January 1, 2011

[Sammie]

The forums a great--don't get me wrong. But the more I read, the more I think there is a substantial disconnect between the vocal minority on the web forums and the larger body of DVC members.

Oh definitely, I know for sure SSR is much loved by many members and their occupany levels are much higher than one would think by the postings here.

As to any changes to resale versus direct, while I might have an opinion whether it will be good for the greater DVC it will not affect me personally as we have never bought resale.

And as far as selling out, honestly we have already gotten our money's worth out of our investment, I could walk away from it today and be happy. Maybe we will be the first to pass ROFR for a one dollar sale.

 

[Melynny]

I guess I am going to add fuel to the fire, here. But just this morning, when I logged into the DVC member web site. I noticed a new ( maybe it's always been there) note in the http:// string that clearly showed "member type:R"

Now I am not sure if I did not ever see this before and I guess it could be for a an associate member too. but it shows that there already is a process in place to classify members.

And at this point, I am going to reserve any comment on the plusses or minuses of classification.

(putting on my flame retardant suit)

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Mine says memberType=P, and I'm the one who inherited. I wonder.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't see anything like that in the address string when I log in.

Are you looking at the address when you are on the main page that plays the Aulaini music?

 

[LSchrow]

I guess I am going to add fuel to the fire, here. But just this morning, when I logged into the DVC member web site. I noticed a new ( maybe it's always been there) note in the http:// string that clearly showed "member type:R"
:

did you buy resale?
we purchased all of our 3 contracts directly through dvc, and i didn't see "member type" anywhere in the string. interesting......

btw, we went to the BLT member open house in oct, and the guide "informed" us that they were likely going to institute the trade restrictions on resale noted previously (he was obviously unhappy to hear that such changes wouldn't affect us, as we were considering adding on at BWVs only for more points with the home resort advantage; we could still use all of our other points for trading out).

guess we'll just wait and see

 

[PurpleTurtle]

I clicked on:

My vacation points
View vacation points contract detail

for one of my contracts. Then look at the end of the url.

 

[Tamar]

We have 4 current contracts....3 of them were resale. Our member type is P on all 4 contracts. Our original contract was a direct purchase, but we've since sold that one (HH).

 

[Chuck S]

I clicked on:

My vacation points
View vacation points contract detail

for one of my contracts. Then look at the end of the url.

Ah, I see it now. Mine is type "P". I purchased direct from Disney years ago. I wonder if R is resale and P is Purchaser, for Direct Purchase?

Interesting. It may always have been there and we never noticed.

 

[wcpamotm]

Mine also says memberType=P, and I purchased resale.

 

[LauraLea]

Ah, I see it now. Mine is type "P". I purchased direct from Disney years ago. I wonder if R is resale and P is Purchaser, for Direct Purchase?

Interesting. It may always have been there and we never noticed.

That would make sense, but in our case not so. We have 3 separate memberships with a total of 6 contracts.

All contracts purchased directly through Disney are coded R and the one contract purchased resale is coded P.

Laura

 

[ajpruett]

We just bought resale. I just can't see any of this (except maybe restricting to DVC properties) happening. They get to control the market with ROFR. Why do they need to control the market even more? I'm fine if 11 and 7 just stay the same though. We can't wait for our first trip. And we also would have never bought had it not been for resale. I would think that lots of people start with "large" resale points and then add on with small contracts through disney.

 

[LauraLea]

OK, I think the url is just repeating the same info that is in the gold bar above the contract info that gives the Member # and Member Type. On the memberships where I am an Additional Purchaser, the url has the R and the one membership where I am the Purchaser it is the P.

Laura

 

[CarolMN]

That would make sense, but in our case not so. We have 3 separate memberships with a total of 6 contracts.

All contracts purchased directly through Disney are coded R and the one contract purchased resale is coded P.

Laura

Not true for us, either.

Both of our contracts were purchased directly from Disney and both strings show R.

