?? is the WEB site down again or is it me?

[BillPA]

Can't get in today, been trying for almost a hour. Anyone have any luck?

 

[connorlevismom]

I am having the same problem. Trying to login and it just sits there and does nothing.

 

[SleighBelle]

It's not just you. I have been getting different error messages in different places. Grr.

 

[BillPA]

Thanks. I wonder how much we pay in dues for the "service"?

 

[n2mm]

Yep, been down most of the morning. I got in about 30 minutes ago, then it went back down again. Can't get past the log on screen.

 

[DenLo]

I never get beyond the login screen. It just sits there and does nothing.

 

[lisaviolet]

Utterly ridiculous.

I have never encountered a website quite as special as dvcmember.com.

Yesterday I got bounced out in the middle of a reservation for no apparent reason. In my 20 minute booking window. With borrowed points that never came back in but no booking.

I also got a message yesterday, at a totally different time of day, that I have member accounting issues and was blocked from booking. I knew 100% I had no accounting issues. And just laughed at their nonsense. And of course that little note disappeared in an instant and I was right back in.

This morning I got a message that I wasn't even registered, laughing, asking for my club id. Oh yeah let's see 2005 memory! But of course I am registered.

I am a patient person. But this website needs to win *WORST WEBSITE EVER" now! I feel like making up a certificate and sending it to them.

 

[Dreamin192]

I either get nowhere or I get the seven dwarfs page. I also got the accounting issues message yesterday, and I don't have any. So bizarre. One would think they could get their systems working properly.

 

[rlduvall]

Lovely. Estimated down time 12:00 a.m. Eastern.

 

[Micca]

I just generally assume the website is down, and on days where I actually need it, definitely down. This is when I get a beverage, dial the phone, and settle in for some horribly distorted Disney music on hold.

 

[Dean Marino]

All personal opinion.... WHAT website? That thing that sort of works, sort of doesn't? Anyone have this issue with AMAZON?
There is no Website - there is something that desperately WANTS to be a website. WDW - just fire the whole crew, contract with Amazon, and be done with this joke. Please - get serious, or go home. Meanwhile?

CALL CALL CALL CALL - and every time you do, you insure a GOOD job for another US Citizen .

 

[drusba]

Thanks. I wonder how much we pay in dues for the "service"?

The answer is complex but indicates a reason why the site is lousy: the less money spent on it, the more money Disney makes. Here is the explanation:

A. DVCMC and BVTC

The online site functions as the Members' reservation system along with MS phone system. On paper, there are two key entities involved in the reservation system, the Disney Vacation Club Management Co. (DVCMC) and the Buena Vista Trading Co. (BVTC). Though two separate legal entities, they have essentially the same operations and employees. DVCMC is the designated managment entity for each resort. One of its duties is to provide all services needed for members to make reservations at their home resort. BVTC is the exchange entity whose function is to provide all exchange reservation services which includes both trading out to non-DVC resorts and members using home resort points to reserve other DVC resorts beginning 7 months out.

B. Dues Sources

By three year agreement which continuously automatically renews, BVTC provides its exchange services and is paid as follows. There is a line item in dues called the DVC Reservation Component under which the members are charged $1 per member per year, which goes to BVTC. Then there is the division of breakage income, meaning income received from renting available rooms starting at 60 days out from arrival. Breakage income goes first to offset member dues up to 2.5% of the annual budget excluding taxes. After that set-off is reached, breakage income goes to BVTC until all of its annual costs are covered plus 5% of such costs. BVTC can also provide a charge, currently $95, for trade-outs other than those to DVC resorts.

DVCMC, under a separate, continuously renewing contract, has two sources of income to cover its management services including its costs of providing MS services and a reservation system for home resort reservations. Any breakage income over and above the amount of the set-off for membership dues, and the amount that goes to BVTC, goes to DVCMC. Also, there is a dues item called the Management Fee, which equals 12.5% of the annual operating budget, excluding a few items. The total amount of the feeincreases annually as the operaing budget increases but the percentage never changes.

C. The Result

Thus, the sources to pay costs for MS and the online systems are the annual $1 per member fee, the management fee, the $95 trade-out fee for non-DVC resorts, and the breakage income above the dues set-off. DVC has mentioned that its breakage income is above the dues set-off, and likely it is by a large amount. The "dues" portion of those costs are all set costs that do not vary according to the actual costs of MS and online services, i.e., the $1 member fee and the 12.5% management fee remain the same for the year regardless of how much is spent on MS and online services. The breakage income and what is collected in $95 trade-out fees are amounts that likely vary annually but are not actually dues being paid by members. The net effect: (a) for MS phone and online services, members pay the same dues regardless of how much is spent on those -- in other words, contrary to what many members may believe, excess use of those servcies will not result in higher dues, and lowering the costs for those services won't result in lower dues; and (b) the less actually spent on those services, the more money the Disney entities get to keep as profit, i.e., the Disney entities have a incentive to go "cheap" on MS and online services provided.

 

[disneynutz]

Isn't the trade out fee $95?

Bill

 

[BillPA]

Thanks for the info, it appears, like everything else, Disney has chosen to go CHEAP, and fatten their wallets.

 

[drusba]

Isn't the trade out fee $95?

Bill

Yes, I was thinking in the past (one gets that way when old). I will correct.

 

[Micca]

Anyone have this issue with AMAZON?

Dean this is an example I always think of--Amazon works like a charm. Another one is the iTunes store, and how about Hilton? They have hundreds of locations. In any case, your point about using the phone is well taken. The #1 reason for doing any transaction on-line is that it should be easier/more convenient. When you remove those factors from the equation, calling is the preferable choice.