Why I'm mad at DVC

[Blackeyed]

OK,
So we finally go to WDW as DVC members and everything's looking great.
We agree to pay for the Disney Dining Plan and we're all set.
Next I learn that we're getting there during the "free dining" time so naturally I call up DVC and ask if we get it free.. Low and behold the answer is "no".

So despite being a so-called VIP member I'm made to cough up over a thousand dollars while others dine free on the money I'm handing over.

I try to make a complaint at the resort and am told I'd best go to Guest Relations... Would you believe it, Guest Relations tell me I should take it up with the resort.

And now I see that UK guest can get up to $1000 to go...

So it seems that anytime I wish to go to WDW I'd be better off selling up the DVC and just booking it.. Seems there's no perks left anyway that I can see.
And there were certainly a few members there on site that weren't too happy with all the perks that were being revoked.

Come on Disney - I'd like to hear your excuses. I still love you but your constant money grabbing gets tiresome.

[Debbie2]

I have been toying with DVC for some time and did attend the open house tour last month. I totally empathise and understand your points as I feel exactly the same. What has put me off DVC so far is exactly the points you raise. We have just had our second trip with free dining and plan to go next year with free dining. The gift card offer has been on TV today.

When I mentioned this to the DVC guy he said we are not actually getting 'free' dining as we are paying top $ for room rate. I have given it lots of thought and do agree DVC is the better long term investment (I doubt these offers will continue long term) but my finances and personal situation dictate that I continue to book packages and benefit from special offers.

[Tinker]

Exactly why we never got involved . For the money you members pay annually on maintenance , you should be entitled to free dining when available .
No offense to our gracious hosts and certainly know complaints, but we loss money this time on the DDP . We barely ever used our counters as there really wasn't counter areas at the resorts that we knew of and snacks we got soda and water . So, that said, we would not pay for DDP again at a villa . The only counters we ate were one night Turkey Legs , the place in France was Great and Peco Bills . IDK what went wrong with us this trip . But Jim added up the receipts and we were down over a $100. :sorry:
What Gift Cards, Debbie2 ?

[dcfromva]

OK,
So we finally go to WDW as DVC members and everything's looking great.
We agree to pay for the Disney Dining Plan and we're all set.
Next I learn that we're getting there during the "free dining" time so naturally I call up DVC and ask if we get it free.. Low and behold the answer is "no".
Sorry you are having a rough start.
You actually can get free dining, but you would have to pay full price for your room (can't do it staying on points). In some cases it might be more favorable to pay the cash rate for the room, get the free dining and bank your points for your next visit. I saw a calculation one time for a family of 4 at the Pop I believe and it was more favorable. No idea if it is still--you would have to do the math.
If you are just as happy to stay at the resort that nets the best deal, that would definately be an indicator against DVC.

So it seems that anytime I wish to go to WDW I'd be better off selling up the DVC and just booking it.. Seems there's no perks left anyway that I can see.

They definately have cut back on some of the prized perks. The Valet parking is a biggie. While DH and I never used it, it was nice to know it was available if we wanted to use it.
At one time, there were a lot more discounts on dining with DVC, too.
One perk still left that we do use is the $100.00 off the price of an annual pass. (Although, they could always take that one back, too :( ).

[dcfromva]

For the money you members pay annually on maintenance , you should be entitled to free dining when available .


Every year there is a annual report which breaks down the costs that result in the MF. It is very detailed (and boring :) ), but every expense is accounted for... If the DDP were included, it would result in an increase to the dues! :eek: We don't want that! :lol:
I'm with you on the DDP, though. DH and I debated adding the DDP on to our last ressie and decided not to because F&W was going on. We figured we would have trouble using the CS with all the snacks we would be eating. (We were right about that. ) When F&W is not going on, we generally use 1 CS at a time and split a snack. My favorite is a sandwich over at the Sunshine Food Court . DH generally gets fish and chips at the UK and DS likes to get Nachos at Mexico. Sometimes we use the CS for pizza at Wolfgangs Express (Marketplace). DH also has a favorite breakfast at AKL at Mara and he likes the Port Orleans breakfast, too.

