Membership Magic Beyond

[J-Dog]

Am I going crazy, or is the lounge still there (or at least it will be when it finally reopens after the refurb)? So what is all this FUD about? You don't need to buy the buy-up plan to get your Coke Zero and bag of cheez-its.

The issue that many of us have with the lounge is when a waiting list occurs - at that point, members who pay for this will be put above members who haven't. It creates the notion of a 2-tiered system for members, in which fair access is essentially being "taken away" from those who don't pay this fee, which is unprecedented by DVC and, IMO, worrisome.

You seem to be trying to minimize it, but the importance of the lounge is to you is irrelevant.

 

[SL6827]

The issue that many of us have with the lounge is when a waiting list occurs - at that point, members who pay for this will be put above members who haven't. It creates the notion of a 2-tiered system for members, in which fair access is essentially being "taken away" from those who don't pay this fee, which is unprecedented by DVC and, IMO, worrisome.

You seem to be trying to minimize it, but the importance of the lounge is to you is irrelevant.

Ya, this is what I see. And if they will do this, what will they do next? Slippery slope? Is it a one time $99 fee? Or every year?

 

[muppets3d]

The issue that many of us have with the lounge is when a waiting list occurs - at that point, members who pay for this will be put above members who haven't. It creates the notion of a 2-tiered system for members, in which fair access is essentially being "taken away" from those who don't pay this fee, which is unprecedented by DVC and, IMO, worrisome.

You seem to be trying to minimize it, but the importance of the lounge is to you is irrelevant.

I'm not trying to minimize it, but people are acting like the lounges are moving behind a paywall and that is not true at all. Let's just try to keep some perspective here. When the lounges are on a waitlist (frankly I've never had a wait longer than 10 minutes), they'll seat those who have bought the buy-up plan first. While I agree it stinks for those of us who don't buy it (I won't, and I hope many of us don't to tell them we don't need it), I'm not screaming either because I don't see it as being a huge impact. At least - not yet!

 

[SL6827]

I'm not trying to minimize it, but people are acting like the lounges are moving behind a paywall and that is not true at all. Let's just try to keep some perspective here. When the lounges are on a waitlist (frankly I've never had a wait longer than 10 minutes), they'll seat those who have bought the buy-up plan first. While I agree it stinks for those of us who don't buy it (I won't, and I hope many of us don't to tell them we don't need it), I'm not screaming either because I don't see it as being a huge impact. At least - not yet!

Totally get that. But I just look at it as Disney testing the waters for the future. And probably not in a good way.

 

[J-Dog]

Totally get that. But I just look at it as Disney testing the waters for the future. And probably not in a good way.

Yes. This exactly. This to me seems to be the poster-child for what a "slippery slope" can be.

 

[tx911]

I'm not trying to minimize it, but people are acting like the lounges are moving behind a paywall and that is not true at all. Let's just try to keep some perspective here. When the lounges are on a waitlist (frankly I've never had a wait longer than 10 minutes), they'll seat those who have bought the buy-up plan first. While I agree it stinks for those of us who don't buy it (I won't, and I hope many of us don't to tell them we don't need it), I'm not screaming either because I don't see it as being a huge impact. At least - not yet!

Ok, but imagine a busy park day in which a -BY member walks up to the lounge check-in every 10-15 minutes.

The question is what happens to the lowly -B member in that situation? Do they continuously get bumped down the list and thereby never gain access?

 

[SL6827]

Ok, but imagine a busy park day in which a -BY member walks up to the lounge check-in every 10-15 minutes.

The question is what happens to the lowly -B member in that situation? Do they continuously get bumped down the list and thereby never gain access?

That's what I was thinking. I have no idea though.

 

[muppets3d]

Ok, but imagine a busy park day in which a -BY member walks up to the lounge check-in every 10-15 minutes.

The question is what happens to the lowly -B member in that situation? Do they continuously get bumped down the list and thereby never gain access?

Same thing that happens on Guardians of the Galaxy, they take so many buy-up guests before they take the "standby" guests. I don't see that being a big issue in practice though. I mean, like I said the most I've ever waited for a table at the Epcot lounge (back when it was the only lounge in the entire DVC portfolio) was maybe 10 minutes. Often it's a walk-up. I don't see that changing, to be honest.

 

[muppets3d]

Totally get that. But I just look at it as Disney testing the waters for the future. And probably not in a good way.

All we can hope is that DVC members reject it and they give up on the idea. That's my hope, anyway.

It seems pretty obvious that the parks want Lightning Lane Multi-pass to basically be a required purchase, I hope that DVC doesn't get to where this buy-up is a requirement to "fully experience" the timeshare. If they do, well maybe there will be a favorite week for sale in the near future from me - and a few other contracts as well. I may take a loss, but the sunk cost fallacy is something I won't get caught up in.

 

[SL6827]

All we can hope is that DVC members reject it and they give up on the idea. That's my hope, anyway.

It seems pretty obvious that the parks want Lightning Lane Multi-pass to basically be a required purchase, I hope that DVC doesn't get to where this buy-up is a requirement to "fully experience" the timeshare. If they do, well maybe there will be a favorite week for sale in the near future from me - and a few other contracts as well. I may take a loss, but the sunk cost fallacy is something I won't get caught up in.

