Summer experience/perk DVC teaser **Welcome Home Weeks**

[tjkraz]

Year of a Million Dreams...that's what it was. I don't think they gave out anything really expensive, but it was feel good stuff. I should think if they did something similar just for DVC, they could do this for a lot more members than Moonlight Magic, and probably cheaper. As I said, I like moonlight magic, it's great! But doing the little giveaways could share a little bit of magic with a lot more members. Kind of like giving out the character magnets for the Annual Passholders. I know they probably cost less than $1 each in bulk, but they still bring a smile to my face.

Kinda like the MagicBand sliders, magnets, pins, collectible coins and other items DVC has been giving away regularly for the past 18 months?

 

[Chuck S]

Kinda like the MagicBand sliders, magnets, pins, collectible coins and other items DVC has been giving away regularly for the past 18 months?

Yes, but just maybe make it a bit more of public thing, make kind of a big deal out of it, for marketing. So far, it's been a pretty low-key give away.

BTW, I remember the OLD sliders, that barely lasted one trip before falling a part. These new thicker ones are much sturdier.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Yes, but just maybe make it a bit more of public thing, make kind of a big deal out of it, for marketing. So far, it's been a pretty low-key give away.

BTW, I remember the OLD sliders, that barely lasted one trip before falling a part. These new thicker ones are much sturdier.

So, we will be new members for our next trip. I feel super awkward walking up to the desk like "hey do you have any free stuff" lol...what's the usual interaction around these?

 

[crvetter]

So, we will be new members for our next trip. I feel super awkward walking up to the desk like "hey do you have any free stuff" lol...what's the usual interaction around these?

I just walk up and ask if they have any DVC member swag. Generally they just offer it up with no interaction. Occasionally they ask for you phone number to make sure you have a Guide assigned to you. That is the end of it always for me.

Though I've been trying to collect all the DVC prints of the resorts possible. So I just go up and ask what prints they have available if any.

 

[carlbarry]

They have other prints besides the Riveria? I must have 6 Riviera prints.

 

[zavandor]

I think part of the problem here is that their marketing ROI for membership perks get worse every year (until 2042) as membership grows. There are just too many of us!

When they only had a couple of resorts, member perks weren't that expensive, and the marketing value of those perks were relatively high. Using rough for the sake of illustration, if you give a perk to 25,000 original OKW members, but if helps you attract 18,000 new BWV members, that's not bad!

But if you have grown to 200,000 members by the time PVB opens, the cost of providing those perks has gone up 8x, and the marketing value that it generates probably hasn't: you're attracting about 18,000 new members to buy PVB. The monetary value is higher, thanks to higher-than-inflation price increases and steeper point charts, but it isn't necessarily 8x higher, adjusting for inflation. And management isn't going to 8x the marketing budget! Likely, a more-or-less flat budget is being shared across an ever-growing membership base until it feels thin, stretched, like butter spread over too much bread. (Sorry for the LotR reference; can't stop, won't stop.)

I'm glad we get these perks, but I'm also very aware that they already have my money, and the primary purpose of these perks is for them to be able to make videos and brochures enticing the next round of members, with a secondary goal of getting me to add on more points, or at least making me an enthusiastic brand ambassador for my friends and family. I'll take it!

I am a member since 2012 and currently the members perks are the best ever. When I joined there was only the AP discount and a list of a few unpopular restaurants giving 10% discount for lunch only. Merchandise discount, 10% almost at every restaurant, Moonlight Magic, free lounge(s) and now this are all recent innovations.
Sure, at the beginning there were the free tickets, but those weren't perks, they were buying incentives: instead of a bigger discount they gave out free tickets. And valet parking has been canceled, that's the only perk I can think of that has disappeared.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

What a let down....but no surprise there.

I’m always surprised by this take. How is something we were never promised but are being given as a pure additional perk (perks, in fact), a let down? Most of the offerings are free, too, not just discounted.

 

[crvetter]

They have other prints besides the Riveria? I must have 6 Riviera prints.

I have VDH, VGC, RIV, RIV Special from DS, and Aulani. I want to find a CCV print badly, which I believe exists somewhere (I keep meaning to ask when at WL someday but always forget).

I think a lot of the newer resorts (VGF and forward) have had a print, but I could be mistaken

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

They have other prints besides the Riveria? I must have 6 Riviera prints.

I have 2-3 RIV ones too. But I did get an Aulani one when visiting the DVC center at VGC a few months ago!

 

[carlbarry]

I am a member since 2012 and currently the members perks are the best ever. When I joined there was only the AP discount and a list of a few unpopular restaurants giving 10% discount for lunch only. Merchandise discount, 10% almost at every restaurant, Moonlight Magic, free lounge(s) and now this are all recent innovations.
Sure, at the beginning there were the free tickets, but those weren't perks, they were buying incentives: instead of a bigger discount they gave out free tickets. And valet parking has been canceled, that's the only perk I can think of that has disappeared.

I'm a member since 20210. One of the biggest perks was Welcome Home Wednesday. A lot of members hated it, but I thought it was fun.

