J.Lewis May be In Running To Be DL Prez....

[Chuck S]

I have to disagree... Disney has been way ahead with DVD players and wireless technology. Some DVC resorts just this year switched from VHS players to DVD players, and VB and HHS just this year finally installed wireless wan. We were a year behind Disney Moderates in this respect. Don't know about POP and ALL STARS though...

The VHS to DVD upgrade is being done during the normal scheduled rehabs. Remember Disney pays for those rehabs at the non-DVC resorts, we members pay at the DVC resorts, and at the same time, DVC is limited to how much it can spend on those types of improvements while a hotel, even a Motel 6, is not. DVC can not just raise our dues to pay for improvements, they have a legal fiduciary responsiblilty to control dues increases. If they raised dues for every improvement immediately, rather than budgeting for them over a few years, they would go beyond the dues limit restrictions.

Furnishing and electronics have to be budgeted with an expected life cycle for the components in timeshares, just because something "newer" comes along, it would be monetarily irresponsible for a timeshare to throw out the old and replace a component if it was still fairly early in its expected life cycle.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Well, I wasn't talking so much about tv sets and such but the room keys/park tickets and such at DL. Unless they have joined the 21st century since our trip in 2005, you couldn't put park tickets on a room key. The room key was that, just a room key that turned into a luggage tag after it was no longer a room key. And you couldn't use your room key to charge to the room. They gave you a little slip of paper that you showed to the store and they filled out a form, etc.

Since there really hasn't been any change in DVC on-line technology like has been promised for years, I figured he wouldn't do anything to improve the technology at DL resort.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

The VHS to DVD upgrade is being done during the normal scheduled rehabs. Remember Disney pays for those rehabs at the non-DVC resorts, we members pay at the DVC resorts, and at the same time, DVC is limited to how much it can spend on those types of improvements while a hotel, even a Motel 6, is not. DVC can not just raise our dues to pay for improvements, they have a legal fiduciary responsiblilty to control dues increases. If they raised dues for every improvement immediately, rather than budgeting for them over a few years, they would go beyond the dues limit restrictions.

Furnishing and electronics have to be budgeted with an expected life cycle for the components in timeshares, just because something "newer" comes along, it would be monetarily irresponsible for a timeshare to throw out the old and replace a component if it was still fairly early in its expected life cycle.

I love you Chuck... Honestly, I appreciate being able to disagree with you and not feel like I am doing something wrong.

That said.. HHI and VB were scheduled to have WIFI installed almost a year before it was. That is either bad planning or bad management. When you announce to the owners that they will have this technology by a certain date and miss it by almost a year it says something is wrong. I am not really trying to compare motel 6 to DVC, but I am a Director of IT for a small company and I know that the installation of wireless actually reduces your costs from wired technology and the cost of installation is minimal. This is an area that DVC has been inexplicably lacking in.

 

[DebbieB]

I was at Disneyland 2 weeks ago at GCH, you can now charge to your room key. My park ticket was separate, which created an issue for me. They sent the park ticket in a UPS package with my paperwork and luggage tag. It was sent signature required (in person), I assume because of the ticket. Well, I work and was not at home to sign for the package. Just by luck I had a doctor appt on the third try date and got home just in time to get the package. Otherwise, I would have had to go to the UPS distribution center to pick it up. Why didn't they just give it to me at check-in like WDW does? It would have also saved them the expense of a signature required UPS package.

One plus for Jim Lewis - he did bring us the $100 AP discount.

 

[Chuck S]

Well, I wasn't talking so much about tv sets and such but the room keys/park tickets and such at DL. Unless they have joined the 21st century since our trip in 2005, you couldn't put park tickets on a room key. The room key was that, just a room key that turned into a luggage tag after it was no longer a room key. And you couldn't use your room key to charge to the room. They gave you a little slip of paper that you showed to the store and they filled out a form, etc.

Since there really hasn't been any change in DVC on-line technology like has been promised for years, I figured he wouldn't do anything to improve the technology at DL resort.

Part of the difference is that the integrated room charging and park tickets is probably not seen by most DL guests as being as much of an enhancement to vacations as WDW guests, as DL is typically not a week long destination for most folks in the US, unlike WDW. Shorter stays make the initial expense of installing those systems less attractive. Though I'm surprised they didn't install them once Disney took control of, and built more, more DL resorts. I'd bet locals and offsite guests make up a much greater percentage of DL visitors compared to WDW, so an integrated system just wasn't a priority. With the villas there now, and additional Disney operated/managed hotels in Anaheim (though not necessarilty Disney branded) perhaps that will change.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

What do you all think would change if Jim Lewis left DVC and was replaced by someone else? Do you think DVC would no longer be profit/sales driven? Do you think Disney would suddenly give "free dining" to DVCers? Do you think we'd have free park admissions, or 50% ticket discounts?

Honestly, I think in today's business world, I think it would be pretty much the same.

