What added benefits would you like to see as a DVC member

[RumpleMom]

I would like to see discounted park passes, mostly the annual pass, now that the Disney Club card is gone. I haven't been impressed with Disney Visa/Bank One offers yet.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Actually, it IS a timeshare. A point based lease ended timeshare. One of many available, but one that has a great deal more value than most.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by TheRustyScupper
1) I voted "other".
2) I simply do not believe that we are due discounts.

3) We bought a timeshare.
4) It is an expensive timeshare, but just a timeshare.
5) I see no reason for discounts others are not entitled to.

BUT, others are entitled to discounts that DVC members are not! Why should AP/PAP holders, FL residents, Disney Visa card members, AAA members, etc be entitled to discounts that are not offered to DVC members? DVC members are people that have spent and continue to spend a heck of a lot of money at Disney. If DVC members are not a great sample of continued and future potential spenders at restaurants, parks, etc.-- I don't who is!!
I think DVC members definitly fit the same criteria for inclusion in the discounts of FL residents---DVC members do pay real estate taxes. True it is a small amount, but it is still more than a FL resident living in an apt pays, OR a college student attending a FL college! AP holders discounts:Are either guests that go to WDW on a regular basis and therefore no more of a potential spender than any DVC member, OR are year round locals. Although a big % AP holders are locals who use them regularly, they also tend to not use the resorts, dine in the restaurants etc nearly as much as DVC members staying on property do. Believe me, I have very close friends that live year round in FL and although they are physically on WDW property more days per year than we are; we spend A LOT more money per year in WDW restaurants, shops, resorts, etc., then they do!! As for Disney Visa Card members, AAA members, etc these are discounts given to promote business and in a small way as a thank you for buying their product. Again DVC members fit the bill for qualification.
I feel DVC members fit the criteria and it would be a great market strategy, for Disney to include DVC membership in these WDW discounts. Personally, the only advantage a change like this would give me is I would only have to show one card to get all the discounts. However that still does not change the fact that I strongly feel that all DVC members should be included in with the "eligible" for these discounts.

 

[MDonley]

I voted "other". I could use a 10% discount on an AP even though we don't spend everyday in the parks

 

[erikthewise]

I would like a DVC representative on the Board of Directors.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Your choices either don't appeal to me or (I believe) are unrealistic.

I would like to see the family boat and bike plan restored -- either for members or for everyone.

I think DVC lounges in the parks would be a great perk!!

 

[jmminarik]

I voted other, but I don't know what one single perk I'd want, which is what this poll seems to be seeking. My "perk" would be OKW sized rooms at new resorts, but that's not really a perk.

Like it's been said, we bought a very nice timeshare that happens to be (mostly) in WDW. Anything else is gravy and while I might miss removed perks or possibly enjoy added perks, I'm quite happy just being able to take my friends and family. That's as far as my sense of entitlement will go.

-Joe

 

[sgtpet]

Greater Discount on Tickets such as AP's would be the best benefit.

 

[lillasmom]

I'm with the "other" folks. I would really like better park entrance discounts. That would be great for me.

 

[Mary Ellen]

I voted 'other' as being allowed to get the same discounts as FL residents would be the best for us (and to Disney in our own situation).

According to Deb's web site, we would go from $392.99 pp for APs to $201.29 pp for the seasonal FL pass (we go in 'off' times so seasonal is great for us). As it is now, we bank/borrow points to arrange 2 trips in 1 - 12 mo. time frame to fit our APs. Then we'll skip a few years before going again. Even if we didn't get seasonal APs, the cost would drop to $318.44 pp. A savings of $74.55 pp.

Also, in 2001 Disney was offering FL residents 13 mo. on APs bought before Christmas (end of the year???). We couldn't take advantage of this, so we sent the 'extra' vacation time at Universal. Now, we LOVE the FOTL and HRH and will be spending more time (and $$$) there rather than WDW. It used to be we'd stay at WDW and just not go the parks a few days either at the beginning or end of our stay (as our APs would run out or overlap a bit for the next trip 'home') - but still spending $$$ at DD and resort restaurants. UF is getting that $$$ now.

 

[MelissathePooh]

I think DVC members definitly fit the same criteria for inclusion in the discounts of FL residents---DVC members do pay real estate taxes. True it is a small amount, but it is still more than a FL resident living in an apt pays, OR a college student attending a FL college!

