Whaddya think about using points for passes?

[Dreamfinder2]

This is admittedly heresy, but I was looking at timeshare info from Marriott (just for comparisons sake, mind you -- if I can't do Disney I'm not doing anyone else's!)But Marriott will let you use their points for Marriott Rewards perks toward all sorts of other options, including tickets to Universal, Sea World, etc. Seems it would be a huge plus if we could use our points toward theme park passes. There may be some legal or logistical reasons why that couldn't be done, but it's just a thought. Anyone wanna weigh in with an opinion (or factual info?)

Remembering when ... we ate our first meal as husband and wife at the Gulf Coast Room in the Contemporary.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm not sure what the Marriott points represent but the DVC points represent the amount of ownership in DVC real estate. The documents all say the points have no value but are the means by which reservations are made. I'm not sure if they could be used for something like ticket purchases. What I would like to see (but am doubtful I ever will) is a real discount program from DVC. At the least, equal to the Disney Club and at best equal to FL Resident programs.

 

[Pluto4President]

I'd be content with free DC membership, to start!

<img border="0" src="http://www.raynorpools.com/ftp/plutoplate.gif" width="120" height="61">

"Walt Disney World... been there, done that, GOING BACK!"

Remember the Magic ºoº

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Pam: I agree. When we were Florida residents, we were given even more perks in years past than residents get today. I don't know if those little extras would make a difference in DVC sales, but it sure doesn't hurt to dream.

 

[rsinj]

.

 

[baileybrad]

PamOKW, you are being given the most simple of assignments....convince the DVC folks to convince Disney-Orlando that we are so worthy of receiving Florida-resident like discounts. That would be really sweet and you just the one to make this happen because you are so smart and good-looking (see this is how you do it, butter, lots of butter) good luck in your assignment and this post will self-destruct in 5 seconds. Have a nice day!

 

[PamOKW]

BaileyBrad my wounds are still fresh from trying to convince them we should have been given some way to see the AK without buying full one day passes. I think some of the new blood will have to take this one one!

[This message was edited by PamOKW on 03-25-01 at 05:35 PM.]

 

[Debby7]

Here's a question---If they let us use points to pay for tickets, would that negate being able to count dvc as a vacation home on taxes since now some of the cost would not be for real estate????

[This message was edited by Debby7 on 03-25-01 at 09:26 PM.]

 

[Caskbill]

I don't think it would ever happen, and if it did I'm not sure it would be the best thing for us. DVC has XX number of points out there for use at DVC resorts. Some loss occurs as owners may use some points for other Disney hotels, DCL, or other exchanges that do not directly put an occupant into the DVC resort originally built to utilize those points. Currently DVC can rent these rooms and they do not go empty. This income pays for the cost DVC pays to the provider of the service used by the DVC member. If we could get park passes on points, it would be extremely difficult to predict points being used for accommodations. If too many points were used, rooms might start going empty at some times of the year. The 'value' of the points would have to be paid to Disney Corp in trade for tickets with no equivalent unit rental to recoup that dollar loss. This would dramatically impact our annual dues.

I would much prefer if DVC could negotiate better ticket prices for DVC members. After all, this is a program that brings thousands daily to their theme parks that wouldn't necessarily have been there without DVC. Unfortunately, Disney Co. apparently feels that since we're there we'll buy tickets anyway no matter what the cost. This is sad as I believe DVC members are some of the most dedicated Disney people there are. It would seem discounted tickets might just be Disney's way of awarding 'frequent flyer miles' to it's most loyal patrons.

IMHO

Caskbill

 

[dianeschlicht]

I too doubt this idea would be possible. It is just too big of a bookkeeping hassle.

Disneydiane

 

[Dean]

Comparing DVC to Marriott points is impossible. Marriott points are essentially Frequent Flier miles with all the limitations associated. It never made sense to me to buy a Marriott week for big bucks, trade it for points (with an extra fee), then use those points to stay in a hotel (for an additional fee). And the program can change at any time and apparently will change for the worse in April. Unless you will travel half way around the world every other year or so, the Marriott points system is not a good deal at all. Remember it's just a sales pitch.

