RobDoc
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 14, 1998
- Messages
- 34,195
The OKW annual Condominium Association meeting was held this morning at the BW Convention center. A standing room only crowd of about 180 was in attendance.
The meeting was officiated by DVC President George Aguel. The business portion of the meeting lasted about 10 minutes and was a tightly scripted, efficient meeting where the 2003 budget was presented and approved unanimously by the board. The next meeting was the Members Meeting, where details about the budget were explained and then voted on by the members. "Members" , in this case, refers to the representative of the member units nominated by DVD to represent all owners and approved by the board. The members unanimously approved the budget also.
The final component of the meeting was a presentation about DVC in general and specifics about OKW by Sonja Dees-Burns (GM at OKW). Following the presentation, questions from the members in attendance were welcomed by the board and addressed. The entire meeting lasted about an hour and board members remained afterwards to answer further questions.
Some specifics about the budget. The OKW increase was 8.6% for 2003 (vs 2002), but the average increase for the past 5 years was 2.5%. The greatest influence on the 2003 budget increase was from 3 sources- insurance rate increases (post 9/11), health benefit increases for CMs and the decline in investment income revenue.
Some expenses previously part of the reserve budget, which were performed annually, have been moved to the operating budget, but exterior painting costs have risen faster than originally projected.
If only budget expenses which can be controlled were used, the 2003 budget would have increased 2.8%. The remaining 5.8% increase was from budget expenses not internally controllable (insurance, etc.)
Increases for the past 6 years were:
1998- +0.9%, 1999- -0.3%, 2000- -0.1%, 2001- -1.1%, 2002- +2.8% and 2003- +8.6%.
Some good news- the actual OKW dues increase for 2003 will be reduced by 0.1032 due to an overestimation of the property taxes for 2002. The actual OKW dues for 2003 will be $3.39 instead of the $3.49 recently discussed. I assume other resorts will see a similar credit to their dues.
DVD retains ownership of 2% at OKW.
The new II enhancement program- discussed in another thread here, will take affect on Dec 9. It allows a charted point cost for II exchanges.
Windsor Hall in New Orleans has been added to the Concierge Collection.
A brief discussion of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, including artist's renderings, was presented. No new information beyond what has already been discussed on this board. Will open Spring 2004.
OKW guest satisfaction surveys show "Overall Satisfaction" at 91%. Further breakdown was also provided.
For 2002, the resort continued the repainting of building exteriors.
Full rehab of phase 1 and 2 continues. Studios are receiving wall safes (large enough to hold a laptop computer), 4 water mice has been added to the marina fleet, Barbeque grills have been replaced, pool umbrellas have been replaced and the marina dock has been repaired.
For 2003- resort signage will be replaced, phase 2 buildings will receive interior painting. All 19 and 27" TV's will be replaced. Sleep sofas will be replaced with a new design- without the bedding bars. (Same design will be used at SSRS). The pools wiil be resurfaced, entryway concrete will be resurfaced, VCR's will be replaced with DVD players and... (drumroll please)...non-stick frying pans will be supplied in all 1BR and larger villas. These will go with the new glass cooktop stoves in the units.
During the member question session, I asked where we stand on getting internet access to account information and reservations. Sonja replied that the computer infrastructure is being updated to accommodate those very issues. (No timetable however) We will get account access before we'll see online reservation capability. An interesting comment was made about the member phone surveys done thru MS phone calls- over 75% of the members responding to the survey have indicated a desire to maintain the current telephone contact- where a "live" conversation occurs- in lieu of computerized access. If you fell stongly about this, be sure to participate in the surveys when offered the chance.
Pool Hopping to SAB was questioned and the response was that comfortable utilization by YC/BC/BCV guests will override DVC pool hopping. Hopping to other WDW resorts (except AKL) will continue as present policy.
Suggestions about having the guidebooks accessible by 3-ring binders, transportation from OKW to the annual meeting and better communication about the annual meeting were mentioned by members and favorable received by the board members and OKW staff.
The meeting was a little more lively than some in the past. Beverages were provided- but no fruit or pastries as in the past.
