Poll on Jim Lewis

[tfc3rid]

Both the DVC website and the Walt Disney World website are prone to crashes... I would not trust an online inventory/reservations system in the least...

Now, they need to take pointers fro mthe DCL folks... That website's reservations are impeccable..

 

[wildernessDad]

He's coming to run DVC??? Did that come from a credible source (bus driver, reservationist, Orange County Recorder's Office)? Maybe now guests will check out of Villas on time (I'm picturing a pretty awful penalty for late check out) . . .

He better get a haircut to conform with Disney standards!

I voted that Jim Lewis is doing a fair job. But I don't like the loss of a lot of the concierge collection resorts. That is definitely a negative. Suggestion: Talk with Xanterra about using DVC points to stay at the national park lodges.

 

[disney54us]

Considering the complaints that I have seen about changes in the past year or so. I think to answer the question, you should consider: Do you feel the same way about DVC now as you did prior to Jim Lewis coming on board?
Do you feel changes and growth patterns to DVC has enhanced your membership or taken away from it?
A discount on AP passes is nice but if you think about the two questions above we may find a change in this poll.
New mattresses are something that any resort does every so many years as part of regular upkeep of rooms. Though I always found the king size beds at OKW very comfy.

 

[tfc3rid]

No question for some people the growth of the DVC has hurt from a reservations standpoint. However, I think the growth in pricing is going to stall membership to some degree... Sales will still be there but no as much as today...

I also think that while the AP purchases and sicount is fantastic, that some DVC'ers would also still like some break on MYW passes... It seem like a lot of DVC members don't do 'Commando' touring any longer... In my case I go to a park maybe 1 day a year... Not worth an AP, not worth a 1 day ticket so I buy a multi day MYW non expiry...

 

[Chuck S]

No question for some people the growth of the DVC has hurt from a reservations standpoint. However, I think the growth in pricing is going to stall membership to some degree... Sales will still be there but no as much as today...

I also think that while the AP purchases and sicount is fantastic, that some DVC'ers would also still like some break on MYW passes... It seem like a lot of DVC members don't do 'Commando' touring any longer... In my case I go to a park maybe 1 day a year... Not worth an AP, not worth a 1 day ticket so I buy a multi day MYW non expiry...

Actually, we never received a discount on MYW or the old park hoppers. Prior to the AP discount and the introduction of MYW tickets, the only DVC ticket discount was 10% off a length of stay pass, and 1)that type of pass is no longer offered and 2)10% is basically nothing.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I thought that he presented himself well on the Member Cruise that we went on, the one in '05. We were fairly new into DVC and were excited and thoroughly enjoyed our DVC experience until that time.

I voted "fair" because I am not as happy with the overall DVC experience now as I had been then. This is primarily because of the way members have found out about major changes in DVC membership. First there was the studio amenities removal, and secondly the change in reservation procedure. There are probably still members who are unaware that they can call 11 months from the check in day and book our 7 days. On the other hand, we were informed of the "rule of four" ahead of time, and, that presents banking deadline problems for me. It did nothing to enhance our DVC experience and made it a bit probematic. So, no, I am not happy with the policies that have been put in place during Jim Lewis's term of leadership.

Our vacations, however, have been marvelous. For things that come under WDW/DVC's control, I would rate the experiences 9 out of 10. As long as that is the case, we'll be DVC members, but my rating for JL's leadership alone would be a 5 out of 10. Personally, I crossed his path, as he was in a public area of Vero Beach. He was in conversation, but my family had to go around him as he was taking up the middle portion of the steps leading to the lobby of Vero Beach. I tried to get eye contact, smile and say hello...but no go. I think he needed to be aware that when he is in the public eye, we as members did expect a little hello.

Bobbi

 

[tfc3rid]

Actually, we never received a discount on MYW or the old park hoppers. Prior to the AP discount and the introduction of MYW tickets, the only DVC ticket discount was 10% off a length of stay pass, and 1)that type of pass is no longer offered and 2)10% is basically nothing.

10% off is 20 - 30 bucks... True it's nothing but it's still something...

 

[DisFlan]

I voted fair. I'd have said good if I didn't know how worn BWV is looking. I appreciate the new sofa beds, but it so OBVIOUSLY needs a lot more than that.

I know "it's just one resort", but it's a growing problem that's been around for awhile. We pay dues to have these things noticed and taken care of. As captain of the DVC ship, it's Jim Lewis' job to verify that what needs to be done is getting done.

DisFlan

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

He better get a haircut to conform with Disney standards!

I voted that Jim Lewis is doing a fair job. But I don't like the loss of a lot of the concierge collection resorts. That is definitely a negative. Suggestion: Talk with Xanterra about using DVC points to stay at the national park lodges.

I REALLY LIKE YOUR IDEA ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARKS!!!

(It also works out strategically for improving the DVC presence in the West!)

 

[Brian Noble]

It's not a 'best kept secret' if EVERYONE seems to be a member...

Like any timeshare developer, sales are where the bread is buttered---the maintenance contract provides much lower profit margins.

Yes, DVC does need to keep current members reasonably happy to prevent mass defections which will tend to lower resale values, and current members tend also to add on. But, their primary interest is generating and converting as much tour traffic as possible.

