Why are we treated so poorly????

[Limmer]

The only thing I have to add is "money making scheme" makes it sound like they are doing something underhanded and wrong. Disney is a business and their whole operation is to make money. They are not in business to make people happy or bring about world peace. They are here to make money. Period.

 

[PKS44]

There are two schools of thought, true. One school is that Disney should only offer a discount if it is in their best interest economically, the other is that of the original poster-- that Disney should offer a discount as a reward to DVC members which will somehow save DVC members money but somehow ultimately make Disney more money. The latter is magical and irrational thought. It is alchemy, an economic perpetual motion machine. The whole DVC discount for loyalty, if it exists, is in the price you pay to stay in the resort. You get a luxury resort at a moderate price- they get guaranteed occupancy for 40 years.
If you think the second school of thought is correct why stop with park passes? Why not complain about the price of groceries on site? DVC members stay for long stays and buy groceries so why should they have to pay so much for groceries? Where is our grocery discount for our loyalty? They force us off site to buy groceries, etc etc. And food in the parks is so expensive, and so are those souvenir photos. Why can't we have discounts on all that, since we all go so much? It is a silly argument. There is and always will be only one reason they will offer a discount- it moves MORE of your money from your pocket to Disney's than they get without offering the discount.

Paul

 

[Synonymous]

"This is no longer a viable alternative as Disney has now turned this into a money making scheme."

DISNEY??? A MONEY-making scheme???

Who'd a thunk it.

I, for one, am glad Disney comes up with these money-making schemes. I own Disney stock, as well as DVC. (I really don't understand why I don't get free dinners at V&A, as a reward for my loyalty in buying part of the company.)

Putting on my stockholder hat, I'd be pretty upset with management if they started handing out discounts (otherwise known as enticements) to the very people who least need enticing. Discounts should be offered to get people into the parks who otherwise wouldn't be there. That's business.

It seems like it should be self-apparent, but WDW isn't a charity.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Many of you have implied that our dues pay for all the discounts and perks we get in the DVC program. Do you mean to tell me that DVC is reimbursing the Disney store for that 10% discount we get or WL $6.00/day for the "free" valet parking???

If our dues actually pay for these perks, then maybe DVC should do away with all of them and lower the annual dues?????? That would leave us more money for our full price park passes.

Johnnie

 

[PamOKW]

Johnnie -- There have been explanations about how DVC paid towards the free passes. Maybe they also have to pay something towards the LOS discount as well...I'm not sure how it works. Unless Disney decided to offer DVC a discount, a la FL resident discounts, I guess DVC probably would have to pay the difference to Disney. I believe we are already contributing toward the costs of the valets in our dues so that's why we don't have the $6 charge, at least for now. Most of the other discounts are incentives to drum up business and I don't believe DVC has any costs. This includes the Disney Store discount as well as the various golf and restaurant discounts.

 

[Kristi1357]

Normally, I would NEVER get involved in a thread like this. But...I have to reply to the post regarding a Disney Store CM who was not "savy" and did not know that they should not be discounting passes for DVC members. I consider myself to be a very "savy" CM, having worked there part time for almost 9 years now. I (as well as my fellow CMs) have given the MKC discount on passes to DVC members for years! From day one, the management of my store always taught CMs to give the discount to all DVC members. I only recently found out that technically we were not supposed to - simply from reading this board! I brought it up to my management team and we found out we were wrong all these years and that many stores had the same problem.

I also think guests need to understand that the parks set the regular and discounted pass prices, as well as who is entitled to which price scale. The Stores in no way mandate disounts. The Stores also get no income from the sale of park passes - it's more of a courtesy-type situation for another division of the same company. The lack of discount on passes for DVC members is not something the Stores do not want to do - it is dictated to us by WDW management. Believe me - if we could give you the discount, we certainly would!

Frankly, if your local Disney Store gave you a discount on passes in the past, you are VERY lucky. It was a major mistake by many stores' teams. And, unfortunately for you guys, due in large part to these boards, alot of Disney Stores are now aware of this problem.

I know no one was attacking me personally as a CM, but I could not resist trying to further clarify a really sticky situation.

 

[Werner Weiss]

PamOKW wrote:
There have been explanations about how DVC paid towards the free passes. Maybe they also have to pay something towards the LOS discount as well...I'm not sure how it works. Unless Disney decided to offer DVC a discount, a la FL resident discounts, I guess DVC probably would have to pay the difference to Disney.

There is no line item in the DVC operating statement that shows a subsidy for DVC members buying LOS passes. If there were, lots of other DVC members would be outraged. So it's safe to say this discount is offered because it's good business for Disney to encourage us to buy passes that keep us (and our wallets) visiting Disney's parks every day of our stays.

