Is Your Business The ‘Popular Girl’ At School?
Do you remember high school? If so, you probably remember the ‘it’ girl. She was the girl that every guy wanted to date and that every girl wanted to be. While high school maybe over, we are still chasing the popular girl at school. In the business world, being the ‘popular girl’ comes with the same perks as being in high school. People still open doors for you and asking for help on ‘homework’ is still easy. While not everyone will like you, in one way or another, most will either want to be you or be associated with you. As a business, one should ask themselves if they are the ‘popular girl’ or if they are the ones chasing then.
Meet The ‘Popular Girls’ At School
In each ’school’ or market their is a different ‘it’ girl. In the entertainment industry for example, one could argue that Disney is ‘it,’ and when it comes to information and technology that Google is at the head of the class. While their are plenty of businesses that feel that they deserve a piece of the pie, what it comes down to is who is sitting at the head of the table. (more…)
You Are A Superhero
Do you work 9-5, have a family to take care of at home and feel like the world is on your shoulders? If so you might be a superhero. Don’t believe me? Well I don’t know if I would either. As a child I learned from watching Saturday morning cartoons and reading comic books that superhero’s were these ‘god-like’ characters that would save the girl and defeat the bad guy. They didn’t have families, they didn’t have jobs, they were just superheroes.
In the 2004 Disney blockbuster hit, The Incredibles, we are introduced to the Parr Family. The Parr’s are a reflection of the average American family in that they face many of the same issues that family’s face. From the struggle to spend quality time with family to money issues, The Parr’s resemble a ‘real-life’ family that most people can relate too. As we all know though, Disney puts a twist to it all. The Parr’s are actually superheroes trying to fit into society. The movie may seem like another made for kids movie, but it has a deeper meaning to it. While its messages may not be as obvious as such movies such as Crash, it is able to connect with society based on its stereotypes and social messages.
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Disney Vacation Club: Best Timeshare?
For many of us, our first formal introduction to the Disney family was through television. From the early morning cartoons that entertained us for countless hours, to the small fortune we spent on Mickey Mouse dolls, most of us have in some way been part of the Disney experience. Today, having established themselves as one of the leaders in family entertainment, Disney has positioned themselves to take the lead in “vacation memberships.”
Started in 1991, the Disney Vacation Club was founded on using the basic ideas of ‘timeshares’ but with a different approach. Staying true to the Disney tradition of quality, hospitality, and creativity, Disney has turned the Disney Vacation Club into one of the top timeshares in the world.
How does it work?
Similar to timeshare, the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) allows members to purchase ‘points’ that they can use toward there stay at any DVC resort. This is just one way that Disney has been able to seperate themselves from other timeshares. In the past, when an individual would purchase a timeshare they would have to set a date for which they would travel during that year. If they did not travel during that time during the year, in essence they would have paid for nothing that year. For the DVC, they allow you to ‘roll over’ your points to the next year.
So for example, if Mickey Mouse decides to buy 150 Points, then each year for the duration of the timeshare, he will pay X amount for 150 points each year. If he doesn’t use the points, he can transfer or ‘bank’ his points, as is the term used by DVC, to the next year to be accumulated. For the family that knows they will be having a large family reunion at Disneyworld, this is a great way to save money on accommodations.
Another great part of the DVC is that you can take multiple trips during the year as long as you have points. Also, if you don’t have enough, Disney allows you to borrow points from the next year.
Disney has broken each of there resorts down based on point values. Some resorts for example may only need 20 points a night during June 10-15, while another resort may require more or less. Cost wise, the ‘points per night’ is less than if you were to book the rooms on your own with no DVC.
Only Disney Hotels?
Another great part of the Disney Vacation Club is that Disney offers accommodations at more than 500 different hotels around the world not including there own Disney Resorts. Points may also be used on the Disney Cruise line.
Best Deal?
For the family that is looking for a way to save money on family trips, or even the family or couple that is just looking to travel, the Disney Vacation Club offers all of us a chance to be part of the Disney Family. From there affordable packages to there Disney promise of quality and innovation, Disney has re-invented the idea of a timeshare, and turned it into a ‘vacation club.’