NO AMEX DISCOUNT FOR DVC MEMBERS THIS IS DISNEY's POLICY and verified BY MEMBER SERVICES!

[KAMLEM]

I am so angry hearing all this. I went out and got an AMEX card solely for this purpose (I am going down 5/19-5/27 for my first visit on points). All that and now I won't even get the discount!! One question - I thought the discount was 15%. Where does the 20% come from?

 

[BethA]

We just returned from WDW and had to show our resort id. We paid for 2 nights and had to have a new id made. The cast member said to get the discount you had to use amerex for 2 nights.It's impossible to keep track of the discounts and embarassing when you get it wrong

 

[sconstantz]

The next time your in a shop buying a large purchase amount, present your id and amex card. When the discount is denied, ask to speak to the manager, when they still continue to say the discount doesn't apply.......Walk Away.

Leave the merchandise at the register, and, with a smile, say I won't be purchasing this $100 or $500 or $1500 worth of merchandise then. Tell them everyone has choices. They have the choice to deny you the discount, you have a choice not to shop in their store.

If enough people do it, the merchants may rethink their policy. As DVC members, you have choices as to how and when you spend your money. and make sure the merchants know that your are chooding NOT TO spend your money with them.

Shellyy

 

[sconstantz]

I might remind the manager how many times you visit disney IN A YEAR!!! versus how many times the regular Joe visits IN A DECADE.... just a thought. But always with a smile

shelly)

[This message was edited by sconstantz on 04-25-01 at 11:04 PM.]

 

[DisneyMim]

I am confused about the percentage of the discount. I thought it was 15%. We were there last week and stayed at a non-DVC resort on cash, charged our room to AMEX and were able to get the discount (15% not 20%) at the World of Disney. I didn't even realize there was a 20% discount.

 

[SueOKW]

Shelly! That sounds kind of fun... shopping, but not buying. That may even get me my spending ya ya's out without spending!

Sue

<img width="200" src="http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/disstuff/cleveland.gif">

 

[mikek]

As I started to read these posts- I thought- man Disney ripping us members again. We really hardly get any discounts- no cheap tickets, only a few stores or restaurants- it just keeps getting worse.

Then it reminded me a of a situation I saw a couple days ago. I was at the store checking out and there was a senior citizen in front of me at the check out. SHE WAS MAD!

Basically the situation amounted to she was purchasing a dozen plants. They were like a dollar each or discounted for $10 if you buy a dozen. SHe wanted to also recieve here senior citizens discount along with the dozen price. THe check out girl told her sorry you cant have both discounts at the same time. The lady was screaming at the manager who came over to attempt to help the situation. She used words like unfair, rip-off, entitled, and said something also like 'thats not right, anyone can get the 12 for 10 price, seniors should get something more.'

At that time it seemed perfectly reasonable to me that the store only permitted one discount at a time.

I definately need to say that I would really love it if Disney could throw us a few bits every now and again in discounts, but when I think of the HUGE discount I already got by buying dvc in the first place- I get a big ol smile and think- well I got a gigantic break already, so maybe they arent being too unreasonable. We've been using our membership for years, but as recent other threads have shown- the cost per point seems to increase at or faster than the rate of inflation. So the initial investment is actually worth more (if I ever got nutz and wanted to sell it)- we've basically gotten all our great vacations for the mere pitance of paying dues each year- i dont have time for the math here at work, but i'm sure thats one large discount.

DO I wish we could get some extra special treatment- SURE. Would I like to save some money- YUP. Do I think disney's communication as a whole stinks- ABSOLUTELY. DO I get completely annoyed that they have so many discounts that are constantly changing and have different hurdles all the time- More than I can say!

But then I think back at how awesome it is to own dvc and get great cheap vacations and it calms me down a bit. Just hope this makes some of you smell the roses and fell a little better.

(in other words- no need to argue and flame me- just trying to help)

 

[ckr]

Think about it.... The White Glove is a negotiated agreement between AMEX and Disney. Seems that (from the info posted regarding the "fine print") that part of this negotiated agreement is at least 2 days lodging charges on AMEX. Good for Disney and Good for AMEX, but bad for DVCers. DVCers (who -- let's face it -- can and will spend money!) complain to deaf ears at Disney. Disney is still getting a good deal out of this from their non-DVCers, or even better, they get DVCers to start staying on points for part of their stay and paying cash for 2 nights just so they can get the AMEX discount. From Disney's perspective, no changes to the negotiated agreement are needed.

BUT.... (and this is where Dennis's brilliance shines through!) DVCers start complaining to AMEX that without this discount, their THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS that they normally charge to AMEX will be getting moved to another card -- maybe one with miles or other rewards -- and that we now have no need for AMEX. NOW you've got one of the negotiating parties motivated to make a change. If AMEX were to push for getting this exclusion lifted from the agreement with Disney, we've got a chance. Would Disney want to risk losing their relationship with AMEX over this?

Now, you may say that we are a drop in the bucket and our wishes wouldn't even sway AMEX, but look at the numbers. I would say that with 100,000 members (how many then when you add in family members?) and multiple trips to WDW per year and (for many) large disposable incomes and the "spoiled factor" (yeah, c'mon, we gotta face that truth someday)... We do have some leverage. I think Dennis may have hit on something here......

