Disney Vacation Club adjusts 2010 Vacation Points charts

[Dean]

My husband just got a marketing e-mail for the holiday inn timeshare, one or two of which are located in Florida and one "minutes away" from WDW. So to answer your question, yes there appears to be a value time share industry!! Who would have thunk!!?

Holiday Inn is part of the Orange Lake resort in Orlando.

 

[hoodedrooster]

First, I added all of the annual points for a year for studio, 1 BR, and 2 BR at BCV for 2009 and then for 2010. The difference is 3 more total points for 2010 as compared to 2009. Although this is only 3 points, it is more and not what Disney said.

Second, according to the Public Offering Statement for BCV, the maximum number of points for at least one use day for 2 BR is 46. In other words, Disney must allow for at least one day per year at no more than 46 points. It also goes on the say that at some point in the future, all seasons and days may have the same point requirement. If all days had the a point requirement of 46 for all seasons throughout the year, the total points would be slightly less than that for 2010 total. In other words, the worst case reallocation scenario that Disney could have in strategic plan is to balance out at around 46 points per night for all nights in a year.

 

[La2kw]

I'm in this group as well. This allocation will not make me more likely to stay weekends. It just doesn't work for me. I'm already now for 2010, 30+ points short due to the allocation. Staying weekends will only put me even further into a deficit. Even though the weekend points are lower, the increase in weeknights cancels it out. So I'm *guessing*, DVC was hoping those of us that stay during the weeknights will drop days ? Or add points ? Otherwise....I don't know how they thought we would have increased interest in weekends when we're already short with our weeknight points due to allocation ? So I really am thinking they hope we "go away" or something. Because this allocation was clearly done to help those that already budgeted for weekend stays....have a pattern of staying over one or more weekends.....and it was to give them a break.

So I will be one that will either stay less days (but doubt this because the more I think about it I just get ticked off). I'm more likely to downsize villa size and stay the same amount during the weeknights. I might have to switch from a studio to a 1 or 2 bedroom during my 5 night weekly stay----but so be it----I have no other choice. And I highly doubt I'm the only weeknighter that will do this.........

Maria

I'm in the same boat. I guess I'm one of those folks messing up the system with my "small" amount of 270 points. We have always gone to WDW for about 2 weeks, staying sun-thurs and checking out on weekends for trips to the beach, universal, etc. I have no intention of adding on points to take the same trip I have been taking for the past 13 years. I will just make my weekends three night weekends instead. Less time at WDW, less of my money spent at WDW. At this point, the less money I give Disney, the better. I'm appalled at this entire debacle as well as the other "member enhancements" we have been subjected to this past year or so.

BTW, HGVC on International Drive (near the Premium Outlets) is a very nice resort and will be seeing more of me. I just reserved at one bedroom unit for our weekends this July. Just $106/night. At four nights, that's about $400 of my money Disney will not be getting. King bed, balcony, full kitchen, spa tub, etc. Very comparable to DVC.

 

[tidefan]

The fact that the change has some people using less points and now "spending" less than yesterday's points is irrelevant - it's just a bonus for them that they didn't expect.

How is that irrelevant? It shows that you can't make a blanket statement about this. Yes, for many, points don't go as far, but for many, points now go further, and for even more (like myself that usually stays 7-8 days) it's pretty much a wash from what we had before.

 

[tidefan]

First, I added all of the annual points for a year for studio, 1 BR, and 2 BR at BCV for 2009 and then for 2010. The difference is 3 more total points for 2010 as compared to 2009. Although this is only 3 points, it is more and not what Disney said.

I think Dean and Tim have covered this point ad nauseum, but

1) how did you calculate for lock-off's, all as 2 Bdrms, as studios and 1 Bdrms, or a mix of both? If any resort calculates them different I would imagine it would be BCV as there is a difference with the dedicateds having the 2 queens in the second bedrooms.

2) are the number of weekends and weeknights in 2010 the same for the BCV "base year"?

 

[tidefan]

BTW, HGVC on International Drive (near the Premium Outlets) is a very nice resort and will be seeing more of me. I just reserved at one bedroom unit for our weekends this July. Just $106/night. At four nights, that's about $400 of my money Disney will not be getting. King bed, balcony, full kitchen, spa tub, etc. Very comparable to DVC.