Suddenly, I am very hungry! :lol:

[jarretth]

What Gift Cards, Debbie2 ?

Hi Tinker. The Gift card is the latest offer for UK visitors. I've posted below an extract from the UK site for you:

FREE Disney Gift Card
for arrivals 3 Jan - 18 May 2010 Book your dream Walt Disney World holiday before 15 February 2010, for arrivals 3 January - 18 May 2010, and we’ll give you a Disney Gift Card worth up to $1,000 when you stay at a selected Disney Resort Hotel. Offer requires a minimum stay of 14 nights including Disney’s Ultimate Tickets.

Stay at a Disney Value Resort and receive a $350 USD Disney Gift Card;

Stay at a Disney Moderate Resort and receive a $550 USD Disney Gift Card;

Stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort and receive a $750 USD Disney Gift Card;

Stay at a Disney Deluxe Villa Resort and receive a $1000 USD Disney Gift Card

Make the most of the extra holiday spending money by using your free Disney Gift Card at a wide variety of locations around Walt Disney World Resort, as payment towards merchandise, dining, tours, entertainment, recreation and more.

Visit www.DisneyGiftCard.com for further details.

PLUS SAVE 20% on selected Walt Disney World Resort Hotels!
During the same period, you can also save 20% on your accommodation when you stay at selected Resorts - and even better, these savings are combinable with the Disney Gift Card offer.

SAVE 20% when you stay at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Disney's Old Key West Resort,
PLUS receive a $1,000 USD Disney Gift Card

SAVE 20% when you stay at Disney's Yacht Club or Disney's Beach Club Resorts,
PLUS receive a $750 USD Disney Gift Card

We have just moved our (cash) booking to SSR so I had a look on trip advisor. Although I treat things on there with a pinch of salt, it was noticeable that there were a few complaints from DVC members as guests were being transferred from an apparently overbooked Pop Century and being given 1 bedroom villas at SSR, while DVC members are still in their pre-booked studios. I have a lot of sympathy with DVC member who are unhappy with this.

[DVC Mike]

OK,
Next I learn that we're getting there during the "free dining" time so naturally I call up DVC and ask if we get it free.. Low and behold the answer is "no".

So despite being a so-called VIP member I'm made to cough up over a thousand dollars while others dine free on the money I'm handing over..

You bought a pre-paid vacation plan that will save you a lot of money on your accomodations over the years.

"Free" dining is a promotion designed by Disney to lure cash guests to WDW during slow times. As pointed out earlier, it really isn't free. It's part of a package that requires booking a room and park tickets.

"Free" dining makes money for Disney. That is what it is designed to do.

What is the upside for Disney to offer free dining to DVC members? We're coming anyway. It won't make any money for Disney, but would loose them a lot of money. It wouldn't make sense to offer free dining to DVC members.

If DVC members want to take advantage of "free" dining, they can go ahead and book a cash package with CRO like anyone else.

Regardless, DVC members are still saving money on their accomodations - through both the good economic times and bad.

[ellies456]

My family and friends who are DVC members along with us,are disgruntled at the way the "perks" have slowly been eroded since we joined(1994) The servicing of the rooms has changed vastly,one of the main selling points to us was the"pool hopping" which again is being altered all of the time-and I must say that when we visit as Christmas(supposedly the VERY BUSY TIME) we have NEVER found the pool at GF busy even!!! I am often disappointed at how shabby the rooms are,so now always book the newest DVC Hotel or we pay!! Not quite the idea after a large investment and always increasing annual dues.Now I understand that valet parking is to be stopped for members. My family and I love Disney,but I think that DVC needs to study the members more to ensure their continued loyalty.

[AlanandAli]

You bought a pre-paid vacation plan that will save you a lot of money on your accomodations over the years.

"Free" dining is a promotion designed by Disney to lure cash guests to WDW during slow times. As pointed out earlier, it really isn't free. It's part of a package that requires booking a room and park tickets.

"Free" dining makes money for Disney. That is what it is designed to do.

