My DVC Guide Is No Longer a Guide, I Guess

[7thton]

I just heard from a friend, who is not a guide but does work for DVC, that my guide is no longer a guide. She now works at the kiosks and desks around WDW where people can go to get info on DVC, register for tours, and such.

Bummer. She was really nice and we enjoyed working with her.

 

[Dean]

I just heard from a friend, who is not a guide but does work for DVC, that my guide is no longer a guide. She now works at the kiosks and desks around WDW where people can go to get info on DVC, register for tours, and such.

Bummer. She was really nice and we enjoyed working with her.

I hope this was voluntary for her own reasons as this is certainly a demotion.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our original guide was recently replaced with another. She was our guide for 11 years.

 

[tecodis]

My guide at the Doorway to Dreams store in Chicago also left a couple months ago. It doesn't really matter as I don't plan on making any purchases but she was fantastic. We would email occasionally just to type "Hi" and she even called me at AKL-Kidani during my first DVC stay back in May to welcome me home. I will miss her. I know nothing about the guy that took her place - just that he emailed he was my new guide.

 

[disneynutz]

I have heard from insiders that DVD is getting tougher on their employees. Higher quota's and more pressure to close the sale are now common.

 

[mgroshans]

My guide at the Doorway to Dreams store in Chicago also left a couple months ago. It doesn't really matter as I don't plan on making any purchases but she was fantastic. We would email occasionally just to type "Hi" and she even called me at AKL-Kidani during my first DVC stay back in May to welcome me home. I will miss her. I know nothing about the guy that took her place - just that he emailed he was my new guide.

Our guide from there also left, Diane Manual, she was absolutely great and personal. She called and told us she was leaving and asked if Derek DeBoer could be our guide. We didn't know anything about him, but trusted her judgement. We haven't interacted with him, not that we need to, but her personal touch was great. We miss her

 

[kapeman]

I have heard from insiders that DVD is getting tougher on their employees. Higher quota's and more pressure to close the sale are now common.

Great. Jim Lewis strikes again.

He'll turn DVC into a typical high-pressure sales pitch, sleazy timeshare company yet.

 

[Brian Noble]

That's probably mis-placing the blame. DVD has become a very important part of the Parks & Resorts segment's quarterly portfolio of results, and it's not hard to imagine that the economy has had a disproportionate impact on DVD vs. the other segments in P&R. "Going on vacation" is a right-now thing---offer some extra discounts, and people will still "go on vacation" provided they have the current resources to do so. But it's a lot harder to get people to invest in "decades of future vacations" when folks aren't sure they'll still have their jobs next year.

The timeshare industry has been hammered this year across the board, and most of them have ramped down development and sales. For whatever reason, DVD has bucked that trend, but that means that they have to feed the beast with regular, frequent sales even in the current environment. If Jim wants to keep his job (and presumably, he does) he has to keep showing those quarterly results to the shareholders, quarter after quarter.

 

[Chic]

Hmmm... If BLT is selling so well, I wonder why so many DVC guides are leaving or being removed. I still believe Disney is exaggerating, as a marketing strategy, to lure people in for the sale. I say BLT will not sell out for many more years.

 

[Kris10luvsDisney]

Our guide left a while ago and we had no idea. We happened to call a month or so ago inquiring about prices for BLT, and they told us he had been gone for a while. The woman we spoke w/ was very helpful and nice and I guess she is now our new guide. We just got a BLT mailer last week and her name was on it. At least we have someone now!

 

[deebits]

Wow our guide has left also. We found out in May that he was on medical leave, but then never returned. He was AWESOME and we miss him A LOT. The one we have now is ok..not like Bill our original guide.

 

[7thton]

My guide was Andrea Solaria (I probably misspelled the last name), by the way.

 

[Bob Price]

Our guide from there also left, Diane Manual, she was absolutely great and personal. She called and told us she was leaving and asked if Derek DeBoer could be our guide. We didn't know anything about him, but trusted her judgement. We haven't interacted with him, not that we need to, but her personal touch was great. We miss her

Another member of the Diane Manuel fan club. Diane we miss you.

