New DVC Golf Program

[jonmcguire]

I don't post much and am generally a pretty content DVC owner. However, I am quickly become disillusioned with the eroding of benefit value in not only my membership, but overall vacation value.

The continual charging more, while giving less is starting to bother me. I am not one that bought my membership based on the perks available.

Today I went off on a rant and my DW said I should post here and send an email to DVC (which is going out next).

Today's subject is the DVC Annual Golf Membership. In case you have not noticed, they have redone this program again. Now, in exchange for my $50/year "membership fee", I get a 20% discount (before 10 am) or 40% discount (after 10 am) on the rack rate.

This is much more expensive than the last version of the program, which was more expensive than its predecessor.

I am not a "park comando" kind of guy. I love SSR, and one of the reasons we like to vacation at WDW is the ability to have a central resort based vacation that includes dining, recreation, golf, and the parks are good too. Golf is a big part of my vacation.

Anyway, this is my big complaint of the day. Not trolling to cause trouble so please do not flame me about how wonderful DVC is or how I am getting what the contract says I am entitled. My kvetch is the deterioration of value in the things that are important to me.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

just noticed that today as I went to book a tee time for my hubby and son on 3/2....should have booked it last week.....i did notice that the "disney golf membership" for florida residents also had their rates go up the same amount as the dvc golf membership rates

 

[jagson]

As the economy goes, so goes Disney. They've got to make up the losses somehow. Hopefully, when the economy turns around, and Disney rebounds financially, the perks will return. Just a different perspective. Feedback welcomed.

 

[JimMIA]

I don't know what their "rack" greens fees are, but it would be interesting to compare them to other courses in the area. Orlando has quite a number of very good courses, and if you are willing to drive a couple of hours, there are some even better options.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I don't post much and am generally a pretty content DVC owner. However, I am quickly become disillusioned with the eroding of benefit value in not only my membership, but overall vacation value.

The continual charging more, while giving less is starting to bother me. I am not one that bought my membership based on the perks available.

Today I went off on a rant and my DW said I should post here and send an email to DVC (which is going out next).

Today's subject is the DVC Annual Golf Membership. In case you have not noticed, they have redone this program again. Now, in exchange for my $50/year "membership fee", I get a 20% discount (before 10 am) or 40% discount (after 10 am) on the rack rate.

This is much more expensive than the last version of the program, which was more expensive than its predecessor.

I am not a "park comando" kind of guy. I love SSR, and one of the reasons we like to vacation at WDW is the ability to have a central resort based vacation that includes dining, recreation, golf, and the parks are good too. Golf is a big part of my vacation.

Anyway, this is my big complaint of the day. Not trolling to cause trouble so please do not flame me about how wonderful DVC is or how I am getting what the contract says I am entitled. My kvetch is the deterioration of value in the things that are important to me.

This stinks for us. DH bought the DVC membership card because he golfs every day of our vacation. And we timed this year's vacation specifically so that he'd be able to use the card before it expires. Now it sounds like he should forget the card and stay with the AP discounts. If we'd known this, our vacation would be later, when we can't use the now useless card.
Oh, well, in a way we're not too upset. When we joined in 2002, the only discount with the card was for discounts after 10:00 am (but DH golfs earlier). I only wish we'd known when we bought the card in 2009 that the program was going to change within a year of buying the card. We probably wouldn't have bothered spending the $50 if we'd known the future coming soon.

 

[BenandMorgsMom]

I could not have said your sentiments any better. Vent...It makes you feel better than banging your head on the wall. We have been members since '98 and my husband is a golfer and it was a big part of our vacation. He noticed this most recent change along with everything else and had a rant of his own. I will not flame you...I'm drinking coffee and not the "kool-aid" that makes everything peachy. LOL

 

[locodemickey]

This stinks for us. DH bought the DVC membership card because he golfs every day of our vacation. And we timed this year's vacation specifically so that he'd be able to use the card before it expires. Now it sounds like he should forget the card and stay with the AP discounts. If we'd known this, our vacation would be later, when we can't use the now useless card.
Oh, well, in a way we're not too upset. When we joined in 2002, the only discount with the card was for discounts after 10:00 am (but DH golfs earlier). I only wish we'd known when we bought the card in 2009 that the program was going to change within a year of buying the card. We probably wouldn't have bothered spending the $50 if we'd known the future coming soon.

What are the AP rates? Didn't know these existed. We are another family that bought the DVC golf card last summer with the intention of using it this summer Not good news...

ETA

Pricing per round
Season Dates Before
10 am After
10 am
Peak Season Rounds
** Jan 21, 2009 - Apr 25, 2009 $109 $89
Value Season Rounds
* Apr 26, 2009 - Sept 30, 2009 $59 $39
Fall Season Rounds Oct 1, 2009- Jan 20, 2010 $79 $59

Got this from DVCmember.com - Do these prices end Jan 31st 2010?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Well, it looks like golf discounts are catching up to the other eroding member benefits.

We're not valued members any more. We're just a way to manage the bottom line.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What are the AP rates? Didn't know these existed. We are another family that bought the DVC golf card last summer with the intention of using it this summer Not good news...

ETA

Pricing per round
Season Dates Before
10 am After
10 am
Peak Season Rounds
** Jan 21, 2009 - Apr 25, 2009 $109 $89
Value Season Rounds
* Apr 26, 2009 - Sept 30, 2009 $59 $39
Fall Season Rounds Oct 1, 2009- Jan 20, 2010 $79 $59

Got this from DVCmember.com - Do these prices end Jan 31st 2010?

