only if you think dvc annual dues are too high

[Jimbo]

Kansas, your post is in error. OKW dues have NOT gone up 75% in 10 years. The actual increase is 46%. An average of 4.6% per year.

Actually, 46% over 10 years is an average of a little less than 3.9% per year. That's higher than inflation over those 10 years, but 3.9% isn't too bad at all.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm sorry..I didn't realize that you were only looking for posters who agreed with you.

I was under the impression that a discussion forum was for discussion, not agreement.

Silly me

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I will agree that the fees would be way too high for a 'run of the mill' timeshare, but DVC is NOT a 'run of the mill' timeshare. As others have stated, it's the Disney experience that makes it a good value.

I would NOT want to see fees lowered, then be accompanied by reduced service and quality of resort upkeep.
I like it just the way it is.

PS- I because I feel that the fees are higher than a 'run of the mill' timeshare, I felt it was okay to respond in this thread.

MG

 

[ducklite]

I agree also that the fees are higher than at many other timeshares, however the amenities are also more attractive. The door-to-door park transportation eats up a good chunk of dues. I've seen insurance mentioned in this thread, but I haven't seen anyone mention LTR. Personally I feel that many time shares are not adequately reserved for long-term maintenence. Items such as roads, roofs, etc.

Things like that must be maintained. And if a property doens't have adequate reserves, one of two things will happen. Either the property will fall into disrepair and be difficult to rent/sell, not to mention just stay at, or there will be either a sudden, large increase in dues, or very large "one time assessment". Neither of these options is attractive to me.

So yes, while the dues are a little higher, IMHO I'd rather pay a little more every month to protect my investment.

Anne

 

[jctwizzer]

Kansas: maybe I missed something, but it would have been helpful for you to specify WHY you think dues are too high. Unless its just a generic compaint. Is DVC spending too much in a particular area?? Are we being overcharged for items like insurance, maintenance, buses?? Do you think DVC is defrauding us? A complaint or commment without some basis in fact makes it nothing more than whinning, and I'm sure you wouldn't be guilty of that

 

[bicker]

That's a great point. As owners, we're provided each year with a full accounting of how our money is being spent, specifically to address the types of concerns that Kansas raised. The system is specifically structured so owners have full and unfettered access to the information, and can therefore ensure themselves that the money is being spent wisely.

So given that, what specific line items do you feel are excessive? What alternatives can you offer that provide the services spec'ed out in the prospectus for less money than is currently being spent? What additional services, over and above that which was spec'ed out in the prospectus, do you object to DVC offering? What alternatives can you offer to provide additional services for less money than is currently being spent?

While that might seem like a lot of questions, answering them specifically goes directly to the points raised initially. Without the answers to these questions, I cannot attribute concerns about dues to anything other than the fact that people always would like to pay less for more. That's the case in every financial situation, and isn't very notable as such.

 

[KANSAS]

I honestly did not know, what all was included in annual dues and what you exactly got, for all of those services, this thread, has helped me greatly to understand this.

The management fees, have always bothered me, but this thread has helped me greatly, to understand this line item.

I have questioned housekeeping, because we do not get daily housekeeping, but this thread, especially PAMOKW, post, has helped me a great deal, to understand that line item.

I have come to agree with many of the posters to this thread.
WE do absolutely pay more in annual dues, than any other timeshare, but we also own the most valualbe and most desired timeshare in the world.

I just wanted to hear from others, who at least agree with me and could help me understand, some line items.

The majority of the people just post, that I love Disney and I love DVC and it is great deal. They usually state don't worry, it is just $ and I have wonderful memories, and I think that Is great, for them.

I just think. It is does not hurt to worry about exactly what you get for your annual dues and whether they could be reduced without losing valuable services.

I am always told the same thing, if you think your dvc dues are too high, then maybe you own an off site DVC resort.

I want to own at DVC, no where else.

One man,posted something, that really made me think. He stated, we will pay 4 times as much in annual dues, than we did in original purchase price, for DVC points. If people discusss price of dvc points, all the time. Why not discuss the annual dues, cost, each year and next 38 years.

 

[jaysue]

KANSAS, thanks for starting this thread, it has been a good one

thanks
jaysue

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by KANSAS
If people discusss price of dvc points, all the time. Why not discuss the annual dues, cost, each year and next 38 years.

