Major dilution of DVC benefit (or I may be misunderstanding)

[hopeful4fl]

We were at Disney for Jul 4th, and went to Bay Lake Towers to get into the Top of the World lounge. This year though, they had closed the lounge to all members EXCEPT those with a $100 a person paid admission. This is new this year and a total dilution of the benefit that we had. They said they had mailed this information out, but I do not recall receiving it. If I had, as much as I oppose this, at least I would not have gone there and wasted my time.
The question to the group is if this is something most of the members were aware of?
The other "bigger" question I have is, who gets the proceeds from this event? If it is not us, the members, then why are we paying dues to upkeep this?

Maybe I am over-reacting, but this is not something that left a good vibe with me. Wanting to know if I am over-reacting, or my expectations were correct that the lounge is a benefit to us and should be kept open to all members (except if the limit of people who can enter it due to fire code has been exceeded).

 

[Debbie Jean]

Yes, this was discussed in the forums.

 

[crvetter]

Yeah there are two threads already discussing this. Also from your post it seems you may not have been staying at BLT, is this correct? If so major holidays have been limited to only BLT guests ever since TOTWL opened to all DVC members. So historically speaking 7/3, 7/4, 12/30, and 12/31 were originally restricted to BLT members. Now 7/3 and 12/30 are BLT members only and 7/4 and 12/31 are DVC events (at least for 2019).

https://www.disboards.com/threads/totw-closed-july-4th-for-paid-event.3754204/https://www.disboards.com/threads/july-4th-at-bay-lake-towers.3757787/

 

[BillPA]

Just remember you ONLY purchased a resort stay, no perk/bennies are included. Any and all can go away at the whim of the Disney suits.

 

[hopeful4fl]

Thanks for the clarification. I obviously missed it in the discussions .
That said, there was a LINE of people complaining about this on Jul 4, so this was not well communicated. Some people were literally shouting at the poor guy trying to pacify people, but there was nothing he could do about it. Not really magical.

 

[crvetter]

Thanks for the clarification. I obviously missed it in the discussions .
That said, there was a LINE of people complaining about this on Jul 4, so this was not well communicated. Some people were literally shouting at the poor guy trying to pacify people, but there was nothing he could do about it. Not really magical.

Yeah many were upset that DVC gave only 3 weeks notice to guests that booked BLT specifically to be granted the ability to try and get into TOTWL. Their only response thus far is the lounge would be continued to be restricted on 7/3 and 12/30 for BLT guests in 2019, sane as before but the upcharge would occur on the actual holiday.

 

[Lumpy1106]

The other "bigger" question I have is, who gets the proceeds from this event? If it is not us, the members, then why are we paying dues to upkeep this?

This seems like a fair question - has it been answered? As a BLT owner I am all for reducing my annual dues by charging people to use TOTW during peak periods. If they are going to charge admission and it doesn't reduce my dues? Not so much.

 

[crvetter]

This seems like a fair question - has it been answered? As a BLT owner I am all for reducing my annual dues by charging people to use TOTW during peak periods. If they are going to charge admission and it doesn't reduce my dues? Not so much.

TOTWL is not supported by Member Dues in any way, thus BLT owners should not expect to see any reduction in their dues. DVC owns the lounge space as a commercial unit, same as the pool food stand, and is responsible for it's share of Common Element maintenance and the upkeep of the Commercial Unit itself. DVC is allowed to do as it sees fit with the space and keep any proceeds from utilizing the space. Not that I agree with the 3 week notice, I don't, but unfortunately BLT members don't own the space so have no owner rights to the space or revenue.

 

[Lumpy1106]

^ Fair enough.

 

[jerseyduke]

This seems like a fair question - has it been answered? As a BLT owner I am all for reducing my annual dues by charging people to use TOTW during peak periods. If they are going to charge admission and it doesn't reduce my dues? Not so much.

