Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort - *2 New Parties Added! “Enchantment at the Top” & New “Bound to Be Bad” Dates Added

[Starport Seven-Five]

People don’t buy resale for the benefits. TOTWL was a nice benefit for all owners but I can’t imagine anyone was thinking of spending tens of thousands of dollars and that was what pushed it over the line - or at least very few people.

People buy resale because they want to stay at deluxe resorts for a lot less money. I really can’t imagine this will have more than a negligible effect on the resale market other than a short term effect of potentially driving more people to sell.

Of course people don't buy a contract for TOTWL but it's another cut against resale. The far bigger shift were the resale restrictions which we won't see the full impact of for a few years.

The entire strategy is upsetting the formula and could lead it down a path where resale values are closer to the rest of the timeshare world. That wouldn't be a good thing.

I love how white card folks cry about how long ROFR takes, fuss about a lounge, yet boast about the $$$ they saved. choices....

I think it's valid to complain when it's a change after you bought in. It was of course never guaranteed though.

 

[DVC92]

The Member card which can be printed online doesn't have a Y on it, but I was told it would be accepted for entry.

 

[Sandisw]

So as I read from the discussion, ti enter TOTWL, you mush either be grandfathered in from resale before the 2016 change (DVC Y or bluecard) or purchase direct.
Is that correct?
I am looking forward to hoping to see the reimagined lounge.
I don't think this new change will last too long. Having been there multiple times, short of a holiday, it was NEVER crowded when we were there when it was open to ALL DVC members. You need people up there spending money to keep it profitable. I don't think they will find enough volume with this limitation.

Except now that it is part of membership extras, there is a high probability that DVD is actually paying for it so Disney is making money off of that..plus will make it off any paid events they do.

They won’t need the volume they needed in the past.

 

[Disneytrippin']

So as I read from the discussion, ti enter TOTWL, you mush either be grandfathered in from resale before the 2016 change (DVC Y or bluecard) or purchase direct.
Is that correct?
I am looking forward to hoping to see the reimagined lounge.
I don't think this new change will last too long. Having been there multiple times, short of a holiday, it was NEVER crowded when we were there when it was open to ALL DVC members. You need people up there spending money to keep it profitable. I don't think they will find enough volume with this limitation.

I just looked at my resale membership card online and it says I have use of pool hopping and TOTWL.

 

[PrinceRaki]

I just looked at my resale membership card online and it says I have use of pool hopping and TOTWL.

Also says "Offerings subject to change and to availability". It's not been updated yet

 

[gharter]

Except now that it is part of membership extras, there is a high probability that DVD is actually paying for it so Disney is making money off of that..plus will make it off any paid events they do.

They won’t need the volume they needed in the past.

Hoping that is wrong. But, looking at how much money Disney makes off of special events, they could certainly have enough "special events" to make it profitable.
Plus, if it is licensed as before, WDW can have events unrelated to DVC that happen at TOTWL. Specifically on Holidays.

 

[Sandisw]

Hoping that is wrong. But, looking at how much money Disney makes off of special events, they could certainly have enough "special events" to make it profitable.
Plus, if it is licensed as before, WDW can have events unrelated to DVC that happen at TOTWL. Specifically on Holidays.

Being a commercial space, it was leased to Disney who carried all the profits and loss.

Now it’s being run by DVD and there is no way they are not paying for the exclusive use for membership perks.

It’s like the Epcot Lounge. DVD covers the cost of it.

And, the special events will most likely continue to be members only events now that DVD has made it an exclusive spot.

Maybe because it wasn’t that profitable, Disney was happy to shift it to DVD to cover costs.

 

[Sandisw]

I just looked at my resale membership card online and it says I have use of pool hopping and TOTWL.

I am sure those are simply not yet updated. IMO, I would not be surprised to see those gone by July 11th.

 

[DonMacGregor]

The Member card which can be printed online doesn't have a Y on it, but I was told it would be accepted for entry.

Right, because there is no online version that can be printed out for white card members, only those eligible for Membership Extras (which is what the Y designates on the digital MDE version).

(Until they eventually eliminate the temporary printable cards as they said they'd do from the get-go.)