Don't know that anything that already happened would be reversed, but hopefully new management would not continue making bad decisions as Mr. Lewis did.

MG

 

[Chuck S]

I love you Chuck... Honestly, I appreciate being able to disagree with you and not feel like I am doing something wrong.

That said.. HHI and VB were scheduled to have WIFI installed almost a year before it was. That is either bad planning or bad management. When you announce to the owners that they will have this technology by a certain date and miss it by almost a year it says something is wrong. I am not really trying to compare motel 6 to DVC, but I am a Director of IT for a small company and I know that the installation of wireless actually reduces your costs from wired technology and the cost of installation is minimal. This is an area that DVC has been inexplicably lacking in.

How long has DVC been promising an online real-time reservation system? It's only what, seven years or so behind. so far.

We really have no idea why the wifi was delayed at VB and HHI. Was it DVC's fault? Was it the local providers fault? Was it not budgeted properly? Did they take a long time negotiating with the provider on price? We just don't know. Just like our local cable company and local TV stations occasionally get into a spat, and refuse to negotiate a contract, so they turn off a station for a few days.

It may indeed have been DVC's delay, it may not. The only thing we know for sure, is that it was delayed.

 

[Chuck S]

Don't know that anything that already happened would be reversed, but hopefully new management would not continue making bad decisions as Mr. Lewis did.

MG

What decisions do you believe that Jim Lewis made that would not have been made by a different person, if they were in charge?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

What decisions do you beleive that Jim Lewis made that would not have been made by a different person, if they were in charge?

He seems to be moving DVC toward a more traditional timeshare model. The booking change, reports of pressure sales tactics, the bribery to take the sales tours, the ARDA solicitation, etc...

I don't want that to continue.

MG

 

[Chuck S]

He seems to be moving DVC toward a more traditional timeshare model. The booking change, reports of pressure sales tactics, the bribery to take the sales tours, the ARDA solicitation, etc...

I don't want that to continue.

MG

Only one of those items actually affect our membership, the booking window change. And truly, it was only a minor change that seems to have had little affect on the ability to book a room.

The ARDA solicitation may have been a little "tacky," but it was far from unprecedented in the timeshare industry. As other posters pointed out, with some timeshares a donation is automaticaly added to your dues, and you have to opt-out to avoid payment.

Really, I'd hardly call offering a gift card "bribery" to take a sales tour. Referral Rewards for owners and varying sales incentives have always been a part of DVC Sales. Remember, we early purchasers received some pretty nice incentives, too. And like it or not, DVC has to sell, even in times of bad economy, would you rather AKV and BLT sit empty or half-built, like POP Century?

Like it or not, DVC/Disney is a business. And investors expect dividends and return on investments. Eisner didn't receive a "no confidence" vote from the investment houses and mutal fund managers because he wasn't doing things with magic and pixie dust. It was because of less than stellar ROI, pure and simple.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Well the booking change was a HUGE deal for me. The way our company bids vaca time doesn't mesh with the change.

More importantly is the question "are these changes a sign of things to come?"
For example, will we see minimum length stays in the future, similar to traditional timeshares? Cancellation fees? Banking fees? And the list goes on.

No, I'm not a Jim Lewis fan, and I am affraid of his future decisions.

MG

 

[Chuck S]

Well the booking change was a HUGE change for me. The way our company bids vaca time doesn't mesh with the change.

More importantly is the question "are these changes a sign of things to come? For example, will we see minimum length stays in the future, similar to traditional timeshares? Cancellation fees? Banking fees? And the list goes on.

No, I'm not a Jim Lewis fan, and I am affraid of his future decisions.

MG

I really can't see how a simple change giving you the ability to book at 11months from check-in day for up to 7 days, rather than calling daily or waiting until check-out day would have a major impact on how your company bids vacation time.

As far as future changes, like minimum stays, etc., why do you think a new person would be less prone to make those changes, if there are booking problems, than Jim Lewis? We all gave Disney/DVC the ability to make those decisions when we signed our contracts, just like we agreed that point charts could be reallocated from time to time. Why would anyone believe that those options would never be exercised, if deemed necessary to balance reservation demand?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I really can't see how a simple change giving you the ability to book at 11months from check-in day for up to 7 days, rather than calling daily or waiting until check-out day would have a major impact on how your company bids vacation time.

As far as future changes, like minimum stays, etc., why do you think a new person would be less prone to make those changes, if there are booking problems, than Jim Lewis? We all gave Disney/DVC the ability to make those decisions when we signed our contracts, just like we agreed that point charts could be reallocated from time to time. Why would anyone believe that those options would never be exercised, if deemed necessary to balance reservation demand?

You never know.. A new person could very well go down the same path.
The problem is we KNOW Lewis IS going down this path. No maybies about it. He has s track record.

