Selling - Have Blue Card Questions

[DonMacGregor]

But that's only if you go more than like 10 days right? (or maybe two 4-day trips?)

We take two 4-park day trips each year (7 days total each), and one 7 day trip to Aulani. The two WDW trips definitely cover the cost of the Sorcerer Pass.

 

[DVCanadian]

The sign says for DVC Members, but it doesn't say "excluding those that didn't buy their membership directly from us."

That’s on the back of the sign in 5 point font

 

[dontae]

That’s on the back of the sign in 5 point font

Oh yeah, I must have missed that. I also missed the part where they said, "Don't take it personally, we do like that you come stay at our resorts, and spend your money in our restaurants and parks. Just don't let me catch you in our lounges, which are reserved for our preferred members, but just know your money is good here. We like your money."

 

[DonMacGregor]

Why is it that every time one of these threads pops up, the first thing out of the mouths of members without Membership Extra eligibility is how foolish buying direct is (suckers!), and how many thousands of dollars they saved buying resale (and that that is all that really matters)? "Keep your direct points! I saved thousands of dollars and couldn't care less about your perks!" "I have an AP and a Disney Visa for discounts, the lounges suck and are a waste of time, and I don't need the so-called discounted AP because it's not even a real discount!"

Right up to the point when it's a specific perk that a particular resale member wants or feels entitled to, then it's a personal affront, it's all about Disney being class-based and elitist, being petty and discriminatory, and how Disney thinks their money is good but that they aren't.

 

[Chili327]

Why is it that every time one of these threads pops up, the first thing out of the mouths of members without Membership Extra eligibility is how foolish buying direct is (suckers!), and how many thousands of dollars they saved buying resale (and that that is all that really matters)? "Keep your direct points! I saved thousands of dollars and couldn't care less about your perks!" "I have an AP and a Disney Visa for discounts, the lounges suck and are a waste of time, and I don't need the so-called discounted AP because it's not even a real discount!"

Right up to the point when it's a specific perk that a particular resale member wants or feels entitled to, then it's a personal affront, it's all about Disney being class-based and elitist, being petty and discriminatory, and how Disney thinks their money is good but that they aren't.

No one is saying we deserve it, just that they claim it's for "DVC members" (are we not?), & that resale IS a part of their system, if they didn't want resale to be allowed they should not have allowed it from the beginning, I'm sure they could have set it up that way, but they didn't they wanted it to have that resale value, unlike typical timeshares.

 

[Sandisw]

No one is saying we deserve it, just that they claim it's for "DVC members" (are we not?), & that resale IS a part of their system, if they didn't want resale to be allowed they should not have allowed it from the beginning, I'm sure they could have set it up that way, but they didn't they wanted it to have that resale value, unlike typical timeshares.

One has nothing to do with the other though. I’ll use my Costco analogy again,,,you pay extra and you get 2% back… you don’t and you are not eligible.

Both are members. Same with DVD. They reward the people who buy directly from them and not from a private owner.

It’s pretty simple and as mentioned, those who buy resale do so to save money. Those of us who spend more to buy direct do so because we feel paying that extra is worth what we currently get.

 

[Chili327]

Yea for sure, you’re getting something you feel is worth paying for, but I guess maybe it’s just me, but they shouldn’t refer to things being available to “DVC Members” if it’s for certain members only, not that the value isn’t there for direct members. Like they should define which members when speaking about them like gold member (or blue member? lol)

What is the Costco analogy? Who pays extra to get 2% back? (& who doesn’t)

 

[Sandisw]

Yea for sure, you’re getting something you feel is worth paying for, but I guess maybe it’s just me, but they shouldn’t refer to things being available to “DVC Members” if it’s for certain members only, not that the value isn’t there for direct members. Like they should define which members when speaking about them like gold member (or blue member? lol)

What is the Costco analogy? Who pays extra to get 2% back? (& who doesn’t)

Correct. I am an executive member and my daughter is not.

But we both get referred to as members. We have different color cards.

The point is there are a lot of programs out there that have tiered benefits that don’t make you less of a member.

So, you are a DVC owner and a DVC member but simply not eligible for certain DVC member perks.