The meeting was officiated by DVC President George Aguel. The business portion of the meeting lasted about 10 minutes and was a tightly scripted, efficient meeting where the 2003 budget was presented and approved unanimously by the board. The next meeting was the Members Meeting, where details about the budget were explained and then voted on by the members. "Members" , in this case, refers to the representative of the member units nominated by DVD to represent all owners and approved by the board. The members unanimously approved the budget also.
The final component of the meeting was a presentation about DVC in general and specifics about OKW by Sonja Dees-Burns (GM at OKW). Following the presentation, questions from the members in attendance were welcomed by the board and addressed. The entire meeting lasted about an hour and board members remained afterwards to answer further questions.
Some specifics about the budget. The OKW increase was 8.6% for 2003 (vs 2002), but the average increase for the past 5 years was 2.5%. The greatest influence on the 2003 budget increase was from 3 sources- insurance rate increases (post 9/11), health benefit increases for CMs and the decline in investment income revenue.
Some expenses previously part of the reserve budget, which were performed annually, have been moved to the operating budget, but exterior painting costs have risen faster than originally projected.
If only budget expenses which can be controlled were used, the 2003 budget would have increased 2.8%. The remaining 5.8% increase was from budget expenses not internally controllable (insurance, etc.)
Increases for the past 6 years were:
1998- +0.9%, 1999- -0.3%, 2000- -0.1%, 2001- -1.1%, 2002- +2.8% and 2003- +8.6%.
Some good news- the actual OKW dues increase for 2003 will be reduced by 0.1032 due to an overestimation of the property taxes for 2002. The actual OKW dues for 2003 will be $3.39 instead of the $3.49 recently discussed. I assume other resorts will see a similar credit to their dues.
DVD retains ownership of 2% at OKW.
The new II enhancement program- discussed in another thread here, will take affect on Dec 9. It allows a charted point cost for II exchanges.
Windsor Hall in New Orleans has been added to the Concierge Collection.
A brief discussion of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, including artist's renderings, was presented. No new information beyond what has already been discussed on this board. Will open Spring 2004.
OKW guest satisfaction surveys show "Overall Satisfaction" at 91%. Further breakdown was also provided.
For 2002, the resort continued the repainting of building exteriors.
Full rehab of phase 1 and 2 continues. Studios are receiving wall safes (large enough to hold a laptop computer), 4 water mice has been added to the marina fleet, Barbeque grills have been replaced, pool umbrellas have been replaced and the marina dock has been repaired.
For 2003- resort signage will be replaced, phase 2 buildings will receive interior painting. All 19 and 27" TV's will be replaced. Sleep sofas will be replaced with a new design- without the bedding bars. (Same design will be used at SSRS). The pools wiil be resurfaced, entryway concrete will be resurfaced, VCR's will be replaced with DVD players and... (drumroll please)...non-stick frying pans will be supplied in all 1BR and larger villas. These will go with the new glass cooktop stoves in the units.
During the member question session, I asked where we stand on getting internet access to account information and reservations. Sonja replied that the computer infrastructure is being updated to accommodate those very issues. (No timetable however) We will get account access before we'll see online reservation capability. An interesting comment was made about the member phone surveys done thru MS phone calls- over 75% of the members responding to the survey have indicated a desire to maintain the current telephone contact- where a "live" conversation occurs- in lieu of computerized access. If you fell stongly about this, be sure to participate in the surveys when offered the chance.
Pool Hopping to SAB was questioned and the response was that comfortable utilization by YC/BC/BCV guests will override DVC pool hopping. Hopping to other WDW resorts (except AKL) will continue as present policy.
Suggestions about having the guidebooks accessible by 3-ring binders, transportation from OKW to the annual meeting and better communication about the annual meeting were mentioned by members and favorable received by the board members and OKW staff.
The meeting was a little more lively than some in the past. Beverages were provided- but no fruit or pastries as in the past.
Glad to hear we catch a break there.
That figures, another cost to the american public caused by the terrorists.If I wasn't disabled, I'd volunteer to go after Osama.
I'm not trying to be funny, It's horrible what the aftermath of 9/11 has caused
