Who'll stand with me...outside the DVC 'member' lounge?

[Lyn-CA]

I am so extremely disappointed right now. I just received the email from my broker that I have been misinformed, that I will not be receiving the member extras after all. All this after I had spend all day running around, getting the cashiers check and mailing in the closing docs. We bought a small contract and waited 31 days to pass ROFR which it finally did on March 30. I was jumping up and down yesterday when I was first told that I am grandfathered in and now, I just got the wind knocked out of my sails.

I initially thought that my timing was just right in buying into DVC since we have a land-sea-land vacation coming up this August. We had rented points and we have reservations at Poly and AKL. In the middle of the trip, we have a 3-day Dream cruise. So, in February, I finally convinced my DH that we should buy a small contract and he finally agreed. I told him that we could purchase the TIW card and save on our upcoming dining which includes 15 TS restaurants that do accept the TIW card. I enticed him with the TOWL and the new Epcot lounge and member activities on the cruise.

And now, poof. I don't even know what to tell him now. Yes, we just spent $9,000 so we can be turned away and not enjoy any perks whatsoever.

This experience has soured me on Disney. On the other hand, this is definitely a cure for my Disney-itis. At this point, having just received the bad news, the excitement I had for our upcoming trip has gone out the window as well.

So, who else got shafted?

And for existing DVC members, how soon I can turnaround and sell this contract back to Disney?

What is the contact information for Potrock? I want to write to him directly.

 

[southerngirl528]

Lyn-CA, I am sorry the way this whole thing has come down where the dates for impact of the new program have apparently changed from yesterday to today. How DVC let that happen I do not know. It's not good. Understandable to be disappointed.

That said, if you bought to have great DVC accommodations, then nothing has changed at all for you. If you bought for the perks, you didn't have the understanding that the perks can disappear for any of us anytime. I've been a member 2+ decades and have seen them come and go. Some of the ones that "went' certainly did not make me happy. But I still have what I bought. I have not been "shafted" because they no longer have a perk I had in the past with my membership. And I own a very nice points package.

YOU STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOWL if you are staying on WDW property. You STILL have pool hopping. That is clearly outlined. Please read what you actually will and will not have before making hasty decisions. You still have the "perk" of great accommodations for the length of your membership. If that isn't what you thought you were buying, I don't know what to tell you. I hope you will stay and enjoy your new DVC membership as much as I have enjoyed staying at DVC resorts all these years.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

YOU STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOWL if you are staying on WDW property.

Does she? TOWL asks for member cards about 50-50...

 

[southerngirl528]

Somewhere else on the forum I addressed this but here's what I do know... going forward resale members will not be receiving the physical Member I.D. card as you know. But they will be able to download a proof of membership that will have their member number on it. It will not look like a member card but I would assume this is what can be used as proof of ownership for admittance.

 

[MSS91]

i understand that this is insanely frustrating for people because it seems like DVC just sprung this news on everyone, obviously impacting plans and decisions. I'm really sorry for everyone going through this.

i feel like i may have a differing opinion from most people on here, but DVC has the right to do this if they want to do it. most people buy resale so that they can save money, and that is totally fine. but to expect to buy resale not directly from DVC and get all the perks of buying from dvc seems a little...crazy? it would be like me buying a used car from an individual or a resale company and complaining because i was not given the free oil change slips or perks that were given out by the brand name dealer at time of purchase. just because in the end i am driving the same thing (or renting the same thing) as the original owner, it doesn't mean that i have the same add ons.

if you are buying directly from DVC you are most likely paying more, so you are more entitled to those benefits. like others have said, you should not be buying into DVC for the perks. you buy into it for the accommodations. i think that a lot of people are losing sight of the privilege of even being able to afford a timeshare for DVC. Lots of families can't afford to go to disney world EVER, let alone get resale DVC membership. So you don't get to go to the top of the world lounge or a 10-15% discount on property anymore? It stinks but in the grand scheme of things, this is a first world problem. be thankful that you can still have your dvc accommodations and have that quality time with your family in Disney. what are you going to remember? the time you spent together on that trip or the discount you got on something.

 

[djohn06]

You will still have certain benefits. Do not think that you lose everything. BLT owners pay for TOWL. That can't be taken away. Sure meal discounts can, but you can still get some of those with a Disney Visa credit card. Maybe you lose access to the lounge at Epcot perhaps.

