$95 fee and MS comments

[dianeschlicht]

Of course it's never been a good deal, no one ever said it was. But there are times that some people may need to use their points that way, for various reasons stated in this thread and just from reading this thread, it happens quite a bit. If you see nothing wrong with DVC charging for THIS, don't be upset when things that you use are charged for in the future. It WILL happen.

In other words, I think the main point of this thread is if you're charged for one thing that in the past was free, it will happen in the future

True, but they can't start charging me additional fees to use my points at my home resort (other than maintenance fees), and since that is the only thing I am really guaranteed with my purchase, I don't see it as a big deal. It's kind of like changing the various perks over the years. Sure, it would be nice to still get the free passes, but it didn't stop me from buying more points when I couldn't get that. They could also take away all chances to trade out...Do I think they will? No, but they CAN. If you look at this as a prepaid vacation at your chosen resort for around 50 years, then that is all you are really guaranteed anyway.

 

[Dean]

Of course it's never been a good deal, no one ever said it was. But there are times that some people may need to use their points that way, for various reasons stated in this thread and just from reading this thread, it happens quite a bit. If you see nothing wrong with DVC charging for THIS, don't be upset when things that you use are charged for in the future. It WILL happen.

In other words, I think the main point of this thread is if you're charged for one thing that in the past was free, it will happen in the future

As I've said previously the new fee is reasonable to cheap given industry standards. It's a fee that has never increased until this January. When the program was changed to II, the fee was about 75% of the II direct member fee, now it's barely 50% (at $75). Even at $95, it's still less according than in 1996. This is not a case of them taking advantage.

 

[DebbieB]

But they did not charge previously for Disney resorts, I think $95 is unreasonable for a trade within the disney company. If you want to add one night because DVC resorts are not available, it's a killer.

 

[nunzia]

If you look at the DVC advertising for new members, they put a big emphasis on trading out.

Last month I had a business trip to Orlando. It was Monday to Wednesday, the office is Downtown off Colonial Drive. I decided to fly down Sunday morning, go to the Food & Wine Festival and spend the night at at WDW hotel rather than driving Downtown late. It was about 3 weeks before and there was no DVC room available, any resort,any room size. I have extra points available, so I took a room at POFQ for 18 points. I could have got an AP rate of $124 plus tax. Next year they will charge a $95 fee plus the points for this stay. That is totally crazy. 18 points is high for a moderate room, plus $95?

I think that is the one thing that is bothering me..it seems, after reading quite alot here, that the supply of DVC rooms is tight, sometimes at 11 months, but alot at 7. Now..if you shell all this money out for your points and annual dues, it seems Disney would really make an effort to have enough rooms to cover members. Maybe they could compromise..if NO DVC resort is available at a reasonable time out, then maybe drop the booking fee for a non DVC resort. Otherwise, I'm not really bothered about it, but if I try early out and have DGC points and still can't get a room, then they are going to basically penalize me to get a room at PP or DH?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think that is the one thing that is bothering me..it seems, after reading quite alot here, that the supply of DVC rooms is tight, sometimes at 11 months, but alot at 7. Now..if you shell all this money out for your points and annual dues, it seems Disney would really make an effort to have enough rooms to cover members. Maybe they could compromise..if NO DVC resort is available at a reasonable time out, then maybe drop the booking fee for a non DVC resort. Otherwise, I'm not really bothered about it, but if I try early out and have DGC points and still can't get a room, then they are going to basically penalize me to get a room at PP or DH?

They do have enough rooms for all the members. It's just that all the members want to go at the same time and none want to go at other times.

 

[dvc-NE]

But they did not charge previously for Disney resorts, I think $95 is unreasonable for a trade within the disney company. If you want to add one night because DVC resorts are not available, it's a killer.

Agreed. A few clicks of the mouse=$95. Good work if you can get it.

 

[dvc at last !]

Question:
Is there the $95 fee to use points at
Hilton Head or Vero Beach ?

 

[dvc-NE]

Question:
Is there the $95 fee to use points at
Hilton Head or Vero Beach ?

No, these are DVC resorts.

 

[Doctor P]

But they did not charge previously for Disney resorts, I think $95 is unreasonable for a trade within the disney company. If you want to add one night because DVC resorts are not available, it's a killer.

A trade is a trade. There is no more reason that the Disney resort division should give a "break" to DVC members than there is for Cadillac to be expected give you a special deal because you couldn't buy the limited edition Corvette you wanted.

 

[Dean]

But they did not charge previously for Disney resorts, I think $95 is unreasonable for a trade within the disney company. If you want to add one night because DVC resorts are not available, it's a killer.

