$95 fee and MS comments

[Donna]

I know that every member uses their points differently, so I'm sorry for the members that this affects negatively.

Good point! I agree that for most of the non dvc disney resorts, it's no deal but just nice to know you can do it if you want.
in MY case, we will sometimes use our points to stay at Ft. Wilderness in our RV. What a bargain at 6 pts a (sun-thurs) night! The cash equivalent is usually more than that depending on the season. i will pay cash anywhere from $40-55 a night. It just seems so defeating to have to pay the $95 BACK to disney (on top of using my pts) when i could get a couple more nights out of that.
I would usually do a week on points...weekend on cash...another week on points. doing this will now cost me an extra $190, more than half of the cost of an AP! I don't see us staying in the DVC resorts as much anymore and now with this new fee, it might be time to sell contract #4 of 4.

 

[fkj2]

I love the Poly, but not enough to use that many points to exchange into it. When I was younger and less cognizant of point values, I did exchange into the GF and the CR, mostly because that's where the children wanted to stay. I'm not tempted to do so at this point.

As others noted, it seems like it should be enough for Disney to "charge" those hefty point values for exchanges into the World Resorts without adding a $95 booking fee. If they felt that HAD to charge something, a nominal $25 should cover the five phone calls or whatever that the exchange entails.

It would be interesting to know how many members do exchange into other WDW entitites. DVC has sold a lot of points, and if those members pull out of WDW resorts and return "home," that'll make booking a resort even more difficult. You may as well write the autumn months off now unless you book at the 11 month window, as well as the December/X-mas/NY time frame, the January marathon, MLK weekend, President's Day weekend, Spring Breaks, Easter...really, I guess much may not be open all year through at this rate. At least when some people exchanged out, it allowed other members to book at the DVCs. If members can't book at the DVC resorts, that'll create yet a different problem for Member Services.

 

[LIFERBABE]

No, staying at Disney Resorts is not a good deal, but that is not the point. The point is DVC will continue to nickel and dime us like this as long as we stand for it. This may not affect you right now, but other changes are coming and they will touch all of us.

And fact is, Jim Lewis wants to get rid of all trading collections and this is just the beginning.

I stayed at CSR 1 night on points in June. There was zero availability at any DVC. I used 19 points to stay and it was worth it to me, because I needed a room and a ride and I wanted somewhere relatively safe and comfortable.

This is not about how we value our DVC, it is about the value of DVC itself.

It's about DVC being a cut above most traditional timeshares, (the ones I would not give the time of day no matter what they offered).

We have 17 contracts and we will most likely sell all but 2 because I really dont want to be left holding the empty bag with an 11 month window and an extra 15 years.

I will be the first to praise DVC and the magic they deliver, but when they start delivering coal, I will speak up then too.

And anyone would be a fool to purchase anything major without doing research, and just like I googled DVC and found the DIS, many others are doing the same. It was the member satisfaction that made us purchase DVC, not our guide, the models, or the $10 off per point.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I started the process to sell two of my five today. After talking to MS tomorrow, we might be listing two more. Then we'll see about the last one.

Pass the coal hod, Liferbabe. I'm with you.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I can't say this is making me feel good about buying into DVC. We've been on the fence now for a while, and patiently waiting for a DL DVC to purchase, but with all the nickle and diming going on (the "new" crummy DDP, tickets going up every year, hotel rates going up every year, pretty much everything going up every year, and now this) well, it's putting a bad taste in our mouths about Disney in general. And with all the IN YOUR FACE advertising, it's almost sickening.

I was looking at our confirmation for a standard room at the Paradise Pier for last October. The standard room rate without any kind of discount was $165 per night. This year, the same standard room rate for October at the Paradise Pier is $225 per night. It went up $60 per night!

I know that doesn't have anything to do with DVC, but it gives an overall picture of Disney, and although we make a comfortable living, I'm sorry to say that we think it's getting a bit ridiculous.

I'll part with my money if I think it's a good value. I'm certainly am NOT going to invest in a bottomless pit!

