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

[PamOKW]

Aaargh! Glad to hear you got the discount TFranci.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

So, if you stay at a DVC reosrt using points, you DON'T get the discount, but if you stay at a Disney Collection hotel you DO?

Is anyone else confused out there? I mean, besides Member Services and the hotel desks?

I know the number of members is getting large, but part of our dues pay for these people to be able to properly communicate to us rights/privileges and benefits.

[This message was edited by LIDisneyFan on 04-25-01 at 01:22 PM.]

 

[minimahaki]

tfranci
Glad you got yout discount.
My DVC Friend had a $1,500 bill and got no discount becasue he was a DVC Member. I can't wait until my guide calls me back.
Lauretta
Minimahaki
DVC Members since May, 1993

 

[minimahaki]

LI DISNEY FAN
I realize that the club size has grown to over 100,000 but come on, how much money is Disney going to loose allowing the DVC members to have this discount. The markup on this merchandise is remarkable. Have you ever had the Privilege of attending one of the CM only sales they have so much extra merchandise and it is marked down to extremely low prices.I think they can afford to give us members this discount. Disney is a billion-dollar industry and we the DVC members should stand out as special guests when we visit WDW!

Lauretta
Minimahaki
DVC Members since May, 199

 

[LIDisneyFan]

minimahaki,

I agree - the discount probably costs Disney nothing. It should not be discontinued. My only point was that my dues money goes toward people whose job it is to communicate to us members, and I don't think they're doing that very well recently.

I am also frustrated that I didn't get the discount 2 weeks ago staying at OKW, but others did staying at the Poly. This just doesn't seem right.

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

I am the one that had the problem back in Jan. with the %15 discount with AmEx at WDW. You can look at my past posts on this subject, but in short after calls to MS and VP of DD they told me that you do get the discount as a member of DVC. The only thing you need to do is to use your AmEX card to cover any charges on your room using your room key. The VP of DD was going to get the word out but it looks like he did not inform anyone. I did go back for one day in March and went to the World of Disney and used my AmEx for a purchase of more than $50, as required to get the discount. They started to tell me that I would not get the discount but after I told them that we did and they could call about it they gave me the discount.
The discount comes from WDW and not from AmEX but I found that if you insist that they verify it you will have little problem. We are entitled to the discount and with the purchases made at DD you can save $$.

 

[LisaR]

Isn't there anything in writing about this so we can take a copy to show proof of the discount we are entitled to? I know, in light of the pool situation, the things in writting aren't even clear. What if we emailed MS and IF they respond that we DO get the discount, then make a copy to take with us?

When I was there in Feb, I did get the discount, however, the CM told me I wasn't suppose to but he was just in a "good mood". He was a little sarcastic and I almost started to reply in a sarcastic tone myself but I thought, why bother. I am getting the discount, be happy!

Lisa

 

[Mickies'Girl]

I just got off the phone with member services, I spoke to Jim, the manager on duty today. He told me in order to be eligible for the discount you have to have at least two nights being paid by cash. He said these guide lines come down from the Disney Co. and American Express and DVC has no say in the matter.

I have never used this discount but if I were making a purchase and I felt I should be getting this discount and didn't, I would cancel the purchase. Some people have posted that they spent $1,400-$1,500 and didn't get the discount. I think it may make them think twice if you had cancelled the purchase.

Just my opinion.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

OK, let me try this again now.

You DO get the discount if you pay 2 nights cash,
unless you stay at a Disney Collection hotel where you get the discount anyway, unless, of course the DD employee is 'in a good mood', then you get the discount (and sarcasm too!). Unless, of course, you call a supervisor to call the VP of DD, who can straighten this out!

Unless, of course, the store is at capacity, in which case they have the right to ask you to leave ! ... oh, I'm sorry, I think I'm confusing that with another crystal clear policy.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but c'mon - this shouldn't be so hard for Disney to help us understand

 

[LisaR]

LIDisneyFan,

Great Response! That made my day!!

Lisa

 

[minimahaki]

Mickies Girl
The supervisor at members' services gave you a bit of misinformation. AMEX informed me this morning that the policies guiding the discounts made available using the American Express card are made up by the merchant in this case it is the Disney Merchants. I spoke to my guide earlier and this issue is very confusing. My guide WHO IS ABOSOLUTLY WONDERFUL informed me (again) that DVC is constantly negotiating with the Subsidiaries of Disney. For example the Disney Merchants. She also informed me about the two-day cash stay and the ability to get the discounts. I than posed the following incident to her: I am a DVC member staying at a resort with points. She is not a DVC member and booked her WDW vacation with the "JOE SCHMO" Travel agency and is staying on WDW property. We are both in the shop using our AMEX card to pay for a $100 purchase. She is eligible for the discount but I am not because I am a DVC member (am I not being discriminated against because I am a DVC member? AMEX informed me it's the merchants that make up the rules).
After I posed this question to her, I read her the posting by Denis the WDW Menace. She asked me to e-mail that page to member services and have MS forward it to her e-mail I have been out since then and will not be able to get in touch with her until possible Friday. But even she did not have the answer to this situation. She is looking into the situation.
Lauretta
Minimahaki DVC Members since May, 1993

<IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

 

[TampaDisneyFreaks]

