Jim Lewis has a new boss...

[Doug7856]

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Jim Lewis will now report to Karl Holz, the president of Disney Cruise Line and the Adventures By Disney. Interesting! I wonder how this will impact the future of DVC? A little DCL influence couldn't hurt!

Here's the article:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-executive-changes-20110705,0,6941221.story?track=rss

 

[disneychic]

This will be interesting.

 

[supersuperwendy]

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

The article hints that DVC will be expanding more outside WDW.

 

[mjc2003]

The article hints that DVC will be expanding more outside WDW.

Sure does.

 

[mdsd8700]

We have only been DVC members for a year, so limited experience. However I have read enough to know I will be paying attention to this in the time to come.

 

[TisBit]

This could get interesting. Maybe there is some thought of putting DVC's into the areas that ABD operates consistently. Could be dual profits with DVC keeping ownership of a significant portion of points and renting them to ABD, instead of using other local hotels. Could be a win-win, giving options to DVC members, but having somewhat "guaranteed" revenue streams at the same time.

You might even see more cooperation and partnership between the three....which could help DVC members and make the resale restrictions even more impacting. If long term they look to make ABD and DCL more accessible/cost effective to DVC members! This last part is much more far fetched....but doesn't hurt to wish!

 

[disneynutz]

The article hints that DVC will be expanding more outside WDW.

IMO this is going to be a HUGH issue. Our family has little interest in DVC locations outside of WDW, it's WDW that makes DVC ownership special for us.

Can you imagine the impact when thousands of members who own contracts outside of WDW decide that they want to book WDW at 7 months? This could really change things.

Bill

 

[Breyean]

IMO this is going to be a HUGH issue. Our family has little interest in DVC locations outside of WDW, it's WDW that makes DVC ownership special for us.

Can you imagine the impact when thousands of members who own contracts outside of WDW decide that they want to book WDW at 7 months? This could really change things.

Bill

Yep. Just had this exact same conversation with my wife, and came back to the thread to post this concern, only to see you beat me to it.

People are already wondering how Aulani will affect DW and DL bookings and this news, which is not exactly "hinted at" as a previous poster said, it's laid out right there in black and white in the article, will only make things tougher.

Unless, of course, Disney has some master plan to start segmenting ownership, changing booking rules, or any of a myriad of other things we can't even guess at, but being a pessimist, might not be so great for us.

 

[TisBit]

IMO this is going to be a HUGH issue. Our family has little interest in DVC locations outside of WDW, it's WDW that makes DVC ownership special for us.

Can you imagine the impact when thousands of members who own contracts outside of WDW decide that they want to book WDW at 7 months? This could really change things.

Bill

Yep. Just had this exact same conversation with my wife, and came back to the thread to post this concern, only to see you beat me to it.

People are already wondering how Aulani will affect DW and DL bookings and this news, which is not exactly "hinted at" as a previous poster said, it's laid out right there in black and white in the article, will only make things tougher.

Unless, of course, Disney has some master plan to start segmenting ownership, changing booking rules, or any of a myriad of other things we can't even guess at, but being a pessimist, might not be so great for us.

Its pretty simple actually, everyone will need to book at their 11 month mark and not rely on the 7 month mark. Just as many people complain of SSR or AKV messing up the system, it is just one more group that will be competing for rooms at the 7 month mark. If you primarily want to vacation at WDW you need to buy there, if you only want an occasional WDW vacation, buy in Canada/Australia/Hawaii or wherever else they stick a resort.

 

[Disneycouple99]

My take on the article is slightly different. It states that Karl Holz will take on oversight of DVC while still incharge of DCL and ABD. The next paragraph talks about the expansions, but dose no mention which of these areas they are refering to. I read it as expansion in areas of DCL and ABD more than of DVC.

 

[mjc2003]

My take on the article is slightly different. It states that Karl Holz will take on oversight of DVC while still incharge of DCL and ABD. The next paragraph talks about the expansions, but dose no mention which of these areas they are refering to. I read it as expansion in areas of DCL and ABD more than of DVC.

