Does anyone feel the annual dues are high.

[benny2bunny]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone feel's as I do that they annual dues are rather high, like every thing Disney you seem to get charged well how shall I put it through the nose.

I am well lucky or should I say unlike that I own a number of timeshares, the maintence or dues varies greatley for a three bed three bath villa at Westgate we pay $619, for my other two five star resort but in Europe which are two bed two bath I pay about $300 per week, with Disney it cost me $1096 for three hundred points at Vero, O.K there is the flexibility, to a certain degree I get this with the Westgate one as I can break it down to a two bed and a one bed.

The selling point to me like everyone else who purchases Disney was staying on Disney property you can't beat it, but why are we all prepared to pay so much more for something which carries the Disney name.

I purchased and I can't even that, I think it was my best purchase, I will only use it for Disney vactions and I will exchange my other to travel else where, as they don't have the same vacation value to me as good old Disney.

 

[RobDoc]

While the annual cost may be higher than at other timeshares, my experience has been that the level of maintenance is also higher. I have exchanged to many timeshares where the continued maintenance has left something to be desired.

Many timeshares, in an effort to minimize dues, cut back on their capital improvements component of the dues. They then have little money for the needed maintenance 10-15 years later. This is handled often by scrimping on the repairs or having an assessment to cover the expenses.

DVC has built in a very practical budget component to handle the future repair/replacement costs of furnishings, carpeting, appliances, painting, exterior and landscaping.

I may gripe about the dues when I write the check in Jan, but actually am very pleased with what I get in return- especially compared to my other, less clostly, timeshares.

 

[drusba]

They are definitely higher than other timeshares. However, other than a set percentage of operating dues (which I believe is about 11%) that is for a mangement fee and thus represents an extra income/profit to Disney, and which percentage does not change, all dues are required to be based on actual costs and projected costs for operating or refurbishing the resort, and on projected cost for long term repairs or replacements (roofs, etc.) Disney takes a safe approach of assuring it is collecting now amounts it will need later. In other words, other than that 11% fee, dues are cost-based and not cost-plus-profit based. (Note all timeshares have a mangement fee.) At WDW, they are paying for a lot more employees, maintenance and services than typically found at other timeshares. Not sure why VB is as high as it is although I suspect it also provides more services, maintenance and employees than a typical timeshare and likely has a higher than usual cost for property taxes and hurricane insurance as a result of its beach front location.

 

[caverill]

I agree with Doc. The annual cost seems high, but Disney does it right.

I believe that over the long run, keeping the buildings in good repair and providing top-notch service is the way to go. I don't believe we, as owners, will see a huge increase due to the planning that Disney does.

I also believe that the location and flexability makes DVC more valueable then others on the market.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm not familiar with other timeshares but I wonder whether they provide the parties and children's activities that you find at the DVC resorts. At OKW Member Activities is 4% of the budget at over $600,000. Is that a cost you don't incur at other timeshares?


(I think I just found another component to why Vero is higher in addition to taxes & insurance....member activities runs over $800,000 per year.)

 

[benny2bunny]

I understand that well I don't think Disney can be matched on alot of things, yes W/G run's activites and such like. don't get me wrong I look at purchasinat Westgate as a biggggggg mistake, as at that stage I hadn't really looked at Disney and if I didn't have W/G I would have most certainly invested in more Disney points, but the stark diffrence is so great, and I suppose it hurt alittle more due to the fact that all dues are due in Jan, and I guess because it was my first, it somewhat took my breath away, but hay I still class it as by best buy, and certainly my best investment in my famillies furture vacation happiness.
/

 

[BillM]

Like Pam, I'm not familiar with other timeshares. None of the responses have mentioned the bus transport that is furnished. At OKW our portion is considerable. Also the Pontoon rides to DD would also factor in. I think the landscape at all the DVC resorts is superior. Member services is great and well staffed.

Yes I think the dues are high but I think with DVC you get your money's worth and I think we can depend on DVC to not let anything run down. AS for the management fee that Drusba mentioned, they are well worth it from my experience.