Then simply walk in to the DMV in the county you want to become a resident of and tell them that and ask for a Florida Driver's License. You'll probably want to be prepared to present the appropriate identificatation and local address, and to surrender your former driver's license of the state you are no longer a resident of, but you will no longer need it as a Florida resident anyway.

As I tried to say before, the state of Florida determines who is a Florida resident, not the Walt Disney Co. If you really want to become a Florida resident go ahead, no one will stop you. If you wish to continue to maintain a residence in another state or keep a job in another state, or register a car in another state, it may play hell with your taxes and stuff like that, but if it is worth a $40 dollar discount to you go right ahead. (by the way, if you buy a car or other major purchase less than 6 months before moving to Florida you will be required to pay Florida sales tax on it).

FWIW, students and others living in apartments in Florida do pay property tax, although not directly. The land lord pays the tax and includes it in the amount of rent that he or she collects from the tenants.

DR

 

[travelbug]

Discount for Annual Passes and/or Park Hoppers

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by MelissathePooh
Then simply walk in to the DMV in the county you want to become a resident of and tell them that and ask for a Florida Driver's License. You'll probably want to be prepared to present the appropriate identificatation and local address, and to surrender your former driver's license of the state you are no longer a resident of, but you will no longer need it as a Florida resident anyway.

As I tried to say before, the state of Florida determines who is a Florida resident, not the Walt Disney Co. If you really want to become a Florida resident go ahead, no one will stop you. If you wish to continue to maintain a residence in another state or keep a job in another state, or register a car in another state, it may play hell with your taxes and stuff like that, but if it is worth a $40 dollar discount to you go right ahead. (by the way, if you buy a car or other major purchase less than 6 months before moving to Florida you will be required to pay Florida sales tax on it).

FWIW, students and others living in apartments in Florida do pay property tax, although not directly. The land lord pays the tax and includes it in the amount of rent that he or she collects from the tenants.

DR

Ummm, excuse me. I am a home owner in FL and already qualify as FL resident and I already pay property tax to the state of FL, utility bills, trash removal bills etc, all in the state of FL. I can also vote in the state of FL and I have a FL driver's license.
For those that own property in FL and spend a substantial amount of the year in FL there is such a thing as having dual residency. You are able to get a FL driver's license valid only in the state of FL and also retain a unrestricted DL from another state. Since you maintain a residence in FL, pay taxes etc., you obviously qualify as a FL resident also. Many, many FL residents own dual homes and spend part of the year at each. This is how the term "snowbirds" became so heavily associated with FL.
Thank you for the lesson on the ins and outs of FL DMV, but you were off on a few pts and I am already familiar with the workings of the DMV through my own experiences at renewing my DL. But thanks anyway!
I know I stated in my orginal post that I am a FL homeowner/resident and that the inclusion of the FL resident discounts would have no impact on me other than I would only have to show one card (DVC) to receive all discounts.

I never said WDW is able to, nor should they change what qualifies as a state resident. What I said was it would be very easy for Disney to offer DVC members the same discounts as what are offered to FL residents. The logic and justification to this inclusion is the fact that DVC members are already paying property taxes in FL, have invested quite a bit of money in Disney and are a very good market of people that will continue to patronize Disney restaurants and parks, just as some FL residents do. This would be something that would cost Disney ziltch to implement and would be very good PR towards DVC members who represent possible future DVC addons and referrals. Future DVC purchases translates into more money in Disney's pocket.
I think it is great that Disney offers FL residents discounts, because they recognize the potential market of repeat spenders in area residents. However I know many area FL residents that live there year round and do not go to WDW nearly as often, nor do they spend any where close to the amount of money that many DVC members do. I have neighbors at my FL home who literally have not been to Disney in over 20 yrs!!! And they have kids and grandkids!
I personally think that it would be justifiable for DVC members to be eligible for the same discounts as FL residents receive, AND I think it is a very bad business decision on Disney's part to not recognize the potential money market DVC members can be.
Not trying to be snippy back at you, but the next time you want to jump all over someone's post, please read their previous posts a little more thoroughly. Jeez!

