What else should WDW do for DVC members?

[eporter66]

Since I have not even had my first DVC experience yet, I was wondering what the DVC veterans think about this.

What could/should WDW do beyond what is done now for DVC members?

1. More discount opportunities
2. DVC events
3. Resort Issues
4. Reservation windows / points issues

Just a few thoughts of my own. I am interested in what DVC members think would make the DVC experience even better. Even small things that would help

 

[RobDoc]

IMO, as a DVC Member, DVC should do everything agreed to in our contracts. They have a responsibility to maintain the DVC resorts, provide reservation services and handle all of the financial aspects of DVC membership.

IMO, WDW should do whatever they need to do to insure that the Theme Parks and Resorts remain an attractive reason to visit. If that means offering discounts to attract guests into the parks- then they should offer such discounts. If that means developing/creating new attrcations within the parks- then they should develop such attractions. If that means adding amenities to the resorts- then they should add amenities to the resorts.

Would I gladly accept additional discounts for DVC members- absolutely! Do I expect such additional perks- absolutely not!

My .02

 

[walter]

We also believe that DVC has only an obligation to their specific resorts, but WDW allows special discounts at different levels and could easily afford to provide some sort of one for DVC members for passes. It may not be as drastic as that for Florida residents, but why not?

 

[Coach Rick]

Remember, Nothing is free in life. So if DVC starts offering percs expect to pay for it in your yearly fee's. Sure it would be nice, and I don't think anyone would refuse any percs, but we would all pay for it. I would agree as long as they do what they are supposed to ie... maintenance on the properies that is about all I would expect.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Definitely a discount on annual passes (it doesn't even have to be much). Florida residents get a discount. As I looked around the OKW meeting 2 weeks ago, I realized that we're really a community-77 thousand strong (# of members). I think a community that large should be acknowledged with some "DVC residents' annual pass".

 

[jaysue]

I think a discount on AP's would be appropriate as well

thanks
jaysue

 

[AnnaS]

If I also had a choice, even though they know we are going back anyway - I still say a better discount. More trips, bring down more people with us and you get extra dollars spent in WDW.

 

[MelissathePooh]

This is DR, Melissa's husband, on her laptop.

I remember when we signed our papers at bcv they they explicity said that buying dvc couldn't be used to get florida resident rates for APs. That was right in the paper work, and we all knew it when we signed up. If they wanted to offer a discount on APs instead of length of stay passes because they decided they wanted to or that it made sense to them, fine, but I don't think they "should" do it or that just because there are a lot of dvc owners that is any more reason to do it. Just imho.

DR

 

[DebbieB]

The pass discounts came up in a question at the BWV annual meeting. A member questioned why we were not considered FL Residents when we own property in FL. The board member explained that just owning property does not establish residency. However, she said the real question is getting DVC member pass discounts. She said they will continue to work with other departments within WDW to try to get members more discounts. She also mentioned that according to their surveys, only 13% of members have AP's. If that is true, it makes getting AP discounts a harder sell.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Giving members free passes for their family, like they did when they first opened, would be nice!

 

[sdamico71]

Here's my 0.02, for what it is worth....
As a DVC member, I feel we should be given some sort of discount on AP/park passes. Free tickets would be awesome, and would be conditional on your staying onsite for that timeframe. Can't daytrip and expect free entrance to the parks. Giving these admissions for free would not impact Disney's bottom line by that much as we would tend to spend more money in the park, where everything is pretty much overpriced.
Ability to obtain PS reservations on a dedicated phone line. A character meet/greet for just DVC members would be ideal, but I recognize this won't happen.
More restaurants that provide a discount for dining.
More member's only events, where park is open late.

 

[mel&me]

I have to agree with Coach Rick on this. Nothing is free. If we get perks we will pay somewhere along the line. And as for free tickets, I would put 10 to 1 odds there would a big jump in dues for something like that. Pay now or pay later, perks will cost us $'s

 

[manning]

As a DVC member, I feel we should be given some sort of discount on AP/park passes.

entitlement thinking is alive and well.

What are we entitled to? Only what the contract provides for.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Properly designed discount and loyalty programs are a "win-win" situation.

DVC members represent a unique category of Disney guests. It would be wise for the parks, shops, and restaurants of Disney to figure out how to get more of our money by offering discounts and incentives that give us more for our money. That may sound strange, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it.

During our most recent stay at OKW, we ate the majority of our dinners off-site or in our condo. Would a dining incentive program have encouraged us to eat more dinners at Disney restaurants? Yes (if the program was structured to reward us for doing so). And would Disney have taken in more revenue and gross profit dollars? The answer should again be yes.

