Bonnett Creek learns from DVC (or NOT) - update in post #44

[Dean]

Sure they did. The owner who exchanged *out* paid the dues on the points they used to do so.

I understand and agree but the $95 goes to DVD not to DVCMC. In essence they're getting paid twice for the same service. But the $95 fee doesn't go toward offsetting the dues which was the point I was trying to make.

 

[Niagara2]

We booked through Expedia and paid a per night price in full. I wonder if this fee will be added on in March as it was a travel site booking vs. an exchange. .

 

[JimMIA]

We booked through Expedia and paid a per night price in full. I wonder if this fee will be added on in March as it was a travel site booking vs. an exchange. .

You should check with Expedia for clarification. That's who you rented from.

My gut instinct says that if you booked through Expedia, you are probably actually renting directly from Wyndham...rather than from a Wyndham owner. If that is the case, I think Wyndham would honor the price you paid without additional fees. But the only way to tell for sure is to check with Expedia.

You could call Wyndham Bonnet Creek directly -- but trust me, from the things I've seen, the staff there is clueless about how this charge will be applied to individual reservations. It's not their doing, and I don't think they have any idea how it will play out from one ressie to the next.

Expedia is a reputable company; I'd expect them to honor the price they quoted you.

 

[JimMIA]

I understand and agree but the $95 goes to DVD not to DVCMC. In essence they're getting paid twice for the same service. But the $95 fee doesn't go toward offsetting the dues which was the point I was trying to make.

Right, DVC is double-dipping. They are collecting from the owner's "dues" and they are also collecting for some of the same "benefits" from RCI exchanges.

As to whether RCI exchanges should be charged those additional fees, clearly the dues have already been paid by the owner who deposited the points into RCI.

If this were a legitimate reimbursement for some service (which it is NOT), that $95 fee should be credited to the account of the owner who deposited the points, has already paid for that service, and who made the exchange possible!

If DVC tries to claim some justification (transportation, DME, EMH, "Welcome Home" greeting, etc.) they're lying and defrauding both the exchangers and the owners who paid dues on their points.

 

[Dean]

DVC is double-dipping. They are collecting from the owner's "dues" and they are also collecting for some of the same "benefits" from RCI exchanges.

As to whether RCI exchanges should be charged those additional fees, clearly the dues have already been paid by the owner who deposited the points into RCI.

If this were a legitimate reimbursement for some service (which it is NOT), that $95 fee should be credited to the account of the owner who deposited the points, has already paid for that service, and who made the exchange possible!

If DVC tries to claim some justification (transportation, DME, EMH, "Welcome Home" greeting, etc.) they're lying and defrauding both the exchangers and the owners who deposited their points.

Semantics I'm sure, the fees go to DVD and DVCMC but not to the membership budget.

 

[JimMIA]

Semantics I'm sure, the fees go to DVD and DVCMC but not to the membership budget.

I don't think it's semantics. I think we are saying the same thing.

 

[Dean]

I don't think it's semantics. I think we are saying the same thing.

That's what I meant, LOL.

 

[keishashadow]

You should check with Expedia for clarification. That's who you rented from.

My gut instinct says that if you booked through Expedia, you are probably actually renting directly from Wyndham...rather than from a Wyndham owner. If that is the case, I think Wyndham would honor the price you paid without additional fees. But the only way to tell for sure is to check with Expedia.

You could call Wyndham Bonnet Creek directly -- but trust me, from the things I've seen, the staff there is clueless about how this charge will be applied to individual reservations. It's not their doing, and I don't think they have any idea how it will play out from one ressie to the next.

Expedia is a reputable company; I'd expect them to honor the price they quoted you.

expedia/hotwire/priceline (name your own and direct bookings) will indicate in the fine print before you book whether there are any 'current' resort fees including parking charges, etc. I'm 'negotiating' with Expedia now as to accommodations i booked in Cancun wherein their site stated the unit had an OV balcony but the hotel's says the type of room i booked doesn't. Corresponded with hotel who indicates it's merely a request and the majority of all units have french windows that don't open. Expedia has lots of disclaimers of the CYA nature and a long list of complaints of this nature if you dig around on tripadvisor.

 

[scubadiver]

I looked at my conformation I have for a stay at Wyndham over Thanksgiving. The conformation outlines the $12 per day fee, but it does not say Bonnet Creek Owner, Access or Presidential owners are exempt. I am an Access member. I will be calling on this in the morning.

 

[Dean]

I looked at my conformation I have for a stay at Wyndham over Thanksgiving. The conformation outlines the $12 per day fee, but it does not say Bonnet Creek Owner, Access or Presidential owners are exempt. I am an Access member. I will be calling on this in the morning.

