Past Perks and Present perks About This Page:

[tjkraz]

Bear in mind that most reward/loyalty programs are designed to create additional business...not as a "thank you" for past business. When you join a hotel or airline rewards program, they don't give you credit for years and years of prior business. Instead they are just giving you an incentive to bring them new business.

Additionally, you usually see reward programs in very competitive industries where the product offered is virtually identical. Grocery stores, office supply chains, electronic stores, airlines, hotels...those business all offer pretty much the same product as the competition. Reward programs are an incentive to increase loyalty to a single brand. By comparison, is Disney in any imminent danger of losing a great volume of business to Universal, Sea World, Six Flags, etc.?

You can buy post-it notes at Office Max, Office Depot or Staples. You can buy Keebler Cookies at Kroger or Giant Eagle or Publix. But you can't ride Soarin or meet Mickey Mouse at Universal or Six Flags.

Sure DVC members will bring additional business to the parks but that is pretty much guaranteed at the time of the purchase.

DVC also serves as a means for getting pretty steep discounts over the long haul. From DVC's perspective, our ability to vacation for 25-35 cents on the dollar for the next 40-50 years is a pretty fair trade-off for the large sum of money paid up-front.

Another thing to consider is the impact of any proposed perk on other Disney guests. I've seen it suggested that DVC members should get some additional advance period to book dining reservations. That's one thing that I just don't see ever happening. We're to the point where there could be 10,000-15,000 DVC member at WDW at any single time. With that type of population, an early ADR booking window could easily result in us nearly filling popular restaurants like LeCellier, Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace. Disney isn't going to risk alienating an even larger portion of their guests--the millions of cash visitors who also expect to be able to book those locations.

The same could be said for any preferrential FastPass perks which would increase wait times for folks paying $500 per night to stay at the Poly or Grand Floridian.

Member Perks will never be any major part of the program. To be painfully blunt, Disney doesn't need to work overly hard to get our money since they know we'll be coming back regardless. Some members will make individual decisions to buy fewer souvenirs or eat in their villas more if Disney prices are too high. But anecdotal evidence suggests that Disney would rather sell as many full-price meals and merchandise as possible rather than offering plentiful discounts.

[chezp]

To me, the best perk is the Annual Pass discount. Outside of that, we did enjoy the valet parking perk, but the 10% off at the Disney Store is very handy for us, as we can still (fortunately!) enjoy that over here.

[chezp]

To me, the best perk is the Annual Pass discount. Outside of that, we did enjoy the valet parking perk, but the 10% off at the Disney Store is very handy for us, as we can still (fortunately!) enjoy that over here.

[kstategrad]

Just curious:

We are new members, and I was wondering how much of a discount we get on Annual Passes. Does anyone know the dollar amount for how much APs cost this year?

[jenjen1127]

For adults you save $100 and for children you save $88.

[aliceinwdw]

I don't really like the DVC discount in comparison to the Florida resident rates. I think they should be comparable as aren't we sort of, kind of Florida residents too? (Work with me here ).

The Florida Resident Seasonal Pass is the best deal and I would to see something like offered to us.

I would also really to see a discount on the dining plan offered to DVC members. A monetary discount. Yes I appreciate the no seasonal changes in prices, but just a teensy, tiny, little discount on the "regular" price would be a perk I could get behind!

However, I do have to commend one of the greatest perks we have (IMHO): the free internet. That's a perk I can immediately see the value in during each visit. $10 a day at $0 is fab-u-lous!

[mikki]

I joined when you got the free passes and it was a nice perk but it did get us hooked on APs so you could just pop into a park rather than spend the whole day there. So I was very glad when the perk changed from 10% length of stay to a discount on APs. I like also that getting the AP now allows you to get the TiW card. I can't remember if I ever used the valet parking perk because dh has a disabled pass anyway.

At the very begining there was a food and fun card you could get - paid a certain amount and got more benefit than the cost but you hads to do it for length of stay. We never took one out so I can't say how good value it was not not.

I know I used to check AllEars for their comparison on what offered the best discount and remembered whether to offer the DVC card or the AP. I just wish a UK bank would also offer the Disney visa card because I would get one like a shot!

Oh and I forgot the biggest 'perk' - the price which was only $50 a point!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by mikki

I just wish a UK bank would also offer the Disney visa card because I would get one like a shot!

Now wouldn't that be great?

[tigersprinkles]

why not do away with all the perks and cut done on our annual dues. alot of us don,t have lap tops or need the discounts on food. but aps are agood perk but to save like $200 on dues a year would be nice. sorry for being blunt but when you go to other places you don,t use the perks

[aliceinwdw]

If they were to cut the perks, like free internet, etc. - then it should be a choice; just because some people don't have laptops, etc. doesn't mean everyone should go without the availability of something like free internet. (Esp. since for DH and I to have free internet every day of our trip, we save $240-250! Niiice! )

But if there was an option: Perks or no perks, but lower annual dues? Then people could decide what they think they would get the most benefit out of. . .I like that idea.

[mikki]

A lot of the perks are negotiated discounts from other suppliers. That's why the valet parking was lost. Getting rid of the perks wouldn't reduce the dues unfortunately.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by mikki

A lot of the perks are negotiated discounts from other suppliers. That's why the valet parking was lost. Getting rid of the perks wouldn't reduce the dues unfortunately.

That's what I was thinking as well - and I like the perks we get. I wouldn't want to lose any of them, especially not the free Internet. I love that.

[Clare loves Stitch]

Originally Posted by lukeandbrookesmom

I also know that another family buying in at the same time was able to buy in for only 100 points instead of the former 160 point minimum. Just a thought.....

this is really intresting as this is what I want to do buy 100pts ???!!!

[tjkraz]

Originally Posted by Clare loves Stitch

this is really intresting as this is what I want to do buy 100pts ???!!!

DVC doesn't market the option very actively but they will sell you a minimum contract of 100 points at some resorts. Last I heard it was available at the Animal Kingdom Villas and perhaps Saratoga Springs. It is definitely not an option at the Bay Lake Tower.

One caveat is that you cannot choose the exact number of points. If you buy 160+ they will sell you pretty much any amount of your choosing (161, 165, 2000, etc.) But with this lower point offer it's 100 points...period.

Also the incentives are typically not as good if you buy 100 points vs 160+.

[aliceinwdw]

If you buy 160+ they will sell you pretty much any amount of your choosing (161, 165, 2000, etc.)

If only!