Membership Magic Beyond

[Genie+]

I do feel bad for any non-USA resident DVC owner. I feel like they got majorly slighted by this upcharge. I feel like that population of DVC Owners have the best rationale to be upset. I am sorry they decided to leave you all out. I will support emailing DVC to let them know that eligible non-USA owners shouldn’t be excluded

I’m thinking it has to do with international law the same way issues were caused with pre-purchasing LL or buying DVC direct via phone.

 

[Genie+]

It could be international people can add this on once they get to Orlando?

 

[PalmettoPath]

It could be international people can add this on once they get to Orlando?

I sent an email to DVC, so we'll see what they say. Not holding out much hope though. I have purchased add-on points direct by phone from Canada so not sure what is the reason in this case.

 

[PalmettoPath]

It could be international people can add this on once they get to Orlando?

It says U.S. citizens (or residents, can't recall off-hand), so not sure. I'll see what they say as I inquired by email.

 

[permavac]

Who's wondering if those cabins are the source of huge number of floating points available and dvc wanting to make lemonade from it?

I think this plus a lot of other reasons DVC is left holding the bag on expiring points (buy-backs, etc).

I don't see this product as a money grab necessarily. At least a couple of components seem to me to be more of a win-win for some DVC owners and DVC:

- There are people who have so much money and so many points that they routinely exchange them (a poor value) to buy cruises and such. They're getting that hated $95 fee waived. If you exchange more than once, that's a savings. DVC has to do something with those points traded in so they're probably going to be able to unload more of them with MMB.
- We bought Memory Maker as an add on to our APs ONE time. We stopped using it pretty quickly because how many pictures do you need of yourself in front of the castle and with Mickey? We won't buy it again. By giving MM free for a 30-day period we'll end up using it during the time we have family members come visit us. They'll be exposed to the MM website when they log in to get their pictures. It's free marketing to them and maybe if they come take a trip on their own, they might buy it.

So I think we're seeing some stuff that we wish they would give us for free (discounted tickets, character meet and greets at the lounge) bundled with things they're trying hard to sell (OTUP and MM) and things they're giving to their top tier buyers (priority access to lounges, ability to use points to buy SP and wavied $95 transaction fee).

And yes, start the price low enough to make it an easy purchase for some of us at first with the hope that it becomes a habit by the time the price goes beyond the value we get out of it (like all subscription service providers do). The sky is the limit too on what they can add every year - Disney+ comes to mind.

We love Disney and DVC but we keep our eyes open. We don't buy LL. We'll only ever have one MagicBand each. We don't do the dessert parties. We don't pay for D23. We'll buy this MMB because it makes sense for us and we won't if it doesn't.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We are DVC-Y across multiple contracts/resorts. Whilst we wouldn’t use the park ticket discounts since we have APs and already add MM, I could see that there may be value to us to get reduced cost OTP and if priority is given to getting into the oh so elusive DVC lounges that could also be beneficial.
But no, wait - when is DVC-Y not DVC-Y? … When you’re international of course! Not cool Disney, but DH says it does have the bonus of ensuring our wallet will be staying firmly shut so Disney are finally saving us some money lol. Great job marketing.

Same. DVC-Intl (CAD in our case) gets the shaft on this one. I emailed to ask what's up with the exclusion and relegation to second class DVC

 

[Genie+]

It says U.S. citizens (or residents, can't recall off-hand), so not sure. I'll see what they say as I inquired by email.

It’ll be interesting to see how they respond. They may be limited in what they could say though. International people figured out how to get around the pre-purchase LL but Disney stayed tight lipped there, sticking to the word of law and not giving advice or explanation why is wouldn’t be as big a deal as it first seemed. Maybe that too would be breaking the law.

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/international-guests-advance-booking-lightning-lanes-disney-world/

“It’s our understanding that this relates to regulatory issues and laws outside of the United States (particularly in Europe), and it’s easier for Walt Disney World to ‘opt out’ of those by not offering the app than it is complying with a variety of local laws. That may annoy you, but Disney isn’t the only American company weighing whether it’s worth having a presence in certain foreign markets due to these added costs of doing business.

