Weve been drinking the Kool-Aid for a long time

[jrabbit]

.... The CC perks kinda suck until you hit Platinum, and even then, they ...

STILL SUCK!!!

 

[gumbypee]

and the need for this post is....???

bye!!

 

[El Cid 94]

and the need for this post is....???

bye!!

So angry... sounds like someone needs a hug... or sedative laced syrup for your waffle.

 

[disneybass]

My wife and I have been sailing DCL for a long time and have sailed a total of 36 times. We are vacation club members and have been going to the World since our honeymoon in 1978. I just finished reading 18 pages of posts regarding the change in alcohol policy effective 9/30/15. It really does not effect us since we cannot drink due to medications but it kind of solidifies what has been brewing with us for the past two years. May I point out we both love the parks and cruising but feel we have been outpriced and under appreciated. It is no secret that you pay dearly for a Disney cruise and we feel that we have just gotten to OUR breaking point--and it has taken us a few years to get to this point. Many suggest that we cruise someone else but we feel it would just be not be the same. We do love the Disney product--both on land and at sea. It is just time to take a break for a little while. Will this make any difference to Disney's bottom line--NO. They make billions every quarter and I am quite sure the shareholders are quite happy with things. After time we just decided we were not happy with the massive price increases all around and could not justify to continue drinking the Kool-Aid. Will we be back--probably, but we are comfortable with our decision right now.

We are on the same page with you at a lower level. We bought DVC in 2006 and have been on 6 DCL cruises and loved every minute of it. But, as time goes on the little changes in DVC policy and the price increase in DCL has made us rethink our vacationing. We sold half of our DVC points and just kept enough to take our granddaughter for a few nights every year and we are going on our first RCL cruise in November. We still love Disney but just cant justify paying such a premium for the brand anymore.

 

[gumbypee]

So angry... sounds like someone needs a hug... or sedative laced syrup for your waffle.

i just dont see the need for these kinds of posts. What is the point? you dont want to sail dcl? good for you, goodbye! why make a post about it?

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I like Disney and enjoy the characters and theming, but I don't think it's worth the premium all the time.

There are a lot of people who prefer Disney above anything else simply because it's Disney. That's ok. I do, however, get a bit annoyed by those who make excuses for Disney rather than just owning the fact that they'd rather Disney regardless.

I used to date a Disney fanatic. Disney was just better. The service was better-when I would point out the service flubs we had with Disney compared to other lines, then it was Disney doesn't nickel and dime you...on and on.

Comparing apples to apples Disney doesn't offer much other than their brand. I feel the same was about DCL as I do about the WDW resorts. They're great if you want to pay for the Disney theming and the Disney feel and accept a mediocre room for a high price.

Yes, the WDW resorts offer closeness to the parks, But please don't tell me how fantastically amazing the deluxe resorts are as hotels. You can often stay at a Four seasons or a St. Regis for near the same cost and it is far superior in every way as a hotel. I've stayed in Hampton Inns that have better beds, bedding, room amenities, and housekeeping than any moderate resort.

I feel like some people just don't want to admit what they're really paying for with Disney so the brand benefits from a reputation of a by-gone era that they just don't live up to anymore.

 

[NancyIL]

i just dont see the need for these kinds of posts. What is the point? you dont want to sail dcl? good for you, goodbye! why make a post about it?

Just bypass threads that don't interest you.

 

[El Cid 94]

i just dont see the need for these kinds of posts. What is the point? you dont want to sail dcl? good for you, goodbye! why make a post about it?

I'm pretty sure that the "DIS" in DISboards.com is short for "discussion." Most folks commenting on this post have made a significant monetary and emotional investment over the years. Here we can, and will, vent and share our thoughts on the matter. If you don't like what is being discussed on this post, then by all means, move along.

 

[gumbypee]

I'm pretty sure that the "DIS" in DISboards.com is short for "discussion." Most folks commenting on this post have made a significant monetary and emotional investment over the years. Here we can, and will, vent and share our thoughts on the matter. If you don't like what is being discussed on this post, then by all means, move along.

So you can have your say but I can't?! Hmmmmmm

 

[gumbypee]

And I always thought DIS stood for DISNEY

 

[gumbypee]

Just bypass threads that don't interest you.