 

[disneynutz]

I look at things differently.

The DVC should be an exclusive club that caters to it's members.

Today we make too many excuses on Disney's behalf.

The resorts should be clean, painted and well maintained.

The Cast Members should act like they want me as a Guest. Poor attitudes and incompetence should not be tolerated. Don't tell me that they have a hard job and it gets warm in the summer.

Mousekeepers should do their job without fail. Dirty dishes, dust, dirty floors, bathrooms with hair left behind is not acceptable. Unlike some Members I will not clean the room before moving in.

Rooms should be inspected and taken out of service as necessary for repairs or cleaning. Stained carpets, leaky plumbing, broken doors or drawers are all reasons to take a room out of service. Our last stay at OKW we had a missing kitchen drawer. Maintenance came over to verify that the drawer was actually missing when one of the two men stated that he saw a drawer in one of the maintenance areas a couple of months ago. We never saw the missing drawer and I bet that it is still missing.

Member Services should provide top notch service. We shouldn't settle for anything less. I for one will not call back until I get an Advisor who knows their job.

Expect the best and you will get it. Settle for less and you make your own mess.

 

[disney54us]

I look at things differently.

The DVC should be an exclusive club that caters to it's members.

Today we make too many excuses on Disney's behalf.

The resorts should be clean, painted and well maintained.

The Cast Members should act like they want me as a Guest. Poor attitudes and incompetence should not be tolerated. Don't tell me that they have a hard job and it gets warm in the summer.

Mousekeepers should do their job without fail. Dirty dishes, dust, dirty floors, bathrooms with hair left behind is not acceptable. Unlike some Members I will not clean the room before moving in.

Rooms should be inspected and taken out of service as necessary for repairs or cleaning. Stained carpets, leaky plumbing, broken doors or drawers are all reasons to take a room out of service. Our last stay at OKW we had a missing kitchen drawer. Maintenance came over to verify that the drawer was actually missing when one of the two men stated that he saw a drawer in one of the maintenance areas a couple of months ago. We never saw the missing drawer and I bet that it is still missing.

Member Services should provide top notch service. We shouldn't settle for anything less. I for one will not call back until I get an Advisor who knows their job.

Expect the best and you will get it. Settle for less and you make your own mess.

Bravo, Bravo!! I have questioned many times why people make excuses for what has gone down hill. I have even posed the question if you paid ---- for a vacation would this be acceptable to you?
Get many flames and excuses. Replies like 'I am free to sell my points' is ridiculous, yes I am but when I bought the contracts DVC was everything you mentioned. The problem today is the lack of CS in many industries.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Fair...

If he was doing his best for members he would be sure that each room had a comment/repair card in your room for the purpose of documenting problems/repairs that are needed in the units. Almost every room we've been in has had some problem that may be difficult for housekeeping to identify "between guests". Last room at OKW had a nonfunctional bathroom fan and a kitchen sink that sprayed you no matter where you moved the faucet.

Also, every time we stay DVC, we need to call for kitchen items that are missing. No cookie sheet, no potholders, no pitcher. That lack of attention to detail is not what I expect for the top dollar we pay.

We stayed part of our last trip at another timeshare (older one) in Orlando. The kitchen drawars were organized with the precision of surgical instruments in an operating room. Clean and every (and I mean every item) was present in the unit, including placemats and cloth napkins.

 

[lah3hh]

Jim Lewis is only one person in the DVC Leadership team. Yes, I know he is the 'top dog' but again only one. Any good Leader surrounds themselves with good folks. Perhaps it is more the fault of some of his direct reports who are not giving Jim the true facts causing some possibly bad decisions. A good Leader is only as good as the folks he/she places around them so it makes me wonder what is going on with his direct reports.

Another important factor I look for in a Leader is how he/she generally treats people when they are out in the public. In other words, how does Jim treat his direct reports and even other CM's further down the 'food chain'. I think that will show the true character and moral compass of the Leader. To even take it a step further how does he treat other DVC'ers like you and I when he is not "On Stage"? These are things I look for and based on that criteria I feel Jim is doing a fair job.

It appears as if some of his direct reports are rather nervous around him. Based on that assessment I feel Jim runs a rather tight ship and possibly he is a micro manager. Usually that type of management style causes problems within the ranks after a while. Perhaps what we are all seeing now is the unraveling of his team based on how well he has been managing them. Just a thought here and only based on my assessment and impression of him. I could be 100% wrong but my gut feeling tells me I have nailed his leadership style. Maybe I need to go drink some more of my own Corporate Kool Aid...

 

[gobofraggle]

I once read some research which said that when people are asked a poll question where they don't have much information either way, they usually go for the middle option.

If you look at the results here, so far, it's pretty much a bell curve with most people going for the middle option, and approximately the same numbers going for the option above and below - with fewer again at the extremes.

What I mean to say is that this is more likely to be evidence that we don't know how well Jim Lewis is doing (not enough info) rather than that we think he is 'doing a fair job'

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Jim Lewis is only one person in the DVC Leadership team. Yes, I know he is the 'top dog' but again only one. Any good Leader surrounds themselves with good folks. Perhaps it is more the fault of some of his direct reports who are not giving Jim the true facts causing some possibly bad decisions. A good Leader is only as good as the folks he/she places around them so it makes me wonder what is going on with his direct reports.

