well, it is official; dvc is a timeshare

[dianeschlicht]

I guess I'm not sure how this is different than the "discounted" price we got on a studio at OKW the first time we took the DVC tour. I might add that it was 1995, and our then guide got us the "discounted" rate for OKW if we would take the tour. How is that all that different from the current "discount offer"?

 

[lugnut33]

Meh, they are just trying to move inventory. No biggie.

I'd like to find a pin for a cheaper 2 bedroom at OKW. Right now we are paying $406 for one night.

 

[MelissathePooh]

having just been to the BLT "presentation" I have to say I was pretty well horrified at how cheezy it was. A clever racket for gathering marketing research material, but REALLY obnoxious. I can only fathom how awful a typical timeshare pitch must be - YIKES!

 

[Inkmahm]

We would have loved this kind of offer when we were considering buying DVC. We actually asked if anything like this was available, and were very disappointed that there was no way to try out the rooms at a discounted rate. I can't be sorry that DVC is finally offering this... only sorry they didn't offer it sooner.

This isn't the first time that there have been special rates at SSR/OKW. I'm sure there was a similar offer last year because I forwarded the email to a friend to use for their vacation. While DVC doesn't have the discounted cash rates all year long, they do have them at SSR/OKW quite often.

 

[Nikisha421]

I received it to!!!OMG

 

[eliza61]

Ditto...$199 a night for a 1 bedroom...through October something.
I don't know why really, but I'm kind of miffed.

I got my email today. I'm pretty pragmatic about the offer. Disney is feeling the effects of the recession like every one else. While 2nd quater attendance at the parks has not drop off, profits are waaay down (earnings per share were down 40%). Operating income at the parks were down 12% in March. So folks are coming but it's taking more and more to get them there.

So I'm not surprised that they are sweeting the deal. Also by targeting us (those who already own), Disney may be betting that we pass the information onto "like minded" folks. Guest who just might have a few extra bucks to park in a vacation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In the past, there were people on free dining who were upgraded to SSR from the value resorts, and there were plenty of people here complaining about that. Maybe it's still happening, I don't know. The idea was to intice the people to buy. I don't think it's a bad thing, and I hope the promotion is successful.

I bought into DVC fully aware that it was a timeshare. I had shied away from buying into it for nearly 10 years. I am happy with my purchases and hope DVC continues to grow.

Every so often, we get threads here saying that BLT is nearly sold out, and that it's selling out faster than BCV. The latest post along that line talked about another tower. So, what is it? Sales are down? Sales are terrific?

Bobbi

PS. I think those of us who can still go to WDW are the lucky ones. This economy is hurting lots of folks. Cape May county NJ had many fewer tourists last week than I've ever seen in a beautiful July week. I'm more worried about the economy than I am about DVC sales promotions.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I guess I'm not sure how this is different than the "discounted" price we got on a studio at OKW the first time we took the DVC tour. I might add that it was 1995, and our then guide got us the "discounted" rate for OKW if we would take the tour. How is that all that different from the current "discount offer"?

The problem isn't the discount offer. It's the mandatory sales presentation. It oozes slime. This isn't a "first step". It's a jump off the cliff.

This is truly my saddest day as a DVC owner. To many of us, DVC isn't just a business transaction. There's a huge pride-of-ownership factor. For me at least, that's taken a huge nosedive.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

I don't think it's a big deal. The rooms are still $199 a night during a certain timeframe, I know with other timeshares they offer 4 nights for $200 & park tickets etc... A lot of people might want to test it out, makesure it's right for them. At the end of the day DVC is still a timeshare.

 

[lugnut33]

Disneywalker does bring up a good point about customer loyalty to DVC and how important that is to the success of DVC. In this instance they are directly targeting it's membership to sell more shares, so they darn well better be sure they keep us happy. They are relying on us to tell our friends and family how great DVC is.

 

[ftballfan7]

Really? Huh - when we bought in the summer of 2007, we were told we had to decide within 72 hours of coming home in order to get the incentives that were quoted. It was a little annoying actually, but we still like our guide -- actually we were told this by two guides.

We took the tour August of 2008 while on vacation. We were told that we had to make a decison before our vacation was finished. Granted we were there for 2 weeks. The tour guide told us that the incentives would expire within a certain amount of time of us taking the tour. I can't remember what the timeframe was, but it was prior to our vacation ending. I told him that I was not gonna spend my vacation crunching numbers and making decisions with significant financial implications. He then said that the timeframe might be able to be extended. I then said that would be great, we would decide after we returned home and that it was up to them if they wnted to rescind the incentives, but if they did that would make our minds up for us. We went home crunched the numbers and bought, recieving all the incentives. Looking forward to our first DVC stay (using developer points) in a few weeks.

