Who's bitter? I'm confused...

[supersuperwendy]

I just came across this thread on the resort board...... It's news to me that we as dvc owners are upset...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2238646

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I am not bitter about people getting upgrades. I made my choice to buy DVC and always have a full kitchen to cook at least 2/3 of our meals. I made my choice to never stay at a value again with the hordes of people, cheerleaders, huge tour groups from other countries, and pop warner.

I made my choice, and I think it wonderful for people who paid value prices at full rack rate to get a villa with their free dining. I hope they enjoy it and then they can make the same choice I made to make sure I would never have to stay at a value again.

 

[Tara]

I am not bitter about people getting upgrades. I made my choice to buy DVC and always have a full kitchen to cook at least 2/3 of our meals. I made my choice to never stay at a value again with the hordes of people, cheerleaders, huge tour groups from other countries, and pop warner.

I made my choice, and I think it wonderful for people who paid value prices at full rack rate to get a villa with their free dining. I hope they enjoy it and then they can make the same choice I made to make sure I would never have to stay at a value again.

This is close to how I feel, though I had long since made the decision never to stay at a value again - with DVC I just made the decision to say in villas versus deluxe resort rooms and likely not spend as much money for that lodging over 50 years' time. Same difference I'm very happy with my membership AND I know that at any time I want, I can call up CRO and take advantage of whatever deal being offered. Rather than being bitter, I prefer to see it as the best of both worlds.

Yes, I think some people are bitter, but they are very few - I highly suspect most people haven't given it a second thought, though.

 

[Chuck S]

We occasionally stay at POP, as we drive down and I allow and extra day on the road, as you never know whet the weather or road conditions will be. While never having a problem driving to FL, there's always a first time. Driving West, we've hit sand storms that closed the freeway, and were stuck for 4 hours on I-5, finally re-routed though Camp Pendleton because of a 100 car pile-up in fog.

I think POP is a nice resort, but I wouldn't be comfortable spending a full week there...a day or two is fine.

The upgrades don't bother me at all...they aren't DVC controlled rooms, anyway. They belong to CRO, either through member trades, unsold points inventory, or maintenance...so they wouldn't have been available on points anyway.

 

[shellybaxter]

I could be totally off base - but I suspect that at least some of these upgrades come out of the traded points? The points members use to trade to other hotels and cruises. If that is true then I am thrilled that they are occuring during a time that DVC members aren't using the DVC resorts at capacity. I would much rather they upgrade people to DVC when DVC isn't so busy than hold rooms out for rent or upgrade during say the first couple of weeks of December

 

[ITGirl50]

I really don't care they got upgraded. I bought DVC for the long term and I want to know where I am staying. I don't want to hope for a free upgrade.

 

[mikron]

Thats business, you are now old news to Disney. Upgrades are to catch new blood no different then any other bsiness.

 

[sneadae]

Well, and let's face it...Disney is probably upgrading them in hopes that they too will buy DVC after staying in a villa. I'm guessing that they have a strategy that works well, otherwise, they wouldn't do it. I'll admit that I fell in love with staying in a villa AFTER I stayed in one. I would have never known how much better it was than staying in a value resort if I had never experienced it firsthand. This is one of Disney's many ways of marketing their DVC product.

 

[helenk]

I'm not bitter, perhaps some people just like to stir things up

 

[clombardi]

Well, and let's face it...Disney is probably upgrading them in hopes that they too will buy DVC after staying in a villa. I'm guessing that they have a strategy that works well, otherwise, they wouldn't do it. I'll admit that I fell in love with staying in a villa AFTER I stayed in one. I would have never known how much better it was than staying in a value resort if I had never experienced it firsthand. This is one of Disney's many ways of marketing their DVC product.

In August 2007, we were upgraded from 10 nights at POP with Free Dining to 10 days in an SSR 1 bedroom with Free Dining.

We took the upgrade, loved it, and bought DVC two months later.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I'm not bitter, perhaps some people just like to stir things up

My sentiments exactly. I read through that thread and found most of it discusting. It almost sounds like they want us to be angry and jealous. Just like others have stated we bought DVC so we would know where we are staying. No surprises and no waiting by the phone to try to grab a discount. We love our DVC and don't sit and worry that our investment isn't paying off. We are thankful everyday that we were fortunate enough to be able to have such an opportunity. And we have never ever called anyone staying at a value resort a "hillbilly"

 

[rentayenta]

Not bitter at all. Free dining enabled us to take our first trip to WDW in Sept. 2007. Whoda thunk we'd be DVC owners just under 2 years later?

