I want to speak to Jim Lewis, so why can't I?

[SouthernExplorer]

Not really.
But I do agree that membership does and should have it's privileges. Members have paid an initiation (bought points at a premium) and pay dues (mf's), and a good club will make sure the employees give the impression that the members are special. And members are special. They support the club. Exclusivity is what make paying for a membership worth while. Disney is not a private club, but once the members see that semi-private has turned into greater public access, they cease to renew memberships, discourage friends from membership and show up less and less to support the club and eventually sell and stop paying dues. Once DVC crosses the threshold of exclusivity towards more public access, whether its with rental points or cash discounts to non-members, it becomes similar to a public golf course and the members will leave. I think it is already happening. Writing is on the wall, something smells in Denmark, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ....
It will still be special, just not as special as before.

For the love of St. Andrews, are you seriously comparing owning a timeshare to being a member of the Augusta National Golf Club?

 

[Brian Noble]

Owning DVC is like belonging to the "better" course in a town with a couple different private golf courses. If you want to compare to Augusta, the right comparison is probably something like the Four Seasons Residence Club.

 

[castleri]

When they did the extension for OKW I was able to go to the meeting that was held for members at the time and did speak with Jim Lewis after that meeting to express some of the concerns that I had read here on the board about what would happen if people did not respond to the mailings as requested. He was very polite as was the attorney standing next to him as they explained about the possibility of liens and not being able to use your points. They also made it clear that they would do everything possible to make it easy for people to send back the paperwork and would follow up with those who didn't. I know this does not relate to problems at the resort or with MS but apparently there are times when you can speak with him if you are lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time.

If you check out some of the OP other posts -specifically the one about his/her stay at AKV Kidani you might get some idea of the types of issues that he/she has. I don't know that these are the things that are referred to in the original post here however. If so good luck with redesigning the building and programs available.

I have been fortunate in never having a situation that I felt needed more than a call to mousekeeping or maintenance while there and the issues were always corrected within hours - minutes sometimes ( key wouldn't work because battery in door or something was broken) . The trip this week we were sent to room after being told it was ready only to have the mousekeeper who was just going into it say it would be another two hours (2BR). Went back to desk and they found us another room instead of just saying "sorry about that your'll have to wait since the room is not guaranteed to be ready until 4 or after." It was only 1 at that point. There were only smiles and pleasant treatment when I asked if they could please see if there was another room available even if it didn't match my two requests as well as the first one did.

The OP apparently owns at several resorts and I agree with those who said maybe the reality of what was purchased did not meet the expectations.

 

[ccgirl]

I actually did an edit to change the language minutes after I posted because I wasn't being clear....missed the "most" part in the first line though

Are we 100% sure that every dollar of the $95 is going to run the exchange system?In any event: The cash rate gotten by CRO looks to be enough of a "premium" over the "points cost" that, even allowing for a healthy profit, the difference would more than cover the ancillary services that have been mentioned.

Bolding mine. The $95 is not going to the exchange system, RCI. We pay our exchange fee ($125 to RCI) and pay this additional fee for DVC resorts only. (*disclaimer, a select few other timeshares charge a resort fee as well) The note as to what it goes to is below:

A US $95.00 RESORT FEE PER UNIT PER WEEK WILL BE BILLED UPONCHECK-IN FOR ALL EXCHANGES. FEE IS INCLUDED IN ANY RENTAL. THE FEE INCLUDES SHUTTLE SERVICE PROVIDED BY DISNEY MAGICAL EXPRESS AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT DISNEY RESORTS. VALET PARKING, INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER CHARGES MAY APPLY. ALL EXCHANGES MUST CALL DVC MBR SVCS @ 800-******** AT LEAST48 HOURS OR MORE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. ALL GUEST NAMES IN ROOM MUST BE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE--NO EXCEPTIONS. IF ADDING DININGOR PARK TICKETS, NEED AGES FOR EACH GUEST STAYING IN ROOM. EFF: 10/14/10: ADDITION OF DINING PLAN REQUIRES FULL PAYMENTUPFRONT; RSRVTN MUST OCCUR AT LEAST 48 HRS IN ADVANCE TO ADDDINING PLAN. RSRVTNS MADE BEFORE 10/14 OK FOR PAYMT @ CHCKN.*MEMBERS WHO OWN AT RCI RESORTS WITHIN A 30-MILE RADIUS OF ORLANDO CAN'T EXCH.INTO DVC RSTS. NO PETS OR SMOKING ONSITE!

