Did anyone else get this email from MS?

[J-Dog]

So, this email arrived today. Not sure what it means.

Anyone else get this?

Sounds good, but I'm wondering what the catch is...

Dear ********* family, We are excited to share that Disney Vacation Club® is piloting an all-new Member Experience Specialist Team designed to enhance your Membership. You're invited to participate in this new program before arriving and during your upcoming stay at Disney's Riviera Resort, where you will have the chance to experience an elevated approach to Member Services. Along with existing pre-arrival and on-site support, the Member Experience Specialist team will help manage your vacation requests in a proactive, personalized way. 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 test program opportunity begins on 09/06/2022 and lasts through your vacation. Please respond to this email or call your Member Experience Specialist at 1-844-382-6772 to share your vacation requests with our team. We thank you for participating and helping us explore more ways to enhance your Membership. This email was sent to

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Thanks I hate it.

 

[J-Dog]

Thanks I hate it.

Huh?

What do you hate? The email? MS? Any new programs?

I'm just trying to figure out if this is actually a new program, or just some kind of promo.

And, if it is a new program, if it's going to cost us money...

 

[kristenrice]

Doesn't sound like....anything...

What is it? Just a dedicated phone line to call for leftover dining reservations (searching for scraps, basically) and any other activities that you forgot to book (or things that MS needs to fill because nobody wants to participate in them??). The tone of the e-mail sounds like a "hey, we really do care that you are coming. Let us know if you need anything"

 

[Golfjbc89]

I agree! Trying to help is a start, and perhaps they are piloting this with the DVC community before rolling it out to a broader audience. My POV is this is probably less of a need for DVC but I'm sure many families could use help if they plan trips once in a while. Anything to help with the experience is a plus!

The tone of the e-mail sounds like a "hey, we really do care that you are coming. Let us know if you need anything"

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Huh?

What do you hate? The email? MS? Any new programs?

I'm just trying to figure out if this is actually a new program, or just some kind of promo.

And, if it is a new program, if it's going to cost us money...

Doesn't sound like....anything...

What is it? Just a dedicated phone line to call for leftover dining reservations (searching for scraps, basically) and any other activities that you forgot to book (or things that MS needs to fill because nobody wants to participate in them??). The tone of the e-mail sounds like a "hey, we really do care that you are coming. Let us know if you need anything"

It sounds to me like a buy-in concierge service. It will almost certainly cost money (though the testing phase likely won't). It'll either be useless because you give up control over booking your own stuff (when most of us know better than MS reps and travel agents to begin with) or the people who buy it will get special access to rezzies, jeopardizing availability for those of us who don't.

 

[J-Dog]

Doesn't sound like....anything...

What is it? Just a dedicated phone line to call for leftover dining reservations (searching for scraps, basically) and any other activities that you forgot to book (or things that MS needs to fill because nobody wants to participate in them??). The tone of the e-mail sounds like a "hey, we really do care that you are coming. Let us know if you need anything"

Yes. I agree.

It says "respond to the email" to share "vacation requests" - not sure what that means. How am I supposed to send them vacation requests if I have no idea what services, specifically, that they provide?

I did respond to the email, basically saying that I am interested and for them to let me know what they will do for us.

I'm not holding my breath.

 

[J-Dog]

It sounds to me like a buy-in concierge service. It will almost certainly cost money (though the testing phase likely won't). It'll either be useless because you give up control over booking your own stuff (when most of us know better than MS reps and travel agents to begin with) or the people who buy it will get special access to rezzies, jeopardizing availability for those of us who don't.

That was pretty much my first thought as well.

 

[Sandisw]

I didn’t get it but I cant wait to hear more about it. I guess I see these things as little but positive ways to enhance the membership.

Even if it turns into a paid perks program, it could be something that some of us could find useful.

 

[DeeBee3]

Am I the only one who thinks this could be a phishing email?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Even if it turns into a paid perks program, it could be something that some of us could find useful.

Right but it could also dilute the experience for guests who don't bother with it. Ohana dinner is hard enough to book without them holding back reservations for DVC Concierge+.

 

[Sandisw]

Right but it could also dilute the experience for guests who don't bother with it. Ohana dinner is hard enough to book without them holding back reservations for DVC Concierge+.

I guess I see it differently because plenty of programs out there that give you extras when you pay extra.

I pay extra to fly Southwest Anytime or Business so I get the advantage of being one of the first on the plane since I have certain preferences on where I want to sit.

So, if they want to enhance the membership by offering some extras, even if some cost, I am all for it being a choice.

I mean even the extra night hours for deluxe guests has been a pay to play system…you spend more on your room and you end up enjoying the park with less crowds and fewer wait times.

But, if I could pay something to have someone book my dining reservations for me like I used to have my travel agents do? I sure would love that.

 

[DougUSMC]

So, this email arrived today. Not sure what it means.

Anyone else get this?

Sounds good, but I'm wondering what the catch is...

Dear ********* family, We are excited to share that Disney Vacation Club® is piloting an all-new Member Experience Specialist Team designed to enhance your Membership. You're invited to participate in this new program before arriving and during your upcoming stay at Disney's Riviera Resort, where you will have the chance to experience an elevated approach to Member Services. Along with existing pre-arrival and on-site support, the Member Experience Specialist team will help manage your vacation requests in a proactive, personalized way. 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 test program opportunity begins on 09/06/2022 and lasts through your vacation. Please respond to this email or call your Member Experience Specialist at 1-844-382-6772 to share your vacation requests with our team. We thank you for participating and helping us explore more ways to enhance your Membership. This email was sent to

Nope, we didn't get that one. We're not going next until January, so maybe we're outside the test period?

 

[J-Dog]

Nope, we didn't get that one. We're not going next until January, so maybe we're outside the test period?

We're going in the first week of December. The email specifically says that this program is available to us from today until the last day of our trip. So IDK what the timeline is - maybe you'll get it in a month or so?

 

[DougUSMC]

We're going in the first week of December. The email specifically says that this program is available to us from today until the last day of our trip. So IDK what the timeline is - maybe you'll get it in a month or so?

Yup, we'll keep an eye out. We went in January, and it was super challenging with rez, since a lot of places were still closed and it's all 60 day window now. I'd really appreciate something that gave us a bit more control over finding things.

 

[CarolynFH]

Am I the only one who thinks this could be a phishing email?

You could always call MS via the regular number and ask to be connected to this service or whether the phone number given is a Disney number.

 

[J-Dog]

So, I have received multiple emails back from a MS "Experience Specialist" rep, who went over a bunch of stuff.

It actually does sound like they will book all your ADR's for you. You send them a list a few days before your 60-day mark. They will also try to help with other things, like transportation, questions, etc.

If it works as it sounds, it seems like a good thing. But I absolutely think that this will be paid service when the pilot ends.

 

[J-Dog]

I just confirmed via chat with MS on the website that this is real and not a phishing scam.

 

[JGINPL]

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

 

[limace]

I feel like we are already paying extra-esp those who’ve bought direct-so I agree with CaptainAmerica.