I've posted this before, but it seems appropriate to post this again in light of some of the issues raised in this thread.

Actually, perks are not necessarily funded out of dues. The services and benefits that we receive as DVC members are funded in three different ways:

• DVC Dues. All DVC resort operating expenses are funded by our dues. Landscaping, shampoo, housekeeping, replacing broken dishes, bus transportaion, cable TV service, electricity, Member Services' "800" telephone expenses, Member Services staff, security, reserve funds... the list goes on and on. If members were to get high-end shampoo, conditioner, hand cream, body lotion, after-bath splash and other "free" sundries in our rooms (instead of basic bar soap and shampoo), they wouldn't be free at all -- we'd be paying for them through out dues. If I want fancy toiletries, I'd rather buy my own.
• DVC / DVD Sales & Marketing. Those "free" passes that early OKW buyers received weren't paid by DVC dues. Disney Vacation Development negotiated a purchase agreement with theme park operations to provide the Limited Park Admission program to those DVC members through 1999 as a sales incentive. More recently, DVC members were sent free DVC license plates as an attention grabber to get referrals; that was a marketing expense, not an operating expense.
• "Mutual Benefit." Perks such as 20% off at most Swan & Dolphin restaurants and various other discount programs aren't paid for by dues. Instead, the business entity offerering the discount sees DVC members as a large potential market. By offering a discount the business entity can increase sales, and the DVC members are happy to get better values.

Any park pass discounts would need to be justified as mutually beneficial. If DVC management could convince theme park management that they would ultimately make more money by offering better discounts to DVC members, we would get such discounts. If theme park management just thinks that DVC members would buy the same number of passes but pay less for them, we won't get better discounts. (I don't think anyone has suggested that theme park pass discounts should be funded through DVC dues.)

 

[Towncrier]

PamOKW - The question of passes was raised at the OKW meeting by a member of the audience. True to form, DVC management danced around the issue and essentially didn't answer the question. When I asked my question about pool hopping after the meeting, I got the same type of non-answer.

 

[RobDoc]

There is no line item in the DVC operating statement that shows a subsidy for DVC members buying LOS passes.

That's correct Werner. The passes, as you pointed out, were paid for by DVD as a sales incentive. I was told that each day one of those passes was used cost DVD about $35. No dues were used to pay for that, but at this time, unless the Theme Parks want to offer such a program to members themselves, DVC would have to include any such costs n the dues....and that's NOT likely to happen.

 

[PamOKW]

Member Services' "800" telephone expenses,

Werner, it was my understanding, as you indicate, that we pay for our "free" #800 number calls. This topic came up when non-members mentioned calling the 800# numerous times to make arrangements, requests, even just to find out availability and some members were dismayed to hear we were paying for these calls. At that time, some people here thought that we do not pay for those calls. I was unable to find any actual statement that we cover these costs but that has always been my understanding. Do you have it "in print" anywhere to share with other members?

 

[dvcmomdeh]

I have to chime in...

Although I don't think I have anything new to add. You have all done a great job in expressing your feelings.

We too are happy members of the Disney Vacation Club and have been from the beginning. Yes, we started with 7 years of free passes what a great business idea. DVC now has all of us to pass the word along about how great it is, of course they won't offer anything like that again.

I have read on these boards that the powers that be do watch the boards. So I am writing to say that I too wish that we could get the Florida Resident Discount on Annual Passes. We spend at least 5-6 weeks a year there and always at Disney.

I agree with one of the messages below that if we quit spending our money (at downtown, the parks or in restaurants) they might look at who was staying and how much they made and find that we are serious about wanting a little in return for the $ we have put in. It's normally not just my family of four. We usually try to bring another couple along with kids the same age as ours. Since they are not spending money on accomodations they end up spending double what we do in food and souveniers. That's saying alot when I budget $1000 and usually spend more.

Same thing with the cruise. We booked on points and brought 5 cash paying people with us. No one was treated any differently but for 400 points I gained a week on a cruise but lost a week a WDW (we were scheduled for two weeks at WDW or the holidays).

We are not unhappy, we will continue to go back. I am in a dilemma this week do I renew my AP or not......

 

[nickglover]

I knew before I entered this thread there would be many many people supporting Disney, as we seem to be the best Disney cheerleaders around, and it is very difficult to get a majority of people in DVC to be upset with Disney. Having said that, I do think Disney should treat us even better than they do, as we are the most loyal supporters of Disney , in words and in our wallets. I think "special deals" like 10% off a round of putting, or something like that, is almost a joke. Sure, I appreciate any discount I can get, but now and then Disney should "reward" us loyal supporters with some discounts you can sink your teeth into, like two for one entrees at Artists Point, and the like.

