Member Insider January/February 2015 Email

[disneynutz]

Also here's another one I found on the thread when the PVB was first announced:

Sounds fantastic, it would be great if DVC would give away a few short vacation stay packages to members as a FREE goodwill gesture to for the years of member support for DVC. Opening up DVC discount perks at O'hana and Kona would be terrific too

Seriously, they literally want a free vacation.

I really can't blame them, maybe they don't read the DIS.

Disney sells you on the idea that Disney is a special place and that DVC Members are Members, special people.

Learning that you are only special until your direct sale is closed can be a hard pill to swallow.

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

I really can't blame them, maybe they don't read the DIS.

Disney sells you on the idea that Disney is a special place and that DVC Members are Members, special people.

Learning that you are only special until your direct sale is closed can be a hard pill to swallow.

Bill

I've been happy. I got what was in my contract. 15 years of great DVC stays at a fraction of what it would have cost through CRO. If you don't get what you feel you agreed to, then you have every right to complain. Poor maintenance at your resort, complain. Poor service from cm's, complain. But don't complain about things that were not part of the deal - free dining, daily housekeeping, ticket discounts, etc. You shouldn't feel entitled to more than you agreed to.

 

[disneynutz]

It's the people complaining about lack of housekeeping that gets me. Do they not realize that if we had daily cleaning that the dues would go up even more?!
And I guess I must be in the minority in that I don't want to be bothered by daily cleaning, especially days that we are not necessarily rushing out the door to get to a park.

It's a complete misunderstanding on their part, they think they are buying the hotel experience when they buy into DVC when they are in fact buying a timeshare which is completely different.

I don't need daily housekeeping but I do expect a clean, maintained room when I check in. About 50% of the time we have problems ranging from dirt/dust to water leaks, mold, or broken appliances.

For the millions that DVC pays Resorts/Housekeeping, that should not be happening.

Bill

 

[The Prophet]

I think the overall theme of these postings is that over the past few years, Disney / DVC has been slowly taking away perks that members used and enjoyed without replacing them and/or adding perks

I am sure the list would be lengthy and include the loss of free valet parking and losing the loss of exclusive access to the Top of the World Lounge for guests staying at Bay Lake

As maintenance fees creep up, I am sure there are perks which Disney / DVC can provide without affecting their bottom line such as extra fast passes and the ability to purchase the dining plan by day, instead of your full stay

The Prophet

 

[disneynutz]

I've been happy. I got what was in my contract. 15 years of great DVC stays at a fraction of what it would have cost through CRO. If you don't get what you feel you agreed to, then you have every right to complain. Poor maintenance at your resort, complain. Poor service from cm's, complain. But don't complain about things that were not part of the deal - free dining, daily housekeeping, ticket discounts, etc. You shouldn't feel entitled to more than you agreed to.

People don't do their homework or read their contract, Disney depends on that to sell DVC.

Disney sells an idea, a feeling, a better time for you and your family to enjoy at hundreds of magical destinations around the world. They pick you up and give you a ride to the preview center, they give you cookies and lemonade, show you pictures of families having fun and wishing that they had bought years before. They are on ABD trips and Disney cruises with Mickey sitting at your dinner table. You are told about discounts and perks, special DVC only events and member magic.

A buyer assumes that all is well with the world and as time goes on and they learn the facts about what they bought and what's really doable as reality bites them in the rear so they complain.

Yes they should read their contract but we love Disney and know that Disney would never do us wrong.

Bill

 

[SpaceMountain77]

And I guess I must be in the minority in that I don't want to be bothered by daily cleaning, especially days that we are not necessarily rushing out the door to get to a park.

Personally, I do not like people (i.e., engineering, housekeeping) entering my room when I am not there. I would be perfectly content if the basket of fresh towels and toiletries was simply left at the door and used towels were picked up in a laundry bag.

 

[JaimeA]

I read them also, wow so many were complaining. It doesn't look good that most of the posters are uninformed. DVC guides and Disney should do a better job honestly. DVC will lose a lot of customers if this is how their members feel. We on the DIS understand what we bought but it appears so many do not. If I were to talk to one of them I don't think they would have referred me to DVC if I were to ask. That is what DVC should worry about.


I still don't understand the free dining??? I see it all the time DVC members are not entitled to free dining... YES you are! Buy a package through Disney just like everyone else. Is that so hard to understand?

Also I would love more perks but I don't to pay for them.

 

[disneynutz]

I read them also, wow so many were complaining. It doesn't look good that most of the posters are uninformed. DVC guides and Disney should do a better job honestly. DVC will lose a lot of customers if this is how their members feel. We on the DIS understand what we bought but it appears so many do not. If I were to talk to one of them I don't think they would have referred me to DVC if I were to ask. That is what DVC should worry about.


