Where do you think DVC resale prices are headed?

[TCRAIG]

This is a really big loss for the disabled, one that I can't see any way to pay a little more to overcome. DVC owners with disabilities are going to have to make tough decisions. There are plenty of people who would have PAID for Magical Express, if it was such a financial loser.

Are we sure it’s not just the ‘Complimentary’ part of DME that’s going away?

 

[princesslover]

I doubt this will have any impact on pricing. People spending 10's of thousands on a timeshare, plus the annual dues, aren't going to suddenly abandon ship in large numbers over the cost of an Uber or rental car. There will be outrage and threats like every other time Disney makes a cost cutting decision, and then it blows over and the demand remains.

Focusing on cost of the Uber misses the larger point. I don’t think it’s the cost that is the tipping point. It’s the slow loss of that exceptional Disney guest service. This is a big one.

 

[gskywalker]

I too understand having to make cuts. But they have lost sight of what their guests value the most. The ME and luggage service was more than “just a bus.” It began the Disney bubble for us. To arrive at MCO to be whisked away to the resort where our baggage would arrive soon after, and then on the way home to have baggage check in at the resort...those things made Disney stand out. It felt magical and special. Same with free magic bands sent ahead to begin the excitement. I felt cared about and I felt Disney knew my needs even before I did. I am sad that those feelings may be gone forever. I am so incredibly sad.

Absolutely agree, the Disney bubble is a chunk of the magic. I have enough magic bands that I can understand that cost cut and still be happy because getting one for myself and using my old ones was still inexpensive but losing the bubble and getting 7 people back and forth will be a pain and costly. Even if it is $40 each way....well times that by 7 and then I could rent a van and pay for the gas for cheaper for the whole trip so I may as well rent and stay off site when the magical bubble is gone

 

[JETSDAD]

Focusing on cost of the Uber misses the larger point. I don’t think it’s the cost that is the tipping point. It’s the slow loss of that exceptional Disney guest service. This is a big one.

Yes but this is what people say every time something like this happens. And yet attendance kept increasing, more DVC resorts kept being built, etc. Watch they'll announce the opening of Rat ride in the next couple of days and this will blow over. Within a couple of years this will just be another thing that some people remember as having been something that used to be offered while new guests won't even know it was a thing.

 

[CastAStone]

Are we sure it’s not just the ‘Complimentary’ part of DME that’s going away?

Effectively that’s what’s happening. Mears (who operates DME) immediately announced they would continue to provide service between WDW and MCO.

They currently charge $40 per adult and $30 per child for their Universal service.

 

[Lorana]

Focusing on cost of the Uber misses the larger point. I don’t think it’s the cost that is the tipping point. It’s the slow loss of that exceptional Disney guest service. This is a big one.

On one hand, I remember when Disney first starting offering Magical Express, because they didn't used to -- it was huge, because not having to rent a car was a gufe savings! Also, it meant we spent MORE TIME AT DISNEY, because without that rental car, we were no longer tempted to go to other theme parks and attractions, and I think they forget that creating that bubble means more profit for them.

On the other hand, I agree with the erosion of the Magical Experience, especially now with the loss of Extra Magic Hours. For my family, the extra 30 minutes at the beginning of the day is useless. My husband and boys are NOT morning people. If I can get us all up, showered, fed, and at a park before 10-11am, it's a freaking miracle. ;-) We don't want to have to pay for extra evening hours. It is feeling a little like all the extra perks they did to make disney unique and special are going away. They're even shuttering Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom!!

 

[princesslover]

On one hand, I remember when Disney first starting offering Magical Express, because they didn't used to -- it was huge, because not having to rent a car was a gufe savings! Also, it meant we spent MORE TIME AT DISNEY, because without that rental car, we were no longer tempted to go to other theme parks and attractions, and I think they forget that creating that bubble means more profit for them.

On the other hand, I agree with the erosion of the Magical Experience, especially now with the loss of Extra Magic Hours. For my family, the extra 30 minutes at the beginning of the day is useless. My husband and boys are NOT morning people. If I can get us all up, showered, fed, and at a park before 10-11am, it's a freaking miracle. ;-) We don't want to have to pay for extra evening hours. It is feeling a little like all the extra perks they did to make disney unique and special are going away. They're even shuttering Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom!!

