"Welcome Home" no longer for DVC??

[3DisneyKids]

I just read in Linda Mac's blog (from Allearsnet) that ALL resorts are now using the "Welcome Home" phrase.

Anyone know anything about this? Is this old news that I somehow missed?

I admit...I LOVE being greeted with a Welcome Home and it is one of the things that made me feel special as a DVC member. I think if it is used everywhere, it will lessen that special feeling for me.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I think this has been going on for some time. With the addition of AKL it just adds to the confusion of whos with DVC and whos not.

So to not offend those DVC members by skipping them with their Welcome it's easier to just Welcome everyone.

 

[dvc at last !]

I love when the CM says " Welcome Home ".

 

[Chuck S]

Remember that the car tags, at least at OKW, no longer specify "Member", so the guards have no way of knowing who is and who isn't. PLus, as mst resorts, sooner or later, share personnel, it is simply a lot easier for CM to "welcome" everybody. And with even value resorts adding family suites...

 

[Inkmahm]

They were saying "welcome home" to everyone at least as far back as 2001. That's the year I took my parents and my niece (who was 4 1/2 at the time) to the Wilderness Lodge. Everytime we drove in at night, the gate keeper told us "Welcome home."

We didn't discover until days into the trip that my niece thought we'd actually moved to the lodge from WI! I made a comment about the trip being almost over and my niece was truly surprised that we would be leaving. She was perfectly willing to live there with her grandparents and aunt, except she missed her cats at home. No mention of her parents and siblings, just the cats. We finally figured out that what had confused her was those "welcome home" greetings!

 

[Barnum01]

They were saying "welcome home" to everyone at least as far back as 2001. That's the year I took my parents and my niece (who was 4 1/2 at the time) to the Wilderness Lodge. Everytime we drove in at night, the gate keeper told us "Welcome home."

I think the concern of the OP is that the phrase is being used at ALL resorts. Saying it to all guests at resorts where DVC exists makes sense because you don't know who is and who isn't a member when they arrive. What I don't know is if guests are being "welcomed home" at say The Grand Floridian or Polynesian Village, where it wouldn't make sense because no DVC exists there.

Regards

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I admit...I LOVE being greeted with a Welcome Home and it is one of the things that made me feel special as a DVC member. I think if it is used everywhere, it will lessen that special feeling for me.

I totally understand it being common practice at the shared resorts (VWL, BCV, BWV) but if it were to become the norm at all resorts (those without DVC attached) then I agree it is just one more way DVC is becoming less special.

 

[3DisneyKids]

They were saying "welcome home" to everyone at least as far back as 2001. That's the year I took my parents and my niece (who was 4 1/2 at the time) to the Wilderness Lodge. Everytime we drove in at night, the gate keeper told us "Welcome home."

We didn't discover until days into the trip that my niece thought we'd actually moved to the lodge from WI! I made a comment about the trip being almost over and my niece was truly surprised that we would be leaving. She was perfectly willing to live there with her grandparents and aunt, except she missed her cats at home. No mention of her parents and siblings, just the cats. We finally figured out that what had confused her was those "welcome home" greetings!

I think the concern of the OP is that the phrase is being used at ALL resorts. Saying it to all guests at resorts where DVC exists makes sense because you don't know who is and who isn't a member when they arrive. What I don't know is if guests are being "welcomed home" at say The Grand Floridian or Polynesian Village, where it wouldn't make sense because no DVC exists there.

Regards

OP here...exactly right. Of course at WL, BC, BW, and now AK there will be Welcome Homes to everyone--the CMs can't know who is at the hotel part and who is a DVC member.

And as Chuck said, I know that there are gate CMs who work at both OKW and POP (as an example)...and thus are just in the habit of saying "Welcome Home" and thus say it at the non-DVC resort.

But my point was...YES, according to Linda Mac on Allears, the phrase is now being used everywhere on property...from the Values to the Poly to POR and so on.

It may not be rational, but it makes me sad to lose this special little perk. After all, this was a perk that Disney/DVC could give us that does not cost them anything. And the whole point of DVC has always been "home away from home...." and selling "vacation homes." A basic hotel room is not a home away from home...even when it is at the beautiful Poly.

So while I understand why it happens sometimes at non-DVCs, I do not like the idea that it is now a "policy" at all resorts.

 

[kimberh]

Just a thought here... Maybe Disney is trying to get more of their guest to have the 'Home away from Home feeling'. They are wanting to sell more DVC memberships. Trying to plant the seed. They know how to market, If they have found out with their surveys how much we (DVC) like being told that, then how much does it cost them to tell all their Hotel guest 'Welcome Home'?

 

[Barnum01]

Just a thought here... Maybe Disney is trying to get more to their guest to have the 'Home away from Home feeling'. They are wanting to sell more DVC memberships. Trying to plant the seed.

