Has anything gotten BETTER over time?

[supersnoop]

However, if you focus more broadly on the question, it does include a focus on perks, and I’d say that’s part of the vacation club. If it were just about the room, you wouldn’t have seen people scrambling to add on direct points when they recently rose from 125 to 150.

When I "joined" (purchased) just seven or eight years ago, annual pass discounts were temporary benefits. There might be a six month deal on tickets or passes, but nothing consistent. So, I guess the introduction of the gold pass could be considered an added perk.

The challenge with this type of question, as with anything, is that none of us were paying attention to the details before we joined. We only know what's changed since we've joined. We don't know how far the club has come, only how much it's changed since we have each been involved. From that perspective, it's very difficult to judge.

 

[davidl81]

For us the DVC perk that continues to improve is we're still reserving rooms at the '08/'09 rate. We believe that perk will do nothing except improve. For us another improving perk is when the DVC incorporates existing venues, like the Poly and Wilderness Lodge, into the club which allows us to stay at hotel venues that were outside of our sight line previously. Our DVC home is Kidani however in 12 years we've stayed there twice because our choice is to enjoy Jambo. Truthfully, the annual dues impact this slightly however when I factor the rise into our spreadsheet I'm still staying at the BC for about the same cost per night as the Dolphin - actually it was a bit less until we added more BC points in 2018. We justified adding the 2018 BC points with a probable future sell of one of our other homes, which will cause our room per night cost to be less than the Dolphin.

While the perk of reduced park tickets will hopefully return, I have to admit our age is working against the parks. I can no longer enjoy Space Mountain when that use to be a favorite ride. Now most of our Epcot days don't involve a single ride. We'll enjoy a few rides at HS but we prefer Baseline and the Brown Derby Porch more than Mickey's Train. LOL

While I will miss the Magical Express, the better half is looking forward to not having to wait hours between arriving at our hotel from MCO. This begs the question of whether the discontinuance of the ME is a diminished perk.

I like magical express, but I have to be honest with two kids, luggage etc, the wait in line, then stopping at a few different resorts etc got kinda of old. Getting early at the airport normally was not a big deal because we are spoiled and have United club memberships, but this year they have been closed. So we did car service on our last one week trip and it’s going to be hard for me to go back. I know it’s $200, and that’s a lot of money to replace something that was free before, but it does spoil you.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I like magical express, but I have to be honest with two kids, luggage etc, the wait in line, then stopping at a few different resorts etc got kinda of old. Getting early at the airport normally was not a big deal because we are spoiled and have United club memberships, but this year they have been closed. So we did car service on our last one week trip and it’s going to be hard for me to go back. I know it’s $200, and that’s a lot of money to replace something that was free before, but it does spoil you.

We've started renting a car using my free days through National (and paying out of pocket for a day or two here and there). We just grab our bags as we're walking past the carousel and straight out to the Executive Aisle and we're on our way. DME got a bit old for us for the same reasons as you: we were walking past baggage claim anyway, waiting in line at the DME desk, waiting to get on a bus, then waiting for any intermediate stops.

I like the freedom of having some personal transpo if we want to go to other places in and around Orlando, or just want to head to DS and avoid the bus terminal there too. With free resort and theme park parking, it's not a big deal to jump in the car, especially if we're at AK and the busses are few and far between. I found out through experience that after 2 or 3 Ubers or Lyfts, I was going to break even on a rental car anyway, and I do like the extra hour or so I don't have to plan into my day for busses or Skyliner to and from wherever we're going. If we want to park hop, I'll park at the TTC or at Epcot, and then we'll Monorail or Skyliner back and forth.

 

[Sandisw]

No, I wrote the question as intended. Many people said they enjoy more variety in booking and an improved online system. That has nothing to do with perks.

However, if you focus more broadly on the question, it does include a focus on perks, and I’d say that’s part of the vacation club. If it were just about the room, you wouldn’t have seen people scrambling to add on direct points when they recently rose from 125 to 150.