 

[Joeblack]

I think they are fair. They are paid painlessly and the total cost of your stay is a big savings over rack rate prices. My only other experience is with Marriott and dues there are as high if not higher. Quality is top notch at all DVC resorts.

 

[DebbieB]

and I suppose it hurt alittle more due to the fact that all dues are due in Jan,

DVC has a no interest monthly payment plan, do other timeshares have that? It has to be debited out of your checking account. To me dues don't seem like too much because it's only $78 out of my checking on the first of each month (250 points at BWV).

 

[benny2bunny]

I'm not sure if aother timeshare resorts allow you to pay monthly, to be honest I was awear Disney allowed this either.

I'll be honest for us it is a difficult time in Jan as we have a seasonal business and throughout the winter it's always tough, I guess, that $2000 at that time of year makes the ouch alittle bigger. Perhap's I'll see if I can pay monthly with Disney as them at least the biggest bill is no longer a worry.

 

[Laurajean1014]

No. I believe they are fair based on the quality! We would have never bought if we thought otherwise..............

 

[Dean]

Depends on how you look at it. If you compare to staying at GF, Poly, etc; it is fair. If you compare to other "comparable" timeshares, it is very high. There are other timeshares that are comparable or better quaility that have lower fees and higher level of services. Many of the Marriott's and the Royals come to mind. That is one of the reasons I say that DVC is for using, not exchanging.

Remember that the WDW amenities, rehab schedule, Orlando taxes, and the points system add to the overall cost.

 

[jbthi]

I'm satisfied with the dues we pay at DVC. We own at BWV with just 150 points so are dues are less than $500. We are retired and prefer off season, so this gives us quite a bit of time.

We own 3 other TS in Florida and our MF are MUCH higher. We also own 2 weeks in the Smokies where are fees are $284.00 per week. The maintenance and service, or should I say lack of, makes these fees too high.

I love DVC and everything it provides. Would never consider trading it or using anything but the 5 DVC resorts. All in all, I think we got a bargain.

 

[BobH]

I figure I would pay at least half or my annual dues in room taxes if I didn't own DVC. I pay about $720 in dues per year. So I don't feel the dues are way too expensive.

 

[benny2bunny]

O.K, O.K I get the message I am the only one who thinks well Disney dues are alittle on the high side, I agree you get what you pay for but have any of you done your maths to see just how much timeshare resorts get in on just dues alone, the mind boggles with the amount of $$$$$$$$$ they have to play with, if you base your fingure on the fact that each unit is sold at least 52 times x it by the dues, plus the amount of rack rate they get in, and well you have alot of money, the points system enures that they get the maxium out of the amount of units, but hey, I didn't say I was unhappy with the product, just feel that we as DVC members are subsidizing there profit making business, as I guess the maintence of the buildings etc is payed by us not the rack rate fee's that they also accumulate.
Anyway I guess that I must be the only one who dislikes putting there hand in there pocket, from me alone over the 42 years including the purchase of the DVC points they will accrue more than $60,000 on just one 52 of a unit not bad going ah.

 

[BobH]

I am not saying I enjoy paying the dues, a lot of us just try to justify the dues against what we are getting in return. There doesn't seem to be much you can do about it.

 

[PamOKW]

I'd be curious to know how dues at other non-Disney timeshares tend to increase. Do they basically stay the same or go up a percentage per year? How about assessments? Are they common?

 

[RobDoc]

The 2 non-DVC timeshares we own have increased about 3-5% each year. They tend to increase about $10-15 per year and are now in the $325-$350 per week range.

If you go check out the ads at www.tug2.net , you will find a notice of annual fees for each listing. Many are in the $400-$500 range also.

As far as % increase, DVC seems to be in line with others and DVC certainly includes features NOT found at most others.

 

[Richyams]

I have no problem with the dues.

One consideration may be Disney's vast experience with mantaining resorts. I think that the replacement portion of our dues may be higher than other resorts. I would be very interested in hearing about how often assessments are charged at other resorts.

I looked through the replacement schedule pretty thoroughly when we bought, I don't expect to be charged any assessments ever. I think the only thing that could possibly cause an assessments would be a catastrophy of some sort.

Sometimes other timeshare are dissolved because of assessments.