So I just hit Gold. Is it really that big of a difference over Silver?

[cyclenut]

I've never been a fan of Disney's loyalty program. I've always felt they give you stuff that really costs them next to nothing to do and most of the things are really about them getting more money out of you, and faster.

The early booking for cruises just drives more traffic to bookings even earlier. It benefits Disney more than it does the rest of us.

The early booking of onboard activities is a bit of a benefit for those high demand items, but that benefits Platinum most and I've really felt that Disney is doing a disservice to its regular guests by, essentially, keeping them from ever getting a Cabana and many times missing out on brunch or other special offerings.

The 10% off the gift shops just drives more traffic into the gift shops. Who doesn't love a bargain and the margins are far greater than the 10%. Another Disney benefit.

The gift is a nice touch, but they start giving that away for your second cruise.

Most lines offer some sort of priority boarding or no line policy for their top tiers, so until you get to Platinum, I don't see a lot of benefits for the passenger.

 

[PurplePencil]

The gift is a nice touch, but they start giving that away for your second cruise.

In my option the gift is much better non-Bahamas, since they get less CC members (and less people in general) the backpack is filled with goodies. We've gotten waterproof playing cards, countless USB drives, decent water bottles, a photo scrapbook, the backpack (which I love both I have). So when you're a higher level...the gift is better non-bahamas

 

[Trera]

We have never gotten anything other than a beach back and we have taken 12 cruises. I guess we will just have to book and Alaska or European cruise so we can get one. LOL

 

[hanscarlet]

The biggest perk for Gold over silver is the 10% merchandise discount. However, with them introducing the 2017 Disney Visa perk (if you use your Disney visa to pay for your onboard charges, you receive a 10% discount -- with a number of restrictions). So even that may not be a big change going from silver to gold.

The Officer reception is okay. Sometimes you get a lot more families than officers so basically you are just going to have some finger foods (nothing remarkable as I remember) and cookies. Then pick up a free bottle of water and rice krispie treat on your way out.



Yes, silver has to pay ahead of times for shorter cruises (5 night or less from US port, PIF is 75 days, so silver would have to pay early to book activities and excursions).

Hold up what's this 2017 Disney Visa perk? Are you saying that if I go to pay my bill at the end of the cruise, say it's $500, if I pay with my Disney Visa vs any other credit card they'll charge me $450?

 

[cruiser21]

I found one of the best benefits of Gold over Silver was the fact that we could book our future cruises with Platinums the day before everyone else when opening day occurs.

Waiting on hold for two hours to book a cruise I could book online the next day doesn't really seem like a perk.

 

[jcarwash]

Hold up what's this 2017 Disney Visa perk? Are you saying that if I go to pay my bill at the end of the cruise, say it's $500, if I pay with my Disney Visa vs any other credit card they'll charge me $450?

No, to clarify, if you add your Disney Visa to your account as the charge-to card for onboard expenses, you qualify for "10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more aboard Disney Cruise Line ships."

The summary of Visa perks for DCL currently includes:
10% Off Select Disney Cruise Line Digital Photo Packages
10% Off Select Merchandise Aboard Disney Cruise Line
10% Off a Castaway Cay Getaway Package
20% Off Select Onboard Massages or Facial Treatments

See here for the details/fine print: https://disneyrewards.com/disney-cruise-line/

 

[Trera]

Waiting on hold for two hours to book a cruise I could book online the next day doesn't really seem like a perk.

It is if you want one of the in demand cruises that will heavily booked the first day................and then when everyone else gets to book the next day, the price has gone up 15%

 

[cruiser21]

It is if you want one of the in demand cruises that will heavily booked the first day................and then when everyone else gets to book the next day, the price has gone up 15%

I've haven't seen that in years.

 

[clten]

No, it is not a flat discount of 10% across the board. I was referring to the 10% merchandise discount you get as either a gold/platinum cruiser or now as anyone who put down their Disney Visa as payment on their onboard charges. As jcarwash listed, there are other discounts that you may get with the Visa perk on other things as well.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Well, I always knew the CC perks were kind of sucky, but now that I have bumped up, they just feel kind of suckier.

This is hysterical. Is there something wrong with us that getting free stuff makes us feel bad? No. There is something wrong with their free stuff if a "perk" makes you feel worse.

To digress a bit...
I work for a big company that is forever trying to boost moral without spending significant amounts of money, and almost every "perk" they give us, is met with the response by employees of, "I'd rather have cash." But of course, what they are willing to spend is so little per person, that even cash wouldn't really excite anyone.

There is one exception. Free food. Spend $5 per person on some free lunch or appetizers and everyone is over the moon. I don't understand why they don't abandon most of those other little perks and just do free food more often.

And to tie it back to the Gold perks...

