A question about Maintenance Fees

[DisneyNewbie76]

Maintenance fees supplement most, if not all, perks given out by DVC. If I buy resale and I am expected to pay the same amount in maintenance fees as a direct purchase then shouldn't perks be offered to all purchasers of DVC, no matter the way in which it Is done?

Less perks to me means less maintenance even though the perks are provided by a separate entity and can be cancelled at any time.

 

[Ruttangel]

Can you list the perks you believe to be paid for under maintenance fees please?
My understanding is that the direct perks are arrangements with other Disney divisions and not covered in maintenance fees.

 

[RanDIZ]

The perks should have always followed the contract. They were born when the first contract was bought and should continue no matter how many times over its bought and sold.

 

[CarolMN]

Maintenance fees (aka annual dues) do not pay for any perks/benefits that are not available to all owners. They pay for operating the resort, capital reserves and property taxes.

 

[Sandisw]

If you read the Membership Extras document it gives some idea of how things are done.

It states they are agreements with third parties and why they can not be guaranteed. Basically, it’s like how AAA gets businesses to offer members a discount.

Moonlight Magic is completely funded by DVD re it’s marketing budgets and I believe that is the same for the Epcot Lounge.

It would be illegal for them to use MFs for anything other than the areas mentioned above.

 

[DisneyNewbie76]

Can you list the perks you believe to be paid for under maintenance fees please?
My understanding is that the direct perks are arrangements with other Disney divisions and not covered in maintenance fees.

The operation of the lounges, for one.

 

[CarolMN]

The operation of the lounges, for one.

The EPCOT lounge is paid for by Disney Vacation Development, which is the sales and marketing division of DVC. Nothing in DVD is paid for by DVC dues. DVD pays any cost associated with perks available only to blue card members.

The TOTWL space (when open) is available to all Members who are using their membership to stay at WDW. It is not restricted to blue card members.

 

[supersnoop]

Maintenance fees supplement most, if not all, perks given out by DVC. If I buy resale and I am expected to pay the same amount in maintenance fees as a direct purchase then shouldn't perks be offered to all purchasers of DVC, no matter the way in which it Is done?

Less perks to me means less maintenance even though the perks are provided by a separate entity and can be cancelled at any time.

Your thought process is correct; the concept that all members have access to all benefits paid for by maintenance fees is, in fact, the legal requirement. Your assumption that some of your maintenance fees pay for benefits that you are not afforded is incorrect. Disney keeps those separate.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I still find it interesting after all these years that Disney continues to do this. I'm biased as I don't have a blue card but don't agree with making a member that is going to be visiting annually (or more) for the next 40 years feel inferior based on where they bought their contract. Disney is not breaking any rules though and is free to offer benefits as they see fit.