Unappreciated

[parkluvr]

Are there any other people out there who are loyal, frequent Disney visitors who feel unappreciated by Disney because they aren't DVC members? I really love Disney World. My first trip to WDW was in 1972 when I was 1 year old and there was only 1 park and a few hotels. I have stayed at more than a dozen Disney properties since then totaling somewhere between 200 and 300 nights. Three out of the last four years, I've taken my family of 4 on non Disney cruises out of Florida and all 3 times we've stopped off at WDW for 4 or 5 nights at the Contemporary with park hopping passes and the dining plan. It seems like more and more Disney is giving DVC members extra perks to make their program more appealing. I don't want to sign up for a vacation club because it locks me down too much, but isn't my yearly $5000 contribution significant? What would you think of a loyalty program similar to what the cruise lines have? Disney could track park visits and on sight hotel stays to determine membership levels. Once you reach certain levels they could send you invitations to events like they do with DVC members and could also offer discounts or upgrades to loyal visitors. Sorry for the long rant.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

As someone who has spent more than $100k in WDW over the last 20 years, I don't really need or expect a loyalty program. I just want WDW to continue to provide for me and my family what they always have.

Would I turn my nose up at a program like this? No. But I don't need or expect it to continue my visits.

 

[vicki_c]

They had a loyalty discount program years and years ago, but ended it. Someone just mentioned on a thread yesterday that the DIS podcast was talking about it and stated they don't have a loyalty program because they don't need to.

As for DVC, I am an owner and I don't really feel all that appreciated by Disney, so your interpretation may be inaccurate.

 

[kappyfamily]

Never have noticed it.

 

[surferdave]

I'm not a member (considered it strongly until changes the last year or two made me rethink putting all my vacation eggs into Disney's basket), but from the outside in it looks like once you've been a member for a while you begin to feel just as unappreciated; many of the enticing perks we see are things for new members only. It's a lot like being under contract to AT&T Wireless or Direct TV and watching them advertise great deals that you can't have because you're already in.

 

[EMode]

What if Disney feels unappreciated by you because you go multiple times a year but you aren't willing to buy into DVC

 

[vicki_c]

Again, DVC members are not getting a huge amount of discounts and perks. I would liken it more to AP holder discounts, plus recently we get discounts on buying APs. That wasn't even the case when I purchased 6 years ago. And I don't know of any discounts that apply to new members but not others, like the cable TV examples given.

I remembered that that previous program was called the Magic Kingdom Club, I think. And I think it existed way back during my first visit in 1978, although I might be wrong as I was young.

 

[Disneylover99]

I have been lucky enough to take advantage of free dining for the past five years. This is my preferred discount and it's what keeps me from looking into DVC.

On a side note, Disney does not need to offer discounts or upgrades to loyal visitors. It would be smarter (for them financially) to offer perks to first time visitors in order to get them hooked.

 

[Music City Mama]

I'm not a DVC owner, but from what I've read on this board and others, they don't necessarily feel that appreciated either. If Disney is giving DVC owners extra perks (which I don't think are that many), I think that's great. Considering how much money they invested, they deserve it. You might have invested even more than that over the years, but it was your prerogative not to join DVC.

I do get what you're saying, though, that you think they'd have some type of loyalty program (like hotels or airlines), but the bottom line is that they don't need to.

 

[elcapitanJack]

What if Disney feels unappreciated by you because you go multiple times a year but you aren't willing to buy into DVC

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[goofy4tink]

Are there any other people out there who are loyal, frequent Disney visitors who feel unappreciated by Disney because they aren't DVC members? I really love Disney World. My first trip to WDW was in 1972 when I was 1 year old and there was only 1 park and a few hotels. I have stayed at more than a dozen Disney properties since then totaling somewhere between 200 and 300 nights. Three out of the last four years, I've taken my family of 4 on non Disney cruises out of Florida and all 3 times we've stopped off at WDW for 4 or 5 nights at the Contemporary with park hopping passes and the dining plan. It seems like more and more Disney is giving DVC members extra perks to make their program more appealing. I don't want to sign up for a vacation club because it locks me down too much, but isn't my yearly $5000 contribution significant? What would you think of a loyalty program similar to what the cruise lines have? Disney could track park visits and on sight hotel stays to determine membership levels. Once you reach certain levels they could send you invitations to events like they do with DVC members and could also offer discounts or upgrades to loyal visitors. Sorry for the long rant.

I have owned DVC (BWV and BLT) since 2003. I'm not sure what perks you think we get but they sure aren't a big deal. The only real perk we get is the ability to buy an AP for less than you can buy it for. It's about $125 or so. We used to get free valet parking, but that's gone. We used to get free wifi, but everyone gets it now. We used to be the only ones to hear 'Welcome Home' but now everyone hears it.
Believe me.....our perks aren't 'all that and a bag of chips'. I pay about $1500 a year in dues. If I stay a total of 10 nights, that breaks down to $150 a night, which would be a moderate at the cheaper end. But, I get a nicer resort for my money. Of course that doesn't include my initial costs of purchase. For me, it has taken about 10 years for me to get to the break even point. But even now, I still pay those dues every year. Is it worth the break I get in APs? Probably not. If I didn't own DVC, I wouldn't need an AP.

Believe me, DVC doesn't lock me down at all. Sure, I have to plan my trips a year out, but even if I plan 6 months out, I can still find someplace DVC to stay. Maybe not during Food and Wine time, or other equally busy times. But, it's just not an issue for me. Are you sure you understand how DVC works?

All in all...we really don't get that many perks. We tend to feel pretty under appreciated by Disney!

