Here's my humble opinion...

[goofy4wdw59]

OOPS!! Didn't mean to start a new thread!! Meant to add it on the existing one...

Wow...this is a hot topic! It goes to show you how badly we need a discounted admission, HA-HA! I'm always afraid to post anything that could be viewed as "anti" Disney. But, I have to add my "2 cents", and LET ME GET THIS OUT THERE, I'm a big Disney/DVC fan. I didn't buy DVC thinking I was owed "special" treatment or anything unreasonable. I am not interested in selling my DVC--just want to express an opinion!

I don't agree with everything Disney Co. does. I don't think profit$$ has to be BIGGEST part of every decision Disney makes, and I'm sure it isn't always the deciding factor. Yes, they have to be profitable to stay in business, keep the doors open, etc. and, there are sound, rational, business reasons for doing what they do. BUT...(and you know that was coming), I don't believe a discounted admission offered to DVC members is going to break the big Disney bank.
Obviously, I don't have much business sense, (Ha). I'm guessing that many posters who are unhappy with things aren't just looking for "what's in it for me?", etc. I think many of us have higher expectations of the company called "Disney". Quite frankly, I think Old Walt is turning over in his grave, but, that's for another topic.
Call me a Disney fool, but, I think sooner or later, we may get offered a BETTER admission discount of some sort. The DVC membership continues to get larger, and...eventually...the numbers may be business "sound" enough to permit a better deal for DVC members!
Also, it wouldn't hurt to drop a nice note/phone call to guide to let DVC management know of any "reasonable" concerns.
Here's a "wish and a "prayer"...

 

[Limmer]

Why shouldn't profit be the biggest part of every decision? As somebody already said, Disney is a business not a charity. Some people seem to think that Disney should be different. As an example, my Dad has owned probably 20 Ford cars in his life. He has spent A LOT of money on vehicles over the years. With the reasoning of some people on this board regarding Disney you would think he should not have to pay as much FOR THE SAME PRODUCT as somebody buying their 1st Ford car. If he walked in and said "hey, I want a substantial discount off my car" he would be laughed at. And if you were the guy behind him and said "I want that deal too" and the dealer said "no you have only bought 7 cars and he has bought 20" (feel free to substitute the word trips for cars) do not tell me that you would not be angry. The point is everybody always feel that they deserve more that somebody else for whatever reason, it is human nature. But you don't.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Funny....The last time I bought a car I got a customer loyality discount. Hummmm....maybe Disney could learn something.

 

[SwampFox]

The last time I bought a car I got a customer loyality discount.

But, that doesn't mean you actually paid any less than the next buyer (and you could have actually paid more).

Are you suggesting that Disney should sell cars??

 

[raidermatt]

Prior to the recession, Disney had record crowds and DVC was flourishing. (DVC continues to do very well, Disney has just slowed the construction to be safe).

What exactly do they need to learn from the auto industry?

An auto dealer will give you a discount so you won't walk across the street and buy from somebody else. Until Disney sees DVC'ers doing that, they won't discount any more than they already do. (We do get LOS and TDS discounts)

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

But, that doesn't mean you actually paid any less than the next buyer (and you could have actually paid more).

Exactly....by giving me a "discount", they may have made more money and even further customer loyality....OR maybe I'm a shrewd negotiator and didn't present my loyality coupon until I already got my best price.

Are you suggesting that Disney should sell cars??

Maybe they should!! Many would be willing to pay above the list price and get the rustproofing/polycoat too.

 

[EROS]

DISNEY is a publically held company. It provides a GREAT product but is a capitalistic entity............not an altruistic philanthropy.

If it can sell DVC memberships WITHOUT additional incentives, it will. If DVC sales slowed, then it would probably respond (as have American car manufacturers recently) with more benefits (discounts, perks, etc.).

No one "has" to buy into DVC. If he/she doesn't think that the package is "rich" enough, then they'll look at other timeshares. If DVC sales are brisk, then people are voting with their wallets.

