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

[RobDoc]

I certainly have no inside information about the Amex program but, it would seem to me that Amex is the real beneficiary with this program.

The impetus here is to get people to use the Amex card. By requiring that the card be used to pay for 2 nights at a WDW resort to qualify for the store discounts, AMEX is the one who benefits....not Disney and certainly not DVC. The guests were going to use a credit card for the room anyway- this program is designed to entice them to use the AMEX card instead of another.

As suggested above, I believe the way to make an impression with this is to let the merchants know why they have lost a sale and to let Amex know of our displeasure with the mechanism.

Amex may insist that it is the merchant's decision to accept this program, but I'll bet that Amex is somehow making it worthwhile for the merchants- or the merchants have no real incentive to accept it at all.

Bottom line is that this is NOT a DVC perk in any way and has never been presented as such. It is an AMEX program, with the cooperation of WDW resorts. (Notice there is no discount offered on the room charges though.)

Doc DVC Board Co-Moderator
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[baileybrad]

a jerk or anything but we go to WDW/Orlando twice a year. Sometimes we go more. We have been "giving" less and less of our money to Disney for quite sometime now. This is the only way that I can show my displeasure with the policies that I disagee with. Do they miss my money? No, of course not, but it is all I can do.

I agree with PAMOKW, why the change in policy. Also, as many others have voiced why the confusion from one cast member to another and from one visit to the next. To me this is the third thing in the recent months that Disney has found a way to nickel and dime folks on. The change in the AP renewal, the removing of the MKC card from complimentary status, and the way the AMEX/Disney discount Program is being handled. As a company, it is their call (as a stockholder I would like to know when I might see some improvement in their bottom line with all of these creative new business ideas) to do as they wish with their organization. My brother who used to swear by Disney has really soured on the company. He joined DVC in '93 and at one time was up to over 400 points with various add-ons. He wrote an 11 page type written letter to Eisner when he got jerked around by the new and improved Disney Club. He travels to FL/Orlando frequently on business and used to always to stay at Disney hotels using the MKC discount whenever possible. It now is a hoop jumping exercise to do this, so he just stays somewhere else. He also sold 170 or so of his points just keeping his orginal 230. Like I said he used to defend anything Disney did, now he just shakes his head. I laughed him after I read his letter pointing out that it would never be read by anyone but he said at least he said his peace.
I just don't understand why some of the most loyal Disney visitors (DVC folks) are now rated below folks who sometimes pay as little as $49 dollars a night for a room. I wonder if things were really going well for the company if they would be resorting to wholesale prices for their low end rooms. I don't understand the need to be singled out from all of the other people who are staying at Disney. I, too, use an AMEX card for my room charges and most of my meals at the sitdown restaurants. It is all that I can do to satisfy Disney and AMEX because like many of you planned ahead and purchased my room thru the DVC ahead of time and if I remember correctly was not given/allowed the opportunity to pay for (the DVC membership) with the AMEX card. Go figure. If I am to be discriminated against then I will no longer use the card for my Disney stays on other things. Doc is correct in that your spending is one way to voice your opinion. I have 2 other ccards that I can use to pay for the few things I rreally need at Disney. As someone, said previously in this post, it used to be fun to be treated kind of special as DVC members. Maybe the DVC group could get off of their duffs and reach an agreement that everyone understand that allows us the same discount that others receive when charging their rooms to the AMEX. I, too, like others believe that we represent as a group a lot of buying power. Sorry for the ramble.

[This message was edited by baileybrad on 04-27-01 at 11:39 AM.]

 

[TampaDisneyFreaks]

Minimahaki, sorry it took me so long to reply (work got busy and didn't have a chance to get out here). It looks like your questions was pretty much answered by everyone else.