 

[stitchineeyore]

We were just like Bobbi. Waited (nearly) ten years because (a) didn't want to give up vacation time to go hear a presentation, and (b) the old adage about "too good to be true probably isn't". We were snagged by the room tv ad plus a stay long enough to make us willing to take the time. Still kicking ourselves for not buying in sooner! As for high pressure sales, there were actually aggressive salesfolks back in '99 when we toured and bought. We are eternally grateful that our guide was not high-pressure, cause we would have left without buying if she had been. It's the luck of the draw. As for the mandatory sales presentations, DVC may well turn out to be something that those families would enjoy and find advantageous financially, just as we have. Also like us, they might wait years to discover it. DVC HAS always been a timeshare, and a doggone good one, especially for our family. And, like Bobbi, I am grateful that we are able to go to the world and enjoy it. (Birthday trip to BLT in September for me!)

 

[Windjammer]

As Debbie B noted, this is nothing new. I was sent a similar offer to stay at HH during the winter. If I recall correctly, it was a two bedroom for $99 per night. I needed to take the tour to get this price. I don't recall the year but at that time the resorts for sale were HH, VB and VWL. The incentive was that they would buy back the current year's points for $10 per point.

Steve

 

[d-r]

In the past, there were people on free dining who were upgraded to SSR from the value resorts, and there were plenty of people here complaining about that. Maybe it's still happening, I don't know.

They are about to do this. They will be sending out "PIN CODES" for people staying at values during Aug-Oct during "free dining" to "upgrade" to okw or ssr studio or 1-bedroom.

 

[rentayenta]

Bobbi

PS. I think those of us who can still go to WDW are the lucky ones. This economy is hurting lots of folks. Cape May county NJ had many fewer tourists last week than I've ever seen in a beautiful July week. I'm more worried about the economy than I am about DVC sales promotions.

 

[nunzia]

OK, You all make good points and it is a nice deal for those who don't mind the presentation. (I just harken back to when we used to go up to a place in the mountains that was selling development plots and you got a free lunch and a 'diamond' watch for a three hour tour). I'm just concerned that Disney is, in so many ways, giving away the store and it's hard to come back to normal prices after that. IMO they have really eroded the brand..for example their merchandise is now so crappy Dollar Tree can sell official products for $1.00, their Disney Store items, like clothing, are poorly sized and bad material, and yet cost way too much for what you are getting. Most here have agreed the Dining Plan has eroded food quality and feels that free dining time is a nightmare for all concerned. As Kevin Yee calls it it is declining by degrees..and he is very right. I have pride in the Disney company and I hope they can maintain that reputation.
Sorry, I got OT.

 

[logan115]

Every other TS does this, and as an owner I have no problem with them doing this. What's the other option - vacant rooms in September that bring in no revenue ?

Yes, I know DVC is different than the others and that we all take pride in it being "better," but I think this will bring in more sales than folks that just take the tour - which is good for DVC (and maybe even the owners). Getting folks "used" to staying in the 1BR units will make them realize how nice it is, and my guess is there will be a higher purchase ratio even without a harder sell.

I think I would be upset if they were just offering the rooms at $199 without requiring the tour.

Chris

 

[Cmbar]

We took the tour August of 2008 while on vacation. We were told that we had to make a decison before our vacation was finished. Granted we were there for 2 weeks. The tour guide told us that the incentives would expire within a certain amount of time of us taking the tour. I can't remember what the timeframe was, but it was prior to our vacation ending. I told him that I was not gonna spend my vacation crunching numbers and making decisions with significant financial implications. He then said that the timeframe might be able to be extended. I then said that would be great, we would decide after we returned home and that it was up to them if they wnted to rescind the incentives, but if they did that would make our minds up for us. We went home crunched the numbers and bought, recieving all the incentives. Looking forward to our first DVC stay (using developer points) in a few weeks.

I remember now of being told I had 72 hours from the day we left..... and the fight my DH and I had (I wanted to buy and he didn't). Five years later we bought with the same guide after talking incentives at each trip in those five years. And even then we didn't buy BLT until they had the better deal recently with dollars off and that was two months after our "last" presentation. But I do remember them telling us we had to decide quickly originally. I didn't like that part of it.

 

[alamode]

I remember now of being told I had 72 hours from the day we left.

My rep told me I had to decide before I left Disney to get the incentive.

I ended up buying resale.

 

[liznboys]

I'm actually surprised they never did this before, lots of potential buyers were asking for a way to check it out at a discount. It really kind of similar to one of the older promotions...remember when (if you purchased) they would apply the cost of your current Disney stay to the down payment?

So was that an official promotion? Do you know when it was going on? And do they definitely not do it anymore?

I have friends paying (a nice chunk of) cash to stay in a BLT 1 bedroom this Christmas, and they've also expressed interest in DVC. I was thinking it would be great if they could do their trip and then apply the cost of it towards a new DVC purchase if they decide to buy.