Poly "Luau Experience" tour invite

[Amw1064]

As to DVC information, do you not get any emails? For instance, i just got one in the last couple of days about a "Wildnerness" adventure at Ft Wilderness. Perhaps your emails are going to spam?? I didn't get an invite to the luau events because our Poly stay was in early May and my next points rez is a GV at OKW in December.

I get absolutely zero emails from DVC except for when I book a new reservation. I did not receive the Wilderness one you are talking about. I check all junk, spam, etc when I hear of events through other people and nothing. I just put in another complaint at Aulani when we added points. It is very upsetting to read about movie premiers, and events that we could have gone to since we live only an hour and a half away and could have gone. (I haven't received anything in probably 5 years)

 

[southerngirl528]

Amw, that is SO weird… I worked MS several years ago but I'm at a loss as to what to suggest. Perhaps if you give a new email to replace the one they have on file?? I don't know….. perhaps send an email to the member satisfaction team? Maybe they can get those emails to start firing to you? Good luck!!

 

[maburke]

I get absolutely zero emails from DVC except for when I book a new reservation. I did not receive the Wilderness one you are talking about. I check all junk, spam, etc when I hear of events through other people and nothing. I just put in another complaint at Aulani when we added points. It is very upsetting to read about movie premiers, and events that we could have gone to since we live only an hour and a half away and could have gone. (I haven't received anything in probably 5 years)

Do any of these mailings come via one's guide? I have received far fewer in the past few years, since my guide left. I don't know that I have been assigned a new one, or if I'm in some kind of "general" category. I did not receive the Wilderness one, either. I just remember that I used to receive emails with my guide's contact information at the bottom, and I don't receive any like that anymore.

 

[wallygirl]

Do any of these mailings come via one's guide? I have received far fewer in the past few years, since my guide left. I don't know that I have been assigned a new one, or if I'm in some kind of "general" category. I did not receive the Wilderness one, either. I just remember that I used to receive emails with my guide's contact information at the bottom, and I don't receive any like that anymore.

Are you assigned a guide only if you buy Direct? Is there an advantage to having a "guide" assigned to you?

 

[maburke]

Are you assigned a guide only if you buy Direct? Is there an advantage to having a "guide" assigned to you?

No, you should be assigned a guide anyway, but I have found as my guides may leave, that I'm not reassigned right away. Your "guide" is actually your salesperson, so that if you ever did, in the future, want to buy direct, you have someone who is already assigned to you. That person may develop a relationship with you by leaving a welcoming phone message when you're at Disney, but there's no particular advantage to you. Unless, of course, they turn out to be the gateway to these events.

 

[southerngirl528]

Any time your assigned guide has left, you will be an "orphan" member until reassigned. New Vacation Guides will often get lists of these members and call to touch base and "adopt". This both enlarges their database and gives members an assigned person they can contact if they have any questions about adding on points, or similar questions since they are primarily sales. Lots of members have long-standing relationships with their guides. And there are several guides that were with DVC in the beginning that are actually still with DVC! Some have moved on to various mgmt positions and a few are still Vacation Guides.

Even if you bought resale, DVC wants you to have a guide in case you need them. Maburke is correct that there's no particular advantage unless you develop a relationship with them. No matter what, every member should be auto-sent any updates, or member event info.

 

[disneynutz]

I never receive any DVC news!

Verify that you have your correct email address set up in your DVC profile which is separate from your Disney profile. Make sure that you have authorized Disney and DVC marketing to send you marketing other emails. Make sure that your email processing server hasn't flagged the marketing emails as spam and make sure that the email client software on your computer hasn't flagged the email as spam.

Bill

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Based on my super snooping skills, it looks like they have events on 7/6, 7/13, 8/3, 8/10, 9/7, and 9/28. At least they have webpages up to take reservations for those days.

I am at Poly on 9/28. When can I expect an invite?

 

[Pirate Granny]

I invited myself, as a kind dis boarder sent me a link

 

[disneynutz]

So people are inviting themselves to Disney's DVD marketing event? Has DVD opened up their private sales function to anyone who wants to attend?

Bill

 

[southerngirl528]

Bill, I have a few buddies that work in sales at DVC and are working this event and they understood it to be a prospect event as I had mentioned earlier in this thread. Certainly possible DVD marketing has decided to add some members. It is NOT a designated member event. I asked. Oft times what happens is that there will be some slots open and they will allow members to attend. This is entirely different than the nice member rollout for the Poly that took place at SSR a while back with dancers and Stitch.

