[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by Captgoodguy

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!

Congrats on your 500th post!!!

I like the comparison too. Yeah, I can play golf at a municipal course for "cheaper & at a better savings" but it's all the stuff that comes along with the Country Club Membership that seperates those seaking value from those who "want to be part of the club."

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by PeterPansPixie

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.

Most people, I would imagine, are buying because of the perks, which are advertised until we all want to
A huge number of members here have bought into DVC in the last year or so and have had to give it up again. Don't tell me they bought because they had disposable income. They bought because they were told that it would be easy on their pocket books, when one looks at the perks

And yes, I would like to be in the position to own some DVC, alas, my men don't like Disney as much as I do

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

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.

Now that explanation makes a whole lot of sense.

[jo-jo]

Wishy, you know what they say....

when you get tomatoes thrown at you, make pasta.


I agree, if paying the least you can to go to disney is your goal, DVC is not it. We could stay at a value for cheaper. But just as some people are happy eating 3 CS meals a day, others would never think of eating a CS. We did values for years but now we wanted to step up a bit. We never realized how great it was to be able to walk to a park or to have a coffee pot/toaster etc in the room.

We never drive at disney so losing this perk doesn't effect us but the way MS does things is so annoying. Everything seems to be because of "member's request". Remember when they took the coffee mugs out of the studios? Or when they changed the banking rules? Everybody who requested these changes, raise your hand. I do think at the very least, there should have been a "effective on some date in the future this will happen" notice. Not just have someone while on a trip, try to drop off their car and find out the cost went up by 12 bucks. If they can send out all kinds of buy more points, support whatever that thing was in the last disney files stuff, they can send out effective whatever date, this will happen stuff.

As far as buying DVC just because of Perks, I would say I certainly look at the perks as added value. Just like buying an AP. In the past, I bought an AP with the intent of there would be some room discounts and the meal discounts, I'd do two trips a yr. If it was just for the sake of 365 days of admissions, I wouldn't buy it and only do the one trip per year.

[M5ward]

Although it wasn't a DVC perk, pushing back the ADR window from 180 days to 90 days probably impacted members more than anyone else. We are the ones who usually book at least 7 - 11 months out. The initial comment was that the change was made due to the infamous "member requests." I guess other members requested a change back to 180 days..which goes into effect in a couple of weeks.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by Dopey

that's baloney and you know it.

No, it's not. I believe the majority of DVC members purchase to get 50 years of vacations at a savings for what it would cost them to book the same accomodations via cash.

Perks come and go. If someone is purchasing DVC only because of the perks, I have a bridge I can sell you.

[DVC Mike]

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'm not getting more and more unhappy with the program. I purchased 50 years of great accomodations in a deluxe room, and I'm saving money.

The "perks" are just to market DVC. The only one I really like is the discount on the AP, and that's relatively new to DVC.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

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.

Any vacation is a luxury, and DVC (or any timeshare) is a luxury. However, if I'm going to take a luxury vacation, I might as well save money doing so.

Sure, you can certainly take a less expensive WDW vacation by staying offsite or at a value resort. But DVC offers real savings to those who are staying at a deluxe resort every trip.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by Dopey

Most people, I would imagine, are buying because of the perks, which are advertised until we all want to
A huge number of members here have bought into DVC in the last year or so and have had to give it up again. Don't tell me they bought because they had disposable income. They bought because they were told that it would be easy on their pocket books, when one looks at the perks

And yes, I would like to be in the position to own some DVC, alas, my men don't like Disney as much as I do

I seriously doubt that any significant percentage of DVC members bought just because of the perks, as that would be crazy.

Purchasing DVC is a luxury purchase, and it allows savings compared to booking the same luxury accomodations via cash.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

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."

It's our thing too, it fits the way we want to vacation and we would have joined with no perks. In fact, I didn't even consider the perks when we joined--not once. We don't get APs very often and the other discounts really don't add up to much.

We went to WDW every year before we joined and we still go just once a year. Before we joined DVC we went for 8-13 days every summer staying in deluxe resorts every time. With the money we spent on those trips we would have easily paid for our membership. We couldn't always afford to stay in a deluxe resort for 8-10 nights every summer but DVC makes that possible for us.

[leslieh]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

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.

I don't think you'll get the tomatoes! I think we also spent enough on accomodations over the past few years to have paid for our whole membership. I always wish that we had joined earlier.

[XQIXX]

I don't think the valett parking fee is going to make anyone sell their membership but I do see Dopey's point. I expect more than a great room. When they take back perks it makes you feel differently.lf they take back the AP DVC discounts people will feel differently even if they don't want to say so.

p.s I usually think the same way as Dopey does

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by DVC Mike

No, it's not. I believe the majority of DVC members purchase to get 50 years of vacations at a savings for what it would cost them to book the same accomodations via cash.

Perks come and go. If someone is purchasing DVC only because of the perks, I have a bridge I can sell you.

I never said DVC is being purchased for the perks alone. They weren't that spectacular to begin with, just nice and set the owners somewhat apart from the crowd. You know the perks are important, that's why the phrase "welcome home" is so important to all of you, as well it should be.

[rlcarmichael]

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?

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".

You can get "free" dining if you pay cash for a reservation. Trust me. it's cheaper to PAY for dining.

DVC is sold as a whole package. Perks are subject to change, but it's the way the change occurs as much as if not more so that ticks people. The resorts are the primary, but the perks are the extra special things.

Considering that only a small percentage actually valet park, it's probably a pretty small part of our annual dues. In my opinion it's a cost saving measure that is probably not even noticeable in the big picture.

[WishUponAStar]

Back to the original issue at hand... Everyone who's concerned about this issue should DEFINATELY write to the powers that be!!! I know the valet perk is relatively small in the scheme of things BUT it also effects the amount of money DVC valet CMs will be making, so it's kinda a bum deal for members and some CMs.