Mousesavers Newsletter

[CarolA]

Did anyone read the August Mousesaver's newsletter. Mary indicates she believes room only discounts will be MUCH harder to get in the future. I thought that it was interesting since every now and then someone says that they don't think DVC is a good deal considering the "codes" etc... If Mary is right (and I think she may be!) then my DVC is an even better deal for me! No worrying about codes or room rates!

 

[littlestar]

Boy, it makes me glad again we bought DVC. woo hoo!!!

We're going for three days in December to the Wilderness Lodge for a weekend visit to go to the Merry Christmas Party. Didn't want to book with points for a weekend this time as I have my points marked for other trips. Well, I was able to book the main lodge in a woods view with a AAA discount for room only, but I had to call about three times to get it. And it's $207 dollars with tax (and that's with a discount). Now, if I would have used DVC points for Friday and Saturday at VWL it would be 22 points a night for a studio and Sunday would have been 12 points a night. If you value that at $10.00 a point, that's $560. Cheaper than what I'm paying for a regular room in the main lodge with a AAA discount. And that's a weekend when DVC points are the most expensive! I feel GOOD about our DVC purchase.

 

[disneycrazed139]

We share the same brain! That is why I signed and sealed my deal today!! I was quite the mousesaver!! Since 2001 the deals have been amazing. Looks like that may be coming to an end. I figured Disney would catch on eventually. Those deals were often too good to be true.

Anyway, it does give me much comfort in my purchase.

 

[riggins]

I agree! For those of you who don't get the newsletter, she also has article on her web page. Here's the link:
http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#future

 

[Lesley]

I got the newsletter as well. Definitely glad we have DVC!

We usually tried other Disney resorts using cash....but now we're feeling a little more free to try some other options when we're not using points since the deals aren't like they used to be. What's really great is that as DVC members they can't change the deal on us to any large degree!

 

[Granny]

Maybe the DVC bashing on the Resorts Board will slow down a little now if deep discounts on the rooms go away!

Oh, I'm sorry, did that sound like a gloat?


Actually, since we didn't buy DVC to save money the whole room discount thing is not a big deal to us one way or the other. We just don't compare DVC accommodations to regular resort rooms because....well....there's no comparison!

 

[JimC]

I just read the newsletter and was thinking the same thing. With fewer codes, DVC becomes even better. Isn't it nice to enjoy seeing hotel costs go up

 

[ErinC]

I was just coming over here to post the same thing. I'm so glad we have taken care of our accomodations!

 

[Lexxiefern]

I just finished reading Mary's newsletter and I thought how ironic it was because I just said to my DH that we joined DVC at the right time. He said how so? I told him it looks like the room codes are going away.

I just love that warm fuzzy feeling knowing that we can go back to Disney year after year and we are not dependant on codes anymore

 

[disneycrazed139]

I think I will still use the codes--for weekend days maybe or maybe to extend a trip.

 

[ZachnElli]

I just signed on and went through my email and I'm so glad we just bought into DVC! Just in the nick of time! FTP was great, but I just can't imagine doing that or something similar for....well the next 38 years!

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I thought it was very interesting. I am curious, though, what this will do to AP sales/renewals. Seems like Disney would be alienating a very loyal segment of their customer base, unless of course they can make more money on UPH's. Makes me glad I own DVC!

 

[Lisa F]

When it became evident to me that disney was pushing packages over room-only discounts, I had to wonder if Disney wasn't trying to simplify it's demographics into two distinct groups... AP holders/parkhopper users who are also DVC owners and "everyone else" who uses a package. Does anyone think that the timing of this shift in policy to coincide with the start of selling SSR is coincidental? I'm sure Disney has SOMEONE monitoring these boards and the "how can you justify buying into DVC when there are so many CODES out there?" argument has to have been detected.

Selling VWL and BCV were easy for DVC... both resorts had built in followings and it seems like a large part of both resorts were "sold" in the minds and hearts of people before they even opened. SSR is a harder sell, as evidenced by much of the discussion on the boards (I'm not saying it's a bad resort, just that it's a harder sell than add ons to the two resorts that have some of the most loyal and passionate repeat guests). To keep what seems like their best selling product from going "cold", especially with increased prices and with the economy still limping along (though hopefully showing signs of recovery, though it does seem to take large companies a while to react to perceived changes in the economy), it seems like they might be trying to give their most loyal visitors a "nudge" in the direction of DVC. It seems to me like the fact that SSR has a full 50 years on the contract might be meant to soften the blow of the loss of deep room only discounts so that people don't think "sure, NOW disney is taking away discounts when there are only 40 years left to DVC and it's LESS of a value."

It will be interesting to see how many AP holders finally look at DVC because of it and how many just get annoyed and stop going to WDW. Personally, I think it's silly to get annoyed. Frankly, it annoys me even more when people talk about deep discounts (40% or more) like they are a god-given right and how dare disney not give them what they are due for buying an AP (which is is an amazing deal in itself for more than 9 park days out of the year). We enjoyed a wonderul room at BWI for $169/night in May 1999 but realized back then that the deal was too good to count on for the long term. Even given the continued deep discounts after 9/11, the cheapest recent rates I've seen at the BW/YC/BC has been $199/night for FL residents (which I am not, $204 for everyone else), though I admit to not following very carefully.

Oh well, we bought into BWV when points were still $65/point and took advantage of MB (having taken our trip already for that year) so effectively paid under $57/point (we had to pay pro-rated dues on the points we bought of just under $2/point). I promise I won't be smug to those who have been obnoxious about how dumb I must be when there are so many great codes out there. Though it IS kind of nice being able to take the long-term view of things and being right (even if disney continued to offer 40% off rack rates but rack rates continued to rise, we figured we still got a good deal!)

Lisa (okay, so maybe I'm feeling just a TEENSY bit smug!)

 

[zulaya]

You know, now that I have had time to think about it, I can't help but feel a little smug too.

People on the Resorts Board seem to think that AP rates are a given and they aren't. They just expect they will be available, they book deluxe or moderate when they know they can't afford it and then complain when they can't get their AP rate.

I told my DH that I am SO glad we bought into DVC when we did. I remember planning the first big trip and watching for codes and getting all intense about it. Now I don't have to get intense about it.

I think whoever made the comment about pushing packages to get more people interested in DVC may have a good point. It might not be the primary reason for going to packages, just a nice side item for Disney, knowing that DVC is one of its most profitable arms right now. And even though a lot of people on the boards aren't excited about SSR, apparently enough people are.

It will be interesting, especially given this move to a 45 day cancellation policy, which people seem to hate.

 

[jaysue]

I am wondering if this will prompt an increase in the cost to rent points as well as the room only crowd looks for other options

We are AP holders who own DVC - 4 trips in one year covering 25 days - those AP's are a great value!!!

Thanks
jaysue

 

[lat]

I am too so happy that I am a DVC owner. This year, we got great rates to stay at Poly, GF and Swan. However, afterwards, if there is no longer consistent AP deals, my DVC points will come in really handy in getting rooms whenever we want to go.

So many people are very frustrated on the resort board about the discount codes not coming out. I am just happy that I have something to fall back on for the next 40 years.