Regret (and Disappointment)

[Cybertruck]

I do think that membership should have its privileges. However, I would prefer to see DVC invest in the core product rather than take money that will raise prices on units and have that going to discounts. I'd much rather see better mattresses, more frequent refurbishments, etc. But that's just me. My understanding is that DVD pays for the discounts as marketing expenses in essence. Even worse would be if funding from dues were paying for these special events, but I don't think that is the case.

That and I'd like to see the return of the tapestry of nations and Illuminations2000.

I apologize for the deviation of the thread. 100% agree with return Tapestry of Nations. In fact, we love replication of Tokyo parades and entertainment at Disney World. Entertainment is abysmal not in any way a reflection on the wonderful cast members but leadership (looking at you Josh D'Amaro).

Love the idea of Illuminations 2000 return but not sure how it “fits’ in the new EPCOT. Bob Iger discussed the return of creatives and storying telling when he returned as CEO. I let you image what Josh was doing that day. Entertainment would be a place to start in Disney World. Tapestry of Nations was Disney story telling at its best.

Cfabar1 appreciate the wonderful trip down memory lane!

 

[Sandisw]

I do think that membership should have its privileges. However, I would prefer to see DVC invest in the core product rather than take money that will raise prices on units and have that going to discounts. I'd much rather see better mattresses, more frequent refurbishments, etc. But that's just me. My understanding is that DVD pays for the discounts as marketing expenses in essence. Even worse would be if funding from dues were paying for these special events, but I don't think that is the case.

That and I'd like to see the return of the tapestry of nations and Illuminations2000.

Dues can not cover and do not cover any perks. The timeshare laws don’t allow it. Expenses foe the resort that you mention have to be covered by the owners via dues. I don’t believe the law would allow DVD to supplement things that way.

What DVD uses to pay for membership extra costs, when there are ones, is money set aside in the marketing budget. It comes from the profits they make selling for the purpose of selling more,

And, since perks are incidental benefits and not guaranteed, DVD gets to stop offering them anytime they want if they don’t want to pay for them.

 

[Sammie]

While I agree with you in principle, perks like this for DVC are really offered to support resort occupancy / DVD sales.

Since they just started VDH sales, I was surprised that DL did not offer this to its hotel guests. (I would expect them to limit the number of tickets available this way, just as they do for WDW MM events). Costs them very little and they already have the means to do so. YMMV.

Moonlight Magic is DVC only though and isn't this Disneyland event, just like the Halloween party at WDW that is open to everyone? I just don't think because I am DVC I should automatically get special preferential treatment on a ticketed event. It's first come, first serve and some get tickets and many don't.

 

[vacay77]

The problem is that some DVC owners seem to have the perception that they should be branded "Disney's best customer" and thus receive the best of everything. In cases like Oogie Boogie where there is a limited supply (capacity), every added benefit potentially given to one group is something taken away from another. Priority purchase for Magic Key, DVC, D23, etc means fewer tickets for everyone else. That's why Disney tends to rotate those perks among various groups and events.

The primary perk of DVC *IS* the discounted room. Members often fixate on the idea that they've given Disney $30k-40k (or more), and again view this as some "best customer" indicator. But what we're really doing is locking in a discount for DECADES to come. From Disney's perspective, they're sacrificing 60-70% on lodging year-after-year in exchange for the up front fee. IMO, it's unrealistic for DVC members to expect an endless parade of discounts and perks in all other areas.

That said, there are a lot of perks for DVC members. It's not merely an illusion. Ask infrequent cash guests what they would think of cheaper annual passes, 20% merchandise discounts, private lounges and free after-hours parties. Specific to this one topic, it's fair to question why hotel guests didn't get some priority period. But DVC perks will never touch every corner of the Disney empire.

I don't think I should be branded Disney's best customer - however, I do think that if you are staying at a Disney hotel, you should be given the opportunity to purchase tickets outside of the general public. The same argument goes towards early entry hours and extended evening hours at the WDW resorts. Would you be ok if Disney took those perks away tomorrow? They got rid of them during COVID and there was an uproar. I do think Disney is missing the mark on this one, sorry.

Disneyland now has 2 DVC resorts. I receive emails where DVC members get discount tix on Jollywood and the Christmas party at WDW. Disneyland - no discounts whatsoever. I do think that both coasts should offer similar discounts.

As I mentioned in my original post, I know that I purchased a room - nothing more, nothing less. It does frustrate me that the Halloween tickets are now being sold on eBay for thousands of dollars. Would I rather the tickets be sold to scalpers who are going to charge thousands of dollars for them - or guests staying at a Disney hotel? I'd choose the latter.

