You'll have to help me understand this one, because I don't get it. Disney Vacation Club is planning another S.S. Member Cruise for 2007, but this time there won't be a crazy free-for-all, pitting member against member in a race to get through on the phone before the ship sells out. Instead, DVC will offer two booking dates--an early opportunity for a select few and a later time for everyone else.
So how can you be among the lucky few? How can you secure yourself a spot on the ship without waiting hours in a phone queue? Well, it's simple. You apply. That's right. You head over to the DVC member site, fill out an application, and wait for the results of a "random drawing."
Oh, I forgot to mention the catch: You must be a first-time cruiser.
That's the part I don't get. Since when did Disney pass over loyal guests in favor of fresh faces? On the surface it looks like a fairness move, but come on--repeat cruisers are the ones who called early and stayed on the phone until they got through. They're the ones who planned their attack. They were motivated. They wanted to cruise, and they made it happen.
First time cruisers, the ones eligible for this random drawing, may call themselves victims, but they're not. They either didn't read the flyer or weren't interested or weren't organized enough to get the job done when it needed doing. I suspect the majority fall into the latter category. For the sake of simplicity, we'll call them the slackers. So now the question becomes this: Why is DVC rewarding slackers?
I don't think "fairness" is the real motivation. Otherwise, they would chuck the lottery and open the early date for all first-time cruisers. And don't make the mistake of believing it's another "Year of a Million Dreams" ploy. If that were the case, all members would be included in the lottery.
So what's the real reason--the one DVC won't tell you? Well, I think it's all about the PR, baby. Show the ones you're courting that you have a fair program. Show them you care about equal opportunities. Give them a nice warm sense of belonging. That way, they're more likely to sign on the dotted line.
But buyer beware! What happens when DVC extends the rationing to other areas of the program? I can see it now. Step right up folks, we're taking holiday reservations a full month before the usual booking window, but you can only do it if you've never vacationed during the holidays before. What's that you say? You want a Grand Villa? Sorry, you had one last year.
And maybe the rest of Disney will join in. Never eaten at Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast? Is it because you couldn't get yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn to make the priority seating request? Never fear, Disney's new "Be Fair to Slackers Campaign" will come to your rescue, allowing you to call Disney Dining a full week earlier than anyone else. Never had a good seat for Spectromagic or Fantasmic? Is it because you couldn't bear the thought of sitting on the curb or arriving at the theater a couple hours early? Don't worry, the "Be Fair to Slackers Campaign" will take care of you too. First time rider? Great! Head directly to the front of the line on Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, and Expedition Everest. And we have really good news for those who have never dined with characters before: We'll give you a special number to call, one just for you!
What happened to the early bird gets the worm? What happened to good planning and hard work paying off? That used to be the American way, but not anymore. These days, everyone is a victim.
You and I both know DVC had other choices. They could have instituted a fair lottery--one that gives everyone a chance, one that doesn't penalize loyal followers, one that doesn't give unfair advantage to poor planners. They could host more than one member cruise each year. They could charter both ships at the same time. They could hike the price in cash and points to a level that softens demand.
Instead, they chose the path that looks fair to newcomers, while stabbing their faithful in the back. So watch out newcomers--stick around long enough, and they'll likely aim the blade at you too!
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