 

[cvjw]

Disney upgraded us one time from a standard view room at the WL to a courtyard view of the pool. We loved it so much that we are in the process of buying a VWL contract so that we can stay there every year with plenty of room. Some of these people who are upgraded may fall in love with the DVC resorts and buy their own contracts.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Bitter?? No. I am a little miffed about it, but I'll sleep just fine.

I am confused as to why they didn't upgrade the folks staying at the mods, then upgrade the values to the mods. It seems like they are more likely to buy DVC. That said, I'm sure Disney has done their research and knows more than I do.

MG

 

[silmarg]

I am being upgraded from Pop to Saratoga for my trip next month and I am thrilled about it on many levels.

One of my many reasons, is that I am very strongly considering buying into DVC (resale) and and strongly considering SSR (since the resales there are so attractive there and they have a late end date). Using the adage - buy where you dont mind staying... I will really be able to make this a very informed decision.

That said, I do like to take advantage of the many deals that are not afforded to DVC members (like free dining and buy 4 get 7), so I am now leaning towards buying enough points to stay every other trip to WDW in a DVC... that way I can flip between DVC and CRO based on available deals (and bank and borrow accordingly).

There is no doubt that disney doing so many CRO deals (and my willingness to alter when I go to WDW to take advantage of them) has delayed our eventual DVC purchase (as we go at least once a year and usually do moderates).

I will mull over these daunting thoughts while enjoying my free dining next month at SSR!

 

[Sammie]

Bitter?? No. I am a little miffed about it, but I'll sleep just fine.

I am confused as to why they didn't upgrade the folks staying at the mods, then upgrade the values to the mods. It seems like they are more likely to buy DVC. That said, I'm sure Disney has done their research and knows more than I do.

MG

It was done mainly to open up rooms at the values which right now are booking faster than any other category. They overbooked the values during the free dining and yes they could have moved people twice but to Disney this is just easier and quicker.

I don't really think a large number of rooms were affected by the move, it just seems bigger than life when everyone gets in a tizzy about it. And honestly I know it would be hard for some DVC members to understand this but people who book moderates are a loyal bunch and less likely to be willing to move to a studio.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

And honestly I know it would be hard for some DVC members to understand this but people who book moderates are a loyal bunch and less likely to be willing to move to a studio.

That's really true, Sammie. I would have fallen into that category a few years ago. Had no idea what DVC was, much less a studio and didn't care. LOVED my moderates (stayed at all of them). I/we would have been aggrevated to have been upgraded to a deluxe (Never stayed in one, didn't/don't want to). I just wanted to stay where I wanted to stay; where I booked at my moderate.

I suspect you're right. From the many folks I have stood on a balcony and talked to over the years at the moderates, I suspect more moderate patrons feel this way than may first be expected.

 

[Nikisha421]

That's really true, Sammie. I would have fallen into that category a few years ago. Had no idea what DVC was, much less a studio and didn't care. LOVED my moderates (stayed at all of them). I/we would have been aggrevated to have been upgraded to a deluxe (Never stayed in one, didn't/don't want to). I just wanted to stay where I wanted to stay; where I booked at my moderate.

I suspect you're right. From the many folks I have stood on a balcony and talked to over the years at the moderates, I suspect more moderate patrons feel this way than may first be expected.

I think more MOd ppl do feel like this and I think that a family who can only afford to do a Value for an extended stay would be more delighted to be upgraded to a studio...a balcony...what...OMG...this is awesome...how do we get to do this more often...info...tour...buy in...win win for DVC! as I see it

 

[nunzia]

After thinking about it, I'm not really bitter or angry. I just hope that daily housekeeping doesn't come out of our dues and make those dues go up, or that housekeeping quality takes a hit since they have to do so many more rooms daily than normal.

 

[dizfan]

I'm happy for many groups of people...

1. Anyone receiving the upgrade, gets nicer accomodations
2. Anyone who is now able to book a value stay during this period because rooms became available
3. CMs (resort, dining, parks, transportation, etc) because we all know if the resorts and park attendance is down, cuts will happen. CMs make the magic happen.
4. Future CMs because Walt always knew if you unexpectedly make someone's day, they will come back to you for many years.
5. DVC guides who will undoubtably get more people asking questions
6. Any owners at these resorts that may be looking to sell. If people like what they see, they will likely look at resales. Perhaps this will drive up prices for those who have been unhappy that resale prices dropped