I think people saying they shouldn’t use the words DVC member because not everyone is eligible is, IMO, silly.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

The whole thing is silly in my opinion. I really wish they would get rid of the resale restrictions and blue card vs. non blue. I have a mix of direct and resale and most of my resale are grandfathered. I don't think there should be any difference. Anyway - because they do have these ridiculous restrictions all the more reason to keep the contract with the blue card - honestly not that the blue card matters because the only thing i really use if for are for the AP's

 

[Chili327]

Correct. I am an executive member and my daughter is not.

But we both get referred to as members. We have different color cards.

The point is there are a lot of programs out there that have tiered benefits that don’t make you less of a member.

So, you are a DVC owner and a DVC member but simply not eligible for certain DVC member perks.

I think people saying they shouldn’t use the words DVC member because not everyone is eligible is, IMO, silly.

I get it, it just seems like the wording should be more specific. but I guess we have different card colors as well?

The whole thing is silly in my opinion. I really wish they would get rid of the resale restrictions and blue card vs. non blue. I have a mix of direct and resale and most of my resale are grandfathered. I don't think there should be any difference. Anyway - because they do have these ridiculous restrictions all the more reason to keep the contract with the blue card - honestly not that the blue card matters because the only thing i really use if for are for the AP's

Thats an interesting take on it as well... you have resale, but are still "blue card". I agree they should get rid of restrictions.

 

[Sandisw]

I get it, it just seems like the wording should be more specific. but I guess we have different card colors as well?



Thats an interesting take on it as well... you have resale, but are still "blue card". I agree they should get rid of restrictions.

No more colors…we have DVC Y and DVC ND.

 

[DonMacGregor]

No one is saying we deserve it…

Oh, plenty do. When it affects them. Do a search for “Sorcerer Pass” or “Moonlight Magic” and “Resale”.

 

[DonMacGregor]

The whole thing is silly in my opinion.

I’m guessing a large number of members who paid more to buy direct points specifically to enjoy booking at new resorts and other Membership Extras, regardless of anyone’s purely subjective opinion of those perks, would not be so dismissive and might not perceive of losing the value of that extra money spent as particularly “silly”.

 

[that1jeff]

Yea for sure, you’re getting something you feel is worth paying for, but I guess maybe it’s just me, but they shouldn’t refer to things being available to “DVC Members” if it’s for certain members only, not that the value isn’t there for direct members. Like they should define which members when speaking about them like gold member (or blue member? lol)

(Newly resale-only member here)

Not just you. I have a similar opinion, and it's the simple not knowing part that's a little frustrating. "Available to DVC Members” is ambiguous. They should refer to things as being available to "eligible DVC members" and that would suffice in my opinion. Wouldn't have to mention Y or ND. Or Direct or Resale. No need to mention card colors. Just "eligible" and that would be a nice *wink*wink* and then we would all know.

My example is DVC merch. Still learning, but from my understanding lots of DVC merch is indeed available to all DVC members, whether you are eligible for perks or not. (Is that correct?) But some DVC merch is exclusive to eligible members. e.g the DVC MagicBand. At the park it was available for anyone to grab off the rack. I didn't have my card yet, but figured I try anyway. So I grabbed one and tried to buy it, and was told No by the CM. Ok, I get it. No DVC card yet, no sale. But then when I found it on disneystore.com later that day, it was literally named "Disney Vacation Club Direct MagicBand" on the website. And had I known that, I never would have tried as it was never intended for me, which is totally cool. I just felt a little embarrassed trying.

 

[dontae]

Why is it that every time one of these threads pops up, the first thing out of the mouths of members without Membership Extra eligibility is how foolish buying direct is (suckers!), and how many thousands of dollars they saved buying resale (and that that is all that really matters)? "Keep your direct points! I saved thousands of dollars and couldn't care less about your perks!" "I have an AP and a Disney Visa for discounts, the lounges suck and are a waste of time, and I don't need the so-called discounted AP because it's not even a real discount!"

Right up to the point when it's a specific perk that a particular resale member wants or feels entitled to, then it's a personal affront, it's all about Disney being class-based and elitist, being petty and discriminatory, and how Disney thinks their money is good but that they aren't.