 

[Doug7856]

On balance, I guess the fees are not that outrageous a change. What bothers me the most is the way Jim Lewis called the changes "simplicity". Here is my letter to DVC:

Dear DVC,

Today we received our Vacation Magic and I excitedly ripped open the envelope to read this GREAT publication. We look forward to every issue! However, page two really disappointed me. I believe the article by Jim Lewis, “Policy changes enhance the simplicity of Membership” really doesn’t pass the “truth in advertising” claim.

Here are my concerns:

1. The reduction of the banking window really is a reduced benefit. I believe it will severely limit our desire to book stays late in our use year because of the inability to cancel and bank the final 25% of our points. I am disappointed in this change; however, it is not a deal breaker and we can live with the changes.
2. The INCREASE in certain fees from $75 to $95 is a cost of doing business, and again under normal circumstances I would just live with the change (although I find any fee for the Disney Collection to be just outrageous and makes that option worthless – a decrease in the value of our membership). What bothers me is that this FEE INCREASE is identified as a change to “enhance the simplicity of membership.” I never thought of DVC as “used car salesmen” or like the timeshare sleaze that populate the timeshare universe; but this slick attempt to disguise a fee increase and the imposition of an outrageous NEW fee for the Disney Collection as an “encance[ment]" of our membership is just embarrassing. In the future, please don’t use such tactics and just call a spade a spade.

We love our DVC membership, but feel that raising fees and calling it “simplicity” diminishes the credibility of Disney and just doesn’t live up to the high standard that we have come to expect from DVC.

 

[Sammie]

And fact is, Jim Lewis wants to get rid of all trading collections and this is just the beginning

That is because his long range plans, and I emphasize, "his" is to expand DVC to all parts of the world, so yes he does want to eliminate outside trading. By doing something before the expansion he is setting up the kill to sell plan.

If you can't go to Paris on a trade out, you can when DVC goes there etc.

I think the thing that bothers me the most is the emphasis that DVC has to make things "simple" for us because, what, we aren't intelligent enough to handle banking.

Well many of us have handled it for years without any problems. None of this is to benefit the members, it is purely to benefit DVC, so please at least let them call for it what it is, we can handle the truth.

 

[DVC Mike]

I was looking at our confirmation for a standard room at the Paradise Pier for last October. The standard room rate without any kind of discount was $165 per night. This year, the same standard room rate for October at the Paradise Pier is $225 per night. It went up $60 per night!

Hmmm, the rising hotel rates would seem to be a reason to buy into DVC.

 

[Donna]

Hmmm, the rising hotel rates would seem to be a reason to buy into DVC.

For some yes, that IS a good reason. I always thought it was prior to us buying our motorhome. For that reason, my situation is a little unique. Having owned DVC for over 10 yrs and seeing how it's being downgraded and i feel will continue to downgrade, I sold off 3 contracts and will probably dump the last one since it isn't very cost effective to pay $95 for using points that i have to pay for on TOP of that, especially when the sites are in the $40-55 range. We were just using DVC to extend the stay longer.

 

[jbrowna]

DVC has sold a lot of points, and if those members pull out of WDW resorts and return "home," that'll make booking a resort even more difficult.

I don't think so....remember, whenever a member books at a non-DVC resort, it also exchanges a corresponding part of DVC inventory into CRO. That's why, as we've heard, rooms will sometimes not be available to book on points, but will be available for cash. Of course, Disney always has some rooms they retain for maintenance, etc, and those are often available for cash stays. But staying "home" -- or at a DVC resort -- keeps more DVC rooms in DVC inventory.

If, as someone mentioned above, the overall plan is for DVC to build in those places that are most desireable to trade into -- like DLR, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Colorado, etc. -- then I say go for it! I would hope that, like they've done for DLR, they'll waive the fee for places they plan to build but haven't yet. But, either way, I don't see this as the end of the DVC world.

Then, again, is that a little piece of the sky I just saw falling?

 

[BeccaG]

subscribing. .. the fee makes me disappointed, but I have nothing new to add to the discussion. . .however I am enjoying the discourse!

