What else should WDW do for DVC members?

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by MelissathePooh
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.

A few 10% or 15% discounts here and there is not the kind of incentive propgram I'm suggesting. While I'm happy to see any discounts, such little discounts aren't an incentive to dine on-site or to stay out of the condo kitchen. How about progressive discounts, so that the discount percentages increase with each additional dinner duing a DVC stay? How about some sort of VIP treatment after x number of meals? I'm not suggesting that either of these ideas is perfect. I merely want to point out that with ability of computers to track our spending during a stay, there are opportunities to provide far more effective incentives than a small percentage-off discount here and there.

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
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.

I don't want to pay dues for DVC lounges in the parks. But I could see lounges that are paid for by the DVD-DVC Marketing folks, who would have an opprortunity to expose existing DVC members to add-on opportunities.

I can't imagine why the parks would want to provide special FastPasses or front-of-the-line passes to us -- unless somebody was paying for them. Again, I would not want to pay dues for such passes, but I could see Marketing paying for such passes as incentives to get us to listen to their add-on pitch.

I think a "frequent spender club" could have merit. I'm surprised that Disney doesn't have something like this. (And before anyone suggests that the Disney Visa, with its 1% rewards, is a "frequent spender club," consider that the Disney Visa provides the same 1% reward whether buying Disney tickets or Universal tickets, or whether dining at Ohana or Bahama Breeze.)

 

[d-r]

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.

DVC and Disney do not decide what the requirements of Florida residency are. The state of Florida decides that.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by d-r
DVC and Disney do not decide what the requirements of Florida residency are. The state of Florida decides that.

But Disney -- not the State of Florida -- decides who gets Disney discounts.

If Disney management were to reach the conclusion that it would be good business to extend the Florida resident programs to include DVC members, they would have no problem doing so. It would be as simple as changing the name to "Florida Resident and Disney Vacation Club Member Discounts."

So, it seems that Disney management currently does not think it would be good business to extend the discounts to include us.

 

[KNWVIKING]

We will get better discounts when WDW see's a drop in our spending habits. As long as we keep buying AP's or Hoppers, buying plush & eating on property, they have zero incentive to offer us a discount.

Also, look at the dining discounts we are offered. IMO, and from what I've observed, these are locations that are operating well below capacity. Why doesn't Cal Grill offer discounts ? They don't need to. Take a look inside Chefs de France during lunch- it was virtually empty in Oct and Dec when we were there.

As long as we keep swipping our room charge key or paying with CC, WDW will know exactly when,where and how much we spend. When - and if- they ever see a significant drop, that's when I believe we'll see some better discounts.

Now, my wish list:

AP discount
Private viewing area for Illuminations.
Dining discount program similar to Fl residents.
Disney Dollar tree in every room.

 

[MelissathePooh]

Many of the DVC dining discounts are for 20% off (I don't think the website has been updated - I know we got 20% off at Artist Point for dinner with DVC) and at nice restaurants - which is the same as the Florida Dining Experience. The restaurant selection is quite a bit smaller, but they seem to be adding new places. The DVC discounts are perks, the Dining Experience is a paid membership. I think the DVC dining discounts are really pretty good considering what other options are out there. AP's dining discounts aren't that great - limited options and usually only 10% at lunch and the Dining Experience is limited to FL residents and costs $75 a year - also with limitations on where and when you can use it. In terms of already having the DVC membership as a plus- in all honesty I think DVC has the best discount dining program available. Its just included - not extra charge and can save a good bit of money if people use it.

And really it is irrelevant to compare it to the Dining Experience as that has to be paid for and it only for Florida residents. You have too look at it in relation to the AP discounts, which aren't that great and pretty limited when and where you can use it.

Again it depends on where people want to eat and how much they like to spend. We don't expect to get fast food prices for a nice meal and with the DVC discount it about equals off property prices without the hassle of leaving WDW property. Plus we like the restaurants that take the DVC discount and that is another factor.

JMHO, but I think DVC offers a lot of perks, it just depends on whether or not people use them or have use for them as to how valuable they are. But again just because we don't use something doesn't mean it isn't there or worth something.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree with most here, that DVC doesn't "owe" us any perks other than those we aready get. It would mot be good business for Disney OR DVC. Someone would have to pay. That would probably be us, as members.

We have to remember that this is, after all, a timeshare. We have far better "perks" than most timeshares. A timeshare is a pre-paid vacation. DVC gives us restaurant discounts, pool hopping, transportation to some wonderful theme parks, etc. If this was a timeshare ANYWHERE else, there would be no park passes to be had, or disounts on them. I think the GREATEST perk we have is being on Disney property. I am quite sure that is why most of us purchased DVC.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by 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

Agree. While it would be nice, I have never known Disney to come up with any promotion or dicount unless it could get more people into the parks. We are already members and a "captive" audience who already attend on a regular basis. Take the "Members Homecoming". It sounds like a nice perk but IMHO it is very expensive. Hopefully the people who go will come back with glowing appraisals.