Of course, I think the tickets should be sold to the general public. But when scalpers are buying them and Disney fans (including Disney hotel guests) and Disney cast members are being left ticket-less, I do think it's time for Disney to re-evaluate their ticket selling process.

 

[Sandisw]

I don't think I should be branded Disney's best customer - however, I do think that if you are staying at a Disney hotel, you should be given the opportunity to purchase tickets outside of the general public. The same argument goes towards early entry hours and extended evening hours at the WDW resorts. Would you be ok if Disney took those perks away tomorrow? They got rid of them during COVID and there was an uproar. I do think Disney is missing the mark on this one, sorry.

Disneyland now has 2 DVC resorts. I receive emails where DVC members get discount tix on Jollywood and the Christmas party at WDW. Disneyland - no discounts whatsoever. I do think that both coasts should offer similar discounts.

As I mentioned in my original post, I know that I purchased a room - nothing more, nothing less. It does frustrate me that the Halloween tickets are now being sold on eBay for thousands of dollars. Would I rather the tickets be sold to scalpers who are going to charge thousands of dollars for them - or guests staying at a Disney hotel? I'd choose the latter.

Of course, I think the tickets should be sold to the general public. But when scalpers are buying them and Disney fans (including Disney hotel guests) and Disney cast members are being left ticket-less, I do think it's time for Disney to re-evaluate their ticket selling process.

Even with giving Disney guests an early chance to buy, you are not going to stop the scalpers. They book a cash room, get the tickets, and then cancel the room once they secure them or don't cancel it until the tickets are sold.

The biggest problem is that there are more people who want to go to these things than spots and even with advance sales for certain guests, other Disney or DVC guests in that same situation would be left out....if they sold out that fast.

DL has long been know for being more of a locals part so obviously, Disney believes that there is not yet a reason to offer some advance ticketing options to resort guests like they do WDW. But, maybe, next year, since VDH will have opened more than a year....you will see it!

 

[tjkraz]

I don't think I should be branded Disney's best customer - however, I do think that if you are staying at a Disney hotel, you should be given the opportunity to purchase tickets outside of the general public.

And I don't disagree with that. As I said in the second-to-last sentence of my post "Specific to this one topic, it's fair to question why hotel guests didn't get some priority period." The bulk of my response was aimed at the comment I quoted, not your original complaint.

If after-hours party tickets were previously made available to hotel guests, but not this time, it seems some greater philosophical shift occurred within Disneyland management. There has always been a disconnect between perks and policies at WDW vs DL. Regardless, it's not specifically a DVC issue and I wouldn't expect any priority period specifically for members.

 

[DonMacGregor]

DL has long been know for being more of a locals part so obviously, Disney believes that there is not yet a reason to offer some advance ticketing options to resort guests like they do WDW. But, maybe, next year, since VDH will have opened more than a year....you will see it!

This needs to be emphasized more. Last year, Disneyland had just 300 thousand fewer guests than the Magic Kingdom (16.8 million, versus 17.1 million), yet has only 2,500 hotel rooms versus 36,000 in Florida. Even if you add in the other 3 WDW parks, you're never getting close to that 14:1 hotel room ratio. DL fills the parks and the special events with literally no reason to extend any offers/discounts/special events for the cash hotel guests. The 3 Anaheim hotels also maintain over a 90% occupancy rate, and you'd never see them converting hotel rooms to DVC like at PVB or GFV, because there's never any excess occupancy. Plenty of people will pay for DLR cash rooms all day long, with nothing more than the promise of early entry.

Maybe you'll see some better offerings with the addition of the 350 DVC rooms at VDH, but the Disneyland Resort has never had to dangle any carrots to hotel guests to maintain park attendance or hotel occupancy.

 

[kanerf]

The queue system is garbage. I have never snagged a reservation since they started using it. I always got what I wanted before when it was first come first served.

 

[Sandisw]

The queue system is garbage. I have never snagged a reservation since they started using it. I always got what I wanted before when it was first come first served.

The queue system is first come first serve.

 

[CarolMN]

The queue system is first come first serve.

Agree, once you get into it. I think he doesn't like that everyone who is waiting for the reservation time to open is randomly assigned a queue position at open. Those who try after that are added in the order they call.

Without the queue, those with the fastest computers got in line first.

FWIW, I think the queue works as designed - it helps keeps the system from crashing and tells you where you are in line. (Better than constant busy signals, IMO).

