Just Paid My Dues

[Ben E N]

Very good points...insurance rates and property taxes! I was astounded more than complaining.

You brought up perfectly fair concerns. Others may know more than I and of course their input would be appreciated as well. Disney needs to be held accountable for how they are spending our money.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

My apologies for not being clearer. I don’t mind Disney making a profit either, and was being sarcastic about “greed.” I didn’t know that dues could be a profit center, though.

However, I think there is more going on here than using dues as a revenue stream. The increase over time is way beyond the inflation rate (I know someone here is smart enough to do the math). So I think what the dues is covering, or the scope of the dues, has changed significantly. I know they are having to refurbish more frequently, for example, and they have been transparent about it. I bet they knew they were going to have daily trash pickup, and put the cost for that in 2018, for example. I see that as a scope change.

I’m just trying to figure it out. I hope DVD are clear when they are selling contracts. Would you have bought if you had known your dues would increase around 244% in 23 years vs an inflation rate of 69% (if I’m doing the math right)? I thought they would go up based on inflation, and the occasional repair from hurricanes.

I don't know. My salary didn't increase at the same rate. Somewhere along the way the dues became something I had to think about (as a line item in my "checkbook") before the 1st of the month. When we travel to other places in and out of the country, I can stay at the same 'level' of hotel for about what it has cost for the last dozen years or so.

 

[Dean Marino]

Also Paid. But this year? Dear Wife and I DITCHED the "Disney VISA", and used our new "Chase Freedom unlimited".

Why? Because WDW now makes everyone go through "hoops" to redeem the stupid "Disney Chase" points. They will NOT Credit a Room Charge with "Points" until one has a balance (about 3 days in). The "points" system keeps going down, requiring multiple desk visits until it is "up" again. Benefits of a Disney VISA are minimal, or non existent, for an AP or DVC Holder.

"Chase Freedom unlimited" - just works. No "Go to the Desk". No "Peggy with points" (see the commercial). No hoops, no stinks.... just works.

All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong.

 

[Bellecruiser]

I don't know. My salary didn't increase at the same rate.

Most salaries didn’t increase at the same rate. More than that, 99% of salaries didn’t increase that much. So what is driving this rate of increase? If Ben is right and it isn’t profit taking, then what is driving it?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Most salaries didn’t increase at the same rate. More than that, 99% of salaries didn’t increase that much. So what is driving this rate of increase? If Ben is right and it isn’t profit taking, then what is driving it?

From all reports Disney employees received raises as normal or maybe even more. Healthcare costs went up a lot. Property taxes went up quite a bit.

 

[Ben E N]

From all reports Disney employees received raises as normal or maybe even more. Healthcare costs went up a lot. Property taxes went up quite a bit.

This makes a ton of sense. As a teacher, my district's funds are capped by what taxes will provide. Healthcare costs have gone up considerably, so in return our pay has to go down, or we have to lose staff.
Disney's incoming funds are not limited, because the money comes from us. They can provide their employees with healthcare and pay. It's the price we pay to have that cheery Disney staff. From everything I have read, they are still trying to keep costs down across the board by reducing staffing as much as possible, and the staff is still not happy with what they get, but they do seem to get both pay and benefits.

 

[taaren]

Yep, paying dues is my cure for addonitis! I probably won't contemplate another contract for at least 3 months ....