High Point Owners

[DVC Sue]

My husband was part of a focus group where tiered perks were discussed. I don't remember anything mentioned that really interested me and then it never became a reality.

 

[4077]

If these are the perks you are looking for you can get them as a DVC Member... - Visits to multiple theme parks in a day, if desired - The ability to experience some of your favorite attractions efficiently, even repeatedly - VIP seating for parades, select stage shows and nighttime spectaculars - Shared insight from your highly knowledgeable VIP Tour Guide throughout your tour - A completely customized experience based on your preferences Plus they will pick you up at your resort and provide direct transportation to and from the parks! No waiting on a bus or other transportation... Rates below... Guest Type Hourly Rate per Guide (regular) Hourly Rate per Guide (holiday) Resort Hotel $315 $355 Non-Resort Hotel $340 $380

I agree with this....you can do all these things you want....it's just not free because of your point purchase.

 

[CMOORE185]

If I have enough points to be in the tiered group I am for it, if I do not I am against it.

 

[Tink2312]

If I have enough points to be in the tiered group I am for it, if I do not I am against it.

A brilliant post and one I totally agree with

 

[gibbow]

I'm a super newbie owning in the DVC, my re-sale just closed and I am waiting for the paperwork and member number...but I have been researching, renting points, and reading/following up on DVC news and disboards for well over a year. While I consider myself far from an expert, I believe I have a pretty thorough understanding of the system.

I chose to start with 50 points for now, and plan to add at least 50 more within the next 12 months, in order to the room. I find the perks which come along with being a DVC member to be...merely perks. As I have read many times, all buying DVC points entitles one to is the contractual obligation to spend thousands of dollars over the next few decades for vacations.

Whether directly with your own reservations or through you renting the points out, the member dues are paid and Disney makes their money with the contract... the money is guaranteed and they don't need perks to ensure they make their money. New sales such as the VGF and soon the Poly, will sweeten their coin purse even more.

Overall, I am finding it difficult to see how a tired ownership structure would lead to more profit for Disney....

From the numbers I have found online, the square footage for a studio is at best, a little over half that of a 1 bedroom, sometimes even closer to 1/3 for some OKW room dimensions, and yet the rooms sleep the same number of people. That is 2x to 3x the number of mouths to feed, refreshments buy, possible souvenirs to purchase for the studios. Furthermore, a studio does not have the full kitchen so they are more inclined to purchase food from the Disney restaurants/shops.

Yes they have larger rooms, but again, that is less people per sq foot. It would be interesting to see numbers on the correlation between the level of accommodation and money spent on extra-circulars... Perhaps those staying at a more budget room use the money saved to spend more on character meals, renting watercraft, and so on and so forth.

I have stayed in both value accommodations, and CR tower rooms...and I cannot speak for everybody, but if I were to be in them again, I would be much more inclined to relax and spend time in my CR room. More time spent in the room is less time at the parks and less potential to stop and grab that extra meal, or that surprisingly flattering ride-photo. The upkeep and operating costs of the CR resort, while may not totally offset the profit gap over the value, adds to argument of time spent in the rooms as well. A grand-villa would be much more tempting to relax in and heat up leftovers for lunch compared to doing so in a studio.

Buying more points leads to using them for larger rooms -> less people per sq. foot, and/or more trips throughout the year. Staying at studios multiple times a years would not require the large amounts of points required for the larger accommodations unless you plan to stay at the VGF for weeks on end.

Therefore perks associated with the amounts of points you own would be counter-productive. Correct me if I am wrong but those with smaller contracts would theoretically, as a whole, contribute more money into the system assuming everyone spends the same on extra-circulars and food. Again, I have no idea of the correlations of accommodation-level to spending throughout the parks but would love to the any numbers!



Just my $0.02

I am enjoying this thread though!

Cheers!

 

[disneynutz]

At the DVD level, DVD is only interested in selling direct contracts and they will do what's necessary to promote that business. If a VIP program means more business then they will find a way to do something. They felt that resale restrictions would increase sales even though most didn't think that they would ever do such a thing.

Disney as a whole may care about how much DVC owners spend towards each business unit but each business unit really only cares about their results.

Bill

 

[bonrea]

Ah, the wide-eyed optimism of a new DVC member. Several years ago, I recall posting a similar thread about exclusivity.

ROFLMAO!!!!! Totally agree with this statement. This is not mint to be rude to the newbie but I too had the delusions of grandeur.

As I have posted in another thread before: That's just it! We are getting something of value for our money. We paid up front for a deluxe room for every time we go to WDW or the other resorts for DVC. The room at a good discount. That's it.

You have to understand the Disney has changed radically from the Walt Disney himself in the company days. Walt concentrated on the "guests" and what made people happy which in turn made him happy. This new company is concentrating on the stock holders and the money. Disney takes in VERY LITTLE revenue from the hotels and restaurants and even the park tickets. The revenue is from all the junk people buy and haul away from there. Yes, you buy anything and that is pure profit for the Disney Company. I'm sure there is a profit on the other charges but the vast majority of profit is on the merchandise.