Same with our family. I have two teenaged daughters that do not want to get up. This last trip (December) they did fairly well and we made rope drop most days but of course they were letting everyone in early so we were still “late.” It is hard for us to get to the parks super early. Add in any transportation issues and it can be a challenge. Those 30 min will come and go before we get there. I don’t know who is in charge of marketing right now but they are definitely not thinking of the guest experience. And what a slap in the face to announce the disappearance of EMH along with the news of ME. They acted like it was a new, improved service. Nice try, Disney.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I agree, its not just about one thing. Its they are cutting all of the differences that Disney used to have compared to non Disney resorts. I can understand changes, certain cost cuts etc, especially right now but doing things like this just say to me, "what is the point staying on property anymore?" Plus this one is a gigantic difference for our family.

Over the last few years I usually sent down my senior mother and my special needs daughter and her wheel chair down for a few days every 2-3 months and didn't worry about it because I got them to the airport and disney got them back and forth, so there was no worries, no issues of my mother driving, getting lost, dealing with the luggage and my daughter's chair, etc. etc. I remember when the kids younger what a nightmare it was even with my wife, myself and my mother to carry all the luggage and look after the kids, the Magical Express made such a difference that we always stayed on property so I would think they will lose a lot of young families.

Totally agree. I can see some of the cuts, like fireworks and entertainment due to COVID. But ME and airline check-in? It makes life so much easier with kids, elderly, and people with disabilities. I'm really surprised they are doing this. My DVC resale purchase is already in ROFR, and I had a fleeting thought today "I hope Disney takes it!"

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Effectively that’s what’s happening. Mears (who operates DME) immediately announced they would continue to provide service between WDW and MCO.

They currently charge $40 per adult and $30 per child for their Universal service.

Which is way more expensive than an Uber XL even. I don't mind Uber for myself, but my elderly in-laws definitely benefit from luggage service and ME

 

[TCRAIG]

Effectively that’s what’s happening. Mears (who operates DME) immediately announced they would continue to provide service between WDW and MCO.

They currently charge $40 per adult and $30 per child for their Universal service.

Yikes - that expensive!

 

[najgreen]

Effectively that’s what’s happening. Mears (who operates DME) immediately announced they would continue to provide service between WDW and MCO.

They currently charge $40 per adult and $30 per child for their Universal service.

Is that one way or round trip?

 

[Spark65]

Years ago there was no Magical Express you took the Mears shuttle, cab or rented a car and everyone was happy!

 

[CastAStone]

Years ago there was no Magical Express you took the Mears shuttle, cab or rented a car and everyone was happy!

The year before they introduced DME rooms at the Contemporary Resort started at $239 which left a little more room in the budget for a rental car.

 

[gskywalker]

Totally agree. I can see some of the cuts, like fireworks and entertainment due to COVID. But ME and airline check-in? It makes life so much easier with kids, elderly, and people with disabilities. I'm really surprised they are doing this. My DVC resale purchase is already in ROFR, and I had a fleeting thought today "I hope Disney takes it!"

I have had more than a fleeting thought that I hope disney takes it. We will see if I change in a few days but as of now the plan is wait on it and then scrap getting a second contract. We were considering direct for Riviera by the end of the month if this AKV contract was taken. At $92 I expect it to be taken but we'll see. Also had an offer out on another that I haven't cancelled yet in case it is just an initial annoyance. I have my blue benefits for the AP's and that is all I really care about if all the perks are taken away. I like staying onsite more, in the bubble, but Disney burst the bubble, so if I have to drive myself anyway I may as well stay offsite and save $1000's every trip.

 

[emilymad]

I have had more than a fleeting thought that I hope disney takes it. We will see if I change in a few days but as of now the plan is wait on it and then scrap getting a second contract. We were considering direct for Riviera by the end of the month if this AKV contract was taken. At $92 I expect it to be taken but we'll see. Also had an offer out on another that I haven't cancelled yet in case it is just an initial annoyance. I have my blue benefits for the AP's and that is all I really care about if all the perks are taken away. I like staying onsite more, in the bubble, but Disney burst the bubble, so if I have to drive myself anyway I may as well stay offsite and save $1000's every trip.

We have a Riviera stay coming up in February as a test to see if we want to buy direct. Before even getting there but I am pretty sure we will not be adding on. To me the issue is not ME going away but the accumulation of things being taken away.

And yes, we all survived before ME existed but the price of room rates and DVC contracts was very different.