I think they give Florida residents a discount to even out park attendance with locals who don't have to journey far during slower times when travel is down. Again, to get people into the parks.

 

[Snowgod]

If Disney offered DVC members the same perks that Florida residents get, It is my belief that we would give WDW the same bottom line result. More people would buy APs and Disney Dinning Club cards. More money would flow to WDW.

 

[MelissathePooh]

Originally posted by Snowgod
If Disney offered DVC members the same perks that Florida residents get, It is my belief that we would give WDW the same bottom line result. More people would buy APs and Disney Dinning Club cards. More money would flow to WDW.

I'm curious what perks Florida Residents get would be of any use - outside of a discounted pass. Room discounts - normally those are available to the general public as well, but we're DVC so I don't see where that is that huge of a plus. The Dining Experience - would you pay an additional $75 a year for it? Some would some wouldn't.

Really other than the pass discounts I don't see the big deal. We get a discount on the UPH - which includes everything. A regular AP costs $369.00. A FL residents AP is $299. $70 is nice, but again that doesn't include any additionals of the ULP. Unless you really are making multiple trips and don't ever use additionals it doesn't seem that great to me.

The FL seasonal pass is a nice option, but I understand why that is limited to FL residents and its not a good option for many DVCers. Summers and holidays are out - the coveted DVC times. Parking isn't included on it either. I'm sure that there are DVC members that would like this option, but I don't think it is enough to make it a feasible or worthwhile program for Disney to make the changes that would allow it.

 

[DebbieB]

We are losing the approximate 5% discount on AP's from the Disney Club. It was about $15 a pass. Not a big deal, but it would be nice if DVC offered a discount on AP's, even extending the 10% to AP's would be something. $30 or $40 off a pass would not break the bank and it would make members feel like they were getting a deal.

 

[KNWVIKING]

One nice discount AP's offer is the 50% off mini golf. DVC only offers 15%. DW and I usually hit at least one course per trip.

AP's are also the last merchendise discount at World of Disney in market place. Amex & DVC are both gone.

AP's also offer a few different dining options then the DVC perks. They are only 10%, but it's better then nothing. IMO, AP holders have better discounts then DVC members.

 

[tonyboy]

Not a WDW perk but possibly a DVC perk??

I wish that DVC would offer internet reservations like almost every hotel chain offers now. It amazes me that DVC doesn't offer this. They can either send you a PDF of the reservation just like you receive in the mail or an easy to read printout upon completion of the reservation. Wouldn't it be nice to make ressies on the weekends?? I hate having to wait until Monday to talk to MS when my family is desperately trying to see if all the planned dates will fit their schedule and they all go off on their seperate ways come Monday. Talk about phone calls all morning if the dates aren't available.

 

[eporter66]

Originally posted by 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.

Yes. I think people missed my point. My thoughts were what could WDW do to enhance the DVC experience. I do not expect anything more than what I signed up for.

I think the discount on AP's is a good example of something that I highly doubt would take any bite out of WDW wallet, and make a lot of people happy.

Dining discounts - why not.................

It was just to start conversation, as I said, I understand fully what it was I signed up for and DO NOT expect anything beyond that.

 

[d-r]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
But Disney -- not the State of Florida -- decides who gets Disney discounts.

If Disney management were to reach the conclusion that it would be good business to extend the Florida resident programs to include DVC members, they would have no problem doing so. It would be as simple as changing the name to "Florida Resident and Disney Vacation Club Member Discounts."

So, it seems that Disney management currently does not think it would be good business to extend the discounts to include us.

I have to agree with you 100%, Horace, you hit the nail on the head - the fact that it clearly says in the paper work we sign that this will not be sufficient for Fl. resident discounts clearly indicates to me that Disney management does not think it would be good business - not only do they not do it, they take the effort to clearly specify that they do not do it. I am not sure what the reasoning is, but it clear to me that you are correct!

 

[crisi]

I'd like Disney to go back to the old PS method of on-site guests (including DVC members) getting earlier access to the reservation system.

I liked the Character Caravan - and I think it would be nice to see more characters at the resorts. Once again, not just a DVC perk, but definately at all the DVC resorts.

I'd rather see Disney charge a lot for their deluxe resorts - and add back the "value adds" that make a Disney room worth $300+ a night (coffee in the lobby, package delivery to the room), than see them discount the rooms. And DVC members should get access to these on site perks as guests of a deluxe resort.

It would be nice to see us able to pull out pieces of a package as well - add meal plans on, for instance. Not that we (or many DVC members) would make use of it, but it seems an add on that they could sell to us - and there are occations when "inclusive" is nice.

Discounts are a double edged sword. For each person who will use the discount without spending any more than they would, Disney has to have two people who the discount entices them to spend more. The best discounts for Disney to give us are the ones they give us now - targeted discounts to encourage specific behavior (UPHs - which encourage us NOT to go to Universal, dining discounts targets to restaurants and/or hours that are less popular). Not that I would refuse discounts - but Disney won't make any more money from them from us.