People need to stop complaining!

[bwvBound]

So tons of longer-time members don't care at all (and THEY bought at way way lower prices than Direct is now...even I bought WAY lower than what it is now and we only bought in '09), but a few noisy newbies show up and Disney does something.

Sometimes I despise social media.

Here, here! (I agree.)

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Anybody can complain who wants to. Personally I don't have anything to complain about. I have DVC and I'm still enjoying having DVC, so I'm keeping it. No plans to sell it. None of my 3 contracts were resale, and I'm not at this time considering adding any more contracts.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Those member activities are indeed the ones put on by Community Hall for members staying at that particular resort. They have everything from movie nights, to S'More Campfires, crafts, contests, etc. It takes some funds to do all these things. Not to mention the sports equipment that can be checked out for use like tennis racquets, etc.

So this raises the question - there are lots of reports coming in of movie nights being reduced, staffing at the pools for the afternoon pool parties etc. It's all attributed (even confirmed by some CM's) to be because of the general instructions to reduce costs (supposedly because of Shanghai). But how can they do this at DVC resorts? That reduction should only go back to the members, not Disney I would think.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They are not "once in a lifetime" guest, that's the problem. Disney's focus is now on the "once in a lifetime" guest and DVC is not part of that focus.

Arguably, the focus is now the "once-in-a-lifetime" DVC purchase. Once you sign, you no longer matter.

A lot of what's up at Disney is partly the pressure of measuring results by division. DVC owners drive incremental revenues on property (dining, APs, tickets, etc.) but none of that incremental revenue is "credited" to the P&L for DVD.

 

[robinb]

Arguably, the focus is now the "once-in-a-lifetime" DVC purchase. Once you sign, you no longer matter.

A lot of what's up at Disney is partly the pressure of measuring results by division. DVC owners drive incremental revenues on property (dining, APs, tickets, etc.) but none of that incremental revenue is "credited" to the P&L for DVD.

Exactly. And resale owners matter even less as they are simply replacement owners. The transfer of the points costs DVC time and money with no additional expenditures.

 

[MouseOfCards]

I contacted my broker who told me to put in a complaint about Disney vacation Development with the BBB.
I am going to write DVD first. This is their address.
Disney Vacation Development Inc
1390 Celebration Blvd.
Celebration, Fl 34747-5166

I also asked them to rescind the contract as Disneys policies changed from when I signed the contract with no advance warning and this had devalued my purchase.

Wow! Suddenly a very helpful post in the midst of all the noise that people can act on.

Sigh. So it isn't worth creating a fuss unless it impacts you directly today? (Note the emphasis on 'today' as this recent change may impact your resale value in the future.)

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
-- Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

Such a timeless and appropriate quote. Now, if all DVC'ers, not just those immediately affected by this, cared enough to contact DVD to complain, then it might actually make a difference.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Wow! Suddenly a very helpful post in the midst of all the noise that people can act on.



Such a timeless and appropriate quote. Now, if all DVC'ers, not just those immediately affected by this, cared enough to contact DVD to complain, then it might actually make a difference.

What, exactly, is the complaint?

 

[Sammie]

What, exactly, is the complaint?

Exactly. Do you write,
Dear DVC, I am upset that you took away something that you very plainly and in bold letters said never to buy a vacation purchase in DVC based on.

You should not purchase or add on real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort in reliance upon the continued availability or renewal or extension of these offers.

The only thing I could see, saying to them is: We understand your right to do this but it could have been handled better. But that horse is already out of the barn, so not much to gain unless they change their minds.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Exactly. Do you write,
Dear DVC, I am upset that you took away something that you very plainly and in bold letters said never to buy a vacation purchase in DVC based on.

The only thing I could see, saying to them is: We understand your right to do this but it could have been handled better. But that horse is already out of the barn, so not much to gain unless they change their minds.

And I can't see people not affected by this writing in to complain about it which is what the pp was suggesting.

"I am upset that you took something away from someone I don't know on the internet that you very plainly and in bold letters said never to buy a vacation purchase in DVC based on."

 

[Sammie]

And I can't see people not affected by this writing in to complain about it which is what the pp was suggesting.

"I am upset that you took something away from someone I don't know on the internet that you very plainly and in bold letters said never to buy a vacation purchase in DVC based on."

You know that DVC is doomed, when we are agreeing.

 

[TheGecko]

Sigh. So it isn't worth creating a fuss unless it impacts you directly today? (Note the emphasis on 'today' as this recent change may impact your resale value in the future.)

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
-- Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

Wow. This post is sickening and offensive. Equating DVC member perks to the Holocaust is one of the most ridiculous things I have read in my life. Get real.

 

[bwvBound]

Wow. This post is sickening and offensive. Equating DVC member perks to the Holocaust is one of the most ridiculous things I have read in my life. Get real.

No, only the attitude and response -- not the events.

