Jim Lewis Fired from WDWCo

[lockedoutlogic]

Fact: the standards at WDW hotels have declined consistently over the last 20 or so years.

Fact: the DVC rooms will as well

Fact: once you are locked in your purchase...you really don't have any leverage over their policies or the direction they take.

So complaints or suggestions that these things will Change are - in essence - irrelevant.

Here's the reality: they know they've got you...that was the intent in the first place...and we are all feeding the monster, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.

I never get calls or emails over anything regarding DVC. I got a 30 second call from my guide when he was assigned us (about 2 years ago...when the previous one got canned). It was pure comedy...it started with and ended with a sales pitch. About 28 seconds worth.

I have never heard anything else...nor do I expect too. Because in the end it's just a timeshare and they are just as sleazy as any GM used car salesman.

What do we get? 15 wasteful and Eco-unfriendly brochures a year trying to get you to buy more...and 4 shiny min-magazines that, again, try to pump you to buy whatever they're pushing and buy tickets to more special ticket events. It's all about what they're selling...not about what you bought...or should I say "leased". But they do threaten poolhoppers each magazine.

It's so thinly veiled it's offensive...like anyone who own points doesnt know about what they're building...and about food and wine, cirque du soleil, the Halloween and Christmas parties...

I get locked in prices on expensive rooms...that's it. That is the value.
The rest of the process is offensive. That's it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

And it seems unlikely that the members are "stealing and destroying"

Really?? LOL!

(I once saw some "members" loading the "souviners" into thier car. I know they were members as I spoke to them the day prior and they told me where they owned. They "borrowed" some dishware, throw pillows and probably some other stuff from OKW!)

Reading over this I am not sure what some of you think you bought.. you bought a TIMESHARE!

We did not buy "love" from Disney. We did not buy "we should be special" LO!L

And if you have read your documents you will realize that when you bought you were basically told "you get NO say in anything we do" If you can't accept that you really should not have bought. I read. I realized Disney holds all the power and control and really could care less what I think. I was OK with that.

 

[dianeschlicht]

And it seems unlikely that the members are "stealing and destroying"

Really?? LOL!

(I once saw some "members" loading the "souviners" into thier car. I know they were members as I spoke to them the day prior and they told me where they owned. They "borrowed" some dishware, throw pillows and probably some other stuff from OKW!)

That's inexcuseable! DVC needs to start cracking down on that stuff, but that would require housekeepers who can report on a check sheet, and would require them to do it religeously after each guest. That's not going to happen, so I suppose we have to deal with this kind of pilfering going on. We once got into an OKW unit that had only one pan left in the cupboard, and that one didn't have a lid! The mousekeeper brought us a whole new set to unpack, and then took the one old one back with her. I can't believe anyone would steal things like that from a timeshare. Moreover, why would you want their crappy pans?

This is pretty off topic though with the JL business. I'm not sure we can blame JL for this kind of stuff.

 

[dmoore22]

Several years ago I attended a program presented by the Disney Institute. This day long in-service addressed the topics of Leadership Excellence, People Management, Quality Service, Brand Loyalty, Inspiring Creativity and Business Excellence according to the gospel of Walt Disney. In recent years I've found there's a disconnect between what the Disney Institute is teaching and what is being practiced at DVC/DVD. Disney, the company, has been slowly drifting away from what Walt Disney, the man, has preached.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Several years ago I attended a program presented by the Disney Institute. This day long in-service addressed the topics of Leadership Excellence, People Management, Quality Service, Brand Loyalty, Inspiring Creativity and Business Excellence according to the gospel of Walt Disney. In recent years I've found there's a disconnect between what the Disney Institute is teaching and what is being practiced at DVC/DVD. Disney, the company, has been slowly drifting away from what Walt Disney, the man, has preached.

I loved those DI offerings too, and you are absolutely correct....The company as a whole no longer follows those precepts.

 

[CarolAnnC]

This thread has been heavily edited for attacks, arguing, sarcasm and pretty much completely off topic and inappropriate conversation. The topic of Jim Lewis' termination is the discussion at hand here..

This will serve as a "warning" to all and further postings of this nature will be subject to infractions being awarded.

Please continue in a respectful fashion keeping our DIS Posting Guidelines in mind at all times. Thank you all for your compliance going forward..

 

[Geezer]

I'm sorry if some of my posts were inappropriate. I see some are missing. I don't post often, but I do read here, and while I don't say much, I am usually quite direct. Sorry if it was offensive to anyone.