Sorry you found the question confusing. I thought it was pretty open ended and straight forward. I hope this provides some clarity.

I think that is the difference between owners. Some buy with a real understanding of what DVC is and some buy thinking it will provide more than it does,

So, we buy for the room, but perks are just that…a perk that adds to what you bought, but not something one relies on…or should…when deciding if DVC is the right product.

So, to me, asking what is better is about the system and not the perks. It certainly is an interesting question for people to discuss. But, many, like me, don’t see the perks as part of the program.

Ive mentioned before. I look at it similar to AAA…I buy for the roadside service but don’t mind getting the extras. However, if those went away, I’d still purchase to use as intended.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think that is the difference between owners. Some buy with a real understanding of what DVC is and some buy thinking it will provide more than it does,

So, we buy for the room, but perks are just that…a perk that adds to what you bought, but not something one relies on…or should…when deciding if DVC is the right product.

So, to me, asking what is better is about the system and not the perks. It certainly is an interesting question for people to discuss. But, many, like me, don’t see the perks as part of the program.

Ive mentioned before. I look at it similar to AAA…I buy for the roadside service but don’t mind getting the extras. However, if those went away, I’d still purchase to use as intended.

And it's why some recommend to not buy direct for the perks and many decide to do so because they don't want to miss out on Moonlight Magic or discounted AP's etc. If you purchase for the room discount or larger accommodations at a more reasonable price than Disney suites then any perks are gravy you might partake of or might not.

 

[Bjaiken77]

For me, the perks are all about the difference between direct vs resale. I’d appreciate it if the perks weren’t like a mystery grab bag and they’d set some standards. If Disney is going to keep going in the direction of cutting perks, then just tell me and I won’t buy from Disney. It’s the lack of transparency and incomplete information, all while promoting perks as completing the magical experience, that bothers me.

 

[Bjaiken77]

I wanted to add that I think the time you bought in makes a difference. If you bought in at $50/point years ago, or you bought in when the blue card minimum was 25 points, then I’m less upset as perks come and go. However, now the minimum buy in is 150 for blue card perks, and the price per point hovers around $200. You’re looking at a minimum of roughly $30,000. I can understand people being much more upset when they decide to go direct at that price point and perks get cut. That’s a lot of money.

 

[Sandisw]

For me, the perks are all about the difference between direct vs resale. I’d appreciate it if the perks weren’t like a mystery grab bag and they’d set some standards. If Disney is going to keep going in the direction of cutting perks, then just tell me and I won’t buy from Disney. It’s the lack of transparency and incomplete information, all while promoting perks as completing the magical experience, that bothers me.

The only thing I will add is that you can’t judge things based on the last year.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things and much of what is happening now is a result.

I am confident we will see a return of the AP for new buyers which is in fact the biggest perk of all.

 

[Bjaiken77]

The only thing I will add is that you can’t judge things based on the last year.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things and much of what is happening now is a result.

I am confident we will see a return of the AP for née buyers which is in fact the biggest perk of all.

That’s true. Just waiting to see how things shake out.

 

[Cabius]

Seems to me that, as with the parks themselves, the Product has gotten better over time (number of great resorts, for DVC; new headline attractions, for parks), but the service/experience has gotten worse and more expensive.

Disney continues to decide that if they invest in building attractive physical assets, they can spend less and less on magical extras (or even just competent service) and we'll keep paying more and more.

And they're clearly right, so while it makes me feel sad I can't even really be mad about it.

 

[bakerworld]

I like magical express, but I have to be honest with two kids, luggage etc, the wait in line, then stopping at a few different resorts etc got kinda of old. Getting early at the airport normally was not a big deal because we are spoiled and have United club memberships, but this year they have been closed. So we did car service on our last one week trip and it’s going to be hard for me to go back. I know it’s $200, and that’s a lot of money to replace something that was free before, but it does spoil you.

I agree - I count my spouse in place of your kids. My daughter says you can reserve an uber ahead and we're thinking of doing that in 2022.