 

[dvcdream4fld]

It seems to me that this is a bad move on DVD's part. I would think a person who buys resale does so based on price. If DVD provides a discount on annual passes and food, this encourages a person to buy more or visit more often. If DVD offered one year of free annual passes and future discounted passes to retail buyers, then it would sway impulse buying more dramatically without reducing benefits to more frugal resale buyers. It would allow Disney in general to capture more revenue altogether. Disney needs to walk a fine line here, because ROFR allows them to inflate the resale market, but they are now taking steps to devalue the resale market. Although Disney has ROFR, the economics of devalue resale also devalues retail.

 

[TheGecko]

No, only the attitude and response -- not the events.

My family has Jewish roots, and you are so far off it is not even funny. Your follow up response is even more sickening. It is shame you do not understand limits of decency.

 

[robinb]

My family has Jewish roots, and you are so far off it is not even funny. Your follow up response is even more sickening. It is shame you do not understand limits of decency.

My DH's aunt was in a concentration camp. She was an amazing woman and her daughters and grandkids are some of the best and smartest people I know. I thought of the same exact quote from the start of the thread. While it was written about the holocaust, it has become more than that. It is a reminder that we can not ignore what happens to 'others' because the same may happen to us or people we love. That is not a shocking idea nor is it indecent.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't seen a real reason why I, as a previous member with no resale contracts, ought to be just as outraged as someone who was in the process of buying a resale contract and didn't get what they expected.

Nothing wrong with that person sending in something to say that they believe they should be let out of that contract. Maybe even think about involving a lawyer. Don't know if it would work, but I wouldn't blame them for trying. It's not a good deal for them if they really wanted those perks. I might do the same thing if I were in their position. But I'm not. Apparently I should be calling or complaining anyway because some think it is morally the right thing to do to be equally outraged on the behalf of somebody in this position regarding a timeshare contract.

I also can't at this time get outraged about what they might do in the future.

 

[bumbershoot]

While it was written about the holocaust, it has become more than that. It is a reminder that we can not ignore what happens to 'others' because the same may happen to us or people we love. That is not a shocking idea nor is it indecent.

YES.

If someone started calling the head of DVC Hitler then that's going a bit too far. But using a very good quote, that started from that situation, and applying it to other times when people might consider coming out of their bubble to empathize with, or help, others, isn't indecent at all.

I don't seen a real reason why I, as a previous member with no resale contracts, ought to be just as outraged as someone who was in the process of buying a resale contract and didn't get what they expected.

Yes, we get that.

But I'm in the same situation as you, and I *can* see why I should be outraged. And since we aren't affected, in a big way, our outrage might be heard more. We are outraged (sorry I keep using "we"...don't include yourself in that since you aren't outraged) in a general, philosophical sense.

As I said in another thread, I would rather them take it ALL away from ALL of us rather than create this tiered system.

But I don't want them to take things away; they are taking away too much already. As a direct owner I don't have a single problem with resale people getting the same stuff I get. Current resale people are buying at higher rates than original DVC owners, after all. I can't remember what the points cost was that we ended up with, but I'm sure there are some resale buyers who ended up higher than even we did.

So I really don't want to get into a "I paid more than that guy" thing, because at some point I'll be the lower-cost one.

 

[lovin'fl]

As someone, like Makira, who isn't directly affected I am still disgusted what DVD did to those waiting to close on a resale. And I also am disgusted by the restrictions because it devalues the product I might resell at some point.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Add-ons by current members can still be done that way without loss of perks, there is still going to be a market. Especially when the new lands are ready to come onboard.

I think it's a bad thing that happened to the persons still in the process. And I think they should be let out of the contracts. Nor would I blame them if they asked to be let out of the contracts. But I won't be calling DVC on their behalf to demand they be let out of the contracts.

 

[kristenrice]

Two comments I have....

1) I bought resale in 2008 at AKV. To make a long story short, I actually paid MORE for my RESALE contract than what it would have cost me to buy from Disney direct...yes, you read that correctly...I paid MORE for RESALE. So, I do not agree with those who say "I bought direct and I paid more so I deserve more". How much you paid for your contract should have no bearing on the level of benefits you receive. In my opinion, a member is a member, whether they bought direct, bought resale, received it as an inheritance or won it in a contest.

2) I think those who are stuck with their contracts that have already been submitted to ROFR have a right to complain, but not about their loss of perks. The biggest thing that was taken away from them was their CHOICE. Had they known that they would not be eligible for the perks if they bought resale, they could have factored that into their decision. Perhaps, they would have opted to buy direct instead which would have been to DVD's benefit. By making this change without announcement or grace period, DVD effectively took away their choice. Yes, it has been well-documented that the perks can change at any time, but when you make a decision to buy and get locked into a contract, the terms that were in place when you signed that contract should apply. I don't know if this is anything like a bait and switch, and I'm sure it's perfectly legal...but it's still really underhanded for Disney to do it this way.