What New Changes Would You Like?

[Chuck S]

One thing I didn’t see was a reduction of points for those staying a week or longer. I agree with points for weekdays and larger amounts for weekend days but when staying for a week at a time the points could be discounted, reflecting, if nothing else, reduction in the housekeeping cost.

Actually, I'm not sure that type of thing would be allowed under FL timeshare laws. Even so, it would have to come from "developers points", the percentage of ownership in each resort that Disney/DVD retains.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Although a dining discount at every eatery would be the perfect scenerio, I don't see Disney falling for it for the following reasons:

1) they already offer some type of dining discount with the APs

2) by purchasing a meal plan it ensures them that you will be eating onsite as opposed to offsite MORE often

If they were to offer a dining discount, it still gives YOU the freedom to decide if you want to eat onsite, offsite or just cook in your room. Again, it would be really sweeeeet for us but I don't see Disney biting

yes but with a discount one would be more apt to eat out on site. If you know you can get 10% or 20% off you probably are not going into town to eat for the sake of saving money, so that issue is removed. and if you are considering cooking in or eating out, the thought of 20% off might entice you in the direction o going out.

Also, if you had to pay a fee up front of the $60 or $75, whatever it is, then you will be even more apt to get the discounts by eating on site.

 

[sarhenty]

yes but with a discount one would be more apt to eat out on site. If you know you can get 10% or 20% off you probably are not going into town to eat for the sake of saving money, so that issue is removed. If you are considering cooking in or eating out, the thought of 20% off might entice you in the direction of going out.

Also, if you had to pay a fee up front of the $60 or $75, whatever it is, then you will be even more apt to get the discounts by eating on site.

I understand... but thats what WE would like Disney to think. The reality is from a money making perspective they have you where they want you with the prepaid plan. Like you mentioned, the thing with going out to eat offsite is not necessarily just to save money, some people like to eat at certain restaurants offsite so with the prepaid plan thats not an option.

The other thing is do you think its really worth paying $60-$75 for a dining discount unless you know you will be going down to Disney multiple times a year? Enter the AP dining discounts...

I really wish they could offer something because I would bite either way with the EXCEPTION of paying that dining discount fee. For 5 day vacation once a year family, it just doesn't make sense ...

 

[lenshanem]

Definitely priority in requests to the sooner you book, especially priority to home based resorts. I find it very disappointing that I could book 11 months out to the day at my own home resort, but because I show up an hour later than a non home resort owner who booked their trip just a friggin month earlier they get their requests met, but we do not. Really stinks.

This past July I took my parents and brother with us to my home resort at BCV. I booked it 11 months out. My only request was they have a room near us. We check in around 10 in the morning and were told we'd have rooms near each other, but they weren't ready. Come back around 4 and our rooms are on complete opposite sides. Needless to say it did not impress my parents and actually upset my Mom cause she wanted to help with my girls.

I would also like to be guaranteed non smoking for medical reasons (asthmatic daughter) and non handicapped rooms, especially studios that have no tub. I did not pay all this money to book a vacation 11 months out and then get a room with no tub. I was never told or shown when I joined this might happen if I check in too late, even as early as six I've read some people report. If when I book all those rooms are taken at least I know it going into the trip and can choose to book another time, not find out 11 months later when I check my family in. I want to know I'm getting a tub for the kids.

Really, this is the only thing that really bothers me about DVC. I love our membership, but this boils my blood for some reason.

 

[jarestel]

but the 11 month thing although nice, would be pretty toughto do, no? It would be possible if each and every reservation was for an equal amount of time, say a week, but they need the flexibility of fitting smaller length of stay reservations into openings in the schedule without missing days in between. If they assigned room A to someone for 3 nights, then what if they dont get another wanting that room preference starting the following day. They would have a empty room for a night or more with almost no way of filling it. You might be able to work around this with a small number of rooms, but when you get up there in numbers the amount of wasted rooms becomes large.

its kinda complicated and i may have made it more confusing but anyway thats my opinion

Hey, you should work for MS, that's what they say too. "It's TOO hard, we would have to create new booking procedures, we CAN'T do it", etc...

 

[Muushka]

Here is my wish list!

1. Some type of pre-paid dining plan-similar to the $35 a day deal that they are offering as part of a package. For us the DDE is not that much of a bargain because we are only 2 and our investment would be iffy. But believe me-if they offered the DDE I would be happy for anyone who could use it.