The thing is. Disney is a major corporation in the business of providing entertainment services. And we are consumers of those services. Entertainment is a discretionary item in our budgets, unlike food and clothing. I'm suspecting that for most, we must manage our discretionary budget carefully.

So it is against that backdrop that, while I enjoy a lot of the entertainment services Disney provides, it is not 100%. There are some things they do that I fully understand is for the good of the corporation. But that does not mean I fully support all those things they do any more than I would fully support everything that Wal-Mart might do. But bottom line. It is business and you either pay for their services are you don't.

 

[bakerworld]

I just wish we actually had a card for anything (DVC, AP, Room access) - LOL

 

[DVCsloth]

When we first bought DVC, we started out with grandfathered resale good for everything but cruises and DVC collection I believe. We then added on direct mostly because we wanted to use our points anywhere, not getting shut out of things like MM and how easy it was to add points right away. I'm sure we way overpaid but I like the fact that I can use my points anywhere 7 months out. I know it's not guaranteed and can't imagine they would do away with it, but if they did, it would be time for me to sell.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I would consider buying direct under a few conditions:
1. Sorcerers pass or similar access was guaranteed

2. Benefits were guaranteed longer than three years

3. I could purchase a location like Grand Floridian, where the delta between resale and direct cost was not so great, and the contract didn’t run the risk of major restriction on sale. I like to have outs for expensive purchases in case something terrible happens.

Otherwise I don’t see myself buying direct even if I want the benefits. It is riskier and I am risk averse. But yeah…of course I would take the benefits if offered to me as a resale member.

 

[Sandisw]

(Newly resale-only member here)

Not just you. I have a similar opinion, and it's the simple not knowing part that's a little frustrating. "Available to DVC Members” is ambiguous. They should refer to things as being available to "eligible DVC members" and that would suffice in my opinion. Wouldn't have to mention Y or ND. Or Direct or Resale. No need to mention card colors. Just "eligible" and that would be a nice *wink*wink* and then we would all know.

My example is DVC merch. Still learning, but from my understanding lots of DVC merch is indeed available to all DVC members, whether you are eligible for perks or not. (Is that correct?) But some DVC merch is exclusive to eligible members. e.g the DVC MagicBand. At the park it was available for anyone to grab off the rack. I didn't have my card yet, but figured I try anyway. So I grabbed one and tried to buy it, and was told No by the CM. Ok, I get it. No DVC card yet, no sale. But then when I found it on disneystore.com later that day, it was literally named "Disney Vacation Club Direct MagicBand" on the website. And had I known that, I never would have tried as it was never intended for me, which is totally cool. I just felt a little embarrassed trying.

They always have that info in the information. It says “must be eligible for membership extras”.

Of course, there could be things, like the MB that are exclusive, and times when someone who is not eligible will get turned down,

But, those buying resale, at least most of them, know that they are not eligible for anything that is considered a membership extras, which includes lounges, special events, and discounts.

I just don’t think DVC needs to jump through any more hoops to make it more clear than they do with the DVC Y or ND, or the notation as but being eligible in terms and conditions.

 

[Sandisw]

I would consider buying direct under a few conditions:
1. Sorcerers pass or similar access was guaranteed

2. Benefits were guaranteed longer than three years

3. I could purchase a location like Grand Floridian, where the delta between resale and direct cost was not so great, and the contract didn’t run the risk of major restriction on sale. I like to have outs for expensive purchases in case something terrible happens.

Otherwise I don’t see myself buying direct even if I want the benefits. It is riskier and I am risk averse. But yeah…of course I would take the benefits if offered to me as a resale member.

FL timeshare law considers perks incidental benefits so they can come and go as they please,

DVC isn’t in charge of the procures such as tickets, etc. so they can’t guarantee it when parks and resort oversees its. They have to rely on others to approve. And yes, it’s a big corporation, but each division has their own metrics, and just like we saw after Covid when they stopped the sale, DVC had no way of getting special access for owners….

That is why no one should ever buy for perks…but if you want the potential for them, direct is what needs to happen. For us, it does.

The bigger direct plus..which isn’t tied to membership extras in anyway,,,is the ability to stay at all resorts now and in the future…I don’t want points that are not good everywhere, unless they are RIV, which is okay since we will stay there every trip.