why cant we get discounts

[dvc2009]

OK we bought in 2009 and love coming to disney but the question is everyone but dvc members get discounts or promotions. We are coming for 10 days and it seems to cost us as much as if we were general public staying at like the caribbean beach. Yes we get discount on annual passes but everyone else is getting free dining or kids stay and play free so other than hotel are we really getting a deal they say after cetain amout of vacations you will notice a reduction in cost but i dont see how because as lon as you have to pay full boat for dining and parks you are paying same as everyone else. Is it me or does everyone else see this. DVC needs to do something for there members we all spent alot of money to buy in at least they could throw a bone once in a while. Sorry if it seems like im on a soap box.

 

[crisi]

As someone said in the last free dining thread - there is no such thing as a free lunch.

"Someone" pays for free dining. In the case of CRO rooms, the hotels pay for free dining and change (generally) full rack rate. They fill rooms (at Disney's exorbitant room rates compared to off site) with plenty of profit margin to pay for the "free" dining.

In the case of DVC rooms, who would "pay" for free dining? DVC members via dues? That wouldn't be very free. Disney parks because handing you $40 a day in free dining might get you to buy a park ticket that DVC members with their annual passes probably average less than $10 a day in spend on? That doesn't seem wise. Will it drive park attendance and get you to spend money on high margin souvieners - maybe, but how many Disney t-shirts do members need?

 

[bicker]

Besides, we get the very best public discount available on non-resident Annual Passes.

It works both ways.

 

[HookdonWDW]

You can get those same discounts. Just don't use your points, and book through CRO. Or, you could sell your points and book through CRO. Personally, I'd rather stay in my villa than get the current "deal" through CRO...

 

[CarolAnnC]

DVC is purchased to enjoy great "home away from home" accommodations in your home resort as a prepaid vacation so to speak. Any other "perk" is gravy and none of them are guaranteed.

Welcome to the DIS, I am moving this over to our Mousellaneous Board which is more suited to this general type of discussion. Thank you!

 

[3happydancers]

OK we bought in 2009 and love coming to disney but the question is everyone but dvc members get discounts or promotions. We are coming for 10 days and it seems to cost us as much as if we were general public staying at like the caribbean beach. Yes we get discount on annual passes but everyone else is getting free dining or kids stay and play free so other than hotel are we really getting a deal they say after cetain amout of vacations you will notice a reduction in cost but i dont see how because as lon as you have to pay full boat for dining and parks you are paying same as everyone else. Is it me or does everyone else see this. DVC needs to do something for there members we all spent alot of money to buy in at least they could throw a bone once in a while. Sorry if it seems like im on a soap box.

Try to remember that those receiving free dining are also paying rack rate for their room (no discount there). DVC members stay at deluxe hotels like AKL, SSR, and the Contemporary. Because our rate never goes up, we ultimately get our rooms discounted all the time. Those receiving package deals will pay full price for their rooms and get a bone like free dining and such. If you do the math, you really are saving. For example, my family will be staying in a studio at AKL at the CLUB LEVEL on DVC points for a total of 124 points for 7 days. If I wanted to rent out these points at say $10.00 per point, the person paying would have the opportunity to stay at AKL for 1240.00 for 7 days. If you call AKL and get a price for that same room it would surely cost a great deal more. Now, my math may be off a bit because I did not physically look up prices, this is just an example. I know someone out there may have a much more accurate example. Now if you purchase AP tickets with the DVC membership, you are saving $100.00 per ticket, another great discount. You could also purchase tickets through Undercover Tourists where your tickets are discounted instead of buying directly from Disney. As far as meals go, the meal plan is very personal, it works for some and not others depending on your family's needs. With the DVC, if you get a 1 bedroom, you have the option of having groceries delivered and eating some meals in your room (we usually do this with breakfast).

And the kids that stay and play free have to be I believe 10 and under. So for my family this no longer works.

Your other option is to bank your points one year and take advantage of one of the package deals (you know flip flop, one year dvc, one year package deal). This year, my family is staying for 1 week at AKL at club level and then moving over to the Coronado Springs for another week with free dining.

