Looks Like Perks are Disappearing

[Coach Rick]

Just checking perks on the DVC member site, and it appears that there are far less than I am used to seeing. One big one is the 20% off the 9:30 Hoop Dee Doo. In fact there are far less dinning discounts than I remember seeing. I know they can be taken away anytime, and we pretty much sign a form saying that these perks can be taken away at any time, but geesh..Does it kill Disney to give it's most "loyal" of fans a little perk?

 

[disneynutz]

Just checking perks on the DVC member site, and it appears that there are far less than I am used to seeing. One big one is the 20% off the 9:30 Hoop Dee Doo. In fact there are far less dinning discounts than I remember seeing. I know they can be taken away anytime, and we pretty much sign a form saying that these perks can be taken away at any time, but geesh..Does it kill Disney to give it's most "loyal" of fans a little perk?

First it's styrofoam cups, now Hoop De Doo. What's the DVC world coming to?

 

[jakenjess]

I'm glad we did the Hoop De Doo last trip, while we still had the discount! Not sure we'll pay full price, but we did have a great time. Let's hope the AP discount doesn't go away! That would really impact how often we vacation. Ticket prices are getting so expensive that at this time I'm planning the next trip at Vero only, since we probably wouldn't get two trips in within a year time frame to make the most of an AP.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I agree Coach Rick! We are the most loyal fans so we shouldnt see the perks disappearing. Maybe if enough of us voice our concerns?

 

[DaveH]

I would suspect the dinning plan has allot to do with the dinning discounts going away. The AP discount is to me is a major and very welcome discount. The last time I checked eating at over the counter meals for a day was about the same as the dinning plan. I know the dinning plan is not for everyone. We had only used some of the dinning discounts and others used them all the time.

 

[Chuck S]

The dining discount perks listed on the website are not completely accurate. There may very well still be a DVC discount at Hoop De Doo, and it isn't showing.

Of course, it could also have been discontinued. But there is no way of knowing "for sure" until your call to make reservations.

 

[cincinmouse]

As someone who has just become a member I put the question out the long 5+ year members. As the number of DVC members continues to grow at a very steady rate the impacts of the Perks on the bottom line is becoming larger. Therefore Disney can put more money back in their pocket becuase when they eliminate a perks it now has a larger impact on the bottom line. Also with the larger membership the number of people who complain may be in the lower by %. Agree/Disagree?

The one perk they probably should not mess with is the AP because that has a direct impact on if members go to the parks and spend additional money. That is one of the sole purposes in the strategy of DVC is an automatic return to the parks. As PP mention if the AP discounts are taken away that will limit the visits to the parks and will reduce the amount of money Disney gets. Becuase that is the one nice thing about DVC is that you can go to some of the resorts are so nice and you do not HAVE to go to the parks.

I would not be suprised to see most of the perks disappear as the years go on and the membership continues to grow but the AP should always stay. But who knows. When I was looking into other time share programs I do not remember there being very many perks that go along with membership other than most of the Major Hotel programs being able to exchange your week for honors points.

 

[Sue's Mum]

We have been members since 1998 but visited WDW many times before that. We really only go to three parks once each per visit (not Animal Kingdom). We find Disney to be very expensive.

 

[rayelias]

As someone who has just become a member I put the question out the long 5+ year members. As the number of DVC members continues to grow at a very steady rate the impacts of the Perks on the bottom line is becoming larger. Therefore Disney can put more money back in their pocket becuase when they eliminate a perks it now has a larger impact on the bottom line. Also with the larger membership the number of people who complain may be in the lower by %. Agree/Disagree?

The one perk they probably should not mess with is the AP because that has a direct impact on if members go to the parks and spend additional money. That is one of the sole purposes in the strategy of DVC is an automatic return to the parks. As PP mention if the AP discounts are taken away that will limit the visits to the parks and will reduce the amount of money Disney gets. Becuase that is the one nice thing about DVC is that you can go to some of the resorts are so nice and you do not HAVE to go to the parks.

I would not be suprised to see most of the perks disappear as the years go on and the membership continues to grow but the AP should always stay. But who knows. When I was looking into other time share programs I do not remember there being very many perks that go along with membership other than most of the Major Hotel programs being able to exchange your week for honors points.

Lately, membership seems less-than-magical.

If they take away the AP/discount, I'm out.

 

[Tiggerlover48]

We have been members since 1998 but visited WDW many times before that. We really only go to three parks once each per visit (not Animal Kingdom). We find Disney to be very expensive.

No Animal Kingdom!!!! I love it there - it's my favorite park. I'm also animal freak.

 

[DaveH]

We joined in 2001. The AP discount is fairly recent. We got some dinning and such. Not much to us. The discounts don't come from DVC. They come different parts of Disney. There use to be a shopping discount in all of DTD. We miss that one. They change allot. They come and go. I know before the AP discount there were members who did not do parks their whole trip. Some said if they had an AP they would go to EPCOT for a meal. Using a day of their ticket for a meal they would not do. The dinning plan was not offered to DVC at first. Members complained and DVC got Disney World to offer it to DVC members on points. Things change as Disney's needs change and requests by members. Spa discounts for members get more folks to try them and come back. We are just guarantee the rooms and stuff at our resorts and our home resorts only. All others are stuff extra that can go away if need be.