Given that the price prior to the fee on those options was already way above my break point for reasonable value, the extra fee means nothing in my estimation.

 

[dvc-NE]

But they did not charge previously for Disney resorts, I think $95 is unreasonable for a trade within the disney company. If you want to add one night because DVC resorts are not available, it's a killer.

We've had to add at YC when already booked at BCV. I would not have wanted to pay $95 in addition to the 35 pts or so we paid. Insult to injury, figuratively speaking.

 

[Donna]

A trade is a trade. There is no more reason that the Disney resort division should give a "break" to DVC members than there is for Cadillac to be expected give you a special deal because you couldn't buy the limited edition Corvette you wanted.

well then maybe the dvc guides/salespeople should not have pushed this as a flexible option to prospective new members, only to pull the rug out from under them. most members didn't buy for this, but it sounds like quite a few took it into consideration when purchasing (i've seen many posts from new members...."Can i use my points at the poly"? Of course, in the small print it states that this is not guaranteed and could "change" at any time, i realize that.
I still say if they feel they must charge a fee (for non-dvc disney resorts), it should be in proportion to the type of resort. $95 seems fine for a deluxe but for a cement slab at Ft. Wilderness that only costs $55 in the first place?

 

[dvc-NE]

A trade is a trade. There is no more reason that the Disney resort division should give a "break" to DVC members than there is for Cadillac to be expected give you a special deal because you couldn't buy the limited edition Corvette you wanted.

Call me silly, but I never felt I was getting a "break" by not getting charged in order to book a resort on Disney property.

 

[tjkraz]

well then maybe the dvc guides/salespeople should not have pushed this as a flexible option to prospective new members, only to pull the rug out from under them.

Guides don't make policy for DVC. That happens much higher up in the chain.

In all likelihood the Guides found out about this change at the same time we did. Until the fee was announced, Guides had every reason to sell the program for what it was at the time.

 

[annhad4]

This may be a little of the subject...but I found out this weekend that I can't use my AKV points at AKL for an additional room for the Grand Gathering we are having next month. All the Villas are booked up, which I understand, but I really needed to add one more room for my brother and wanted to use points for a couple of nights and have him in the same resort. I was told it is not possible in a resort that also offers DVC. Is this true?

 

[dvc-NE]

This may be a little of the subject...but I found out this weekend that I can't use my AKV points at AKL for an additional room for the Grand Gathering we are having next month. All the Villas are booked up, which I understand, but I really needed to add one more room for my brother and wanted to use points for a couple of nights and have him in the same resort. I was told it is not possible in a resort that also offers DVC. Is this true?

Unfortunately, it is true. That's why we can't book Beach Club, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge, etc.

 

[Blahnde]

This may be a little of the subject...but I found out this weekend that I can't use my AKV points at AKL for an additional room for the Grand Gathering we are having next month. All the Villas are booked up, which I understand, but I really needed to add one more room for my brother and wanted to use points for a couple of nights and have him in the same resort. I was told it is not possible in a resort that also offers DVC. Is this true?

Yes, that is true. It is the reason that some people do not want their favorite resorts to become DVC "affiliated." Currently we cannot use DVC points to book at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, or BoardWalk ... in the future we may not be able to use points at the Contemporary or the Grand Californian.

It makes me (a left coaster) especially unhappy if it happens with the Grand Californian because the DVC add-on will be so small and that would mean I could only use points "locally" at the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier ... yuck IMHO!

Guess I will have to take my own advice: just rent my points and use the cash to book at Grand Californian! You could do the same thing for your brother at Animal Kingdom Lodge ... it would ultimately be much more cost effective, anyway!

Blahnde

 

[Donna]

Guides don't make policy for DVC. That happens much higher up in the chain.

In all likelihood the Guides found out about this change at the same time we did. Until the fee was announced, Guides had every reason to sell the program for what it was at the time.

Don't recall anywhere that i said they "made the policy", only that they sold it , as salespeople/guides. Of course, they sell what they know and are only doing their job. It doesn't look good for DVC, in general and to try to push it off to members as a way to pay for a computer upgrade is a joke.

 

[annhad4]

Thanks for the replies. I guess there's a learning curve to this DVC thing. Good thing they give us 50 years to figure it out!
Ann

 

[tjkraz]

Don't recall anywhere that i said they "made the policy", only that they sold it , as salespeople/guides. Of course, they sell what they know and are only doing their job.

Your exact comment, which was quoted in my reply was:

"well then maybe the dvc guides/salespeople should not have pushed this as a flexible option to prospective new members, only to pull the rug out from under them. "

Sounds to me like you are holding the salespeople responsible on some level.