Don't Like the VDH Transient Occupancy Tax? Blame Disney (Sorta)

[Sandisw]

I mean, I guess? But property taxes in Orange County are just called Dues in DVC. Florida locals increase those, dues increase. When Anaheim increases its cut, it's in this weird broken out tax and "dues" stay the same.

This is better for DVC, esp in active sales, because it looks like costs are lower or more competitive instead of just rolled into "dues." This is true for a whole, whole lot of charges with a lot of names in Florida. That's nothing new. It's the breaking it out that is new. It wouldn't surprise me to see charges broken out at Poly2, if DVC can pull it off.

My understanding is that there is no TOT tax in FL right now that is charged like the one that is done for all hotel stays in Anaheim.

So, not sure how it could apply to the Poly tower, unless you can point me in the direction of FL law that shows this is required? It is certainly not part of the current WDW properties.

If you look at the VGC budget, it is a specific line item.

 

[RoseGold]

But it's not the same. VDH "dues" include OC property taxes, due to property ownership. The TOT is a use tax imposed by the city, and only when the room is actually occupied by the owner/renter (regardless of how it's paid for). If you don't use those points at VDH, you don't pay the TOT. With the exception of a handful of remaining hotels in the city, any and every person who rents an Anaheim hotel room pays that TOT.

I wrote a whole post about how it was cool these taxes were separated out at time of stay for WDW people wanting to buy at DL. This is a neat arbitrage IMO.

But sure, it's not the "same" because they called it a different name. It's still taxes, and there are many kinds of taxes in both locations that we just call dues. It isn't particularly special that Anaheim taxes DVC, it's just special because of how it got broken out (well, and how high it is!). We act like "dues" aren't taxes, but that's exactly where they go.

If DVC can pull off charging some of the dues at time of stay in Florida, it wouldn't surprise me to see it in the future. It's better for DVC math than rolling all of this into "dues" and makes costs appear more stable and lower. From Disney's point of view, it's great -- and it allows Disney to put the heat of increased taxes on the taxing authority.

 

[Sandisw]

I wrote a whole post about how it was cool these taxes were separated out at time of stay for WDW people wanting to buy at DL. This is a neat arbitrage IMO.

But sure, it's not the "same" because they called it a different name. It's still taxes, and there are many kinds of taxes in both locations that we just call dues. It isn't particularly special that Anaheim taxes DVC, it's just special because of how it got broken out (well, and how high it is!). We act like "dues" aren't taxes, but that's exactly where they go.

If DVC can pull off charging some of the dues at time of stay in Florida, it wouldn't surprise me to see it in the future. It's better for DVC math than rolling all of this into "dues" and makes costs appear more stable and lower. From Disney's point of view, it's great -- and it allows Disney to put the heat of increased taxes on the taxing authority.

I don’t agree that owners use the word dues without understanding it is more than taxes and that DVC can just add things to our costs without having them explained,

The amount for taxes that is included as a line items has to be accurate and as owners we have the right to look at the details.

There is no way DVC can make up a tax and add it to the dues. Or am not understanding your points. The TOT is unique and in this case, it made sense to keep it out of dues for owners and have those who stay, like at AUL, cover it.

 

[DonMacGregor]

But sure, it's not the "same" because they called it a different name. It's still taxes, and there are many kinds of taxes in both locations that we just call dues. It isn't particularly special that Anaheim taxes DVC, it's just special because of how it got broken out (well, and how high it is!). We act like "dues" aren't taxes, but that's exactly where they go.

Again, it’s not the “same” because…. It’s not the same. The TOT only applies to the actual occupancy and is only charged when the points are used at that resort. A point you seem singularly insistent on ignoring.

What is absolutely “special” about the Anaheim tax is that it is orders of magnitude higher than the only other two resorts subject to a similar tax. To simply (and to be honest, lazily and disingenuously) add it into the base dues at the resort, just like property taxes and operational expenses, when Anaheim only requires it to be charged when staying at VDH, would be bordering on criminal and fraudulent. That it is ONLY charged when the room is occupied using those points makes it "particularly special".

If they charged that tax to every single point sold at VDH, and even 10% of those points were used elsewhere, and not subject to the TOT, and the TOT was not collected by Anaheim, where would that extra money collected by DVC go? Would you give it back to the owner who used all of their VDH points next year in a trip to WDW and didn’t use one single point to stay at VDH? Or what about the owner who uses them at Aulani (a very likely use of VDH points for west coasters) and gets charged the Honolulu TOT, IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY PAID IN THEIR VDH DUES?

Maybe DVC feels .81$ PP doesn’t move the needle at VGC and are willing to risk any backlash, and they absolutely do charge it separately at Aulani, so I fail to see where DVC is trying something nefarious or underhanded in how they are dealing with the TOT at VDH. It is a separate and sizable fee, charged by the city only when a room is occupied in the hotel, so it is broken out separately.

 

[Yankee626]

Ita really amazing how much red tape is involved with both owning DVC and traveling to DW and DL. First when I buy DVC if its resale I can stay here but not there. If I buy resale at RIV I can only stay there. How many points do I need to become a member with discounts? Direct owner vs resale owner . Some resorts I have to Pay a TOT tax on top of my dues and some I don't. Every resort has a different end date. Then figuring out how to use my use year. Once you get through all that then you make your reservation . Then the fun starts . you have to make a park reservation and plan out your trip 2 months in advance. Then Dining Reservations. Once you get to DW you have to wake up by 700 am to get your Lightning lane . Then you have to figure out how to use the Genie . ITS ALL CRAZY. I can see why people who love Disney World won't come back. Its a full time job keeping up with all the rules and hoops you have to go through for a vacation. Used to be easy.

 

[RoseGold]

Then the fun starts . you have to make a park reservation and plan out your trip 2 months in advance.

2 months? On DVC? Good luck with that LOL.