Is the magic gone?

[BroganMc]

For me, the magic is gone at the parks. A good example is the way Disney has now configured their ticket media. We are planning our first trip in 4 years to WDW and reading through all the options and variations to purchase park passes has become ridiculous. My tax return seems to make sense after reading all the Magic your way options.

I don't think you're really paying that much more for tickets. I did a little checking of my records.

In 2003 I purchased a 7 Day Park Hopper Plus which came with no expiration and 2 days of Plus admissions (sans DisneyQuest). The cost was $336.

Today you can buy a 7 Day MYW ticket with no expiration and 7 days of Plus admissions (including DisneyQuest) for $409 plus tax. So you have a $70-80 increase in 5 years time but with 5 extra days admission including a 4th option. (Just paying for the extra days and option would have added another $150 to my old PHP ticket in '03).

In comparison, I purchased an Annual Pass last May with my $100 DVC discount. It cost me 355.71. With that, I will have had around 50 days admission over the last year. That's about $7 a day. Pre-DVC, it cost me about $420 for a new AP ($402 for a renewal) and around $15 per day (with 28 days of visits).

So based just on tickets and those costs, DVC actually keeps the magic for me longer. Especially when I consider that my AP also saves me money when I'm staying at my offsite timeshare what with parking fees and DDE. Staying onsite at my DVC means I also save on transportation costs since they do all the driving.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've never thought of the magic as the rides, the food, the tickets, the rooms, the club or the welcome home.

Nope...the magic was the time we lived, loved and laughed together as a family.

Disney just set the stage for it...and still does.

Then to me, that's not Disney magic, but your family magic.

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

True, that's sad when people take things so seriously

It was never a "secret"...that's a marketing slogan and nothing more!

 

[beachblanket]

That technology is something Disney has had for years, when the patent was filed the Disney boards went nuts. So far, no release.

But I suspect that DVC would NOT be on the top of that list - we are getting a deal over Deluxe guests, and as a Deluxe guest I'd be upset that someone who was getting a room for what works out to $80 a night was getting better service than me paying $450. Plus, they don't need to sell us rooms. AFTER purchase, we are Disney's least profitable customers. We are more likely to have APs, we are more likely to cook in our rooms, we have our Mickey Ears and ballcaps and sweatshirts from the last four trips.

Very good points. That stated, presumably the logic behind DVC was to lock in a universe of return visitors to raise the aggregate number of repeat visits, presuming that in and of itself would lead to higher WDW profitability. Even if you cook in your room and hold an AP, WDW still gets cash flow out of you one way or another when you stay there.

But perhaps as you are implying the returns aren't expected, for I do get the sense DVC is increasingly focused on trying to raise the per-visit profitability of its members (the promotion of the DDP and the endless push for existing members to add on at the new resorts as prime examples).

But back to my original point: I also strongly suspect that if Disney put DVC members at a secondary (or less) priority level in any new fastpass-related CRM program, they would immediately get the largest and loudest amount of negative feeback they've ever heard from members. Or put another way, if some DVC employee/manager is reading this, you've been warned...

 

[global_mom]

This is a very interesting thread. For me the magic is not gone in the DVC properties. We love HH and VB very much and pretty much vacation there more than WDW.

For me, the magic is gone at the parks. A good example is the way Disney has now configured their ticket media. We are planning our first trip in 4 years to WDW and reading through all the options and variations to purchase park passes has become ridiculous. My tax return seems to make sense after reading all the Magic your way options.

I used to feel there was value at WDW. I don't feel that now. Everything is priced like you live in NY or LA and not middle America. No where can you turn and purchase something that is not premium priced. We used to purchase annual passes and go twice a year. Now Disney has priced the annual passes to the point where it is worth us buying a pass and going again. We are better off not taking the risk and buying another set of passes the next time. The buffets and dinners at the restaurants were quality fare and a reasonable price. Not now. They have become boring menus and crazy pricing.

If DVC did not have HH or VB I would have sold off my membership a long time ago. Next thing that will happen is the Disney accountants will figure a way to charge for air at the parks.

I have to respectively disagree with the fact that Disney's prices are out of line with middle America. We find tremendous value in Disney for our family of 5. There are tons of resort options (we only stay on site so I am referring to those options but off-site provides many more options) for all budgets. Even before we owned DVC we would stay at POR and felt that we got a great value for the price: $99 per night to $149 per night depending on codes and seasons.

We dont cook in our villa other than coffee and bagels. We often do the dining plan but find the food cost to be reasonable regardless of DDP. We can feed the 5 of us at the average CS location for about $35-$40 which is less than the price of going to our local Applebee's for lunch. There are reasonable TS prices (The Plaza) and there are over the top TS prices. We choose carefully and do different things on different trips. Sometimes we spend lots of extra money and sometimes we stick to a tight budget.

