Vaction Planner

[jpolak]

Just recieved ours yesterday and it got me thinking. Does anyone actually use this book? I mean I flip through it them it goes in the recycling. With availability of vacation planning tools on the DVC member web site and not to mention all the information you could ever need here on the DISboards it seems silly and a bit wasteful to mail it out to all members. I know that the people here on th DIS represents a very small sample of DVC members, but all members have access to the members website.

 

[kim532]

I look at it just to see the pictures. But then it gets tossed in a pile of papers and sinks to the bottom, never to see the light of day again.

I look at everything online.

Kim

 

[chalee94]

yep - other posters have suggested

*allowing us to opt out of getting a copy we don't need, or

* going back to sending new members a 3 ring binder and only mailing new point charts or information that changes each year rather than the whole thing.

those sound like good ideas to me...

 

[Sandisw]

I do use it to easily look up the point charts. But, I do think that they could go back to the notebook and just send out points charts that could be changed in and out.

I am glad to see that this year's planner was much smaller than last years. But, it is nice having all the key information in one place. Sometimes, I don't have access to my computer (DH is on it) and having this to pull out and get the answer to my question works for me.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I like to use the point charts in the planner. I sit down with my book and a calculator and flip from page to page with a notepad figuring things out!

 

[quirty30]

I look at it just to see the pictures. But then it gets tossed in a pile of papers and sinks to the bottom, never to see the light of day again.

I look at everything online.

Kim

But there really were no pictures this year...just point charts and general rules. I think it's important to have a hard copy planner available for those who still don't use the internet (I know there are a few folks out there that like to see it on paper.) Me personally, I don't need it.

 

[jpolak]

I am glad to see that this year's planner was much smaller than last years.

Noticed that as well.

 

[Nikisha421]

At least it's pretty and shiny...

 

[ToddyLu]

I have mine on my desk, but wish they would save the money and allow people who wanted one to call and order it, instead of a mass mailing. I wish they would stop mailing Disney Files and have it online--or again you could call and get on a mailing list. How much money do ya'll think that will save??

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We get two...My husband gets one and I get one. We only have one contract that we purchased jointly. I flip through it once, but really is a waste of resources.

 

[deerislemaine]

We are new (resale) DVC members, so the planner was helpful for us to see photos. We could get this online, but it was nice to have for this year. I don't think that it will be necessary in future years. Maybe they could let people order one per year for free. However, maybe it's less expensive just to mail one to everyone to save on postage (bulk rate) and staffing time to take orders.

In any case, we don't need one every year.

 

[ILuvMulan]

I love having mine in my hands. I use it all year. I do look up some things online, but I am just a "see it in print" kind of girl. However, the option to opt out sounds like a really good idea for those who are not. The three ring binder would be great, I have one that I use for my planning anyway. I do like that the new one seems to have been an attempt at conserving a little paper.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I like to use the point charts in the planner. I sit down with my book and a calculator and flip from page to page with a notepad figuring things out!

I do this too! I still look at the old DREAM book, the hard cover blue one. I love it!

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's convenient to have all the point charts in one spot, and because of that, I use it. On the other hand. If they would have kept the 3 ring binder system and continued to send us update pages, that would have made more sense to me. I loved that I had everything in one place with that binder. Now I just throw these out when I'm done with them.

I'm glad they made them smaller and more "to the point" this year though. All I really need is a place to find all the point charts easily in one place.

 

[tjkraz]

Binders are a logistical nightmare for anyone in a customer service role.

Years ago I worked for a company that distributed some materials in that manner. On a daily basis we would get calls from people who had their binder right in front of them, trying to argue a point. They would say "I'm looking right here at page ____ and it says ____." Invariably it comes down to pages being out of date. You have to start asking about the revision dates on the pages they are reading and then gently convince the caller that replacement pages were sent out, but apparently didn't make it into their binder. Of course, most callers claim they never received the pages which could turn into a liability for us (insurance industry.)

In nearly every case additional replacement pages were sent and it turned into a vicious cycle.