What is the upside for Disney to offer free dining to DVC members? We're coming anyway. It won't make any money for Disney, but would loose them a lot of money. It wouldn't make sense to offer free dining to DVC members.

If DVC members want to take advantage of "free" dining, they can go ahead and book a cash package with CRO like anyone else.

Regardless, DVC members are still saving money on their accomodations - through both the good economic times and bad.

Spot on - fully agree with everything you've said DVC Mike. Roll on next DVC vacation a week today!!!

[JaneyS]

Can't pretend to be an expert but have to agree with Blackeyed here. This is one of the things that put us off DVC in the first place. When you look at the package as a whole it seems like a good deal, but once you factor in the free dining and other offers that come up, it is unlikely to save money, at least in the short term, by which I mean in the next 10 years, so we decided to hang onto our cash.

[DisneyMad]

You really have to think of it as a long term investment. In five years time, when the economy picks up, Free Dining is removed, and rack rates go through the roof, and you're still picking up a week on points for half the price of a cash ressie, you'll be glad you bought in.

'Free' Dining and the DDP in general has already been severely cut back from where it was a few years ago. WDW just need to lure as many people there as possible in as many different ways. Just remember that the people there on 'free dining' paid at least £850 per person per week!

[ellies456]

May I point out to all non DVC members that comparing points and "Cash" is like chalk and cheese.When a member uses points in a Vacation villa they do not enjoy hotel benefits. No making of beds on a daily basis,no cleaning of rooms,almost no choice to UK visitors of room position as we can only arrive to check in after the earliest at 5p.m,and by now all the "requests"are filled,and don't get me started on DVC's reason for asking for any "special requests" when in the next sentence they tell you that they cannot ensure any one of them!!If we want extra towels we now are expected to pay for them! I could go on- and I am sure that all this sounds as though we are sorry to have invested such a large sum of money in 1994,and large annual dues each year since-in fact we still always enjoy using our points in Florida and California,but the product we purchased and the reasons for this are constantly being altered by, the DVC board without consultation,and ALWAYS to the benefit of DVC and not the members .Can I also throw out to the forum that when we bought our points in OKW we were told that the buildings would be "pulled down" in2044 as by then the structures would be useless!We were asked last year to invest more funds to extend our ownership for a further 15 years at OKW.!!Phew!! I will be interested in your comments. Just before I finish, the members rooms are only fully cleaned and beds changed after 8 nights!! you can ask for sheets to change yourself,again not comparable to any hotel.

[dcfromva]

May I point out to all non DVC members that comparing points and "Cash" is like chalk and cheese.When a member uses points in a Vacation villa they do not enjoy hotel benefits. No making of beds on a daily basis,no cleaning of rooms... Just before I finish, the members rooms are only fully cleaned and beds changed after 8 nights!! you can ask for sheets to change yourself,again not comparable to any hotel.
Did they have daily housekeeping when you first joined in 1994? When I joined in 2002, they did not. It was one of the considerations I weighed in making a purchase. To be honest, it seemed to be a major obstacle to joining and I thought we would pay for daily housekeeping and factored it into my decision. As it turns out, we actually enjoy not planning our day around when mousekeeping will be making their rounds and we have not signed up for additional cleanings. Some folks could not get by without the daily mousekeeping and DVC may not be right for them. It is definately something a purchaser should consider before buying.

almost no choice to UK visitors of room position as we can only arrive to check in after the earliest at 5p.m,and by now all the "requests"are filled,and don't get me started on DVC's reason for asking for any "special requests" when in the next sentence they tell you that they cannot ensure any one of them!!
Folks from the west coast of the US going to FL are in a similar boat--only their flights typically arrive later. I don't see any difference between DVC requsts and requests made at a regular hotel room. There are some ways around this if it is a show stopper. One is to stay elsewhere the first night. It also serves as a cheap insurance policy. If you have to cancel on the day of arrival--you might lose 1 nights lodging but you could still cancel your DVC reservation (your points would go into holding vs being foreited with a cancelation on the day of arrival).
Even coming the the east coast like we do--I like to put in a full day of work and then catch a flight around 4 or 5pm. We generally don't get to the resort until 7 or 8pm. Then again, about the only special requests we have made have been non-smoking and since DVC has gone totally non-smoking, we don't make any special requests--so we don't have any track record for fullfillment of special requests. (I like to take my chances and be surprised. :D)