More Mickey Rice Krispy Bars for the the Gold Members! (I'm only Silver. )

 

[squirk]

This is hysterical. Is there something wrong with us that getting free stuff makes us feel bad? No. There is something wrong with their free stuff if a "perk" makes you feel worse.

To digress a bit...
I work for a big company that is forever trying to boost moral without spending significant amounts of money, and almost every "perk" they give us, is met with the response by employees of, "I'd rather have cash." But of course, what they are willing to spend is so little per person, that even cash wouldn't really excite anyone.

There is one exception. Free food. Spend $5 per person on some free lunch or appetizers and everyone is over the moon. I don't understand why they don't abandon most of those other little perks and just do free food more often.

And to tie it back to the Gold perks...

More Mickey Rice Krispy Bars for the the Gold Members! (I'm only Silver. )

Seems like a vendor and a customer will almost always have this tug-of-war. A vendor will arguably always overvalue their loyalty perks, and a customer will arguably always overvalue their continued patronage.

Yes, I work in financial services, with and among people making in excess of $300k per year. Set out a few trays of ****ty buffalo wings in a conference room, and these people descend on the free food like jackals that haven't eaten in a month.

 

[jlemieu1]

I don't. It just encourages me to buy something.

LOL, but it saved me $500 dollars on one purchase. I was very surprised but they will apply it on big ticket items.

 

[cyclenut]

When it comes to perks, free food seems to be the fan favorite. It isn't that great from a value perspective, but there is something about our inner animal that just loves free food.

 

[DisneyConvert]

My wife goes on more cruises than I do, so "we" have been Gold for a while, and yes the minor status is nice, but mostly inconsequential. The first beach bag is quite nice to get of course.
.
Wife and I like the reception (son could care less) as one gets to meet the Officer's who really "know" and care what's going on with DCL. Over multiple cruises on the Magic & Wonder, we have gotten to know a few of them, and there have been moments of "magic" and extra service that, yes, keep us coming back.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

When it comes to perks, free food seems to be the fan favorite. It isn't that great from a value perspective, but there is something about our inner animal that just loves free food.

So true! Even on a cruise ship when you can already have as much food as you want, and in many varieties, getting some other food item for free is so exciting.

We found the appetizers at one of the bars on the Fantasy at like 10:30 PM and we LOVED it. Went back almost every night. And likewise, we (myself included) bristle at having to pay extra for food (popcorn, cans of soda, pretzels) even when there are other free options.

 

[NancyIL]

I found one of the best benefits of Gold over Silver was the fact that we could book our future cruises with Platinums the day before everyone else when opening day occurs.

This!

Waiting on hold for two hours to book a cruise I could book online the next day doesn't really seem like a perk.

That's when having a travel agent book the cruise is a great thing!

It is if you want one of the in demand cruises that will heavily booked the first day................and then when everyone else gets to book the next day, the price has gone up 15%

Exactly! And sometimes the cabin category you want may be gone by the time booking opens to the general public.

 

[cruiser21]

This!


That's when having a travel agent book the cruise is a great thing!


Exactly! And sometimes the cabin category you want may be gone by the time booking opens to the general public.

I guess it's a perk if you feel the need to book that far in advance. I really don't consider it a perk. I would like to see the higher OBC they got rid of come back, better stateroom gifts, free laundry, free drinks, free cabin upgrades etc. This is all stuff other cruise lines do.

 

[NancyIL]

I guess it's a perk if you feel the need to book that far in advance. I really don't consider it a perk. I would like to see the higher OBC they got rid of come back, better stateroom gifts, free laundry, free drinks, free cabin upgrades etc. This is all stuff other cruise lines do.

Unless you qualify for Florida resident or military discounts - you usually need to book on opening day for the lowest prices on DCL.

 

[gilsan]

I found one of the best benefits of Gold over Silver was the fact that we could book our future cruises with Platinums the day before everyone else when opening day occurs.

That is the biggest perk IMO

I've haven't seen that in years.

There was the 2015 EBTA. The price shot up before it was open to the general public. I agree it is not as common as it use to be. We also use a TA so I won't have to call.

 

[cruiser21]

Unless you qualify for Florida resident or military discounts - you usually need to book on opening day for the lowest prices.

I haven't found that to be the case. You can book on board. You can wait for restricted rates. There's all kinds of ways to book a cruise. Not all cruises go up in price. I'm planning on cruising DCL in Summer 2018. I haven't booked yet. I'll book onboard in May. I haven't seen any price jumps on any of the European cruises I'm interested in so I'm not too concerned about it. I guess I just don't feel the urgency others feel. Years ago I did, but DCL prices start out so high now. They don't move up that fast anymore. We also don't limit ourselves to DCL anymore. We also cruise Carnival, NCL and Royal. I have a cruise booked on Carnival this Fall if restricted rates start coming out on the Fantasy that are good I may switch to DCL, but I like Carnival so it's not a big deal to me.