call it took them forever to find it, they say yes it is listed, yes it is available at the ballroom at contemporary, but they have no idea when the ability to book will open up. Since we are less than 60 days, or just at 60 days out, doubt I will get a ressies, since I can not call and stay on hold for an hour everyday just to be told they can't book it yet, and when they can, I'm sure only those who know someone who works for Disney will be able to book it and not the average joe.

Since we moved I don't get the Files in any sort of timely fashion.

Facebook had a link to the Mother's Day thing yesterday. Link said booking would be today the 17th but the body of the message said booking was on the 23rd. Fyi.

 

[DG25]

Since we moved I don't get the Files in any sort of timely fashion.
Thank you, I saw it since I have been calling in daily, now I can stop and just wake up at 3am to book.
Facebook had a link to the Mother's Day thing yesterday. Link said booking would be today the 17th but the body of the message said booking was on the 23rd. Fyi.