(Whine....) "Why can't I get 7 for 4? All the other kids get it!"

[KathyRN137]

Okay.

I am going to act like a total baby.... you might even think you can hear my "WAAAAAAGH!!!" as I post this!

We've been DVC owners since 2005 and, overall, I am a happy customer.

But, I must say, that when I read about the incentive packages that Disney is offering to non DVCers....well....I can't help but get a little jealous!

Our family took its very first trip to WDW on the "Fairy Tale Package" back in 2003. It was a 7 for 4 deal and it was great. A bargain. And... it got us hooked on WDW, eventually leading to our purchase of DVC.

Sometimes I feel like, because we already "own" a piece of the magic, that Disney kind of forgets about us DVCers when it comes out with these great incentive packages. They already "got" us where they want us: at WDW!

Yes, I know we get little "perks": its nice to get 10-20% off select dining experiences (however few there may be). I recall getting a couples massage with my DH at the Grand Floridian one year and getting 10% off... that was nice. I recall that the family rented a couple of sea raycers last year and got 10% off; not bad.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is this: these perks are appreciated but, hey, I'm not looking at my tightening budget this year and saying to my husband, "Look, hon, with all the super-deep DVC discounts we get, we save so much money that we can certainly afford to go again this year!!"

The perks just arent that great. At least not for my family and the way we vacation.

Now 7 for 4.... well, that's an incentive! That would definitely make me change my mind about banking this years points to 2010 and skipping our now annual trip to the World.

Now, naturally, I'm not talking about the room... our DVC membership already makes that a moot point. But,

What if Disney offered us DVCers a 7 for 4 deal on just park admission?

That would get my attention! That would keep me from banking those points and depriving Disney of my related tourist dollars this year! Why, think of all the $$ we would then have for shopping and eating on site. We might take that tour or rent that surrey bike or pick up those extra souveniers.... well, you get the idea.

*Sigh*

Okay, I'll stop whining now......

Dumb old recession....

"Waaaaagh!"


Kathy

 

[bookwormde]

I figure when I am staying on weekdays I am already getting a 5 for 2 deal so I am happy. Now I do enjoy the AP discounts on the weekends

bookwormde

 

[bobbiwoz]

You could rent out your points and book the package, or keep the points and book the package. We're not interested in the package.

It is true that I do not always pay rock bottom for what I buy, I have a friend who keeps changing her SW tickets to get the absolute best price, there is nothing wrong with that, but I would appreciate not knowing every detail of the savings. My DH is even worse than me. If I said to him what you have written, he would ask me if I want to sell my points?!

Best wishes! I know people here do book for free dining. Really, if you think the deal is so great, go for it!!!!

Bobbi

 

[anonymousegirl]

I just cancelled my March stay at SSR in a studio for the 4/3 deal. I saved a lot of points and since it is just me on that trip, a hotel room won't be crowded. Plus, the gift card will pay for my food and I already have an AP.

So if I want to use the washer/dryer instead of it being free down the hall, I have to pay a couple of bucks down the hall. I'll miss the kitchenette, but will survive.

This is helping me take my Dsis and her family to WDW for the first time next summer. And now I already have one of the tickets, too.

 

[jbrowna]

The truth of the matter is that any DVC'er can get the 7-for-4 package just like any non-DVC'er: call up and book it!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

My thoughts...

First, the amount of money you saved on your future hotel stays far outweighs the promotion that is being offered. Remember, the promotion is based on rack rates, much like the free dining offers in September. In the end it works out to be nothing more then a discount off the rack.

Second, the short term hit in profits for offering these deals is short term. There are no guarantees they will be offered in the future. DVC is a long term investment (if you wish to call it that), and the savings Disney is offering is pretty much guaranteed for the life of your contract.

Third, the discounts offered are very generous. AP discount is $100 off, however keep in mind the point of DVC is not for discounts, its to lock in the price you pay for your room for the life of your contract. Discounts come and go every year.

Fourth, DVC and Disney doesn't really care what you do with your points. Sure if no one goes to the parks, they will take a hit in profits on sales, but they'll also save in expenses. You own a piece of the resort, you pay for the staff, the utilities, etc. in the forms of your dues, there is no loss to Disney if you don't come besides possible profits. This is in contrast to regular Disney hotels, if no one comes, someone has to pay the bills and that comes out of Disney's pockets. If you choose not to go, and your points expire, that is like a freebie for DVC.

 

[ADP]

Just wanted to add we are getting $100 off of APs. That's one heck of a ticket deal already. I like your 4 for 7 ticket idea, but the $100 AP discount already covers it.

 

[allshookup]

I see these threads all the time about the discounts that are offered to lure people to WDW & it always surprises me. I do agree that it would be nice if DVC offered us a few more discounts, but like others have said they don't need to offer us incentives....they already got us!

Plus I just priced out a 1BR villa at SSR with the 4/3 deal for the beginning of May & it came to 2939.98 for our family of 4 with a 7 day base ticket! Wow that doesn't look like such a great deal to me! Yes I know I could get a room at POP for only 1480.00, but there are many reasons I think DVC is the better "deal". Here are just a few:

1. Laundry, kitchen & room to spread out!!! POP is fine, but we stayed there a few times before we bought DVC to take advantage of these "deals" & it gets old, especially when you have a teen complaining that the TV, Dad snoring, etc. is keeping her up!

2. You'll NEVER see these discounts at peak times like the holidays which is when we sometimes like to go. There's nothing like seeing the parks decorated for the holidays!