I still don't understand the free dining??? I see it all the time DVC members are not entitled to free dining... YES you are! Buy a package through Disney just like everyone else. Is that so hard to understand?

Also I would love more perks but I don't to pay for them.

Disney doesn't care if a member sells, all they care about is selling direct to a new buyer. Everything else is window dressing.

Bill

 

[sssteph]

I've been happy. I got what was in my contract. 15 years of great DVC stays at a fraction of what it would have cost through CRO. If you don't get what you feel you agreed to, then you have every right to complain. Poor maintenance at your resort, complain. Poor service from cm's, complain.

I agree, I've recently reported to DVC member services about poor maintenance, housekeeping. and front desk issue on my last two vacations. These are all categories we as member/owners pay dues to maintain. I called and wrote an email and was called back by a supervisor. I was refunded 1 nights points, which was agreeable to me.
For these type of issues I feel it is our duty as owners to report.

The "perks" and discounts are not guaranteed.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I have one expectation, a clean, well-maintained room. To me, everything else is a bonus.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I have one expectation, a clean, well-maintained room. To me, everything else is a bonus.

You know, you guys have broken me over the years so I've learned to toe the company line (here) also. In all sincerity though, I think we all expect a little bit more. I know it's not in any contract anywhere but I don't think that's unreasonable. The question is "How much?", and that becomes very subjective and we all know how that goes.

Do I expect to be treated "special?" Sure. To a certain extent, but my extent is probably a lot less than most of you, and certainly a lot less than the posters in that thread (Admittedly, I haven't read it.).

They do a little for us and I appreciate that. I hope they will keep it up. I admit that I have ticket expectations. I'm not entitled to them and I know that (now) but it was sold to me that way. I just want to keep a reasonable discount on APs and I'm good. Everything else is gravy to me. See? We all have different levels of expectations and while mine may be reasonable to me, they probably aren't to some of you. Doesn't make me right. I read the POS. That still doesn't change the way I feel.

 

[kittyab]

I am reading comments about the annual pass for DVC loosing the hopper option?

 

[DebbieB]

I am reading comments about the annual pass for DVC loosing the hopper option?

Where did you read that?

DVC recently sold a special 4 day pass for members that did not allow hopping.

 

[JaimeA]

I am reading comments about the annual pass for DVC loosing the hopper option?

Lol...

 

[bellapecas]

I bought resale late last year. My first DVC stay is in a couple of weeks, with two more stays already booked for later this year.

I say that to tell you I agree 100% with what most here are saying. I did the DVC tour in the spring and the salesmen make DVC sound like an exclusive club. We came home, did our research and saw that it's just a nice, convenient room for "cheap." That alone is worth it to us. Everything else is gravy. I see all of the entitled "I paid a lot of money ..." posts on Facebook and laugh. Glad to see there are down to earth "old timers" here.

 

[kittyab]

The hopper thing was one of the comments. I didnt think they had a separate AP just for DVC users with reduced goodies.

 

[MJ6987]

As a new DVC member I found these comments a bit depressing and a bit of a shock - "what have I bought into???" I thought!

But then I remembered that I did the maths - based on a trip every other year I worked out what I would be paying for a moderate (yes, moderate) resort with a 20% discount and the DVC paid for itself comfortably. Anything else is an added bonus.

That said, I think that they could, with a bit of thought, come up with some added extras that cost not much (or are even cost neutral) but make members feel "special"

 

[disneynutz]

As a new DVC member I found these comments a bit depressing and a bit of a shock - "what have I bought into???" I thought!

But then I remembered that I did the maths - based on a trip every other year I worked out what I would be paying for a moderate (yes, moderate) resort with a 20% discount and the DVC paid for itself comfortably. Anything else is an added bonus.

That said, I think that they could, with a bit of thought, come up with some added extras that cost not much (or are even cost neutral) but make members feel "special"

And there is the rub. They could come up with added extras but they have no reason to.

The majority of the current extras like mingles or the canceled welcome home Wednesdays we pay for with our dues or now they offer Member Magic events like bowling or holiday meals that are fee based.

Any dining discounts are offered by the restaurants wanting to fill empty seats.

My guess is that they offer just enough to use it in their marketing to prospective buyers.

Bill

 

[kittyab]

Fine sell your points, we are looking to buy resale points for BWV

 

[DebbieB]

I posted a couple comments but they were not posted yet. It is reviewed before posting. Have to wonder what didn't make it.

Someone posted that we should get the same annual pass prices as local residents. I posted that we already do. $149 off is also the FL resident price. People just want to complain, don't look at what we do have.