However it seems that those who have multiple devices have a better chance of getting a lower queue position than those who only try with one.

 

[Brian Noble]

Last year, Disneyland had just 300 thousand fewer guests than the Magic Kingdom (16.8 million, versus 17.1 million), yet has only 2,500 hotel rooms versus 36,000 in Florida.

That's not the only difference, of course.

The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA had almost 2.8M people in 2022. The LA-Long Beach-Anaheim MSA had almost 12.9M (source). Per-capita income in OKS was $53K and change in 2021. Per-capita income in LLA was $75.8K (source). The cost of living in LLA is higher, which you'd think might even that out, but in 2019 even adjusting for cost of living, per-capita spending power in LLA was higher (source).

Disneyland is surrounded by many more people, and on average those people have more money to spend. And, the former was entirely by design: that's partly why the Disney Legend Harrison Price recommended it.

Plenty of people will pay for DLR cash rooms all day long, with nothing more than the promise of early entry.

Most of those people will pay cash for a DLR room simply because it's a DLR room. No perks required.

 

[DonMacGregor]

That's not the only difference, of course.

The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA had almost 2.8M people in 2022. The LA-Long Beach-Anaheim MSA had almost 12.9M (source). Per-capita income in OKS was $53K and change in 2021. Per-capita income in LLA was $75.8K (source). The cost of living in LLA is higher, which you'd think might even that out, but in 2019 even adjusting for cost of living, per-capita spending power in LLA was higher (source).

Disneyland is surrounded by many more people, and on average those people have more money to spend. And, the former was entirely by design: that's partly why the Disney Legend Harrison Price recommended it.


Most of those people will pay cash for a DLR room simply because it's a DLR room. No perks required.

Actually, if you look at the larger LA metropolitan area, and stretch the radius out to 90 miles, you'll get all of LA county and the most populace areas of San Diego County, and those population numbers end up closer to 24 million people, all within a two-hour drive of Disneyland. (The town of Lebec on the 5 at the northernmost point in LA County is 90 miles from Disneyland, as is the center of downtown San Diego.) A 90 mile radius around WDW gets you Tampa/St. Pete, but doesn't even get you close to J-Ville. Heck, that's more than the entire state of Florida.

Also, looking more closely at Orange County (CA), the average household income is close to $150K ($81K per-capita, per your source), and with nearly 3.1 million residents, the OC alone is larger than the entire OKS MSA.

I absolutely agree that Disney can fill every resort room in Anaheim without offering any incentives of any kind.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Actually, if you look at the larger LA metropolitan area, and stretch the radius out to 90 miles, you'll get all of LA county and the most populace areas of San Diego County, and those population numbers end up closer to 24 million people, all within a two-hour drive of Disneyland. (The town of Lebec on the 5 at the northernmost point in LA County is 90 miles from Disneyland, as is the center of downtown San Diego.) A 90 mile radius around WDW gets you Tampa/St. Pete, but doesn't even get you close to J-Ville. Heck, that's more than the entire state of Florida.

Also, looking more closely at Orange County (CA), the average household income is close to $150K ($81K per-capita, per your source), and with nearly 3.1 million residents, the OC alone is larger than the entire OKS MSA.

I absolutely agree that Disney can fill every resort room in Anaheim without offering any incentives of any kind.

There are also a "few" Disneyland fans just a few hour drive up the 15 who are fans and who visit often enough here in Southern Nevada. I think we are getting close to 3+ million? We like to take our ill gotten gains from our lack of a low teens percentage haircut that we don't have to pay to the franchise tax board and invest them back to the mouse (I see more than enough of the Magic Key magnets on the backs of cars when I drive around Vegas).

I am a fan of the allow hotel guests to get tickets ahead idea just because of some of the planning that someone must due depending on their circumstances. If you were traveling from great distance and wanted to try and get a OBB in during the trip, it would be nice to be able to plan ahead and know you could get tickets if you were willing to book a room at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. I also think it's just money left on the table from a marketing perspective for VDH.

 

[keishashadow]

The obvious solution to this problem would be for Disney to charge significantly more for the tickets in the first place.

Absolutely, they are leaving $ on the table otherwise

Might just allow them to add additional nights to the schedule

do think that if you are staying at a Disney hotel, you should be given the opportunity to purchase tickets outside of the general public.

Agreed.

Imo they need to make the pool smaller

Unpopular option might be to tighten days (blackouts or surge pricing) during that season on tix locals tend to purchase.

Why not have a presale that requires purchase of a pkg of sorts (on-site hotel, day tix or meal etc)?