Another important factor I look for in a Leader is how he/she generally treats people when they are out in the public. In other words, how does Jim treat his direct reports and even other CM's further down the 'food chain'. I think that will show the true character and moral compass of the Leader. To even take it a step further how does he treat other DVC'ers like you and I when he is not "On Stage"? These are things I look for and based on that criteria I feel Jim is doing a fair job.

It appears as if some of his direct reports are rather nervous around him. Based on that assessment I feel Jim runs a rather tight ship and possibly he is a micro manager. Usually that type of management style causes problems within the ranks after a while. Perhaps what we are all seeing now is the unraveling of his team based on how well he has been managing them. Just a thought here and only based on my assessment and impression of him. I could be 100% wrong but my gut feeling tells me I have nailed his leadership style. Maybe I need to go drink some more of my own Corporate Kool Aid...

One problem with DVC is that they got the money up front. At this point, they are just trying to keep costs down. What I find curious is that DVC is only supposed to make a set profit from management fees. What incentive does DVC management have to be extremely cost conscious over housekeeping, maintenance, etc.?

I don't ever seem to hear anyone complain about the level of maintenance fees, just the level of maintenance. I know I don't have a lot of points, but I would pay an extra .50/pt. to get in a clean, well maintained room by 3pm.

Finally, I think Jim Lewis needs to start using a "management by walking around method." It don't take a lot of spot checks before the workers know that it has to be right. It doesn't even have to be bad. Some workers would get pats on the back, and unfortunately others would get warnings. It would also give him a chance to see what is really going on. Plus, coming from Pepsi, it seems that Jim Lewis is more interested in marketing than operations. Marketing is more fun and gets more accolades from the brass.

One final thing...I'm really getting the feeling that someone on the DIS has a personal axe to grind with Jim Lewis. The Steve Harvey comments on another thread appeared biased. It just seems like we've heard a lot about Jim lately that's all.

 

[Sammie]

I think that Mr. Lewis started out doing a very good job. He seemed to really care about the membership and what the existing membership was saying.

Then about a year or so ago it turned into something else. Suddenly sales and expansion was the focus and the existing membership was not.

Along with that one started seeing a huge difference in the upkeep and service levels of DVC resorts versus Disney resorts.

I am sure some DVC members don't stay anywhere but DVC so there is no level of comparsion but if you do, you too will notice a difference. That should not happen.

The DVC cruises took on a different focus too, from a cruise celebrating being a DVC member to a captive audience to try and push a sales on.

Again you would have to be there to know the differences.

So I guess for many members, due to lack of anything to compare to, they don't have a problem with his performance.

For many that knew what DVC was before or even in his beginning years and what it has become, we are not completely satisfied.

There is definitely a need to reconnect to the exisiting membership and the existing DVC resorts.

 

[jarestel]

I look at things differently.

The DVC should be an exclusive club that caters to it's members.

Today we make too many excuses on Disney's behalf.

The resorts should be clean, painted and well maintained.

The Cast Members should act like they want me as a Guest. Poor attitudes and incompetence should not be tolerated. Don't tell me that they have a hard job and it gets warm in the summer.

Mousekeepers should do their job without fail. Dirty dishes, dust, dirty floors, bathrooms with hair left behind is not acceptable. Unlike some Members I will not clean the room before moving in.

Rooms should be inspected and taken out of service as necessary for repairs or cleaning. Stained carpets, leaky plumbing, broken doors or drawers are all reasons to take a room out of service.

Member Services should provide top notch service. We shouldn't settle for anything less. I for one will not call back until I get an Advisor who knows their job.

Expect the best and you will get it. Settle for less and you make your own mess.

One of the best posts I have read here in a long time! I hope someone (DVC) is listening.

 

[gobofraggle]

I don't know to what extent this applies to current management of DVC, but it's worth remembering that whoever runs it is going to have their own career in mind...
which is normal...
and as it has received greater recognition within Disney and greater focus/priority, they won't be able to help sometimes imagining themselves in Bob Iger's seat ten years from now, wondering what they'd need to do with DVC in terms of expansion and profitability in order to make it a step up that particular ladder...

It can go from being a club run by club management to more clearly a division of a multinational, with a head who's positioning themselves for the next division-head post within that multinational.

None of this has to be to the detriment of members, but it could be.

 

[DVC92]

The OKW extension was not, IMO, poorly implemented. It had to have been a daunting task, notifying all the owners, having it pass the legal muster of how, in a way, to unilaterally extend the contracts without forcing the existing contracts to be extended, etc.

I mean really, all they required from those of us that declined was to simply sign a few notarized deeds and return them, even though it took a bit of time to to actually get the paperwork.

It could have been simple if they didn't attempt to implement it as a marketing scheme to sell the extension. Also, has Mr. Lewis informed you yet of the intended subsidy for non-extenders? Shouldn't such a subsidy have been disclosed at the onset of the extension procedure?