Did anyone else get this email from MS?

[J-Dog]

Next question will be is are they offering this to any Resale Purchasers or just Blue Card Purchasers?

We are blue card - just FYI

 

[J-Dog]

The more I think about, I would probably be okay, and still use this, if it works like it sounds but costs money.

Obviously, the cost would have to be reasonable, but even if it only gets me out of waking-up at 3am Pacific time on ADR day (always on a work night, it seems) then it will be worth it to me.

 

[SL6827]

Of course it will cost. They will soon charge for dining reservations, room request, early park reservations, early LL picks, the possibilities are endless.

 

[DenLo]

Lately it seems that many of the new activities offered have a charge involved and they are all very popular and sell out fast. In the past MNSSHP never sold out most nights but now it does. Rarely was the TOTWL full of people buying drinks and food and now they offer a special experience which is really just food and drink and it's sold out. So why wouldn't a concierge type program work well with DVC members? I doubt many members on this forum would be interested but I know other members that would gladly use that service.

 

[Her Dotness]

This sounds exactly like the Club Level service Disney has had for years.

We had several ADRs we really wanted once when staying GF CL but couldn't get despite multiple tries. We asked them if they could help with those.

The CL service would keep trying up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival and notify you when they booked something.

Except, we figured out they were somewhat spread thin and only worked regular business hours. At one point, we were told they tried for us once or twice weekly. Not that much help since they got only one we really, really wanted. Better than none at all but not what we hoped for. Likely it was a "when available," too.

It was helpful up to a point, mostly for people who didn't want to be bothered booking their own ADRs and events, we concluded. Something like using a TA.

 

[J-Dog]

This sounds exactly like the Club Level service Disney has had for years.

We had several ADRs we really wanted once when staying GF CL but couldn't get despite multiple tries. We asked them if they could help with those.

The CL service would keep trying up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival and notify you when they booked something.

Except, we figured out they were somewhat spread thin and only worked regular business hours. At one point, we were told they tried for us once or twice weekly. Not that much help since they got only one we really, really wanted. Better than none at all but not what we hoped for. Likely it was a "when available," too.

It was helpful up to a point, mostly for people who didn't want to be bothered booking their own ADRs and events, we concluded. Something like using a TA.

I think my plan is to let them book my requests at 60 days, just so I don't have to get up in the middle of the night again, then use TP res finder for anything they don't manage to get.

 

[Nursemanit]

How about they focus on getting rooms ready by 4pm - and maybe have enough staff to answer the phone even if an event is going on like a member cruise? Start with offering what the members want not a new way to charge.

 

[Brian Noble]

It sounds to me like a buy-in concierge service.

It might instead be more akin to what Disney specialist travel agents do, as a way to help either (a) differentiate the onsite experience or (b) reduce the difference between cash bookings (where an agent will do things for you) and a DVC point reservation (where there is no intermediary getting the commission and doing the work).

If it is "free" the more interesting question is who gets it (and, therefore, who pays for it). If it is any DVC guest, the costs will be charged to the resort operating budget and it will get folded into dues. If it is only the Blue Card members staying on points for their own use, then it will come out of DVD's marketing budget.

I can see a case for the latter. Maybe.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It might instead be more akin to what Disney specialist travel agents do, as a way to help either (a) differentiate the onsite experience or (b) reduce the difference between cash bookings (where an agent will do things for you) and a DVC point reservation (where there is no intermediary getting the commission and doing the work).

What sorts of things? A DVC member can call 407-WDW-DINE just the same as a cash guest can.

 

[Huskerpaul]

What sorts of things? A DVC member can call 407-WDW-DINE just the same as a cash guest can.

Maybe this is related to the Disney Prime idea the corporate honchos have been talking about?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Maybe this is related to the Disney Prime idea the corporate honchos have been talking about?

It's not.

 

[kes601]

Maybe this is related to the Disney Prime idea the corporate honchos have been talking about?

Sounds more to me like the paid benefits program that was rumored a couple or so months ago. There's a thread or two around somewhere about it -- and I'm too lazy to find it right now.

