Tiered Benefits

[disneynutz]

I don't think fastpass would be option, that involves Disney parks. I really think this is going to be about things DVC can offer without involving other departments.

There's not much that DVC can offer without involving other departments. The question is, how will the perks be paid for, marketing budget?

Bill

 

[Tiger926]

I'm saying that IF a VIP system evolves, it's likely the cutoff for standard will be at either 400 or 500 and that if your definition of in vs out is being in a preferred VIP level, yes they would be out. The lower the number of levels, likely the higher the number of points required to be an insider.

Do you think cutoff would be 400 because a large percentage fall under that, and this would be DVC's way to try and encourage them to move up.

However do you really think there is anything they can offer that would encourage buyers to buy larger amounts of points.

I mean do they have a large enough market for someone to put down $44,000 or more then dues on top of that.

I don't have anywhere near the experience of you both, and some of the other posters on here who greatly understand the timeshare world, but I totally agree with this, and that is why I mentioned it several posts ago. I totally believe that this is Disney's way of encouraging add-ons or higher buy-ins, or, for encouraging direct sales only. This is the very first thing that popped into my mind, when I read this thread for the first time.

Tiered benefits will absolutely not be applicable to everyone, as that would defeat the purpose of the program. If it were about reward, then they would just add perks across the board, for all members. Tiered loyalty programs are always created in order to bring about an elite membership - only certain people will qualify for that, making it seem like a true exclusive club.

I think 400 is the magic number as well, anything over this amount would be eligible for tiers. It doesn't make sense to offer anything under that, as then it becomes a loyalty/reward program, and I really don't think this is what Disney has in mind. I honestly believe that at 400 points, it would work to entice some members into purchasing more points. Under 400 points is where most of us all more than likely fall, and so that would make the amount of members in the program too large, and thus, it would not have the elite feel that they are more than likely trying to create.

It will be so interesting to see how this all shapes up, Tiger

 

[tomandrobin]

I think the tiered system will start at 400-500 points. It has to be higher the the largest base buy-in. At one time, I think the minimum number point purchase was 220-250 points.....I can't quite remember.

 

[detroitdad]

I could never justify spending the money it would take to fall under a high tier category. Not with 4 kids and the finances involved with raising them. We opted out of extending our contract to the new expiration as we will enjoy our current contract into our 70's. Our contract has worked very well for us, a family of 6 that stays in a 2 bedroom every other year. It has allowed us some great family vacations and memories to a destination that we knew we would visit time again. To that extent, it was the right choice for us and our family vacation needs.

Well when the news comes down, and if it involves a separation of the economic classes, I guess I'll take my measely 150 pt OKW contract that I purchased from a resale in 2001 for $55/pt, and crawl back under the rock from whence I came . I really hope I will be grandfathered in to some extent and not be treated like some DVC peon scum of the earth vermine. because I don't have 400+ points. But if it is decided that my resale points are weighted less than someone who purchased directly from Disney, that will be the day that my trips end and I will gladly rent my points before I give the mouse another cent.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I think the tiered system will start at 400-500 points. It has to be higher the the largest base buy-in. At one time, I think the minimum number point purchase was 220-250 points.....I can't quite remember.

When DVC first began the minimum was 230 points.

Jason

 

[Mtnman44]

Unlimited fast pass, like Universal, is probably the only perk I can think of right now that would even remotely tempt me to buy more and/or buy direct instead of resale. However, 400 points is waaay more than my family needs based on our current and foreseable travel plans....300 points, we could stretch to that for this perk, but I don't see doing any more.

If they make a tier at 400 points, they'd better be prepared to hand out some serious, contractually guaranteed perks. Otherwise, I don't see how this scheme will move the needle. A perk is not going to give families more income to travel, more vacation days from work, or change the school schedules. I assume most of us can only use so many points - so how are they going to sell everyone more points based on perks, I dont' get it?

 

[lisareniff]

When DVC first began the minimum was 230 points.

