Was just wondering...

[NJParkhopper]

Was there ever a time when DVC members got really significant discounts on park passes? Don't you wish there would be a substantially larger discount was given to people who have made the investment in Disney properties?

 

[sgtdisney]

When we became members of the DVC in 1992 they were giving away free park passes through the year 1999. That alone almost paid for the cost of the membership for us. However that was a sales tool that they were using to start the ball rolling and I seriously doubt that we will see anything anywhere like that again as the DVC pretty much sells itself at this point. Other than that, I recall them giving the same discount as the Magic Kingdom Club members got a few years back, which amounts to about 5% or something. Now we don't even get that.....

 

[OKW91]

We also became members in 91 and the free park passes where the greatest!!! as sgtdisney says it just about paid for your membership!! We sure miss them!!! Isn't there a small discount on passes, if you are a member of the Disney Club?

 

[PamOKW]

I recall them giving the same discount as the Magic Kingdom Club members got a few years back, which amounts to about 5% or something

Nope. It was always all or nothing. We never got a discount other than the same 10% off the LOS they offer now or the free pass program. You had to have MKC to get the MKC discount. (For those who aren't aware, you used to get passes for 1/2 the occupants of a unit 2 for studio/1 bedroom; 4 for a 2 bedroom and 6 for a GV for use at MK, Epcot & MGM.)

I guess the free passes were used as a sales tool but I really considered it just part of the program that I was purchasing. That's the way it was presented, not as any special limited offer. They mentioned the 12/31/99 end date but indicated something else would replace it...just like the World of Resorts is renewed every year, etc. I fully expected them to continue something along those lines. The first hint of trouble was when they did stop offering the program to new purchasers. The writing was on the wall when they provided no way for DVC members to enter AK without purchasing a full price ticket.

I still can't grasp what the problem is that some meaningful discount program cannot be developed for DVC members. At the very least, free or discounted membership in the Disney Club and at the very best FL resident discounts.

 

[SENATOR K.]

If Disney felt that they "needed" the incentive of offering discounts on passes to prospective DVC buyers,you can be assured that they would offer it. If their sales meet expectations without it, why should they incur the cost?

 

[Peggy Sue]

If you search the archives of this board, you'll find several threads on this topic.

As a DVC member, I am disappointed that WDW doesn't offer our membership better discounts than they currently do. they do offer us 10% off the UMP's (or what ever they're called today!) and that special 5 year/4 5 day park hopper tickets deal for DVC members..that, IMHO is a joke. So, they do offer us something, which is better than nothing, and some members have posted that the 10% off the UMP's does work out well for them.

We still belong to the Disney club so we can take advantage of the 5% discount on tickets. However, last year WDW offered their AP members 10% off AP gift vouchers or renewal ... so we picked up 4 new AP's to have on hand for a couple of years. It works for us!

However, I tend to look at what they have offered us as being better than nothing..after all, I purchased a time share, and anything extra I receive is a perk.... (we purchased in 1997, the free pass program wasn't being offered anymore!)

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... we purchased a timeshare,not discount tickets. Anything above and beyond the stated benifits in our contract is a bonus,latest example- valet parking fee waiver at our resorts. We would all love extra discounts but until Disney see's a need to offer them we have to be satisfied with what we paid for.

 

[sgtdisney]

Pam, we always have had a Magic Kingdom club discount, so I must have confused that getting a discount based on being a DVC member with that. We have never purchased a LOS pass or whatever it is called this month. We always try to spend a day or two enjoying the resorts.

I agree with you that Disney should supply some kind of discount program to DVC members. They do offer the Disney Club to anyone who joins at a cost of less than 40.00. DVC members have invested 10s of thousands of dollars in a Disney product for over 40 years not to mention annual dues, and should at least get the benefits that Disney Club members get. At least this is my opinion on it. Attendance and room sales are way down this year. I know many DVC members who do not spend every day in the parks because of the cost of ticket. Perhaps now they will offer more lucrative discount options for theme park attendance? I would think Disney would make more money when you are in the parks buying their 2.50 cups of soda and buying the food, instead of eating lunch and dinner in your villa and would offer incentives for DVC members to stay on the property instead of exploring the other parks around the Orlando area...

