Member Homecoming - I don't get it...

[sonney]

Okay, I apologize if this subject has been beated to death but I just don't get what Disney is doing. If I understand this correctly, they are charging $249 (I'm a passholder) PER PERSON for a 7 hours in the park, 2 meals (one a lunch), and deserts. Sure we also get to attend an opening ceremony.

By my calculations, my family of four (leaving one behind) would cost $1150 (I'm the only AP). For only about $500 more, I could do a 4-day Disney Cruise for the family (granted, lower-end accomodations)! Counting food and accomidations, I think the cruise is cheaper. No mention of any special merchandise (I assume there will be a pin or two...). What is the big draw?

I've attended a number of other special events and they are way less costly and offer more "stuff" (merchandise, pins, games, etc). I am sorry, I am willing and have paid extra for special events but in my experience this is rediculous.

Am I missing something? Is there something else special about this? I love DVC and Disney events but this is a little too much for me. I'm gonna book a Disney Cruise instead!!

Sonney

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by sonney
I've attended a number of other special events and they are way less costly and offer more "stuff" (merchandise, pins, games, etc). I am sorry, I am willing and have paid extra for special events but in my experience this is rediculous.

Am I missing something? Is there something else special about this? I love DVC and Disney events but this is a little too much for me. I'm gonna book a Disney Cruise instead!!

No you are not missing something. Good choice of booking a cruise instead though.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You're not missing anything. That's why we wont be going either!

 

[PamOKW]

It is a very steep price, especially for a family. It had better be a real blow-out.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Originally posted by PamOKW
It had better be a real blow-out.

Pam,
It's already a blow-out.....in the wallet

Aside from my belief that this is way overpriced. On the practical side of vacation planning, I'd be afraid to shell out that that much money out of fear that it may rain. It's not like you can just go another day.

 

[DeeP]

I am also somewhat surprised at the cost for AP holders. I have attended quite a few special events and this one is pretty pricey compared to the other special events I have gone to.
However, the one thing that I keep thinking about is...................
When the first DVC member cruise was announced, it also was dragged over the coals here on the boards........ BUT it turned out to be really fantastic! So who knows??????

 

[disneycrazed139]

It's like planning to be in on what is "special" and maybe this will hold some more magic for some people. Not for me. I was thinking about going, as it's close to my son's birthday and would be a great surprise, but after running the numbers, I decided we already feel special enough!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by sonney
Am I missing something? Is there something else special about this?

Well, I just booked two "MH" packages for my wife and I - so check back here at the end of May and I'll let you know if it was "not to be missed!" or "not worth the price."

 

[tjkraz]

I really had mixed feelings about this. From one standpoint, it seems like one of those "once in a lifetime" events that may just be worth it. If memory serves, the late night events at MK and Epcot are basically "E Nights", meaning there will be no more than the 4,000 or so DVC members in the parks. That may end up being a pretty special, memorable event. And I would hope they have some suprises planned along the way.

But I think that the AP holder pricing re-confirmed that it is not worth the money. In removing what amounted to a 2-day PHP (one Plus), they only knocked $50 off of the price. Another $50-60 might have changed my mind. I know that $100 doesn't seem like a huge amount of money (at least not when you're talking about WDW vacations), but maybe it's more of a principle issue.

Our May trip will be just myself and DW. With our room and tickets already taken care of, for the 4 days we have planned I didn't see us spending much more than $500 TOTAL for the trip. That includes a couple of nice sit-down meals, a behind the scenes tour, and maybe even a spa treatment for DW.

Our dollars don't always seem to go very far at WDW, and I think that fact is particularly evident in the pricing of this event.

 

[rocketriter]

It seems like there's a "perceived value" problem around this event--something that Disney management usually gets right but may have goofed up this time. It may be that the small number of people, the food and the giveaways make this event worth every penny that Disney is charging. But their announcement hasn't made that clear, which is a management blunder. I'll be very interested to read what actually transpires on DVC Member Night.

 

[Mazz519]

Not worth it for me and my family, it just seems like a cheap money maker for people who want to feel like they are part of the magic, and Disney knows that a good % of people will buy into this.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Another $50-60 might have changed my mind. I know that $100 doesn't seem like a huge amount of money (at least not when you're talking about WDW vacations), but maybe it's more of a principle issue.

I agree. We will be travelling to WDW right around that timeframe and could possibly shift our dates to attend the event...............but at $250 a pop it just smacks of overpaying. For $200 per person it would seem much more reasonable. I don't mind spending money for special events, but I don't want to feel like I'm being ripped off.................so we won't be attending.