Jason

Someone had posted on another forum that at the annual meeting he had picked up the tidbit that the average contract was 260 points.

 

[pmcpmc]

I'm saying that IF a VIP system evolves, it's likely the cutoff for standard will be at either 400 or 500 and that if your definition of in vs out is being in a preferred VIP level, yes they would be out. The lower the number of levels, likely the higher the number of points required to be an insider.

should be the only ones receiving any extra benefits besides staying so long at dvc

 

[Dean]

I doubt they will negatively effect any group except a possible option discussed that would give higher tiers an 8 month instead of a 7 month option - oh boy the disboards would blow up it this happened. Fastpasses, bigger AP discount or anything else free doesn't truly hurt or take away from others. However, people get so fired up if someone gets something and they don't. It wouldn't matter if they gave out free stickers that cost a $1 - a reaction by others that didn't get them would be screaming foul play, how could disney do this to us I hate disney etc. So watch out if anything of significance occurs - look at reallocation of points (as you mentioned) which is totally in their right and actually was mentioned to me in detail by our guide as a possibility and even vallet parking.

I personally agree with others that it will be some perk that really won't move the needle for them. Of all the perks we get as DVC owners the only one I consider of any value is the AP discount. However, there is probably a vast majority of owners that don't use this perk and makes it worthless to them. But if it was taken away everyone would scream even those who never purchased an AP and had no plans to ever buy one.

Remember DVD doesn't really care about members after the purchase unless it brings more $$$ in for the mouse. Whatever it is won't cost the mouse anything but they will want a huge return. If ROFR and resales is starting to be a pain for DVD I could see them come up with some bogus plan like Wyndham has for VIP and requires you to buy from the developer. However, that would probably be a big revamp of their current structure to go that far - but just a thought even if not a very thorough thought out thought!

I think it's nearly 100% that if they do anything along these lines they will negatively impact future resale buyers by a huge amount as a minimum. Whether they negatively affect other groups or how big of a carrot they might dangle for the rest is where the variability lies.

Do you think cutoff would be 400 because a large percentage fall under that, and this would be DVC's way to try and encourage them to move up.

However do you really think there is anything they can offer that would encourage buyers to buy larger amounts of points.

I mean do they have a large enough market for someone to put down $44,000 or more then dues on top of that.

I do think that whatever cutoff's they might chose IF they were go to the route of a VIP system would be implemented so that a relative minority were on the inside. How big the VIP vs standard groups would be depends largely on how many levels and how enticing the differences would be. Do I think that they could easily design a system that would convince a significant % to add on BECAUSE of the perks, the answers is absolutely they could easily do so. Obviously if one can't afford to do so, you can't even if one wants to. Let me give you an exaggerated but simplistic example.

Standard member

• $25 banking
• $25 borrowing
• wait list at the current levels
• no exchange options of any kind
• No access to new resorts

VIP member

• No banking/borrowing fees
• wait list 1 month ahead of the standard member
• all exchange options open
• Access to new resorts

You could expand the list further but this gives you the idea. Would this cause someone who only has 100 points to buy 300 to get to 400, likely not, but would someone with 300 buy 100 when they'd like to have the extra points anyway, the answer is often yes.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

The hilarity of this thread has kept me from getting too uptight about the upcoming changes, but I do hope they don't cause a huge gap between the "have" and "have nots". I think the small contract holders are just as important as the big ones and I don't want a hug, kiss, or a wink from Jim. I know accommodations are what we own, but I don't like the differentiation programs like this cause....we shall see. My 210 points is feeling smaller by the moment.

We are also a small contract holder, and also feel we are just as important as the larger contract holders. I would LOVE to have more points, but right now it's not in the cards - just can't afford it. I am sure there are many out there who have 3 or 4 times the amount of points we do, but possibly don't stay as often as we do. I wonder if the powers that be will look at how often you stay at DVC (like the Castaway Club for DCL), and not at just the amount of points you have. Like you said, we have to wait and see, but I have to admit I feel a little unsettled about this.

