Husband just called our guide - does this sound right?

[Anjelica]

Email from my husband re: calling DVC about the extended promotion -

"I called. (Normal sales guide name) is out today so I talked to (other sales guide name). (other sales guide name) said the deal is still going on but only if you come in to visit the Doorway to Dreams at least 1 time. The deal is the same plus they are offering either 500 Disney Dollars or 2 annual passes. I told him we live near St. Louis and might not be able to make it up there so he said he would have (normal sales guide name) call me and see if something can be worked out."

The part that gets me is the "doorway to dreams" portion (our sales guide is based in Chicago). That is the first time I have heard of that. Anyone else?

 

[vacationman]

Yes, I have heard all about this. If you are lucky enough to be living near enough to the Disney Doorway to Dreams store in the Woodfield Mall (in Schaumberg, IL), you get a bonus of either two annual pass certificates or a $500 Disney gift card.

 

[disneynutz]

Email from my husband re: calling DVC about the extended promotion -

"I called. (Normal sales guide name) is out today so I talked to (other sales guide name). (other sales guide name) said the deal is still going on but only if you come in to visit the Doorway to Dreams at least 1 time. The deal is the same plus they are offering either 500 Disney Dollars or 2 annual passes. I told him we live near St. Louis and might not be able to make it up there so he said he would have (normal sales guide name) call me and see if something can be worked out."

The part that gets me is the "doorway to dreams" portion (our sales guide is based in Chicago). That is the first time I have heard of that. Anyone else?

Yes I have heard of it and I don't like it. It's discrimination against people who can't get to the Doorway to Dreams store. I'm currently in the process of letting my dissatisfaction be known to Disney Management. I have not received a call back yet. If I don't get a call by the end of business tomorrow, I will be contacting Jim Lewis the President of the DVC on Monday.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think it is much different than offering premiums for buying at DL rather than WDW. For instance, those that buy at DL get first dibs on GCV, or on a broader scale, similar to stores that offer coupons/specials that are good only at one location.

 

[Tiggerlover48]

I live in Upstate NY - I want to get in on this too!!! So I might be out of luck? Can you get this special plus the 100 developers points and discounted points? It doesn't sound fair!

 

[Anjelica]

In talking with with my husband he said the sales guide he talked to today said we could ONLY get the current promotion (the developer points, discount, etc.) IF we do this doors to dreams. My husand didn't feel this guide knew exactly what he was talking about so is waiting to hear from our usual guide (who is quite knowledgeable).

 

[DisneyCruisin']

What bugs me about the DTD promo is we called and were willing to go to Chicago and were told - no need that the incentive was over early last week - so we signed in FL - now to find out it was still going on and we were lied to - TICKS ME OFF!

 

[castleri]

What bugs me about the DTD promo is we called and were willing to go to Chicago and were told - no need that the incentive was over early last week - so we signed in FL - now to find out it was still going on and we were lied to - TICKS ME OFF!

If you can still go to Chicago - What is the time line for cancelling the deal you made in Florida? I can't remember if it was 7 or 10 days when we signed up but you might still be able to get out of it and do the deal in Chicago.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

If you can still go to Chicago - What is the time line for cancelling the deal you made in Florida? I can't remember if it was 7 or 10 days when we signed up but you might still be able to get out of it and do the deal in Chicago.

We've not signed a thing yet - we're still waiting on our paperwork to arrive here in NC. So, technically, they have our deposit but not our signatures.

Think if we went to Chicago we could get the deposit back (or have them apply it to a different contract)? I hate the thought of loosing the additional incentive - especially since we called and were told it was over. I just feel like we were lied to to get our business at WDW - and we were honest that we could get to Chicago with no issues.

 

[Princess Tink]

We've not signed a thing yet - we're still waiting on our paperwork to arrive here in NC. So, technically, they have our deposit but not our signatures.

Think if we went to Chicago we could get the deposit back (or have them apply it to a different contract)? I hate the thought of loosing the additional incentive - especially since we called and were told it was over. I just feel like we were lied to to get our business at WDW - and we were honest that we could get to Chicago with no issues.

We just did an ADD-ON, and I can confirm you have 10 days to cancel. And yes, you get your deposit back.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

How uch are you really going to be saving if you even go to chicago? We live in NC and I know for a fact where we are would take us more than the savings to get us there and back. I would have liked the extra but I just cannot see it being worth it.

We've not signed a thing yet - we're still waiting on our paperwork to arrive here in NC. So, technically, they have our deposit but not our signatures.

Think if we went to Chicago we could get the deposit back (or have them apply it to a different contract)? I hate the thought of loosing the additional incentive - especially since we called and were told it was over. I just feel like we were lied to to get our business at WDW - and we were honest that we could get to Chicago with no issues.

 

[disneynutz]

The DTD promo is for $500 or 2 APs. The rest of the deal is the same everywhere until 3/3/08 unless they extend it again.

