DUES Info! - All resorts dues have been released

[mkatsy]

My addonitis is cured!

I feel like I need to make the list of dues my screensaver then when I feel a twitch of addonitis the cure is handy!

 

[muppets3d]

So let me get this straight, because I'm not part of the comma club I should be required to pay more money for my shorter stays? That's bs.

Strawman

 

[airjay75]

On the housekeeping/short-stay thoughts, I also have to think that DVC is unique in the percentage of members who live in Florida, and I suspect most of those members primarily utilize their DVC for short stays. Probably a large percentage of VDH/VGC owners who use VDH/VGC for short-stays too. I suspect, for those reasons alone, a minimum night stay will never be imposed.

 

[mkatsy]

On the housekeeping/short-stay thoughts, I also have to think that DVC is unique in the percentage of members who live in Florida, and I suspect most of those members primarily utilize their DVC for short stays. Probably a large percentage of VDH/VGC owners who use VDH/VGC for short-stays too. I suspect, for those reasons alone, a minimum night stay will never be imposed.

As a local, if there were a minimum stay I would have to liquidate my points and exit the club. It’s just not cost effective to be forced to stay multiple nights that I don’t need. I’m sure the folks that like to stay at DVC for run Disney, as well as the people that stay the night before a cruise might have an issue with it.

 

[mkatsy]

If the problem with increasing dues is partly caused by increasing housekeeping costs, then it would be more than fair that those who require more cleaning, in this case single night stays, pay a larger part of that increase.

Yes and no … because I book frequent short stays I am very conscientious when I leave a room. I vacuum, strip all the beds, wash the dishes, take garbage to the trash room, and wipe everything with a Clorox wipe. I also try to check out a bit early (if possible) and I use the notification button in the APP. I try and do everything I can to minimize my impact on housekeeping. I walk by other rooms and I see utter chaos. Pizza boxes and beer bottles left in the living room. Some people just pack up their personal effects and walk out the door. The amount of time to clean a room is very subjective.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm not sure I understand this line of argument - it doesn't make sense to change the rules for very small components (towels) so it doesn't make sense to look at much larger amounts between $50-$100?

I believe the argument is that you could get one cleaning per week of stay included but if you split up your stay into seven individual one-day stays, thus requiring 6 additional cleanings (seven total), you get your included one but pay for the other 6. Why would this be unfair?

Cost isn't always the first priority but, as I've written above, we are talking about quite a significant and rising component of the dues.

Do we know what the average length of stay is for owners? I have never seen that.

They are legally required to clean the room between guests regardless of length of stay.

Outside of the day 4 of an 8 night stay, that is all we are paying for,,,a clean room when we check in.

And, if it’s covered in dues, it can’t be charged outside of it unless, IMO, they change the number of nights required to be more than one.

I would much rather keep the minimum the same. We can move on because I simply don’t see it like you and that those that go more often are getting something extra…because they are not.

 

[Sandisw]

I don’t agree that anyone should. That’s also why it’s more or less has become industry standard for timeshares that you don’t get any housekeeping during your week long stay. If you wish to have it, you must pay for it.

I know legally it’s an option to charge housekeeping fees for short stays. At least it’s legal in New York as that’s what Hilton does. Maybe it won’t fly in FL I’m not well versed in that.

As we have discussed before, DVC needs to make changes if thy consider them good for the membership as a whole. Is it good for the membership if a lot or some members book short stays and therefore hits the membership with a higher housekeeping costs than those booking longer stays?

The problem DVC has with answering that question is that they money they make by managing the resorts are directly influenced by the operation costs. Meaning if the housekeeping costs goes down so does the operation costs and so does the money they make.

In terms of law, they have to clean between guests and as owners, we have to pay for that.

I do know if something is included in dues, we can’t be charged extra.

Which is why DVC owners couldn’t be charged the parking fee even when they were cash guests staying at a DVC resort.

If they were to institute a short stay cleaning fee, they’d have to be able to prove we are not already paying for it and without having the data as to the average length of stay, we don’t know what impact it’s having.

If the average was 5 nights, then that is what the budget would be built around.

If there was a shortfall, then DVD covers it with their guarantee.

 

[Unclelude]

As long as we are on the mousekeeping kick...

Didn't they offer some kind of incentive a while back for skipping housekeeping ?? ( like a fastpass or token dining credit) I would be a fan of that... not sure if that would help dues much.

I'm not sure when they switched to the central housekeeping hub, but in the last few years, I wonder if that costs them more... we have a running joke now about how bad they will get our request wrong ... once we requested a brush to scrape the rust off our gill at treehouses... we got 3 sets of grill utensils sent over before the delivery person asked why we wanted so many ( I explained it to them, and for the rest of the stay they cleaned the grill every morning - I think they would have cleaned the grill after we started using the it regardless... I just wanted to get the rust off the grates )

Good Luck, Have fun!!