Of course the writer could have not presented the point properly, but clearly the reference to expansion, et. al, is referencing DVC.

Here is the excerpt:

At the same time, Staggs tapped Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and the Adventures By Disney tour business, to take on oversight of Disney Vacation Club, the company's time-share business. Holz will also join Staggs' executive committee.

"Karl will be responsible for creating consistent and engaging guest experiences as they expand to new markets and destinations outside the berms of our theme parks," Staggs wrote in his memo. "These operations are an important driver of growth in our segment and a critical part of our efforts to build upon and broaden Disney's reputation for delivering magical experiences to our guests, both inside and outside the berm."


Staggs' quote can only be in reference to DVC; clearly Holz's responsibilities as it relates to DCL and ABD are defined; he already holds that position. They are not restating his current job description, but establishing what his responsibilities will be going foward--and the only thing that has changed going forward is his DVC oversight. Another obvious sign that this relates to DVC is, "expand to new markets and destinations OUTSIDE the berms of our theme parks". Well, DCL and ABD only exist outside the berms of the WDW theme parks. Only DVC, predominantly, doesn't.

 

[mjc2003]

Yep. Just had this exact same conversation with my wife, and came back to the thread to post this concern, only to see you beat me to it.

People are already wondering how Aulani will affect DW and DL bookings and this news, which is not exactly "hinted at" as a previous poster said, it's laid out right there in black and white in the article, will only make things tougher.

Unless, of course, Disney has some master plan to start segmenting ownership, changing booking rules, or any of a myriad of other things we can't even guess at, but being a pessimist, might not be so great for us.

I think the concept of buying off-site cheap (VB?) to use at WDW resonates poorly with many owners, but the reality is that it isn't smart business for DVD. Which is how we arrived at Aulani. They wanted to build a place off site that is desirable, in demand and worthy of expensive points. This makes it imprudent to buy at Aulani to use at WDW. In other words, you're not buying Aulani to get a cheap way into WDW DVC. And those expensive stays tie up a lot of points, so my family is going to have to bank/borrow and maybe steal to do a 10 night stay at Aulani. That's 3 years we are NOT going to WDW.

I think this trend continues. Any new off-site development will be expensive, somewhat exclusive and very sellable. Caribbean continues to make sense to me, though I know many disagree. Regardless, it will work both ways; yes, it will create more competition at WDW, but it will also lure people away from WDW. And if nobody can book anything at WDW at 7 months and people are clamoring for a place to stay, they'll build more!

 

[Breyean]

Its pretty simple actually, everyone will need to book at their 11 month mark and not rely on the 7 month mark. Just as many people complain of SSR or AKV messing up the system, it is just one more group that will be competing for rooms at the 7 month mark. If you primarily want to vacation at WDW you need to buy there, if you only want an occasional WDW vacation, buy in Canada/Australia/Hawaii or wherever else they stick a resort.

I agree completely with the buy where you want to stay mantra.

The problem is, with SSR and AKV, at least people who bought there intending to never actually stay there, but to use their points at other DW resorts, were part of a closed system. By that I mean at least their points were within the DW community and therefore have some correlation to the number of rooms available vs the number of DVC contracts sold. HHI and VB are so small as to be negligible.

Aulani and any other future non DW DVCs are not in that closed system. And you know and I know when the guides start selling them, as with Aulani already (I know - I added on there a few months ago and got the sales pitch), they will stress how you can stay at say, Branson, one year, but then go to DW the next, and the next, and the next... As people have pointed out repeatedly on these boards, the big advantage DVC has over other timeshares out there is the ability to sell a vacation in DW.

This will not stop, and buyers will be starry eyed with the potential to go there as pushed by the guides. The problem is, there will not be a resort at DW dedicated to these people. Their reservations will compete with any other 7 monthers. And since the number of potential new DVC locations NOT associated with DW DVC resorts, the added number of members is almost unlimited. All outside the closed system.