Well the title intrigued me. It didn't let me know what it wS about until I clicked on it.

 

[hubbard53]

We are not big cruisers - this coming november will be our 4th and we've always had a good time. However, we feel that higher-end tourism has a lot to offer, especially all-inclusive resorts (not sandals). Food is usually better, accommodations better (especially for loyal customers), drinks are better, and frankly, they are a much better value. We will still cruise on other lines but will probably spend more time at various resorts around the world.

 

[El Cid 94]

So you can have your say but I can't?! Hmmmmmm

LOL.

 

[squirk]

I'm pretty sure that the "DIS" in DISboards.com is short for "discussion." Most folks commenting on this post have made a significant monetary and emotional investment over the years. Here we can, and will, vent and share our thoughts on the matter. If you don't like what is being discussed on this post, then by all means, move along.

Actually, it's an acronym for "Disney Information Station".

So you can have your say but I can't?! Hmmmmmm

So your contribution to a discussion is that the discussion is worthless? That seems equally worthless.

 

[Ofinn]

Yep. Been on the planet long enough to spot the essentially circular nature of things. But people are trying to figure out where to spend their vacation dollars in the next 12-18 months-ish.

I doubt I'll make it back to wdw until the next recession. Since the prices have gone up so much they're going to have to do better than 45% they offered in 2009. I think I would need about 60% off to lure me back. Value resort are not my thing.

 

[Plaid Princess]

They have done the same things with annual passholders at the parks. I've held a pass for 5 years, and they do less and less while the price goes up and up, every year. I understand the cost of doing business, fireworks everynight, alone, is an astronomical cost. But, I am pretty sure it is the loyal, repeat customer who spends and spends, year after year, you hope to retain. Thus, maybe they could put in a little extra for those of us drinking the kool aide...

Disney loses money on most annual passholders. They pay pennies per visit compared to guests holding multi-day tickets.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

We sailed with DCL starting in 2010 and discovered a love of cruising. I offered to take my goddaughter on a cruise for her birthday and with her turning 17, I didn't feel that the Disney brand was the best fit so I took her on Carnival. I loved it. When travelling with my parents, I still booked Disney cruises because of a trust of the accessibility (my mom is a full time wheelchair user), that the private island is a dock and not a tender, and the brand trust. After a lackluster cruise on the Disney Dream, my parents agreed that they wanted to branch out and try other lines because Disney just didn't seem worth the premium all the time (great for an occasional cruise but maybe we could pick up something cheaper here and there to supplement and stretch our vacation dollars). They discovered that they also enjoy other lines - we've sailed Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity together. So we have DCL cruise number 6 coming up in November that we're doing with friends of mine (other family members were supposed to come as well but they cancelled due to cost). I think that's going to be it for us. I keep looking at the cruises for next year and I just can't seem to justify the prices. We enjoy longer cruises and to do 14 nights on DCL is just too high.

There are things that are unique about DCL that I enjoy but they are becoming less and less. And other lines seem to be adding new experiences and upgrades which are making them more enticing.

 

[Otimon]

Would be so nice if DCL went above the Platinum level for repeat cruisers with a 15 cruise level, 20 cruise level etc. etc. I don't think it would break their
bank but would mean so much to the guests who spend far more to reach those additional levels.

How about it DCL?

 

[C6PT7]

Would be so nice if DCL went above the Platinum level for repeat cruisers with a 15 cruise level, 20 cruise level etc. etc. I don't think it would break their
bank but would mean so much to the guests who spend far more to reach those additional levels.

How about it DCL?

That is when the should a 3 day cruise count as much as a 7 day or TA/PC cruise discussion starts. along with cruising concierge vs inside. is the loyalty the same regardless of spend and should both be rewarded equally?
some lines do it by cruise, and some by nights.
Personally i think it should be by nights, but dcl chose by cruises.
not sure what they would call those cruisers apart from diamond, sapphire, ruby or something. Very cliche.
but in honesty, i think spending money on repeat cruisers at very low on the to do list at dcl right now.....

 

[KashasMom]

Many suggest that we cruise someone else but we feel it would just be not be the same.

That is exactly the reason why you should not cruise on another line. You've already made up your mind that it won't be the same (and probably that you wouldn't enjoy it). We have had great cruises on other lines.