[leslieh]

Originally Posted by XQIXX

As DVC members, we have made a financial investment in Disney.Most of us do not get to take advantage of free dining or 4 for 3 discounts. As they take back perks it makes you feel like they bait and switch. The idea of taking from your most loyal customers is insulating.:

This really is so true- I keep getting pin codes and special offers and as a DVC member, I'm not using them. I feel like we are subsidizing this since we DVC members have less and less while the offers to the general public are increasing.

[WEDINDISNEY]

I just have to 2nd what alot of members have allready said... Why do they keep taking away things from DVC members and they never offer us anything. It's not right!
I guess Disney feels that all of us members will be comming back no matter what they change or take away so they really dont care. Sorry thats just my opinion... and I will be one of the ones that will be going back soooo I guess its a "Catch 22"!

[rlcarmichael]

There is an old saying...you have to know what side your bread is buttered on.

They are selling units at an amazing dollar per square foot amount. (Remember that I am a real estate apprasier so these numbers mean something to me.) To be more correct they are leasing us the property to use, NOT selling anything. We own a real estate interest, but we don't actually own the property.

The reason that they are "giving" free dining, and 7 for price of 4 deals is because they have to do something to get the people there and fill the rooms.

I'd don't know the numbers but I'd guess that the typical DVC person spends WAY more with Disney than a typical guest. Many or most of us buy season passes EVERY year, we pay cash for dining even if it's DDP, we probably take more behind the scenes tours etc too. The only difference is in what we pay for lodging, and considering that many guest pay to stay at value or moderates it's not THAT great of a difference.

Plus we take more trips. This year I will have 6 or 7 Disney trips, PLUS the points I've rented for 7 trips for other guests!!!

And I think the thing that ticks me the most is that they just make the perk go away with no notice. We know MONTHS in advance when they are going to "enhance" our membership but are left to discover this on our own...like when we pull up to the valet.

[Dopey]

going from $0 to $12 is harsh. Where is the reason to be a member? It seems that the perks are disappearing bit by bit.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by Dopey

going from $0 to $12 is harsh. Where is the reason to be a member? It seems that the perks are disappearing bit by bit.

The main reason to be a member has nothing to do with any perks, but with the savings on great DVC accomodations.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by rlcarmichael

And I think the thing that ticks me the most is that they just make the perk go away with no notice. We know MONTHS in advance when they are going to "enhance" our membership but are left to discover this on our own...like when we pull up to the valet.

Yeah, DVC isn't the best when in comes to communication sometimes.

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by DVC Mike

The main reason to be a member has nothing to do with any perks, but with the savings on great DVC accomodations.

that's baloney and you know it.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by Dopey

that's baloney and you know it.

haha, Dopey! Then why do YOU think people join; if it isn't vacation savings, it's not perks, than what is it Dopey?

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by Dopey

that's baloney and you know it.

I can't speak for anyone else but the perks aren't the reason we're members. We rarely take advantage of the perks, I think this last trip we may have used our membership to get a 10% discount at Basin. Most of the time I don't even think about the perks. The biggest savings my family is the room. We joined knowing the perks come and go, we just want our deluxe room at an affordable price.

[PeterPansPixie]

Originally Posted by Dopey

that's baloney and you know it.

I don't think I ever once thought about the perks when we were making our decision to purchase DVC. I cannot see spending that much money up front just because the perks are good. The only perk we have ever actually used is the annual pass discount. It would really upset me if they got rid of this perk, but at the same time I understand that they could get rid of it at any time.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

I can't speak for anyone else but the perks aren't the reason we're members. We rarely take advantage of the perks, I think this last trip we may have used our membership to get a 10% discount at Basin. Most of the time I don't even think about the perks. The biggest savings my family is the room. We joined knowing the perks come and go, we just want our deluxe room at an affordable price.

Dopey is going to come enlighten us at any moment, I can feel it.

Personally, for me, I am the first to admit I've never been one to "crunch the numbers" about the savings, calculate the perks and values, or look at the economical pie charts about membership. I think I explained in a thread once that to me, it's like a country club golf membership. It's a WAY OF LIFE, a vacationing way of life. I make no apologies for wanting to be a member, just because I want to be a member.

Maybe it does save money, maybe it doesn't. Maybe there are pie charts that really do accurately calculate the advantages, who knows. For me, it was more like "this is just our thing."

[Peppertink]

Ok...just to be the devils advocate here.....if it's not for the perks, why is taking away free valet an issue?

I'm not supporting the decision, just trying to get as much information as possible. We've been on the fence about DVC for so long, and it just seems like members keep getting more and more unhappy with the program. No free valet, no free dining..... I understand the savings is the biggest selling point. But, I'd also like them to show appreciation for that investment with more than a "Welcome Home".

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by Peppertink

Ok...just to be the devils advocate here.....if it's not for the perks, why is taking away free valet an issue?

For the same reason that I didn't join Costco just for those microwave mini tacos 'cause I never buy them, but I sure do get annoyed when I go there and they're gone. Options, variety, possibilities.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by Peppertink

We've been on the fence about DVC for so long, and it just seems like members keep getting more and more unhappy with the program. No free valet, no free dining..... I understand the savings is the biggest selling point. But, I'd also like them to show appreciation for that investment with more than a "Welcome Home".

I am sure I am going to get some tomatoes thrown at me but I have to say that I've always disagreed with Disney putting SUCH an emphasis on "savings" being DVC's biggest selling point. YES, there probably are some savings in there, absolutely. I can agree with that. But when you market such a pricey membership on SAVINGS SAVINGS SAVINGS you may draw in families that possibly may not be able to afford it. Once you are a member you are most likely going to travel to WDW or DL more often than perhaps you did as a non-member; there's still passes to pay for, dining, airfare, spending money, etc. on EVERY trip on top of your membership. This isn't a 'cheap' venture. It's a luxury, just like my comparison with the country club golf membership. That's a luxury & a way of life too but nobody markets that on savings.

I know my situation may be more of the minority out there but we DID visit WDW & DL just as much as we do now as members & in only 4 years we spent as much on accomodations as could have paid for our WHOLE membership. So, yeah, for our situation it does "save" money but I certainly don't think that's true for everyone.

[Captgoodguy]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

I think I explained in a thread once that to me, it's like a country club golf membership. It's a WAY OF LIFE, a vacationing way of life. I make no apologies for wanting to be a member, just because I want to be a member.

Thanks Wish. I've been asking for some time why people join when it seems incredibly expensive - I'm not judging members or non-members, I just couldn't justify spending that much money for something I could get much cheaper with an annual pass (again, for my specific needs - not necessarily anyone else's). However, this puts it into an understandable comparison and I can truly appreciate someone having a membership.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread and after 6 1/2 years, I've finally reached my 500th post!