Membership Magic Beyond

[jennypenny]

I expect use of the lounges to go way up because if priority access is now something that people pay for, they will more likely try to use it to get their money's worth. If I'm right, it will be very hard to get a 'free' seat in the lounge.

@Sandisw Your unwavering support for DVC seems a little misplaced here. It might not bother you, but for many this additional cost gets added to the ever-growing list of things that used to be free at Disney that members now pay for like airport transportation, magic bands, and fast passes. Surely you can understand why that irritates people?

 

[DVCsloth]

It took a little while for the lounge to catch on. When we first started going there was hardly any wait. The last few times it seems like we needed to wait. We just put our name on the list, and they call us back pretty quickly. You can usually cool off on Figment or possibly catch a Pixar show.

 

[Sandisw]

Because in the current culture and media, Disney is being portrayed as greedy and unaffordable by the average family. DVC was a way for people to basically pledge their loyalty to Disney, and everyone who bought direct was treated equally. But now, Disney is making DVC the same thing - at some point as the price of MMB increases (and we know it will), it will cause class separation of DVC owners.

And (maybe this is melodramatic) but history tells us that class separation is bad.

I guess that is really where we see things differently…

I am simply not going to be upset when a business makes a business decision. I will weigh it’s pros and cons and do what’s best for me.

But, I won’t begrudge anyone else or judge anyone else who chooses something I would not because it makes sense for them.

And, I guess I am pretty surprised that some think that the bulk of those who are getting priority would consider themselves above others. Thst has not been the experience I have had in my life with friends, family and strangers.

 

[davidhr]

I find you not understanding what is implied by that term equally weird.

We are all Disney adults here. Don’t see any reason to be surprised

 

[tx911]

While some see the priority waitlist for the lounge a downgrade, not everyone will and again, why is that not okay?

Last year, we had one lounge…by next year there are three…who knows how many more might pop up… to me that is a big plus.

Now we have options for things that have real value to some members…and those of us who are happy should be allowed to be okay with that, shouldn’t we??

I get people are disappointed that waits may be longer, especially if you have experienced them… but Id venture that a lot of people outside the DIS will view this as a net positive gain for the program and not a net negative.

My issue with that particular benefit is that it comes at the expense of other members. If I buy one time use points at half price, it has zero effect on other members.

It’s the same reason I don’t like walking reservations. It’s an advantage that comes at the expense of other people.

 

[Sandisw]

I expect use of the lounges to go way up because if priority access is now something that people pay for, they will more likely try to use it to get their money's worth. If I'm right, it will be very hard to get a 'free' seat in the lounge.

@Sandisw Your unwavering support for DVC seems a little misplaced here. It might not bother you, but for many this additional cost gets added to the ever-growing list of things that used to be free at Disney that members now pay for like airport transportation, magic bands, and fast passes. Surely you can understand why that irritates people?

I get people being upset/irratated. And I have said many times, they have the right to be bothered by it.

But I simply can’t be upset about something for the sake of being upset. I have always viewed perks as a bonus and I roll with changes for this and in life. I apply thst to all the decisions Disney..and quite frankly all companies…has changed over the years.

In this case, DVC is offering me a benefit that I see a very valuable right now. At a point in time it’s not, as I have said, then I don’t buy.

But, I am certainly never going to judge people who do or don’t buy… or say, yes, this is bad for DVC owners when I simply don’t believe it is. It’s a change to terms for the lounge.

What I am defending here is this particular program has some really positive things for owners who value them and I personally am glad to see them doing something to enhance the program. Fee based or not.

For me, and potentially others , IMO, it appears to be a net positive for the membership as a whole, especially at the price point it is at.

I posted earlier…isn’t this what resale buyers do all the time…they decide if what DVC direct offers is or is not valuable?

Maybe where it really lies is my belief that I bought this for me and my family.

When and if Disney or DVC does something that no longer works, and I see no value, then I no longer support them. I’d be disappointed but certainly can’t say I’d be mad or upset, especially at anyone whose threshold is higher than mine.

 

[PalmettoPath]

In this case, I think it is…it’s a net positive for the membership as a whole, especially at the price point it is at.

Well, maybe not the membership as a whole...signed, a DVC-Y Canadian member.
Which is my issue.
We don't even have the chance to say yes or no to buy-in. Which puts us at the very back.

 

[New Mouse]

While some see the priority waitlist for the lounge a downgrade, not everyone will and again, why is that not okay?

Because its not an opinion question. It's quantifiable that people are losing something to those who pay for privilege. Ditto the special events that will close the lounge.

