What DVC perks were offered in the past but are no more…

[KPeterso]

Not a DVC perk but a resort guest perk --- I miss the resort package delivery. Buy something in the park and I could pick up the package the next day in the resort. Shopping has slowed since I don't like carrying around bags all day.

 

[DonMacGregor]

So, in the 79th iteration of this thread, we've reached the same conclusion: there are maybe 4 or 5 "perks" at best that have disappeared over the past 30+ years (the free passes were not a perk, but a sales device similar to MB), whereas a whole host of new perks have been added. As Billy Joel once said:

"Cause the good ole days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems'

 

[jekjones1558]

Discounted Annual Passes with free PhotoPass included was my favorite.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Not a DVC perk but a resort guest perk --- I miss the resort package delivery. Buy something in the park and I could pick up the package the next day in the resort. Shopping has slowed since I don't like carrying around bags all day.

In the resort…??
Back in the day they delivered them to your room.
They would leave them on the bed if you weren’t there.
They were still doing that for club level a few years back. Not sure if that’s still the case.

But you’re right… not a DVC perk.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

So, in the 79th iteration of this thread, we've reached the same conclusion: there are maybe 4 or 5 "perks" at best that have disappeared over the past 30+ years (the free passes were not a perk, but a sales device similar to MB), whereas a whole host of new perks have been added. As Billy Joel once said:

"Cause the good ole days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems'

A sales incentive….
That could be said for ALL Membership extras.

 

[Leight19]

The only benefits that were DVC related since I became a member in 2009 that no longer exist is pool hopping and the valet service.

One clarification, though....the free theme park tickets were an incentive for buying and were basically the equivalant of an incentive like MB and developer credits today....plus, you only got them for half the occupancy of the villa (studios and 1 bedrooms got 2, 2 bedrooms got 4, and GVs got 6).

Bit off topic but have they ever given a reason for not bringing pool hopping back? It made sense during covid but it literally costs them nothing to bring this back right? I mean most pools that were included originally don’t check if you’re guest anyway so they literally need to do nothing besides give us permission to bring it back. Any ideas why they haven’t?

 

[Sandisw]

Bit off topic but have they ever given a reason for not bringing pool hopping back? It made sense during covid but it literally costs them nothing to bring this back right? I mean most pools that were included originally don’t check if you’re guest anyway so they literally need to do nothing besides give us permission to bring it back. Any ideas why they haven’t?

From what I have heard is that pools at the resorts are overcrowded with guests at many times of the day and simply adding more wouldn’t help.

One reason they started checking CBR and hading wrist bands this summer was because of an increase of guests coming of the Skyliner.

So, it sounds like it is just something, with the increase in DVC members because of an increase in DVC resorts it no longer makes sense

 

[crisi]

These things are all cyclical. I love it when people compare today to 1992 or 2009…. You know what those years have in common… We were in a recession and people weren’t spending money to go to theme parks. So, yes…. There were more discounts and incentives then…. just like there will be again someday in the future…..

Unemployment in 1992- 8%
Unemployment in 2009- 10%
Unemployment in 2024- 4%

Disney can pull discounts or add them whenever they want, but TIW existed when the economy was good as well as when it was bad. We used it over ten years - although early on it had a different name. It wasn't a reaction to a bad economy that was pulled when the economy was good.

It was a deal, and it was a deal that I always sort of wondered why they offered it. In part I think they offered it because it was a really expensive "purchase a card for a discount" program and I expect that for a long time a lot of people bought it and didn't get the value out of it - and it was a profit generator. It was expensive enough that we only broke even with our family of four if we ate sit down once a day every day for seven days AND consumed alcohol with every meal. It had most its value when we traveled with company and were buying dinner for six or eight or more people.

 

[Leight19]

From what I have heard is that pools at the resorts are overcrowded with guests at many times of the day and simply adding more wouldn’t help.

One reason they started checking CBR and hading wrist bands this summer was because of an increase of guests coming of the Skyliner.