2. A new couch at the VWL

3. Free beer for Joe in CT and jimh13432

4. Oh, and I almost forgot, world peace (for Gracie Lou Freebush)

 

[walter]

How about special deep discounts on transportation to & from your resort to MCO (Orlando International Airport)? Special DVC nights for sporting events at Wide World of Sports (example: Braves Spring Training) or while visiting Vero Beach (Dodger spring training).

 

[DebbieB]

I would like overall dining discounts. I don't think the MYW meal plan would work when my mom and I go. We usually have breakfast in the room and split big dinners.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Why not something simple like a DVD player in the studio units. Now it’s truly not a perk for all members visiting, only those staying in larger accommodations.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Hey, you should work for MS, that's what they say too. "It's TOO hard, we would have to create new booking procedures, we CAN'T do it", etc...

well its the truth so unless you want to pay more points per night to make up the difference of lost room nights, it aint happening. Dont you think if they could do this they would? It would actually be in there benefit as well if they could, dont you think? I cant think of one reason why they wouldnt other than the fact they lose room nights, can you?

by the way, your post was filled with great ideas for new changes. thanks

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I understand... but thats what WE would like Disney to think. The reality is from a money making perspective they have you where they want you with the prepaid plan. Like you mentioned, the thing with going out to eat offsite is not necessarily just to save money, some people like to eat at certain restaurants offsite so with the prepaid plan thats not an option.

The other thing is do you think its really worth paying $60-$75 for a dining discount unless you know you will be going down to Disney multiple times a year? Enter the AP dining discounts...

I really wish they could offer something because I would bite either way with the EXCEPTION of paying that dining discount fee. For 5 day vacation once a year family, it just doesn't make sense ...

actually I quite disagree with
"thats what WE would like Disney to think", its quite the opposite. For very little they can offer the discount and many people would be happy they will be saving their 10-20% every meal, and then turn around and put that right back into disney's pocket by eating out more often

i agree the prepaid plan has the users right where Disney wants them and this is sorta why this is not for everyone and would not be a benefit to as many people as a straight discount across the board.



In regard to paying the fee, no I wouldnt pay the fee, but many many I am sure would. Probably a huge majority of everyone who is buying the AP w/ the dvc discount will also buy this. the Ap discount is quite limited. This new discountwouldnt be for the average, once every few years traveler, its for dvc members, many of whom visit more than once per year. Even without the fee, i am sure Disney would still make up for what they lose per meal with what they gain in extra meals.

They wouldnt have to have everyone eat out every single meal to
make up the difference. If a family spent say 500 on dinners, got their 20% off for $100 through the week, it would take then 1 more dinner of $100 to basically make up for the entire discount.

And they probably would rather a family eat on site at a 20%discount than off site. People may like to go of site to eat once in awhile, but maybe now with a discount, they dont even rent a car and bother going off site at all on certain vacations, who knows.

 

[mickeysgal]

On my DVC wishlist:

1. Non-Smoking Rooms a Given. Further, in this day and age, the resort, like so many restaurants, public spaces, etc. should convert to 100% Non-Smoking. It infuriates me that I have to use this as my top request. (From what I have been told by MS, that they try to process our requests in the order in which I give them.) After waiting all year for a vacation looking forward to our WDW trip, which includes the resort experience, I'd like to focus this experience on the type/view/location of the room, not the smoking/non-smoking issue.

2. Non-Handicapped Rooms a Given. Same as the non-smoking issue. I shouldn't have to ask to NOT be given a Handicapped room. I have never had this as an issue with other hotels we've stayed. Its crazy to be assigned one when I didn't request one. Again, having to state what I don't want chews up yet another "request". These are special rooms for special people and should be held back for those specific requests.

3. One bedroom configurations that can sleep 5. The current configuration for the one bedroom obviously doesn't have bedding for 5, yet the step up to the two bedroom - for us - is wasteful in points and space. I'd like to see them take the king sized bed and put in two queens or two fulls, in a limited amount of unit inventory. Gosh, it they can accomodate at family of 5 in a Port Orleans standard room, they should be able to do that here!

 

[Dean]

A dining discount as announced would likely NOT save money for most people. The people that would do ok would be those that stayed short trips. Research has shown that after about 3 days of any type of All Inclusive plan, the usage and costs to the system go way down. Assuming it's required for the entire party for the entire LOS, I doubt it'd save many people very much if at all. And as noted, there are other discounts for DVC members, AP holders and FL residents. The DDE can pay for itself pretty quickly depending on where you eat and how many in your party. Actually one meal for 4 at V&A will cover the costs so not necessary for multiple or dramatically long trips to reap the benefits for many.