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

The confusion seems to be caused by both Disney and AmEx. In all of my calls to both companies it came down to the fact that it is AmEx who offers and benifits from the use of the card to purchase anything at WDW and it is Disney who is setting the policy concerning it's use. I called AmEx and cancelled the card and told them that my disappointment was that when I signed up to use the card, paying a $37 fee per year, I was told that I would get the discounts at WDW if I showed my resort ID and the AmEx card. I was even told this last March by Disney officials that as long as I use my AmEx card fro room charges that I do get the discounts. Now we do not get the discount because we must pay for two nights at WDW with the card, I bought into DVC so that I could use that to pay for my hotel stay.
The object of the program is to provide incentive for people to use the AmEx card while at WDW but it is in the application of a irrational decision by Disney that limits our, DVC members, use of the card at the parks. DVC could push the issue but we know that they will not, even though DVC members do have an obvious fininacial base that indicates that they would use AmEx to purchase a substantial dollar amount at WDW stores.
I do not understand why Disney put such limitations on something that puts money into their pockets, it does not make good business sense. The only option for me is to express my displeasure with this policy with both Disney and AmEx, which I have done, and to cancell the card because AmEx did not live up to their agreement made to me when I purchased the card.

 

[DebbieB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I called AmEx and cancelled the card and told them that my disappointment was that when I signed up to use the card, paying a $37 fee per year, [/quote]

I have used my American Express Optima card and got the 15% discount (non-DVC stays). The Optima card does not have an annual fee.

 

[pentex]

Nice to see a neighbor on the boards!

Yes, we did have to show our room pass, which says "DVC Member" on it.

Maybe it's all in the luck of the draw as to whom checks you out at the register? Maybe some cast members don't follow the rules so strictly and don't want to cause a scene, so they let it go?

 

[baileybrad]

good tip on the availability of "free" AMEX cards that are avaiable. We have ours thru Hilton Honors program. But the main source of income for most credit cards is the cost that is charged to merchants for handling the tranactions and the interest that some pay on their accounts. If the "Menace" is not using his card anymore 100% of nothing is nothing for old AMEX.

 

[SueOKW]

innocent question - nuthut -if we really considered ourselves as being "at home" - then we shouldn't we be able to get the Florida Resident passes????



what the heck... i still like the shopping, and if you don't get it, leaving the stuff at the counter idea...

have a great weekend everyone!
Sue

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

 

[minimahaki]

Great comment Sue....
Like you said if this was our home not only should we be eligible to receive discounted passes but all of the other Floridian discounts such as the Food Society Card entitling you to 20% off al food and drinks at most WDW restaurants and the great deals on the Cruise lines....
Lauretta

 

[minimahaki]

Great comment Sue....
Like you said if this was our home not only should we be eligible to receive discounted passes but all of the other Floridian discounts such as the Food Society Card entitling you to 20% off al food and drinks at most WDW restaurants and the great deals on the Cruise lines....
Lauretta

 

[sconstantz]

I'm glad you like my idea. And I'm serious. The best way to change this policy is by affecting the merchant. They want to sell their stuff, they don't like re-stocking, and they need to know that you will change your buying habits. They can't blame it on the "economy", but on their decision to allow the discount or not. And if AMEX has anything to do with the policy, believe me the merchants will take it up with them, and they have more clout with AMEX than you or I do.

Good Luck with this. I'm not a member (YET), so I feel a little self-concience replying to some of the postings here (not entitled?) just my feelings, nobody has made me feel that way. But, this is an area that I feel I could contribute to.

shellyw

 

[ckr]

Although the 'leave it at the counter' approach may give us immediate satisfaction, I really don't see it making a difference. I doubt the CM behind the counter, or the one having to restock your stuff, will be sitting around the negotiating table with the powers that be at AMEX. 'Susie from Syracuse' will probably just chalk it up and go on, as she should, since she has ABSOLUTELY no control over this policy. Furthermore, there probably isn't even documentation that this occurred and/or why and/or what you said. So, your protest may not even make it to the shift supervisor, or the store manager, and most doubtfully the powers that be at Disney.

However, any time I've cancelled a credit card, I've been asked why and it seemed like the Customer Service Operator (another one not likely to be sitting around the negotiating table) documented my reasons in the computer.

I still think the way to change this policy is to cancel your AMEX and specifically state that it is due to the fact that you "Cannot get the WDW White Glove treatment as a DVC member". I would bet that the power people (one's who would be sitting at that negotiating table) get reports on cancelled cards and why they were cancelled. If they started to see a number of these SAME REASONS, then there may be some change AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, which is really the outcome we're looking for, isn't it?

I'm sorry, but although I'd like the instant gratification of leaving my stuff at the counter in protest, I just don't see it as being very effective in bringing about a change in the policy.

JMO....