VIP/Tiered Rewards to be released soon

[Chuck S]

You would be surprised what people will do for "free" and "food".

People buy items that they don't really need just to get the rewards points and they will go on a Disney vacation just to get "free" dining. They will also buy more DVC points than needed just to get the sales incentive or decide to buy now to get their name on a robe or tile.

Disney knows the psychology of people and they use it very effectively.

Bill

This is very true. I worked in a video store for years. We had some older movie rentals priced at $1 and they sat on the shelf. We raised the price to $3 (the same as our new releases) and offered rent one at $3, get two more rentals free. Rentals of older titles increased because of the "free" word, even though it was really the same price as $1 per movie.

 

[Greysword]

...Disney knows the psychology of people and they use it very effectively.

Bill

Yes, yes they do.

"Bob, I know what we're going to do today", says Jim Lewis to Bob Iger.

As an example to support Bill, can anyone say "addonitis"? Boy, sometime I love being manipulated by the Mouse!

- Chris

 

[JimMIA]

I am surprised that many would add on for perks, where otherwise have no intention. Other than some " lifetime" perk, I can't see where the cost justifies the means.

Oh I'm not. But then again, I'm the guy who took a day trip to Kansas City to get an elite Frequent Flyer designation.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

But then again, I'm the guy who took a day trip to Kansas City to get an elite Frequent Flyer designation.

I've almost done that twice! And I kind of regretted it the next year not having done it.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I've almost done that twice! And I kind of regretted it the next year not having done it.

Yea, I admit that I am doing a mattress run next month by checking into a hotel I will not be staying at so that I can get "free" night at the Sheraton Maui or Westin Kaanapali next fall!

While I am a sucker for FF miles, DVC points are trickier, both because they cost more upfront and also have a higher associated annual cost to them. We could probably use another 100 or so points right now, but there is no way that will be enough to push us into even the lowest tier. As long as the threat of the "tiers" is out there, I think I should put any add-ons on hold.

My fear is early booking incentives for those with high points balances. If the new tiers means DVC no longer makes sense for small points owners like us who book at the 11 month window, we may be sellers and not buyers. -- Suzanne

 

[bakenatj]

You would be surprised what people will do for "free" and "food".

People buy items that they don't really need just to get the rewards points and they will go on a Disney vacation just to get "free" dining. They will also buy more DVC points than needed just to get the sales incentive or decide to buy now to get their name on a robe or tile.

Disney knows the psychology of people and they use it very effectively.

Bill

Agree. Companies all over the world use this tactic to motivate their employees to go the extra mile. At work, you would be surprised how much extra work you can get from people for the price of a box of doughnuts or a free lunch. Disney uses this not only on employees but customers as well. With their customers they want their money, not labor of course

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

Yes, yes they do.

"Bob, I know what we're going to do today", says Jim Lewis to Bob Iger.

As an example to support Bill, can anyone say "addonitis"? Boy, sometime I love being manipulated by the Mouse!

- Chris

Mooooomm! Phineas and Ferb are building a new timeshare resort in the backyard!

 

[LIFERBABE]

You would be surprised what people will do for "free" and "food".

People buy items that they don't really need just to get the rewards points and they will go on a Disney vacation just to get "free" dining. They will also buy more DVC points than needed just to get the sales incentive or decide to buy now to get their name on a robe or tile.

Disney knows the psychology of people and they use it very effectively.

Bill

Correct. I have flown mileage runs to maintain my Elite status on Airtran. It is worth it to me, the perks are awesome and I fly enough to benefit from them.

I would like to see a lounge offered as a perk.

 

[Brian Noble]

I am surprised that many would add on for perks, where otherwise have no intention.

I'm not. Look at how many people jumped to buy resale before 3/20, to save what by all accounts are truly meaningless "options."

I have flown mileage runs to maintain my Elite status on Airtran.

Three years ago, I lost my status on Delta. I was going to take a mileage run, but at the last second decided not to. In hindsight, that was one decision I truly regret. I should have spent the $200 and the day it would have taken to maintain my status.

Since then, I've always re-qualified "legitimately". But, if there's a time when I won't, you can bet I will look long and hard at that December mileage run.

 

[Dean]

I guess I just don't think this VIP program is being created to drive sales (I fully admitt I might be completely wrong on that), but rather to placate some and offer evidence of attempting to enhance our DVC experience. Which is why I placed to levels so high. It gives the "big points" a feeling of exclusivity and doesn't really alienate the masses.

I think you only have 2 viable options. One, a timeshare related VIP system that has substance and value and another, a FF mile program that most everyone will be able to take or leave. I don't think the 3rd of a system with major value not directed at sales is at all realistic and I think the ONLY way you'd see this would be as a Disney option, not mostly a DVC option.

I am surprised that many would add on for perks, where otherwise have no intention. Other than some " lifetime" perk, I can't see where the cost justifies the means.

I can guarantee you that there is a point where every single member would add on if they could. Whether this system happens or will grab enough people in that way remains to be seen. But EVERY single owner has their price.

Oh I'm not. But then again, I'm the guy who took a day trip to Kansas City to get an elite Frequent Flyer designation.

