Membership Magic Beyond

[TinkAgainU]

This!

Also IMHO, Disney’s announcements this week could be a case study in marketing fatigue. I barely had a moment to decipher LLP before they rolled right into MMB.

It’s just too much all at once - even for someone who is squarely in their target demo.

Really question their overall strategy…

Right? Disneyland Park prices increased the day Milton hit Florida, and yesterday the Lightning Lane Premier Pass was announced... good heavens... stop, just stop, Disney. Does somebody think the Volume of changes coming out of Disney will be louder than Epic Universe? I cannot fathom how all this market noise helps.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Both times I purchased and canceled I was able to use them as normal, aside from banking and borrowing of course (and both times I got VGC points, so it comes up as one of my home resorts which is funny and has me feeling very fancy when I look at my dashboard) but I feel like some have said they couldn’t see it in their dashboards?…maybe that only happens with transferred points so I could be confusing those things.

You're correct, the OTU points show on my dashboard if I book with them, then cancel, they show in my dashboard as whatever resort DVC allocated them from.

 

[MyDogTink]

I think there are a lot of people that object to the mere existence of these types of programs. Same with the Premier Pass.

The only part I object to in principle is the priority access to the lounges. I think all members deserve equal access to the lounges on a first come first served basis.

The rest I don't mind if some folks feel it's worth the money and others don't.

But I do share your concern that the price is only going to increase from here

I feel the same way. The priority access to the lounges is the only benefit I have an issue with and believe it impacts my perks as a direct purchaser (I know perks can come and go). I am retaining my direct benefit of access to lounges but this perk is diminishing in its value. I wonder how guides will pitch this? With your direct membership, you have access to lounges, but if you pay just a bit more you will have quicker access and enjoy character meet and greets?

I wonder if the Welcome Home Weeks this summer factored into the role out of this? Part of Welcome Home Weeks were the character meet and greets.

The concerns shouldn't be if the same program increases in price. The concern should be if other perks are moved into this program. Annual pass and MM are only available to those in the MMB program?

My opinion is leave the current perks grandfathered and add new perks to a program like this.

 

[davidhr]

Anyone knows what a U.S resident is, seen from Disneys perspective?

I mean if all it takes is an ITIN, then many foreign DVC'ers have that already. You get that when you buy DVC from another foreigner or sell one of your contracts.

When searching online the legal explanation I get:

United States resident​

(A)The term “United States resident” means— (i)any individual who— (I)is a United States citizen or a resident alien and does not have a tax home (as defined in) in a foreign country, or (II)is a nonresident alien and has a tax home (as so defined) in the United States, and (ii)any corporation, trust, or estate which is a United States person (as defined in).

Since I don't live in the U.S but have an ITIN and paid tax in the U.S do I fall under the category II, a nonresident alien and has a tax home (as so defined) in the United States ?

Not an expert, but familiar with this process. There are different ways of seeing this. Normally, US RESIDENT means at minimum a permanent resident visa (the famous green card), but depending the business, people with temporary work/student visas might be considered residents even if they aren’t permanent residents.

For tax purposes it’s a bit different and more broad because the government wants its money, a US PERSON it’s pretty much anyone that spends a considerable amount of time in the US and it’s required to get at minimum a ITIN to report to the IRS or file taxes.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Right? Disneyland Park prices increased the day Milton hit Florida, and yesterday the Lightning Lane Premier Pass was announced... good heavens... stop, just stop, Disney. Does somebody think the Volume of changes coming out of Disney will be louder than Epic Universe? I cannot fathom how all this market noise helps.

Totally. Tangible outcome from this nonsense (and culmination of many years) - we’ve bought Universal APs and will stay at Helios and Royal Pacific next year. Trimming our DVC contracts as well to just my direct RR points.

Family with 4 very young kids so… pretty dang high lifetime value Disney is tainting. Foolish and greedy.

 

[MyDogTink]

Totally. Tangible outcome from this nonsense (and culmination of many years) - we’ve bought Universal APs and will stay at Helios and Royal Pacific next year. Trimming our DVC contracts as well to just my direct RR points.

Family with 4 very young kids so… pretty dang high lifetime value Disney is tainting. Foolish and greedy.

Since you are familiar with Universal, would you say it is more spontaneous and less planning-oriented than Disney?

Like others have said, all the Disney news this week is daunting. I feel like there is so much planning now for Disney, that it is arduous and not spontaneous. I miss old times when you would decide in the morning which park to visit first.

 

[dez1978]

Since you are familiar with Universal, would you say it is more spontaneous and less planning-oriented than Disney?

Like others have said, all the Disney news this week is daunting. I feel like there is so much planning now for Disney, that it is arduous and not spontaneous. I miss old times when you would decide in the morning which park to visit first.