 

[airjay75]

As a local, if there were a minimum stay I would have to liquidate my points and exit the club. It’s just not cost effective to be forced to stay multiple nights that I don’t need. I’m sure the folks that like to stay at DVC for run Disney, as well as the people that stay the night before a cruise might have an issue with it.

One other thought that I've had in thinking about this more - above all else, DVC does not want to hurt direct sales. So long as locals make up a significant percentage of direct sales, I just don't see them going the way of minimum night stays. And, I don't think people purchasing direct are worried about the housekeeping line item on their dues (and I suspect most people never even look at anything other than their total bill).

 

[walt34]

We can move on because I simply don’t see it like you and that those that go more often are getting something extra…because they are not.

You don't see that someone, who books 7 individual one-night stays necessitates 6 additional cleanings as compared to someone who stays a week? Then let's move on.

 

[Sandisw]

You don't see that someone, who books 7 individual one-night stays necessitates 6 additional cleanings as compared to someone who stays a week? Then let's move on.

Yes, that does cause extra cleaning…but they aren’t getting anything extra. They are getting what every owner gets…a clean room when they check in.

Since the minimum is one night the owner who is doing that is using their membership as allowed

As long as that is the case, then the cost of housekeeping should cover it.

As above, whatever the average trip length is, then the budget is built for that. IMO, that’s how it should be.

 

[walt34]

Yes, they do…but since the minimum is one night the owner who is doing that is using their membership as allowed

As long as that is the case, then the cost of housekeeping should cover it.

I never said it was outside the rules or not allowed. I merely proposed a way in which this could be handled more fairly. Until then I’ll gladly subsidise your short stay visits.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Hm, we normally stay a week, about 7 night. Especially when we use our guaranteed week. But maybe I'll start tacking on a night to get a full cleaning in the middle of the stay!

 

[Sandisw]

Hm, we normally stay a week, about 7 night. Especially when we use our guaranteed week. But maybe I'll start tacking on a night to get a full cleaning in the middle of the stay!

I know someone who does exactly that!!

 

[DarthDadMan]

Sorry if I missed it, but what’s the general consensus on the reason for the overall larger than average bump in dues this year?

 

[Cyberc1978]

In terms of law, they have to clean between guests and as owners, we have to pay for that.

I do know if something is included in dues, we can’t be charged extra.

Which is why DVC owners couldn’t be charged the parking fee even when they were cash guests staying at a DVC resort.

If they were to institute a short stay cleaning fee, they’d have to be able to prove we are not already paying for it and without having the data as to the average length of stay, we don’t know what impact it’s having.

If the average was 5 nights, then that is what the budget would be built around.

If there was a shortfall, then DVD covers it with their guarantee.

As mentioned its legal in NY to have a housekeeping fee even if you already charge for housekeeping, don’t know about FL.

However I do agree if any such change was implemented they had to prove that it wasn’t already included in the cost.

Seen from Disney perspective it could be easy money if they announced that from xx date the housekeeping costs in the budget was based on a 3 nights minimum stay. Disney would still ensure to clean for any shorter stay but those guests would be hit with a housekeeping fee. Disney could charge what ever they feel was right.

Then ppl could still book a short trip but would pay to get the room cleaned and hopefully the membership as a whole would see lower housekeeping costs.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Sorry if I missed it, but what’s the general consensus on the reason for the overall larger than average bump in dues this year?

Most resorts had a significant bump in housekeeping expenses.

 

[DarthDadMan]

Most resorts had a significant bump in housekeeping expenses.

Ahh hence the housekeeping discussion, ok thanks!

 

[mkatsy]

I never said it was outside the rules or not allowed. I merely proposed a way in which this could be handled more fairly. Until then I’ll gladly subsidise your short stay visits.

Ok … but I don’t need bell services for my short stays. I’ve only got an overnight case. So I’m paying for someone to help you with your luggage and store your groceries until you arrive from the airport. We never use the activity room or the gym because we’re not there long enough. So, if I were to have the same mind set as you we can cut the gym, the activity room, and bell services. We all pay for the entire package of services because that how the club functions for EVERYONE.

 

[Sandisw]

Ok … but I don’t need bell services for my short stays. I’ve only got an overnight case. So I’m paying for someone to help you with your luggage and store your groceries until you arrive from the airport. We never use the activity room or the gym because we’re not there long enough. So, if I were to have the same mind set as you we can cut the gym, the activity room, and bell services. We all pay for the entire package of services because that how the club functions for EVERYONE.

You said it much better than I have tried to communicate.