 

[southerngirl528]

And truthfully there's not a lot of reason for a member to go unless they want 10 minutes of hula, 15 min of sales presentation and a few pupu's (appetizers). Attendees can walk themselves over to the models afterward, or they can sit down with a guide to join DVC (or add on if it's a member). DVC Members can already see the bungalows each afternoon if they show their DVC Member ID to the sales person at the Great Ceremonial House DVC kiosk. They start the daily tours at 2pm I believe, weather permitting. I can ask for more details.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill, I have a few buddies that work in sales at DVC and are working this event and they understood it to be a prospect event as I had mentioned earlier in this thread. Certainly possible DVD marketing has decided to add some members. It is NOT a designated member event. I asked. Oft times what happens is that there will be some slots open and they will allow members to attend. This is entirely different than the nice member rollout for the Poly that took place at SSR a while back with dancers and Stitch.

I understand that but it seems that people are sharing the link and inviting themselves. This isn't an open party, it's a private sales session. If I were DVD I would be upset.

Bill

 

[southerngirl528]

And I agree entirely, Bill. I meant my comments to actually support your previous post on this.

The years I worked for DVC it did amaze me how entitled some members feel. It's only a small percentage, but boy howdy. I think sometimes people don't understand that this type of event is NOT paid for out of member dues. Marketing is an entirely separate department. I was a member long before I joined DVC as a CM back in '99, and I though I certainly do not like a lot of the changes that have happened over the years, I do think DVC is doing a pretty good job of having a lot of fun events. Like the Beach Bash that's upcoming for example.

 

[disneynutz]

And I agree entirely, Bill. I meant my comments to actually support your previous post on this.

The years I worked for DVC it did amaze me how entitled some members feel. It's only a small percentage, but boy howdy. I think sometimes people don't understand that this type of event is NOT paid for out of member dues. Marketing is an entirely separate department. I was a member long before I joined DVC as a CM back in '99, and I though I certainly do not like a lot of the changes that have happened over the years, I do think DVC is doing a pretty good job of having a lot of fun events. Like the Beach Bash that's upcoming for example.

I have been told conflicting info from managers and CM's about what our dues pays for. My take and what some managers eluded to is if Disney/DVD/DVCMC can use dues money for certain events, they will. So feel good events like the beach bash, Christmas mingle or any mingle event is paid for with dues money as a member event.

Other events that focus more on sales are paid for by DVD marketing.

Any insight on the real deal?

Bill

 

[southerngirl528]

Bill, I spent a number of years working for DVC, and can honestly say I never heard of member dues being spent on anything other than their intended purpose (taxes, refurbs, insurance, Magical Express, staffing the resorts, etc.). I would not be entirely surprised if some of those monies could be allotted for special member events, but after working 3 different areas of DVC I have never heard that they are. I don't know that it would even be legal to use member dues for non-member stuff.

You are certainly correct that there are different "buckets" from which monies can be pulled: Member Marketing, Prospect Marketing, Sales, Sales Support, etc., etc.

 

[wallygirl]

No, you should be assigned a guide anyway, but I have found as my guides may leave, that I'm not reassigned right away. Your "guide" is actually your salesperson, so that if you ever did, in the future, want to buy direct, you have someone who is already assigned to you. That person may develop a relationship with you by leaving a welcoming phone message when you're at Disney, but there's no particular advantage to you. Unless, of course, they turn out to be the gateway to these events.

Even if you bought resale, DVC wants you to have a guide in case you need them. Maburke is correct that there's no particular advantage unless you develop a relationship with them. No matter what, every member should be auto-sent any updates, or member event info.

Thank you for the info! So as a new DVC member I should eventually expect to be assigned a guide, but not to worry about it if we don't hear from anyone?

 

[southerngirl528]

That's correct, Wallygirl. And Welcome Home, btw!!! If you have reason to need a guide, you can call 800-500-3990 (tele-sales) and if you don't have a guide assigned, they will get one for you. It is usually whatever guide is in the phone queue at that time.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill, I spent a number of years working for DVC, and can honestly say I never heard of member dues being spent on anything other than their intended purpose (taxes, refurbs, insurance, Magical Express, staffing the resorts, etc.). I would not be entirely surprised if some of those monies could be allotted for special member events, but after working 3 different areas of DVC I have never heard that they are. I don't know that it would even be legal to use member dues for non-member stuff.

You are certainly correct that there are different "buckets" from which monies can be pulled: Member Marketing, Prospect Marketing, Sales, Sales Support, etc., etc.

I'm not suggesting that they are doing anything nefarious with our dues, I'm sure that legal make rulings on what's acceptable and/or what will past muster. According to our dues budget: Member Activities - Cost of the quarterly Member newsletter, annual Association meetings and printing and postage for Association legal mailings. Also includes the cost of certain Member recreational activities and events at the Resort.

That to me reads that the mingles which are considered a recreational or resort event are paid for with our dues.

Bill

 

[freediverdude]

Hmm, I'm going to be staying at the Poly on 9/7, wonder if I will get an invite.