 

[Synonymous]

"now and then Disney should "reward" us loyal supporters with some discounts you can sink your teeth into, like two for one entrees at Artists Point, and the like."

Why? What is your business case for them doing this? Us wanting it isn't enough justification.

 

[mikek]

Pam- I agree with you and werner- We pay for the 800 number through our dues.

Where else would it come from- DVD? THey already have our money so nope. From CRO? Nope they have their own staff etc.

So the only people left to pay is US.

Anyone who needs comfirmation should WRITE AN EMAIL to MS to get confirmation.

Another great reason to use e-mail when you have non time sensitive needs. It saves us all money! Sure they probably only paylike 4 cents a minute, but add up all the people over the course of the year waiting on hold 40 minutes to inquire which day their trash and towel will be.

 

[sgtpet]

Let us face facts. The DVC has us where they want us. They know we will be going for the next 40 years or sell our ownership to somebody else who will go for the next 40 years. DVC has sold extremely well in the last 2 years or so. They do not need any siginifcant incentives to lure people into purchasing.

I think we are lucky for what we have available and if you don't like it, then get out, nobody is forcing you to be jerked around.

Disney is a business before anything else. There is no pixie dust in the world, but it sure is a great place to visit.

 

[PKS44]

Reading sgtpet's post and these posts about how DVC should "reward" us and how they "should" give us perks regardless of the business implications reminds me of the DVC jingle:

"If you believe in magic, you belong!"

It's a slogan. It is not reality. If you believe Disney can magically make your visits cheaper and not make less money, you belong somewhere, but I don't think it's in DVC.

 

[Muushka]

I am at the point where I am done complaining about what Disney gives or does not give DVC members (although I do have some thoughts to share). When this year's annual pass expires (now), we refuse to pay $369 or whatever it will be to purchase another. They have gone beyond the reasonable price for this pass (in my opinion). We will buy the USF/IOA annual pass for $99. And please do not tell me that the parks do not compare. We have been to them all, and happen to enjoy IOA very much. The coasters are much better (in my opinion). That being said, on a 7-day vacation, maybe 1 or 2 days will be spent in WDW (using park hoppers).

In the future, I will not make PS for WDW dining, and will pay cash. I do not want Disney to be able to track my spending habits at their parks. I will do very little eating there anyway. I will spend money at USF/IOA. They have reasonable park prices, and treat their annual pass holders well.

I have been told by other DVC'ers that comments such as this are useless, and Disney does not care. Some day, Disney will wake up and realize that they do, in fact, need to start paying attention to DVC members. In the meantime, I will shop elsewhere. It is called choice.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

If you believe Disney can magically make your visits cheaper and not make less money, you belong somewhere, but I don't think it's in DVC.

Got a good chuckle out of this one, nicely done.

Should we get better discounts, absolutely! Is it poor business not to do so, yes. Does this mean we we are treated unfaily..... that probably goes a little too far.....

But, of course we should get a better discount..... Those who don't think so are welcome to pay full price instead when it is offerred. Your probably also a person who didn't believe in the tax cut, so has sent thier refund money back to the government. I admire that kind of conviction.....

 

[KNWVIKING]

...where can you get US/IOA passes for $99.00.The web site lists them at $164.95. While I don't agree with your park comparison I do like your comment about spending cash while in WDW to basically hide your identity from them. If WDW saw the DVC resorts packed but didn't see their room keys and credit cards being swipped for every purchase,then maybe they'd start trying to woo us back into the parks.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

When this year's annual pass expires (now), we refuse to pay $369 or whatever it will be to purchase another. They have gone beyond the reasonable price for this pass (in my opinion). We will buy the USF/IOA annual pass for $99.

First time using the quote, I hope it works.


Muushka,

Two words.....NAIL & HEAD. As I have said in my earlier post I will be giving our family a 100% discount on our WDW annual passes, as we will not be purchasing them this year. I would love to give Disney more of my business, but not at those prices (at least not every year). I would also encourage other people to do the same, and let Disney know your doing it.

Thanks for the USF tip, with a $99 annual pass price, I will have enough money to buy a big bunch of USF/IOA balloons to tie on my standing balcony at BCV. I didn't realize that the admission prices were that different.

I like the mouse as much as many of you, (in fact, just got the kids ready for bed in their Woody and Jessie PJ's and read Snow White)...BUT... nothing wrong with exploring other options while using your "real estate interest" as a home base.

Explore more options...Johnnie