Lack of perks...

[EriLee]

So, we have been DVC members for about 3 years now and while I don't regret it...I can't help but wonder why there aren't that many discounts or perks as all DVC members have basically INVESTED about 55 years into their parks and adventures. For instance, the new free dining plan, the visa meet and greet, the higher annual pass discounts at stores and restaurants...I feel as though Disney knows they have us so why give us anything. I mean the "welcome home" greeting is nice, but a little more would be great.
Listen, I will always be a Disney fan, but throw me a bone...anyone feel the same or know why?

 

[DebbieB]

So, we have been DVC members for about 3 years now and while I don't regret it...I can't help but wonder why there aren't that many discounts or perks as all DVC members have basically INVESTED about 55 years into their parks and adventures. For instance, the new free dining plan, the visa meet and greet, the higher annual pass discounts at stores and restaurants...I feel as though Disney knows they have us so why give us anything. I mean the "welcome home" greeting is nice, but a little more would be great.
Listen, I will always be a Disney fan, but throw me a bone...anyone feel the same or know why?

DVC's job is to build resorts and sell the points. As long as they keep selling out new resorts practically as fast as they build them for an ever increasing price, there's no incentive for them to offer anything. I can't believe the prices now and they are still selling. It's now more than twice what I paid in 1999.

 

[Dean]

So, we have been DVC members for about 3 years now and while I don't regret it...I can't help but wonder why there aren't that many discounts or perks as all DVC members have basically INVESTED about 55 years into their parks and adventures. For instance, the new free dining plan, the visa meet and greet, the higher annual pass discounts at stores and restaurants...I feel as though Disney knows they have us so why give us anything. I mean the "welcome home" greeting is nice, but a little more would be great.
Listen, I will always be a Disney fan, but throw me a bone...anyone feel the same or know why?

One buys a timeshare to have a place to stay. Perks are nice but not guaranteed and they are about as robust overall now as they've ever been. Expecting them to cont to court us is unreasonable. I'm all for perks and I've said many times that they could do better, but that requires DVD/DVC aggressively go after them as well as being willing to play hardball and steer people away from the options that don't work with them. Members have to be willing to give up things they have now. An example is that that they might approach DCL and push for a larger discount or NOT offer them at all. Since I don't see DVC, DVD or the members in generla going along with that, you're stuck with a mediocre plan at best.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree that more or better perks would be great. I know they don't have to but still, they would be nice.

 

[disneynutz]

So, we have been DVC members for about 3 years now and while I don't regret it...I can't help but wonder why there aren't that many discounts or perks as all DVC members have basically INVESTED about 55 years into their parks and adventures. For instance, the new free dining plan, the visa meet and greet, the higher annual pass discounts at stores and restaurants...I feel as though Disney knows they have us so why give us anything. I mean the "welcome home" greeting is nice, but a little more would be great.
Listen, I will always be a Disney fan, but throw me a bone...anyone feel the same or know why?

The why is because they don't have to and there isn't a benefit for Disney if they do.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

I think we already get some good perks & discounts. The discount on APs, the free in room internet, the ability to book a dining plan for only a portion of our stay and the 20% dining discount at the Swan & Dolphin restaurants are my favorites. I also like the Merry Mixers, the occasional discounts on Cirque de Soleil shows, the special times for DVC members and pass-holders to try new attractions and the online shopping discount.

Of course, I wouldn't say no to more, LOL.

Free dining seems to be the one discount promotion that new DVC'rs miss the most. I personally think that in the future, the frequency & number of those promotions will significantly decrease. Already, they are blocking more times of the year that used to be offered and I believe (but can't prove) that the number offered in each time period has also decreased. I was happy to see that they are announcing the offers much closer to the arrival dates than in the past. Selfishly, I want a chance to book my "must have" ADRs before the free dining guests book them all up!

 

[nu2dvc]

I was happy to see that they are announcing the offers much closer to the arrival dates than in the past. Selfishly, I want a chance to book my "must have" ADRs before the free dining guests book them all up!

Since free dining promotions through the end of August 2012 were released just this week, I hope you are prepared to make next year's ADR's at the 180-day mark!

 

[Corinne]

I think we already get some good perks & discounts. The discount on APs, the free in room internet, the ability to book a dining plan for only a portion of our stay and the 20% dining discount at the Swan & Dolphin restaurants are my favorites. I also like the Merry Mixers, the occasional discounts on Cirque de Soleil shows, the special times for DVC members and pass-holders to try new attractions and the online shopping discount.

Of course, I wouldn't say no to more, LOL.

Free dining seems to be the one discount promotion that new DVC'rs miss the most. I personally think that in the future, the frequency & number of those promotions will significantly decrease. Already, they are blocking more times of the year that used to be offered and I believe (but can't prove) that the number offered in each time period has also decreased. I was happy to see that they are announcing the offers much closer to the arrival dates than in the past. Selfishly, I want a chance to book my "must have" ADRs before the free dining guests book them all up!

I love our discount on AP's but that is about the only perk that we use. I am sorry, but Disney needs to get with the times and not charge guests for the internet! It is ridiculous! I would love to be able to book ADR's before the "free dining" guests. I wish they would do away with the dining plans all together, because the quality and selections have suffered....sorry....I digress....and I do not mean to hijack the thread.....anyway, we did not buy into DVC for perks so anything we get is gravy.