Ask yourself - will Disney ever offer another ticket "discount" to DVC members who don't pay to be part of the club within the club?


What is the point of charging people to get a discount As opposed to.offering it to all members?


You can feel it doesn't affect someone a lot, but you can't argue that it doesn't affect every single person who doesn't pay.

We have all already paid to be part of the club that now looks like a bunch of used car salesman.

Look as Disney as a whole and the absurd level of upcharges we are at now in every facet of the company. And not just upcharges, but obscene upcharges.

Heck, D23 is now multiple levels of pay wall with even worse execution. That is literally the pathway we are just starting down.

DVC seemed to be somewhat insulated from that until now. Hell, arguably DVC and something like Moonlight Magic (which has progressively gotten worse) were one of the old magical Disney things that still existed. Now comes the pay wall to basically kill that off over time.

It used to be special to be part of DVC. It used to be sold as more than just a room. It is getting to the point where it is now just a room. And a watered down resort experience in many cases. Thank you for your $20k and 50 years of maintenance fees.

 

[BeachClub2014]

My issue with that particular benefit is that it comes at the expense of other members. If I buy one time use points at half price, it has zero effect on other members.

It’s the same reason I don’t like walking reservations. It’s an advantage that comes at the expense of other people.

I get that perception and can empathize with the feelings this new perk has enflamed. My genuine question is whether the folks who have heartburn with this change had the same heartburn when historically free fastpasses were put behind a paywall? It's the exact same scenario.

....and to avoid any potential flaming, I am not defending DVC and haven't decided whether I will even buy the doggone $99 perk package. I'm still on the fence.

 

[PrincessGidget]

Not a perk.
If you have to pay for it it is not a perk!

 

[Sandisw]

Because its not an opinion question. It's quantifiable that people are losing something to those who pay for privilege. Ditto the special events that will close the lounge.

Ask yourself - will Disney ever offer another ticket "discount" to DVC members who don't pay to be part of the club within the club?


What is the point of charging people to get a discount As opposed to.offering it to all members?


You can feel it doesn't affect someone a lot, but you can't argue that it doesn't affect every single person who doesn't pay.

We have all already paid to be part of the club that now looks like a bunch of used car salesman.

Look as Disney as a whole and the absurd level of upcharges we are at now in every facet of the company. And not just upcharges, but obscene upcharges.

Heck, D23 is now multiple levels of pay wall with even worse execution. That is literally the pathway we are just starting down.

DVC seemed to be somewhat insulated from that until now. Hell, arguably DVC and something like Moonlight Magic (which has progressively gotten worse) were one of the old magical Disney things that still existed. Now comes the pay wall to basically kill that off over time.

It used to be special to be part of DVC. It used to be sold as more than just a room. It is getting to the point where it is now just a room. And a watered down resort experience in many cases. Thank you for your $20k and 50 years of maintenance fees.

There is a big difference between impact owner and that impact being seen as a big deal to every owner, isn’t it? Thst is what I am referring to when I say that this change is not going to matter to each owner in the same way.

My response is still the same. The benefits that come with this offer, offer more, IMO, to the membership as a whole than the potential additional wait time one might experience, especially now that DVC is adding two additional lounges by 2025.

I keep trying to explain but you are right, I simply can’t get behind that this is a bad program to offer DVC owners…. And, I am okay that others don’t like my take on it all.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Not a perk.
If you have to pay for it it is not a perk!

I offer the following from the DVC website. If my memory is correct, this language is also in the governing documents.

Important Information about Membership Extras:
Membership Extras—such as exchange options in the Disney Collection, options offered through hotel exchange, certain discounts, offers and special events—are incidental benefits. These incidental benefits are subject to change or termination without notice, may require the payment of a fee and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Membership Extras are also subject to availability and blockout dates may apply, including high periods of demand such as Christmas and New Year’s Day. To receive any Membership Extras, purchasers must present a valid digital Disney Vacation Club Membership Card along with a corresponding valid photo ID. Effective June 3, 2021, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 150 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, LLC. Exchange options in the Disney Collection and options offered through hotel exchange are not available for ownership interests not purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, LLC after March 21, 2011, and, effective April 4, 2016, Members who have not purchased an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development, LLC will not have access to Membership Extras.

 

[Sandisw]

Not a perk.
If you have to pay for it it is not a perk!

You are right… we shouldn’t call them perks. They are membership extras offered to us because we own DVC….and sometimes will be offered for no additional fee.

 

[Unclelude]

Idk, Disney gives floridians special treatment... It's a perk moving to FLA! All you Canadians can have perks too!!! C'mon down to the USA!!!