Can you imagine if you were one of the poor saps at HGVC that paid $12,000 to $15,000 for a week you could get for less than your maintenance fees? I stayed at the Sea World HGVC in a 1 Bdrm last year in March for a conference that was down the road and I paid less than $100/night.

Speaking of poor saps, I have firsthand experience with other timeshare companies that makes all of these DVC changes seem trivial. I should let everyone know to avoid Diamond Resorts. We own a week with them (well, we own a deeded week at one of their managed resorts, we are not members of "the CLUB") that we bought resale a few years ago when it was Sunterra, and while the units are great and we really enjoy going to the property, what I did not enjoy was Diamond raising our Maintenance Fees by 35% (In DVC terms, think of it like going from around $5 per point to just short of $7 per point).

 

[Tiger926]

I'm in this group as well. This allocation will not make me more likely to stay weekends. It just doesn't work for me. I'm already now for 2010, 30+ points short due to the allocation. Staying weekends will only put me even further into a deficit. Even though the weekend points are lower, the increase in weeknights cancels it out. So I'm *guessing*, DVC was hoping those of us that stay during the weeknights will drop days ? Or add points ? Otherwise....I don't know how they thought we would have increased interest in weekends when we're already short with our weeknight points due to allocation ? So I really am thinking they hope we "go away" or something. Because this allocation was clearly done to help those that already budgeted for weekend stays....have a pattern of staying over one or more weekends.....and it was to give them a break.

So I will be one that will either stay less days (but doubt this because the more I think about it I just get ticked off). I'm more likely to downsize villa size and stay the same amount during the weeknights. I might have to switch from a studio to a 1 or 2 bedroom during my 5 night weekly stay----but so be it----I have no other choice. And I highly doubt I'm the only weeknighter that will do this.........

Maria

We always stay weekends, and I can assure you that we are still short on points for next year - approx. 15-20 depending upon location. So, we didn't get a break at all because although weekend points went down, weeknight points went up. We did the math, and it's higher for us at the end of the week.

Tiger

 

[Tiger926]

Can you imagine if you were one of the poor saps at HGVC that paid $12,000 to $15,000 for a week you could get for less than your maintenance fees? I stayed at the Sea World HGVC in a 1 Bdrm last year in March for a conference that was down the road and I paid less than $100/night.


Speaking of poor saps, I have firsthand experience with other timeshare companies that makes all of these DVC changes seem trivial. I should let everyone know to avoid Diamond Resorts. We own a week with them (well, we own a deeded week at one of their managed resorts, we are not members of "the CLUB") that we bought resale a few years ago when it was Sunterra, and while the units are great and we really enjoy going to the property, what I did not enjoy was Diamond raising our Maintenance Fees by 35% (In DVC terms, think of it like going from around $5 per point to just short of $7 per point).

ITA! We stayed here 1 year after buying DVC, and we were blown away - first by the price ($100.00/night) and then by the property. Rooms were incredibly furnished, lovely decor, huge bathrooms, balconies, etc. Very nice - I assume it's because they use the cheap rates as a marketing ploy, just like when Disney offers SSR or AKL for $130/night. My hubby actually made an appointment to speak to a rep there, but when we went in to the office, they weren't there.

We were thinking of staying there for the other night or 2 that we will have to knock off our normal vacations due to the point re-allocation, but with Sea World tickets on top of it, it's too costly as it's not something that we planned to do every year.

This thread is so interesting! Tiger

 

[hoodedrooster]

I think Dean and Tim have covered this point ad nauseum, but

1) how did you calculate for lock-off's, all as 2 Bdrms, as studios and 1 Bdrms, or a mix of both? If any resort calculates them different I would imagine it would be BCV as there is a difference with the dedicateds having the 2 queens in the second bedrooms.

2) are the number of weekends and weeknights in 2010 the same for the BCV "base year"?

I just added all of the points from studio, 1 br, and 2 br together for one total number. Since I added them all together and the 2009 and 2010 charts are for same for all seasons, the number should be the same.

 

[tjkraz]

BTW, HGVC on International Drive (near the Premium Outlets) is a very nice resort and will be seeing more of me. I just reserved at one bedroom unit for our weekends this July. Just $106/night. At four nights, that's about $400 of my money Disney will not be getting. King bed, balcony, full kitchen, spa tub, etc. Very comparable to DVC.

DVC/Disney has always been about charging a premium for being on-site.