 

[pilferk]

Bolding mine. The $95 is not going to the exchange system, RCI. We pay our exchange fee ($125 to RCI) and pay this additional fee for DVC resorts only. (*disclaimer, a select few other timeshares charge a resort fee as well) The note as to what it goes to is below:

A US $95.00 RESORT FEE PER UNIT PER WEEK WILL BE BILLED UPONCHECK-IN FOR ALL EXCHANGES. FEE IS INCLUDED IN ANY RENTAL. THE FEE INCLUDES SHUTTLE SERVICE PROVIDED BY DISNEY MAGICAL EXPRESS AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT DISNEY RESORTS. VALET PARKING, INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER CHARGES MAY APPLY. ALL EXCHANGES MUST CALL DVC MBR SVCS @ 800-******** AT LEAST48 HOURS OR MORE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. ALL GUEST NAMES IN ROOM MUST BE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE--NO EXCEPTIONS. IF ADDING DININGOR PARK TICKETS, NEED AGES FOR EACH GUEST STAYING IN ROOM. EFF: 10/14/10: ADDITION OF DINING PLAN REQUIRES FULL PAYMENTUPFRONT; RSRVTN MUST OCCUR AT LEAST 48 HRS IN ADVANCE TO ADDDINING PLAN. RSRVTNS MADE BEFORE 10/14 OK FOR PAYMT @ CHCKN.*MEMBERS WHO OWN AT RCI RESORTS WITHIN A 30-MILE RADIUS OF ORLANDO CAN'T EXCH.INTO DVC RSTS. NO PETS OR SMOKING ONSITE!

That's pretty much what I had suspected. Thanks!

 

[going/again]

If that mechanism isn't there....how does DCL, etc, get paid for the member's reservation?

Well, if as I asked no trades, what reservation?

 

[Chuck S]

Bolding mine. The $95 is not going to the exchange system, RCI. We pay our exchange fee ($125 to RCI) and pay this additional fee for DVC resorts only. (*disclaimer, a select few other timeshares charge a resort fee as well) The note as to what it goes to is below:

A US $95.00 RESORT FEE PER UNIT PER WEEK WILL BE BILLED UPONCHECK-IN FOR ALL EXCHANGES. FEE IS INCLUDED IN ANY RENTAL. THE FEE INCLUDES SHUTTLE SERVICE PROVIDED BY DISNEY MAGICAL EXPRESS AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT DISNEY RESORTS. VALET PARKING, INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER CHARGES MAY APPLY. ALL EXCHANGES MUST CALL DVC MBR SVCS @ 800-******** AT LEAST48 HOURS OR MORE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. ALL GUEST NAMES IN ROOM MUST BE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE--NO EXCEPTIONS. IF ADDING DININGOR PARK TICKETS, NEED AGES FOR EACH GUEST STAYING IN ROOM. EFF: 10/14/10: ADDITION OF DINING PLAN REQUIRES FULL PAYMENTUPFRONT; RSRVTN MUST OCCUR AT LEAST 48 HRS IN ADVANCE TO ADDDINING PLAN. RSRVTNS MADE BEFORE 10/14 OK FOR PAYMT @ CHCKN.*MEMBERS WHO OWN AT RCI RESORTS WITHIN A 30-MILE RADIUS OF ORLANDO CAN'T EXCH.INTO DVC RSTS. NO PETS OR SMOKING ONSITE!

I don't think the posters were specifically meaning RCI as the exchange system, nor are they referring specifically to RCI exchanges. The $95 fee also applies to ALL outgoing non-DVC options, including the Disney cruises, Disney resorts, etc. They are referring to DVC's outbound cash equivalent exchange system. The $95 fee charged to inbound RCI exchanges is different.

The outgoing $95 exchange fee pays for the bookkeeping, and other costs associated with managing the outgoing exchange.

The additional $95 inbound RCI fee covers the costs you quoted above.

 

[pilferk]

I don't think the posters were specifically meaning RCI as the exchange system, nor are they referring specifically to RCI exchanges. The $95 fee also applies to ALL outgoing non-DVC options, including the Disney cruises, Disney resorts, etc. They are referring to DVC's outbound cash equivalent exchange system. The $95 fee charged to inbound RCI exchanges is different.

The outgoing $95 exchange fee pays for the bookkeeping, and other costs associated with managing the outgoing exchange.

The additional $95 inbound RCI fee covers the costs you quoted above.