3. Plus as others stated, we already get a great discount on park tickets! It's $100.00 off the AP & we'd much rather have that & the TIW card that gets us through 2-3 trips per year, than a 7 day base ticket that would make me feel I would have to be in a park everyday so I didn't waste a day's ticket.

 

[Chellymouse]

We are have only been members since 2007. I will say, the FL resident pricing for our PAPs is a great perk, however, the rest of the perks aren't all that great. It would be nice to be thrown a bone once in a while, maybe a free meal somewhere or something. Are we saving thousands of dollars in the long run? absolutely! But it would be nice to know that us DVC owners are appreciated a little bit too!

 

[twinklebug]

The truth of the matter is that any DVC'er can get the 7-for-4 package just like any non-DVC'er: call up and book it!

DVC = timeshare. Own it. Use it. Love it.

Disney vacation discounts = opportunity for more vacations on TOP of a good thing you already have. The mickey bars are calling...

 

[crisi]

If Disney sees a pattern of DVCers not using their points - or using their points and not spending money - they'll start putting more DVC targeted discounts in place - probably not promotions - they work best to bring people in during slow seasons and DVCs point structure works better at that than anything.

AP discount is great - but it doesn't work for those of us not going for 10 days or so.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

jbrowna - The truth of the matter is that any DVC'er can get the 7-for-4 package just like any non-DVC'er: call up and book it!

Exactly ! They aren't excluding DVC members from any promotions. They just arent DVC specific promotions is all.

As they say, 'Some see the glass half full and some see the glass half empty'. I just want to know who drank half my drink!

 

[tink'smom2B]

IMHO we purchased DVC because we wanted to go every year and be able to afford it. The rooms have the kitchen, laundry, and are larger than a regular room. It's nice that they give us a discount on the AP, but we only go once a year. It would be nice to give us a discount on tickets too. But then I guess we would have to buy them for everyone we know and that wouldn't be fun

 

[MomDad&2boys]

I too love the idea of benefiting from these promos. However, I try to remember that I bought DVC so I could afford to go 10 years from now. Right now we aren't really seeing the full benefits of DVC but we certainly should in the distant future.

 

[KathyRN137]

AP discount is great - but it doesn't work for those of us not going for 10 days or so.

Hey guys, thanks for the responses to my self-indulgent vent!

I definately agree that the AP discount is awesome... we did get APs for the first couple of years and it was great... we would try to go twice in one year and get two trips' worth of park passes for one.

Only problem is that now, we are pretty much locked into the same week each year so the kiddos don't miss too much school. (The infamous "Jersey Week!")

There is no question that DVC is a great value in the long run... I know we're saving on our rooms, especially as the years pass.

But, how exactly does a DVCer get the 7 for 4 package using points? Please enlighten me, what should I ask for? Because members always know more about this stuff than the folks at Member Services!

Thanks,

Kathy

 

[allshookup]

Even if I was going less than 10 days, I think I would STILL buy the AP, because it gives us the freedom to come & go & we get the TIW card which saves us so much on food & drink that I think in the long run we'd still come out ahead. However, now that I'm going back to work & the kids are older & it's not so easy to do 2 or 3 trips a year, my plan would be to go 4th week in August one year & the 3rd week the following year so we'd still be able to squeeze 2 trips out of 1 AP even basically going once a year. I understand that doesn't always work, but it's an option for some.

I've only had DVC since 2005, but already I've seen how much our vacations have changed at WDW. We relax all morning in our villa, come & go in the parks, sometimes just have a resort day, etc. In some ways, it's not easy to put a dollar value on that. Not that I don't understand the frustration, because like I said it WOULD be nice to see more "perks" for DVC owners, but I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon so I try to look on the bright side!

Kathy, you can't get the 7 for 4 deal using points. Posters are saying bank or rent your points & BUY the package deal if you want it!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses to my self-indulgent vent!
...


But, how exactly does a DVCer get the 7 for 4 package using points? Please enlighten me, what should I ask for? Because members always know more about this stuff than the folks at Member Services!

Thanks,

Kathy

Can't do it for points. You just book it as a general public person!

Bobbi

 

[Brian Noble]

Sometimes I feel like, because we already "own" a piece of the magic, that Disney kind of forgets about us DVCers when it comes out with these great incentive packages. They already "got" us where they want us: at WDW!

Eventually, you'll get over this. Rather than only feeling this way some of the time, you'll know that it's true all of the time.

DVC: the ultimate captive audience.

 

[KathyRN137]

Can't do it for points. You just book it as a general public person!

Bobbi

Aha!

Thanks Bobbi and Diane! I knew I was missing something.

(Well, then, what's the point?) Get it? You know, like points?!

groan..... (Sorry)


Kathy

 

[Granny]

But, I must say, that when I read about the incentive packages that Disney is offering to non DVCers....well....I can't help but get a little jealous!

Kathy...I know your post is semi-tongue-in-cheek, but probably with an undertone of concern that DVC doesn't always offer the most economical solution every year.

As others have said, over the course of your DVC ownership you will come out ahead of the game. But in down times for WDW, Disney will of course discount cash rooms. You can always bank your points and pay cash this year to get the best of both worlds if that's what you'd like.


It's also worth noting that for the past few years as attendance boomed at WDW the "whining" from cash customers on the resort boards has been loud and strong about the lack of codes and discount programs.

DVC is a long term proposition. If you are going to be concerned that you always get the very best deal every trip, you will probably drive yourself nuts.