$95 fee and MS comments

[Dean]

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

I'm simply saying that DVC's reservation times and habits are DIFFERENT than members. Say one person has 1000 points and has to decide whether to use them for a cruise or reserve to rent them out. If they do the cruise, DVC will use those points to reserve times to rent out. If they reserve themselves to rent, they will tend to reserve higher demand times and earlier than will DVC. DVC will spread those points out over the year and tend to concentrate MORE on somewhat lower demand times. That's one of the reasons the points for these type items are so high, that and the cut that DVD/CRO takes which I though was about 35% but my latest info suggests 50%.

 

[DavidRoss]

I see so many people complaining about the $95 fee. I used to feel the same way as many of you. I always felt that because I had invested so much money in DVC, I should be entitled to better, more and bigger perks than what I currently had. Sure, I would like to see that DVC members didn't have to pay for WDW hotel bookings. However, I was never promised that there would never be a fee to trade out to another hotel. I also chose to purchase DVC knowing it was a premium timeshare program that was substantially more expensive than other programs. And, any of you out there should know this as well. I certainly hope you would have done your research and made a decision that is in your best interest. But why if you knew you were purchasing a premium timeshare do you feel you should be entitled to all kinds of discounts and no increase or additions in fees? We are owners of a leasehold program - we don't even own the actual resorts we bought into. We own ownership interests in DISNEY VACATION CLUB and not in DISNEYWORLD. There is a big difference. Both are businesses. Additionally, it seems ludicrous that if you can afford an add-on to DVC in the amount of $12k+, a $95 fee for trading out should be the least of your concern. And if a $95 fee was the deal breaker for an add-on purchase, it sounds like you were looking for an excuse not to add-on in the first place.
If you are a DVC member, you should understand that any perk, fee, etc can be changed or withdrawn at any time as it says on nearly all publications pertaining to this sort of thing. So, stop complaining. Take a vacation. And if you really can't justify spending $95 to stay at the Polynesian after shelling out $15k+ (or whatever) for a membership, then by all means - sell your interest and go buy at Vistana or some other place. Then, when you want to trade into DVC, you can pay the $180+ exchange fee and get on a waitlist for 3 years.

 

[mello]

Sales are in the tank because there have been way too many reliability problems. No consumer trust in the product = no value to the product.

 

[mikeandkarla]

I see so many people complaining about the $95 fee. I used to feel the same way as many of you. I always felt that because I had invested so much money in DVC, I should be entitled to better, more and bigger perks than what I currently had. Sure, I would like to see that DVC members didn't have to pay for WDW hotel bookings. However, I was never promised that there would never be a fee to trade out to another hotel. I also chose to purchase DVC knowing it was a premium timeshare program that was substantially more expensive than other programs. And, any of you out there should know this as well. I certainly hope you would have done your research and made a decision that is in your best interest. But why if you knew you were purchasing a premium timeshare do you feel you should be entitled to all kinds of discounts and no increase or additions in fees? We are owners of a leasehold program - we don't even own the actual resorts we bought into. We own ownership interests in DISNEY VACATION CLUB and not in DISNEYWORLD. There is a big difference. Both are businesses. Additionally, it seems ludicrous that if you can afford an add-on to DVC in the amount of $12k+, a $95 fee for trading out should be the least of your concern. And if a $95 fee was the deal breaker for an add-on purchase, it sounds like you were looking for an excuse not to add-on in the first place.
If you are a DVC member, you should understand that any perk, fee, etc can be changed or withdrawn at any time as it says on nearly all publications pertaining to this sort of thing. So, stop complaining. Take a vacation. And if you really can't justify spending $95 to stay at the Polynesian after shelling out $15k+ (or whatever) for a membership, then by all means - sell your interest and go buy at Vistana or some other place. Then, when you want to trade into DVC, you can pay the $180+ exchange fee and get on a waitlist for 3 years.

To me, its not so much the cost of the fee, but the way it was delivered. I don't understand how charging members is "keeping it simple". We know and they know its BS! Just because other timshares charge a fee to bank, borrow,tradeout, or whatever, doesn't make it right. I guess next there will be fees associated for DVC members to bank, borrow, and transfer. I'm afraid this is only the begining of extra fees. Everyone is entitled to their own action of recourse, and I completely understand selling memberships for the members whom have been around since inception.