It wasn't any cheaper, either. I don't know about printing costs today but 10-15 years ago, printing a handful of pages and having them 3-hole punched and shrink-wrapped (which you have to do in order to make sure everyone all of the required pages) was not a cheap process.

From a psychological standpoint, replacement pages also highlight the changes which have occurred. Those who actually do get the pages and go to replace them will typically scour both documents to discover what has changed. That leads to more phone calls and comments from people who just want to share their $.02.

On the surface it may sound like a more honest and up-front approach to take. But my experience is that it generates a lot of negative emotions from customers, often on topics which don't even impact them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Binders are a logistical nightmare for anyone in a customer service role.

Years ago I worked for a company that distributed some materials in that manner. On a daily basis we would get calls from people who had their binder right in front of them, trying to argue a point. They would say "I'm looking right here at page ____ and it says ____." Invariably it comes down to pages being out of date. You have to start asking about the revision dates on the pages they are reading and then gently convince the caller that replacement pages were sent out, but apparently didn't make it into their binder. Of course, most callers claim they never received the pages which could turn into a liability for us (insurance industry.)

In nearly every case additional replacement pages were sent and it turned into a vicious cycle.

It wasn't any cheaper, either. I don't know about printing costs today but 10-15 years ago, printing a handful of pages and having them 3-hole punched and shrink-wrapped (which you have to do in order to make sure everyone all of the required pages) was not a cheap process.

From a psychological standpoint, replacement pages also highlight the changes which have occurred. Those who actually do get the pages and go to replace them will typically scour both documents to discover what has changed. That leads to more phone calls and comments from people who just want to share their $.02.

On the surface it may sound like a more honest and up-front approach to take. But my experience is that it generates a lot of negative emotions from customers, often on topics which don't even impact them.

That makes sense now after your explanation. I really liked the binder though. I just threw away the old pages and replaced them with the new ones. I just thought they might be able to get the information to us in a more timely manner if they went back to that.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

I just used the new supplement last night! If I'm at work and want to do a little planning, I'll use the PDFs, but at home I much prefer looking at paper. I don't like having to toggle between tabs all the time.

 

[nolanboys]

I just used the new supplement last night! If I'm at work and want to do a little planning, I'll use the PDFs, but at home I much prefer looking at paper. I don't like having to toggle between tabs all the time.

Exactly. I find the book easier to use than the member site. I really like the one for this year. Small and compact. Last year's was too big.

 

[ILuvMulan]

Binders are a logistical nightmare for anyone in a customer service role.

Years ago I worked for a company that distributed some materials in that manner. On a daily basis we would get calls from people who had their binder right in front of them, trying to argue a point. They would say "I'm looking right here at page ____ and it says ____." Invariably it comes down to pages being out of date. You have to start asking about the revision dates on the pages they are reading and then gently convince the caller that replacement pages were sent out, but apparently didn't make it into their binder. Of course, most callers claim they never received the pages which could turn into a liability for us (insurance industry.)

In nearly every case additional replacement pages were sent and it turned into a vicious cycle.

It wasn't any cheaper, either. I don't know about printing costs today but 10-15 years ago, printing a handful of pages and having them 3-hole punched and shrink-wrapped (which you have to do in order to make sure everyone all of the required pages) was not a cheap process.

From a psychological standpoint, replacement pages also highlight the changes which have occurred. Those who actually do get the pages and go to replace them will typically scour both documents to discover what has changed. That leads to more phone calls and comments from people who just want to share their $.02.

On the surface it may sound like a more honest and up-front approach to take. But my experience is that it generates a lot of negative emotions from customers, often on topics which don't even impact them.

That does make sense. Point well stated and taken!

 

[lsutigger2]

I'm another "old school" kind of girl. I like my paper . I have been trying to use less of it and look at things on the web more, but I like having the book. I'll use it to make plans for 2012.
i never did get one for last year, and i survived .
There is hope for me - i do use some of the dvc apps for my phone to figure out points .