When it comes to ticket prices, it is hard to get the amount and the quality of entertainment that Disney provides our family for less than the cost of tickets. We now use our DVC discount to buy annual passes. With the annual pass we can return for 4-5 trips per year at the same price of 2 trips with individual ticket pricing. For us this is an excellent value.

So, I guess all I am saying is that the "value" of going to WDW is different for everyone. Some may find it cost prohibitive and some may find it to be an excellent bargain for the price.

It makes me sad that the magic is gone for some folks but thank goodness there are plenty of other places in the world to love!

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Then to me, that's not Disney magic, but your family magic.

So what I thought was Disney Magic really wasn't?

We better get back there fast and try again!

 

[dcamdad]

So what I thought was Disney Magic really wasn't?

We better get back there fast and try again!

Right behind you, I need to see if that look on my family's face is the same or differant than other vacations we do.

 

[global_mom]

Right behind you, I need to see if that look on my family's face is the same or differant than other vacations we do.

We will be back at WDW in less than 48 hours!

I still love to see that look on the kids faces even though this will be their
13th trip in the past few years. Love that magic!!

 

[dcamdad]

We will be back at WDW in less than 48 hours!

I still love to see that look on the kids faces even though this will be their
13th trip in the past few years. Love that magic!!

I'm so jealous right now, eventhough we were just there this past Christmas my kids are still hounding me on when we're going back. It's funny as they were getting older I was afraid they would lose interest, just the opposite. It may be in how we have loosened the reins on our 13 and 16 sons, our last trip we pretty much let them go there own way in what they wanted to do as long as they stayed on Disney property and together. At the beginning of the trip they were both given some cash and a Disney rewards card they could spend however they wanted and be at certain places at certain times to check in or do family outings. They loved the independance and amazingly had $$ left over at the end of the trip which they are saving for the next trip.

 

[global_mom]

I'm so jealous right now, eventhough we were just there this past Christmas my kids are still hounding me on when we're going back. It's funny as they were getting older I was afraid they would lose interest, just the opposite. It may be in how we have loosened the reins on our 13 and 16 sons, our last trip we pretty much let them go there own way in what they wanted to do as long as they stayed on Disney property and together. At the beginning of the trip they were both given some cash and a Disney rewards card they could spend however they wanted and be at certain places at certain times to check in or do family outings. They loved the independance and amazingly had $$ left over at the end of the trip which they are saving for the next trip.

Our family is the same way. Our oldest is almost 13 and is practicing some independance during his trips to WDW. We are taking another couple and their 12yo son on this trip and it will be our first time traveling with newbies as they have never been to WDW. It just makes me happy to think about them feeling the "magic" for the first time!

Sounds like you need to get another trip in the works ASAP. Our little ones wont want to be at our side forever.

 

[dcamdad]

Our family is the same way. Our oldest is almost 13 and is practicing some independance during his trips to WDW. We are taking another couple and their 12yo son on this trip and it will be our first time traveling with newbies as they have never been to WDW. It just makes me happy to think about them feeling the "magic" for the first time!

Sounds like you need to get another trip in the works ASAP. Our little ones wont want to be at our side forever.

Trying to plan a 3/4 cruise along with a 3/4 night stay at OKW for ESPN Weekend 2009. Both sons want to bring a friend who has never been to WDW. Hoping business picks up so I can give myself a "bonus" and get all the details worked out within my 11 month window for OKW.

Now that I think about it, four teenage boys , better be a good bonus to pay for all the extra food.

 

[global_mom]

Trying to plan a 3/4 cruise along with a 3/4 night stay at OKW for ESPN Weekend 2009. Both sons want to bring a friend who has never been to WDW. Hoping business picks up so I can give myself a "bonus" and get all the details worked out within my 11 month window for OKW.

Now that I think about it, four teenage boys , better be a good bonus to pay for all the extra food.

Hopefully it will be a HUGE bonus to pay for all that food! DH is a Realtor and we are fortunate that our market is hot again and things are selling like hot cakes otherwise this would be a trip w/o food (lol).

Have a super time with your planning.

 

[dcamdad]

Hopefully it will be a HUGE bonus to pay for all that food! DH is a Realtor and we are fortunate that our market is hot again and things are selling like hot cakes otherwise this would be a trip w/o food (lol).

Have a super time with your planning.

What area are you in? The real estate and everything else in the DC area is flat. Have been hoping tax returns would spur people to spend on home repairs/replacements to their HVAC systems, most of my field techs are only working 25-30 hrs a week at present.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

That technology is something Disney has had for years, when the patent was filed the Disney boards went nuts. So far, no release.