 

[Doctor P]

To me, its not so much the cost of the fee, but the way it was delivered. I don't understand how charging members is "keeping it simple". We know and they know its BS! Just because other timshares charge a fee to bank, borrow,tradeout, or whatever, doesn't make it right. I guess next there will be fees associated for DVC members to bank, borrow, and transfer. I'm afraid this is only the begining of extra fees. Everyone is entitled to their own action of recourse, and I completely understand selling memberships for the members whom have been around since inception.

While I don't like the fee and the way it was approached, I do see the point about simplicity. Prior to the change you had three categories of outside exchanges: those that had no fee, those that had a 75 dollar fee, those that had a 95 dollar fee. Now there is only one category for all intents and purposes (temporary exception for DL). Whether we want to admit it or not, that IS a simpler system. Didn't say it was BETTER, but I can't deny that it is simpler. Similarly with the banking issue. I really don't like the new banking rules, I don't think. But they are simpler once the 4 month vs. 120 days is worked out. There is only ONE banking deadline per use year now and it applies to 100% of your points. Once again, it may not be BETTER, but it IS simpler.

 

[DVC Mike]

While I don't like the fee and the way it was approached, I do see the point about simplicity. Prior to the change you had three categories of outside exchanges: those that had no fee, those that had a 75 dollar fee, those that had a 95 dollar fee. Now there is only one category for all intents and purposes (temporary exception for DL). Whether we want to admit it or not, that IS a simpler system. Didn't say it was BETTER, but I can't deny that it is simpler. Similarly with the banking issue. I really don't like the new banking rules, I don't think. But they are simpler once the 4 month vs. 120 days is worked out. There is only ONE banking deadline per use year now and it applies to 100% of your points. Once again, it may not be BETTER, but it IS simpler.

I agree!

 

[Donna]

While I don't like the fee and the way it was approached, I do see the point about simplicity. Prior to the change you had three categories of outside exchanges: those that had no fee, those that had a 75 dollar fee, those that had a 95 dollar fee. Now there is only one category for all intents and purposes (temporary exception for DL). Whether we want to admit it or not, that IS a simpler system. Didn't say it was BETTER, but I can't deny that it is simpler. Similarly with the banking issue. I really don't like the new banking rules, I don't think. But they are simpler once the 4 month vs. 120 days is worked out. There is only ONE banking deadline per use year now and it applies to 100% of your points. Once again, it may not be BETTER, but it IS simpler.

But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out and by "simplifying" it, DVC has made some people feel like it does. They could have remedied the confusion by simply putting a chart in the next guidebook or an insert in the next mailing. And of course, they choose the higher fee when they "simplified" it. We all know that $95 will soon be $100 and so on and so on.
Having been a member for over 10 yrs and i think i speak for most of the old timers, we had the banking rules figured out just fine. Again, what is so hard about it, we HAD a chart for that.
Maybe we need to "simplify" it for THEM. DVC dropped the ball on this one and i think, in the long run, it will be costing THEM.

 

[Doctor P]

But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out and by "simplifying" it, DVC has made some people feel like it does. They could have remedied the confusion by simply putting a chart in the next guidebook or an insert in the next mailing. And of course, they choose the higher fee when they "simplified" it. We all know that $95 will soon be $100 and so on and so on.
Having been a member for over 10 yrs and i think i speak for most of the old timers, we had the banking rules figured out just fine. Again, what is so hard about it, we HAD a chart for that.
Maybe we need to "simplify" it for THEM. DVC dropped the ball on this one and i think, in the long run, it will be costing THEM.

You might be right, but if you just look through these boards at the number of threads trying to figure out these issues, I think the number of members who understood banking and all the exchange fees was actually a small minority. I understood them and didn't think it was that hard, but many and, perhaps, most didn't. People on these boards are a small minority and not representative necessarily of the typical member.

 

[dianeschlicht]

But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out and by "simplifying" it, DVC has made some people feel like it does. They could have remedied the confusion by simply putting a chart in the next guidebook or an insert in the next mailing. (snip).

Yes, but we all see so many cases of people coming here to ask simple questions that are available in their "guide books" and on the web site, but folks are too lazy to look at it or read it for themselves. They want someone to explain it to them. I can see how this simplifies it for DVD, and the reality is that so few of trade out and so seldom, that it really isn't going to be a huge impact on most DVC members.

 

[Donna]

so few of trade out and so seldom, that it really isn't going to be a huge impact on most DVC members.

EXACTLY! So why is it a problem for MS? Actually, i think it's more than we realize judging from the response here and this is only DIS. Alot of people bought in hoping they could still stay at their favorite disney (non dvc) hotel. Maybe once they saw the dvc rooms in comparison, they changed their mind, but i still think it's more than we realize.