That makes no sense, imho, if they are saying it at non-DVC resorts. I hate sounding like a snooty-DVC'r, but being welcomed home is a perk when you stay at one of Disney's "Home Away from Home" resorts AKA DVC Resorts.

In order for it to be a marketing ploy, the CM would have to say "Welcome Home! and if you want to hear that each and every time you arrive here at Walt Disney World, walk over to our Disney Vacation Club Kiosk conveniently located in our lobby or every 100 yards while you're in the Theme Parks where you can learn about the exciting opportunities of Vacation Ownership."

They know how to market, If they have found out with their surveys how much we (DVC) like being told that, then how much does it cost them to tell all their Hotel guest 'Welcome Home'?

Right, so it comes back to it doesn't cost us anything, so let's see how many dollars we can squeeze out of it anyways. Who cares if it makes the people that bought into the program feel that much less special when we say it to everybody? The perks of membership have been eroding since Day 1, that's a reality, but those actually cost money (talk to the OT here about years of park tickets included with becoming members). Here is something that costs NOTHING and makes DVC members feel a little special for our outlay and if this is true makes our ownership that much less. It's not going to take away from what we have materially, but it does take away a little touch emotionally.

Regards

 

[dizfanz]

Are folks seriously going to get upset over this. C'mon people. Let's worry about bigger issues. Like what happens if Al Gore is right and central Florida ends up under water? Can you imagine what our dues would be like then?

 

[Chuck S]

Are folks seriously going to get upset over this.

Apparently so.

I couldn't care less if everybody that stays at Disney hears "Welcome Home." For some strange reason I do miss it when I don't hear it, but I don't care if John Doe at All Stars hears it, too.

 

[kimberh]

Are folks seriously going to get upset over this. C'mon people. Let's worry about bigger issues. Like what happens if Al Gore is right and central Florida ends up under water? Can you imagine what our dues would be like then?

I know! I started my last post with 'just a thought', and wham! Disney wants to keep as many of their resorts guests on Disney property as they can once they arrive. If they can achieve this, with a simple 'Welcome Home' in addition to Magical Express, DDP, 4-5 day hoppers etc. they are going to do what they can to get all of the vacation dollar. People want to feel special and appreciated while spending their hard earned money on vacation. It really makes very good marketing sense. Back to the surveys... How many have you all particapated in? I know we have done a few at MK.

I am a DVC owner, too just in case someone in this thread happens to not know, I am not going to walk over to the booths while I am on vacation. I have no need to.

I hope Al Gore is very wrong!

 

[Chuck S]

In fact, think of the great media marketing campaign...

Standard WDW scenes with voice over:

"Come home to your memories, where elephants can fly, and princesses live in a fairy tale castle.

Where dreams come true, and the world is full of fantasy and adventure.

Come home with family and friends.

Where pirates rule the seas, and imagination is the key.

Where gardens thrive and the world awaits, where movie magic unfolds and tigers prowl.

Come home to Disney World.

Then the screen shows several CMs greeting everyone with "Welcome Home!"

Narrator:
"Welcome home To Disney memories, Welcome home to Walt Disney World!"

 

[Database]

Just a thought here... Maybe Disney is trying to get more of their guest to have the 'Home away from Home feeling'. They are wanting to sell more DVC memberships. Trying to plant the seed. They know how to market, If they have found out with their surveys how much we (DVC) like being told that, then how much does it cost them to tell all their Hotel guest 'Welcome Home'?

I'm a DVC member and I'm all for the CM's telling everyone "welcome home". Just makes great marketing sense.

 

[Barnum01]

Like what happens if Al Gore is right and central Florida ends up under water?

The underwater biosphere would have to be built around the entire property, so our fees wouldn't have to absorb the bulk of the cost. It would make the DVC monorail resort issue moot though, everybody could use a water-taxi no matter where on property they were staying.

Regards

 

[Wigit12]

I know it sounds a little childish and I'm not really upset about it, BUT it does take away a little of the magic I felt knowing it was meant for me as a DVC member.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I know it sounds a little childish and I'm not really upset about it, BUT it does take away a little of the magic I felt knowing it was meant for me as a DVC member.

This was my point in starting this thread. I am hardly what you would call mad over this....lord, no. However, I do like feeling like a member of a special, magical club.

 

[tjkraz]

I couldn't care less if everybody that stays at Disney hears "Welcome Home."

Ditto.

OK, now, everyone raise your hands if you'll be selling your points because you can stil hear "Welcome Home" as a non member....


Anyone?

 

[dizfanz]

We can still feel special. Let's come up with a new "Welcome______". I'm sure my wife would love to hear " Welcome your Majesty" Or maybe a DVC secret handshake or something to get you past the front gates' guards. Will that make us feel special?