Services are being stripped

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

Is it just me or is the product we all purchased being stripped away a little bit more every year.

When I purchased, we had it all(as a part of our price)

Ex1: Valet Parking. . . . Gone
Ex2: Free use of spa steam room and sauna at Saratoga, grand, etc.
EX3: Discounts(seems like the only discounts we get are from vendors . . .arribas brothers, rainforest, etc.)

What else have I missed?

What is next to be taken from DVC Members?

I feel that this is a very unloyal thing to do. I mean if I buy a home, I don't expect the person that sold it to me to come back a year later and take the grass. . . . or do I?

 

[Granny]

This topic is brought up very often on these boards. Most agree that what we bought was an accommodation deal and the perks can and will come and go.

Since I bought they instituted the $100 discount on AP's. That's a huge benefit and enables the TIW dinining discount.

Everything else is gravy. We used the valet parking benefit but it doesn't kill us to self-park. I will admit that with DVC, Disney Visa and AP's the discounts tend to trip over each other. But the core of what we bought...upgraded accommodations on-site at WDW for 40+ years...is still intact.

Some people feel that Disney "owes" us because we've proven to be such loyal customers. Funny how the non-DVC WDW regular visitors feel the same.

 

[cel_disney]

I think if anyone has read their closing documents closely...perks are perks and are subject to change yearly and they are not obligated to give you any...

I dont see how anyone can be upset about it when its written plain as day in the info that should have been read at closing.

Are you surprised about this or just upset by it?

 

[Granny]

I mean if I buy a home, I don't expect the person that sold it to me to come back a year later and take the grass. . . . or do I?

It would be more like the person who sold it to you telling you that they'd cut your grass for you. It's not in the contract but they said they'll do it as a benefit of you buying the house (and they also told you it wasn't guaranteed to continue). Then at some point they decide to discontinue it. You might not like it, but it shouldn't have been the reason you bought the house.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We purchased DVC so our family would have the opportunity to stay where we wanted at a very reasonable rate. The perks weren't part of our decision-making process. For some of them, we would not have ever taken advantage of them anyway (sauna at Saratoga, for instance). For others, like the valet parking, I know why they were discontinued and actually support the decision. The front area of Boardwalk is much calmer now that free valet parking is gone. You no longer have the throngs of people milling around waiting for their vehicles, blocking incoming cars and sometimes creating a safety hazard (especially when you had guests who did not appropriately supervise their children right by the car lane).

So, nope, can't say I have felt frustration over recent changes.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Yes this topic has come up many times, and I always feel a need to chime up and support the OP. No, these long gone perks were NOT part of our contracts. No, no one ever said they would last forever. But our guides did take every effort to make sure they were all presented to us when we sat down to make our purchases. The were all (the perks) part of the DVC "bigger picture". No that many of these perks are gone or have dwindled, I do feel as if my membership is worth less. Would I sell based on these lost perks. Absolutely not. I love my family vacations at WDW and we all love our home resort. But I do feel as though I have less than I did a few years ago. This is just my opinion but I see lost perks beating out new perks by at least 5-1.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

Actually, I don't think I ever used the valet parking, but it would be nice if we did a family trip.

still makes me nervous as to what I bought sometimes.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

No not upset surprised, I new they could change and will change. Do these things tend to be perks or amenities(spa access, valet) Maybe it is just a fine line between the two. When you go through the process of buying the membership and you are on the tour, these things come up in conversation and I think that when you are intially purchasing you know what you are getting(this is probably different with each person/year)and then to see it change over time it has that stripping effect.

 

[aan1701]

I look at it like this. I bought a hotel room, not perks. Plain and simple to me.

 

[JimC]

This topic is brought up very often on these boards. Most agree that what we bought was an accommodation deal and the perks can and will come and go.

Since I bought they instituted the $100 discount on AP's. That's a huge benefit and enables the TIW dinining discount.

Everything else is gravy. We used the valet parking benefit but it doesn't kill us to self-park. I will admit that with DVC, Disney Visa and AP's the discounts tend to trip over each other. But the core of what we bought...upgraded accommodations on-site at WDW for 40+ years...is still intact.

Some people feel that Disney "owes" us because we've proven to be such loyal customers. Funny how the non-DVC WDW regular visitors feel the same.

Well put Granny. Sums up my thoughts quite nicely.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

I agree, I wouldn't sell either because I love using my membership and I love the product, but I think you have a valid point as though the membership seems to loose value.