I'm not sure on this, but can you have a full fledged member buy a TIW card for you?

 

[bwvBound]

I am so extremely disappointed right now. I just received the email from my broker that I have been misinformed, that I will not be receiving the member extras after all. All this after I had spend all day running around, getting the cashiers check and mailing in the closing docs. We bought a small contract and waited 31 days to pass ROFR which it finally did on March 30. I was jumping up and down yesterday when I was first told that I am grandfathered in and now, I just got the wind knocked out of my sails.

So sorry for you and those caught in this poorly delivered change from Disney.

 

[gatorskin76]

i understand that this is insanely frustrating for people because it seems like DVC just sprung this news on everyone, obviously impacting plans and decisions. I'm really sorry for everyone going through this.

i feel like i may have a differing opinion from most people on here, but DVC has the right to do this if they want to do it. most people buy resale so that they can save money, and that is totally fine. but to expect to buy resale not directly from DVC and get all the perks of buying from dvc seems a little...crazy? it would be like me buying a used car from an individual or a resale company and complaining because i was not given the free oil change slips or perks that were given out by the brand name dealer at time of purchase. just because in the end i am driving the same thing (or renting the same thing) as the original owner, it doesn't mean that i have the same add ons.

if you are buying directly from DVC you are most likely paying more, so you are more entitled to those benefits. like others have said, you should not be buying into DVC for the perks. you buy into it for the accommodations. i think that a lot of people are losing sight of the privilege of even being able to afford a timeshare for DVC. Lots of families can't afford to go to disney world EVER, let alone get resale DVC membership. So you don't get to go to the top of the world lounge or a 10-15% discount on property anymore? It stinks but in the grand scheme of things, this is a first world problem. be thankful that you can still have your dvc accommodations and have that quality time with your family in Disney. what are you going to remember? the time you spent together on that trip or the discount you got on something.

Let them eat cake.....

What if you signed the paperwork for the used car with the understanding that you got the free oil changes. Then the next day they tell you that they decided to change the rules and you no longer get the oil changes? You still have the car you purchased, so you should just be happy.

 

[MSS91]

Let them eat cake.....

What if you signed the paperwork for the used car with the understanding that you got the free oil changes. Then the next day they tell you that they decided to change the rules and you no longer get the oil changes? You still have the car you purchased, so you should just be happy.

plus in this situation if you signed the contract with your perks (or got your car with the oil changes), you're being grandfathered in! you signed a binding contract before these changes went into place. no reason to be upset

 

[southerngirl528]

IF someone selling a product verbally promised something that is not in the contract, then you may have legal recourse. But the onus is on a signed contract which clearly outlines the purchase. I am assuming you have not been a member very long because if you had you would have already been through multiple perks/benefits withdrawals. Again, I get your frustration but it is unfounded. I was not a happy camper about several changes but those changes had nothing to do with what I purchased which was a timeshare.

 

[djohn06]

IF someone selling a product verbally promised something that is not in the contract, then you may have legal recourse. But the onus is on a signed contract which clearly outlines the purchase. I am assuming you have not been a member very long because if you had you would have already been through multiple perks/benefits withdrawals. Again, I get your frustration but it is unfounded. I was not a happy camper about several changes but those changes had nothing to do with what I purchased which was a timeshare.

Good point on the multiple perk withdrawals..... So many changes that you do get used to them after awhile.

The one thing I will say about the perks is, there are so many things to do as a family at WDW that don't involve perks. Many people wont even use them. I've been to Disney 5 times in past 3 years. Very rarely have the perks made a difference in my trip. Maybe I saved a few dollars here or there, but there are alternatives a person could do to save money that do not involve perks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Lyn, I'm so sorry. Especially given how you sold it to DH. TIW card being available to DVC members is still relatively new. The Epcot lounge is brand new; it's not even open yet, right? New perks...no one could have ever expected them to be taken away.

And for existing DVC members, how soon I can turnaround and sell this contract back to Disney?

They don't really have that mechanism, to sell directly back. Best you can do is put it up for sale again (you pay the resale company) and hope for a buyer or ROFR.

But maybe you can do one stay, see how you like the actual accommodations?

I'm not sure on this, but can you have a full fledged member buy a TIW card for you?

No.

Let them eat cake.....

