Just for fun, what could Disney do to incentivize direct purchases?

[4luv2cdisney]

Hmmm, interesting point. I hadn't thought about that. So DVC actually may not mind (even encourage?) resales right now because it reduces the amount of blue cards that are out there. Thus reducing overall costs for "perks". The scenario where that wouldn't hold true is when a member who owns multiple direct contracts and decides to sell one or two, while keeping at least one. That member would still have their blue card. Still, a very large percentage of resales will result in one less blue card member given the current restrictions. That's an interesting way to look at it. The question is how much blue card perks cost WDW/DVC compared to the money DVC is losing on the sale of the contract. Like in my situation, I'm sure WDW/DVC would prefer to have the $20K I saved by buying resale rather than the money they will save by not giving me the blue card "perks".

I think they are going to go the way of tying perks to "qualified points" and not blue card as much as possible.

Moonlight magic type events are the easiest to do this with. But they could do it for party tix or park tickets in general that are dated and expire with your trip. (Give a discount to members staying on qualified points only).

 

[Evita_W]

I like the exclusive character meet and greets, they would need to be available daily and at all resorts and I mean all, including GCV, Aulani, Hilton Head, etc.

Some other items:

• Surprise daily gift in your room. They are entering daily for security checks anyway, why not leave a nice little surprise?
• A special level annual pass that is only available to those that buy direct, not even to Florida residents. You can choose if you want no blackout dates or water park access perhaps.
• Offer a pass level that is valid at all Disney owned theme parks world wide
• Add photopass entitlements for all direct DVC members regardless of ticket type or if they even have tickets.
• Automatic upgrade to Maxpass being included on all ticket types when it comes back to DL (and the same if it comes to WDW)
• 50% off a cruise (cash or points) every so many years
• Exclusive access to Minnie Vans (for a fee would be fine, but more reasonably priced than it was and only available to direct DVC purchases)
• One free counter service meal per night on any reservation booked exclusively with direct points. If you book without banking or borrowing, you can trade for one free table service meal with tip included (if ADR availability becomes an issue, you can only book it with say 48 hours). No alcohol included though.
• Offer a free AP for anyone in the members immediate household, up to 6 people when purchasing direct with a minimum purchase of say 150 points. You only get the vouchers once when purchased and must assign names then and there and are non-transferable, but have the normal amount of time to be activated. And you can pick if you want WDW, DLR, etc.

 

[VdoesDisney]

Last night I was looking at resale contracts and realized that Disney won‘t need to incentivize direct purchases in the near future, some resale sites are doing that for them!

If Disney keeps ROFRing at a higher price each month AND these resale sites keep valuing contracts higher and higher (driven by us, the buyer, I get that) the gap will reach a point where it becomes VERY easy to justify buying direct, it already is there for small cotracts.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Meet & greets, really???
How are you going to tell your four year old that she can’t meet the special character because you bought resale??

 

[Evita_W]

Meet & greets, really???
How are you going to tell your four year old that she can’t meet the special character because you bought resale??

Simple, they would be done at locations they wouldn't be seen by other guests, it would be say in a ball room, etc.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Meet & greets, really???
How are you going to tell your four year old that she can’t meet the special character because you bought resale??

Hahaha. And it better be a REALLY great meet and great for $20k more to buy direct. I mean, Mickey and Minnie better be pouring me a cocktail and singing me sonnets for that kind of money.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Simple, they would be done at locations they wouldn't be seen by other guests, it would be say in a ball room, etc.

Not so simple.
1) not every resort has a ballroom
2) sometime the “ballroom” may have a ball.

 

[tidefan]

I think they are plying the long game and in 2019 it was the beginning of starting a new DVC product.

In 20 years, these differences will be a lot more impactful. To me, they were willing to give up short term potential sales, especially with current owners in exchange for setting the stage for the future resorts.

Had the events of 2020 not happened, there would be two new resorts vs one in the works that could be given the same rules as RIV.

Obviously game plan is adjusted so we shall see. I think the direct price per point before incentives at $201 for a new resort is close to what I’d say is a ceiling.

Well, we'll see if that holds true for Disneyland Tower...

 

[Evita_W]

Hahaha. And it better be a REALLY great meet and great for $20k more to buy direct. I mean, Mickey and Minnie better be pouring me a cocktail and signing me sonnets for that kind of money.

I would actually expect it to be rare characters that are never available.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I would actually expect it to be rare characters that are never available.

Great. Just tell those rare characters that I don’t like a lot of simple syrup in my Old Fashioned when they are making it for me. Because rare characters still aren’t worth the extra money it costs to buy direct. If DVC did provide incentives to buy direct they would have to be really tempting incentives.

 

[Cabius]

Meet & greets, really???
How are you going to tell your four year old that she can’t meet the special character because you bought resale??

They do this with the Disney Visa meet-and-greets, but they have discrete locations for those (at EPCOT Center, at DCA, etc). You couldn't do it in a public space.

You could always add characters to the member lounges at BLT and the Imagination Pavilion!

 

[howardlee2]

I would repeat what we got when purchasing in 1994, free park admission till 2000 or 6 years. those were the days! took each of my kids for 4 day trips for next to no $$ and my wife got a break too...from me!

 

[Evita_W]

Great. Just tell those rare characters that I don’t like a lot of simple syrup in my Old Fashioned when they are making it for me. Because rare characters still aren’t worth the extra money it costs to buy direct. If DVC did provide incentives to buy direct they would have to be really tempting incentives.

What extra money? Have you seen resale prices lately? It was literally a few hundred dollars difference for 206 points at Riviera to buy direct over resale and none of the restrictions.

 

[Evita_W]

I would repeat what we got when purchasing in 1994, free park admission till 2000 or 6 years. those were the days! took each of my kids for 4 day trips for next to no $$ and my wife got a break too...from me!

This would work too.

 

[Evita_W]

I think DVC just found a way to start with this by saying that at least one person must be booked on points for the member exclusive cruise in the Wish. This means people who have no direct points can't go on this cruise at all.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

Discounted park tickets would get my attention. Either an offer similar to the one now, just a flat percentage off, or even free length of stay tickets for say 5 years after purchase.

If I were to dream...how about a night in Cinderella's castle or a VIP guide day given away by lottery every year? Every night you stay you get an entry.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Discounted park tickets would get my attention. Either an offer similar to the one now, just a flat percentage off, or even free length of stay tickets for say 5 years after purchase.

If I were to dream...how about a night in Cinderella's castle or a VIP guide day given away by lottery every year? Every night you stay you get an entry.

Not Cinderella’s castle. Cinderella castle.
Sorry, couldn’t resist the correction.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

Not Cinderella’s castle. Cinderella castle.
Sorry, couldn’t resist the correction.

Well, you learn something every day. It has never not once occurred to me to pay attention to that. lol

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Well, you learn something every day. It has never not once occurred to me to pay attention to that. lol

I’ve even seen Disney make that mistake, so you’re in good company.

 

[howardlee2]

IIRC what they gave to us in 1994 was 2 passes for a studio or 1BR , 4 passes for a 2 BR for each night booked. this ended at the end of 1999. you bet I borrowed every possible point in 1999 to take advantage of this!!!