 

[Vulnox]

Geez, for how much this board complains about perks being stripped away, it's wild how the second something positive even pokes its head out there are comments from the same people saying they hate it or it will just be this or just be that.

I get Disney doesn't have a perfect track record, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to state assumptions as fact that they will charge for it, hold back reservations for it, or do anything other than offer an extra level of service to help differentiate DVC from just a pre-paid room service.

Again, not saying it won't be what people in here think it might be, but too many are stating it as fact and making leaps not even remotely presented by the email. I hope we get the offer, we go in November but haven't received anything so far. We haven't had enough trips to Disney to think we can do things better than this service, so if they want to offer us a bit more help in what is going to be the most complex Disney trip we have ever had, by far, then I guess I want to be optimistic about this.

 

[pianomanzano]

What sorts of things? A DVC member can call 407-WDW-DINE just the same as a cash guest can.

Some will make dining reservations for you, including finding and booking those hard to get reservations (those email/texting from ***********, touring plans, etc are pretty much useless now since they’re gone seconds after you get the alert). Some will also buy your genie+, book ILL at 7am for you, and/or create customized itineraries. I doubt Disney would provide all of that but even prioritized booking for ADRs would be great, because calling any 407 and waiting for hours on hold is a pain.

 

[Nursemanit]

Geez, for how much this board complains about perks being stripped away, it's wild how the second something positive even pokes its head out there are comments from the same people saying they hate it or it will just be this or just be that.

I get Disney doesn't have a perfect track record, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to state assumptions as fact that they will charge for it, hold back reservations for it, or do anything other than offer an extra level of service to help differentiate DVC from just a pre-paid room service.

Again, not saying it won't be what people in here think it might be, but too many are stating it as fact and making leaps not even remotely presented by the email. I hope we get the offer, we go in November but haven't received anything so far. We haven't had enough trips to Disney to think we can do things better than this service, so if they want to offer us a bit more help in what is going to be the most complex Disney trip we have ever had, by far, then I guess I want to be optimistic about this.

1. If they designed systems and software correctly we would not need help.

2. The only place they can get reservations for you is by taking some out of the available ADR pool. So soon we will have less availability and have to pay for reservations.

We know this is what they are thinking because of their past behavior. The same thing happened with Fastpass and naive people were saying " but they are free, why complain?" And now you have to pay

How many times does Lucy have to yank the football?

This is all in line with the "less people in the parks paying more " plan that Disney is promoting

 

[nlenguyen]

I would be interested to see how far the testing period goes for

 

[Brian Noble]

What sorts of things? A DVC member can call 407-WDW-DINE just the same as a cash guest can.

Some travel agents who specialize in Disney will do the calling/dealing with the website at midnight at 60 days/whatever for you. Same with tours, planning in-room floral/gift basket delivery, or whatever. Some people like that.

DISers are not usually those people. We tend to be a DIY sort of group.

 

[Genie+]

To ensure that you arrive with ease and while on-property, this dedicated team can assist with dining reservations when available, search for recreation availabilities, organize your special events and so much more!

This sounds like the stuff a travel agent would do. Once you go DVC you lose that.

So maybe it’s to help sway potential buyers that don’t want to lose service TA services.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think my plan is to let them book my requests at 60 days, just so I don't have to get up in the middle of the night again, then use TP res finder for anything they don't manage to get.

This sounds like the stuff a travel agent would do. Once you go DVC you lose that.

Like with travel agents I don't trust them to put the priority on my requests that I put on them. I would never trust them to do my day 60 reservations and I doubt they would be open to booking 2 or 3 times at the same restaurant so I can choose once the trip gets closer.

 

[sethschroeder]

1. If they designed systems and software correctly we would not need help.

I should look up my post from a couple years back regarding the improvements to just the room booking system that stemmed from a discussion regarding how DVC should let you pick the specific room you want (like Hilton).

Heck for dining reservations you should put in your priority list anytime prior to 60 days and then at 4am it books everything (randomizing overlapping request priority) and then at 4:30am it opens to general booking requests.