 

[dizfan]

Personally, I'm all for expansion. The more options the better. If we don't like a location, we won't stay there. If we want to stay somewhere most of the time, we'll own there.

With approximately 45 million WDW DVC points and plenty of room to expand, I don't see WDW points being that big an issue. If it becomes more difficult to book all WDW properties at 7 months, DVD will be happy to build a new WDW DVC property and sell millions more points.

 

[Disneycouple99]

Of course the writer could have not presented the point properly, but clearly the reference to expansion, et. al, is referencing DVC.

Here is the excerpt:

At the same time, Staggs tapped Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and the Adventures By Disney tour business, to take on oversight of Disney Vacation Club, the company's time-share business. Holz will also join Staggs' executive committee.

"Karl will be responsible for creating consistent and engaging guest experiences as they expand to new markets and destinations outside the berms of our theme parks," Staggs wrote in his memo. "These operations are an important driver of growth in our segment and a critical part of our efforts to build upon and broaden Disney's reputation for delivering magical experiences to our guests, both inside and outside the berm."


Staggs' quote can only be in reference to DVC; clearly Holz's responsibilities as it relates to DCL and ABD are defined; he already holds that position. They are not restating his current job description, but establishing what his responsibilities will be going foward--and the only thing that has changed going forward is his DVC oversight. Another obvious sign that this relates to DVC is, "expand to new markets and destinations OUTSIDE the berms of our theme parks". Well, DCL and ABD only exist outside the berms of the WDW theme parks. Only DVC, predominantly, doesn't.

This is your and others take on it but I respectfully disagree. Staggs could be referring to new cruises and destinations for ABD as well. Unfortunately Staggs is not very clear on the items and only he knows what he means.

 

[lugnut33]

A DVC cruise ship!!

 

[Doug7856]

TheDisneyBlog.com has reprinted the entire Staggs memo here: http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/07/05/promotions-shake-up-disney-parks-resorts-under-tom-staggs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDisneyBlog+%28The+Disney+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Here are the comments about DVC:

Karl Holz, president, New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line, will take on a leadership role for Disney Vacation Club, in addition to maintaining his responsibility for Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Aulani. Karl will be responsible for creating consistent and engaging guest experiences as they expand to new markets and destinations outside the berms of our theme parks.

Jim Lewis, president, Disney Vacation Club, who has helped establish DVC as a highly successful and strategic part of our business portfolio, will continue in his current role, reporting directly to Karl. These operations are an important driver of growth in our segment and a critical part of our efforts to build upon and broaden Disney’s reputation for delivering magical experiences to our guests, both inside and outside the berm. As part of our reorganization, Karl will report to me and also become a member of my executive committee.

 

[mjc2003]

This is your and others take on it but I respectfully disagree. Staggs could be referring to new cruises and destinations for ABD as well. Unfortunately Staggs is not very clear on the items and only he knows what he means.

But DCL and ABD are already outside the berms of the theme park. Why would he reference expanding outside the theme parks if he was talking about two areas that only exist currently outside the theme parks?

The part that reads "president of Disney Cruise Line and the Adventures By Disney tour business" is written as an independent clause in a compound sentence. So take it out of the sentence and it's not supposed to change the integrity of the sentence. It would then read:

At the same time, Staggs tapped Karl Holz to take on oversight of Disney Vacation Club, the company's time-share business. Holz will also join Staggs' executive committee.

"Karl will be responsible for creating consistent and engaging guest experiences as they expand to new markets and destinations outside the berms of our theme parks," Staggs wrote in his memo. "These operations are an important driver of growth in our segment and a critical part of our efforts to build upon and broaden Disney's reputation for delivering magical experiences to our guests, both inside and outside the berm."


Written this way, there is no doubt what they are referring to. However, the writer might have misappropriated a comma.

I am not trying to be combative and appreciate your position, but would like to know what I'm missing.

 

[hakepb]

A DVC cruise ship!!

Its a great thought,

but I don't think cruise ships are designed to last 50+ years to make the "pre-paid discount" thing worth it.