 

[JimC]

...I think the thing that bothers me the most is the emphasis that DVC has to make things "simple" for us because, what, we are intelligent enough to handle banking.....

I had to laugh when I saw how they presented it -- did anyone catch the irony?

"...enhance the simplicity" then under a subheading of "Keep it Simple" they say "consistent cut-off system" Four lines later (so I guess they are following their rule of four )) they admit in a parenthetical "This rule doesn't apply to World Passport Collection vacations, which have separate guidelines."

How could any editor let that get into print like that? Talk about eviscerating ones credibility!

 

[simzac]

That is because his long range plans, and I emphasize, "his" is to expand DVC to all parts of the world, so yes he does want to eliminate outside trading. By doing some thing before the expansion he is setting up the kill to sell plan.

If you can't go to Paris on a trade out, you can when DVC goes there etc.
Funny thing is that I am hoping for this exact scenario to happen.

I think the thing that bothers me the most is the emphasis that DVC has to make things "simple" for us because, what, we are intelligent enough to handle banking.

Well many of us have handled it for year without any problems. None of this is to benefit the members it is purely to benefit DVC, so please at least let them call for it what it is, we can handle the truth.

My guess is that with so many new members, there have been many banking problems popping up affecting many of the new members, such as members having to constantly call MS to be reminded of when their banking windows are coming up. JMO

 

[kimberh]

My guess is that with so many new members, there have been many banking problems popping up affecting many of the new members, such as members having to constantly call MS to be reminded of when their banking windows are coming up. JMO

I was thinking this too, but it is posted on the website. Noone reads their website anymore? What really bothers me is since Disney did this , what else is around the corner? I had already called my guide about doing a AKV add on in a few months... I think I am going to hold off and see what is around the bend.

 

[RumpleMom]

Does this new $95 non-DVC Disney resort fee apply whether you are booking only one night or multiple nights on points?

 

[3DisneyKids]

I was going to use dev points to stay at Poly. I also factored in extra points for an occassional re-visit there.

They don't make enough money at $104 pt to upgrade their computers. Oh well, $95 just cost them $12,000+.

Maybe they are inhaling too much pixie dust.

I definitely think you should write to DVC and let them know that this policy change just cost them...a lot. Granted, 12K is "nothing" to them in the big picture, but they do need to know how major of a policy change many of us view this as. Your comment is one they need to hear.

 

[Donna]

Does this new $95 non-DVC Disney resort fee apply whether you are booking only one night or multiple nights on points?

i believe it's per reservation. an example is, i book fort wilderness on points for sun-thurs, i pay $95. i book the weekend on cash with CRO. then i book the next sun-thurs on points and i have to pay another $95. why can't they make the fee a percentage based on the cost of the room. why should i have to pay $95 for a site at the fort that cost only $40 to begin with ?

i am still wondering why i wasn't charged this when i booked my 2008 at the Fort through MS. i assumed it was for all non dvc stays starting in 2008. does it mean if i make the res. in 2007 (even tho it's FOR 2008) that the fee doesn't apply?

 

[Dean]

I don't think so....remember, whenever a member books at a non-DVC resort, it also exchanges a corresponding part of DVC inventory into CRO. That's why, as we've heard, rooms will sometimes not be available to book on points, but will be available for cash. Of course, Disney always has some rooms they retain for maintenance, etc, and those are often available for cash stays. But staying "home" -- or at a DVC resort -- keeps more DVC rooms in DVC inventory.

Yes and no. given DVC's stated approach to reserving using those traded points, it's likely members using those same points would be vying for higher demand times that DVC. So points not traded could have some affect on availability.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I started the process to sell two of my five today. After talking to MS tomorrow, we might be listing two more. Then we'll see about the last one.

Pass the coal hod, Liferbabe. I'm with you.

Again, please write to DVC and let them know that this is one of the reasons you are selling! They need to wake up!

 

[diznyfanatic]

Yes and no. given DVC's stated approach to reserving using those traded points, it's likely members using those same points would be vying for higher demand times that DVC. So points not traded could have some affect on availability.

Dean...one more time please. Sorry, maybe I had too much caffeine today and things aren't processing correctly.