Last year we simply stayed at AKL for 11 days in a 1 bedroom in the Kidani Villas. I already had park tickets from the previous year, so no additional charge for that. We chose to pay for the meal plan for 4 people which I believe cost us about 1600.00. And finally, our airfare which can vary. Some people choose to drive so I don't usually count traveling. So ultimately, room $0.00, tickets, $0.00, and meals $1600.00, total $1600.00 for an 11 night stay at AKL Kidani Villas.

Sorry, I did not mean to ramble on. I hope I did not confuse you more but try giving this some more thought. You might be surprised.

Hope I helped.

 

[TisBit]

This always comes up and it comes down to how you look at it. You already got discounts by purchasing DVC, you have lower costs for your vacations for the duration of your contract...period. You don't have to go at a certain time of year, or pay full rack rate or do it via bounce back offers.

You also get perks (subject to change) that get you discounts on the annual pass, discounts at certain restaurants, golf discounts, etc. Many of these discounts aren't available to others unless they are AP holders or meet some type of criteria...you qualify by being a DVC member.

And as the PP already mentioned, some people might find a deal that they can't pass up and feel that it is better to bank their points for the year, book on cash and take advanatage of whatever promotion is available and then book their DVC when there isn't a promotion going on.

 

[Sandisw]

When you take the cost of DVC and break it out over the length of membership and then compare what you get get to the "rack rates" of the rooms, you do come out ahead.

DVC is about long term committment and not short term. In the short run, right now, with all those discounts, it can make you question how DVC can save you money.

But, when those discounts disappear or are reduced, the comparision will certainly be in favor of DVC.

When I look at what I paid (around $21,000) to buy DVC, I have myself locked in to 5 or 6 nights EVERY summer in a 1 bedroom villa at BLT for the next 50 years. Even with the MF's, I come out ahead and I don't have to wait and worry for discounts. Basically, I have guaranteed myself a 40% discount on that room for the next 17 years. After that, the discount is even bigger.

Now, when we get to a point where we won't have to travel in the summer and can go at a time that takes less points, we will get more nights. There will also be times when we will no longer need to get a 1 bedroom and might want to do some studios so again, more nights for no more money.

For us, over the long run, DVC will save us money on the room portion of our stay but we bought knowing we were committed to going to Disney for years to come and now that we own, I don't worry about comparing.

 

[crisi]

When you take the cost of DVC and break it out over the length of membership and then compare what you get get to the "rack rates" of the rooms, you do come out ahead.

That's another thing about these arguments - they generally start with "we give so much money to Disney!" But honestly - do we give them more money than we get returned in value. We make a five figure starting investment - yeah, its a lot of money up front, but we made a five figure investment in a trip to Hawaii this year and won't have a timeshare at the end of it.

Either DVC is a good value for your family discountless (and don't include the AP discount in there, because discounts can disappear at any time - see "valet parking") and you should buy it and keep it - or it isn't and you should not buy it or dump it.

 

[FindingFigment]

I think another issue to consider is if you can stay in a room at Caribbean Beach, then you most likely can fit into a DVC studio villa. This is the case for us. So the best deal is to only buy enough points for studio stays. And if you get them on the resale market, you'll save a bundle (unless you want BLT). For example, If you bought 100 points at AKV via resale at $80 per point, it would cost about $8000. And that could be paid off a lot sooner than buying 160 points directly from DVC at $120 per point. Unless you have $20,000 on hand, you'll have to finance it. So if you finance for 10 years, you end up paying about $2000 per year (mortgage+mf) for 10 years. And when you compare that to a free dining or a kids play/stay offer which includes dining and tickets, it doesn't come anywhere close to being a better deal for those first 10 years.

I've seen a lot of veteran DVCers say that DVC isn't really a good deal for people who only need studios. And for someone who might pay a lot to buy in, then I agree. But I think if you buy a small contract and can pay it off in 2-3 years, it'll be worth it. After the initial buy-in is paid off, you're basically paying cheaper than value hotel rates and THAT's when you see it paying off.

 

[Sandisw]

That's another thing about these arguments - they generally start with "we give so much money to Disney!" But honestly - do we give them more money than we get returned in value. We make a five figure starting investment - yeah, its a lot of money up front, but we made a five figure investment in a trip to Hawaii this year and won't have a timeshare at the end of it.