What if you signed the paperwork for the used car with the understanding that you got the free oil changes. Then the next day they tell you that they decided to change the rules and you no longer get the oil changes? You still have the car you purchased, so you should just be happy.

Ooh, I have experience with this! In the '90s I leased a Jetta in VA. Part of my contract was free license plate registration stickers! I can't remember what VA called them. But I would get those for the 4 years of my lease!

A year later I moved. I moved to WA. I contacted them about it.

Nope. WA calls them something else. The revenue is from something else, based on something else.

No stickers/tabs for me. Stinkin' loophole. Did I lease the Jetta for the tabs? No, but it sure was going to be a cool benefit...

 

[gr8tdame]

And now, poof. I don't even know what to tell him now. Yes, we just spent $9,000 so we can be turned away and not enjoy any perks whatsoever.

This experience has soured me on Disney. On the other hand, this is definitely a cure for my Disney-itis. At this point, having just received the bad news, the excitement I had for our upcoming trip has gone out the window as well.

So, who else got shafted?

I have 2 contracts that were sent to ROFR on Mar24 --$34,000----yesterday 2 brokers assured me that I was grandfathered in. I sent them emails stating that if not to rescind my contracts as they have been devalued as I was given no prior warning that Disney was going to change the policy that was in effect when I signed the contract.
They can't change the rules in the middle of the game.
I would love to speak to Mr Potrock or write him. The last few days my Disney stock has also fallen... But I may just sell it all. I am not feeling the magic and am seriously thinking of removing Mickey and Tink from my vehicle .

 

[RaymOOOnd]

So odd to me that DVC cares so much and is maneuvering in this way just to suck people into the initial direct sale, when the money they make over the life of a contract comes overwhelmingly from annual dues and money spent by those DVC members while on their vacations. It seems that they win a small amount of money but lose loyalty and trust. Furthermore, if the resale prices fall due to this in the face of the forever-rising direct prices, I'd think direct would become an even harder sale for them.

Also - what's with people selling stocks right after they've fallen? Never understood this (no offense).

 

[wdrl]

I have 2 contracts that were sent to ROFR on Mar24 --$34,000----yesterday 2 brokers assured me that I was grandfathered in. I sent them emails stating that if not to rescind my contracts as they have been devalued as I was given no prior warning that Disney was going to change the policy that was in effect when I signed the contract.
They can't change the rules in the middle of the game.
I would love to speak to Mr Potrock or write him. The last few days my Disney stock has also fallen... But I may just sell it all. I am not feeling the magic and am seriously thinking of removing Mickey and Tink from my vehicle .

Do you think your resale brokers and the owners you are buying the deeds from will let you walk away from the transactions without penalty?

Unfortunately, I suspect the resale brokers will say that you knew, or should have known, that perks could be modified or eliminated at any time. If you go back and look through the disclosures you received prior to signing your purchase contracts, you will probably find documentation that stated perks can be discontinued at any time. The resale brokers will hold you to those disclosures and deny your request to back out of the deals without penalty.

Perhaps its unfair to say this, but I suspect the resale brokers won't mind if some clients back out of the resale transactions. The brokers and the original sellers will keep the deposit money, which can be hundreds or thousands of dollars. Then, they will turn around and sell the deeds to other buyers.

 

[Minniesgal]

So odd to me that DVC cares so much and is maneuvering in this way just to suck people into the initial direct sale, when the money they make over the life of a contract comes overwhelmingly from annual dues and money spent by those DVC members while on their vacations. It seems that they win a small amount of money but lose loyalty and trust. Furthermore, if the resale prices fall due to this in the face of the forever-rising direct prices, I'd think direct would become an even harder sale for them.

Also - what's with people selling stocks right after they've fallen? Never understood this (no offense).

Firstly DVC do not make money on annual dues these cover the cost of running the resorts. Secondly long term DVC members are low spenders on vacations. We eat less on site now, buy very few souvenirs and do a lot less park days and I think this is a general trend.

The loss of perks which change all the time even for direct is unlikely to have a significant long term effect on resale prices.

What people are missing is direct buyers have lost a lot of perks this year. TIW is no longer the savings it was this trip we might just break even and if so it will be my last TIW. AP savings are still there but a lot less than they were.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Let them eat cake.....

What if you signed the paperwork for the used car with the understanding that you got the free oil changes. Then the next day they tell you that they decided to change the rules and you no longer get the oil changes? You still have the car you purchased, so you should just be happy.