 

[jeanneg]

I purchased early in '92 and the CMs I dealt with were very upfront about the passes expiring after '99 so I never expected that to be continued. Plus, DVC members do get special rates on the water parks and Disney Quest which no one has mentioned so far. I wholeheartedly agree that what they did with AK was incredibly petty, but they did not get any additional revenue from us. Since we only got passes for 4 people and we were 6, we simply went to AK in shifts (My kids were all teens and able to go unescorted.) Granted this wasn't what we would have preferred, but if they were going to be so cheap, we would too. I think Disney is foolish not give us a greater discount, since they lose revenue whenever people go elsewhere. Let's face it, once you get to a park you spend a fortune on snacks meals, souveneirs,etc. but if you go somewhere else, all that revenue goes elsewhere as well. Since DVCers stay onsite for virtually next to nothing, it would be prudent on their part to make sure we make it to the parks.

 

[RoseNJ]

I bought into DVC without passes too and still think in the long run it was a good deal. Having said that, however, I think that there should at least be the same discount as the Disney Card on ticket purchases. I don't think it's fair to people who has invested all this money into Disney as it is to have to also go out and spend another $30 just to get a card to get discounts.
P.S.- I'm really exicited to see someone from my home county in NJ finally posting on this board!inkbounc

 

[Figaro30]

I think Disney is just tooooooo cheap to do anything like that. EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD!!!!!

 

[Caskbill]

Just to set the record straight, it's always been my understanding that the free passes we received when we purchased, and were good through 1999, were not provided by Disney, but were an incentive provided by the developer. Disney didn't give free passes to anybody.

One perk that would be nice would be free membership in the Disney Club for all DVC members.

 

[PamOKW]

were not provided by Disney, but were an incentive provided by the developer.

Maybe it was different divisions but it's all coming in and out of The Walt Disney Company pot.

 

[sgtdisney]

Bottom line, with less than 60,000 DVC members, I don't think it would hurt them to offer the DC as a benefit of membership, or at least extend the same ticket discountes to DVC members as it does to DC members. 29 to 39 dollars per years buys a DC membership. How much in dues and initial costs do DVC members pay. If you think of it, the MKC was free to people who worked for large companies for decades. It was only this year that Disney started charging for DC membership.

 

[Figaro30]

I can't seem to vent my frustration enough over the lack of perks that Disney seems to offer. Now I'm pissed off because I just heard they are charging 6.00 a day for valet!!!! WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP!!!

 

[gmboy95]

I know this may sound like a poor comparison...but do hear me out...when i go to the local casino and I decide to gamble, all of the drinks that I have are given to me free of charge...they do this for the simple reason that the more you drink the more uninhibited you become, and the more cash you spend....let us apply this to disney...If they where to present a significant cost savings to us on the passes, would we not spend more money on restaurants, and merchandise....I mean C'mon guys this is basic republican economics...return the peoples money to them, and they will put said money back into the economy, although this idea has proven to be quite sketchy on a national level (I cant help it i'm a democrat), I do believe it would work for disney as a whole....a happy customer is more willing to open up their wallet.

 

[benny2bunny]

I certainly think as a DVC member you should get alittle extra, as you are placing your loyalty with Disney, I mean it's not as every time you use your membership it isn't making them extra revenue, and let's face it many of us wouldn't be able to go to disney quite as often without DVC, and I guess that most of us have a blast and spend oh to much on gifts and food and drink, the least they could do is give us at least 40% of the park pass, as a bid to say thanks for your continued custom. In all reality they are guarenteed for the next 40plus years we will all continue to go back and spend our hard earned $$$ on more disney products.
Bernie

 

[pluvc1993]

I can't seem to vent my frustration enough over the lack of perks that Disney seems to offer. Now I'm pissed off because I just heard they are charging 6.00 a day for valet!!!! WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP!!!

I have to agree with Figaro it really does bug me.