Excellent point Kansas.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) All timeshares have maintenance fees.
2) DVC dues are some of the most costly.
3) No one has ever equated ANYTHING Disney as cheap.
4) But, DVC is definitely a premier timeshare.
5) You get what you pay for.

6) The fees are high, but I think they are worth it.

 

[KANSAS]

RUSTY SCRAPPER
THANK you , I agree 100%

 

[jctwizzer]

Originally posted by KANSAS
I honestly did not know, what all was included in annual dues and what you exactly got, for all of those services, this thread, has helped me greatly to understand this.
One man,posted something, that really made me think. He stated, we will pay 4 times as much in annual dues.........



Just a thought, but it sounds as if, instead of reading the material you receive from Disney, you rely on the folks here to take their time to answer questions you can't be bothered answer on your own time...............And since you raised the issue, paying four time as much in annual dues over 40+ years is irrelevant to me. We have a prepaid vacation for an extended period. The only comparison that may be interest is what you would have paid if you chose another means of financing it......

 

[RobDoc]

In addition to the annual fee information offered in this thread, you may want to refer to the more detailed info in <a href="http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=471126">this thread</a> from a few days ago.

 

[TCPluto]

Originally posted by jctwizzer

Originally posted by KANSAS
I honestly did not know, what all was included in annual dues and what you exactly got, for all of those services, this thread, has helped me greatly to understand this.
One man,posted something, that really made me think. He stated, we will pay 4 times as much in annual dues.........



Just a thought, but it sounds as if, instead of reading the material you receive from Disney, you rely on the folks here to take their time to answer questions you can't be bothered answer on your own time...............And since you raised the issue, paying four time as much in annual dues over 40+ years is irrelevant to me. We have a prepaid vacation for an extended period. The only comparison that may be interest is what you would have paid if you chose another means of financing it......

Excellent and succinct observation Wizzer.

 

[JimC]

Kansas,

Annual dues at OKW have gone up 3.0% compunded annually since it opened. CPI will be about 2.5% over the same time period, the price of a point 4.7% and the cost of a moderate room about 4.9% (although most of that before 2003).

The dues have increased 6.9% compounded annually since 2002, so during the 1990s costs were better contained. The change from daily housekeeping to the current system sometime during the 1990s certainly was to reduce costs and fees.

In regards to your first comment, I think you need to consider the total number of points issued at the resort and not just the points of one particular unit during one season. If you do your analysis that way, it should be more relevant and possibly easier to reach a conclusion on your question.

I really don't know for sure if we pay too much or not. I trust the integrity of Disney in dealing with members (possibly naive on my part). I expect Disney to be more expensive than alternatives, but I also expect that we will get higher quality and greater consistency.

Good luck with your analysis.

 

[jaysue]

I think some of the posts in response to the OP on this thread are getting personal and not fair

 

[jcodespoti]

You can't compare the rate of inflation to the rate of increase of dues per year, it does not work. Why? because the rate of inflation usually removes volatile catagories out of the final figure. What are those catagories usually food and energy costs. Think about, it has your electic rate gone up only 2% a year, how about your health insurance? Liablity insurance on your house? All these things have easily out paced the rate of inflation and DVC is loaded with these burdens. Look at how much more is in the budget for utlities and for insurance. Its good management so far that have kept our increases to what they are.
Now, that being said are our dues high? Yes. What we can do about it? I don't know. Maybe nothing right now. But we can ask a lot of questions and track where our money goes.


Joe in CT

 

[JimC]

Joe in CT -- The CPI represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households. The CPI includes energy and food. You are talking about the core rate of inflation that removes the volatile energy and food prices from the calculation. The CPI change I stated was for all urban consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 87 percent of the total population.

Comparing the change in maintenance fees to the change in CPI is useful as a guide for making economic decisions.

 

[jcodespoti]

Agreed Jim..not a problem..although I feel that the CPI is flawed.


Joe in CT

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

The two years of 5% dues increases is a concern, I hope the trend lessens in upcoming years. I remember hearing inflation rate year over year was around 1.3%.

Disney is a big company, I would bet there is "waste" occuring in every department, including DVC. I'm sure there are some things they could do to reduce costs without affecting our vacation experience.

One thing they could do is charge guests for extra cleaning and damage to the units. Last time I was at BCV, they were giving one room a MAJOR cleaning. Made me wonder what kind of mess was left on check-out day?