 

[sgtpet]

I am completely disenchanted with DVC over this and the price of the Cruise last year. Another outrage.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by rocketriter
It may be that the small number of people, the food and the giveaways make this event worth every penny that Disney is charging. But their announcement hasn't made that clear, which is a management blunder. I'll be very interested to read what actually transpires on DVC Member Night.

Yeah, I think you're correct here.

I think their other blunder is not announcing the event sooner. I'm sure someone knows the exact number, but I believe there are about 1200 to 1500 DVC rooms at WDW. Probably more if lock-outs are reserved separately.

If they are wanting 4000 people to attend this event, that means that a significant number of the DVC population staying at WDW will have to buy-in. Well, by not announcing the event prior to the booking windows, they've already guaranteed that a large number of those rooms are already reserved--possibly by those who have no intention of attending the event.

Then you've got people who may want to attend the event who cannot reserve a room at this point. Waitlist may be dicey because who wants to pre-pay for the gathering if there is no guarantee the waitlist will come through.

Oh well. I hope those who do attend have a great time and get their money's worth. Hopefully DVC will learn from the comments being made and improve future events.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by tjkraz
I think their other blunder is not announcing the event sooner.

100% agreement here. One of the reasons we're attending is that we'll be there anyway. Usually, we miss these kinds of things - we either just missed it or we're leaving just before it starts.
However, assuming that tying this in with the SSR Grand Opening was important, Disney was in an odd position; the initial ressie rules for SSR would have made it difficult. When could they have announced it? June 2003 would have been the 11 month window for SSR; which, of course, was meaningless - was SSR even on sale then? Dec 1, 2003 (inital SSR ressie date) was already past the 7 month window for all other resorts - wouldn't people have already made plans by then? And the Feb 5(?) all other SSR ressie date is only 3 months in advance - not enough for planning.

But if they have a MH event again - and it isn't tied to a odd-ball situation like the opening of SSR - I think that they MUST give a years notice so that owners can make home plans/ressies.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
When could they have announced it? June 2003 would have been the 11 month window for SSR; which, of course, was meaningless - was SSR even on sale then? Dec 1, 2003 (inital SSR ressie date) was already past the 7 month window for all other resorts - wouldn't people have already made plans by then? And the Feb 5(?) all other SSR ressie date is only 3 months in advance - not enough for planning.

IMO, it should have at least been announced by mid-October, which would be the 7 month window (if I'm counting fingers correctly).

Long-term planners wanting to stay at their non-home resorts have to know that they need to reserve as quickly as possible after the 7 month point is reached. I suspect a large number of the rooms still available for May were snatched-up in October and November.

The 12/1 date was probably a bit irrelevant since there is only one SSR building open (46? rooms) in May. Those rooms were probably gone very quickly, Member Gathering or no Member Gathering. Nevertheless, I'm sure there are many SSR owners that would have liked to have the additional 2 weeks notice before making ressies on 12/1.

 

[Lesley]

We're passholders and are going to be at WDW during this time....but won't be attending the festivities. We have a standard view studio booked at BWV...which I did back when my 11 month window opened up.

I think the timing was bad...not only because of booking windows, but because they're springing this on us right before Christmas! I mean, how many of us have an extra thousand or so laying around this time of year?

Definitely seems overpriced. Perhaps if we had the option of choosing and paying for just the events we want, we'd participate in some of it.

But as we're having a very slim Christmas this year (buying a house, though...) it just felt like Disney trying to stick their hands in my pockets once again.

I'll be interested in hearing reports after the fact though.

 

[Muushka]

Yup, once again DVC is the perceived cash cow. Moooooooooo

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by disneycrazed139
It's like planning to be in on what is "special" and maybe this will hold some more magic for some people. Not for me. I was thinking about going, as it's close to my son's birthday and would be a great surprise, but after running the numbers, I decided we already feel special enough!

Boy do we agree. We are huge Disney fans and DVC owners, and this whole "offer" was frankly kind of insulting. Pay big bucks to go to a marketing event.

 

[donmil723]

We will be at WDW during MH but probably won't be going to MH. Not because we feel it is overpriced. I'm sure Disney will put on a spectacular event if it is as wonderful as those that went on the Member Cruise report. But, we like to swim and relax around the resort and only go to the parks one day or maybe two and never two days in a row. Those days of commando touring are in the past!!!! We are also leaving on May 27th and would miss the last day events. So, we decided at this time not to purchase tickets to MH. $1200 is too much to spend if you're not sure you will enjoy it or even use it.

I really hope that everyone who is going has a great time!!!!

Donna