Dean

 

[Dreamfinder2]

One reason I've become so thankful for these boards is that all of us are smarter than one of us! As well versed as so many are in all things Disney, there are still some questions that will be forever unanswered. I agree with the idea of FL resident perks; that would be a pretty significant bone thrown our way and might keep DVC's from becoming wayward. There are things in the Orlando/Kissimmee area besides Disney, after all, and making passes more accessable to us would keep us on property more. 'Course, I don't know what kind of impact that would have on HH and VB. BTW...why was the pre-99 program on tickets and passes discontinued anyway?

oops ... found the answer I needed on archived boards. Never mind!

Remembering when ... the first Disney attraction I ever experienced was Flight to the Moon as a high school sophomore.

[This message was edited by Dreamfinder2 on 03-26-01 at 10:36 AM.]

 

[KNWVIKING]

We tend to look at Disney as if Walt were still alive. Disney is now a very large business with thousands of stock holders to satisfy. Why does any business offer discounts-because they really like you as a person-NOT. They do it to increase sales when sales are down or to move product when their shelves are over stocked. Did anybody notice small crowds at the parks ? As for Florida res discounts: Florida is full of grand parents. When the grand children show up, Disney wants to be sure mom-mom & pop-pop take the family to Disney. Of course, visiting family pay full price. Disney also knows that Florida itself is probably the worlds biggest theme park. They want to make it a convienant as possible to attract the locals. So until the economy goes into the toilet or people start spending their vacation buck somewhere else, don't look for Disney to throw perks at DVC members just because we think they owe it to us.

 

[Caskbill]

KNWVIKING: I agree with what you're saying, but still think Disney is missing something. An old adage is that for every $10 it takes in expenditures to get a new customer, it only takes $1 to keep a current customer. (or maybe only 10 cents, or even 1 cent)

While DVC itself is now 9 years old, I would venture that the 'majority' of owners have purchased within the last 4 years and as such are probably doing the theme parks on a routine basis every trip. But as trips become a little more routine, people will look more at other non-Disney attractins in the area. I've owned since '93 and am now up to about 5-trips/year (recently retired). There have been some DVC trips where I didn't go to a single Disney park the entire time.

As a business Disney must look at long term planning. Over the next 10 years DVC members will be developing their vacation habits. It is in Disney's best interest to keep the Disney parks as an integral part of that vacation.

An airline gives you FF miles, not to reward you, but to keep you on their airline. Without it you have no incentives to stay with them. The mistake is that Disney gives DVC members no real incentives to go to the Disney parks. They probably figure we'll go there regardless. That's true, but only up to a point. Last year we bought Sea World AP's, about $80, and went there every trip to Orlando. Every day we spent at SW was one less day at a Disney park.

Discounts and incentives are not rewards, but business decisions to keep you as a customer. I think long term, Disney is currently missing the boat on this one.

Caskbill

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Caskbill, you've hit on something that's been bugging me for a while. Please understand that I'm a hard-core Disneyphile (my DW calls it "obsessing"), and we do manage to get to WDW yearly, which makes us pretty good DVC candidates. But we're kinda at a point, after almost 30 years of visits, that we can ease off on Disney park forays (unless there's a new attraction or other significant change.) As we consider a DVC purchase, I have to admit that I've looked at other timeshares in the area and there are some great deals on some really spiffy properties. And we're open to the other parks in the area. Believe me, I KNOW that being off-site means a chunk of the magic is missing, and I'm afraid that I'd be sorry for betraying the Mouse. Considering bottom-line issues, and trying to determine if the perks of being a DVC owner are at least partially offset by being a DC member -- heck, I don't know what the fat our family is ultimately gonna do. Buy DVC and die happy, but with diminishing returns? Get an equal or better property in an admittedly worse location?

Help! Do any of y'all own other timeshare property in the area? Did you consider other properties before settling on DVC? What tipped the scales in favor of Disney? What is the meaning of life?

I know this is a ramble, and maybe just GETTING a life would help. Aaaaugh!

Remembering when ... some college friends and I had a CM sneak us into the utilidors in 1976 because one of the girls with us knew how to flirt effectively.

 

[sumessefui]

Walt Disney's dream was to provide quality family fun at an affordable price. The present management of Disney only seeks to make as much money as possible to keep adding to their already overinflated salaries and bonuses. I would not expect to see any major discounts for DVC members.