Either DVC is a good value for your family discountless (and don't include the AP discount in there, because discounts can disappear at any time - see "valet parking") and you should buy it and keep it - or it isn't and you should not buy it or dump it.

I think you are right. While we do give Disney a lot upfront, I know of several cash guests who pay a heck of a lot more, year after year, to just stay at the Disney hotels.

DVC members are not the only ones investing a lot of money in Disney. We just decide to fork it over BEFORE we go on those trips!!! But, I think we get what we paid for and as you say, for some families it works out great and for others, not so much.

 

[rhax07]

I understand where you are coming from... my family and i have traveled to WDW numerous times before becoming DVC members and used every deal under the mouse to make it cheap. Being DVC members now we have to pay for somethings we havent paid for in the past do to the "deals" but when it all adds up....DVC is really a good deal.

 

[LIFERBABE]

If I wanted to stay at CBR, I would not own DVC.

Im fine with the not receiving said discounts, because I am able to stay where I want, when I want and not let discounts or free food run my vacations.

I see the value in the money I paid each and every trip and I do not feel like I am receiving less than cash paying guests.

If anything, I feel many allow their vacations to get caught in the marketing matrix

 

[La2kw]

Free food would be great, but I don't want to have to stay at value or moderate resorts to get it. I bought DVC so I wouldn't have to stay at those resorts. I'd rather find other ways to save money on food, such as having breakfast in my villa, eating some meals off site, or having an occasional meal in my villa for lunch or dinner.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are the type of person who always seeks discounts and bargains, DVC is not a good choice for you because you'll continue to see Disney offer these special deals and they won't include DVC member stays on points. But if you do your homework, manage your points well, you may make out as well.

When the economy is flush, Disney won't be making all these offers to fill the rooms. They will fill by themselves.

 

[dizfan]

Much like DVC perks change over time, the hotel deals tend to change as well.

In tough times, travel destinations tend to offer better deal. In good times, the deals go away.

An example of the deals changing over time is Disney used to offer the regular DDP for the value resorts. Now, they often require moderates.
The DDP TS used to include appetizer, meal, dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage. Today, the appetizer has been removed.
Additionally, I've read reports that some restaurants modify the menus during the peak (Aug-Sept) free dining periods.

The Internet is a good source of information, but only you and your family know what's in your best interest.

 

[JWG]

1) Do you also wonder why those with Wyndham ownership don't get free dining in the hotel restaurant? Or those who own Marriott don't get discounts on area attractions?

You're forgetting you bought a timeshare interest that just happens to be on Disney property. Not a Disney vacation package. We do already get discounts I imagine you wouldn't see from other timeshare providers:
- Discount on AP
- Select dining discounts
- Discounts on tours
- Ability to buy DDP without a ticket package
- Discounted room rates in comparison to CRO (for similar room)
- Free Disney transportation and all other cash room privileges (EMH)

2) The existing cash discounts will dry up once the economy improves and I'll still be enjoying discounted premium rooms. Also, as mentioned, free dining isn't as great as it sounds. You do pay full rack rate for your hotel room. That may work out better then a cash discount and buying DDP, but it's not like you're getting $100 a day free for a family of 3 with one child.

 

[LIFERBABE]

1) Do you also wonder why those with Wyndham ownership don't get free dining in the hotel restaurant? Or those who own Marriott don't get discounts on area attractions?

You're forgetting you bought a timeshare interest that just happens to be on Disney property. Not a Disney vacation package.

Agree. My BF purchased Atlantis Harborside several years back and they are not privy to any of the offers that Atlantis offers to hotel guests. Atlantis often advertises kids stay free, airfare vouchers, 3rd night free etc. None of which is offered to Harborside owners. Heck, you can stay at Comfort Suites Paradise Island and have access to all the Atlantis amenities for a fraction of the cost! That's where they were staying when they took the tour. Her timeshare sales person told her that CS was being torn down! That was 5 years ago!

She paid more than I did for DVC and their yearly vacations cost a chunk just in maintenance, airfare and really expensive food. Their access to groceries and moderate food is limited once they are there.

Im very happy with my DVC.