In any case, it also makes sense for Walt Disney World to make this “rule” as easy as possible to side-step, with an easy solution and wink-and-nod type attitude towards guests who break the “rule” (air quotes all around). All Disney is going for is ostensible regulatory compliance–they couldn’t care less what guests do (to the contrary, they want people spending as much money as possible), so long as Disney doesn’t draw undo legal scrutiny in international markets.”

 

[PalmettoPath]

It’ll be interesting to see how they respond. They may be limited in what they could say though. International people figured out how to get around the pre-purchase LL but Disney stayed tight lipped there, sticking to the word of law and not giving advice or explanation why is wouldn’t be as big a deal as it first seemed. Maybe that too would be breaking the law.

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/international-guests-advance-booking-lightning-lanes-disney-world/

“It’s our understanding that this relates to regulatory issues and laws outside of the United States (particularly in Europe), and it’s easier for Walt Disney World to ‘opt out’ of those by not offering the app than it is complying with a variety of local laws. That may annoy you, but Disney isn’t the only American company weighing whether it’s worth having a presence in certain foreign markets due to these added costs of doing business.

In any case, it also makes sense for Walt Disney World to make this “rule” as easy as possible to side-step, with an easy solution and wink-and-nod type attitude towards guests who break the “rule” (air quotes all around). All Disney is going for is ostensible regulatory compliance–they couldn’t care less what guests do (to the contrary, they want people spending as much money as possible), so long as Disney doesn’t draw undo legal scrutiny in international markets.”

Yeah. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. We will give it a shot regardless in December when the on-sale day comes, plus we will watch to see what they say in response to our note. With add-on points, we cannot do it through the DVC website functionality, but we can do it by phone. The only difference here being that it specifically excludes non-U.S., whereas add-on does not (I don't think).

An interesting similar comparison was back a few years when they announced they were stopping non-U.S. D23 memberships. (we emailed about that one too, for good measure). Then they reversed that decision and continued to allow international (or at least Canadian) members.

Anyway, it's always worth inquiring and trying to see how it goes.

 

[Genie+]

Yeah. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. We will give it a shot regardless in December when the on-sale day comes, plus we will watch to see what they say in response to our note. With add-on points, we cannot do it through the DVC website functionality, but we can do it by phone. The only difference here being that it specifically excludes non-U.S., whereas add-on does not (I don't think).

An interesting similar comparison was back a few years when they announced they were stopping non-U.S. D23 memberships. (we emailed about that one too, for good measure). Then they reversed that decision and continued to allow international (or at least Canadian) members.

Anyway, it's always worth inquiring and trying to see how it goes.

I don't know much about international regulations but from what I’ve come across on the BBC made it look like US/Canada is becoming more compatible while EU and UK has been going the other direction. Privacy and consumer advocacy are a higher priority in some places.

 

[Cfabar1]

DVD pays a lot for the privilege of selling you APs to the parks is my guess.

That costs them money is my guess, but maybe not anymore since they are not discounted?

I think DVD is going to be looking carefully at the ticket usage statistics and ask the question why are we letting people buy APs for free, and having them pay extra for the privilege of a multiday 5 day ticket. Outside of the DISboards, where we have a lot of people who visit for 4 days at a time 3 times a year in their 2 BR villa, I wonder what the typical points use actually looks like…

I do think whatever the paid DVC Membership Perk membership program evolves into, it needs to be less expensive than $500. $249 sounds about pitch perfect to me…. No way this program stays at $99…

Unless they are expanding the EPCOT lounge, it is going to be absolutely terrible to add a character meet and greet up there…. It means, i would imagine, less seating capacity, and higher demand since there is now the ability to meet Darkwing Duck or Cogsworth or Gonzo wearing a DVC baseball cap upstairs….