I don't expect anything for free, and I don't want our dues to pay for "events" that I'm likely to miss. But Disney is missing a bet by not giving us incentives to spend our money on site.

 

[sdamico71]

Thanks Horace. You said what I was thinking.
As for "entitlement", I don't feel that I am ENTITLED to anything as a DVC member. However, the thread asked what would we like to see offered, and I would love discounts or free tickets.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I do not see additional freebies or discounts. *
2) DVC members are captive
3) Only a small percentage get AP's
4) With the kitchens, many do not eat fully in WDW
5) However, there are other possibilities.
6) Any program must show monetary benefit to WDW, not DVC.

7) A "frequent spender" program might work (like airlines)
. . . special card to show you are DVC
. . . you show the card each time you eat at sit-downs
. . . credits are placed on your account as you eat
. . . when a CURRENT annualpoint range is met, you get discounts
. . . this way, the more spent in a year, the more you reap
. . . the current year is important, as it shows current spending
. . . this means extra income to WDW
. . . spending over a long period does not show added revenue
. . . this would give added profit to WDW and show worth

. . . Examples:
. . . to-date current year spent $$ = 5% discount on meal
. . . to-date current year spent $$$ = 10% discount on meal
. . . to-date current year spent $$$$ = 15% discount on meal
. . . etc


* NOTE: We all bought knowing that we do not deserve discounts or added benefits at WDW. I do not propose the above, but am simply responding to the posting about possible/workable discount programs. I am satisfied with DVC and do not expect or demand added discounts or freebies.

 

[Terry S]

The title of the thread is "What else should WDW do for DVC members". I agree with others that I signed a contract knowing what I was getting and I don't beleive WDW SHOULD do anything more for me than what I agreed to. BUT, If someone were to ask me what I wanted WDW to do, I would love if they would give us a DVC Member Discount on Annual Passes.

 

[donald@home]

If the numbers are correct, I think the fact that only a small percentage of DVC members have annual passes (13%) is a reason FOR Disney to offer a discount on the annual passes, to encourage more people to get them. Once you have an annual pass, you are less likely to head off property for entertainment, which means more money for Disney. More dining in the parks, more buying in the parks. I thought most every DVC member bought annual passes without the discount, so I didn't think Disney had a need to offer one, but with the number so low, it's a different story.

Not that I feel we are ENTITLED to the discount, but it makes sense to me for Disney to offer one. And would I like it? Sure would.

 

[MelissathePooh]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
Properly designed discount and loyalty programs are a "win-win" situation.

DVC members represent a unique category of Disney guests. It would be wise for the parks, shops, and restaurants of Disney to figure out how to get more of our money by offering discounts and incentives that give us more for our money. That may sound strange, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it.

During our most recent stay at OKW, we ate the majority of our dinners off-site or in our condo. Would a dining incentive program have encouraged us to eat more dinners at Disney restaurants? Yes (if the program was structured to reward us for doing so). And would Disney have taken in more revenue and gross profit dollars? The answer should again be yes.

I don't expect anything for free, and I don't want our dues to pay for "events" that I'm likely to miss. But Disney is missing a bet by not giving us incentives to spend our money on site.

There are several dining discounts available and they are increasing the number of restaurants pretty regularly. Just because a family may choose to eat someplace else doesn't mean that the discounts aren't available.

 

[DrTomorrow]

A few comments first, then my 'wish list'.

I often see DVC folks saying that, if offered discounts on park admission, dining, etc., they would spend more money in the parks. However, I've come to see that DVC owners are some of the smartest and 'trickiest' when it comes to minimizing the amount they spend. The 'every other year AP purchase', using all available discounts, shipping groceries from home - even buying into DVC itself is usually done to save $$$. And just look at the financial analysis that's been done on the Member Homecoming costs. It just seems odd to then say that, if DVCers get a discount, they're going to start spending more.

And sdamico71, an AP is $370. 13% of 70,000 owners is 9100. That alone would cost $3,367,000 - plus the lost revenue of the other 60,000 who wouldn't buy Hoppers, Single-days, etc. When perks start to cost in the millions, they gets people's attention.

Now, what I'd like: more little perks. A DVC lounge in every park. A few free fastpasses. Maybe even Front of the Line for a few rides at each park. Things that would benefit everyone. I also like the idea of the frequent spender club - if people do spend more, they reap the benefits.