If you can sacrifice being on-site, a world (no pun intended) of options opens up. You can rent a nearby 3-4 bedroom vacation home for a week with twice the space of a DVC villa and a private pool for less than the cost of the DVC maintenance fees for the same duration. Hotel rooms a couple miles from WDW are 1/3 to 1/4 the price of on-site.

 

[dandave]

I'm only just nearing closing on a mere 50 point resale, but even I knew that the total number of points could be shaken up and changed around like a cup of Yahtzee dice. I've read mention of it here for years. But then again, it has been said that while I was wasting my time researching, weighing the pros and cons of DVC, and just simply waiting for the right time, some here decided to jump right on in there head first and start making all those DVC memories that could not possibly be made at a regular ol' Resort.
Sure my heart goes out to a few posters here, in particular those who just finished small add-ons at BLT that would have covered a couple of nights under the 2009 chart. Disney had to present the new charts sometime though, and there would always be people who had added on *just* prior to the new chart release. For the most part, however, I cannot sympathize.
I cannot imagine signing a real estate contract worth $$$ without reading it first - especially a contract that involved a Timeshare Salesperson anywhere along the route. (Hey, a job is a job, but I tend to triple check anything told me by a Timeshare Salesperson or a Used Car Dealer.) And then to top it all off with a great big cherry, you complain that you were fooled, conned, even...even..even robbed if the truth be known! I would say that you were outwitted by a smooth talking salesperson, blinded by a desire to be an owner of DVC, and/or too frenzied to do the proper due diligence. I would say that, but I know that I would likely be attacked in my sleep by an angry DVC mob if I did. So, for safety's sake, I'll refrain from saying that.
One thing that I really don't get, however, are those who plan to verbalize their disgust for DVC at the parks, to your friends, and to anyone else who will listen. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Would you follow a potential buyer around your home pointing out the non-existent closet space, the outdated kitchen cabinets, the tacky wallpaper in the den, or the overall feeling of gloom associated with the upstairs bedroom where Grandpa Bernie was found frozen last winter? I'm just curious.

And I really must chime in about the Value Resorts, once again. DH and I are taking our two kids and two of their friends for Spring Break. We're getting two rooms for about $130 total per night with the "7 for 4". That's 4 beds, 2 TVs, 2 bathrooms, privacy and daily maid service. Slumming it is so dreadfully dismal.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We always stay weekends, and I can assure you that we are still short on points for next year - approx. 15-20 depending upon location. So, we didn't get a break at all because although weekend points went down, weeknight points went up. We did the math, and it's higher for us at the end of the week.

Tiger

Well, as a weekend DVC'er...thanks for sharing your perspective on this Tiger. It's a bit difficult at times to try and figure out who this allocation benefits and who it hurts.

dandave : And then to top it all off with a great big cherry, you complain that you were fooled, conned, even...even..even robbed if the truth be known! I would say that you were outwitted by a smooth talking salesperson, blinded by a desire to be an owner of DVC, and/or too frenzied to do the proper due diligence. I would say that, but I know that I would likely be attacked in my sleep by an angry DVC mob if I did. So, for safety's sake, I'll refrain from saying that.

Well it's ok if you don't sympathize with some of us dandave. Respectfully, I don't require that from you. And for the record, dh and I were aware there could be an allocation----as did MANY here and it has been stated as such in hundreds of posts by many of us. But this is a fairly drastic one you must admit. I'm short 30 points on my OKW contract and 6 on my AKV contract for our current vacation patterns. Our AKV add-on was about 90+ days ago. Noone could convince me that DVC wasn't aware they were going to announce this allocation. They waited until after the Jan 15 price increase to drop that little bombshell on us. Feel kind of duped in that respect. We would have purchased more AKV points had this "little" announcement been made prior to Jan 15. Communication was lacking....and timing not nearly the best for planning by Members.

dandave :One thing that I really don't get, however, are those who plan to verbalize their disgust for DVC at the parks, to your friends, and to anyone else who will listen. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Again, whether you're referring to me or not, just putting it out there to you anyway....
I just don't feel nearly as passionate about recommending DVC to friends and family now with this allocation. And not knowing when they'll throw another curve ball our way.....poor communication with issues of this magnitude...etc make it not in the best interest of my friends/family to rave about DVC and how they should purchase as I have in the past. Surely we don't plan to drag the DVC name in the mud....but alot less cheerleading for them for sure.