So, it sounds like it is just something, with the increase in DVC members because of an increase in DVC resorts it no longer makes sense

I sorta expected it was something like this, essentially they worry if they allow pool hopping without system of checking if actually staying in dvc room could lead to more abuse. My only problem with that is since they don’t check people already abuse it so it’s only punishing those of us who follow the rules.

 

[Sandisw]

I sorta expected it was something like this, essentially they worry if they allow pool hopping without system of checking if actually staying in dvc room could lead to more abuse. My only problem with that is since they don’t check people already abuse it so it’s only punishing those of us who follow the rules.

I think is why they have begun to look at ways to curb it as case in point CBR. The CM this summer told me that it was something that we could see become a thing…especially locking gates with requirement of an MB.

 

[DebbieB]

When we first purchased in 1992, we got length of stay passes for everyone on the reservation for the next 7 years.

It was half the occupancy limit of the room. Studios and 1 bedroom got 2, 2 bedroom got 4, GV got 6. Based on the number of nights, not days. It was a sales incentive, not a perk. Members joining mid 1996 or after did not get it.

 

[RachaelA]

I miss Tables in Wonderland!

 

[SPLzero]

I was kid back than and my parents paid for it so I dont know if it was "DVC" but when Disney did the Food and fun program. We used to rent boats every day.

 

[zackiedawg]

I wouldn't expect any difference in availability. I can't see too many people with intentions to visit Universal booking at DVC - most of those who would book at DVC would be folks intending to do Disney AND Universal during their visit - and there are already people doing that now - overall likely a small percentage of DVCers - I can't see Epic having too much of an impact with new people starting to stay at DVC to visit Universal parks than current. It's so much more convenient to stay near Universal if planning to go to Universal...and same for Disney. I even know a few DVC friends who always visit Universal on their Disney trips, but they actually stay DVC while visiting Disney, then move over to a Universal resort to hit those parks for the additional days.

 

[CastAStone]

When did we get daily housekeeping? When we bought in 1997 DVC was already on the Day 4 - Day 8 Trash and Towel vs. Full Cleaning schedule. I didn’t know we missed daily housekeeping.

You used to at least be able to pay extra for it.


My answer is free magic bands every trip. I know DVC owners with Christmas trees decorated with complementary magic bands as the ornaments.

 

[CarolynFH]

I was kid back than and my parents paid for it so I dont know if it was "DVC" but when Disney did the Food and fun program. We used to rent boats every day.

We had the Food & Fun card on our first two trips, before we bought DVC. It was basically the Dining Plan plus the recreation options all in one. Our last cash visit was in 1997, and our son spent lots of time in the little sea racer. We got our money's worth that trip!

 

[DisTravels]

free magic bands every trip. I know DVC owners with Christmas trees decorated with complementary magic bands as the ornaments.

Agree magic bands at checkin were a nice perk.

Also DVC members with reservations could previously checkin for moonlight magic at the resort.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

It was half the occupancy limit of the room. Studios and 1 bedroom got 2, 2 bedroom got 4, GV got 6. Based on the number of nights, not days. It was a sales incentive, not a perk. Members joining mid 1996 or after did not get it.

Incentive, perk, whatever. It was for everyone on our reservation! But I'm not going to argue with a legend!

 

[Sandisw]

You used to at least be able to pay extra for it.


My answer is free magic bands every trip. I know DVC owners with Christmas trees decorated with complementary magic bands as the ornaments.

They have returned the pay for it option.

 

[71 Truck]

You used to at least be able to pay extra for it.


My answer is free magic bands every trip. I know DVC owners with Christmas trees decorated with complementary magic bands as the ornaments.

You mean like this?




My wife and I were part of the very first day of guest using the Magic Bands. We were staying at the Beach Club Villas. We did not realize it till we went to check in. It took a while because one of the Magic Bands was giving them a hard time and they told us it was the first day they were being used.

We use our Vacation Club one or two nights at a time four or five times a year. In the beginning we tried to get Disney to stop sending the Magic Bands but there was no way back then.
Even if we brought our old ones the front desk would give us the grey ones just in case ours did not work. Finally Disney, before you had to pay for them made it optional.
So we decorate our 3 foot Christmas tree with them and top it off with a Micky Christmas hat.