Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort - *2 New Parties Added! “Enchantment at the Top” & New “Bound to Be Bad” Dates Added

[Jenglish13]

It's been well established that DVD can offer perks and discounts to whomever they please.

This whole discussion boils down to money. Some who purchased resale contracts want the same perks and benefits as those who purchased direct. They chose to pay less than those who purchased direct. It's about the money.

No, that's an oversimplification and mischaracterization. This issue has really come down to non blue card BLT resale owners specifically being restricted from a facility within their home resort. (Welcome home! Really?) The mechanics, logistics, legalities and motives behind it have been sufficiently explained and noted and understood and we feel about it how we feel about it.

I never felt or expressed surprise or displeasure from not having EPCOT lounge access or moonlight magic or discounts or any other blue card perk that exists now or may exist in the future. Just at this and only this because I'm a dues paying member at BLT. I had what I thought was a common sense assumption that has turned out to be faulty. I think I have the perspective of an outsider/new member whereas many of you are veterans and ingrained with the culture, rules and motives of DVD so you accept the policies in a more matter of fact kind of way. And I'm full of righteous indignation and ready to lead a civil disobedience campaign to protest this gross miscarriage of justice! (See, I can mock myself too!) I've gotten teased about not getting over it which is part of the fun of these boards. I'm over the lounge access, but not the principle behind it.

It's kinda weird coming to terms with the fact that as a resale buyer you spend a lot of money on a product that is produced by a company that is not simply indifferent to you but specifically resents you and will go out of its way to reduce the quality of your product in order to enhance the product for those that buy it directly from them. Thankfully, from what I understand, there is now nothing else left they can take.

You are right about one thing, it's all about the money. Ain't that the truth!

 

[pianomanzano]

Indeed you are correct, but in doing so they created somewhat of a class wafare.
I always thought was a bit below what Disney stood for.

Equating access to a lounge and other meaningless perks as class warfare, it doesn't get any 1% than that!

And Disney catered to different groups of people. Just look at club 33 or the 109k/person ABD that was sold out before it was available to the general public. When are we proletariats storming the Bastille to get access to club 33?

 

[Jenglish13]

Yeah there is a breed of CM at Disney that loves the small power trip they receive in their roles so they probably will be fine. Sometimes I am amazed that those people exist and thrive for such a long time doing that role ha

Are these stone cold, just-following-orders agents susceptible to Jedi mind tricks by any chance?

 

[CarolMN]

No, that's an oversimplification and mischaracterization. This issue has really come down to non blue card BLT resale owners specifically being restricted from a facility within their home resort. (Welcome home! Really?) The mechanics, logistics, legalities and motives behind it have been sufficiently explained and noted and understood and we feel about it how we feel about it.

Of course, one can feel how one feels and doesn't need to apologize for it!

But we will have to agree to disagree about the rest. DVD is leasing the commercial space from Disney Resorts. It's about some members who bought resale that DVD chose not to offer a perk that those resale members apparently value. If they buy 150 points direct, they will be offered the perk. It's about the money.

It's no different than "The ATTIC" at the BWV. That's also a commercial unit that was once available to Members and anyone staying at the BWI/BWV. Now it's not. It's leased to, & operated by, Resorts/Food & Beverage And it's pretty much always booked solid for private events.

 

[BL2020]

Does anyone know what percentage of existing contracts are resale vs direct? I know this is a moving target, but is there an estimate? Maybe they are trying to keep a certain ratio through these incentives as well as enforcing ROFR. They have a pretty good plan long term by limiting access to other resorts when resold, but there are still decades of legacy properties to be had. In the meantime, their options are somewhat limited.

 

[Jenglish13]

I'm strongly in camp "they can do anything they want and no one should be surprised." But, I also think that there is more to it than that---partly because of what Disney is as an entity, and specifically how the company messages around DVC.

Disney is a company that makes money by selling happy emotions. It's pretty easy to go from that to "Disney wants me, personally, to be happy." Unfortunately, Disney doesn't care about me individually. Disney only cares about whether or not they have a sufficiently large customer base to justify their capital investments in theme parks, cruise ships, and blockbuster movies. DVC takes this idea one step further, by explaining that owners aren't just timeshare owners, they are Members. They belong. They are not just visiting WDW, they are welcomed home.