 

[wdrl]

It does not appear to me that the member type codes of 'P' and 'R' have anything to do with designating direct buys versus resale contracts.

We checked the member type for our five contracts, four of which are direct buys and one is a resale contract. When I sign on to the website, the member type appears as 'P' for all five contracts. When my wife signs on to the website, the five contracts show a member type of 'R.'

Each time we bought a deed, I have been designated as the primary Purchaser, as defined in the Home Resort Rules and Regulations. My wife is co-owner of the deeds and is officially considered an "additional purchaser." If you look at your profile on the website, you can see all the purchasers and their official designation in the DVC system.

It would be interesting to see what codes appear if there are three or more purchasers, or if there are associate members.

 

[zumfelde]

I think one restriction they should add is on renters. The booking window for renters should be much less then owners. Also renters should not have "member" on their key card.

 

[Chuck S]

I think one restriction they should add is on renters. The booking window for renters should be much less then owners. Also renters should not have "member" on their key card.

I agree, but unfortunately, I don't see that ever working. The DVC owner is obligated to tell Member Services it is a rental vs a none paid guest, like friends or extended family. If it restricts their rights, I doubt many owner would be truthful...and in fact, I doubt too many are truthful about it now.

I've never rented my points, but I have host family and friends for free, and I wouldn't want to see those rights restricted, especially if I need to book multiple rooms to plan the trip. And there have been instances where I have not traveled with them, or we have arrived/departed on different days.

 

[JWG]

It does not appear to me that the member type codes of 'P' and 'R' have anything to do with designating direct buys versus resale contracts.

We checked the member type for our five contracts, four of which are direct buys and one is a resale contract. When I sign on to the website, the member type appears as 'P' for all five contracts. When my wife signs on to the website, the five contracts show a member type of 'R.'

Each time we bought a deed, I have been designated as the primary Purchaser, as defined in the Home Resort Rules and Regulations. My wife is co-owner of the deeds and is officially considered an "additional purchaser." If you look at your profile on the website, you can see all the purchasers and their official designation in the DVC system.

It would be interesting to see what codes appear if there are three or more purchasers, or if there are associate members.

There are 4 purchasers on our contracts. My parents were the first to buy and then added my wife and I as 3rd and 4th members later. I'm the "3rd" purchaser and am member type "R". I assume my wife is the same, though she doesn't have a log on for the website so I can't check.

Same for the add-on we recently did this summer. Even though I calleed member services and did it, to maintain the same member number and use year, all information is the same and I'm still an additional purchaser.

I don't think they can change benefits based on member type in this fashion. You can only have one primary purchaser even if it's you and your spouse. That would suggest that a member familiy would have different benefits.

I can't speak to associate member types, we don't have any.

 

[disneynutz]

Code or no code, Disney tracks all of the information on every purchase. We have had our Guide contact us when we purchased resale and he knew all of the details of the transaction.

Bill

 

[wdrl]

There are 4 purchasers on our contracts. My parents were the first to buy and then added my wife and I as 3rd and 4th members later. I'm the "3rd" purchaser and am member type "R". I assume my wife is the same, though she doesn't have a log on for the website so I can't check.

Thanks for confirming your member type. Since your member type is consistent with what my wife and I see on our accounts, I'm convinced that the member type codes of 'P' and 'R' have nothing to do with how a deed was purchased.

 

[disneynutz]

Thing is, there really isn't any evidence to support this supposed erosion in goodwill.

DVC has published its own survey results claiming that members are as satisfied as ever. Take that with a grain of salt if you wish but there are also independent satisfaction numbers produced quarterly by Market Metrix. With few exceptions, DVC has regularly been the leader in the timeshare segment and in 2010 its numbers are as strong as ever.

After a discussion with Jim Lewis last year, I contacted Disney and Market Metrix and made formal requests to obtain additional information regarding their surveys. Disney never responded and Market Metrix told me that their information was confidential. They did tell me that Disney and others pay to be included in their results.

Bill