That is not what happened. There is a big difference. If they said "You get free oil changes, but we can discontinue this at any time" then it would be the same thing.

 

[amarberry]

That is not what happened. There is a big difference. If they said "You get free oil changes, but we can discontinue this at any time" then it would be the same thing.

I think what is making people frustrated isn't that they discontinued the perks, but that they discontinued the perks for a subgroup within the DVC community.

I live in a neighborhood where I pay HOA dues for perks like community pools, parks, etc. It would be pretty ridiculous if my neighborhood suddenly said that anyone who hadn't bought through the developer was suddenly ineligible to use the neighborhood amenities.

Whether DVC was purchased direct or through resale, we all continue to pay annual MFs and the points that we own were originally purchased through Disney. Why does it matter if I purchased my points through a third party? Disney has been paid the upfront cost and will continue to be paid MFs by me. I am new to this so maybe I'm missing something, but there should be no distinction through Disney between someone who bought direct and someone who bought resale. I bought a used product (with less years) at a reduced price, but so what? It's not like the points magically changed when they changed ownership.

I think it's rotten that Disney isn't grandfathering in people that are in the middle of a purchase. I think that it is unforgivable that they went back on their initial communication regarding this. I closed on our first contract at the end of March. According to the statements by Disney, I shouldn't be impacted by this policy change, but I'm still uneasy since I don't have a membership card (or number) in hand.

 

[jodifla]

I think what is making people frustrated isn't that they discontinued the perks, but that they discontinued the perks for a subgroup within the DVC community.

I live in a neighborhood where I pay HOA dues for perks like community pools, parks, etc. It would be pretty ridiculous if my neighborhood suddenly said that anyone who hadn't bought through the developer was suddenly ineligible to use the neighborhood amenities.

Whether DVC was purchased direct or through resale, we all continue to pay annual MFs and the points that we own were originally purchased through Disney. Why does it matter if I purchased my points through a third party? Disney has been paid the upfront cost and will continue to be paid MFs by me. I am new to this so maybe I'm missing something, but there should be no distinction through Disney between someone who bought direct and someone who bought resale. I bought a used product (with less years) at a reduced price, but so what? It's not like the points magically changed when they changed ownership.

I think it's rotten that Disney isn't grandfathering in people that are in the middle of a purchase. I think that it is unforgivable that they went back on their initial communication regarding this. I closed on our first contract at the end of March. According to the statements by Disney, I shouldn't be impacted by this policy change, but I'm still uneasy since I don't have a membership card (or number) in hand.

I agree about changing the rules for folks in the middle of buying, but as far as resale vs. direct, this is pretty standard in the timeshare world. From the company's point of view, why should they have to compete with those selling the same product for much less? They are in business to sell the product, and if something is cutting into their sales, it makes sense that they would sweeten the deal for those buying from them directly.

 

[DisDadDVC]

I think what is making people frustrated isn't that they discontinued the perks, but that they discontinued the perks for a subgroup within the DVC community.

I live in a neighborhood where I pay HOA dues for perks like community pools, parks, etc. It would be pretty ridiculous if my neighborhood suddenly said that anyone who hadn't bought through the developer was suddenly ineligible to use the neighborhood amenities.

Whether DVC was purchased direct or through resale, we all continue to pay annual MFs and the points that we own were originally purchased through Disney. Why does it matter if I purchased my points through a third party? Disney has been paid the upfront cost and will continue to be paid MFs by me. I am new to this so maybe I'm missing something, but there should be no distinction through Disney between someone who bought direct and someone who bought resale. I bought a used product (with less years) at a reduced price, but so what? It's not like the points magically changed when they changed ownership.

I think it's rotten that Disney isn't grandfathering in people that are in the middle of a purchase. I think that it is unforgivable that they went back on their initial communication regarding this. I closed on our first contract at the end of March. According to the statements by Disney, I shouldn't be impacted by this policy change, but I'm still uneasy since I don't have a membership card (or number) in hand.

Which they did already in 2011, so this should be no surprise.

And I agree, while DVC may be in their rights to not honor people in ROFR, a little common courtesy wouldn't kill them.

As far as "going back on their initial communication" I don't think that Disney actually changed their policy from one day to the next. I think it is just yet another example of asking 2 different employees the same question and getting 2 different answers. Disney is HORRIBLE at that.