I'm assuming that these rates do end on January 31st. The AP rates are 30% off day visitor rates any time of the day. The only thing is that you can only get these rates 14 days in advance. DH takes the maximum rates at (I think it's) 60 days out, then changes what he can 14 days in advance. That way, at least, he knows he's got golf every day. Yes, he's a true fanatic!

 

[mommacat56]

We're not valued members any more. We're just a way to manage the bottom line.

Remind me again...what are the member benefits we still have? You know, the ones that come with membership...the ones we don"t have to pay extra for just to buy a discount? Are there ANY left?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

As the economy goes, so goes Disney. They've got to make up the losses somehow. Hopefully, when the economy turns around, and Disney rebounds financially, the perks will return. Just a different perspective. Feedback welcomed.

I don't agree with this. How much revenue is Disney generating increasing the golf fees for members? I do agree that this is another degredation of our membership. Don't even get me started on this next round of points reallocation!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Well, it looks like golf discounts are catching up to the other eroding member benefits.

We're not valued members any more. We're just a way to manage the bottom line.

I have to agree here. So much has changed in the mere 3 years we have been members. It is certainly not the same DVC that I purchased.

 

[Halle]

DH purchased the golf membership in November and was not told about the upcoming changes!

 

[jonmcguire]

Thank you all for the support. Like Simba's Mom, the first thing I looked at was the AP discount, but that is off of the Day Visitor rate (significantly higher than the resort rate).

I too remember when the golf membership was only for tee times after 10 am. I did not mind that, although it was nice when they added a higher priced benefit for earlier (esp in the summer months).

Like others, golf is a big part of my vacations. I know there are fantastic golf courses in the area, but really don't want to drive. I am staying at SSR this summer and enjoy being able to wander down to the club house, play, and then hang out at the Turf Club after round. Even going to Osprey Ridge is a hop, skip and jump away.

Guess we keep writing to member satisfaction and hope someone eventually gets his/her head out of his/her rear end.

 

[jana]

I have to ask.
Does anyone know if DVC golf membership is something DVC pays towards to give members a benefit, or is it like many DVC discounts , something offered by other individual Disney departments in order to attract our business?

If DVC pays towards the discount, then it is something DVC management can influence. If it is something decided within the recreation department, then they (DVC) may "suggest" but ultimately , it is beyond their control.

If it is something DVC can influence, then letting member service know may help.
If it is within the recreation department, then voting with our golf shoe clad feet may have the desired effect. As has been said there are an awful lot of excellent golf courses just a short drive away that are desperate to attract business.

I would guess that with the reduction in golf courses on Disney with the closing of one ( soon to be 2??) Bonnet Creek course(s) means there is less supply of golf slots on WDW and the recreation department feels the demand is sufficient to justify lowering the discounts.

The laws of supply and demand, America was built on it.

I have no problem venting frustration on DVC or Disney over measures that hurt members, I'm just not sure that DVC is the correct target in this issue.

 

[jonmcguire]

I have to ask.
Does anyone know if DVC golf membership is something DVC pays towards to give members a benefit, or is it like many DVC discounts , something offered by other individual Disney departments in order to attract our business?

If DVC pays towards the discount, then it is something DVC management can influence. If it is something decided within the recreation department, then they (DVC) may "suggest" but ultimately , it is beyond their control.

If it is something DVC can influence, then letting member service know may help.
If it is within the recreation department, then voting with our golf shoe clad feet may have the desired effect. As has been said there are an awful lot of excellent golf courses just a short drive away that are desperate to attract business.

I would guess that with the reduction in golf courses on Disney with the closing of one ( soon to be 2??) Bonnet Creek course(s) means there is less supply of golf slots on WDW and the recreation department feels the demand is sufficient to justify lowering the discounts.

The laws of supply and demand, America was built on it.

I have no problem venting frustration on DVC or Disney over measures that hurt members, I'm just not sure that DVC is the correct target in this issue.

Very valid points regarding DVC's influence. Again, I don't think that making noise will change this particular program modification. I agree that it is probably that the Golf manager has decided the he does not have to give away those prices anymore.

If this presumption is correct, then it appears that either the DVC management company is not aggressively bargaining on our behalf (DVC membership as a demand block has gotten much, much larger, not smaller), or the other stake holders inside Parks and Resort are calling their bluff on their ability to deliver the people/numbers. Of course, as you mentioned, supply has shrunk as well.

I just read another thread from someone who reviewed the latest portable perks. He noted that the number of on property restaurants offering DVC discounts has shrunk significantly. Alas, is this to be what our future as members holds?

I am growing weary of being disappointed.

 

[jana]

As you can't get a table on property at most of the restaurants, due in no small part to the increased "free dining" being offered. The restaurants are also facing an increase in the demand for their remaining supply ( perhaps same demand for reduced supply is more accurate).

IMHO , The restaurants will remain busy until the economy recovers sufficiently for Disney not to have to offer the free dining on so many rooms for extended periods. Once the demand starts thinning out, the restaurants will be less busy and the discounts will start coming back.

As DVC members hoping for our discounts we hope to live in a " goldlocks band" where the ecomony is not too hot that there are lots of people spending lots of money, but not too cold where Disney is offering free dining that people feel obliged to use.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Can you still play the 9 hole course for $15 withthe golf membership??? My guess is no.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Can you still play the 9 hole course for $15 withthe golf membership??? My guess is no.

How much does it cost for 9 holes without a golf membership? Are carts included in the fees?

 

[famsen]

Where are you seeing these Golf Membership changes?
I don't see anything on the DVCmembers page.
I really need info on this. If it did change, it could mess up plans for our vacation later this year which was planned specifically so that DH and my friend's husband could get some serious golfing done.