 

[Chuck S]

So, we will be new members for our next trip. I feel super awkward walking up to the desk like "hey do you have any free stuff" lol...what's the usual interaction around these?

Well, when I got the slider, I was in the OKW lobby with a traveling comanion who was chabging the credit card linked to his magic band. Both of my previous Guides had retired from DVC, and the lady at the DVC Desk initiated a conversation by asking who my guide is, she said they had retired, introduced herself and asked if I'd like her to be my new guide. and gave me the slider. We chatted about DVC, how many points I have, and so forth in a pleasant conversation for about 5 minutes. That was it.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm a member since 20210. One of the biggest perks was Welcome Home Wednesday. A lot of members hated it, but I thought it was fun.

It wasn't awful. But it was always at BoardWalk, so there was a not insignificant travel requirement for most on-site guests wanting to attend. It became a magnet for locals who came for the snacks, and to get on stage and try to win larger prizes. Honestly, the DVC lounges serve a similar purpose these days. Free drinks, free snacks and everyone in the room is a member if you want to try and mingle.

 

[Chuck S]

It wasn't awful. But it was always at BoardWalk, so there was a not insignificant travel requirement for most on-site guests wanting to attend. It became a magnet for locals who came for the snacks, and to get on stage and try to win larger prizes. Honestly, the DVC lounges serve a similar purpose these days. Free drinks, free snacks and everyone in the room is a member if you want to try and mingle.

Didn't each resort used to have their own member meet and greet type meeting, before they centralized it at Boardwalk? I remmeber a meet and greet at OKW where they gave out some swag, but I only went once, because I was always doing something else.

I'm guessing, from a points sales stand point, individual meetings took to much guide time.

 

[tjkraz]

Didn't each resort used to have their own member meet and greet type meeting, before they centralized it at Boardwalk? I remmeber a meet and greet at OKW where they gave out some swag, but I only went once, because I was always doing something else.

I'm guessing, from a points sales stand point, individual meetings took to much guide time.

I don't remember multiple meetings, though the location did change from time to time. Everything I can find indicates that WHW was held at Atlantic Dance Hall from at least 2010 until it ended in 2015. When Saratoga Springs first opened, it was held in the Performance Hall for a while. That would have been around 2005. I remember attending the meeting and being escorted over to one of the Grand Villas for a tour. (Back when there were only 4 buildings open at SSR, and before they had rooms available for touring at every resort.)

My memory is fuzzy from '05 - '10.

They did occasional member gatherings at Top of the World Lounge. I don't think those were ever branded as WHW. Because it's a small space, I think some advance registration or invitation was required.

 

[carlbarry]

I don't remember multiple meetings, though the location did change from time to time. Everything I can find indicates that WHW was held at Atlantic Dance Hall from at least 2010 until it ended in 2015. When Saratoga Springs first opened, it was held in the Performance Hall for a while. That would have been around 2005. I remember attending the meeting and being escorted over to one of the Grand Villas for a tour. (Back when there were only 4 buildings open at SSR, and before they had rooms available for touring at every resort.)

My memory is fuzzy from '05 - '10.

They did occasional member gatherings at Top of the World Lounge. I don't think those were ever branded as WHW. Because it's a small space, I think some advance registration or invitation was required.

I'm a member since 2010. One time when I was staying at Jambo, there was a party there for DVC. Also, when I stayed at VGC in January 2010, there was a DVC party.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Well, we are looking forward to taking advantage of it in July, and then my DS and his family will have the opportunity to take advantage during some of their trip...we don't join them until after this ends.

At least, DVC is attempting to add little things...maybe, its just the start and some better ones are around the corner!

It's a one time only...

 

[Cabius]

Latest news is that they are shortening park hours and cancelling extended fireworks on July 4th. My guess is bookings this summer are soooffftttt and that may also be part of why they're adding some more perks like this.

I wonder if they've reached the limits of milking pent-up demand and charging more and more for less and less.

 

[Sandisw]

It's a one time only...

He is on one membership and I have another so I won’t take his options away in July when I go.

And, yes, the 20% is one order only but as a family of 4, they will be able to cover one meal and that savings will be nice, along with the ice cream for the 4 of them…not to mention that extra characters. And the ice cream at DS is once per week.

So, while it may not be amazing, it’s a few little things that will be nice.

 

[Chuck S]

Latest news is that they are shortening park hours and cancelling extended fireworks on July 4th. My guess is bookings this summer are soooffftttt and that may also be part of why they're adding some more perks like this.

The WDW Website is showing regular hours at MK July 3 and 4 Closing at 11pm. Extra Magic Hours for Deluxe and DVC guests July 3, to early morning 1am July 4. And while not showing on calendar, they are still saying special fireworks on the website. With happily ever after the rest of the week at 9:20

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I’m always surprised by this take. How is something we were never promised but are being given as a pure additional perk (perks, in fact), a let down? Most of the offerings are free, too, not just discounted.

Well with how many weeks it spans and how little it is....and the very random select dates it is....

Sure they don't have to do it, but they could also do things better if they wanted