I think so. If you book a room at one of the hotels that includes the EP, you don't have to really plan anything. Maybe a couple dining reservations but not at 60 days out. You just book a room, buy tickets and show up. No rope dropping, no scheduling times for rides, no waking up at the butt crack of dawn to book anything.

 

[Little E]

Hi Disfriends! Like all of you, I'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of this offer. DH and I are AP holders, but our sons are not. (DH and I go to WDW more frequently than our kids do, which makes the APs worth it to us.) When we take family trips, I buy my guys tickets. Trips with our sons are pretty much always during the week. So, I'm thinking it might be a benefit to us to pay the $99 if the ticket discounts are good. Does anyone have a guess as to what the ticket prices might be...or when Disney will announce the cost of these discounted ticket prices? This information is what I really need to determine if I'll pay the $99.

We have used the DVC lounge a couple of times, but more often than not we have had to wait a long time due to lengthy waitlists. If the $99 helps with that, it's another consideration. I wouldn't pay the $99 if the DVC lounge was the only "perk" but that, paired with the ticket discounts might make sense.

TIA!

 

[davidhr]

Since you are familiar with Universal, would you say it is more spontaneous and less planning-oriented than Disney?

Like others have said, all the Disney news this week is daunting. I feel like there is so much planning now for Disney, that it is arduous and not spontaneous. I miss old times when you would decide in the morning which park to visit first.

Not who you asked, but I go to universal frequently.

It definitely feels more spontaneous. You pretty much show up and that’s all. If you get the express pass (which isn’t cheap), you don’t need to plan when to do rides.

It also helps that Universal doesn’t have anything worth making a dining reservation.

Having said that, you can make Disney World as complicated as you want. Most of our trips we only get a dining reservation for the evening (normally at a resort or Disney Springs), and don’t plan too much the parks. But we are veterans and don’t mind skipping a ride if the wait is too long.

I’m a big Harry Potter fan and think the Wizarding World there is one of the best themed sections at any park. But besides that, Disney World is superior. Really excited to see what Epic Universe brings.

 

[MyDogTink]

I think so. If you book a room at one of the hotels that includes the EP, you don't have to really plan anything. Maybe a couple dining reservations but not at 60 days out. You just book a room, buy tickets and show up. No rope dropping, no scheduling times for rides, no waking up at the butt crack of dawn to book anything.

Sounds like a relaxing vacation!

 

[RachaelA]

I feel the same way. The priority access to the lounges is the only benefit I have an issue with and believe it impacts my perks as a direct purchaser (I know perks can come and go). I am retaining my direct benefit of access to lounges but this perk is diminishing in its value. I wonder how guides will pitch this? With your direct membership, you have access to lounges, but if you pay just a bit more you will have quicker access and enjoy character meet and greets?

I wonder if the Welcome Home Weeks this summer factored into the role out of this? Part of Welcome Home Weeks were the character meet and greets.

The concerns shouldn't be if the same program increases in price. The concern should be if other perks are moved into this program. Annual pass and MM are only available to those in the MMB program?

My opinion is leave the current perks grandfathered and add new perks to a program like this.

We went to Welcome Home Weeks. We did the very last day of the Frozen character meets and it was basically empty. We were with 2 other families. And we saw no one entering as we left.

I bet DVC thinks if they charge for it, it becomes that much more sought after and exclusive. People will want to take advantage if they are paying for it. Plus then they make lots of money.

 

[Ruttangel]

I guess I see 95 points for the sorcerers pass decent and if that is the case plan to buy 2 of our 5 passes that way for next year with points. Sure renting can be better but the last two times we tried to rent we got crickets..we have rented successfully in the past though plus you don't get all the money right away.

Why would you not just rent out 95 points for and then use the cash.
Surely that’s better value?

 

[zackiedawg]

Glad some may have other options that can make them happy - if you like Universal, then that provides a direct comparison to Disney and you may find the value or the complexity just works out better for you there.

For me, Universal holds zero appeal - there's literally not one ride, theme, or IP that I like or follow - so as Disney keeps making these greedy paywall moves for more and more things, it won't drive me to Universal - it might just eventually drive me away from Disney. Which is sad, because I've been a complete Disney fan and follower since I visited WDW in its opening month with my family, and have never gone a single year since without visiting a Disney park, usually 4-5 times a year. I've had APs since they became available, and DVC since 1996.