Since this is a reply to a reply to my reply to a reply....

When I was speaking about the $95 exchange fee...the RCI fee was what I was referring to, NOT Disney's fee. Disney would make their $$ via the cash ressie they make to "fund" the "internal" trade...and that would cover the ancillary stuff like free dining/mousekeeping or anything else.

I should probably have been clearer.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since this is a reply to a reply to my reply to a reply....

When I was speaking about the $95 exchange fee...the RCI fee was what I was referring to, NOT Disney's fee. Disney would make their $$ via the cash ressie they make to "fund" the "internal" trade...and that would cover the ancillary stuff like free dining/mousekeeping or anything else.

I should probably have been clearer.

Basically, that is correct except that trading into the Disney Collection is not an "internal" exchange. An internal exchange would be from one DVC resort to another.

 

[pilferk]

Basically, that is correct except that trading into the Disney Collection is not an "internal" exchange. An internal exchange would be from one DVC resort to another.

That's why I air-quoted it. It's "internal" in the sense that it's within different divisions of Disney, rather than with an external entity. I couldn't think of a better terminology.

 

[Dean]

I actually did an edit to change the language minutes after I posted because I wasn't being clear....missed the "most" part in the first line though

Are we 100% sure that every dollar of the $95 is going to run the exchange system?

In any event: The cash rate gotten by CRO looks to be enough of a "premium" over the "points cost" that, even allowing for a healthy profit, the difference would more than cover the ancillary services that have been mentioned.

Proof-no
Confident-yes
Experienced with timeshare-yes
Realistic to mildly cynical-absolutely.

CRO's cut pays for any generated charges on that end such as housekeeping and the remainder IS profit for some department or the other but seems irrelevant to me other than as ammo for DVC to negotiate a better deal on the commissions or for each resort to make sure that the additional charges and services that happen directly due to CRO activities are covered such as the EXTRA housekeeping.

On the DVC side as I understand it, the money generated (after commissions and realizing not all villas are rented) are used to pay for the cash type exchange options. That's why it takes around the same for a hotel room as a 2 BR at DVC using points, because of the built in inefficiencies of the system.

Bolding mine. The $95 is not going to the exchange system, RCI. We pay our exchange fee ($125 to RCI) and pay this additional fee for DVC resorts only. (*disclaimer, a select few other timeshares charge a resort fee as well) The note as to what it goes to is below:

A US $95.00 RESORT FEE PER UNIT PER WEEK WILL BE BILLED UPONCHECK-IN FOR ALL EXCHANGES. FEE IS INCLUDED IN ANY RENTAL. THE FEE INCLUDES SHUTTLE SERVICE PROVIDED BY DISNEY MAGICAL EXPRESS AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT DISNEY RESORTS. VALET PARKING, INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER CHARGES MAY APPLY. ALL EXCHANGES MUST CALL DVC MBR SVCS @ 800-******** AT LEAST48 HOURS OR MORE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. ALL GUEST NAMES IN ROOM MUST BE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE--NO EXCEPTIONS. IF ADDING DININGOR PARK TICKETS, NEED AGES FOR EACH GUEST STAYING IN ROOM. EFF: 10/14/10: ADDITION OF DINING PLAN REQUIRES FULL PAYMENTUPFRONT; RSRVTN MUST OCCUR AT LEAST 48 HRS IN ADVANCE TO ADDDINING PLAN. RSRVTNS MADE BEFORE 10/14 OK FOR PAYMT @ CHCKN.*MEMBERS WHO OWN AT RCI RESORTS WITHIN A 30-MILE RADIUS OF ORLANDO CAN'T EXCH.INTO DVC RSTS. NO PETS OR SMOKING ONSITE!

DVC uses it to pay toward their portion of the exchange system including the additional employees, space, equipment, etc. There is NOT a single thing that the exchange members gets for the fee that would not have been included and provided for the DVC member who exchanged out had they simply used points and stayed in the villa rather than it going to RCI.

Since this is a reply to a reply to my reply to a reply....

When I was speaking about the $95 exchange fee...the RCI fee was what I was referring to, NOT Disney's fee. Disney would make their $$ via the cash ressie they make to "fund" the "internal" trade...and that would cover the ancillary stuff like free dining/mousekeeping or anything else.

I should probably have been clearer.

The fee DVC members pay for DCL, DC, etc is used essentially the same way as the RCI inbound fee, to pay for the systems.