But I suspect that DVC would NOT be on the top of that list - we are getting a deal over Deluxe guests, and as a Deluxe guest I'd be upset that someone who was getting a room for what works out to $80 a night was getting better service than me paying $450. Plus, they don't need to sell us rooms. AFTER purchase, we are Disney's least profitable customers. We are more likely to have APs, we are more likely to cook in our rooms, we have our Mickey Ears and ballcaps and sweatshirts from the last four trips.

This is already being done to some extent. They just had a promo a couple of months ago to stay at SSR for like $129/nite. Now SSR is being offered in the Land/Sea cruise packages, and I think there is a promo for free dining at certain cruise times with this package when booked thru a TA.

 

[global_mom]

What area are you in? The real estate and everything else in the DC area is flat. Have been hoping tax returns would spur people to spend on home repairs/replacements to their HVAC systems, most of my field techs are only working 25-30 hrs a week at present.

We are in GA in Athens that is home to the University of Georgia. Condo sales are jumping as parents look to buy for their students instead of renting. Times may be uncertain but people still want a good deal and the condo appreciation here is excellent if you hold 4-5 years while a student goes thru school. Single family sales have also taken off since there are good deals to be had. New home constuction is stuggling, lots of builder foreclosures, but resales are coming back fast and strong.

Thank heavens DH has an excellent assistant or he would not be able to leave tomorrow and be gone for 8 days!

Sorry to have gotten off topic......

 

[Icale]

Just got back from a week at the Beach Club Villas and at this point yes I think magic is gone. I'm not a DVC member, this trip was a rented reservation and was part of my decision making process before I bought into the DVC.

I've been to Disney 6 times over the past 8 years and always stayed at the Beach Club and Yacht club resort always on the concierge level. Since now we have 4 kids and Disney does not have resonable accommodation deals for a family of 6 ($6000-$8000 a week) as they do for a family of 4 ($2000-$3000 a week even cheaper at the value resorts) and to get a 2 bedroom, which we need now, they book you in a DVC resort anyway.So last year I looked into the DVC and firgured I would rent before I bought to check it out. Though I did save more then half the cost by renting then booking through Disney that was about the only good thing.

We had a 2 bedroom which was a good setup for us but as far as cleanliness I would give it a "C" borderline "D". Definatley not what we were use to at Disney's Yacht and Beach regular resort.

The Fun started with it taking 3 phone calls to the desk and 2 hours to get our luggage. Every other stay our luggage was in our room before we got there or just as we entered.We were already checked in and had a room # when we arrived so I don't know it took so long. I think in part to the magical express Disney has now going strong. These buses are pulling in every 10 mins loaded to the hilt and they are getting the priorty I believe when it comes to luggage, verses people who drive up.

Now the tickets. It took 2 days and 4 sets of tickets to get it right. We all had the park hopper with the DDP ( never do it again) and had room charging.Everytime we would go somewhere somthing was not right , one ticket wasnt a park hopper, one couldnt charge, etc... So we would have to go back to the desk and get all new tickets ( room keys) , 4 times we did this . Let me tell you the people at the desk at the BCV are useless.

Now the Disney Dinning plan , This was the first time we did this and it's the last. It was a waste of money and nobody knew what was going on. Pretzels were a snack a MK but not at Beach Club market place. We didnt use half of our snacks and some quick service because it was easier just to pay for what ever we were getting rather then waiting for the server to try to figure out what was what .I can see maybe once they get it all ironed out if the tip was still included it might be worth it, but with having to pay the tip seperate now I'll never do it again.Should have researched it more ,I planned it last year so no one really knew about the new way yet.

So now were into the trip a few days and besides some things the trip is OK . All my ressies I made are good and no problems until the day I had a fireworks cruise booked. I had made ressies 3 months in advance for a cruise at 8:00pm to see the fireworks at MK at 9:00pm. This was a suprise for my inlaws who missed a cruise( due to food poisoning, which Disney was great with and gave the 2 of them a free weekend trip) they booked for us 2 years ago at a magical gathering we had ( by far the best Disney experience I have had) . So the afternoon of I go to the wonderful BCV desk and ask the lady to check my reservation for the fireworks cruise. Since she had no clue on how to use the computer it took her over a half an hour to pull up my ressie and she finally comfirmed the ressie was at 8:00pm the boat leaves at 8:30 the fireworks are at 9:00 and for me to be at the dock at the Grand floridian at 8:00pm. So we go about our day and finally get( after a 1 hour ride on a bus that kept breaking down) to the dock at 7:55pm to find the rec building closed. I manage to find a girl that works there and she tells me I was supposed to be there at 7:00pm and the fireworks are in 3 minutes at 8:00pm. and that she called the BCV desk and left a message for me that the fireworks were changed. I never received any message and I checked with the desk and they told me to be here at 8:00 pm. So now the fireworks are going off as we stand on the dock, my kids are crying because we missed the boat. My wife starts crying because it was a suprise for her mother whose birthday was the following day and her parents missed it the last time we were there. Now I'm extremely mad . So we get back to the BCV , I go to the desk which I forgot has nobody there after 6:00pm ( why only till 6:00pm) . Now I'm even more angry as I walk over to the Beach Club's regular concierge desk. I felt bad for the lady that took me but I have every reason to be mad.For some reason Disney changed the fireworks that night and I was never told and after a few minutes the lady ( who was very nice by the way even with my angry banter) figured out what went wrong and was going to reschedule the cruise another day but we couldnt due to other ressies. So she said she would just refund me . She even called the next day to confirm she took care of everything.So at this point I gave up on the BCV desk and only dealt with the Beach Clubs regular concierge for the rest of the trip much better service.