 

[DisneyDiana]

I am a DVC member and I can tell you most members feel like once they've signed over their huge chunk of cash Disney is not too worried about making them happy. I am curious as to what perks the OP is talking about. Other than the AP discounts, I really can't think of anything that I am getting as a perk that benefits our family. In fact, we only get the AP once in awhile since we don't always go more than once a year.

 

[Sandy1892]

I like the sound of a loyalty programme living in the UK we have no way of collecting Disney promotions ie with Visa cards and stores. We have visited Disney at least once per year for over 26yrs family of 4 average length of stay 5 weeks per year,always stay at Disney property. This year I am staying 2 weeks Disney and 1 week Universal,Universal have put a lot into developing their resort and if they introduced a loyalty programme I might be tempted to stay at Universal longer than Disney.

 

[bcrook]

I have owned DVC (BWV and BLT) since 2003. I'm not sure what perks you think we get but they sure aren't a big deal. The only real perk we get is the ability to buy an AP for less than you can buy it for. It's about $125 or so. We used to get free valet parking, but that's gone. We used to get free wifi, but everyone gets it now. We used to be the only ones to hear 'Welcome Home' but now everyone hears it.
Believe me.....our perks aren't 'all that and a bag of chips'. I pay about $1500 a year in dues. If I stay a total of 10 nights, that breaks down to $150 a night, which would be a moderate at the cheaper end. But, I get a nicer resort for my money. Of course that doesn't include my initial costs of purchase. For me, it has taken about 10 years for me to get to the break even point. But even now, I still pay those dues every year. Is it worth the break I get in APs? Probably not. If I didn't own DVC, I wouldn't need an AP.

Believe me, DVC doesn't lock me down at all. Sure, I have to plan my trips a year out, but even if I plan 6 months out, I can still find someplace DVC to stay. Maybe not during Food and Wine time, or other equally busy times. But, it's just not an issue for me. Are you sure you understand how DVC works?

All in all...we really don't get that many perks. We tend to feel pretty under appreciated by Disney!

Great summary for me too. And don't forget, because we pay all that money in dues...we forfeit our complimentary daily cleaning service.

Funny how you mentioned the "Welcome Home" part. That bothers me too. And now I am seeing it at Wyndham and BlueGreen vacation clubs too. I don't even know who started it, but I liked it best when it was connected to my DVC stays.

 

[MrsDuck]

Disney doesn't owe anyone anything, in my opinion.

Just a note: we have owned DVC since 2010.

ETA: it ALSO bothers me that Disney says "welcome home" to non-members now as well.

 

[RHMH]

My DD and I vacation annually and have thought of buying into DVC a few times.. Taking tours, talked to DVC agents and almost signed on the dotted line... and if I would have done that years ago - it would have been paid off by now.

IMO - people purchase DVC as an investment first and then look at it as a place to stay.

Instead of investing in DVC, I decided to invest in Disney Stocks years ago. NOW!! there is only one primary thing you expect from this investment is to make money.

Disney stock hit a few pennies over 80.00 last week... Maybe one day I can buy a house in Orlando.

If anyone does not feel appreciated...... Let me say I appreciate everyone visiting Disney and I can honestly say HOME.

 

[mickey0624]

What if Disney feels unappreciated by you because you go multiple times a year but you aren't willing to buy into DVC

I've been reading this site for a long time and always check the forums. The above quote has to be one of the dumbest quotes I've ever read.

 

[DebbieB]

Great summary for me too. And don't forget, because we pay all that money in dues...we forfeit our complimentary daily cleaning service.

Funny how you mentioned the "Welcome Home" part. That bothers me too. And now I am seeing it at Wyndham and BlueGreen vacation clubs too. I don't even know who started it, but I liked it best when it was connected to my DVC stays.

DVC is a timeshare. You pay for your share of the property upfront and pay maintenance dues on your share. Do you realize how much dues would be if there were daily housekeeping included? DVC or Disney is not going to pay for that, you are the property owner, you are responsible for paying for the operating costs. Your contract was for accommodations, they owe nothing beyond that so any "perks" we get I consider a gift.

 

[disnut8]

I am an annual passholder, live slightly less than eight hours from Disney World and go there for just about every three day weekend Americans get. I am not DVC and at this point in my life can say I more than likely will never be.

Do I feel unappreciated at Disney World? No. Because I go there for a break from the real world. And I get it. I had a horrible August and had reservations for Labor Day at Disney World. My husband and I went with him pushing me in a wheelchair. It was not my best trip but it's because of how I felt, not with anything anyone at Disney World did or didn't do.

We are going back in a few weeks and the only thing we want/need to do is watch a band at the Flower Power series of concerts. But - I know we will do more than just that. We are staying offsite and I don't feel that Disney has to roll out a red carpet at any time for us. But we will get the special moments that make Disney World the special place it is. Because those are *our* moments. Disney World can never make those moments - only we can. But Disney World is the place they happen - DVC or no DVC - it's still the same place.

 

[morethananyonex]

There really aren't that many big perks DVC members get aside from the obvious one, Deluxe accommodations at moderate prices (after paying thousands and thousands of dollars and committing to Disney for basically their entire life).

OP, Disney is obviously rewarding DVC members with these "perks" you're talking about because they are willing to commit to Disney for many, many, years upfront. You are not. It's not because they visit frequently, it's because they handed over thousands of thousands of dollars to Disney, so Disney throws them a bone. If you want discounted APs, you too can commit to Disney for the next 40 something years.

Would most of us here love a loyalty program? Probably. But why would they do that? Have you stopped giving Disney your $5000 every year because there isn't one? Their loyal customers obviously do not require a loyalty program to keep coming.