$95 fee and MS comments

[Dean]

Let me give a point of view from a prospective DVC'er, The literature, sales and promotional materials we have been given to peruse really play up the aspect of staying/trips to non-DVC resorts/destinations. This is an expensive, EXPENSIVE time share. We would never look at paying 20-25 grand for a regular timeshare, that would be insanity! So even though the good Dr. seems to think that idea is shocking, those looking to prepay for 50 years of vacations want to feel there is some flexibility to forking out that kind of money. Its certainly been presented to us that way.

The only things that matter are what is in the legal paperwork and even those can change under certain circumstances. What the guide promised or what the buyer assumed based on the fluff is really of no consequence. One should investigate major purchases and not make an uninformed impulse buy. Buying DVC with the intent of using the non DVC options is simply a poor choice as is buying assuming because it's Disney that all things will be different that the others. Those other items should be looked at as gravy only.

IMO, DVC is a regular timeshare with some advantages and some disadvantages compared to others. There are some timeshares I could buy at $25K and sell for double that and others that cost that much retail and are worth 10% of that at best. Marriott is probably the best system to compare to overall and doing so (2 BR to 2 BR for a week), DVC is roughly 30% more up front, 30% more in yearly fees and in some ways, has less options. DVC's benefits are the flexibility, easy internal exchanging and WDW location. There are many other disadvantages as well, esp in the area of those non DVC options. For many, buying DVC plus another options is actually the better choice.

From what I have read, a vast majority joined the DVCfor the flexability. To stay when and where you liked. By limiting where members can stay, they are infringing on that aspect. I think then maybe they should levelize the points. Just like it takes 160 points to book anything I beleive its the World Passport Collection (don't quoute me on that).

I hope most members bought because they like going to WDW (or one of the other off property resorts for some) and they thought it would save them money or give them better for around the same cost. The flexibility of staying different times, length of stay, unit size and other DVC resorts is nice but at a price. I'll repeat, anyone buying for the non DVC options are generally making a poor choice. There are a few people who know this and buy anyway taking their chances such as those from the area or who usually stay off property for most of their stay that buy to take advantage of the perks such as valet parking, etc. But those are people who are well informed and are willing to take the known gamble.

 

[senecabeach]

You realize that they don't have to allow us to use our points anywhere except our home resorts, right? There are no guarantees that WDW resorts, cruises or anything other than your home resort will remain a booking option.

You also realize tha ANY DVC computer upgrades won't be paid for by Disney, they are paid either through booking fees (like the $95) or an overall increase in dues.

ITA...
I also own 2 other timeshares and when I trade to another resort a fee is standard operating procedure in the timeshare community !!

 

[Doctor P]

ITA...
I also own 2 other timeshares and when I trade to another resort a fee is standard operating procedure in the timeshare community !!

Bingo. A trade out incurs a fee. Staying at a non-DVC resort is a trade out so the expectation is that you will pay a fee. The oddity for all these years was NOT having to pay a fee. All of the other options, except WDW and DL resorts, required a fee all the way along. Nothing has changed as to the flexibility of the membership. All that has changed is that the fee structure is now consistent.

 

[dznymom1]

Bingo. A trade out incurs a fee. Staying at a non-DVC resort is a trade out so the expectation is that you will pay a fee. The oddity for all these years was NOT having to pay a fee. All of the other options, except WDW and DL resorts, required a fee all the way along. Nothing has changed as to the flexibility of the membership. All that has changed is that the fee structure is now consistent.

I think the only reason the fee seems high is because so many members are looking at it for booking a short stay of a night or 2. Most other timeshares only allow you to trade an entire week, so you still have far more flexibility with DVC. Because the same workload is involved for MS whether they are booking you 12 nights at the Poly or a single night at FW, the fee is standard. Whether or not the value is there is up to each member. Discouraging nuisance trades may well have been one of the reasons the fee was implemented.

 

[tjkraz]

I doubt anyone is "happy" with the fee, myself included, but I do not think it's unreasonable. Regardless of visions some may have of Disney being one big happy family, the timeshare resorts and cash resorts are separate entities--that fact is made clear simply by looking at the points charts. As DVC owners we didn't buy into the Poly or Contemporary or Port Orleans. Regardless of who owns those hotels, members should expect to pay premium prices to stay there.

I'm sure we all wish the economics of trading outside of DVC were better. Due to the popularity of point renting, we really have only ourselves to blame.

 

[cobbler]

I know some of the animosity is about the fee itself. But for me personally (and I bet a few others too) it really isn't about the fee as it is about what they are telling us the reason behind the fee is.

To update their systems - come on now.

It's because they aren't selling the DVC rooms and getting the cash or as much cash to pay for the trade out. Just tell us what it really is, don't try to say it's an upgrade to the system. If it really is then that is a stupid way to go about doing it if a lot of people either don't trade out now, or will refuse to in the future because of this. When this takes affect, it better be one heck of a system upgrade that will knock my socks off and they better put the excess in the website as well.