 

[Ed T]

Getting a discount when you buy a car goes in the favor of the dealer. Why? He now has you as a customer and is going to make a lot of money off you in their service center. Sure Disney could look at it the same why once they sell you they have you for the next 40 years, coming and spending money. Let's face it Disney did not get 60,000 members in 10 years by promising people something, getting them to buy and then taking it away. Sure there where incentives back in the beginning when we bought but we were told up front that those park passes were not going to last forever. Bottom line was we did not buy because of the incentives we bought for the concept.

Would you buy a VW because of the incentives when you were looking at the BMW?

Ed

 

[dvc_john]

Obviously they do not need to offer discounted park tickets to sell DVC.
They need discounted park tickets to get and keep people in the parks. That's why they have so many targeted discounts now:
Florida resident, Canadian resident, British resident, etc.
I'm getting an AP for 2002. Without a discount, and with the current renewal policy (renewal is active from day 1, not from 1st use), I won't renew for 2003. Rather, in 2003, I will catch up on UF, IOA, SW, and BG. In my case, some sort of AP discount would be to Disney's advantage.

 

[SwampFox]

....OR maybe I'm a shrewd negotiator and didn't present my loyality coupon until I already got my best price.

....But, that doesn't mean you actually paid any less than the next shrewd buyer (and you could have actually paid more) even with your coupon.

 

[dvcmomdeh]

(We do get LOS and TDS discounts)...


Yeah but if you stay in a 2 bdrm S-Th and then a studio for F-W, you only get the length of stay for the S-Th. They won't combine the stay. At least they haven't for us.

 

[sgtpet]

It is a business, they got you and all of us to purchase into the timeshare. Why should they give us any discount? We have no right to expect special treatment in that way. I can see requesting more souvenier items be made available to us. If you are upset sell or go to other Orlando area entertainment locations. Disney owes us nothing special.

 

[raidermatt]

DVC_John- Disney targets its discount to the markets that they feel they can better tap with the discounts. Clearly, the DVC market is for the most part, not currently one of those markets.

However, again, if more DVC'ers begin spending their money elsewhere, as you are, the situation could change.

 

[PamOKW]

you only get the length of stay for the S-Th.

That doesn't make sense. Why can't you get the LOS for S-TH and then Fri-Wed? I could see them charging you "twice" for the day you check out of one and into the next but I can't see denying the purchase altogether. Of course, that double charge probably eats up the savings.

 

[RobDoc]

You can drop the checkout day (Fri) of the S-T stay and include the checkin day (Fri) on the F-W stay. The UMP would be allowed for each stay, but not allowed to span 2 separate reservations.

 

[BIERMUGG]

"It is a business, they got you and all of us to purchase into the timeshare. Why should they give us any discount? We have no right to expect special treatment in that way. I can see requesting more souvenier items be made available to us. If you are upset sell or go to other Orlando area entertainment locations. Disney owes us nothing special."

Just to add more fuel to the fire. What does Disney owe Florida residents ? They get a discount on passes and also the dining program. I did not Buy DVC for discounts. but it would be nice to get one.

 

[PamOKW]

There is a lot of "goodwill" in the FL resident programs. Disney needs FL just like FL needs Disney. Sometimes Disney needs support from Florida voters. They also need to keep the Florida residents coming in slow times.....in recent months they've helped to save WDW from total collapse.


The only real reason for Disney/DVC to offer us a good discount program is also "goodwill". To date, Disney/DVC hasn't seen the need to cultivate this from our group. Maybe someday they will. In the meantime, it's okay to keep asking for a better program but it's not worthwhile getting ourselves upset about the lack of one. Personally, I go to Disney to be immersed in all that Disney offers on vacation. I don't have a desire to go to the other area attractions....I'm not really a theme park kind of person. LOL! If one is looking to just have an Orlando area vacation, there are less expensive options.

 

[mikek]

Good point Pam about "goodwill".

And just so eveyone is clear -that like everything else they do is to maximize profits.

There's tons of stories of disney going that extra mile (and therefore wasting money) to keep people loving them (free shirts, emergency passes, get well goodies, etc.) These are all part of the "disney Magic" but its a business decision meant to get us all hooked and coming back for more. So in the end they make more money.

I wish they thought they needed to hook us but I suppose they have a bunch of bean counters who have calculated that we will show up without anything else for most of the next 40 years.