I just think the wind has been taken out of some of our "DVC sails" so to say......at least for me. I'm heading to WDW next week. A month ago I was SOoooo excited to check out the BLT model and do an add-on there. Now, dh doesn't even want to look at the model, let alone do any add-ons. What a difference the new year has made for us........

 

[tidefan]

I just added all of the points from studio, 1 br, and 2 br together for one total number. Since I added them all together and the 2009 and 2010 charts are for same for all seasons, the number should be the same.

My point (that we have tossed around a bit in these threads already) is that do you count the points for a 2 bedroom lockoff as a 2 Bedroom, or do you count them as a Studio and a 1 Bedroom. This could be important as the points for a week in a Studio + a week in a 1 Bedroom do not equal a week in a 2 bedroom. Are you counting dedicated studios, dedicated 1 bedrooms, 2 bedroom lockoffs and dedicated 2 bedrooms separately? Dean's assertion is that the lockoffs are all counted as 2 bedroom units.

 

[dandave]

Mia, I certainly didn't mean you or any other particular person. I read backwards a few dozen pages, I that was my overall take on the Great Debate.
My little 50 points won't get me the 5 studio nights at OKW anymore, but that was part of the gamble. If this is the worst thing that happens to my family this year, I'll consider myself blessed.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Mia, I certainly didn't mean you or any other particular person. I read backwards a few dozen pages, I that was my overall take on the Great Debate.

I didn't believe you were referring to me specifically.....that's why I added in my reply that I'll "just throw it out there" anyway (in general). So no offense or anything taken.

If this is the worst thing that happens to my family this year, I'll consider myself blessed.

I doubt any of us consider this the worst thing that has or will happen to our families.....and I'm sure most of us feel blessed that we can even afford to travel to WDW in these tough economic times. But still, it is a significant change in the way many of can afford to vacation with DVC and is worth discussing here.

Take care and congrats on your recent purchase

 

[dandave]

Thank you, Mia!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I know that if I began staying off site, that would be cutting my nose to spite my face. We've stayed 3 times off site to save points or because of bargains, and we weren't as pleased. We do like to go to other attractions in Florida, so, these weren't exclusively WDW trips, but for the money, I have a better time when I'm on site WDW. We stayed at HGVC and I thought they were lovely but lacking.

Can DVC change so that a week's stay is mandatory? We did a HGVC presentation, and I know they mentioned "points" because there a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night cost more than the other nights. We bought DVC not because we wanted a timeshare but because we wanted to stay on site at WDW ( and VB too!) and DVC has enabled us to do that with so many of our DFamily/Friends for a very reasonable amount of money compared to what each vacation would cost us through CRO.

Bobbi

 

[Anal Annie]

Like Maria said, I am not planning to drag the DVC brand thru the mud. But they sure did cure my addonitis and I no longer feel the need to "share the magic" of the "best kept secret". We knew they could re-allocate but never expected them to change so much so that we can no longer afford the same vacation this week that we could last week. This is certainly something I am not going to BRAG ABOUT to someone who asks me about DVC. In a social setting I used to talk it up and offer my guides name and I have passed on their marketing materials to refer people when they've sent them. That marketing crap will hit the recycling bin on the way in from the mailbox now. I won't even bring it inside my house.

And if the point charts for VGC are any indication I can tell you that they've also busted my bubble for ever staying at (or buying) Ko'Olina.

I feel like I just won the consolation prize.

 

[wildernessDad]

I hope that people are not calling MS and/or their guides and chewing them out over this. More than likely, they had no idea that this was coming and they don't make planning decisions anyway.

 

[mickeymom629]

How is that irrelevant? It shows that you can't make a blanket statement about this. Yes, for many, points don't go as far, but for many, points now go further, and for even more (like myself that usually stays 7-8 days) it's pretty much a wash from what we had before.

I say that only as it applies to what we were told - "locking in to today's prices for tomorrow". It should still apply to all members using their points the way they have been.

No matter how you look at it, if a member has been booking Sun. to Thurs., their "prices" just went up for the same stay - which goes against what was implied.

If they had left some weeks in the year with the same points, that might have been a little better - at least the Sun.-Thurs. members would have some options at "yesterday's" prices.

Obviously, this is JMO.