Now, about the booking change..
I'm not going to type out our entire vaca bidding, and marry that up to my wife's vaca, and type that out on an iPhone.
That said, it did work out for next year, but 2011 may not be as good to me. I really rellied on day by day booking to help ensure my ressie.
But as we all know, that's a whole 'nother thread.

MG

 

[Fellowship9798]

I love you Chuck... Honestly, I appreciate being able to disagree with you and not feel like I am doing something wrong.

That said.. HHI and VB were scheduled to have WIFI installed almost a year before it was. That is either bad planning or bad management. When you announce to the owners that they will have this technology by a certain date and miss it by almost a year it says something is wrong. I am not really trying to compare motel 6 to DVC, but I am a Director of IT for a small company and I know that the installation of wireless actually reduces your costs from wired technology and the cost of installation is minimal. This is an area that DVC has been inexplicably lacking in.

VGC opened with both wired and wifi connectivity in the rooms. Both worked very nicely when I was there last week.

Back to the original topic, I would much prefer to see George K as DL president as he has been working in the parks and resorts since WDW opened in 1971, starting at the bottom. I think that's a depth of experience much better suited to running the DL resort.

 

[bookwormde]

I agree with Deb & Bill,

Jim Lewis is too much about “marketing” to the members and not enough about substance. The thing that ended my respect for him is the “member enhancements” that are disingenuous at best, and the lack of enough respect to effectively communicate to the members and get input from in a timely manner. I guess it comes down to what I feel is my perception of honestly and truly making decision in the best interest of the members, not the corporation and sales (as the regulations state).

I for one embrace chance, at least there is some possibility of improvement, for me the “risk” is worth it.

bookwormde

 

[dianeschlicht]

Better to Deal with the Devil you know, then the devil you don't....Shawn

I agree! You have to be careful what you wish for.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Technology... excellent point. I have been floored by how far behind DVC has been compared to Motel 6 and all the other low-end lodging. I mean wireless, DVD, flat screen.... DVC is like in slow motion.

I guess the question is - are you willing to see your dues increase to pay for those items? I know I'm not.

 

[whitfamily]

And I will say that while I am a DVC member, I am also a Disney stockholder. So I appreciate doing whatever they can to increase revenue, DVC sales and overall guest retention as long as it is within reason. Kind of hard for me to see how any of us can be in a position to purchase this LUXURY, but not appreciate the concept of capitalism!

And I don't get the whole booking issue. 11-months before your vacation pick up the phone and make your ressie. If your company has some odd bidding process for vacay time more than 11-months before you'd take the trip I think the bigger issue is the way your work does vacations, not how DVC makes reservations.

The website does stink. I don't know who is to blame, but it stinks.

The PAC solicitation- anyone who is in the position Lewis is in would do the same thing. And BTW, he would not have accepted the slot unless the higher up in Disney approved. He also wouldn't solicit members for donations unless the higher ups approved.

Other than those complaints (and I'll grant you the website) seems more like small grips that people ASSUME Lewis is at fault for. I would argue from the Disney perspective he's successfully launched two new properties (BLT/AKV) and an addition to a third (SSR). Membership in the program continues to grow, even in the "great recession". He's developing the Hawaii site and finally sealed the deal to bring Disney to DC, buying the land at least 20% below market value over a year ago and completing a "dream" announced over a decade ago.

As a stockholder- I see results.

 

[BCV23]

What do you all think would change if Jim Lewis left DVC and was replaced by someone else? Do you think DVC would no longer be profit/sales driven? Do you think Disney would suddenly give "free dining" to DVCers? Do you think we'd have free park admissions, or 50% ticket discounts?

Honestly, I think in today's business world, I think it would be pretty much the same.

I agree.

I have to disagree... Disney has been way ahead with DVD players and wireless technology. Some DVC resorts just this year switched from VHS players to DVD players, and VB and HHS just this year finally installed wireless wan. We were a year behind Disney Moderates in this respect. Don't know about POP and ALL STARS though... Compare us to any other DELUXE accommodation and you will see the problem.

The moderates have DVD players and WiFi?

The deluxe resorts we've stayed at do not have DVDs except in club level rooms. We usually stay in a deluxe for the weekend nights of every trip. We stayed at the GF just last month.

WiFi is not available in deluxe rooms. It is available for a fee in the lobbies of some resorts. Last I knew, just those that are convention hotels. The Polynesian for instance does not offer it....again last I knew.

Flat screens have slowly been introduced to the deluxe resorts just as they've been placed in the new DVC resorts. The Polynesian received flat screens maybe 3 or 4 years ago when the rooms were refurbished. It was about 2 years ago now that the GF started to get flat screens. BC started last summer and the YC is just getting them now.

 

[kidsister]

I'm on the fence on whether or not Lewis has been good for DVC. (I just don't have enough info to form a valid opinion), but I don't think moving someone experienced in DVC to DL is a good idea, and would prefer someone who came up through the ranks at DL and understood its problems.