 

[MISCdisney21]

24 points for under $15 and no dues on points. What am I missing? Why shouldn’t I do it?

 

[Sandisw]

One can purchase 24 OTU points per membership, right? If you have 2 memberships, I wonder if that would carry over in that you can get 48 OTU points averaging $10 each with only one $99 Beyond fee.

The way I read the rules, is that each member will be allowed one set of points using the benefit.

So, you will get the BOGO free benefit on up to 24 points, whether you use some on one membership or more than one because it is member who is eligilbe.

You still get your 24 per membership…that isn’t changing…but, you are only getting up to 12 free

No, I could be wrong, but that is my interpretation of the T &Cs.

 

[Sandisw]

Can you transfer OTUP between memberships?

No.

 

[DonMacGregor]

24 points for under $15 and no dues on points. What am I missing? Why shouldn’t I do it?

Because Disney bad.

 

[CarolynFH]

can you buy points and addon if you already have something and there is availability?

Yes, that’s exactly how I’ve used it. Booked a resort at 7 months, as many nights as I could online at 8:00, then called MS at 9:00 to buy the OTUP and complete the reservation. That would also work with a reservation made at 11 months and added onto at 7.

By giving MM free for a 30-day period we'll end up using it during the time we have family members come visit us. They'll be exposed to the MM website when they log in to get their pictures.

Unfortunately, if they log into the PhotoPass (MM) website with their own credentials they’ll see the photos with watermarks across them. Your PhotoPass/MM account will be the only one that can actually see and download them without watermarks (because you own the MM) - then you can share them by your favorite means.

 

[permavac]

Unfortunately, if they log into the PhotoPass (MM) website with their own credentials they’ll see the photos with watermarks across them. Your PhotoPass/MM account will be the only one that can actually see and download them without watermarks (because you own the MM) - then you can share them by your favorite means.

I must have shared my password with my SIL back then - it was like 13 years ago

 

[DanCali]

24 points for under $15 and no dues on points. What am I missing? Why shouldn’t I do it?

It's basically renting points at $14-15/pt, but you can't use them at 7-11 months.

It's more than the cost of dues. Less than renting from an owner (but renting from an owner can potentially get a cheaper room at 11 months out).

I'd do it if I needed the points, but I don't see a need to force the issue.

(P.S. If you pay the $99 regardless of using/renting OTU points, like many might do, then it's a "sunk cost" and the incremental cost of the OTU points is really just $10/pt, which is in the ballpark of just the annual dues for most resorts)

 

[lowlight]

Other companies (e.g. Marriott - see here) usually design their benefits so that the more you buy direct, the more benefits you get (dedicated phone lines, better booking windows, extended banking deadlines, longer banking "shelf life", access to "extras" etc).

Is that really what DVC is striving to emulate then? Crappiott? I guess I should have saved a ton of money and bought into that timeshare system then, if that’s our future.

You can be upset all you want, don’t buy it if it doesn’t give you value. However, don’t complain if other people see the value in this option and buy it.

We are all tied in to this system together, so the actions of a few impact us all.

 

[Hubalorian]

We are all tied in to this system together, so the actions of a few impact us all.

If a few are the only ones that buy, then Disney won’t press this issue. If it’s a success and majority buy, you are then in the minority.

It’s also not too late, sell you stake and buy Marriot if you believe they’ll end up being identical products. No one is stopping you.

 

[tidefan]

You know what is interesting is if you follow the boards long enough, you learn something (that I probably should have already figured out). Since in our 17 years of ownership we've borrowed points EXACTLY 1 time (and, we bank every single year), I just figured that OTUP was a non-issue. I guess I didn't realize how many people needed to buy points.

We have no need for OTUP or MM or express pass for lounge access, so this is a hard pass for us, but I guess some will get the use out of it. I do disagree with they "aren't taking anything away from current owners" in that now, for most of us, our waits at the DVC lounge will be longer, but as I've said before, I can buy a lot of Coke Zero to just bring in with me for $99...