 

[hakepb]

I guess I'm on my 3rd guide this year. My purchasing guide passed away earlier this year. I then got a call from a nice DTD guide, but then I heard (here) that she was no longer with DVC.
My last DVC mailing said my guide is "DVC"

 

[tecodis]

Our guide from there also left, Diane Manual, she was absolutely great and personal. She called and told us she was leaving and asked if Derek DeBoer could be our guide. We didn't know anything about him, but trusted her judgement. We haven't interacted with him, not that we need to, but her personal touch was great. We miss her

Yep, Diane is who I was typing about. She never let me know she was leaving but Derek is the one that emailed me and let me know.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

That's probably mis-placing the blame. DVD has become a very important part of the Parks & Resorts segment's quarterly portfolio of results, and it's not hard to imagine that the economy has had a disproportionate impact on DVD vs. the other segments in P&R. "Going on vacation" is a right-now thing---offer some extra discounts, and people will still "go on vacation" provided they have the current resources to do so. But it's a lot harder to get people to invest in "decades of future vacations" when folks aren't sure they'll still have their jobs next year.

The timeshare industry has been hammered this year across the board, and most of them have ramped down development and sales. For whatever reason, DVD has bucked that trend, but that means that they have to feed the beast with regular, frequent sales even in the current environment. If Jim wants to keep his job (and presumably, he does) he has to keep showing those quarterly results to the shareholders, quarter after quarter.

No, the blame is properly placed on Jim Lewis. DVC has shown throughout the years that high pressure is not the best way to sell timeshares. They have proven that a great product, with a very soft sell, does much better. If high pressure boosts sales in the short term (and it might), a good leader will realize it will hurt the entire product brand in the long term.

Translation: If the reports of high sales pressure is true, it's fair to pin it on Jim Lewis.

MG

 

[Jasminerk13]

Sorry to butt in here... but I am still reading and learning.
So my question is, what is a DVC guide? What do they do? And how do you know who your guide is?

 

[Hunclemarco]

Sorry to butt in here... but I am still reading and learning.
So my question is, what is a DVC guide? What do they do? And how do you know who your guide is?

A DVC Guide is basically a salesperson for the Disney Timeshare. They assist you in purchacing the timeshare, and any additions you may choose to make in the future. Some are a little more personable than others, but that's about it.
Once you are a member, Member services handles most all further correspondence.

 

[Dean]

No, the blame is properly placed on Jim Lewis. DVC has shown throughout the years that high pressure is not the best way to sell timeshares. They have proven that a great product, with a very soft sell, does much better. If high pressure boosts sales in the short term (and it might), a good leader will realize it will hurt the entire product brand in the long term.

Translation: If the reports of high sales pressure is true, it's fair to pin it on Jim Lewis.

MG

He is captain of the ship so he must shoulder at least some of the blame when there is blame. However I would take issue with your characterization of the best way to sell a timeshare. Best is a relative term and the definition depends on where you're standing at the time. The low presssure way may be the one that current members prefer but it is likely not best in terms of total sales or profit or even best for current members. That approach has cost us multiple off property options due to the inability of DVC to compete withtout the direct draw of WDW and the slow sales of VB and HH. I think the higher pressure approach is well proven to be better at selling timeshares but obviously there is a balance between reputation and sales for companies like Disney, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Westin and the like. IMO, it's very workable to have a far more high pressure approach even including tour incentives and still be honest and reputable. While the low pressure approach may feel good, it likely is not the best once you are a member or for total sales or profit. That makes me curious as to how HI will do, esp when everyone else has trouble selling those units at the price they list them at without incentives and pressure. To a degree, Disney is like the politician that tries not to play the game, they're left out in the cold. Just think of it this way, if all the parks were to close, where would the owners and resorts be. Without the parks DVC is a nice timeshare in second rate and shoulder locations for the most part. They could take over the industry if they were more aggressive, IMO.

 

[disneynutz]

IMHO Disney has given up on some of it's Walt values and is slowly slipping into the same slipper as other companies in the same business.

Disney prided themselves on the Guest experience and catered to the repeat visitor. The soft sell for the DVC worked well and people would buy because of it.

Now they are going after the discount first timer crowd and have become more car salesman like when selling contracts.