Invite to Member Homecoming

[Pa@okw95]

I just got my invite for Member Homecoming 2004 today, March 18 2004. They have to be kidding about the timing of the invite just about 6 weeks beforethe event. I understand some people got invites back in December, even then it is just 6 months before the event. I hae already made reservations 11 months in advance for Jan 2005, like most DVC members we live in this way in advance world of reservation that is part of being a DVC member and going to WDW. What were they thinking?? I took a close look at the invite, it amounts a private viewing area for IllumiNations then somekind of party where after the park closes??How long is going to take to empty out the park of all the customers that go there??The next night you have MK closing for regular customers at 9.PM. You will see a private showing of SpectroMagic which you can see pretty near any night for free, but at least that should be nice, the private showing?Then the next day, oh boy, the real reason for all this hype, the opening of Saratoga Springs. All this for over $1000 for a family of four. WOW!!I see no mention of any meal anywhere. I have to tell you those gifts they give to you at the end of each event better be worth it. I hope those who have bought into this really have a good time and it turns out just fine, and the weather is great what have you. Let's us all know how it went.

 

[rwcmath]

We just got this last minute mailing too. We're sorry we can't go, we have to work.

 

[tinker925]

We just received an invite today too (March 18th), I was wondering if it's because we bought at SSR in August, 2003 and it wasn't recorded until December so we weren't quite "official" when the invites were first sent out. We too can't make a trip on such short notice but I'd love to see what those gifts at the end of the night will be.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

just got mine today also!!!! Gee guess we were last minute invites, those ones you send out when the ones you really want turn down the invitation!!!!



Why would they hold this during the week and when the kids are still in school!!!

 

[mzzbuzzlightyear]

Well, I just got my invitation today, March 18th, too! Am I really on the "second string"? LOL!
THAT for booking your room 11 months ahead! Plus, I am not a new member. We own at OKW,
June

 

[Chuck S]

Why would they hold this during the week and when the kids are still in school!!!

I imagine that has to do with scheduling, and it would be easier to close the parks early for a private function.

 

[KellyDVC]

but didn't see the value in either one. The difference between the first invite and the second, you might ask? Was the addition of a passholder option, which is slightly cheaper than the original offer.

When I received the first offer, we calculated it to be close to $1,400 for my family of five. Included was two days admission to the four theme parks - but we are already passholders, so we decided it was not worth it to spend for entry into the parks as well as the other events. I started thinking "what % of DVC members are passholders?" and " how silly not to offer a passholder option, I am sure many feel the same way I do." Anyway, this late invitation tells me that MANY members felt the same way I did, and they are scrambling to offer a last minute passholder option. By the way, you may be wondering what the party planners value two days admission? The discount for passholders was a meager $50, or now only $249 per adult.

For our family of five, it would cost around $1,200. That means we would be paying $400 for a 'special' viewing area for Illuminations (with desserts, of course), $400 for an e-night (albeit, I am sure the crowds will be lower than a regular e-night) when regular e-nights are only $50 total ($10 each), and finally, $400 for the privilege (sarcasm, lol!) of attending the SSR grand opening. I am sure there are some other treats, gifts, or perks to be had, but we are talking $1,200......that's an awful lot of backpacks, caps or pins!

Thanks for the vent!

Brian

 

[MarkRG]

Sorry that it's not for everyone. For the curious, I do intend to document it in as much detail as I did the Member Cruise(click monorailgreen.info at the bottom of the post). So you will get a good shot to see what they do with this, good or bad.

For the two of us, we are definitely looking forward to it. I readily admit they are pricing out the families with this, they should have had some pricing structure similar to the park tickets in relation to adults vs kids.

They actually covered their mistake with the passholder deal right after the initial mailing, we bought ours at the passholder price back on the day this went on sale initially.

MS has also been bending over backwards in other ways. We actually had congierge booked at AKL before this was announced. They waived the holding rule and let us rebook into a dvc resort for this event. Something to keep in mind, although I understand rooms are at a premium for that timeframe right now.

There has already been hints that there will be more substantial things than just pins/hats involved. As there was last time. One of the few things I don't have a picture of on the website is the beautiful limitied edition Steamboat Willie teapot everyone got on the last night of the cruise.

And I can't compare the nights to e-mights, that's not too fair. There's going to be an upper limit of 4,000(or maybe 5,000, not exactly sure). That's a drop in a bucket compared to an e-night. 4,000 may barely line Main Street and the hub for Spectro. One of the first off special night events we went to was Mickey's Holloween Treat, which evolved into the Not So Scary. I don't know what kind of numbers they had for that event, but it had to be higher than 4,000 and every ride was a walk on and we really got the impression of having the park to ourselves. I think this is a good pricetag for such a thing, especially when everyone attending has at least one thing in common- DVC. There is also things planned I am sure they are NOT telling us as well. Some of you really feel the need to have everything spelled out for you before you decide it is a good deal or not, that's ok. But there are some things that have to be relied on with a little trust. And I have yet to see DVC misplace that trust.

 

[nezy]

I also got the invite today, However this is my second invitation. Although I would love to go I do not see that it is worth the price for my family of 5.
I was wondering what if I did not want to go to all events--maybe I only want to go to the SSR opening. Can you pick and choose the events or is it all or nothing?

