So what do we all think about the Travel Channel Special??

[keishashadow]

Disney owns the Travel Channel, as well as many others.

thought it was owned by Cox Communications

 

[emlutz23]

I set it up to record b/c I wasn't home but it didn't work. After reading this thread and others, I don't feel so bad for missing it!

 

[nunzia]

Same here. We're happy we did an add-on this Spring at SSR and now we want to go back and apologize to DVC for not buying into AKV while we there. All the other resorts' rooms are beautiful. Hmm, maybe we can an AKV add-on the next time we go - and tell DVC what we think of BLT while we are there.

BLT rooms' furnishings look like what my grandparents had that we threw in the trash after they passed on. Some people think its funky, I have no appreciation for it. Call it a generational thing.

I guess since I'm that certain age, I have to say I love the BLT look! I wasn't at all interested in it before...and if I wasn't such a west coaster and waiting for GCV I'd buy in.
As far as the show, I thought it was pretty lousy. WAAAY to much time showing stuff away from the parks, really no infromation on how to use DVC, which resorts were available, etc. Overemphasis on using points out of country or away from parks, and made it sound super easy, which I have heard it is not. Deceptive. Why blow a good chunk of time showing a family on an ABD (the very same segment I saw on a different show btw), or friends in San Francisco instead of meaty DVC information? Total fluff and mismashed to boot IMO.

 

[eliza61]

Come on, who could afford to have everyone in a family of 5 get the royal treatment at the saratoga spa?? Then getting the couples treatment? This, after 5 plane tickets, meals, admission to parks.... Then a trip to France or Costa Rica?? No where did it say that most expenses, as shown, are not included in the price.

Hey I just did this with my girlfriends, we're not rich? :confused3
I know not many of my "middle-class family" friends would be moved by it.

First,
Remember guys, this was not produced for people who already own, this was made for the people who don't own. It was made to get people to purchase. No travel show on tv is going to start throwing cost at you unless it's a budget travel program. If you ever purchased a house pre construction, they do the same thing. You go in, fall in love with the model, it's nicely decorated and has all the bells and whistles, then you find out every thing you saw was an upgrade. Cruises do the same.

Next,
Whats with all the "rich" people comments. I didn't get that feel. I think they were stressing the fact that you are not lock into going to disney every year. That's an important fact for many people purchasing timeshares. While I am firmly middle class, I do use my points for other places and plan on using them at "adventures by disney"

 

[nunzia]

It was me. We were at Saratoga and France Epcot.

Your family looks great! I hope they gave you all the goodies for free

 

[Mickeysduck]

Next,
Whats with all the "rich" people comments. I didn't get that feel. I think they were stressing the fact that you are not lock into going to disney every year. That's an important fact for many people purchasing timeshares. While I am firmly middle class, I do use my points for other places and plan on using them at "adventures by disney"

Sorry you misunderstood. What I was saying is that, in my opinion, I would have liked to have seen more people like you and I mixed in, and the advantages to owning DVC. Newlywed couples, soon to retire couples, or singles. If it wasn't for DVC, we probably would be putting off going on a much needed vacation year after year.

 

[cpdwiz]

I felt like I was watching an extended DVC DVD...

It did make me want to add on though! At our home AKL...

I don't like the BLT rooms anymore than I did before. They give me a retro/ikea-ish feel. I do want to stay there at least once though.

It was good for our Disney Fix, and glad we only have 72 days until we are home, BUT, I thought it was too commercial with the far away trips...I think Disney should have kept it more "home"

 

[Dodie]

It was an infomercial and I actually felt a little uncomfortable while I was watching it - as if DVC and Disney were kind of overstepping the bounds somehow.

However, the thing that disappointed me most is, I guess, the thing that they must feel they need to do to "sell" people on the product: it was entirely focused on non-WDW/DL travel. Those of us who are DVC owners know that isn't often actually the best use of one's points and doesn't seem to be the best reason to buy DVC.

I had my parents watch it so they would better understand what my DH and I had bought. I was sorry afterward. Now I'm sure they think we'll be going to Costa Rica and San Francisco and still won't understand our yearly trips to see the mouse.

Edited to add: mamaprincess - your family was lovely! I'm sure it was a great experience. Please don't take our negative thoughts about the "sales pitch" aspect of the program as negative toward the families who participated. What a cool thing to have been able to do!

 

[mamaprincess]

I was right! I did guess correctly! How fun was that for your family? How did you get picked to do that?

I saw here on DVC Mousellaneous the post about The Travel Channel looking for families so I sent an email to the address in that post. I got a response the next day. I hit it off really well with the contact. We had to do kind of a video audition. We just took a video of our family in all our Disney craziness and sent it to the contact. The PTB's liked us. It was about a 4 day process.

Wow - Congratulations! Would love to hear all the details also - please, lol. Beginning to end. Sort of a trip report.

ARGGH! I wrote a trip report that I could never finish. Maybe I'll dredge it up. The day of the shoot was the part I didn't finish. It was hotter than Africa and I can say that because I've been. We were literally cooking out there, but it was fun and the crew was awesome!

Lucky you! Your kids were SOOOOO cute at the spa at SSR.

Thank you so much. We think they're pretty great kids.

