No More Member Discounts at Restaurants?

[luvthattink]

I'm going to disclaimer the following by stating that I am a die-hard DVC member and a huge fan of DVC...I LOVE IT. BUT...I have to admit it really irks me that benefits are being taken away from us as members. After all we are the ones that have essentially "invested" and secured future business for Disney, does that count for nothing? I know when we were down in Sept. 07 we added the dining plan and this was during the same time that they were giving the dining plan away to non members...just kinda felt a little left out. Like it would be nice for them to give us a perk like that.

 

[toocherie]

I know when we were down in Sept. 07 we added the dining plan and this was during the same time that they were giving the dining plan away to non members...just kinda felt a little left out. Like it would be nice for them to give us a perk like that.

Being a new DVC member I probably don't have history you all have of getting "perks" but why would Disney give DVC members--who will likely come anyway--'free dining'? They aren't giving away free dining to non-DVC members out of the goodness of their hearts--my understanding was that it was a promotion designed to keep the hotels and park sfull during a time when traditionally less people came to WDW--there would be no incentive to give it to DVC members who have already committed to their payments for their lodging. (Although I agree with you that it WOULD be a nice perk!)

 

[tjhsr]

We received our reminder last week about our upcoming trip and it said The Turf club would give us the 10% off for lunch and dinner. Nothing about AP giving us the discount.

 

[DVC Mike]

I think I've only used the DVC dining discount just once. I typically used either the DDE and/or AP dining discount.

 

[TDC Nala]

"Free dining" isn't a perk, it's a promotion to sell resort rooms.

I use the DVC discounts at S/D restaurants (man I wish they had one for Bluezoo) and DTD because I use DDE everywhere else.

 

[nunzia]

I didn't buy DVC for the perks, but I do wish there were a few.
I know alot of you get the DDE and that's great, but I won't be there enough to justify an AP so there are no discount options for non AP holders. The DDP is not something I'd get as it seems they have diluted that as well, plus it kind of forces your day to be more rigidly planned to get into those full FS restaurants.

 

[RLRDA]

I didn't buy DVC for the perks, but I do wish there were a few.
I know alot of you get the DDE and that's great, but I won't be there enough to justify an AP so there are no discount options for non AP holders. The DDP is not something I'd get as it seems they have diluted that as well, plus it kind of forces your day to be more rigidly planned to get into those full FS restaurants.

I'm going to disclaimer the following by stating that I am a die-hard DVC member and a huge fan of DVC...I LOVE IT. BUT...I have to admit it really irks me that benefits are being taken away from us as members. After all we are the ones that have essentially "invested" and secured future business for Disney, does that count for nothing? I know when we were down in Sept. 07 we added the dining plan and this was during the same time that they were giving the dining plan away to non members...just kinda felt a little left out. Like it would be nice for them to give us a perk like that.

DVC members have pumped $$billions$$ of dollars into Disney. We didn't buy DVC for the perks either and it seems the longer it's been around and the more members it has, essentially the more money we've pledged to them...the less perks we get. We all know (and have seen) that the perks can come and go at any time but I think a few perks go a long way to making the membership feel that their business and investment in Disney is as appreciated as a cash paying resort guest who seem to get promo after promo after promo. I know it's 'luring' people to fill up the resort rooms at slow times by offering them free dining, etc. I understand. But as they do away with more and more perks, we're not feeling the love.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As long as they keep the discount on APs, I'm happy! I don't need any little 10% discount at a restaurant.

 

[Disneyhappy]

As long as they keep the discount on APs, I'm happy! I don't need any little 10% discount at a restaurant.

The AP discount is the best out of all the DVC perks but that also loses value every year as the regular AP price increases but the DVC discount remains stagnate at $100. Again, this is still a great perk but it's value decreases with every AP price increase.

 

[RLRDA]

As long as they keep the discount on APs, I'm happy! I don't need any little 10% discount at a restaurant.

For members who don't have APs and therefore no access to DDE and may not want the DDP the little 10-20% discounts at restaurants are a nice perk. Are they going to make or break anyone? No. To me, it would be Disney's way of thanking DVC members for their 'loyalty'. Who knows, the AP discount could be next !

 

[Brenle]

For members who don't have APs and therefore no access to DDE and may not want the DDP the little 10-20% discounts at restaurants are a nice perk. Are they going to make or break anyone? No. To me, it would be Disney's way of thanking DVC members for their 'loyalty'. Who knows, the AP discount could be next !

Totally agree. We don't have AP either, and the 10 to 20 percent saves us a lot when you consider how often we dine out. Not sure why Disney did away with it. It can't be because they're losing money.

 

[larrytau]

Just to be safe, I always ask wherever we eat if they offer a DVC discount. I believe ESPN is only for lunch??

Certainly the non-Disney restaurants appreciate the business the perks bring them. We were at DTD at Thanksgiving, and love going to Fulton's - especially for the 30% discount at lunch. The perks book stated (probably starting in August) that the lunch discount was 20%. We went to Fulton's for lunch, and the first thing the waiter said about seeing our DVC card, was: "great, you get a 30% discount for lunch!"

We did not argue!

Always ask!

 

[emlutz23]

If I can make ADR's 180 days in advance, can I access the Portable Perks so I can plan to eat at places that offer the discount? Is that possible? By the time I check-in, it'll be too late to book most places, at least for decent seating times.

 

[LIFERBABE]

If I can make ADR's 180 days in advance, can I access the Portable Perks so I can plan to eat at places that offer the discount? Is that possible? By the time I check-in, it'll be too late to book most places, at least for decent seating times.

The Portable Perks is updated frequently. What is a perk at your 180 window and at the time of your stay may be different.

The member site usually lists the most up to date discounts so that could be used for planning with the understanding that perks are subject to change.

 

[karin037]

Portable Perks listed here:

http://www.arondaparks.com/DVC Perks.htm

 

[Brenle]

Thanks, Karin. Waiting for May's to be listed.

 

[Marc A.]

Is this suppossed to be sent monthly to DVC members????

 

[Lynne M]

Is this suppossed to be sent monthly to DVC members????

No, the Portable Perks booklet is given to you at check-in. The current list of perks can always be found on the member site.

 

[goofy4tink]

Is this suppossed to be sent monthly to DVC members????

No, Portable Perks is given to you when you checkin at your DVC resort.

I'm happy with the AP discount as well. Although, I have been thrilled with being able to get 20% off at Picabu!!

 

[ADP]

Who knows, the AP discount could be next !

It would be in Disney's best interest to keep the $100 off AP. If they stop offering that perk to members we will no longer buy APs. We would take less trips to the World. In the end, that hurts Disney, and us for that matter.

I don't know about everyone else, but the APs we have call out to us occassionaly "Go To Disney...GO TO DISNEY" when I walk by them.