Most anyone who become more than casual customers of the Mouse will find themselves taken by the (mistaken) idea that Disney cares about them and wants them, specifically, to be happy. I suspect this is even more common among DVC owners. But, inevitably, the Mouse makes a pricing or offering decision that person doesn't like, and suddenly they are faced with the reality that Disney doesn't care about them. Disney only cared about their money. And, if they decide to leave Disney, the company will shrug and move on to the next person.

And there will always be a next person. The world keeps making new families with pre-school to school-aged kids, and those families still believe that a trip to the Disney theme parks is a rite of passage. Some of those families will be so taken by the experience that they will buy DVC. The wheel keeps turning.

So, yes, it is about the money. But, in many cases, it is also about the disillusionment and cognitive dissonance that arises when one recognizes that Mickey doesn't love them back after all.

100%. There's a sense of jaded disillusionment at what some of us thought the brand still represented a little bit of. I suppose we're naive. Ironically I found this in my mailbox today. Hooray I got my key to the magic! But I guess they changed the lock at totwl!

ETA - and my first official email from DVC wasn't some maudlin gushy message about being welcomed home or magic and pixie dust but a solicitation to buy direct points at VGF! That's pretty funny!

 

[tjkraz]

Is it amazing that dvc just takes away things is charging more for things. Keeps raising direct pricing !! if they want to compete with resale then stop pricing the sold out resorts so high and more people would buy direct!

It's a little more complicated than that.

DVC isn't a manufactured product where the supply can be easily adjusted to meet demand. We aren't selling widgets, here. There are a finite number of locations which can accommodate DVC villas around WDW. Plus every consumer who buys into DVC is potentially lost business on the hotel side.

If you lower DVC retail prices to $100 per point, maybe you sell twice as many points. But then you're building twice as many hotels and losing cash customers twice as fast. Not a great combination.

Additionally, long-term pricing pressure from resale is unavoidable due to the expiring nature of contracts. It's only going to get worse in the coming years. There will always be buyers who would prefer to make only a 15-20 year commitment to DVC. To those people, buying resale at OKW or BWV (end in 2042) would be much cheaper than any direct price with 50 years of ownership. The member perk distinction gives DVC the ability to market something tangible which can only be obtained when buying direct.

 

[pianomanzano]

If it makes white card members feel any better, Disney resumed sales for the sorcerer pass for 30 minutes before taking it away again. So they know how to stick it to blue card members too!

 

[Jenglish13]

Just for the record... There really is nothing else they can take away, can they? I joked about restricting the walking path to MK. Someone else joked that Murphy beds can now only be lowered for blue card members (that's funny!). But they can't tamper with anything else, can they? Parking? Pools, etc.? Sandi please tell me the mean mouse can't hurt me anymore!

 

[bobbiwoz]

If it makes white card members feel any better, Disney resumed sales for the sorcerer pass for 30 minutes before taking it away again. So they know how to stick it to blue card members too!

Did they actually go on sale?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Equating access to a lounge and other meaningless perks as class warfare, it doesn't get any 1% than that!

And Disney catered to different groups of people. Just look at club 33 or the 109k/person ABD that was sold out before it was available to the general public. When are we proletariats storming the Bastille to get access to club 33?

Club 33 does not pertain to the masses.

 

[TraderStitch]

Wait for that incoming DVD strikes Annual pass deal for Direct DVC buyers notification lol

 

[hilltopper152]

Just for the record... There really is nothing else they can take away, can they? I joked about restricting the walking path to MK. Someone else joked that Murphy beds can now only be lowered for blue card members (that's funny!). But they can't tamper with anything else, can they? Parking? Pools, etc.? Sandi please tell me the mean mouse can't hurt me anymore!

I think she said the only thing left is maybe pool hopping but not sure they have the manpower to enforce that in truth but if they were to spend money on something it would be to lessen the experience (being funny). Ideally everything else left that can go away would affect both class of DVC member I believe. The murphy bed and sidewalk both make me laugh every time ha.

 

[tjkraz]

I got married at WDW in March and the Attic was one of our venue choices for a welcome party. Ultimately we went with the Grand Floridian, but I can tell you the Attic was full for brunches and receptions most of the days we looked at. And that is $$$ for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings. It would probably be difficult to allow any kind of access when there are constantly private events scheduled.

Agree. The idea that DVC could take over The Attic was 100% speculative on my part.