Just a thought.... :0)

 

[minimahaki]

I just had another thought....
When I check in after my cruise in May, I am going to request that one of my cards does not indicate the word MEMBER.
They will have to print this up for me
When I shop I present the resort ID without the word MEMBER and all the aggravation will be done with it. I just hung up with member services and asked if this would be possible. She said I would have to check with the front desk at check in.
She than asked me why I didn't want to be recognized as a member and I informed her that I am being discriminated against in the shops. If I didn't have the word member on the card, I would be entitled to discounts at the shops.

I will be making this request in May I only hope that I don't have to make to big of a scene to get this done.
Lauretta
Minimahaki DVC MEMEBRS SINCE MAY, 1993

 

[minimahaki]

MIKEK
I understand where your coming from......
If I was that nuts I could always sell and probably make some cash I have 400 points and another 150 I share with my daughter (well my name is on her deed too). I also purchased some time down in Mexico because I don't want to use my DVC points to exchange. I love doing the Disney Cruises! I LOVE MY MEMBERSHIP! However as I stated in one of the above posts, I used to feel special now I want to get the word member off my card! Didn't you ever hear of a Disney Comp story? Something like maybe a free drink or a reduction in a check for poor service. Well tell me a DVC COMP? Few and far between.
Hey good thought for a new thread!
Lauretta
Minimahaki
DVC MEMBER SINCE May 1993.

 

[nuthut]

I do not understand why you should recieve the discount. The requirements for the discount says it is available when staying in a Disney resort. When you are staying at Disney on points you are not at a Disney resort, you are staying at your own home. Remember when you took the deduction for taxes and interest on April 15?

You can not have it both ways.

 

[invalid_character]

so, what a DVClubber to do when Disney begins to discriminate between them and other guests on the basis of where/how they stay at WDW? is there an official point of contact within DVC mgt or at WDW itself? (I'd think that 100K guests would have some clout.)
it's not so much the specific issue of AMEX discount as it is worrisome that this might be the tip of a much larger iceberg... it would be bery nice to get assurances real fast that 2-tier status was not going to be SOP going forward..

 

[minimahaki]

NUTHUT
Call me greedy, call me what every you like....
BUT I WANT AND EXPECT THE SAME DISCOUNT THAT A NON DVC MEMBER GETS WHEN THEY USE THE AMEX CARD.....
I am a DVC Member, this is NOT my home, It is a VACATION HOME AWAY FROM HOME, and that is why I should be treated as everyone else and not expected to give anything up because I am there so frequently.....
And by the way any tax deductions have nothing to do with Disney....This discount does.....
Lauretta
Mininimahaki
DVC Members since May, 1993

 

[PamOKW]

My real concern is that this is a change in the policy for this discount. Previously, DVC members always received the discount. I would like to know why this change was instituted.

 

[minimahaki]

Invalid Character
I guess your second class citizen analogy is exactly what I feel now as a DVC member. I used to feel special now I want to hide it!
Good analogy
Lauretta
Minimahaki
DVC Member Since May 1993

 

[pentex]

I always take advantage of this discount, show my resort ID, and never have had a problem doing so. The last time I did it was Dec. 2000....

 

[Renee']

I'm sorry you have to make an a?# of yourself. You have no email address on your profile so I'm unclear what all these posts are pertaining to. Wouldn't it be easier to email Pete?

<FONT COLOR=Green>Renee'</FONT>
<FONT COLOR=Blue>DVC at OKW '98</FONT>
<img height="165" src="http://www.jessicasweb.com/content/about/smooches.gif">
<FONT COLOR=Green>"Life's too short not to have fun!"</FONT>

<FONT COLOR=Blue> Vow Renewal October '01 at the Happiest Place on Earth

[This message was edited by Renee' on 04-27-01 at 08:28 AM.]

[This message was edited by Renee' on 04-27-01 at 08:30 AM.]

 

[minimahaki]

Pentex
When you took advantage of the discount did resort ID Have member inscribed?

WE are neighbors I am from Perth Amboy

Lauretta
Minimahaki DVC Members since May 1993

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

I just got a E-Mail from AmEx and it is one line. "To receive this discount you must pay for your hotel stay at Disney with AmEx." I guess that AmEx does not want me to use their card while at WDW. I'm going to cancell it because that was the main reason that I got the card in the first place. I like going to WDW and staying at OKW, BW, and now WL and we will continue to do so. However, we will make it a point to buy less Disney merchandise while at WDW. We will also make a *** of ourselves with any Disney official and inform them of this whenever possible. I am very disappointed with DVC and Disney and will not be as supportive in the future. I guess that they want all of those $49 per nite people to use their AmEx to buy much less in merchandise than the DVC people who constantly go to WDW.
AmEx you can take your card and put it where the sun never shines.

 

[minimahaki]

Dennis
Don't be to quick to cancel. According to the individual I spoke with at AMEX the MERCHANT sets the policy on discounts... That means it is Disney's Policy and not AMEX. Give AMEX a call....
Keep us posted
Lauretta