 

[TraJon]

I use the term Resale Riff-Raff!

After seeing Direct at Boulder listed at 205 and resale bought at 115, I am thrilled to be riff raff!

 

[FionaP]

Just one more thing to be taken away from resale members.

I just closed on a resale Boardwalk contract for $145 pp, DVC is selling direct DBV at 230 pp. I saved $85 pp which translates to $17,000 for my 200 point contract.

I get that it is disappointing to lose privileges, but not surprising. I don’t think that any of the perks are worth $17,000.

 

[xdan0920]

After seeing Direct at Boulder listed at 205 and resale bought at 115, I am thrilled to be riff raff!

A member is a member. This whole white vs blue thing is patently ridiculous. I still struggle to accept that Disney did it.

I paid $50 a point(Approx) direct. This doesn't make me better then someone who owns the exact same contract as me, but didn't funnel the money directly to the mouse.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

I just closed on a resale Boardwalk contract for $145 pp, DVC is selling direct DBV at 230 pp. I saved $85 pp which translates to $17,000 for my 200 point contract.

I get that it is disappointing to lose privileges, but not surprising. I don’t think that any of the perks are worth $17,000.

Exactly. We used to go TOTWL from open to close all the time and spends hundreds of dollars there. So now that I’m locked out I’m saving even more on top of my Poly resale and less park time due to the prices and headaches with genie plus. It seems like every change they make I save money by not doing it any more.

 

[TikiRob]

The only “extra” that has me considering direct is the inability to book at Riviera and, possibly not at Poly2 or DLH. Otherwise, I get what I paid for — access to book at any other WDW DVC property, HHI, VB, Aulani and VGC.

 

[Sandisw]

A member is a member. This whole white vs blue thing is patently ridiculous. I still struggle to accept that Disney did it.

I paid $50 a point(Approx) direct. This doesn't make me better then someone who owns the exact same contract as me, but didn't funnel the money directly to the mouse.

I think of it this way. I drive by two gas stations every day that are on the same corner across from each other. One always is 3 cents a gallon less. Why? Because they are competitors.

DVD is selling a product and is in competition with owners now selling it. So, the only thing they can do is try to make their product..which costs more..to be different.

So, restrictions and perks are the only thing they can do. For many, it’s not worth it and why resale is still healthy.

But this just gives them one thing to promote as an example of a perk that can exist.

 

[Sandisw]

The only “extra” that has me considering direct is the inability to book at Riviera and, possibly not at Poly2 or DLH. Otherwise, I get what I paid for — access to book at any other WDW DVC property, HHI, VB, Aulani and VGC.

That is how perks should be seen. Extra. DVD knows restrictions are a bigger plus for guiding people to choose direct. But something like this just helps someone who would be going that way just a little more excited.

 

[xdan0920]

Disney

I think of it this way. I drive by two gas stations every day that are on the same corner across from each other. One always is 3 cents a gallon less. Why? Because they are competitors.

DVD is selling a product and is in competition with owners now selling it. So, the only thing they can do is try to make their product..which costs more..to be different.

So, restrictions and perks are the only thing they can do. For many, it’s not worth it and why resale is still healthy.

But this just gives them one thing to promote as an example of a perk that can exist.

I get their reasoning. I still don’t like it. I still think it’s trashy. It’s borderline bait and switch as well. It’s just all ick, as the kids might say.


I'd also like to add, there are plenty of incentives they could use that don't elevate one member over another.

 

[pkrieger2287]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1540317445629558786

 

[pianomanzano]

Disney

I get their reasoning. I still don’t like it. I still think it’s trashy. It’s borderline bait and switch as well. It’s just all ick, as the kids might say.

I don't see any bait/switch about it. The only thing guaranteed when we buy into DVC is the ability to book rooms at our home resort. Perks/extras are all just that.

 

[Sandisw]

Disney

I get their reasoning. I still don’t like it. I still think it’s trashy. It’s borderline bait and switch as well. It’s just all ick, as the kids might say.


I'd also like to add, there are plenty of incentives they could use that don't elevate one member over another.

I don’t agree but I definitely get why some don’t like what they have done to differentiate.

Just curious what you think they could do instead that would make direct different than resale.