Your family looks great! I hope they gave you all the goodies for free

Thanks! We got some free stuff. We were not aware that we would be getting anything actually. I think part of the reason we were one of the families selected is because we already had a vacation scheduled during the time that they were shooting so no expense on their part to have us. We just adore the Disney specials. We tape them all and watch them as a family so we thought it would be so awesome to be a part of sharing our love of Disney in that way. It was a really neat experience.

 

[Mickeysduck]

thought it was owned by Cox Communications

I was wrong, you are right. I looked it up..

"Discovery sold Travel Channel to Cox Enterprises subsidiary Cox Communications as part of a larger multi-billion dollar transaction. However, Discovery Communications still distributes the channel under Discovery Networks"

 

[Terry S]

I thought it was kind of funny when they had a few "actual" DVC commercials mixed in with the 60 minute commercial.

Seriously, anytime I can see anything Disney and especially a glimpse of some DVC resorts I am happy. I do wish that they would have shown more DVC resorts as that is the best use of points.

 

[Brancaneve]

Watching the program made us very excited for our trip and grateful that we have already purchased into DVC. However, the focus on world travel didn't reveal the whole truth. The truth being that getting a room in let's say, a Cancun resort isn't a done deal in one phone call. If you go through II, you may have to wait months before you get a response! We didn't know that when we purchased and were disappointed by our long wait. We ended up canceling our search through II and just going back to WDW.

The BLT rooms were "different" and "sexy" as the imagineer mentioned(I hate it when they use that word during family programming). I would like to stay there sometime BUT it is not magical at all! It seems that every other room in every other resort has a little Dis magic that is completely missing from this one.

 

[disneymom8589]

It was me. We were at Saratoga and France Epcot.

Congratulations!!! It was nice to put a face to the name of the starter of the "SSR Lovers" thread!! Your family was my favorite (and I'm not just saying that because I know it's you!! ) I loved watching your young ladies getting the spa treatment.

 

[mamaprincess]

Edited to add: mamaprincess - your family was lovely! I'm sure it was a great experience. Please don't take our negative thoughts about the "sales pitch" aspect of the program as negative toward the families who participated. What a cool thing to have been able to do!

Thanks It was a fun experience. I definitely don't take the opinions on the show personally. Having watched the same show, I share many of those same opinions so carry on. I even have to agree a little bit with the rich folks comment. My mom called me last night and insisted on us giving her some cash because clearly we are living very high on the hog. My husband and I were cracking up because we know the truth.

 

[mamaprincess]

Congratulations!!! It was nice to put a face to the name of the starter of the "SSR Lovers" thread!! Your family was my favorite (and I'm not just saying that because I know it's you!! ) I loved watching your young ladies getting the spa treatment.

Thanks so much. I think they created 3 little spa monsters. They loved it! It's back to 5 dollar nail manicures at the local nail salon for them.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We thought what they left out was as interesting as what they put in.

It's not like being a DVC member means you can waltz out and hop on the Waynama safari. It's what? $160 per person to do that?

I also think the guide misstated the sizes of the pull-out sofa and chair at BLT. That chair is NOT a full size bed. It is a STANDARD twin, meaning it is not smaller than a twin, but it is not FULL size. And I don't think the sofa is a queen bed, but maybe I am wrong.

Maybe they are pushing the Adventures, cruises, etc. because those eat vast amounts of points. A 4 night cruise would take 3 years of points for the 3 of us, and we wouldn't even be in a very good room! We'll stick with WDW, thanks.

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

Thanks so much. I think they created 3 little spa monsters. They loved it! It's back to 5 dollar nail manicures at the local nail salon for them.

Your daughters are soooo cute!
I liked the special, we are planning on buying in, hopefully by next year

 

[corky441]

We thought what they left out was as interesting as what they put in.

It's not like being a DVC member means you can waltz out and hop on the Waynama safari. It's what? $160 per person to do that?


Maybe they are pushing the Adventures, cruises, etc. because those eat vast amounts of points. A 4 night cruise would take 3 years of points for the 3 of us, and we wouldn't even be in a very good room! We'll stick with WDW, thanks.

My sentiments exactly - felt like they were really pushing everything other than a true Disney World vacation. I was un-impressed with the overall message of the show. In saying that though - it was a nice Disney fix all the same

 

[ead79]

While I enjoy watching every show that the Travel Channel puts out about Disney, this one was a mixed bag for me. I felt that the Saratoga segment was by far the best one and the most realistic one. That segment showed a DVC family enjoying a relaxing, less hectic trip to the World, which I think is a great perk of DVC.

I felt that the other segments focused WAY too much on non-Disney vacations. In all honesty, if you primarily intend to trade out for international travel or do Adventures by Disney vacations, then DVC probably isn't the best choice for you. An occasional trade out is one thing, but if you only want to come to WDW every few years and go elsewhere the rest of the time, DVC is probably not your best bet.

I also wish they had showed some 1 or 2 BR villas, not just the grand villas. I agree that the show gave the impression that DVC is only for the very wealthy. Had they shown the SSR villa, I think it would've helped with that a lot.

mamaprincess, I loved your segment! I really liked your line about investing in joy. Plus, your girls were so cute at the spa. Great job!

 

[mamaprincess]

Your daughters are soooo cute!
I liked the special, we are planning on buying in, hopefully by next year

Thanks. They are really great girls

Best of luck with your purchase next year. We've personally never regretted our purchase. It's one of the things we own that really make us as happy as when we first got it. We are true Disney fiends.