My complaint is that I want the 2 APs. I doesn't really cost Disney anything and I don't like the idea that they value the DTD buyer more then others.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

I definetely agree with you on that it is not right.I dont see anything about that as fair at all.
I think that everyone should get the same thing.

The DTD promo is for $500 or 2 APs. The rest of the deal is the same everywhere until 3/3/08 unless they extend it again.

My complaint is that I want the 2 APs. I doesn't really cost Disney anything and I don't like the idea that they value the DTD buyer more then others.

 

[Anjelica]

Sorry for stirring the pot - I just never heard of that before. We live in St. Louis and have "thought" about taking a day trip up there to do this - its pretty feasible for a 4-4.5 drive up and back in a single day. Just don't want to do it with kids. I'll let you guys know what we decide and how it goes.

 

[tjkraz]

Offering different incentives to different customers is nothing new in the timeshare world. Most developers have even greater variety than Disney. You can spend hours playing cat-and-mouse with them to get the "best" deal available.

Even DVC has been varying things for some time now. Those who visit a presentation while on DCL will often get better deals than those who tour at Walt Disney World. The same is true for the Disneyland sales center and now Doorway to Dreams.

I'm not thrilled with the practice myself, but this isn't a case of the head not knowing what the hands are doing. DVC is well aware of the different promotions being offered at different sites.

To the OP, I wonder if the reason that Guide #2 is referring to the DTD promotion is because that is where your Guide is located. Did you originally buy while visiting DTD? If so, you may be flagged in some unique way in their system.

The current add-on promotion (with the Developer's Points) has been widely advertised by DVC and they should be obligated to allow you to add points under those terms. You would not be eligible for the $500 gift card or APs since that is a DTD exclusive.

 

[Chuck S]

The DTD promo is for $500 or 2 APs. The rest of the deal is the same everywhere until 3/3/08 unless they extend it again.

My complaint is that I want the 2 APs. I doesn't really cost Disney anything and I don't like the idea that they value the DTD buyer more then others.

Those APs are paid for, by Disney Vacation Development, they aren't "freebies" handed to DVC Marketing out of the goodness of WDW's heart. Everything has to be justified in the corporate structure. Just like the original marketing of free passes through the year 1999, those passes were paid for by DVC Marketing, not "free" from WDW.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

How uch are you really going to be saving if you even go to chicago? We live in NC and I know for a fact where we are would take us more than the savings to get us there and back. I would have liked the extra but I just cannot see it being worth it.

Dh works for a major airline and we don't pay a thing to fly - no cost to us except to meet relatives for a ride to Shaumburg from ORD.

 

[JRDisneyClan]

DVD is doing it's best to ramp operations at DL & DTD which I think is the reason for offering the added incentive for touring & signing in person at one of those locations. Aside from that, if you sign on site, there's no chance that the documents won't be returned to them so the only thing they're waiting on is the 10 day rescission period to pass & the deal is done. From a sales & marketing standpoint, it's a good idea because they probably view visitors to DL & DTD as less likely to commit away from the magic (& the pitch) than if they were at WDW due to distance & the product itself since most of it is Florida based. I don't think it's that they "value" one buyer more than another, it's about making the sale & closing the deal...I think buyers away from WDW don't have the emotional pull or as strong of one to commit so that's the reason for the added incentive.

Even if you originally bought at either of those places, I think you're still supposed to have to sign in person to get the APs or gift card with the add-on or maybe at least have toured the "newer" sales center as a new buyer. It definitely benefits those that are able to get to either of those locations easily enough especially since they'd be adding on anyway. As owners already, we're a captive audience & would probably be adding on more for usage than incentives since we already know the program & its benefits...we've already been brought into the fold so less danger of the deal not getting done.

 

[sixisenough]

We just signed this deal at Doorway to Dreams. If you do go, call and make an appt and they will let your kids play in supervised play area(about 2 hrs). It was great, and the kids had fun just like at Disney. We bought 200 pts and got 270 pts, plus the $500.00 disney card, and $8point discount at the AKV. It was a nice incentive. We visited there in Nov, and decided to hold off until after our disney trip to see how we felt, and this was a much better deal. I believe they offering this deal only there because they are promoting the store, it's a pretty big deal, and they have to pay for it all. If you can go, it is pretty cool, the actual AKV 2br suite is set up. It is enough to sell you on it. We have already booked our first trip a week later.

 

[disneynutz]

Those APs are paid for, by Disney Vacation Development, they aren't "freebies" handed to DVC Marketing out of the goodness of WDW's heart. Everything has to be justified in the corporate structure. Just like the original marketing of free passes through the year 1999, those passes were paid for by DVC Marketing, not "free" from WDW.

I understand corporate structure and accounting but lets be real.

Do you really think that DVD transfers anything close to retail value to WDW Parks? What's the true cost of a pass? How much does it cost Disney to let me wander around, go on a few rides or attractions, and spend money in a park?

There may be separate accounting between WDW Parks and DVD, but it is all added together at the top.