Correct. Seems as if DVC could lose it's distinction from the other timeshares currently out there with the direction they are heading.

When they tried not once, but twice to screw over owners with the lock off premium, that got me to thinking then, they are heading south. That was the purest of greed right there.

 

[DVCsloth]

Maybe I'm not seeing this the same way but, it seems like for $99 Disney is giving us a pretty good DVC enhancement.
The only tradeoff is you may need to wait a little longer to get into the lounge during peak times.

 

[Sandisw]

Ya, this is what I see. And if they will do this, what will they do next? Slippery slope? Is it a one time $99 fee? Or every year?

The program offers several things for a yearly fee which will be $99 for 2025.

The only aspects of this program that didn’t exist before is a priority waitlist for the lounge, when it’s full and special events for character meet and greets.

But every other benefit that is included is an actual reduction in cost to owners.

Here is what we get for $99 in 2025:

The 30 day Memory Maker…current cost $210 so a $111 discount

BOGO free OTU points…up to the maximum…a potential $240 savings

Ability to purchase up to eight discounted 5 day park passes with an additional water park day for your family (savings not known yet)

Waiver of the $95 trade fee for cruises and changes to those trips

Ability to trade points into the AP vs paying cash

So, while the concern about priority access to the lounge is a concern for some, it’s hard to say that the net result of this program isn’t going to save DVC Y owners money who choose to participate.

Of course, not all owners are interested in these new discounts but at the same time, not all owners will care about DVC implementing a priority waitlist for the lounge.

Nonetheless, DVC owners are getting several new discounts.

 

[muppets3d]

Correct. Seems as if DVC could lose it's distinction from the other timeshares currently out there with the direction they are heading.

When they tried not once, but twice to screw over owners with the lock off premium, that got me to thinking then, they are heading south. That was the purest of greed right there.

Totally separate issue and discussion - preaching to the choir here.

Maybe I'm not seeing this the same way but, it seems like for $99 Disney is giving us a pretty good DVC enhancement.
The only tradeoff is you may need to wait a little longer to get into the lounge during peak times.

If you see value in it, more power to you. I think the lounge issue is overblown, personally, in the absence of evidence.

 

[New Mouse]

The only aspect of this program that didn’t come with a fee before is the priority access to the lounge.

And ticket discounts.

 

[winnieforme]

Can you purchase one for each Blue Card contract?

 

[Sandisw]

And ticket discounts.

I was referring to the current benefits we have right now and we currently do not receive a DVC discount on multi day tickets.

I updated my post to be clearer.

 

[Sandisw]

Can you purchase one for each Blue Card contract?

This is purchased by a member and it is the member who is eligible for the discounts and other benefits.

The only time that more than one person might need to buy is if the owners live in different households.

For example, my adult children are owners with DVC Y benefits but don’t live with me.

From the way it is written, I won’t be able to buy the 5 day passes for them under my benefits because they are not part of my household.

 

[winnieforme]

This is purchased by a member and it is the member who is eligible for the discounts and other benefits.

The only time that more than one person might need to buy is if the owners live in different households.

For example, my adult children are owners with DVC Y benefits but don’t live with me.

From the way it is written, I won’t be able to buy the 5 day passes for them under my benefits because they are not part of my household.

thank you! so, it is a "per member" purchase, not "per contract", and the member benefits will apply to any person in the same household. the free 12 OTU points are good, but I don't have confidence that the "discounted tickets" will be anything special...is 50% off too much to ask?

 

[Sandisw]

thank you! so, it is a "per member" purchase, not "per contract", and the member benefits will apply to any person in the same household. the free 12 OTU points are good, but I don't have confidence that the "discounted tickets" will be anything special...is 50% off too much to ask?

The member who buys it can purchase those other things for the household members.

I don’t think you will see a discount that high. The last I knew, the discount on tickets for CMs was only 10% so I am hoping for at least that.

Ideally, it will be great to see a discount that is more than getting tickets via a third party. DVC owners can already buy a water park day for $49 so it’s at least a savings of that.

 

[Bearval]

It doesn’t take a lot to imagine a scenario where on a busy lounge day, you’re effectively blocked from using it in reasonable time frame. Will it happen to every member every time they go? No. Will it happen periodically? I’d bet money on it.

The points for AP’s is an example of a great benefit. It doesn’t harm anyone, and it’s useful for some. I personally think it’s a terrible waste of points, but if I had a thousand OKW points from 1995 that I bought for 40 a point, I’d imagine it’s the most amazing thing possible. Having almost 500 points from places that sold for 200+ a point makes that math a non starter. With that said, there was no reason to hide this benefit behind a 100 dollar a year package, except greed. They charge you money to take your points and make more money off them.

It is not what you paid for the points it is what you are paying for MFs . Some MFs will cost you more than just paying cash for the pssses.

Totally get that. But I just look at it as Disney testing the waters for the future. And probably not in a good way.

You better believe Disney is testing the waters. The 2025 $99 fee will surely jump to $149 or higher on 2026 if demand is high and I am sure it will be since you are already at beak even if you were going to purchase the photo pass for one trip.