I am pretty sure the discounts we get now (namely LOS and TDS) are because they make those particular divisions more money in the long run. (Or at least they believe so). DVC has NOTHING to do with it. Read the news- TDS isnt doing so well and keeps getting new product mix to try and fix it. I've seen more discounts from them lately then pretty much any other retailer except the discount department stores; they are begging for people to walk into the stores.

THe LOS discount is (IMHO) meant to entice folks who might only buy 4-5 day hoppers into a more 'complete' pass for longer stays (6 orr more days) so they can pocket more of your change.

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

Hi guys (and gals),

I run a restaurant and I have to contribute this little tid bit. In the restaurant business we have what are called "regulars" (DVC members) I really appreciate my regulars, they probably make up about 5-10% of my business.(I consider a regular someone I see once, twice or even three times(maybe more) a week) Now, I get to know the regulars and talk to them and know who they are, their favorite server, etc. and every once in a while, without being asked, and not needing to because of a mistake, I will buy a regular a dessert, an appetizer and yes sometimes I will even pick up the check. Now, keep in mind, I don't have to do this, these people are already here and are willing to pay for their meal. I don't make that decision until they are done, and I see what they have had and I will do something nice for them. I don't do it all of the time, and I don't do it for any one guest repeatedly. I just do something nice, out of the blue. If you saw the faces of the people, not because they got something for free, but because they felt like they were recognized for being loyal, and that we noticed them out of everyone in the restaurant to do something nice for. I really think, by reading the posts, that the membership just wants to be recognized, and pins and buttons are cool, but it's not what they want. If I sent a dessert over to the table of regulars and didn't give them the choice of dessert or whether they even wanted dessert, it loses the impact. They could be full, they may not be in the mood for ice cream or many other things. But if I waited until they ordered dessert, and then gave it to them, I would be giving them something they wanted and they would be much happier. It sounds like Disney has their heart in the right place, but thinks too much and doesn't really know what the membership wants. I really don't think it would hurt them financially to give the DVC members a discount that has a real impact, but they are afraid of something.

Maybe they are afraid that other organizations will demand the same discount. Or a larger organization may want a better one. If they started giving the discounts to one group then they really would have to give them to pretty much all of the groups or risk upsetting them. If they did discount the tickets to all of these large groups, wouldn't it hurt the perceived value of the product? If it is discounted too often or too much, don't you have a different impression of that product? You start to develop a value in your mind as to how much the tickets are worth and it is not the face value of the ticket. I think that a test discount program for DVC members, or a meaningful "DVC pass" is needed. Something that can provide them with a way out and does not hurt the perceived value of the admission. That is what will be successful in the long run.

 

[SwampFox]

I don't do it all of the time, and I don't do it for any one guest repeatedly.

You also probably do it for everyone you consider to be a regular. Disney has many "regulars" who are not DVC members, yet go several times a year and stay at the Poly, GF or All Stars.
That's part of the problem with DVC- we expect it all the time- every time. It can't be on a whim by another division of the company.
As for the "meaningful" pass- I doubt we could even get a consensus of what that would be. Discussion here in the past has indicated a wide range of acceptability. All agree that "free" would be acceptable- but that's not a reasonable expectation.

Many have said they'd be happy with a FL resident's discount- except some from FL. Some prefer to use Hoppers, many like AP's and some have discovered that UMP's (with the 10% discount) serve their needs best. With such a variety of needs and vacation habits, finding a program which satisfies everyone is indeed a challenge.
In addition, the discount must be provided by another company. Sure, it's from Disney- but "Disney" is made up of many divisional companies, each with revenue goals and budgets to make. Any discount offered to one group must come from the division which has to justfy the costs vs benefits. In a sense, each of these companies is competing for the same recreational dollars.
There are different ways to try to make someone feel special as a reward for their loyalty. For me, I always feel special when greeted by the bell staff and desk CM's who recognize us as "regular" visitors at the resort. The recreational staff always acknowledges our return with a "Welcome Home" and a smile. For us, those are as good as a free occasional dessert or appetizer- plus we get them every time we go- not on a whim or out of the blue.