But I do need to ask......we get an ONLINE SHOPPING DISCOUNT??? How did I not know this!!LOL!

 

[Granny]

Listen, I will always be a Disney fan, but throw me a bone...anyone feel the same or know why?

I wish I had a Disney dollar for every thread that featuring this theme here on these boards.

I think that perks will improve only if Disney is having a problem selling new DVC resorts. They could then point to the enhanced perks during the sales pitch, which they do with the current perks already.

If Disney stops building DVC resorts, especially at WDW, I would expect perks to virtually disappear unless they can do some sort of return-on-investment justification that shows that it increases total DVC revenue.

Just my opinion. YMMV.

 

[Chuck S]

I love our discount on AP's but that is about the only perk that we use. I am sorry, but Disney needs to get with the times and not charge guests for the internet! It is ridiculous! I would love to be able to book ADR's before the "free dining" guests. I wish they would do away with the dining plans all together, because the quality and selections have suffered....sorry....I digress....and I do not mean to hijack the thread.....anyway, we did not buy into DVC for perks so anything we get is gravy.

But I do need to ask......we get an ONLINE SHOPPING DISCOUNT??? How did I not know this!!LOL!

DVCers get free internet when staying at DVC resorts booked through Member Services. As far as charging cash guests, Disney is "with the program" as far as may high end hotels. I am currently in Cleveland at a pretty nice suites resort, not a timeshare. Free internet is dial-up speed. For high speed, it is $13 per day. The service is run by an outside contractor, just as it is at Disney. This is true of many higher end hotels. The lower end hotels and motels offer it as a lure to customers.

 

[keishashadow]

Problem is not everybody is interested in any given perc and most perc levels are tied into membership/reward programs at hotel chains. If DVC went with such a route it would likely create the tiered levels of membership that have been discussed here.

I understand that most percs are designed to entice members to spend more moneyas in APs with quicker returns back to the world. However, it'd be nice to see a small flat credit instead that everbody could take advantage of more easily $50 perhaps? to cover onsite charges other than retail - dining, internet, park tix such as APs, MYW & party tickets.

I do agree that the ability to add the DP w/o any ticket purchase is a great benefit. Realistically though, it must benefit Disney or it wouldn't be offered.

 

[wildernessDad]

We already bought. I don't see any more perks happening anytime soon.

 

[disneynutz]

I wish I had a Disney dollar for every thread that featuring this theme here on these boards.

I think that perks will improve only if Disney is having a problem selling new DVC resorts. They could then point to the enhanced perks during the sales pitch, which they do with the current perks already.

If Disney stops building DVC resorts, especially at WDW, I would expect perks to virtually disappear unless they can do some sort of return-on-investment justification that shows that it increases total DVC revenue.

Just my opinion. YMMV.

I think that they will always have token perks. Perks that doesn't cost them anything or is made available from non Disney sources like the restaurant discounts. The AP discount doesn't cost them anything and really, how often do members use them and what's the impact on the parks?

Bill

 

[Corinne]

DVCers get free internet when staying at DVC resorts booked through Member Services. As far as charging cash guests, Disney is "with the program" as far as may high end hotels. I am currently in Cleveland at a pretty nice suites resort, not a timeshare. Free internet is dial-up speed. For high speed, it is $13 per day. The service is run by an outside contractor, just as it is at Disney. This is true of many higher end hotels. The lower end hotels and motels offer it as a lure to customers.

I know we get free internet as DVC members. I guess the Hilton and Marriott resorts I stay at outside of Disney are not "high end" hotels, as they offer it for free as well. Would offering high speed internet really lure customers?

 

[Kate3456]

DVC is constantly changing perks, an not for the better. When we bought in 1993 free park passes, pool hopping at all resorts and parking were included. Current promotions are no where near what they have been. The best DVC offers now is AP discounts which are close to FL resident discounts, not that good if you reside in the state. If past experience is a sign of the future expect them to diminish.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't live in Florida and I think the AP discount is wonderful. It was something that members had wanted. People here would wonder since they owned the timeshare, couldn't they be considered Florida residents. That was a common question, and now I guess Florida residents want more than that. I enjoy the perks they give, and if there were something else I would use, that would be great, but I'm quite satisfied with our DVC membership.

 

[CarolMN]

Since free dining promotions through the end of August 2012 were released just this week, I hope you are prepared to make next year's ADR's at the 180-day mark!

LOL, but there is no need. The dates we like to go are blocked for free dining.

There are more dates blocked than not.

 

[Granny]

I think that they will always have token perks. Perks that doesn't cost them anything or is made available from non Disney sources like the restaurant discounts. The AP discount doesn't cost them anything and really, how often do members use them and what's the impact on the parks?

Bill...I agree with what you said. I think the phrase "token perks" will be very accurate. And that whoever is heading up DVC at that time will need a PhD in Spin Doctoring.

 

[Brian Noble]

I can't help but wonder why there aren't that many discounts or perks as all DVC members have basically INVESTED about 55 years into their parks and adventures.

You have answered your own question. You have already paid. There is no reason to offer you more inducements.

 

[majortom1981]

With dvc once you pay off your mortgage or paid in full with cash and stay a certain amount of times you are staying for free. Why give somebody who is staying on property for free perks.