We DVC Members are a captive audience for Disney. We are hooked. Their plan today is for us to go, and go, and GO, and buy and buy, and BUY things. The more we go the more we buy. We complain about the dues going up. We complain about the lack of good maintenance of the DVC rooms. They can’t pay high wages for the staff if we don’t want to pay for it. I’ve actually stopped complaining about that and ask at the meetings that they stop expanding and concentrate on what they have for a while. Hmmm…

We... DVC Members... We are the BEST word-of-mouth advertising for anything Disney. I cannot and will not recommend anyone pay $150+ per point no matter which resort it is. That is unbelievable. I nearly fell in the floor when a cast member gave me that price. I laughed in his face and walked away. There are too many resorts in one place, they are spending too much time on new resorts in the same Florida location and not on the upkeep of the existing ones. Give us some resorts in the continental US where we can afford to drive to with something non-Disney to teach our kids about. The resort in D.C. was a great IDEA and I was geared up to buy points there.

The only thing I keep hearing about is how wonderful the new resorts are and how many points DVD has sold at them. "Oh you better get on the band wagon because this or that resort is almost sold out!!!"

The room at a heavy spread over 50 years discount is good, but that is not how they pitch the magic. When DVC first started DVC Members were so special that we got park tickets for free and a lot of other "Perks." All of the perks that were worth a dang are gone now.

OH! It used to be "Disney's Best Kept Secret." They have so many resorts now that the parks are so crowded that they have to build extra rings round the hub in the Magic Kingdom to support all the people and they charge extra for entrance to the Magic Kingdom over the other parks. If they are not careful they will price themselves out of the market for the common folk. I'm there now. I only go and spend time at the pool at the resort because it is paid for and I pay the dues.

rant off....

 

[bonrea]

My husband was part of a focus group where tiered perks were discussed. I don't remember anything mentioned that really interested me and then it never became a reality.

Would DVC Membership not be a tiered group now?

For example: People that pay out-of-pocket for rooms would be tier level 1
DVC Members are tier level 2
Royal Oak Owners are tier level 3

Let's face it! The "Perks" that ownership at the Royal Oak community gets you are very close to the perks that DVC Membership used to have when DVC first started back in the 1990s.

From the Golden Oak Website FAQ.

The Golden Oak Experience includes family resort-living amenities [OKW formally known as DVC was advertised as having this feature] such as the custom designed Summerhouse facility (including private dining, family room with game area and complete fitness center) [OKW was advertised as having this feature -the private dining], community events [OKW was advertised as having this feature in the community hall], proximity to Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort, and parks [OKW was advertised as having this feature -the FSRO], gardens and recreation areas [OKW was advertised as having this feature]; concierge-style resident services; and Disney Connection (allows families a way to experience a special kind of Disney through Extra Magic Hours Benefit, merchandise delivery, golf package and park transportation) [OKW was advertised as having this "Disney Connection" feature].

For each closing on a homesite or completed home by December 31, 2014, the household will receive five complimentary Golden Oak Resident Passes each year for three years. Each Golden Oak Resident Pass includes One Premium Annual Pass and separately, five additional one-day Theme Park tickets. [OKW was advertised as having this feature. it has been so long that I don't recall the tickets we used to get but we got free park tickets, free valet park, etc.. No more.]

So when the middle class is well established. Tier 2


.

 

[TagsMissy]

Thanks to everyone for the great discussion thread and the different perspectives. I agree with some points and disagree with others.

First, we are avid Disney fans and bought with DVC because of Disney's level of customer service to everyone, regardless of which resort you stay. With that said, this has nothing to do with changing the level of customer service and everything to do with enhancing the level of customer service. Being a DVC member alone, in my opinion, deserves what I call the 3 P's - Priority, Perks and Privileges. The reason I mentioned the tiered system is that this is how thousands of other organizations address their frequent customers. It would be great, if the fact of being a DVC member alone, would grant you special viewings, priority seating and of course the benefit of fast pass privileges. To me, buying into Disney should bring certain privileges to the buyer, than what is offered to the typical guest. You have not changed your service expectations overall, just added benefit for those who "invest" into and frequent your business.

I have to say this feeling of entitlement and the fact one fees they are owed something because they are a member is why many people who are not members feel DVC owners are clique-y. Or that because one has 1000 points they are more worthy than someone who bought 100 or 160 points. There is a reputation that we have as owners... Personally I feel I bought a beautiful place to sleep in, I don't feel I am owed or entitled to anything special because I bought into a time share.

 

[TagsMissy]

Having thought about this thread for the past few days, a Club 33 membership is the only tiered perk that would make me take out my checkbook.

And soooo worth it but even Club 33 perks have been taken away. And believe you me the pay in and dues there exceed any DVC payin and dues we have.

 

[Silver19]

This may have been said, but you can purchase an all-day in-park VIP concierge for a lot less than you can purchase an extra few hundred points. I'm happy coming once a year and staying 10-12 nights in a 1BR villa, and I have the points to do just that. I wouldn't buy more points to get perks. I'd just buy the perks.

If I ran DVC, I'd be sitting with my feet on my desk smugly puffing a cigar, comfortable with the fact that they have long waitlists for direct point purchases at most resorts and a huge pool of available resale contracts to ROFR to meet that demand. (I myself just waited nearly six months for a measly 40 point add on). I wouldn't be worried about creating new perks. If we owners get unhappy, there are plenty of others waiting in line to buy our ownership interests.

 

[lah3hh]

It seems to me every time this type of topic comes up...people's passion really cranks up! I think we can all say we are for the most part happy with our number of points...whether we are a high point owner or not.

As for me and my house, I have a fair amount of points but sure have an advance case of addonitis most days!!!