 

[Mtnman44]

But, but...If we can't use the board to debate even the tiniest DVC details and discuss the same 15 topics and complaints over and over again, what the heck are we going to do all day?

I see so many people complaining about the $95 fee. I used to feel the same way as many of you. I always felt that because I had invested so much money in DVC, I should be entitled to better, more and bigger perks than what I currently had. Sure, I would like to see that DVC members didn't have to pay for WDW hotel bookings. However, I was never promised that there would never be a fee to trade out to another hotel. I also chose to purchase DVC knowing it was a premium timeshare program that was substantially more expensive than other programs. And, any of you out there should know this as well. I certainly hope you would have done your research and made a decision that is in your best interest. But why if you knew you were purchasing a premium timeshare do you feel you should be entitled to all kinds of discounts and no increase or additions in fees? We are owners of a leasehold program - we don't even own the actual resorts we bought into. We own ownership interests in DISNEY VACATION CLUB and not in DISNEYWORLD. There is a big difference. Both are businesses. Additionally, it seems ludicrous that if you can afford an add-on to DVC in the amount of $12k+, a $95 fee for trading out should be the least of your concern. And if a $95 fee was the deal breaker for an add-on purchase, it sounds like you were looking for an excuse not to add-on in the first place.
If you are a DVC member, you should understand that any perk, fee, etc can be changed or withdrawn at any time as it says on nearly all publications pertaining to this sort of thing. So, stop complaining. Take a vacation. And if you really can't justify spending $95 to stay at the Polynesian after shelling out $15k+ (or whatever) for a membership, then by all means - sell your interest and go buy at Vistana or some other place. Then, when you want to trade into DVC, you can pay the $180+ exchange fee and get on a waitlist for 3 years.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Am I understanding correctly that there's no $95 fee to book at one of the DL hotels?

 

[Deb & Bill]

But, but...If we can't use the board to debate even the tiniest DVC details and discuss the same 15 topics and complaints over and over again, what the heck are we going to do all day?

We'll all move over to the Community Board and discuss movies, politics, breastfeeding, cancer, etc.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Am I understanding correctly that there's no $95 fee to book at one of the DL hotels?

That is correct. Bookings in 2008 for stays at the DLR hotels using points will not have to pay the $95 fee. You can also book and stay in the last 4 months of your UY. I would, however, expect further "simplification" to occur when a DVC opens at the DLR and these exceptions will be eliminated.

JMHO -- Suzanne

 

[PinkTink63]

Sorry, but I'm a little behind here. I have been gone for 20 days and this is the first I have heard of this.

So, if I want to use my points at a non DVC resort, I will also have to pay a $95 fee?

 

[LIFERBABE]

Sorry, but I'm a little behind here. I have been gone for 20 days and this is the first I have heard of this.

So, if I want to use my points at a non DVC resort, I will also have to pay a $95 fee?

That's it in a nutshell

Unless you are using your points to stay at DL.

 

[diznyfanatic]

Sorry, but I'm a little behind here. I have been gone for 20 days and this is the first I have heard of this.

So, if I want to use my points at a non DVC resort, I will also have to pay a $95 fee?

Yes, you are correct. You will now have to pay a $95 booking fee to use your points to stay at a WDW Non-DVC resort.

For now, you will NOT have to pay this fee if you want to use your points to stay at a Disney resort at DL. That will probably change once they build a DVC at DL though.

This new policy as well as the new Banking policy changes can be found in the current edition of Vacation Magic.

 

[PinkTink63]

Yes, you are correct. You will now have to pay a $95 booking fee to use your points to stay at a WDW Non-DVC resort.

For now, you will NOT have to pay this fee if you want to use your points to stay at a Disney resort at DL. That will probably change once they build a DVC at DL though.

This new policy as well as the new Banking policy changes can be found in the current edition of Vacation Magic.

Yikes! I don't think I like that and I guess I better get reading my mail! Where is that Vacation Magic book?

That doesn't sound like such a perk to me!

 

[Mike©]

Pay for system upgrades

Let's see ! 100,000+ members. If each one books a non-DVC just once, that would be a $9,500,000 upgrade!

I guess DVC thinks I'll believe ANYTHING !

 

[mikeandkarla]

Am I understanding correctly that there's no $95 fee to book at one of the DL hotels?

for now. That is until Disney decides to "simplify" things again.