Undocumented (?) Benefits

[erikthewise]

Perhaps not, but you'll have to admit that DVC does not go out of its way to publish comprehensive lists of benefits.

Just got back today from a short stay at the Doubletree Guest Suites. (Business trip, but I found some time for fun.)

-- When I got to the parking gate at Epcot, I asked if DVC members got free parking at theme parks. The CM took one look at my DVC card and waved me through. (Is this for real or did I just get lucky?)

-- At the Pleasure Island ticket booth I asked about a DVC discount and was told 20%, which was "better than Disney Club".

 

[RobDoc]

You were lucky in both cases. Sounds like you found some underinformed CM's.

There is no DVC theme park parking. Guests at all WDW resorts will get a parking pass good at the theme parks- including those staying at DVC resorts.

The Pleasure Island discount should be 10% for a single-night admission.

Sound like you really got a discount!

 

[Werner Weiss]

The free parking was a cast member error, but the Pleasure Island discount is real:
<blockquote>Admission Discounts
DVC Members receive a 10% discount on the Walt Disney World® Resort Ultimate Park Hopper admission (valid from check-in through check-out dates). You also receive a discount of $4 per person ages 10 and up and $3 per person ages 3-9 on daily admission to Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, <b>and a discount of $4 per person at Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island.</b></blockquote>
(I added the bold highlighting.)

Based on the regular $19.81 for a single night admission, a $4 discount is approximately 20%.

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks, Werner!

That is an improvement at the Water Parks and at PI!

 

[erikthewise]

Werner,

The "$4 off" rather than 20% off explains why the CM in the ticket booth said that the DVC discount cost "one cent less" than the 20% off coupon I had from the Doubletree. Apparently he really was on the ball! I went with the coupon rather than digging out my DVC card to save one cent!

As far as the parking goes, the CM may have mistaken my DVC card for a resort key. He'd probably be right 90% of the time. How often do DVC members go to WDW and stay off-site?

 

[AEN]

I have heard many people mention hats and shirts on other threads. Does DVC ever give you any stuff like this? I just joined and didn't get anything like that.

 

[Bojo]

Originally posted by AEN
I have heard many people mention hats and shirts on other threads. Does DVC ever give you any stuff like this? I just joined and didn't get anything like that.

I got a hat when I attended a member update during our Oct. OKW stay. You can also buy hats, shirts, etc. at DVC resorts.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Very cool. Thanks for the heads up.

Has anyone else gotten more than they asked for regarding DVC?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We got the DVC license plate, two DVC magnets, two DVC Mickey Flag pins, one VWL pin, two DVC pens, two lithographs (VWL and BCV), one DVC koozie, two sets of DVC postcards, one main contract and four add-ons. Then we have purchased one more DVC license plate, two DVC glasses, who-knows-howmany DVC shirts, several DVC ball hats, and a few member pins.

 

[Regina]

AEN, if you joined directly through Disney, you should have gotten something. Over the years the gift has varied. It started with a canvas tote bag, then there were backpacks, and then lithographs of the resorts. They've included some very nice member pens in the contract package.

If you joined via a resale, you don't get any gifts.

In the very beginning of DVC, we would often find small gifts in our room. I have a couple of photo albums that were left in our entrance way as a pleasant surprise.

Over the years, we've been mailed some gifts as well, which Deb & Bill listed.

When I was staying at the BCV last month, I toured the model and was given a pin. I went to the member party on the Disney Magic and both DH and I received DVC member hats. (I also won a mouse pad.)

I love my "stuff"!

 

[AEN]

Thanks for the information.

I did get a bag, which holds my outdate guidebook (anxiously awaiting the new version) and a lithograph of BCV. Based on some comments, I assumed that they just sent stuff arbitrarily. How crazy am I. I know, never assume.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Freebies such as the DVC license plate come out of the marketing budget. They're supposed to promote DVC to others and/or make you want to buy add-on points. I welcome any gifts that the DVC marketing folks want to send to me.

But I wouldn't want any gifts that are paid for by a DVC resort operating budget, because that would mean we're paying for them with our dues. I don't want DVC spending my money to give me a "gift" that I would not otherwise buy if it were my choice. Fortunately, I don't think DVC ever does this.

So if you wish for DVC "gifts," just remember that they have to be paid for in some form.

 

[Ocean]

That's interesting. When I joined DVC in 1997, I was specifically told that DVC members always got free theme park parking. Now I've never actually needed to use it, but I was glad to know it was there if I needed it. And now I find out that it isn't there after all.

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
You were lucky in both cases. Sounds like you found some underinformed CM's.

There is no DVC theme park parking. Guests at all WDW resorts will get a parking pass good at the theme parks- including those staying at DVC resorts.

The Pleasure Island discount should be 10% for a single-night admission.

Sound like you really got a discount!

 

[lawgs]

we have never had any trouble getting "past" parking gates at theme parks by just showing our DVC card.....have been doing this since 1992

we often like to go to the contemporary, grand floridian or wilderness lodge to eat and look around when we are not staying on site and usually just flash our DVC card and are waved through the main parking gates at Magic Kingdom too

we were under the impression it was one of the "perks" of being a DVC member, pehaps NOW this will be "LOST" to us TOO, which will mean we will spend less time at disney and more at other parks in the orlando areas when we are there but not staying onsite using DVC points