My wishes would be:

• Book Smoking and N/S directly and guarantee them.
• Unit assignment priority based on Home resort THEN booking order.
• On line access and tracking.
• Enforce the rules or change them legally.

A meal plan would be OK but only if it offered real value.

 

[Dean]

On my DVC wishlist:

3. One bedroom configurations that can sleep 5. The current configuration for the one bedroom obviously doesn't have bedding for 5, yet the step up to the two bedroom - for us - is wasteful in points and space. I'd like to see them take the king sized bed and put in two queens or two fulls, in a limited amount of unit inventory. Gosh, it they can accomodate at family of 5 in a Port Orleans standard room, they should be able to do that here!

2 BR units are really only aimed at 6 people in the timeshare world including DVC, so 5 in a 2 BR is not a stretch.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

A dining discount as announced would likely NOT save money for most people. The people that would do ok would be those that stayed short trips. Research has shown that after about 3 days of any type of All Inclusive plan, the usage and costs to the system go way down. Assuming it's required for the entire party for the entire LOS, I doubt it'd save many people very much if at all. And as noted, there are other discounts for DVC members, AP holders and FL residents. The DDE can pay for itself pretty quickly depending on where you eat and how many in your party. Actually one meal for 4 at V&A will cover the costs so not necessary for multiple or dramatically long trips to reap the benefits for many.

My wishes would be:

• Book Smoking and N/S directly and guarantee them.
• Unit assignment priority based on Home resort THEN booking order.
• On line access and tracking.
• Enforce the rules or change them legally.

A meal plan would be OK but only if it offered real value.

Dean,

so do you think a plan similiar to DDE for dvc memebrs would offer real value, or no

 

[bwvBound]

With the announcement of new ticket discounts for DVC members, what other changes or amenities would you like included in the DVC program?

My wish list :

• Online access to resort availability and reservations.
• Loosen the banking/borrowing rules. Specifically: Remove the banking windows. Allow unused points from current year to simply "roll-over" into next year. To limit excessive carry-over place a cap on the total number of points in your account ... ex: no more 2 years accumulation at any given time.
• Grills on decks ... or at least many available in common areas.
• DVC Disneyland (oooohhh ... ahhhhh!)
• II membership at individual level (if member elects to join) ... as well as existing corporate membership

 

[NMW]

As I have posted in the past, my family would LOVE a meal plan. The current one Disney offers with their vacation packages would be great. We'd appreciate any pre-paid meal plan. We love to eat on our vacations!

 

[sarhenty]

sjdisneywedding and dean,

thanks for sharing your takes on this and like I said before ANY type of discount on dining would be very much appreciated so that would be top on my list.

1. ANY dining discount w/o the fee
2. Non smoking rooms gauranteed
3. Unit assignment priority based on Home resort THEN booking order

 

[Dean]

Dean,

so do you think a plan similiar to DDE for dvc memebrs would offer real value, or no

Yes, I think it would have value. But I guess my real question is whether DDE has to pay something to get those discounts, I'd guess they do. As such, a DDE type plan at $50-75 would be workable for many but not for others. Simply increasing the offerings and discounts under the current system would do just as well. sarhenty, Disney doesn't do anything without considering what's in it for them. One way or another it would cost us.

bwvBound, Grills on decks would have a lot of problems including being a fire hazard so I don't think we'd ever see that. While I'd love to have DVC in my II account, no way members would get both. Benefits to those of us who are II members would be great but the costs and loss to those that are not and only consider trading II occasionally would be huge as well. Plus we'd lose the search first feature and discounted fees, some of the best parts of the program.

 

[bwvBound]

bwvBound, Grills on decks would have a lot of problems including being a fire hazard so I don't think we'd ever see that.

Understood ... which was why I suggested grills in common areas as a possible substitute. I also understand that they create a housekeeping challenge during turnover.

Most Worldmark resorts offer grills on the decks. In Las Vegas (and a few other locations) they are electric grills in compliance with local laws instead of the gas grills. We use them nearly every visit ... but perhaps this is a west coast thing. Is it too hot/muggy to enjoy grilling in Florida? (Oh, and WM doesn't tend to offer onsite restaurants ... I could see grills being considered a threat to WDW's many dining options?)

While I'd love to have DVC in my II account, no way members would get both. Benefits to those of us who are II members would be great but the costs and loss to those that are not and only consider trading II occasionally would be huge as well. Plus we'd lose the search first feature and discounted fees, some of the best parts of the program.

Agree on the benefit being skewed towards those already having II and the loss of discounted fees. But why would it have to impact request first?