 

[d-r]

No, I didn't read you were a Florida resident, but good for you! You did exactly what I was saying. You own a home in Florida and pay your utility bills there and you vote there and you went and got a drivers license. You have an address to put on that Florida only driver's license, just like the apartment dwellers and students do. So you are a Florida resident, and you are eligible for Florida resident discounts! Congratulations. I encourage everyone who owns a home in Florida and pays their utility bills there and is registered to vote there to walk in to their local dmv and get a drivers license and do the same thing. Then they will be eligible for resident rates as well. Thank you for the great example illustrating what I was saying - anybody who wants to be a Florida resident can choose to do so, as you have clearly demonstrated. This is my point that the state of Florida determines what it takes to be a resident, not walt disney world.

By the way, there are people who go to wdw that do not own dvc that go just as often and spend as much money - it seems like one of the perks of owning dvc is that we spend less money on accomodations, or at least that is what I got out of all those discussions on here about break even points and spread sheets. Also, Disney hasn't demonstrated to me that they want to reward people who spend more money anyway - it seems like they want to make offers to people who aren't spending more money so that they will spend more money.

Finally, if you buy a car less than six months before moving to Florida you DO have to pay Florida sales tax on it. Also, your state of residency CAN have an impact on your property and income taxes in other states - I've paid income tax as an out-of-state resident before, and owning a home in another state can preclude you from filing homestead exemptions in some states - so that isn't wrong. Yes, you can have a Florida only drivers license that is valid only in that state - if you maintain a residence there - and not forfeit your other state - but you can not hold two actual driver's licenses - I had to forfiet my Florida license to obtain my Alabama license, and my Alabama license to obtain my Michigan license. If you got a Florida driver's license without an address and without presenting proper ID I am shocked. Also, there are differences in car registration fees based upon where your car is registered, and where your drivers license is can have a baring on that. SO, for you, who own a house, pay your utility bills, and vote in Florida it makes sense to be a Florida resident. You are one. My point was that if a DVC member wants to get a Florida resident discount they can - by becoming a Florida resident, although it isn't clear to me that it is worth the money saved on a theme park pass to deal with those possible hassles. YMMV. But if someone wants to, they should go for it.

If you read my earlier post you'll see that I said I think it would be GREAT if Disney offered a 10 or 15 percent or whatever rate for DVC owners. But I do not think that they should give DVC owners FLorida resident rates - we all signed a contract that said that owning DVC was not sufficient for obtaining these rates. And again, if any DVC owner really wants those rates, they can become a Florida resident and actually be entitled to it, like you are.

 

[MrShiny]

Discount on Annual Passes or Park Hoppers.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Well, Disney COULD offer the same discount to DVC members THAT IT DOES to Florida residents. They could call them "Discounts for Florida residents and DVC members."

 

[niks81]

For me, the only two things I would like to see are:

1) Park pass discounts....either hoppers, UPH, or annual....something!! We have this great membership to go to Disney whenever our points allow, but no pass discount (UPH but still). Personally I think that should have been a given!

2) DVC van transport...between resorts. Either for PS's or switching of resorts. I just think this would be a really nice thing for members to have. When we switched DVC resorts the first time they did give us a ride in the DVC van (I didn't ask, they just did it) so that was nice.

That's really all from me

 

[wisbucky]

It is not my intention to offend anyone here so please don’t flame me or misunderstand my reasoning.

Florida residents are given discounts for being a resident in Florida where Disney is. I am sure that there are many Florida residents who are DVC members. If I were a Florida resident, which I am not, and bought into DVC, I would feel that I should receive a better discount than what the current Florida resident discount is. Point being if you bought into DVC you have spent a huge amount of money on Disney already.

Disney wants you and I to buy into DVC so we obviously vacation and spend money there. Wouldn't it make sense for Disney to offer some sort of discount for AP's to the DVC members? Are they not the ones who will be spending continuous money in the future at Disney? Why not give them more incentive to buy into DVC and vacation even more at the 'world'.