There were a lot of people who once believed / assumed Top of the World Lounge would eventually become a reception venue; that members might retain fireworks viewing access a handful of nights per week with days and some nights available for rental. That never happened. In a similar vein, DVC could rent some / all nights at The Attic and use it for member events. But there's no real reason to believe that's ever been considered.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It’s not about what Disney/dvd/Dvc CAN do, it’s about what those entities doing what is right.

Disney is an extremely accepting company in so many ways… until it comes to the folks that cannot quite afford all the extra expense.

Yes, most here can afford a direct purchase, but that extra expense may be the detriment of a college tuition, a home improvement, or retirement.
Funds are not unlimited for most folks.

 

[Sandisw]

No, that's an oversimplification and mischaracterization. This issue has really come down to non blue card BLT resale owners specifically being restricted from a facility within their home resort. (Welcome home! Really?) The mechanics, logistics, legalities and motives behind it have been sufficiently explained and noted and understood and we feel about it how we feel about it.

I never felt or expressed surprise or displeasure from not having EPCOT lounge access or moonlight magic or discounts or any other blue card perk that exists now or may exist in the future. Just at this and only this because I'm a dues paying member at BLT. I had what I thought was a common sense assumption that has turned out to be faulty. I think I have the perspective of an outsider/new member whereas many of you are veterans and ingrained with the culture, rules and motives of DVD so you accept the policies in a more matter of fact kind of way. And I'm full of righteous indignation and ready to lead a civil disobedience campaign to protest this gross miscarriage of justice! (See, I can mock myself too!) I've gotten teased about not getting over it which is part of the fun of these boards. I'm over the lounge access, but not the principle behind it.

It's kinda weird coming to terms with the fact that as a resale buyer you spend a lot of money on a product that is produced by a company that is not simply indifferent to you but specifically resents you and will go out of its way to reduce the quality of your product in order to enhance the product for those that buy it directly from them. Thankfully, from what I understand, there is now nothing else left they can take.

You are right about one thing, it's all about the money. Ain't that the truth!

I am happy you are coming to terms with the realities and at least have been able to find a small bit of humor..the Batman and Robin picture?? OMG. Lol

But, again, how is this any different than Toppolinos for me as a RIV owner?

A reservation is what is needed and if I don’t have it, no matter how much I paid for DVC, I can’t enter.

TOTWL lounge is now BLTs Toppolinos. It requires a “reservation “ which is open ended. And what is that “reservation”? A DVC Y notation in your Magic Mobile pass.

ETA: And it’s not about the fact that at least we all can try to to Toppolinos..the end result is the same. As an owner there I get absolutely no priority over any other person, including cash guests, to go in without the necessary reservation.

 

[DonMacGregor]

It’s not about what Disney/dvd/Dvc CAN do, it’s about what those entities doing what is right.

Disney is an extremely liberal company in so many ways… until it comes to the folks that cannot quite afford all the extra expense.

Yes, most here can afford a direct purchase, but that extra expense may be the detriment of a college tuition, a home improvement, or retirement.
Funds are not unlimited for most folks.

That's a bit extreme, don't you think?

That's like going into the Mercedes dealership and saying "Hey, I can afford that C-Class over there, but in order to get an AMG I'm gonna need to tap into junior's college fund. That's not fair." Now we're saying we feel cheated because the luxury item we CAN afford seems somewhat less fulfilling than one we CAN'T afford (or aren't willing to pay for)?

If you can afford to buy resale, but making the jump to direct means actually contemplating robbing you kid's chance at a college education, then the issue really isn't spending thousands on an absolutely, 100% totally unnecessary Disney vacation timeshare is it? This isn't about a family scraping together enough money for a single, lifetime trip to Disney World, it's about a completely aspirational purchase of a product that not a single solitary one of us actually "needs".

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

And I get why people are upset, especially those who really had no idea how it was structured.

I have a feeling we will start seeing more member only spots pop up around the resorts.

I've wondered about Reunion Station for some time.

 

[Sandisw]

I've wondered about Reunion Station for some time.

Oh…I wonder if we may see a new lounge for that!!!

But, that is just another example of how every DVC resort has spaces that can be used for a lounge.

 

[tjkraz]

I had to go back and look at my old notes but in 2018, Reunion Station hosted several paid activities which were limited to DVC members who qualified for Membership Magic. There were also plans for a nightly reception for qualified owners but that was oddly abandoned before it started.

https://dvcnews.com/resorts/villas-...4/4106-reunion-station-opening-date-confirmed