 

[jm217]

FYI the DVC merchandise discount is currently 20%, no minimum purchase. We’ve been enjoying that this trip!

does anyone know if this is still the case? If so, is it at all merch locations in the parks? thanks!

 

[wnielsen1]

does anyone know if this is still the case? If so, is it at all merch locations in the parks? thanks!

Yes, it's pretty widespread at Disney run stores in the parks. DVC Y (old blue card) required.

 

[Jwaire]

I like magical express, but I have to be honest with two kids, luggage etc, the wait in line, then stopping at a few different resorts etc got kinda of old. Getting early at the airport normally was not a big deal because we are spoiled and have United club memberships, but this year they have been closed. So we did car service on our last one week trip and it’s going to be hard for me to go back. I know it’s $200, and that’s a lot of money to replace something that was free before, but it does spoil you.

Disney still needs a Disney-provided mass transport option especially for parents with children in car seats.

It's a complete hassle now. You're fighting with hundreds of other guests to rent a car or for an Uber/Lyft as soon as your plane lands. You're also having to deal with getting your luggage, finding the correct car, does the rental have gas (yes, that happened to us), hoping you get a safe driver (Uber), etc.

Uber XL cost us $70 (with tip) each way in December. Both drivers were safe and their cars were immaculate, but I've read horror stories. You're not going a couple of blocks in the city, it's a 25 mile or so trip.

When we go back in September, we are using a car service for the peace of mind and prearranged car seats.

 

[Skicks35]

does anyone know if this is still the case? If so, is it at all merch locations in the parks? thanks!

Mostly true - the one exception to this that I've run into is that the discount is not accepted in the Japan gift shop in Epcot (because it's not a Disney owned store)

 

[BillPA]

We just bring a pile of items to the cashier, if they don't give a DVC discount, we just leave the pile and walk out. Obviously they do not want our business.

 

[TinkB278]

Disney still needs a Disney-provided mass transport option especially for parents with children in car seats.

It's a complete hassle now. You're fighting with hundreds of other guests to rent a car or for an Uber/Lyft as soon as your plane lands. You're also having to deal with getting your luggage, finding the correct car, does the rental have gas (yes, that happened to us), hoping you get a safe driver (Uber), etc.

Uber XL cost us $70 (with tip) each way in December. Both drivers were safe and their cars were immaculate, but I've read horror stories. You're not going a couple of blocks in the city, it's a 25 mile or so trip.

When we go back in September, we are using a car service for the peace of mind and prearranged car seats.

I used a prearranged car service for my trip in May and that was a nightmare. When we went back in June we used mears connect and it was much more pleasant. We never waited at all whereas we waited an hour for our private driver to pick us up at the airport. Just a heads up!

 

[Jwaire]

I used a prearranged car service for my trip in May and that was a nightmare. When we went back in June we used mears connect and it was much more pleasant. We never waited at all whereas we waited an hour for our private driver to pick us up at the airport. Just a heads up!

Oh, gosh. Last time I tried to use a car service (that came highly recommended on Trip Advisor), the driver got confused and thought our pickup was at 10:30 a.m. at MCO and not 10:30 p.m. This was after confirming with his boss TWICE, once via email and once via the phone. The company left us stranded at MCO at 12:30 a.m. (our connection flight was delayed an hour) with a hotel room already paid for at Port Canaveral.

We had to get a taxi and it cost us $85 (this was 2012). The taxi didn't have enough gas to get the Port, so that was another 20 minute stop. We arrived at our hotel around 2:30 a.m. exhausted.

I'm sure they're some great car services. While Magic Express wasn't perfect, it was just reliable and I didn't have to worry about car seats.

 

[Sandisw]

We just bring a pile of items to the cashier, if they don't give a DVC discount, we just leave the pile and walk out. Obviously they do not want our business.

Are you saying that you don’t qualify but expect it anyway? And if they don’t give it to you you then leave all that stuff knowing you weren’t eligible?

Or am I misunderstanding your post.

 

[BillPA]

I have been qualified since 1993, if the shop will not give us the discount, we leave, and they can put everything back.