Another example of the service at BCV desk was my inlaws wanted to eat at one of the Yacht Clubs restaurants one afternoon so they stopped at the desk one the way out and asked if they needed reservations to eat there. The persons answer was" I don't know". So they took that knowledge from the BCV guest services desk and walked over to the Yacht club's restaurant to find out it does'nt open until 5:30pm. They got there at about 4:00pm. So not only did the person not know if you needed reservations she didnt even know they didnt open until 5:30 or bother to tell my inlaws. Now that is good service.

I'll tell you every other stay we did at the Beach Club or Yacht Club regular resort were by far better then this stay at the BCV. It's seems like DVC was more interested in getting every person ,or more or less anything that moved to buy into the club rather then taking care of those who were already there.

Part of what makes Disney magical is everything is taken care of wether it be a problem, you need something or just a simple question, someone helps you with a smile. This was not the case this time .

As far as me buying into it. I don't know I'm going to give another shot next year before I do anything. My kids are young so I'm in no rush. I really like going to WDW almost every year and the DVC rooms are the size we need but with service like we had I'm really not sure at this point. I would rather save and go every 2 years and stay in a suite at the Grand Floridian or have 2 connected rooms at Yatch and Beach resort concierge level and know i'll have the best service possible.

 

[Tiggerlover48]

Icale - I am so sorry to hear that you had the vacation from $#&* I would write a very long letter and send it to almost anybody and everybody and let them know that this kind of experience is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!!

We went to WL for along weekend and when I checked into my room I noticed the soap was on the soapdish and thought my husband must have opened it. He didn't!!! There was long black hairs on it - GROSS!!!!! I called and a "housekeeping manager" came and said she was sorry, but that was it. I was hoping something else - the magic was kind of ruined! She did fix the problem, but I think it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Then I start to wonder, if she didn't clean that what else didn't they do!!!!!!

Again, make a stink and tell WDW what you want for your bad experience. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[Icale]

Icale - I am so sorry to hear that you had the vacation from $#&* I would write a very long letter and send it to almost anybody and everybody and let them know that this kind of experience is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!!

There are a few in the mail and more to follow.I tell you it was the worst.I don't know if it was the time of year I was there , the week before winter recess and the next pricing/point season, but nobody knew anything , seemed like it was everybodies first day and they were training alot of people.Probably since the next week was a busy week for them and starts a busy season for Disney.It really sucked and didnt make for a good vacation at all. I'm really not one to complain either , In the past if stuff happened or went wrong my wife would be the one getting pissed and I would just brush it off and move on. This was different. The magic had left the building.

Well, this thread is not about me but If I spent the over $30,000 for the amount of points I need for a good vacation in a room big enough for my family of 6 at a DVC resort every year and this happened at my first visit . I would have not left Disney property ,unless I was handcuffed and in the back of a police car, without getting my money back.

My problem is we love the Yacht and Beach club ( hands down best pool at Disney) and Disneys boardwalk (not the hotel the boardwalk itself) . There are other DVC resorts some older ,some newer so I have to explore them. I will be signing up for the DVC tour my next visit so I can see all of the resorts and will be drilling them with questions and comments of my previous stay at BCV just to see how they respond when asked in front of 20 or more other potential DVC owners. That will be FUN!!

 

[Melrosgirl]

You can't compare DVC to a concierge room at the Yacht and Beach Club. Concierge will always win.

I won't say the magic is gone, but I think we're getting to the point that the entire family is no longer super excited about going every year.

 

[Olaf]

You can't compare DVC to a concierge room at the Yacht and Beach Club. Concierge will always win.

I agree. That's why it's so pricey.

Did they explain why the time for the fireworks was changed? Was it not listed correctly on the schedule? That is odd. I'd have been ticked as well.

On my first day, I stopped by the BCV desk with a simple question. It soon become obvious to me that I knew more about how things worked than this particular cast member. After that, I dealt with the guest relations desk in the main hotel.

We also had problems with the DDP, and won't do it again. It's too much food anyway.