It would be IMHO that Disney offers discounts to Florida residents to persuade them to visit Disney more often then other places. With all the tourist attractions in Florida Disney has to say in some way to Florida residents "Bring your family and friends here"

Without offending anyone I feel that DVC should offer a better discount to DVC members when it comes to Disney restaurants, AP's, merchandise and such than to other groups.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by d-r
No, I didn't read you were a Florida resident, but good for you! You did exactly what I was saying. You own a home in Florida and pay your utility bills there and you vote there and you went and got a drivers license. You have an address to put on that Florida only driver's license, just like the apartment dwellers and students do. So you are a Florida resident, and you are eligible for Florida resident discounts! Congratulations. I encourage everyone who owns a home in Florida and pays their utility bills there and is registered to vote there to walk in to their local dmv and get a drivers license and do the same thing. Then they will be eligible for resident rates as well. Thank you for the great example illustrating what I was saying - anybody who wants to be a Florida resident can choose to do so, as you have clearly demonstrated. This is my point that the state of Florida determines what it takes to be a resident, not walt disney world.

By the way, there are people who go to wdw that do not own dvc that go just as often and spend as much money - it seems like one of the perks of owning dvc is that we spend less money on accomodations, or at least that is what I got out of all those discussions on here about break even points and spread sheets. Also, Disney hasn't demonstrated to me that they want to reward people who spend more money anyway - it seems like they want to make offers to people who aren't spending more money so that they will spend more money.

Finally, if you buy a car less than six months before moving to Florida you DO have to pay Florida sales tax on it. Also, your state of residency CAN have an impact on your property and income taxes in other states - I've paid income tax as an out-of-state resident before, and owning a home in another state can preclude you from filing homestead exemptions in some states - so that isn't wrong. Yes, you can have a Florida only drivers license that is valid only in that state - if you maintain a residence there - and not forfeit your other state - but you can not hold two actual driver's licenses - I had to forfiet my Florida license to obtain my Alabama license, and my Alabama license to obtain my Michigan license. If you got a Florida driver's license without an address and without presenting proper ID I am shocked. Also, there are differences in car registration fees based upon where your car is registered, and where your drivers license is can have a baring on that. SO, for you, who own a house, pay your utility bills, and vote in Florida it makes sense to be a Florida resident. You are one. My point was that if a DVC member wants to get a Florida resident discount they can - by becoming a Florida resident, although it isn't clear to me that it is worth the money saved on a theme park pass to deal with those possible hassles. YMMV. But if someone wants to, they should go for it.

If you read my earlier post you'll see that I said I think it would be GREAT if Disney offered a 10 or 15 percent or whatever rate for DVC owners. But I do not think that they should give DVC owners FLorida resident rates - we all signed a contract that said that owning DVC was not sufficient for obtaining these rates. And again, if any DVC owner really wants those rates, they can become a Florida resident and actually be entitled to it, like you are.

I was posting in response to MelissathePooh, matter of fact I even quoted MelissathePooh in my response. But now d-r is responding as if it was his/her quote?????
Again thank you for all the pointers in dual residency. I have owned homes and had dual residency in 2 states for quite a few years now, so I am very familiar with all the legal aspects. But again thank you anyway for your concern, d-r or melissathepooh, or whom ever???
Also BTW, d-r, Melissathepooh or whom ever, seem determined to ignore the point I was trying to make in that I think DVC members fall into many of the same category/possible marketing target group etc as FL residents do. That was the point of my post; not discussing what does or does not make a FL resident.
Also for your reference,I have pasted below both instances where I referred to my being a FL homeowner and how this change would not personally effect me. But that I feel as though DVC members receiving FL and AP discounts is not only justifiable given the real estate taxes paid by DVC members, no matter what amount per year but it would also be an excellent PR gesture from Disney towards DVC members-- that most likely would pay off financially for Disney. It is amazing what a little good will, schmoozing, PR, customer service etc., can do to make customers loosen their purse strings!

I own a home in FL so I qualify for all FL resident discounts,

AND

Personally, the only advantage a change like this would give me is I would only have to show one card to get all the discounts. However that still does not change the fact that I strongly feel that all DVC members should be included in with the "eligible" for these discounts.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by wisbucky
Without offending anyone I feel that DVC should offer a better discount to DVC members when it comes to Disney restaurants, AP's, merchandise and such than to other groups.

So are you saying that you think DVC members should be offered better discounts than anyone else including FL residents, AP holders, etc, etc.?
If so, I don't think it will happen. Disney has certain %'s of discounts that they offer for various groups. The only group that has larger discounts offered than FL residents and AP holders are CMs.