Did that once and it got me a free RT ticket to HI for the next year for about $100 in ticket costs.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

[snip]

I can guarantee you that there is a point where every single member would add on if they could. Whether this system happens or will grab enough people in that way remains to be seen. But EVERY single owner has their price.

[snip]

While that may be true for many members, I doubt it is true for all members. Every member has a limit to the number of points they can use each year. I can't imagine any perk that would make it worthwhile to buy say 500 more points than one needs. -- Suzanne

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

A thread has just started about the possibility of Disney offering a lifetime pass. I could see that it might benefit Disney to tie such a pass to the purchase of an extreme number of DVC points (all purchased direct from Disney of course). It would be a tiered benefit that members with fewer points would be less likely to complain about, since it would be a new offering rather than potentially threatening current perks.

And as far as Disney is concerned, what are they really losing in handing out the occasional lifetime pass? It doesn't really cost them anything to print a couple of pieces of paper, and there is no guarantee that longtime members are going to be buying park tickets anyway as enthusiastically as they once did. But for Disney I'll bet it would be a real enticement for some people to add-on very expensive points they might not have bought ordinarily. Plus, a lifetime pass might encourage high-point members to keep visiting the parks - that's revenue for the restaurants and gift shops that could have gone off-site.

As someone who will probably never be in the 1000 point club, I would envy those lifetime pass-holders without resenting them. Take away my current perk of a discount on annual pass and give it to just those with more points than me, however, and I'm one step closer to dumping DVC.

 

[Goofy DVC]

I don't think you'll ever see DVC contracts at WDW resorts selling for $1 plus closing costs on eBay, or owners paying charities to take them. But even if that happened, the effect on DVC/DVD/WDW/the Disney Company would be the same as the effect on all the other brands...zero.

Once a timeshare developer sells an interest in a property, the only thing they care about from that day forward is that someone is paying the annual MFs. As long as somebody is paying the MFs, the property itself will be maintained properly and will not deteriorate.

And, depending on the company, they may not even care about that. Some companies just build, sell, and leave the property to the owners and don't care what happens after that.

From Disney's perspective, as long as someone owns DVC contracts, they'll be using their points at WDW and spending money in the parks.

I agree, I think Disney wants much more than just ownership. They want to create any system that will get owners to spend as much of their $$$ while at WDW.They want the front end and back end $$$. I think that is one reason why there is the AP discount, so that we stay on property as many days as possible buying food, drinks, and all those mickey items. Our hope is that it is seen as a win-win situation.

 

[Goofy DVC]

Oh I'm not. But then again, I'm the guy who took a day trip to Kansas City to get an elite Frequent Flyer designation.

Been there, done that, and I'm glad I did. It was a huge win for me in the long run.

 

[dis-happy]

Been there, done that, and I'm glad I did. It was a huge win for me in the long run.

I know a guy who took a cheap flight to Australia, turned around and came back the next day just for the miles! (mainly to keep his premier status for the next year). Makes me laugh but it's also totally understandable.

 

[twooley2]

what about using points to buy other things such as the meal plans, or housekeeping, etc?

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

that's a cool idea. ( t-2),

question for dean. why did you say all owners would add on?

...when we first became members, we sat down & figured
out the points we needed to do blt for our family. we realized
the basic 160 would not be enough. don't most new owners
figured out their idea points needs & the adding on are for other reasons?
[ cruises ]

trying to figure how you looking @ adding on in case there something
we're missing, tia.

 

[dianeschlicht]

that's a cool idea. ( t-2),

question for dean. why did you say all owners would add on?

...when we first became members, we sat down & figured
out the points we needed to do blt for our family. we realized
the basic 160 would not be enough. don't most new owners
figured out their idea points needs & the adding on are for other reasons?
[ cruises ]

trying to figure how you looking @ adding on in case there something
we're missing, tia.

We originally purchased the then minimum 230 points originally, but very quickly realized we wanted to used more than that most years, so we added on another 150 at the same resort the next year. I see no reason to add on just for using points to use for a cruise or any other non/DVC option. It just isn't cost effective. I would NOT add on points to use them for dining or housekeeping! If I value them at the cost of the points plus the maintenance fees, it is not a good value.

 

[MD_Guy]

I expect to under whelmed.

But who knows, there might be something good in the final roll-out.

I am still happy with my AP and TiW discounts, plus the various DVC 10%-30% discounts I get here and there.

Hopefully, the new tiered perks will offer something for the one week per year owner on the park tickets.

 

[childsplay]

I guess I've just been looking at this VIP system as a lot noise about nothing. Kind of like the "sign about the sign" a couple of years ago, everybody was speculating that it would announce some new resort or great incentive and it was Goofy in a bus waving a DVC banner or something.
When I first heard about this it just struck me as the same type of thing. Basically the "perk dept" taking DVC into the ladies room to freshen her up a bit. Its been a long night for the old girl with the no valet, $95 resort fee and no outside trades for buying resale and they thought it was time to slap a little lipstick on her and check eye-liner. So out comes "If you have 750 points or more you can now books 2 full weeks and if you have 1500 or more you can get daily maid service for the length of stay."
As I stated ealier, I might be reading this completely wrong.