Small Perks Disappearing

[dvc at last !]

I think DVC Members shoud have FREE calls to ONSITE restaurants,
golf and spas for reservations.
We have paid the dues and are willing to spend more money
while vacationing.
If that becomes an issue (too many calls) then limit the numbers of FREE calls
per day/visit.

 

[psimon]

I think DVC Members shoud have FREE calls to ONSITE restaurants,
golf and spas for reservations.
We have paid the dues and are willing to spend more money
while vacationing.
If that becomes an issue (too many calls) then limit the numbers of FREE calls
per day/visit.

You can have the free calls to restaurants, etc as long as you go through the operator. When I have done that, I have never been charged.

I have, on the other hand, always paid the $0.35 for every call I make when I dial in with my modem..... Something I will continue to do with the cost difference of $0.35 vs $10!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think DVC Members shoud have FREE calls to ONSITE restaurants,
golf and spas for reservations.
We have paid the dues and are willing to spend more money
while vacationing.
If that becomes an issue (too many calls) then limit the numbers of FREE calls
per day/visit.

Those types of things have always been free. All you have to do is touch the appropriate button on the room phone, and you will be connected to those ONSITE services without a call charge.

 

[bpmorley]

Just returned from a week stay @ OKW (as a member on points). Made a few local phone calls (modem) and when I checked out I was charged 35 cents for each one. I know it is not much, but I always thought members were not charged for local calls. I questioned this @ checkout, but all three people that were working the desk (8:30pm) said members pay for local calls. When did this change??

BTW, no biggie, just a little disappointed as things change. I know dues probably were used to pay for this; does this mean my dues are going down?

ha-ha!

only 35 cents? we made 1 call on our last trip to get a mears shuttle to Seaworld. They charged a $1.78 for 2 minutes.

 

[Chuck S]

only 35 cents? we made 1 call on our last trip to get a mears shuttle to Seaworld. They charged a $1.78 for 2 minutes.

Sounds like it was long distance. Some nearby 407 exchanges are long distance.

 

[Mike]

Sounds like it was long distance. Some nearby 407 exchanges are long distance.

Yes, be very careful when using a local ISP dial up number. Look at the front of the phinebook. There is a chart showing which exchanges are local and which are not. When in doubt, call the front desk to verify.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Do I miss the free park passes that we used to get at Old Key West?

Oh, the good ole days......

 

[bpmorley]

Sounds like it was long distance. Some nearby 407 exchanges are long distance.

I still have the bill. It says local call. It wasn't that big of a deal. I was our 2nd trip of the year, we had AP's, we had $800 in disney reward dollars from visa, so the whole 9 day trip cost about $230. That's including the dining plan.

 

[DebbieB]

Some local calls are toll calls. The non-member rate is $.75. The fact that they charged you $1.78 sounds like it was beyond the basic area.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I would love free wireless internet connection.

 

[Chuck S]

I still have the bill. It says local call. It wasn't that big of a deal. I was our 2nd trip of the year, we had AP's, we had $800 in disney reward dollars from visa, so the whole 9 day trip cost about $230. That's including the dining plan.

Again, long distance 407 and local 407 numbers dial the same way, all require the full 10 digit number. You probably dialed what phone companies are now calling a "local long distance" call. Gone are the days when long distance requires a "1" I don't like these new systems, but that is how they work.

While we don't have to dial 10 disgits here, in TX, my home phone has been billed this "local long distance" fee even just dailing the 7 digits like a regular local call. I asked the phone company (SBC/ATT) just how we are supposed to know if newer exchanges not listed in the phone book are local or long distance...there reply was there is no way...too bad.

If you dialed "9" for an outside line instead of "8" chances are this is what happened to you, the "9" would bill out in the Disney computer as "local call", but the phone company billed it as long distance. I really think State utility commissions should require some sort of automated verbal warning and acceptance by the phone companies for this sort of thing. "The number you have dialed is outside your local area, a toll charge will appear on your bill, to complete this call and accept this charge, press 1 now or hang up now to end this call without charge."

 

[dvc at last !]

FREE internet connection would be great !