 

[pmcpmc]

dvc are to reduce the cost of annual dues to ease the burden on the rich during the recession

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Kinda makes me glad I sold all my Disney points. DVC is a great product but I hope they don't mess it up for everyone.

 

[Chuck S]

dvc are to reduce the cost of annual dues to ease the burden on the rich during the recession

Not legally possible, unless it is subsidized by the developer...and then the stockholders would likely be rebelling, as it would take from profit.

 

[Mamiamjo]

dvc are to reduce the cost of annual dues to ease the burden on the rich during the recession

What about the rich that only have 350 points?

 

[Sammie]

Do you really think that they don't realize that if you devalue the resale you affect direct sales.

Surely they don't think that everyone that buys is going to keep their DVC forever and never need or want to sell.

The very reason that Honda and Toyota can get the resale price they ask over Ford and Chevrolet is a product that holds a high resale value.

As to no access to new resorts, do you mean that going forward those in that category would not be able to book say Aluani, etc.

 

[lisareniff]

Looking at the DISboard population (not sure if we are even close to being representative! ) the number of points purchased through DVC really shuts down at around 500points.

This is the current data. Since I was limited to 12 choices in the poll I had to increase the later range values. I averaged those larger ranges to create equal point spacing for each category to give a better feel for the distribution.

DVC RESALE
0 32 144
50 4.5 3.5
100 15 20
150 38 31
200 39 23
250 25 8
300 23 3
350 14 7
400 12 2.5
450 12 2.5
500 4.4 0.8
550 4.4 0.8
600 4.4 0.8
650 4.4 0.8
700 4.4 0.8
750 2.2 0.6
800 2.2 0.6
850 2.2 0.6
900 2.2 0.6
950 2.2 0.6
1000+ 10 2

 

[LauraLea]

I wonder how they will do this for those of us that have multiple membership. Will your VIP status be based on membership # or by the individual? We have 3 memberships, a 200 pt and 150 pt bought direct from DVC, and a 200 pt bought resale. The direct memberships are in DH and my name only, the resale has our DS included as well.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see............Laura

 

[RescueRanger]

I wonder how they will do this for those of us that have multiple membership. Will your VIP status be based on membership # or by the individual? We have 3 memberships, a 200 pt and 150 pt bought direct from DVC, and a 200 pt bought resale. The direct memberships are in DH and my name only, the resale has our DS included as well.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see............Laura

As nothing has been announced, this is all just speculation. However, If they do implement some kind of tiered VIP program, I would be willing to bet that only direct purchases will count towards the benefits. Therefore, any resales would be excluded from your totals. Once again, only speculation, but I see them trying to establish some incentive for buying direct.

 

[TinklednPants]

For me personally, I have 250 points and truthfully there is nothing that could entice me to buy more for the simple reason that I don't have the vacation time to utilize more than the 250.
If I had more points I would have to rent them

 

[WilsonFlyer]

You know, it's sorta fun to watch some of you guys sometimes. Really, it is.

There is absolutely no foundation for truth whatsoever to be found in this thread. It is, in its entireity, a CF (I'll leave you and Figment to your imagination on that acronym.) on inuendo, conjecture, speculation and just plain WAGs. Fact is, as far as I know or have ever been told, not one single person on this forum (at least anyone that posts regularly) has a single clue as to what may or may not come to fruition with regards to any of this.

Kinda like imagining a trainwreck between a train and a log truck (I asked a RR engineer one time what was he scared of and he replied, "Log trucks and gas trucks." LOL) when, in the end, all the train did in the end was to run over a penny for a couple of kids fooling around.

Sure is fun to watch though. It's like a billboard to DVD telling them everything to do and not to do to pi$$ everybody off. Maybe you guys should go through the thread and compile a list of everything you don't want DVD to do and rent a billboard on Buena Vista Dr. (I know there are no billboards on BV Dr but you get the point.) Then again, after this thread, maybe that won't be necessary after all.

All in good fun (just like this thread because at the end of the day, that's all it is).