Just Back from OKW, Disney are you listening?

[pharmlivin]

Yes...I knew the price of park passes etc. but the fact is that being DVC owners we are drawn to DW a lot more frequently than we would have come if not owners. That being said, with the more frequent trips we try to watch our spending a little more than we would if this was a "once every few years" excursion. On our last visit we used VWL as our home base and explored outside of DW a lot more. A discounted park pass would have given us pause to spend more time (and therefore more money) at DW. It is only logical. I do think Disney is mistakenly assuming that DVC owners are a captive audience...we most certainly are not...incentives are as motivating to us as they are to any other visitors...more so maybe...bottom line, with more frequent visits we watch our spending but we could be cajoled with a carrot now and then.

 

[crisi]

Well, if I get a vote, I'd pull those many of discounts out as well. In fact, Disney has done just that, by getting rid of the MK Club, fewer codes seem to be available for rooms - and fewer rooms for those codes and available to AP holders than in years past - a seven for four package that became a seven for five package, etc. Given their recent results (park attendence was UP, but revenue DOWN, proving that just because you get people into the parks doesn't mean they will spend money - they might, but it isn't a given), I suspect you'll see fewer discounts, as the strategy hasn't been a great one.

But go ahead and ask.

 

[bounceytigger]

quote from pharmlivin:
A discounted park pass would have given us pause to spend more time (and therefore more money) at DW. It is only logical. I do think Disney is mistakenly assuming that DVC owners are a captive audience...we most certainly are not...incentives are as motivating to us as they are to any other visitors...more so maybe...bottom line, with more frequent visits we watch our spending but we could be cajoled with a carrot now and then.

Well-said, pharmlivin. I couldn't agree more. Disney World has the opportunity to reap the financial rewards from DVC members every year for the next 40-50 years by enticing us to visit the theme parks every year. While I'm a DVC member, and would LOVE to spend 6-7 days in the WDW parks every year, I doubt I can afford to do so. Therefore, there will be years where WDW does not earn any revenue at its parks from my family (or else it only earns 2-3 days worth of revenue).

However, with a discount of some form to keep it more affordable every year, it would be a different story. Seems like a WIN-WIN situation to me.

I realize we're not "owed" anything by Disney, but to me it seems as though getting business from DVC members--even if it's at a 10% discount, for instance--is better for Disney than not getting any business. If people decide it's cheaper to go to Universal one year, Disney has made NO $$ from them that year. Which is worse for Disney, to get NO business from a DVC member that year, or to get business with a 10% (for i.e.) discount on park admission?

Unless, for some reason, Disney makes less-than a 10% profit on park admission prices.....

(At the end of it all, though, I still LOVE this place, and want to go as much as possible!!!)

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

All together now.....Mooooo!

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by Johnnie Fedora
All together now.....Mooooo!

Don't you mean "Cha-ching Moo"????

 

[Bacs22]

I don't think that there is any reason that Diseny couldn't offer us the AP discount that used to be offered to the Disney Club. It wasn't a HUGE discount, but it WAS a discount.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by goofy4wdw59
There is always room for improvement, in anything. It's better to make your opinion known, in a positive way, to DVC.

goofy4wdw59,
No disagreement from me here. I'm not insisting on Disney charging me as much money as possible. In fact, I have contacted MS regarding several issues I think could improve DVC and meaningful admission discounts was one of them. I'm just saying if they don't give admission discounts I don't see that as anything to get worked up about. When we "ran the numbers" to see if DVC "made financial sense" before the initial purchase, there was no mention of admission discounts and everyone still happily signed on. My disagreement isn't with asking for discounts, it's with demanding discounts or else...

 

[TwingleMum]

I would like to see DVC members given the same status as FL residents in terms of tickets & dining discounts. Do they have to - no. But a girl can dream.

 

[Chuck S]

Just for clarification on the Dining Discounts...FL residents do not get an automatic discount simply by virtue of living in Florida. But they are eligible to "purchase" a dining card for $75 per family for a 20% discount at most full service restaurants, good for 1 year. Meaning that you must spend at least $375 for meals prior to seeing any savings. While we, as DVC Members do receive 20% off of lunch at some World Showcase restaurants and Swan/Dolphin restaurants WITHOUT having to pay for the benefit, and the list of 10% restaurant discounts is growing...so right now, we actually have a pretty good deal for dining

 

[WDWMom]

We also bought DVC because of the acommodations and not for discounted tickets, but because of the cost of the parks we do not go into them often. On our last trip of 8 days we spent 2 in the theme parks and 2 in the water parks with 7 day PH. (same with the trip prior). We will now be going again in June and will only spend ONE day in the theme parks and pool hop the rest of the week (Nine day trip).

And why are we spending so little time in the theme parks? Because of the cost. We can have just as much fun pool hopping and relaxing around OKW and BCV. Plus who wants to spend a hot and muggy day in the lines to go on so few rides?

We also make most of our meals in our room. DIsney get very little of our money these days. The day we go to the park in June we will eat breakfast in our room and eat at the park for lunch and dinner. The rest of the week we will eat from our room unless it is a spur of the moment decision. We bring a cooler with us to make sandwiches and keep pop cold at the pool and water parks. We do get ice cream almost every day through Disney.

I think if ticket were more affordable we would spend more time in the parks and thus spend more money eating in them. As a family of five I would love to see a discount on PH for DVC.


Knowing this is getting long, I also want to add some info on a discussion we had with the head of sales during our March trip. He told us DVC just about went broke with the free park passes it gave to early buyer of DVC (I'm just the messanger so don't shoot me if you don't believe this). The person or people who came up with idea are no longer with DVD because of this. They are trying to come up with a new incentive/discount for passes but are leary because of the earlier one. He said to look for some kind of discount in the future but not sure what it may be.

 

[Chuck S]

OK, there is a difference here though, the Free Park Pass Program was a buy-in incentive. Those passes weren't really "free" they were paid for by DVD, the DVC Developers. On the other hand, it is my understanding that 10% Discounts are simply negotiated, like in the case of conventions and large group sales, there would be no actual cost to DVD/DVC or the membership. So it is comparing apples to oranges.

 

[jaysue]

Originally posted by kathleena
Universal = 2 parks and I think no parades or fireworks. maybe fireworks, not sure

Disney = 4 parks, 3 day parades, 1 night parade, 2 fireworks, 1 Fantasmic

Universal = geared to older kids, and adults that like action rides

Disney = more of something for everyone, easier to take the whole family to

I could go on.

I'm satisfied with what Disney offers, but I would like to see a DVC discount on the APs.

Good post kathlenna

thanks
jaysue