 

[dmoore22]

Al Weiss' retirement is effective November 1, 2011. We can only speculate as to how much of a lame duck he is during these final months. The loss of Roy E. Disney in 2009, to me, is more devastating. You always felt Roy was fighting for the company within the legacy of his father and uncle with his "Save Disney" trying to keep the company from, in his words, becoming a "rapacious, soul-less" conglomerate." The other being the departure of Dick Cook as chairman of Walt Disney Studios. It would appear that a corporate restructuring, consolidating responsibilities was inevitable whether Jim Lewis was doing a great or a dismal job. Of interest to note Disney is repurchasing the Disney Stores due to influence from the largest shareholder, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer. Several pilot stores have been opened heavily influenced by the Apple business model. Perhaps, and this is wishful thinking, this will trickle to DVC. With the purchase of Pixar, and John Lasseter being named principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he helps design attractions for Disney's theme parks, and reports directly to Disney President and CEO Robert Iger, bypassing Disney's studio and theme park executives perhaps this may signal a fresh and welcome breeze coming to DVC and other Disney divisions. Wishful thinking.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

This thread is wackier and wackier!

Personally, I don't care who's at the helm! I don't know that JL was entirely responsible for all of the changes that came good or bad. Changes are almost never universally beneficial to all, perks come and go but some things should be a given and non-negotiable.

1. As DVC owners we are entitled to timely communication about the product we own. Waiting months on end for a point chart and/or pertinent information we need is not acceptable.

2. Housekeeping has been such an on-going problem at all of the resorts, we pay dues for it, fix it. It's not good business to keep paying for poor services or inferior products.

3. As far as the refurbs., there's a lack of standards or continuity from resort to resort. Example: a 90% refurb. was done to OKW, yet not a single bathroom was touched other than the addition of a dark stained mirror. Old grout, old tiles, old fixtures, old showers stalls, chipped drawers & tiles, that's not a 90% refurb. BLT, I've not seen it for myself but I've read so many posts about the displeasure of owners who feel that the furnishings are cheap and not wearing well.

Was JL the one who decided that the bottom line is the only thing that mattered with any/everything DVC! ?

Unfortunately for all, I think the Walt Disney standard is a long, distant memory, it's now only about the all mighty buck!

 

[disneynutz]

It's officially official, Lewis's Executive bio was pulled this morning from Disney's Media Relations website.

Bill

 

[gmboy95]

OK...just my 2 cents.....i don't know this Jim Lewis Guy, and i am sure he probably deserved his termination....That being said i have a few observations

1) I have been a member now for 12 years and am as happy today with the condition on the DVC resorts as i was then.

2) I find many of the complaints about the resorts to be anecdotal and not unlike any resort experience.

3) I think the overall disney experience took a major hit after Sept. 11th 2001....My issue is with the entire parks side who have not rebounded from this understandable downturn fast enough....the park experience has certainly suffered (if you have been in a park bathroom lately, you know what i mean)

4) My biggest issue with DVC is plain and simply PERKS, and overall COST!!!....things like free valet parking was a wonderful perk to have, and made you feel like you where an "owner".....The pass discounts are simply substandard for the investment made by the owner. I am not asking for free passes, but it would seem reasonable to me to offer across the board deep discounts for passes. This may be conjecture on my part, but i would guess the average DVC member spends a good deal more money over a year and beyond on food, gifts, specialty items, especially with the continued advent of free dining.

So to conclude, I am very happy with the resorts themselves, and the continued wonderful atmosphere.....It is the fiscal side of things that bothers me, and the perks!

 

[jade1]

I agree with all you have said. I STILL DO feel like our DVC is a good value, but it definitely has declined in the past few years. Our first 10 were great....the past 4 are definitely different.

I feel bad for folks, ours just keep getting better and better.

 

[going/again]

They have that...it's called the Disney Visa Rewards Card.

Cant get that in the uk, can get 42% off and free dining though.

 

[keishashadow]

Al Weiss' retirement is effective November 1, 2011. We can only speculate as to how much of a lame duck he is during these final months. The loss of Roy E. Disney in 2009, to me, is more devastating. You always felt Roy was fighting for the company within the legacy of his father and uncle with his "Save Disney" trying to keep the company from, in his words, becoming a "rapacious, soul-less" conglomerate." The other being the departure of Dick Cook as chairman of Walt Disney Studios. It would appear that a corporate restructuring, consolidating responsibilities was inevitable whether Jim Lewis was doing a great or a dismal job. Of interest to note Disney is repurchasing the Disney Stores due to influence from the largest shareholder, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer. Several pilot stores have been opened heavily influenced by the Apple business model. Perhaps, and this is wishful thinking, this will trickle to DVC. With the purchase of Pixar, and John Lasseter being named principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he helps design attractions for Disney's theme parks, and reports directly to Disney President and CEO Robert Iger, bypassing Disney's studio and theme park executives perhaps this may signal a fresh and welcome breeze coming to DVC and other Disney divisions. Wishful thinking.