If I want to trade out to the Contemporary, fine, I will pay the $95 fee and have no problem doing so. But don't tell why I am being charged the fee, don't make up some system upgrade story.

 

[Dean]

Over the years I've stated that certain costs were unreasonable, mostly in terms of the # of points involved. This fee is no different than if they raised the points by maybe 3 points a night for most options. We've seen larger changes in the DC, CC and DCL over the years, just hidden to many in the number of points involved. Once something reaches a certain cost, it doesn't matter how much more above that it goes. The DC, CC and DCL all started out at that cost for me. Apparently many people were less discerning in this area and this fee has pushed them over the edge, I'd say DVC did those people a favor.

 

[wdwstar]

I believe its wrong to charge us the $95 to stay at a non dvc resort in wdw,
on the other hand since this may be out of our hands, it should be if there are no dvc rooms available and you then choose to book a non dvc room, the $95 fee should be waived. If you choose to stay non dvc rooms and there are dvc rooms available then pay cash staying at non dvc rooms, in the long run there are always discounts out there on non dvc rooms.

 

[RLCarmichael]

ITA...
I also own 2 other timeshares and when I trade to another resort a fee is standard operating procedure in the timeshare community !!

Yes - that's a fee that you pay a 3rd party who makes the transfer happen.

AND other points bases timeshares have sliding scale of transfer fees. RCI charges $29 for a 1-3 night stay as I recall. Again, RCI is an totally seperate company and NOT related to EITHER timeshare.

PLUS - if we CHOOSE to book outside DVC resorts we are ALREADY paying a premium price in points. If we are paying a reservation fee then the points per night SHOULD be roughly equal to a studio per night.

We're preaching to the chior here. You've GOT to let DISNEY know how you feel. One email won't make a differnece but a bunch will.

DVCmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

 

[senecabeach]

Yes - that's a fee that you pay a 3rd party who makes the transfer happen.

AND other points bases timeshares have sliding scale of transfer fees. RCI charges $29 for a 1-3 night stay as I recall. Again, RCI is an totally seperate company and NOT related to EITHER timeshare.

PLUS - if we CHOOSE to book outside DVC resorts we are ALREADY paying a premium price in points. If we are paying a reservation fee then the points per night SHOULD be roughly equal to a studio per night.

We're preaching to the chior here. You've GOT to let DISNEY know how you feel. One email won't make a differnece but a bunch will.

DVCmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

As stated by a previous poster...You realize that they don't have to allow us to use our points anywhere except our home resorts, right? Realize that any other DVC, other than our "home" can also have these fees applied. DVCers are only truly "entitled" to thier home in a timeshare world.
There are no guarantees that WDW resorts, cruises or anything other than your home resort will remain a booking option.

 

[323sarg]

As stated by a previous poster...You realize that they don't have to allow us to use our points anywhere except our home resorts, right? Realize that any other DVC, other than our "home" can also have these fees applied. DVCers are only truly "entitled" to thier home in a timeshare world.
There are no guarantees that WDW resorts, cruises or anything other than your home resort will remain a booking option.

And you do realize that the edge or vantage to DVC was there flexability without fees. That is what set them apart. If they strip away what set them apart then they are just a regular ol time share.

 

[senecabeach]

And you do realize that the edge or vantage to DVC was there flexability without fees. That is what set them apart. If they strip away what set them apart then they are just a regular ol time share.

Reality check...this IS a timeshare and the edge is that a fee is not charged at the other DVC's...for now.

Hummmm...too bad none of this is in my "timeshare" contract.

Well...onward to happier threads..

 

[RLCarmichael]

And you do realize that the edge or vantage to DVC was there flexability without fees. That is what set them apart. If they strip away what set them apart then they are just a regular ol time share.

Exactly. Flexability was the thing that makes it for me. I generally can't take weeks so I take long weekends. If they consider reservations under a week a nusance then they shouldn't be selling points they should be selling weeks like most of the rest of the timeshare world.

 

[CarolMN]

Exactly. Flexability was the thing that makes it for me. I generally can't take weeks so I take long weekends. If they consider reservations under a week a nusance then they shouldn't be selling points they should be selling weeks like most of the rest of the timeshare world.

With all due respect, DVC was a very expensive choice for someone who planned to do long weekends at non-DVC WDW resorts. That was true even before the $95 fee was announced.

The flexibility of DVC is the ability to stay at any DVC resort for as few or as many nights as you have points to spend and availability permits. As already posted, there is no fee to do that.

 

[JodyTG]

I much prefer that the people using the service pay for the service.

I agree with this statement 100%.

This is also the reason that I don't agree with the people wanting free high speed internet access for DVC members. If, for example, only 1 person out of 10 use it, why should the other 9 have to pay for it?

"you play, you pay"