Dues increase

[Minnie824]

Just got our dues information for 2012 today. Did anyone else notice a large increase? Ours went up by about $20 per month. Just seemed like a lot.

 

[DebbieB]

Just got our dues information for 2012 today. Did anyone else notice a large increase? Ours went up by about $20 per month. Just seemed like a lot.

Which resort and how many points do you have? January's payment is probably higher because property tax was underestimated and the difference is paid in January, your other monthly payments will be lower.

 

[disneynutz]

Some resorts went up almost 8%. We asked for better Mousekeeping and now we are paying for it.

Bill

 

[OKW Lover]

Just got our dues information for 2012 today. Did anyone else notice a large increase? Ours went up by about $20 per month. Just seemed like a lot.

How many points do you have?

 

[supersuperwendy]

So even though my dues are usually direct debited on the 1st this January is on the 15th? That's what it looks like on the statement. Then every month thereafter back on the 1st. sound right? I'm sure I probably asked this question last year..and the year before lol

 

[zalansky]

Got ours today, sigh. I'll put it out there, we have 400 points, 100 which are at AKV where I know got a hefty increase. 300 SSR. Dues $1,963. We pay in full so this bites right after the holidays. We had better get that better housekeeping someone requested.

Not that I don't expect this, but this is a good reminder to get when I have been having addonitis cravings again. This nipped that real quick.

 

[Chuck S]

So even though my dues are usually direct debited on the 1st this January is on the 15th? That's what it looks like on the statement. Then every month thereafter back on the 1st. sound right? I'm sure I probably asked this question last year..and the year before lol

Yes, January is always debited on the 15th.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Some resorts went up almost 8%. We asked for better Mousekeeping and now we are paying for it.

Bill

I missed the part where they said mousekeeping expense went up b/c of improvements.

That would be a positive compared to the answer that it is because DVC has more people in the rooms so the resorts feel they can allocate more expense to us.

 

[Minnie824]

We have 375 pts...half AKV half BC. Yeah, the Jan payment had an extra chunk in it, but just regular monthly were up about $20. I haven't really kept up on all the news so I probably missed any info on the dues increase. Thanks.

 

[disneynutz]

I missed the part where they said mousekeeping expense went up b/c of improvements.

That would be a positive compared to the answer that it is because DVC has more people in the rooms so the resorts feel they can allocate more expense to us.

Bilby stated that they had added additional Mousekeepers and that the cost of payroll was a big factor in the increases.

Bill

 

[tillerrw]

We received our Annual Dues Statement in the mail yesterday. We have 200 points at BCV and while this isn't the largest increase we've seen since becoming members in late 2002 it does put the number up there a bit. Our total dues for 2012 will be $1,118.64. To compare our total dues for 2004 were $684.28. That seems to be a big jump in eight years, especially because each time I stay at BCV there are issues with the rooms. This last trip (Dec 2011) we had very loose door handles, locks that didn't work, toilet paper holders coming off the wall, and a stove that was at about 75% operating level (one burner was out). The stove was a new issue for us but the other problems were similar to our stay in Sept 2009.

The 2012 dues are an increase of $68 over 2011 and $90 over 2010. The wife actually mentioned trying to sell. She said that after spending the amount we did in 2002 to become members and now spending over $1,000 each year for dues we might be better off just banking the money and using it when we want to go.

Not sure about that...

 

[awilliams4]

Bilby stated that they had added additional Mousekeepers and that the cost of payroll was a big factor in the increases.

Bill

Cool, 1st I read about this. I would hope then that if the existing added staff suffices, future increases should drop back down close to historical levels. I can see how they may be a bit higher going forward to deal with the salary, health, etc of the extra staff but I would hope this is the only 8% bump we will see because of this.

If points keep renting at $10 per point, I can see how this years increase may put a damper on some owner's moods for the future.

 

[Twinprincesses]

I am Bay Lake own 160 points any mine increased by $160.09 for the year. I think that is a big jump in 1 year.

 

[disneynutz]

I expect BLT dues to continue to increase as they repair and replace furnishings and hard goods that already show extensive wear.

Bill

 

[tjkraz]

I am Bay Lake own 160 points any mine increased by $160.09 for the year. I think that is a big jump in 1 year.

BLT dues did not go up $1 per point ($160 on 160 points) so you'll have to look at the details to get the full picture. Some of what you are paying may be due to under-estimated property taxes in 2011. Or 2011 dues may have been artificially low due to over-estimated taxes in 2010. If you just purchased in 2011, there may have been adjustments for paying prorated dues last year.

As for the reasons for the increase, as Bill said DVC claims staffing was increased in several areas. In addition to more housekeepers they also added supervisors to inspect rooms prior to their release for guest occupancy. Room assigners were also mentioned (to do a better job of matching member requests with available rooms.)

DVC claims that about 75% of annual dues are employee wages and benefits (including taxes, worker's comp, health insurance, 401K, etc.) Some across-the-board increases are to be expected in the form of guaranteed salary increases and higher employee benefit cost.

Aside from that, BLT and AKV operating budgets suffered because increased costs were shifted from the hotel to the DVC timeshare. In shared resorts expenses are shared on the basis of number of guests staying at the hotel vs. DVC. DVC guest numbers were apparently coming in higher than previous estimates (or tallies) so a greater share of the cost for certain amenities were billed to DVC members.

At BoardWalk the opposite happened as the hotel assumed a greater share of expenses due to higher guest counts at the Inn.

 

[bumbershoot]

Some of what you are paying may be due to under-estimated property taxes in 2011. Or 2011 dues may have been artificially low due to over-estimated taxes in 2010.

I agree.

I remember in '10 I noticed our dues went *down* (when factoring in the prorating from '09 when we bought), because they said they'd overestimated the taxes...now this year, it seems they UNDERestimated the taxes, so now they have to go up by *extra*.

That's my take on it.

First payment of the year is nearly twice what our payments were last year, then it's about 12 over what our monthly payments were last year for the rest of the year. Bummer, but to be expected!

 

[tillerrw]

I agree.

I remember in '10 I noticed our dues went *down* (when factoring in the prorating from '09 when we bought), because they said they'd overestimated the taxes...now this year, it seems they UNDERestimated the taxes, so now they have to go up by *extra*.

That's my take on it.

First payment of the year is nearly twice what our payments were last year, then it's about 12 over what our monthly payments were last year for the rest of the year. Bummer, but to be expected!

I agree on the to be expected part but for me that goes hand in hand with the expectation of better quality. When we bought we were told that dues are higher for DVC than many other time shares because they rennovate/turnover more often to keep up the level of quality guests expect with Disney. I can say that our last two trips to BCV have shown the resort has issues and I'm not sure they are being addressed as some issues were the same in both rooms (one visit in 2009 and the other in 2011).

Not trying to start something just putting that out there for discussion.

 

[living20057]

I found it interesting that the Aulani dues were all messed up with someone really underestimating. Now my BLT dues are going up. Seems like they found a way to make up for the Aulani mistake.

 

[rentayenta]

Our dues went up $2.96 a month total.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Bilby stated that they had added additional Mousekeepers and that the cost of payroll was a big factor in the increases.

Bill

ah yes - went back and reread notes from the meeting and see that now.