 

[LenaN4fun]

This is my first time posting on the board although I have been following everyones discussions for a while. So hello...
This perks issue has always bothered me. It just seems that we are continually losing them. I remembered when I first joined I was given a booklet about all the discounts given, I am sure as an incentive for me to buy DVC, but I didn't realize it was a here today, gone tomorrow deal. I didn't buy into DVC for the discounts, but I feel cheated that Disney would strip these away in order to always save a buck. I remember alot of stores in DD used to give discounts for one and then they slowly started disappearing. The last time I looked at my perks book it was just the world of disney left. I went in there last week to make a purchase and was told that DVC no longer gets discounts, BUT if I carried a Disney Visa, I could get a discount??? That just irritated me.
It's not about DVC members anymore, that is my opinion.
Thanks for letting me vent

 

[bpmorley]

Basically we carry our DVC cards, AP's and our Disney Visa. Almost every place down there takes at least one of these for a discount.

 

[Dean]

This is my first time posting on the board although I have been following everyones discussions for a while. So hello...
This perks issue has always bothered me. It just seems that we are continually losing them. I remembered when I first joined I was given a booklet about all the discounts given, I am sure as an incentive for me to buy DVC, but I didn't realize it was a here today, gone tomorrow deal. I didn't buy into DVC for the discounts, but I feel cheated that Disney would strip these away in order to always save a buck. I remember alot of stores in DD used to give discounts for one and then they slowly started disappearing. The last time I looked at my perks book it was just the world of disney left. I went in there last week to make a purchase and was told that DVC no longer gets discounts, BUT if I carried a Disney Visa, I could get a discount??? That just irritated me.
It's not about DVC members anymore, that is my opinion.
Thanks for letting me vent

I think we have more and better perks now than we ever had. I wouldn't count the OKW/VB park passes because they were a sales incentive with an expiration date. I wouldn't personally count the DDP as a true perk as well but I could see how some would.

ETA: DVC has never gotten a discount at WOD. AMEX did for a long time if you were staying on site and they'd give out the booklet related to that item. But it was not a DVC discount.

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip).....

ETA: DVC has never gotten a discount at WOD. AMEX did for a long time if you were staying on site and they'd give out the booklet related to that item. But it was not a DVC discount.

I agree - DVC members were never entitled to a discount at the WOD in DD. However the now defunct Magic Kingdom Club members did get a discount there. Many CMs confused the two or didn't know the difference and so DVC members often got a discount there with just their DVC card.

There were other discount programs (besides AMEX) that provided a discount at WOD. For example, I remember getting a 10% discount at the WOD in 2005 with my AP. Not sure if that is still a perk of the APs - I think so.

Anyway, sometimes it is hard to keep track of which membership/club/program entitles you to a discount. It's easy to get confused - we still have DVC members who think that their DVC card gives them free parking at the parks. It doesn't - actually staying at an on site resort (including the DVC resorts) is what gets the perk.

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is my first time posting on the board although I have been following everyones discussions for a while. So hello...
This perks issue has always bothered me. It just seems that we are continually losing them. I remembered when I first joined I was given a booklet about all the discounts given, I am sure as an incentive for me to buy DVC, but I didn't realize it was a here today, gone tomorrow deal. I didn't buy into DVC for the discounts, but I feel cheated that Disney would strip these away in order to always save a buck. I remember alot of stores in DD used to give discounts for one and then they slowly started disappearing. The last time I looked at my perks book it was just the world of disney left. I went in there last week to make a purchase and was told that DVC no longer gets discounts, BUT if I carried a Disney Visa, I could get a discount??? That just irritated me.
It's not about DVC members anymore, that is my opinion.
Thanks for letting me vent

How long have you been a member, and when did you get a discount at DTD stores? I don't ever remember getting those, but then I have only been a member since 1997. The World of Disney isn't "left", it was actually just added.

I think the very BEST perk we have as DVC members is the AP discount! I really wouldn't care if ALL of the other discounts went away as long as we can keep that one!

 

[bpmorley]

How long have you been a member, and when did you get a discount at DTD stores? I don't ever remember getting those, but then I have only been a member since 1997. The World of Disney isn't "left", it was actually just added.

I think the very BEST perk we have as DVC members is the AP discount! I really wouldn't care if ALL of the other discounts went away as long as we can keep that one!

You are correct, IMHO that is the best perk

 

[kimberh]

The AP discount is a Great Perk. In May, we were in a restaurant at Fort Wilderness. We didn't want that meal to be our Table Service meal, it was lunch and pretty inexpensive for Disney. I put all the cards on the table and asked the waiter, Which one will get me the best discount? We were new members, we had the AP, Disney Visa, Membership card, Disney Dining card for the 20% discount at certain locations. Truthfully, I can't remember which one he picked but I knew that I had to have a discount in that pile of cards.

 

[LenaN4fun]

Maybe I am confused. It may have been the AP the gave the discount at WOD( now I feel stupid)...lol Guess I got upset for nuttin.