HEY - what's with this cheezy new Member Guidebook?

[qqq]

I never thought this skinny little envelope would contain my new Member Guidebook!

The cover letter says it all - "streamlined" - "shorter" - "condensed" and oh by the way - "For more details hold onto your existing Member Guidebook".

When we first enrolled I received a nice hardcover 3 ring binder with laminated sheets and tabs.
Then we got a hardcover book.
Next a soft cover book.
Then a softer cover book.
Now a brochure! CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP.

I received a more impressive publication on dental hygiene from my dentist.

Michael Eisner has received roughly ONE BILLION DOLLARS in compensation since becoming CEO of Disney. It's true!

How about spending a couple of bucks on us little people?

We always looked forward to getting the annual Member Guidebook. Now the thrill is pretty much gone.

 

[Desperado]

I'm more dissapointed to see that Grand Canyon rafting trips are no longer included, major bummer!

There's probably a pretty big difference between 70,000 times $2 vs 70,000 times $10 for a fancier binder. Probably not a bad place to reduce costs.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by qqq

Now a brochure! CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP.

Well, actually I'm glad that DVC isn't wasting our money -- our annual dues -- on a fancy, full color book printed on expensive paper.

I haven't seen the new DVC member guide yet, but I like the concept getting the information in a cheaper-to-print, cheaper-to-mail format.

I want my dues to go to maintaining high quality vacation accommodations, not expensive mailings.

 

[travelbug]

Yup, this one's a little too cheap. I found it curled up and crammed into my mailbox, so now I'm stuck with a mangled guidebook. Bummer.

 

[msdis]

Sorry, I love it. The pages won't fall out due to the broken binder, the pages are beautiful, it's easy to find everything, all the basics are there.

 

[Chuck S]

I like it. It has all the basic essential info for managing and using your points without looking through an epic novel. Most of the info is already second nature to most older members, the main thing is the point charts and exchanges. And it certainly will be less expensive to publish, keeping our dues lower.

 

[officer tigger]

I agree that it is easier to read.....

However, I wish it still had the room diagrams. Also I liked it when they said a little about each resort.

I will have to keep last year's book for the directions and resort map.

What a let down.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by qqq
.I received a more impressive publication on dental hygiene from my dentist.

.......Was it from DOC by chance?

I like the new book. It is much easier to find things quicker.

 

[Doug7856]

We haven't received the new book yet (we're new members as of October 15th), but I like the idea that they are reducing costs. The online guide contains the same information and I'm sure costs pennies compared to the printed version. We're all internet savy enough to look online. Having said that, I can't wait to receive ours in the mail! Maybe they will use the money they save to implement an online booking feature with live inventory!

 

[BrerMom]

...I found it curled up and crammed into my mailbox ...

Ditto. Maybe they could add something, even a piece of cardboard, so it will arrive as intended.

 

[JudithM]

i think the new format is fine for what we need - it updates our Member Guidebook without a lot of extra expense. I agree with Horace.

 

[jdkdorn]

What I really want in the guidebook is pictures of the rooms in the resorts. I don't mind that it is more condensed, but it would be nice if they showed a picture of each type of room at each resort with a drawing of the layout. I like to show people the place we own and there are no real good pictures of the rooms anywhere. I can go to this site but I would rather have a book I can pull out that shows them.

 

[Beth]

...Just my $.02 ... YMMV ....

The book we received last year and in year's past was the "Member Guidebook."

The book we recently received is the "Vacation Planner."

It is my impression this new book is not <i>replacing</i> the old book, but is offered, rather, as a <i>complement</i> to the old book.

I really like the new format, as it has everything I need. If I really want to see pictures or layouts - I can go to the old books or websites. (Or look at the hours of video and albums full of pictures I've taken over the last 8 years! )

 

[Ms. WDW]

Well I haven't received mine yet. Now I'll make sure I check the mail for something other than bills!

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I think the guidebook is fine for what we need.

Allison an associate

 

[Granny]

I'm fine with the book. But then again, I'm fine if they just keep the website up to date....and they can do away with the book altogether if it would save us some dues money.



jdkdorn brings up a good point....that the book can be a marketing piece for Disney. I have shown some people my new Vacation Planner, and it does catch their eye. But I'm okay with the current format.

 

[SimbaNoodle]

I'm fine with the new guidebook. When you start talking higher number of points, any increase in annual dues can add up and with Caskbill's great software, I never open mine anyway.

 

[princess&tig]

I like it too. The other one is fine and has views of the rooms. They have not chaned much with exception of SSR. The old book had too many pictures with little info. I would rather have the info. I think its great.

 

[KelNottAt]

I like:
less bulky design of the new planner
staple binding
easier "at a glance" layout of point charts

I don't like at all:
absence of room diagrams
absence of resort descriptions
absence of room photos

There's got to be a middle ground between the 176 pp of '02-'03 and the minimal info of the '04 - '05.

IMO, a spiral binding would be great. Better yet, add a paper-catching pocket to the back and/or front cover.

Kelley

 

[tailfethrs]

We are still waiting for ours to get here. I hope it's soon, we would like to go to Paris this summer and use our points, but we don't know how many we need. Anyone used points for the Paris hotels?

Rosie