 

[Coach81]

Put me down for wanting more and better perks!

 

[Coach Rick]

Sorry if I came across as complaining. I totally understand that perks are just that, an extra little something that sets DVC apart from "timeshares". I know I don't get any perks from either of the other two timeshares I own, but I guess I hold Disney to a different standard than the rest, and it is different. I know it will make a difference on whether or not I buy the DP or not. I have been battling the value of the DP now that the appetizer and gratuity are gone.

 

[rayelias]

Sorry if I came across as complaining. I totally understand that perks are just that, an extra little something that sets DVC apart from "timeshares". I know I don't get any perks from either of the other two timeshares I own, but I guess I hold Disney to a different standard than the rest, and it is different. I know it will make a difference on whether or not I buy the DP or not. I have been battling the value of the DP now that the appetizer and gratuity are gone.

I see it a little differently. When considering the "perks", I don't compare DVC to other timeshares. Rather, I compare what "perks" Disney offers its other guests (often one-time or occasional visitors) vs. what it offers DVC members (very frequent visitors).

We DVC members paid to construct and maintain many of WDW's resorts. When Disney decides to build a new resort, they have to raise the funds from somewhere and recieve payback over a long period of time through rent. With DVC, it's paid for immediately by us, plus a TON of money left over in profit, AND a % of rooms Disney can rent for cash (income), AND we maintain it, whereas in a normal resort, maintenance and expenses come out of income. *(see below)

THAT'S why all the new construction lately is DVC. We are a HUGE benefit to Disney. IMHO, if Disney is going to give out perks, we should be first in line. If Disney is going to give away free dining to a family of 4 staying in a value resort for $99 a night who may never visit WDW again for 5-10 years (if ever), where's the perk for us? If Disney is going to upgrade people staying in a value for $99 a night (for their one and only trip to WDW) to a 1BR DVC unit, where's the perk for us?

Often, it seems like we have to FIGHT to get any recognition, and usually it's just for a perk already offered elsewhere (DDP, for example).

To paraphrase Cuba Gooding, Jr., "Show me the magic!"


* I posted this a while ago... pretty interesting

<b>Saratoga Springs Resort</b>
At the time of the 2005 Dues Announcements:
307 Vacation Homes
Approx. 4,881,500 DVC Points
------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy COW!!! This is the business guy inside me. Get this...

4,881,500 Points / 307 Vacation Homes = 15,900 points/home

Figure an average $90 a point sale price = over $1.4 MILLION PER ROOM!!!

I'd love to know the total construction cost of a resort broken down on a "per vacation home" cost. My guestimate would be about $300-350k.

Not a bad racket to be in!

 

[nunzia]

The dining discount perks listed on the website are not completely accurate. There may very well still be a DVC discount at Hoop De Doo, and it isn't showing.

Of course, it could also have been discontinued. But there is no way of knowing "for sure" until your call to make reservations.

That could be..I noticed a whole mess of discounts (10%, but still) listed in this issue of DisneyFiles for DLR, and they don't show on the DVC site.

 

[BCV23]

As Chuck said, the site is incomplete. When you check in and get the Portable Perks, you'll find more.

The AP perk is huge for us and as mentioned above fairly new....2005 I think. Saves us $400/year. Nice perk indeed.

 

[PinkTink63]

I'm glad we did the Hoop De Doo last trip, while we still had the discount! Not sure we'll pay full price, but we did have a great time. Let's hope the AP discount doesn't go away! That would really impact how often we vacation. Ticket prices are getting so expensive that at this time I'm planning the next trip at Vero only, since we probably wouldn't get two trips in within a year time frame to make the most of an AP.

This is the one that worries me! That discount on the AP's is what makes it able for us to stay much longer than we normally would! Then, of course, we just spend more money at Disney!

 

[BroganMc]

AFAIC, the AP discount is really all that I need or use. The DDE has been much easier to track for discounts (though I stopped going to Big River Grill because they cheaped out on it). And whatever shopping or other discount I got with DVC, I got the same or better with my AP and/or Disney Visa.

I'm just surprised more members haven't requested being able to buy the DDE as a perk. Or the evening EPCOT hours pass. DVC members should be in the same class as Florida residents for perks (which is why we probably got the AP discount).

 

[MERMAIDLOVE]

I agree 100% I have been experiencing less and less pixie dust when I go and I visit about 5 times a year. It has been so that my daughter who is 4 yrs lately has been wanting to do the Disney Cruise instead

 

[DaveH]

I would love more perks. I hope I didn't come across as slapping anyone down. I was trying to show in ways we get more now than in 2001. I am afraid Sept 11 th showed Disney we came when others didn't. I have noticed other little perks for other things have left also. An example is the Candlelight processional in past years use to have a shopping discount for that at most of EPCOT stores. That left a few years ago. They use to have a Disney discount club and it is long gone too. I would suspect if the economy continues down perks will increase. I have noticed more of the surveys from DVC trips ask how many days are in parks and which ones. Also where we ate. If a higher number says no to going to parks and going elsewhere that would get to them. I also have noticed the perks list at WDW was longer than on the website.