I never considered any of the incremental changes, price increases, and loss of perks to be a line in the sand for visiting, but cumulatively over the years, and now the massive changes since the pandemic and the last few years in pricing and converting once-free perks or benefits to pay-wall, it is wearing on me. I still go to Disney often, but find my trips have changed - I certainly go on a lot fewer rides since I don't buy any extra LL stuff - it's standby only for me, and if the line is too long, I'll skip it. Some dinner reservations are very difficult to get lately that I used to get regularly (I never liked the advanced dining reservation system being 60 days out - I just like my vacations to be much more relaxed and spontaneous). I used to always pop over to other resorts for dinners and valet since valet was free for DVCers - now, I still do that if I'm staying at a resort with valet parking that I've already paid for, but when I'm there staying at OKW or Saratoga, it's not worth paying $40 to park at one resort for dinner, so I avoid it. Now simple things like the DVC lounge will be harder to get into unless I want to pay another $100. Sometimes it may not impact me in a slower season, but there are times it very likely will.

I'm still looking more down the road - for now, I'll keep going as I always have, 4-5 times a year, and see how these things impact my trip enjoyment. I may end up just being the frog in the pot as the water starts to boil and accept it, but as I come up on the Boardwalk DVC end date, it might impact whether I decide to re-up and buy again. I'd hope Disney sees the light at some point and starts to take down some of these greedy paywall moves, or restores some perks...maybe lifelong fans who visit their parks every year for 53 years, spend thousands a year on DVC dues, APs, and high-end restaurants and alcohol purchases are not who Disney wants there anymore - they may bet that there are enough one-time families who will save up to spend one big splurge and never return to keep their revenues going, or buy into every pay-to-play extra and perk for their one trip. I hope not - I imagine I've spent more at Disney in my lifetime than 60% of the people who visit any of their parks, and would be happy to continue doing so. As long as I feel like I get enough enjoyment out of it for what I pay...I can still do that by avoiding most of these superfluous add-ons that used to be free, but each perk removed or line extended because I won't pay an extra nickel or dime for the privilege makes my enjoyment go down a point or two - eventually that line may get crossed if they continue down this path.

 

[xdan0920]

I think there are a lot of people that object to the mere existence of these types of programs. Same with the Premier Pass.

The only part I object to in principle is the priority access to the lounges. I think all members deserve equal access to the lounges on a first come first served basis.

The rest I don't mind if some folks feel it's worth the money and others don't.

But I do share your concern that the price is only going to increase from here

The price will increase and all DVC “benefits” will move behind the paywall.

 

[RachaelA]

Since you are familiar with Universal, would you say it is more spontaneous and less planning-oriented than Disney?

Like others have said, all the Disney news this week is daunting. I feel like there is so much planning now for Disney, that it is arduous and not spontaneous. I miss old times when you would decide in the morning which park to visit first.

Universal is SO SO much easier and spontaneous (if you stay at a premier resort). We actually bailed on our Disney APs for the first few years after Covid and got Universal annual passes. We took a year off of our Universal passes now (since we have Disney APs again) and we already regret it and will buy them again in the spring.

My kids love Disney (they are 100% future Disney adults), but they want to do universal at the end of every one of our Florida trips because they love the freedom of just winging it at Universal because of the Express pass. We just do only 1 early morning a trip to get Hagrids in.

In the end if I had to only pick one, I’d still pick Disney, but Universal (mainly Harry Potter) is a blast. I think Epic Universe is going to make all of Disney’s new rides look like a bit of a joke

 

[Ruttangel]

https://dvcfan.com/general-dvc/hey-...2af9e951fe8915ddcb210c60d02a695#comment-26668

 

[AstroBlasters]

Universal is SO SO much easier and spontaneous (if you stay at a premier resort). We actually bailed on our Disney APs for the first few years after Covid and got Universal annual passes. We took a year off of our Universal passes now (since we have Disney APs again) and we already regret it and will buy them again in the spring.

My kids love Disney (they are 100% future Disney adults), but they want to do universal at the end of every one of our Florida trips because they love the freedom of just winging it at Universal because of the Express pass. We just do only 1 early morning a trip to get Hagrids in.

In the end if I had to only pick one, I’d still pick Disney, but Universal (mainly Harry Potter) is a blast. I think Epic Universe is going to make all of Disney’s new rides look like a bit of a joke

It’s easier and less expensive because most of the rides give people motion sickness….

 

[davidhr]

Ironically, a lot of people were asking for years to have a pass similar to Universal. They were saying it was ok if it was expensive so not everyone would get it and defeat the purpose of the pass.

Seems like people like to point out Universal for things that are “better” but in reality they don’t want those things

 

[2010dvcfan]

I do not see this as any "perk" I think it's a very clear cut sign that if this is popular we can expect to begin paying for all of our "perks"

 

[CarolynFH]

It’s easier and less expensive because most of the rides give people motion sickness….

And if you’re Shrek-size, you can’t fit in the seats, either.