 

[EM Lawrence]

We bought our first contract resale last year, and I have wanted to add another 150-200 points. My spouse asked me to wait until after March, due to some financial decisions with his business. I was itching to buy, now I’m glad we have waited. Like the previous poster said, its not just ME going away, I feel like I did when they reopened after the Covid shutdown and announced all of the changes that would be taking place, including all of the live entertainment layoffs; I feel unsettled about the future experience at WDW. We don’t even fly, so this does not affect me personally. But between the inflated points in the 2022 chart, and the continued cuts to on-site perks, I’m not sure we will add those 150-200 points.

**Edited to add, this also makes me more likely to continue buying resale if I do add on. I’ve toyed with the idea of adding small contracts every year direct until I feel like I have enough. With resale, if you change your mind and decide to sell the math is much better on the exit.

 

[Lorana]

My DH and I have wanted to own DVC since around 1999. We finally bought in 2019, twenty years later! We have spent so much money at Disney over those 20 years, that I regret not buying sooner, but we were not in a position to financially do so, and the math just didn't make sense in my head.

We also have THE WORST LUCK in the world. It's a running joke in our family that Murphy (as in Murphy's Law) is the House Guest That Won't Go Away.

So naturally my DH is all "We bought into DVC, and now look what happened!" ;-) Seriously, though, I feel like we finally obtained our dream, and it feels like it's being pulled away from us. We love Disney, but what we love about Disney is that escapism: the immersive, over-the-top theming, the friendliness of the cast members, the entertainment and shows, all the little perks and things that make it seamless, easy, and enjoyable. We've watched over the years as one thing after another went from "free" to "pay for" and while we both desperately hope that this is just "because of Covid" and will return to "normal" in 2-3 years, we also worry that we just spent a significant amount of money on DVC only for it to stop being the Disney we love so much.

 

[mrte62]

Same with our family. I have two teenaged daughters that do not want to get up. This last trip (December) they did fairly well and we made rope drop most days but of course they were letting everyone in early so we were still “late.” It is hard for us to get to the parks super early. Add in any transportation issues and it can be a challenge. Those 30 min will come and go before we get there. I don’t know who is in charge of marketing right now but they are definitely not thinking of the guest experience. And what a slap in the face to announce the disappearance of EMH along with the news of ME. They acted like it was a new, improved service. Nice try, Disney.

IMHO, the 30 minutes at each park is the first move towards parks closing early each day. Then nights will all be hard ticket events.

 

[Spark65]

My DH and I have wanted to own DVC since around 1999. We finally bought in 2019, twenty years later! We have spent so much money at Disney over those 20 years, that I regret not buying sooner, but we were not in a position to financially do so, and the math just didn't make sense in my head.

We also have THE WORST LUCK in the world. It's a running joke in our family that Murphy (as in Murphy's Law) is the House Guest That Won't Go Away.

So naturally my DH is all "We bought into DVC, and now look what happened!" ;-) Seriously, though, I feel like we finally obtained our dream, and it feels like it's being pulled away from us. We love Disney, but what we love about Disney is that escapism: the immersive, over-the-top theming, the friendliness of the cast members, the entertainment and shows, all the little perks and things that make it seamless, easy, and enjoyable. We've watched over the years as one thing after another went from "free" to "pay for" and while we both desperately hope that this is just "because of Covid" and will return to "normal" in 2-3 years, we also worry that we just spent a significant amount of money on DVC only for it to stop being the Disney we love so much.

Michelle

Us Irish end up winning in the end.

All the best
John

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I considered buying a resale AKV contract at the end of last year and even put a few offers out but they were still selling so high that my offers were too low. Now I'm glad. I've posted a lot about it on the ME thread in Theme Park Strategies, but if I'm looking at a contract as a 30 year investment, I want to know that WDW is still a place that cares about guests. I can't presume I'll always be as mobile as I am now, or that my mom, who has always accompanied us on trips, will be either. They've already reinstated executive pay cuts but axed a program that helped families with smalls kids, elderly or disabled guests, single women traveling alone, and foreign visitors feel welcomed and safe. Not to mention the ME greeters have always been some of my favorite CMs, always offering the little ones a high five to start their trip and a sticker. If the issue is Mears then WDW should start its own service and announce that they are doing so. They charge $900 for some nights for standard view at the Poly, for heaven's sake. A 100 pt contract at Riviera is over $18,000 not including dues. I can't imagine what they are planning to do to the point charts in 2023 and beyond, but I suspect that the trend of devaluing what you get for your money will continue.