 

[famsen]

Yes this topic has come up many times, and I always feel a need to chime up and support the OP. No, these long gone perks were NOT part of our contracts. No, no one ever said they would last forever. But our guides did take every effort to make sure they were all presented to us when we sat down to make our purchases. The were all (the perks) part of the DVC "bigger picture". No that many of these perks are gone or have dwindled, I do feel as if my membership is worth less. Would I sell based on these lost perks. Absolutely not. I love my family vacations at WDW and we all love our home resort. But I do feel as though I have less than I did a few years ago. This is just my opinion but I see lost perks beating out new perks by at least 5-1.

I agree. The fact is a large part of my guide's sales pitch was based on the great perks. She flipped through the book and asked which places we love to eat at when at WDW. I said happily "BOMA!". Of course she looked it up and there it was as a discount perk and she figured out how much it would save us. Literally, the month after we signed our papers, that Boma discount was gone as were discounts at other restaurants we mentioned at the time.
I know the deal; they can take and give perks away at will... blah, blah, blah. Seems like there aren't many perks that are actually of any use to use to us anymore as DVC members. I have gotten many more perks as an AP holder.

 

[Reddog1134]

Does it make me somewhat upset? Yes. Does it make me regret my purchase? No. Do I feel like i've been cheated? No.

If something I like is taken away, of course it's going to be upsetting but like others have said, "That's not why I joined DVC."

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

Well I brought this up because after my last trip, I went to use the spa service after the pool to relax in the steam room and the spa hostess told me it would now be 10 or 15 dollars.

Also, when I looked at portable perks at DD I noticed they were all participant vendors and not disney. I don't feel like I am "owed" anything, but to put it simply DVC members do fill the resorts year round. Actually, I think that all guests deserve some kind of loyalty program.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Ex1: Valet Parking. . . . Gone
Ex2: Free use of spa steam room and sauna at Saratoga, grand, etc.
EX3: Discounts(seems like the only discounts we get are from vendors . . .arribas brothers, rainforest, etc.)

EX 4: Housekeeping.... Gone

MG

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

Well, suppose it depends on the perk/service.

If I remember, someone correct me if I am wrong but orignally they did a once a day housekeeping service years ago?

 

[Granny]

No not upset surprised, I new they could change and will change.

I think most took the tone of your initial post to be upset, not surprised. The use of the word "stripped" and these comments in your initial post are what I think people are responding to (bolding is mine for emphasis).

Is it just me or is the product we all purchased being stripped away a little bit more every year.

[snip]

What is next to be taken from DVC Members?



I feel that this is a very unloyal thing to do.

I mean if I buy a home, I don't expect the person that sold it to me to come back a year later and take the grass. . . . or do I?

I already responded to the "grass taking" part of your post.

Yes this topic has come up many times, and I always feel a need to chime up and support the OP. No, these long gone perks were NOT part of our contracts. No, no one ever said they would last forever. But our guides did take every effort to make sure they were all presented to us when we sat down to make our purchases. The were all (the perks) part of the DVC "bigger picture". No that many of these perks are gone or have dwindled, I do feel as if my membership is worth less. Would I sell based on these lost perks. Absolutely not. I love my family vacations at WDW and we all love our home resort. But I do feel as though I have less than I did a few years ago. This is just my opinion but I see lost perks beating out new perks by at least 5-1.

Your points are all valid, and I think everyone has the right to feel the way that they do. If they feel that some of the perks were part of the package they bought, I can see how they would feel that Disney is taking things away.

I just don't happen to feel that way. And if someone posts a thread like this I would think they are inviting opinions of both support or discussion.

For what it's worth, I don't think DVC "losses" are 5 to 1 vs gains. Some of the gains might not interest you, but things like letting DVC members buy the Dining Plan is a perk that they didn't have to extend to us.

I think it is words like "stripped" and "disloyal" that tend to stir the pot a bit and invite rebuttals.

 

[Tigger031266]

Another really great perk that was added was free internet. That would have cost me at least $10 per day (almost covers vallet for me).

I think the new resorts are also a benefit. It gives you more places to stay. I am very thankful for BLT and I can't wait for Hawaii.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

stripped, taken, removed, erradicate, or eliminate. it is all to remove. I apologize that I came across suprised or mad or anything. I was just curious if I was not alone here.

I love disney and everything that they do. Don't get me wrong here. I know that they have added great things since I bought(ie: Hawaii) but I think some of these things do not fall under perks.

 

[DebbieB]

EX 4: Housekeeping.... Gone

MG

Well, suppose it depends on the perk/service.

If I remember, someone correct me if I am wrong but orignally they did a once a day housekeeping service years ago?

Really? Must have been before I joined in 1999. Wouldn't the cost come out of dues? I prefer no housekeeping and don't want to pay increased dues for it. Let the people who want it pay for it.

My 2 favorite current perks were not there when I bought - $100 AP discount and free internet.