 

[Sammie]

Crisi, it's not really that small. ASAMOF, DVC has the right (and I understand they do) to anticipate this 60 day availability and take those rooms at 11 months out. The money generated goes back to DVC to offset dues BUT only up to a certain amount, I think it's 2.5%, the rest is simply profit to DVD.

How would they at 11 months know how many rooms are going to be vacant at 60 days out? If they were wrong wouldn't that decrease availability.

 

[disneynutz]

How would they at 11 months know how many rooms are going to be vacat at 60 days out? If they were wrong wouldn't that decrease availability.

The fact that rooms are removed from inventory at 60 days out must reduce availability for DVC Members.

What about someone with points in holding, they can't book before 60 days out. What if we want to take a last minute vacation and want to book at 25 days out, are the rooms already pulled from available inventory?

Bill

 

[Chuck S]

How would they at 11 months know how many rooms are going to be vacat at 60 days out? If they were wrong wouldn't that decrease availability.

I would hope that any such estimates that far out would be conservative, and based upon historical data from the first year or so of actual operation of any particular resort.

 

[Chuck S]

The fact that rooms are removed from inventory at 60 days out must reduce availability for DVC Members.

What about someone with points in holding, they can't book before 60 days out. What if we want to take a last minute vacation and want to book at 25 days out, are the rooms already pulled from available inventory?

Bill

The rooms are pulled, but can be reclaimed by DVC...in essence, at 60 days any actual breakage rooms are shared inventory, and first come first served.

I have had a room pulled back for a points reservation many years ago.

 

[Sammie]

I would hope that any such estimates that far out would be conservative, and based upon historical data from the first year or so of actual operation of any particular resort.

me too, I knew at 60 days any unbooked rooms were turned over, but I had never heard they do this in advance of the 60 day mark and certainly not as far out as 11 months.

 

[Dean]

How would they at 11 months know how many rooms are going to be vacant at 60 days out? If they were wrong wouldn't that decrease availability.

They use historical usage. The option is spelled out in the POS.

 

[Sammie]

They use historical usage. The option is spelled out in the POS.

I looked at the POS, as I knew it would have to be for them to do this but I could not find it.

Do you know were or what it says, does it say they use historical data.

 

[wdrl]

They use historical usage. The option is spelled out in the POS.

Can you give the citation in the POS?

 

[Greysword]

...If a resort is 30% DVC and 70% hotel, DVC will be charged with 30% of the operating costs in all categories (front desk, transportation, utilities, etc.)

Some accommodations are made for larger sizes of villa rooms but the process should be fairly representative of the resources that members utilize. At the resort itself, you won't find any staff members who are specifically employed by DVC. They all work for the hotel itself and DVC contributes its share of the overall operating funds.

This is a fine method for allocating expenses (and revenue) given a lack of good metrics. However as a member, I would like to believe our finance team is able to access some metrics, which would permit a great amount of accuracy and understanding of the costs incurred by the DVC side of the resorts. For instance, each hotel likely knows how often a room is serviced each month and the amount of resources required accomplish the task (laundry, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc). Also, labor costs for could be allocated using different drivers (such as the aforementioned number of rooms serviced for mousekeeping and number of check-ins or guests for front desk or concierge staff).

Using such metrics may also be a double-edged sword for us. Since DVC likely has a larger number of guests per room, we would share a greater amount (or equal at smaller DVCs like WL or BC) of expenses allocated using this driver (especially transportation costs).

All in all, I would love to see how things run behind the financial scene, which would be fun (even though it would never happen)

I don't think it is reasonable for the OP to want to speak to Jim Lewis and honestly I can't imagine why anyone would want to.

However I am somewhat surprised at some of the comment in this thread and not surprised the OP has not returned to comment.

I think many of you, whether you will own up to it or not have been the lucky ones that have not experienced major problems using DVC.

For what it's worth, I would love to speak to Jim or any other senior executive at WDW, for no other reason than to learn from them I think anyone who has achieved personal success, would be great to meet, especially someone who has done well at a company heralded for their customer service and ability to make almost everyone feel magical.

This is the main reason I spend so much time on the DIS, too. I've been watching and learning from you, Sammie and Tim, and the others since 2004, and my relatively small post count hopefully indicates my desire to listen more than speak, since you guys are just as important as Jim Lewis in this venue.

I also appreciate Bobbyg's input, as a fresh and positive perspective is healthy for us to re-evaluate and affirm the knowledge we have passed along over the years.

- Chris