If we want extra towels we now are expected to pay for them! I could go on- and I am sure that all this sounds as though we are sorry to have invested such a large sum of money in 1994,and large annual dues each year since-in fact we still always enjoy using our points in Florida and California,but the product we purchased and the reasons for this are constantly being altered by, the DVC board without consultation,and ALWAYS to the benefit of DVC and not the members .Can I also throw out to the forum that when we bought our points in OKW we were told that the buildings would be "pulled down" in2044 as by then the structures would be useless!We were asked last year to invest more funds to extend our ownership for a further 15 years at OKW.!!Phew!! I will be interested in your comments.

I believe they started charging for the extra towels shortly after we joined. I can't say I'm really thrilled to pay for extra towels, but we have adapted. I don't want to wash towels, so on occassion we will purchase an extra pack. I guess the folks who do wash their own towels every day are probably glad that they don't have to pay for the cost of extra towels for folks like me who want a few extra towels. That seems fair to me.

I don't think DVC handled the OKW additional years very well at all. I believe they did it as an additional assessement such that everyone was included and you had to actually opt out of it. I've read somewhere DVC did it this way because there are members living where DVC is not registered to do business, so they would not have been able to offer the addition to everyone if they didn't structure it this way. I don't think it sat very well with lots of members, nor do I think it was as well received as DVC thought it would be. I believe DVC had plans to do the same for BCV and BWV and VWL but the feedback from OKW has made them step back an re-evaluate. I have BCV and BWV and I haven't been able to see a real benefit to the additional years (if they are eventually offered).

I can't say that I am pleased with the latest round of point reallocations even though we personally benefit by the new point values because most of our stays include the weekend nights (we generally stay 4-5 nights including the weekend nights). Or, new banking rules. Or, the rule of four. I've decided I do like booking up to 7 nights at a time. I guess it is important to understand when signing up for DVC that these are things that DVC can change. For some folks this could have a huge impact on the way they use their points.
It is also important to understand that Perks are not guaranteed by contract. They come and go and someone should not make a DVC purchase based on the perks.

[ellies456]

Hi, good to get varied points of view. The points that were made were illustrations of how DVC members using their contract points get a very different experience to guests who do not own points,and therefore cannot be compared.We, like yourselves,are looking forward to our next visit-June 2010-BLT and Disney Wonder.I know we will both have a memorable time!Regards.

[dcfromva]

I think different people have different reasons for joining DVC. DVC is not right for everyone. DVC is definately not the least expensive option for staying at WDW. Staying offsite and renting a house is probably one of the least expensive options. Staying at a value resort (sometimes even a moderate) will most likely be less expensive than DVC.
In our case, we prefer to stay on property and we enjoy the convenience of being close to EPCOT (and now MK and DL). We don't mind doing a little bit of housekeeping (like making beds). We enjoy having the comforts of home (such as kitchen facilities). Given our criteria, the price we pay for DVC consistantly comes out less than if we were to book the same accomodations through CRO even with discounts... We really like being able to get a suite--something that would be out of reach for us if we booked through CRO. :whistle:

[AlanandAli]

I think different people have different reasons for joining DVC. DVC is not right for everyone.

I agree - and we love DVC. Call me weird, but we've just got back to our room and it has been mousekept with beds made etc and I was moaning as I'd already done the beds in the way I like them earlier. The mousekeeper first knocked at 9am too - a bit early for my liking as we were have a relaxing get-up today. Certainly much prefer not to have someone come every day and love the kitchenette.

As golfers, the DVC golf perks are brilliant - $35 a round when we normally travel in May, and $60 this time in November, compared to over $100 or so that some of our playing partners have paid. I understand the offers around at the moment mean you need to think more carefully than in the past, but as a long term option we love it - and were glad we joined 8 years ago.
Ali