 

[ShablamE]

Agree, once you get into it. I think he doesn't like that everyone who is waiting for the reservation time to open is randomly assigned a queue position at open. Those who try after that are added in the order they call.

Without the queue, those with the fastest computers got in line first.

FWIW, I think the queue works as designed - it helps keeps the system from crashing and tells you where you are in line. (Better than constant busy signals, IMO).

However it seems that those who have multiple devices have a better chance of getting a lower queue position than those who only try with one.

Actually this was proven to not be the case and evidenced by the fact that I had two devices in the pre queue that were both placed at an hour + wait once the queue opened. But then from a 3rd device I was able to use incognito tabs over and over until I was directly taken to the purchase screen to select my dates (Yes on July 11th after sales resumed). Numerous people commented the same thing, some didn't go directly to purchase but were placed into a <1hr wait to buy. So if the queue were really first come first served as I believe it should be these actions should not have resulted in jumping ahead of the line.

 

[vacay77]

I don’t think Disney hotels are selling out most of the time (with the exception of popular times like holidays). And I do think some people are more reluctant in booking Disney hotels as prices for the resorts and theme park tickets increase. I know of at least 3 families (who love Disney as much as we do but not DVC members) now balking at even booking a trip due to the expenses and the limited perks for hotel guests, especially as their kids get older and they don’t necessarily need quick access back to the hotel for mid-day naps. I maintain that perks such as the ability to buy Oogie Boogie tickets might make a difference - I know it would be for me. I recognize the concern that guests can just cancel their hotel reservations as soon as they get the tickets but that’s why I like the bucket of tickets they had in the past for Disney hotel guests the same day of the party.

As for the queue, I know some people were able to circumvent and purchase tickets through the app before Disney stopped it. That’s one of the reasons I think Disney needs a better system. I don’t begrudge anyone who bought tickets that way, but it’s just an example of Disney not having a uniform system.

Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts. My feelings of disappointment and regret have somewhat waned in the past week. Although I’m more inclined to use my points to book a stay at the Aulani as opposed to Disneyland, lol.

 

[crazycatlady]

I didn't try to buy Oogie Boogie tickets so I am just curious as to whether you could buy multiple days of tickets once it was your turn in the queue or limited to just one. I've noticed in past threads, and from watching the DL vloggers, that people were going on multiple days and have wondered if Disney should limit this so more people get a chance to go. I don't know how they would police this, but it seems like it would be fair to only allow people to buy one day of special event tickets, at least on the first day.

Now that I am typing this, I am sure that those people who got more nights of tickets probably had more than one person on-line buying them if they were being limited to one day.

 

[Wedgeout]

I didn't try to buy Oogie Boogie tickets so I am just curious as to whether you could buy multiple days of tickets once it was your turn in the queue or limited to just one. I've noticed in past threads, and from watching the DL vloggers, that people were going on multiple days and have wondered if Disney should limit this so more people get a chance to go. I don't know how they would police this, but it seems like it would be fair to only allow people to buy one day of special event tickets, at least on the first day.

Now that I am typing this, I am sure that those people who got more nights of tickets probably had more than one person on-line buying them if they were being limited to one day.

From my experience with the current process. Could buy tickets for a selected date. Figured the 10 minutes must have just been for time to get in and get something. After purchase, could keep going back in for quite awhile and see availability with purchase option. These threads helped so much with what was happening, through the chaos of it all. Learned that refresh was important. Had thought about trying a couple nights. My first choice was unavailable so went with second. Afterwards, and several refreshes later, the original date choice showed up and purchased.

 

[RoseGold]

Disney gives their direct DVC members the 'illusion' of being special and elite customers but it's an illusion only.

Right it's an illusion. DVC has not given meaningful priority in tickets. Run Disney, the 50th, parties. A big example was during Covid restricted park reservation limits, when even then Disney didn't promise park passes to on-site hotel guests, like Universal did.

The only tickets they did give DVC priority was the Starcruiser. DVC could have given a jump on events and tickets and other experiences, they have chosen not to. The natural outcome is disappointment, like OP's. Sorry OP, that is a really lousy situation.

I don't see any kind of solution. Disney won't care, and DVC certainly won't care.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The queue system is first come first serve.

As I read it if you enter the queue before the start time then at the time it actually opens you will randomly be assigned a spot. If you join once the queue is open then it's next in line at that time. It doesn't seem to operate quite that way though as I've had the random assignment be very high and then joined after the queue opened - maybe 5-10 minutes - and been assigned much much lower spot.