We ran into this problem last fall and got so fed up with it, that we just use the DC discount (even though it is a lower discount, but the threshhold is lower as well). We stayed at BWV on points. We put down AMEX for incidental room charges. We tried to charge on our room key at DD. they wouldn't give us the AMEX discount. I told them that I put down an AMEX card for the room charges, so it should apply. The CM called BWV and spoke to them for about 5 minutes (no exaggeration on the time either). Finally, this is the answer they gave me (and it is in the tiny print on the White Glove treatment AMEX brochures that are all over Disney). The discount is only good if you paid for at least 2 nights room rates on the AMEX card. So we lost on that because we stayed on points. They went on to further explain that even though AMEX was the card used for incidental charges on the room, that did not count. It had to be the actual charge for the room that was on AMEX. At least the CM took the time to call my hotel to verify that AMEX was the card I put down for the incidentals, and then explain it to me. So at least they tried, but still didn't cut me a break. Unfortunately, all CM's do not seem to have the same knowledge of all of the programs and discounts, even though it is their job. We usually show all cards (DVC, DC, PAP, AMEX) and ask which gives the better discount, however there have been times where I happened to remember which was best and had to correct the CM. There were times where a CM flat out told us that there was no DVC discount, but once I got back to the room or home where I could look it up, sure enough a discount was listed for DVC members. Disney, DVD, DVC, etc. all need to communicate better to their CM's to explain the discounts and how they work, as well as to their PAYING customers.

 

[PamOKW]

Minimahaki I'm with you 100%. I don't understand why Joe Schmo (sorry Joe) who got a discount and is staying at the All-Star for $49 per night should get a discount that we who have paid to join DVC and continue to pay our dues are not entitled to. Also, why have we been entitled to this discount for the last 8 years and suddenly no longer entitled to it?

 

[minimahaki]

OK I have a question.
I have not had a cash stay at Disney for a few years so something may have changed. If I have the two-night stay at Disney with Cash, is it indicated on my resort ID? I hardly ever charge my shopping excursions to my room. I would take out my AMEX. The AMEX is the registered card when I check in but I opt not to charge items to my room. Will I still run into this problem?


I realize that it would be smarter to charge the items to the room in order to get the discount.
Lauretta
Minimahaki DVC Members Since May 1993
<IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

 

[CarolAnnC]

It does seem to be rather penny pinching of them to exclude DVC members unless paying cash for at least two nights. It brings to mind how when you book a cruise with points, you must pay a set price if you use cash for any people in your party, which in most cases is a higher price than the public is paying with cash. It is within their rights to do this much the same as some restaurants offer a Senior Citizen discount which cannot be used by people under age 65. It is not considered discrimination, but it certainly does not seem to be a fair or prudent business practice as far as DVC members are concerned! As always, an email to Member Services to voice your concerns would definitely be the way to go here!

<font size=4><font color=purple><font face=BrushArt>Carol</font></font></font>

<font color=FF0066><font face=tahoma>Co-Mod - Theme Park Attractions and Strategies Board</font></font>
<font color=purple><font face=tahoma>Co Mod - Cruise Board</font></font>
<font color=FF0066><font face=tahoma>Co-Mod - DVC Board</font><

 

[KKlecknerWray]

I know this thread is about AMEX, but it reminded me of another "limitation" WDW is making in terms of its discounts...

Now, instead of the Magic Kingdom Club card discount being accepted at ALL Marketplace stores, it is only accepted at FIVE stores!

I was ticked! What's the deal?!? Between AMEX and Magic Kingdom Club we're getting a raw deal.

-Kara

 

[SueOKW]

for me to stay on track with my latest (1 year old) rule...

go to the parks as little as possible and buy little or NO souveniers....

Please don't think I am telling anyone what to do, I'm not.... I'm just glad that I started thinking this way a year ago. If Disney doesn't want to give me an incentive to get into the parks and buy their merchandise, then I will be a little more cautious in how I spend my money.

I've already lost the MKC card, now the AMEX deal, and the new park pass offer is not for me either.... so, more $$ to take home... OR - use to buy Universal Tickets!

OKW is so nice to just lounge around and play tennis or swim who needs to spend 6 days in the parks? 3 days of parks for me - and 5 just RELAXING!!! (but no pool hopping, and NO Downtown Disney!!) Two days cash can get you the discount - I suppose if it's October and full moon I get a better discount?

phew - I feel better now. thanks.
Sue

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

 

[minimahaki]

KARA
The MK Card is exactly why I questioned the AMEX discount. As of I think, June our current MK Cards will no longer be accepted. You must now purchase the card (I think the fee is between $35-$50 I am not sure of the price). I always got them from my place of employment. Disney has now stopped this benefit.
I think we should understand they are only a billion-dollar industry I think they are shooting for the trillion-dollar mark.

Lauretta
Minimahaki
DVC Members since May, 1993

 

[Timon@BWV]

Ok! I'm going to be at BWV for 5 day and then transfer over to AKL for 2 days!

I paid for the 2 days with AMEX, already done. Will I get the discount at DD the entire stay, or can I only shop on the last 2 days? <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

Minimahaki, I'm glad to see that calls are being made to MS and AmEx to question this discount. When I pushed the issue back in Jan. I would not leave without some resonable answer. When I called WDW and registered a complaint I followed it with a letter and E-Mail to get an answer. AmEx said that it's Disney and Disney said that it is a agreement between both companies. When I did get a call from WDW Merchandising in March and a follow up call from a man who identified himself as the VP of DD operations, they told me that this problem will be corrected and that the written agreement with AmEX just says that you must present your AmEx card and Resort ID card to get the discount. He told me that this would be relayed to the CM's at DD.
I just told AmEx that their card is not essential for me to survive and that if WDW is no longer offering the discount to DVC members who are staying at WDW that I will cancell the card. AmEX told me that the discount is to provide incentive to use the card at the parks, and I told them with my last bill for room charges for $1,500 wasn't incentive enough for them then I really do not have any use for AmEx. The conversation ended with AmEX looking into the WDW policy and calling me back.
While I realize that it may seem trivial to some to get this discount, I have in the past purchased over $500 in merchandise at World of Disney and 15% can add up. My problem is not as much with Disney as it is with AmEx. I had switched one credit account to them thru Costco because they told me that I would get this discount at WDW.