What extra perks should DVC members get?

[Horace Horsecollar]

As DVC members, we'd like to think that we've put our money and trust into The Walt Disney Company in a way that no other Disney customers do. And in return, we'd like to think that Disney should give us special perks.

But then reality sets in. Disney is a business, and Disney needs to make good business decisions. How does this apply to perks for DVC members?

• To the degree that The Walt Disney Company views 60,000 DVC member families as a captive audience which returns to our DVC accomodations year after year and spends money onsite at WDW regardless, they have no business reason to cut their profit margins to give us any discounts, freebies, or other special DVC benefits. (In other words, just because we spent a lot of money to join DVC in the past, there's no business reason for Disney to give us additional goodies beyond what our contracts call for.)

• To the degree that The Walt Disney Company views 60,000 DVC member families as a sophisiticated, affluent special interest group that can be induced into spending more if we're offered targetted discounts, good will freebies, and benefits that keep us onsite, they have very good business reasons to offer such perks. After all, unlike the casual visitor, we have a pretty good awareness of what's available to us offsite in terms of dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation -- while, at the same time, many of us may be getting of doing the same things year after year onsite at WDW.

For example, in many ways, we're like Florida residents, even though, for most us, that's not our legal status. So if it makes business sense to offer a Disney Dining program to Florida residents, it may also make business sense to offer the program to DVC members.

Any other ideas of what perks would make business sense for Disney -- and would make DVC members happy?

 

[ncligs]

Refillable mugs would be a nice gesture.

P.S.It would also be a nice gesture if they quit "raising the amount of points" it takes to go on the Disney Cruise" every year!!.

 

[Regina]

I'm curious as what benefits other timeshare companies extend to their members?

I've always considered DVC to be very generous and would be very interested to see what if anything is offered by other entities in the timeshare industry.

 

[lsutiggeratwk]

I'm sure this will come up soon, but some sort of discount on AP's would be good. It keeps us in the parks and spending money on food, goodies, etc.

 

[WDWalways]

The only thing I would like is a discount on passes -- all kinds so we can choose what's best for us. They offer them to AAA members and Disney Club members plus the Florida residents have special passes just for them -- I think we should be included in the discount part as well for all passes not just LOS/UPH. (which is the worst one to have IMO)

 

[SamS]

Maybe a premium annual pass for the price of a regular annual pass. My wife and I are going in June for 12 days and next Xmas for 8, but we only got the regular AP, because of the substantial price differential.

 

[RAD]

Having Disney make available the dates for special events, such as Wine and Cheese, Flower and Garden, even MVMCP or MNSSHP at the 11 month window so we can more accuratly plan our trips. If Disney expects us to plan 11 months out why can't they???

 

[Chuck S]

SInce it was announced that the Disney Club will be discontinued as of Dec 2003, it would be nice if DVC would negotiate their own car rental discount codes and coupons that we can use when reserving rental cars via web-sites. And since there will be no more DC admission media discounts, a comparable (or better!) DVC discount would also be nice - I like SamS's idea of a premium pass for a regular price.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I would like to see a discount on all the Park Hoppers instead of just the UMP. I will never use the UMP as we don't go to the parks everyday. A discount at DTD stores would be nice as well.

 

[crisi]

I'd like to see PS reservation priority for Disney resort guests and DVC members. It used to be that Disney resort guests could make PS in advance, offsite had to make them day of.

With the quantity of hotel rooms, it wouldn't be a huge benefit (Cindy's and other popular choices would still be difficult to get) - but it would be no cost to implement and one of the perks Disney could use to entice people to stay on site.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Disney Club being discontinued?????? What?????

Well, I'd like a discount on park passes........especially 5 day park hoppers...........

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by rbuzzotta
Disney Club being discontinued?????? What?????

Yes, it is being shut down next year. I posted this by itself.......but a moderator removed it( said it had nothing to do with DVC)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=271129

 

[cgcw]

I didn't know about the discontinuation of the Disney Club either.
GEE!
If I had a wish list and it didn't impact my dues tremendously, I'd vote for some type of tickets for DVC members only -- similar to the FL resident passes/prices.

 

[Muushka]

I used to dream about what would be a nice perk for DVC members. I even rationalized that in the long run Disney would come out ahead if they did implement some sort of AP and Disney Dining for DVC members.

However, in recent months I have come to the conclusion that DVC is not going to give us anything. It makes me feel better because I have absolutely no expectations.

 

[KNWVIKING]

We have all seen the handfull discounts we as DVC members get, but it seems like they are the exact same discounts DC members and AP pass holders get. Kinda takes away from that warm,cozy, your something special feeling. I fully undertand the contract I signed entitles me to absolutely no discounts so whatever is availible is a bonus. However,I hope WDW realizes that as the years go by they'll need to entice me back into the parks, and I'm assuming others too, and 10% off at Fulton's isn't going to do it. There are just too many entertainment & dinning options availible within a few minutes drive and these venues are aggresively campaigning for my $$$ with very steep discounts. I think when it comes to DVC members, WDW needs to look beyond the park admission ticket profit and realize that when we are in the park we SPEND. A real AP discount should be offered. Also, because the nations in Epcot aren't under WDW rule, I think DVD could try and negotiate some discounts in their resteraunts.

 

[jctwizzer]

[i. There are just too many entertainment & dinning options availible within a few minutes drive and these venues are aggresively campaigning for my $$$ with very steep discounts. /QUOTE]

Name five places that have offered you STEEP discounts, not available to other parties.....they ain't there....if they were offered to you, how did they get your name?? Sorry, but we-all bought an upscale timeshare; and got an upscale timeshare. They don't need to offer discounts, so they don't. From a managaement perspective, they aren't doing anything different than you would if it was your business.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... I wasn't speaking about personalized discounts. I'm talking about taking a Coke can to Wet-n-Wild and saving $$$ per ticket. I'm talking about Shogun Japanese resteraunt putting a buy-one,get-one dinner entree in the local coupon books. I'm talking about the Orlando-flex pass good for 14 days to WnW,Seaworld,US/IOA & Busch. I'm talking about discounts to dinner shows like Mid-evil times, Arabian nights, Pirates,etc. Buy an Orlando Entertainment book,filled with STEEP discounts & buy-one, get-one deals for International Drive and I-192. Go to "IBIDUSA.COM" and purchase $50.00 certs to places like Cafe TUTU Tango for $35.00. Everywhere else in Orlando they are bending over backwards for my business, WDW takes it for granted.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

They've already talked us into major 4 and 5 figure purchases, why would they need to add to that? We're a captured audience. We'll be going to the parks regardless of discounts.

 

[KNWVIKING]

... I disagree. We're not captive. We have cars,we venture off property. I know from my own experience I spend less time in the parks. When we go in May,the majority of the time is off property. Disney is not making the same money off me as they did 7 yrs ago.

 

[ncligs]

This thread is starting to get good!!!!!!