My guess is you'll owe the fee but they may waive it for owners who would not pay the fee otherwise. If you think about it, would you ask about Wyndham Plus owners as well.

 

[edith76]

My biggest issue with this is when I made the reservations this charge was not in effect and my confirmation clearly states - complimentary transportation. They should be grandfathering confirmed reservatons.

 

[Brian Noble]

My guess is you'll owe the fee but they may waive it for owners who would not pay the fee otherwise. If you think about it, would you ask about Wyndham Plus owners as well.

Dean, Club Wyndham Access is a "blended" product held in trust. CWA contracts do not carry specific deeded underlying ownerships, but are just fractional membership in the trust, and the trust in turn holds all the deeds. The trust holds some inventory from Bonnet Creek, and so CWA owners are also, in some sense "owners" at Bonnet. A similar situation exists for Wyndham Presidential Reserve members. So, as I understand it, members of both of those trusts are exempt from the fee.

However, (again as I understand it), owners who only own deeded properties at other resorts are going to be charged.

 

[Dean]

Dean, Club Wyndham Access is a "blended" product held in trust. CWA contracts do not carry specific deeded underlying ownerships, but are just fractional membership in the trust, and the trust in turn holds all the deeds. The trust holds some inventory from Bonnet Creek, and so CWA owners are also, in some sense "owners" at Bonnet. A similar situation exists for Wyndham Presidential Reserve members. So, as I understand it, members of both of those trusts are exempt from the fee.

However, (again as I understand it), owners who only own deeded properties at other resorts are going to be charged.

That's consistent with the way I was thinking reading the statement.

 

[Shellandscott]

Just to chime in here. I have both RCI resort and a DVC membership. RCI charges thru the nose to transfer to another resort. For an RCI member you need to pay a membership fee each year of $89.00 plus a transfer fee of $199.00 for each transfer. This is on top of your maintenance fee that you already paid to your home resort. I am sure RCI charges Disney something for each transfer, not the full amount but something. That is what I thought the $95.00 fee was to off set.

 

[Dean]

Just to chime in here. I have both RCI resort and a DVC membership. RCI charges thru the nose to transfer to another resort. For an RCI member you need to pay a membership fee each year of $89.00 plus a transfer fee of $199.00 for each transfer. This is on top of your maintenance fee that you already paid to your home resort. I am sure RCI charges Disney something for each transfer, not the full amount but something. That is what I thought the $95.00 fee was to off set.

The $95 fee in question is a fee that DVC charges to inbound exchanges at WDW in addition to the exchange fee. It's generally been called a "resort services fee" and DVD/DVC says it's to cover things like dining reservation and other servicing issues related to the exchange program. In reality is doesn't cover anything that isn't already paid for by the member who exchanged out and does not cover much if anything that the exchanger couldn't do on their own otherwise.

 

[Brian Noble]

There is *one* thing the $95 gives an inbound exchanger that they would not otherwise have: the right to call the DVC 800 number for a reservation booked on someone else's points. That's a mighty expensive "free" call.

 

[Dean]

There is *one* thing the $95 gives an inbound exchanger that they would not otherwise have: the right to call the DVC 800 number for a reservation booked on someone else's points. That's a mighty expensive "free" call.

Like I said, nothing of value you can't do without MS as well as nothing not essentially payed for by the DVC member exchanging out.

 

[JimMIA]

Apparently, this poor decision has been reversed.

This is from a letter a TUG member (who had a reservation at WBC) received from the resort manager:

Dear Guest:

As a result of recent feedback, the Bonnet Creek Home Owners Association has reversed the recently communicated $12 per unit / per day transportation fee at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. Beginning March 1, 2013, transportation fees will only be applied to individuals who use the Walt Disney World® Resort shuttles at the resort.

We remain committed to delivering exceptional Count On Me! service and creating vacation memories for you and your family and friends.

Thank you for your continued feedback and ongoing support. We look forward to your stay at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort.

Sincerely,
Richard Scinta, Resort Manager
Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

 

[Dean]

Apparently, this poor decision has been reversed.

This is from a letter a TUG member (who had a reservation at WBC) received from the resort manager:

This sounds like a far more reasonable approach.

 

[CarolMN]

Wonder how they plan to administer this?

Are they going to charge guests only for the days that they actually use the service?

Do it on the honor system?

Charge if you do not have a car?

Swipe room keys as guests board the bus?

Charge everyone and refund those who can "prove" they didn't use the service?

Etc.

Glad I'm not in charge of this, LOL.