Then you can roll around with Donald and Daisy in the imaginloungeinarium while you giggle at all the blue cards and white cards ( and I guess foreigners now too ) sweating outside waiting for the AC and 'free' coke zero.

ETA, I guess they aren't perks... But boy it's cool to be DVC-BY!!!

 

[lowlight]

But, I am certainly never going to judge people who do or don’t buy… or say, yes, this is bad for DVC owners when I simply don’t believe it is.

There are two conversations going on here. Is this package worth it for people who want it? Is this package acceptable to people who don’t want it? This isn’t an innocuous package where it doesn’t hurt people who don’t want it. It does. Worth it is a subjective question, but does it take away something is objectively true. It does. Period. You may be ok with what it takes away or think it isn’t a big deal, but that doesn’t change the fact that it does.

 

[BeachClub2014]

For those outraged that DVC is creating DVC-Y class warfare over the MMB offering, should regular ticket holders or the folks staying at value or moderate resorts be selectively outraged over the new Lightening Lane Premier Pass? https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/disneys-new-lightning-lane-premier-pass-isnt-that-bad/

The principle is the same as the discussion here. When the elites staying at a deluxe or DVC resort buy this new LLPP, the experience of other guests is degraded.

 

[Sandisw]

There are two conversations going on here. Is this package worth it for people who want it? Is this package acceptable to people who don’t want it? This isn’t an innocuous package where it doesn’t hurt people who don’t want it. It does. Worth it is a subjective question, but does it take away something is objectively true. It does. Period. You may be ok with what it takes away or think it isn’t a big deal, but that doesn’t change the fact that it does.

Yes, it makes someone have to wait longer who doesn’t pay when it’s crowded.

It is definitely a change to the program and if I wasn’t clear that it is, then yes, it is.

But isn’t that change coming with benefits we don’t already have? Isn’t that really the discussion?

Is the introduction of a priority waitlist for lounges worth accepting in exchange for the other tangible benefits we are getting for a fee?

Some will say yes and some will say no. And, that, as you say, is subjective.

Every decision DVC makes impacts owners. It’s just that not every owner will see them the same way…

 

[lowlight]

For those outraged that DVC is creating DVC-Y class warfare over the MMB offering, should regular ticket holders or the folks staying at value or moderate resorts be selectively outraged over the new Lightening Lane Premier Pass? https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/disneys-new-lightning-lane-premier-pass-isnt-that-bad/

The principle is the same as the discussion here. When the elites staying at a deluxe or DVC resort buy this new LLPP, the experience of other guests is degraded.

I’ll go one further and say that LLPP shouldn’t exist for anyone. It’s not ok that it exists for deluxe and not moderate, it’s not ok that it exists at all. In my own personal opinion of course. I didn’t like Genie+ either. I also don’t like how they limited DAS to only certain disabilities that are the most faked. Want to open all the cans of worms?

 

[New Mouse]

For those outraged that DVC is creating DVC-Y class warfare over the MMB offering, should regular ticket holders or the folks staying at value or moderate resorts be selectively outraged over the new Lightening Lane Premier Pass? https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/disneys-new-lightning-lane-premier-pass-isnt-that-bad/

The principle is the same as the discussion here. When the elites staying at a deluxe or DVC resort buy this new LLPP, the experience of other guests is degraded.

Yes, they should be outraged. And the Deluxe hotel guests (and DVC) should be insulted at the disgusting price point.

At this point every single move Disney makes is not about the guest. That's part of why I'm outraged about this new upcharge.

There's no reason they couldn't offer ALL of these besides the lounge benefit without an upcharge. There is minimal additional cost to them to do so.

 

[tx911]

For those outraged that DVC is creating DVC-Y class warfare over the MMB offering, should regular ticket holders or the folks staying at value or moderate resorts be selectively outraged over the new Lightening Lane Premier Pass? https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/disneys-new-lightning-lane-premier-pass-isnt-that-bad/

The principle is the same as the discussion here. When the elites staying at a deluxe or DVC resort buy this new LLPP, the experience of other guests is degraded.

I dispute that the experience of other guests will be perceptibly degraded by LLPP, but we will see.

Idk. DVC is a special club that people pay 10s of thousands of dollars over the course of many decades to be a member of.

That special club included some special benefits that were not available to guests who were not club members. Now those benefits are susceptible to being removed or put behind a paywall. Not to mention that some members of that club are not even eligible to purchase if they wanted to.

It just feels different to me than the evolution of Fastpass to Genie+.