 

[DebbieB]

I got the second invitation today also. I think the fact that they went to the expense of mailing a second invitation shows it has not sold that well. If it was close to sold out, why would they go to the expense?

 

[Cmadsen]

Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, I'd like you to know, MarkRG, that I agree with you and am very much looking forward to the event. Yes, we are only two and I can certainly understand how the cost would be prohibitive to a family, but we were fortunate to be able to change our plans and sign up for it.
Hopefully, Disney will offer many different types of events so that all DVCers can participate at one time or another. Perhaps we'll end up being disappointed by this one, but it's our choice and we choose to give it a try!

Hope to see you there, MarkRG!

 

[JudithM]

I didn't get this second mailing, but then again I have not received the current Vacation Magic yet either. However, we are going to the Homecoming to celebrate our anniversary & we are looking forward to those days at WDW.

Over the last 11-12 years as DVC members, we have yet to book any earlier than 5-6 months out for most of our trips, a bit earlier for early December the last few years. So learning about this May event in December was perfect for us as we were beginning to think about sometime in May.

As for the Homecoming including park admission, that is fine for us. Our annual passes expire in May & we probably will not renew them until a later trip. So not every member minds paying for two days park admission .

Bottomw line for us is that there is no right or wrong to this event, it just is. It is a personal decision for each member.

 

[MarkRG]

We are having a Dis meet there, btw, if anyone going is interested..

Click==> 20040525 Dvc Member Homecoming! (updated 2/18)--INDEXED

 

[LIFERBABE]

I agree, It is not for everyone, Just as DVC itself is not for everyone and not everyone sees the value in being a member. Those that are attending are comfortable in their decision, just as those that are not attending are comfortable in theirs.

I am really excited to be attending MH and thanks to the earlier posters that notified us of the event (before we received the invitation) as I was able to make a ressie at SSR.

 

[Pa@okw95]

MarkEG e-nights for years were limited to less than 5000. I have been to an e-night where we were the only ones around. Two Disney employees played a trick on us with a stuffed snake. It was so slow. At any rate what you are going to is the opening of SSR, that was the whole reason to get some live ones there. It would have been better had DVC just said to any members that happen to at WDW to come over for some fun and free lunch, but no they had to try to make a major killing on the whole idea, of course, most did not go for it, that is the reason for the 2nd mailing of invites. I really hope you have a good time and it is worth it, but DVC and especially WDW is so used to just putting hype on things that they can say anything and people will come. I don't think it worked this time!!

 

[wdwstar]

Can we add that they may not have any more rooms left to stay in a dvc resort, i caaled late jan. and ms said no studios, we might have a 2 bedroom , its just me i dont need a 2 bedroom.

 

[MarkRG]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95

MarkEG e-nights for years were limited to less than 5000. I have been to an e-night where we were the only ones around. Two Disney employees played a trick on us with a stuffed snake. It was so slow.

You yourself describe what I'm looking forward to. Kind of the way the parks used to be in October before the international tour groups took over that part of the year. Going on the rides without crowds. Not fighting for a good spot to watch Spectro or Illuminations. Good things imho. One of the most fun times I have had in a Disney park was being able to sit on a park bench and watch the MSEP parade at California Adventure without huge mobs of people. There were enough people to share the experience with, but it wasn't wall-to-wall people.

At any rate what you are going to is the opening of SSR, that was the whole reason to get some live ones there. It would have been better had DVC just said to any members that happen to at WDW to come over for some fun and free lunch, but no they had to try to make a major killing on the whole idea, of course, most did not go for it, that is the reason for the 2nd mailing of invites.

Where have I said the last day is not a shameless promotion for the new resort? I'm even sure they'll lean on the members for testamonials and such. And I'll be happy to give them. I enjoy sharing my positive experiences as a DVC member with others. And a luncheon in a vip area and a shot for a first look at the new resort? Worth it to me. As for how many have bought it and who havn't is nothing but total conjecture. I'd more think they're just trying to get people who might have not gone for it so they can claim the event was a sellout, but who knows. And I'm attending the event for the first two nights as much as the last one.


I really hope you have a good time and it is worth it, but DVC and especially WDW is so used to just putting hype on things that they can say anything and people will come. I don't think it worked this time!!

So you say. I will provide detailed reports on the trip either way.

 

[LucyLou&BobWho]

We didn't even get one, but it would be too expensive anyway. We considered doing it since we'll be there during homecoming, but since we already have AP's I thought it would be considered an investment, that I'd probably put to better use elsewhere, rather than a couple of evenings out?? Anyway to those who do go please post your take on the event and make the rest of us sorry we didn't do it.

Take care all.
L

 

[sgtpet]

It's a ripoff folks. Big money for nothing particulary special. DVC is not impressive when it comes to these things.

 

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by sgtpet
It's a ripoff folks. Big money for nothing particulary special. DVC is not impressive when it comes to these things.

So you said many, many times about the Member Cruise and I can tell you that you are flat out wrong. DVC does know how to throw a party. Sorry you don't agree. For those who are looking for something for nothing - yes I'm sorry DVC isn't great. For those looking for a great timeshare experience, wonderful accomodations, and some great parties - DVC does it best in my opinion.

I know we will never change the minds of the nay-sayers, but I'm not about to let them convince others that DVC is bad.

If you think DVC is a ripoff feel free to sell your points.