While I can certainly see you feeling this way (and as PP pointed out, BLT members do pay for TOTW) what is collected from such events would probably pale in comparison to breakage income that does not go back into the condo association. (of course breakage income is spelled out in the contract if I remember correctly)

 

[Pooh12863]

TOTWL is not supported by Member Dues in any way, thus BLT owners should not expect to see any reduction in their dues. DVC owns the lounge space as a commercial unit, same as the pool food stand, and is responsible for it's share of Common Element maintenance and the upkeep of the Commercial Unit itself. DVC is allowed to do as it sees fit with the space and keep any proceeds from utilizing the space. Not that I agree with the 3 week notice, I don't, but unfortunately BLT members don't own the space so have no owner rights to the space or revenue.

At $100 a pop for 75 people after everything is paid for, doesn't seem like there would be a whole lot of revenue anyway. Some folks are calling this a money grab by DVC but they probably would have made more if it was open to members as in the past.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/july-4th-at-bay-lake-towers.3757787/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/totw-closed-july-4th-for-paid-event.3754204/

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We were at Disney for Jul 4th, and went to Bay Lake Towers to get into the Top of the World lounge. This year though, they had closed the lounge to all members EXCEPT those with a $100 a person paid admission. This is new this year and a total dilution of the benefit that we had. They said they had mailed this information out, but I do not recall receiving it. If I had, as much as I oppose this, at least I would not have gone there and wasted my time.
The question to the group is if this is something most of the members were aware of?
The other "bigger" question I have is, who gets the proceeds from this event? If it is not us, the members, then why are we paying dues to upkeep this?

Maybe I am over-reacting, but this is not something that left a good vibe with me. Wanting to know if I am over-reacting, or my expectations were correct that the lounge is a benefit to us and should be kept open to all members (except if the limit of people who can enter it due to fire code has been exceeded).

They misinformed you as they neither mailed anything out nor emailed anything out nor directly alerted those booked there that night about it other than with a placard in the lobby. People have said that should have been obvious but may not know there isn't even a need to go thru the lobby if you don't want to. Neither bank of elevators are in the lobby. If you weren't looking online you would not have known about this. Of course a change 3 weeks in advance doesn't give much time for notification either.

 

[hopeful4fl]

At $100 a pop for 75 people after everything is paid for, doesn't seem like there would be a whole lot of revenue anyway. Some folks are calling this a money grab by DVC but they probably would have made more if it was open to members as in the past.

Actually, 75 is just the "inner seating capacity". I was told there were tickets being sold for "outside watching" with a capacity close to 500 people. This was at a reduced rate ($50).
I do not know what to believe in what I was told. All I can say is I am disappointed in the lack of proper communication and last minute (relatively speaking) change. Well.....lesson learned.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Actually, 75 is just the "inner seating capacity". I was told there were tickets being sold for "outside watching" with a capacity close to 500 people. This was at a reduced rate ($50).
I do not know what to believe in what I was told. All I can say is I am disappointed in the lack of proper communication and last minute (relatively speaking) change. Well.....lesson learned.

They were only offering the $49 same day to the angry mob in the lobby. They did not pre-sell those because they were concerned about weather.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Actually, 75 is just the "inner seating capacity". I was told there were tickets being sold for "outside watching" with a capacity close to 500 people. This was at a reduced rate ($50).
I do not know what to believe in what I was told. All I can say is I am disappointed in the lack of proper communication and last minute (relatively speaking) change. Well.....lesson learned.

They were only offering the $49 same day to the angry mob in the lobby. They did not pre-sell those because they were concerned about weather.

Sounds like it was more trouble than it was worth for all involved - but who knows? I know I would not have paid anywhere near that to go up there just to see the same fireworks you could see the day before or the day after, but some people obviously have no problem with that - go figure.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Sounds like it was more trouble than it was worth for all involved - but who knows? I know I would not have paid anywhere near that to go up there just to see the same fireworks you could see the day before or the day after, but some people obviously have no problem with that - go figure.

The day before, they only let up about 75 on weather concerns and were turning away members who were staying at BLT.

Both days were a mess.