I'll join you, didn't know re repurchase of the stores. Children's Place ran them into the ground and the only Pittsburgh store recently went kaput.

jmho, thing deteriorated under Mr Lewis' control, whether he was just swept with the tide will remain to be seen. As long as it's not a case of 'meet the new guards, same as the old guard', perhaps a rehab (fresh set of eyes) will do the trick.

 

[dmoore22]

I agree with all you have said. I STILL DO feel like our DVC is a good value, but it definitely has declined in the past few years. Our first 10 were great....the past 4 are definitely different.

We agree with your comments totally. In spite of changes in recent years we still feel that we receive bang for the buck in comparison to other options. We have had some disappointments and have not been shy about letting MS know, eg. aspects of the OKW redecorating. Jim Lewis' beside manner has been a bit to be desired on some occasions. I would anticipate that Jim Lewis is a causality of the corporate restructuring. When the recession first hit most of the layoffs where at the white collar level with a consolidation of positions/responsibilities. Hopefully this is not a bad harbinger for the quality of DVC.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

That's inexcuseable! DVC needs to start cracking down on that stuff, but that would require housekeepers who can report on a check sheet, and would require them to do it religeously after each guest. That's not going to happen, so I suppose we have to deal with this kind of pilfering going on. We once got into an OKW unit that had only one pan left in the cupboard, and that one didn't have a lid! The mousekeeper brought us a whole new set to unpack, and then took the one old one back with her. I can't believe anyone would steal things like that from a timeshare. Moreover, why would you want their crappy pans?

This is pretty off topic though with the JL business. I'm not sure we can blame JL for this kind of stuff.

Hardly off-topic. JL ran the show and the issue of stuff "disappearing", or being broken by guests is something that he, as the boss, should have heard about and implemented (through his underlings) some type of operational procedures or practices to remedy. He did not. The last few times we've been there we've encountered issues like this (stuff missing, blinds that don't work, sand on the tile floor, etc.) and it seems the standard of practice is to deal with it when someone calls the front desk.

We're going down in 10 days to stay at OKW since the refurb (our first trip to WDW since 2009) and you all have me scared about it. I was not fond of the new colors and hard floors, but everything else generally looked ok from the pictures I saw. Should be interesting.

 

[Caren]

I'll join you, didn't know re repurchase of the stores. Children's Place ran them into the ground and the only Pittsburgh store recently went kaput.

What? How recently? I was just at the South Hills Village store a week ago. Is it gone?

 

[jimmytammy]

Hardly off-topic. JL ran the show and the issue of stuff "disappearing", or being broken by guests is something that he, as the boss, should have heard about and implemented (through his underlings) some type of operational procedures or practices to remedy. He did not. The last few times we've been there we've encountered issues like this (stuff missing, blinds that don't work, sand on the tile floor, etc.) and it seems the standard of practice is to deal with it when someone calls the front desk.

We're going down in 10 days to stay at OKW since the refurb (our first trip to WDW since 2009) and you all have me scared about it. I was not fond of the new colors and hard floors, but everything else generally looked ok from the pictures I saw. Should be interesting.

We recently stayed at OKW in Mar. and the refurbs to us looked nice. But we own all pts at VWL, so understand those that own at OKW may not like refurb in comparison to what was there before. We vaguely remember what OKW was like from a trip in 04, but dont really notice much difference. I would say go with open mind. We had a really great trip, looking forward to spending 2 weeks in Oct at OKW!!

 

[papertraveller]

This thread has been great reading, and most notably I'm extremely impressed at the business acumen displayed by the posters. The Disney model is a great one, for marketing, customer service, product development, etc. And when it gets broken -- and they make major shifts in an effort to fix -- it becomes an even more fascinating case study.

I guess we all should have seen this coming when the restructuring was announced and Karl Holtz was put in charge of DVC. It seemed a bit odd at the time, but now of course makes more sense.

In the realm of "be careful what you ask for", I'm still more inclined to give the new team (whoever they might be) the benefit of the doubt. Holtz led a complicated project to tremendous internal and external success (or at least, is on track to complete it). He had the company's trust to execute a massive expansion, and has people clamouring to get onboard his new ship(s). I'll bet he has some very interesting stuff he'd like to deploy at DVC, and he has the corporate capital to get board backing.

Double-dip recession aside (or maybe because of it) we will see some very interesting developments over the next six to 12 months.

 

[keishashadow]

What? How recently? I was just at the South Hills Village store a week ago. Is it gone?

I live way on the other side of town in the boonies, almost an hour further from Ross Park Mall store that closed. I'm not even sure where south hills village is, let alone that it had a disney store. If they build it (back up to prior standards) I will make the road trip.