Outrageous Bungalow Points: A Different Perspective

[disneynutz]

It sounds like several years down the road Disney may have a PR nightmare. If the bungalows are not taken out on points then there will be a lot of extra points potentially going after studios. If people who bought Poly can not get studios because demand out strips supply then they will be upset paying $160 per point plus high maintenance fees for points that they will be using at the 7 month window to book non poly resorts. They would be better off paying a fraction of the cost and buying a non poly dvc resort through resale.

Disney isn't worried about DVC PR or what owners think. If owners become upset and sell, someone else steps in.

Disney could fix the DVC issues including website, cost of membership magic events, additional or better discounts, clean, well maintained rooms, 1 bedrooms at the Poly. Bottom line is that Disney will do what they want, when we want. As owners we either accept it or sell and that doesn't affect Disney one bit.

Bill

 

[beer dave]

IMO we passed the line some time ago where DVC is no longer a viable option for most families, yet many still buy in and often finance. To me the line of reasonableness was passed with SSR based on the points costs compared to other options around that time or around when BLT started selling for the cash price pp. Still the old adage that something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it applies here. As long as the sheep continue to follow, DVD will continue to increase in cost. At the end of the day I can't fault DVD for anything they can sell or any member from buying anything they can afford (IMO pay cash). But I do reserve the right to make judgements in both areas as to reasonableness. The moment that DVD decides just to sit tight and not expand is the moment DVC starts to move downhill as a system.

This is so true..... and the stuff about SSR......They have learned that the pot must continue to get sweeter.... and we are in the receiving end....for once.

 

[Dean]

Disney isn't worried about DVC PR or what owners think. If owners become upset and sell, someone else steps in.

Disney could fix the DVC issues including website, cost of membership magic events, additional or better discounts, clean, well maintained rooms, 1 bedrooms at the Poly. Bottom line is that Disney will do what they want, when we want. As owners we either accept it or sell and that doesn't affect Disney one bit.

Bill

Part of the issue with DVC is that the best fix for the system itself moves DVC closer to what members think they don't like about other timeshares. That additional flexibility is costing members roughly 30% extra in MF than a more streamlined and mildly restricted system.

 

[disneynutz]

Part of the issue with DVC is that the best fix for the system itself moves DVC closer to what members think they don't like about other timeshares. That additional flexibility is costing members roughly 30% extra in MF than a more streamlined and mildly restricted system.

I agree to a point. How much more does it cost to properly clean and inspect a room? We should never spend vacation time waiting for re-cleaning or waiting for maintenance to fix major problems. What's with the website issues and the lack of MS CM's answering the phones. MS email including DME requests are taking a week to get processed when before Potrock it took 2 days. He has taken away the sales referral program and added his pay to play membership magic program, which benefits Disney not the association according to his office.

You would think that these changes would reduce the dues, not increase them.

Bill

 

[gmi3804]

An analogy: I remember when an adult movie ticket was $3. Now it's not uncommon to see $10+ prices. And the masses keep coming. My mom and her aunt saw Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when it came out for .25: .10 for each ticket and .05 for popcorn. At the Chicago Theatre.

The older one gets the less value is seen in products. Buyers pay what they think it's worth. You may lose some of the old timers, but them young-uns will replace you.

 

[dizfan]

Another fixed week bungalow deed showed up today. 1300+ points. There was also a deed for 725 points.
More will buy. Bungalows may well be like the GVs at many resorts. Booked during certain periods. Not fully booked during all periods.

The 35% fixed weeks may have a larger impact on PVB studios than the bungalows. See VGF as an example of what happens when a large percentage want a resort during the peak DVC MK months of Sept-December. Nights of Joy, MNSSHP, MVMCP.

 

[Sammie]

I agree to a point. How much more does it cost to properly clean and inspect a room? We should never spend vacation time waiting for re-cleaning or waiting for maintenance to fix major problems. What's with the website issues and the lack of MS CM's answering the phones. MS email including DME requests are taking a week to get processed when before Potrock it took 2 days. He has taken away the sales referral program and added his pay to play membership magic program, which benefits Disney not the association according to his office.

You would think that these changes would reduce the dues, not increase them.

Bill

You must have really bad luck, I don't have issues with any of those things. The website never fails me, never a long wait on the phone. Rooms are clean and well maintained. Where are you staying most of the time?

 

[disneynutz]

You must have really bad luck, I don't have issues with any of those things. The website never fails me, never a long wait on the phone. Rooms are clean and well maintained. Where are you staying most of the time?

Maybe bad luck and/or the number of WDW vacations per year and too many split stays. It doesn't seem to be resort specific but system wide.

BWV, maintenance installed 3 different refrigerators until they got one that would keep food cold. This was after an appliance refurb.

AKV CL, leaky studio faucet flooded the carpet before we checked in, maintenance use bath towels to clean up water, then used the same towel to wipe the inside of the refrigerator. Had to call for fresh towels.

OKW, mold/mildew smell issue, maintenance cleaned condensate drain and replaced HVAC filter. Said it would get better in a day or so.

SSR, never got room ready text, front desk sent runner to check room at 5PM. Gave us our room number at 5:30, room was a mess, front desk acted like we were nuts and sent manager to visit us. Room had not been cleaned that day, night cleaning crew finished cleaning the room at 8PM, they made us SSR family of the day with balloons and a certificate.

OKW, missing kitchen drawer and broken dishwasher, they thought that the drawer was in one of the shops, dishwasher needed new timer, fixed the next day. Never saw the drawer.

BLT right after opening, no hot water and warm room. We were told that there were some design issues and they were working to re-engineer the systems.

AKV, washing machine no hot water. Either the rooms were plumbed backward or the machine hoses reversed, never got a straight answer. Want to wash hot, select cold setting.

The above are some of the more major issues that come to mind, burned out light bulbs, dirty refrigerator with food left behind, dirty stove, plates, counters, floor, just general stuff happens more than it should. Disney is good at making things right but I would prefer that these things don't happen.

We have received free meals, room credits, candy, gift baskets, deserts, and flowers, when there have been larger problems.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I agree to a point. How much more does it cost to properly clean and inspect a room? We should never spend vacation time waiting for re-cleaning or waiting for maintenance to fix major problems. What's with the website issues and the lack of MS CM's answering the phones. MS email including DME requests are taking a week to get processed when before Potrock it took 2 days. He has taken away the sales referral program and added his pay to play membership magic program, which benefits Disney not the association according to his office.

You would think that these changes would reduce the dues, not increase them.

Bill

I was referring to the big picture system. While I'd agree that there are things DVC could do better more in the moment and comparative to other top timeshares, overall I think they do just OK. I find other timeshares far more responsive and receptive than DVC though. I think the end point difference is that other timeshares care (for whatever reason) what the individual guest's experience is and what they think. For example, this past weekend we were in a timeshare for 2 nights and had a number of little things such as the internet not working more than it did and problems with the hot water heater the entire time mostly due to a faulty maint person. I had intended to just refer to the items on the survey which I knew I'd get for every visit but elected to stop on the way out and jut see if the manager was available. They offered to refund all of my points for the stay but since they would have expired in 3 weeks anyway, they are going to give us another weekend in a 2 BR (we were in a 1 BR) instead.

 

[loveglobe]

I agree to a point. How much more does it cost to properly clean and inspect a room? We should never spend vacation time waiting for re-cleaning or waiting for maintenance to fix major problems. What's with the website issues and the lack of MS CM's answering the phones. MS email including DME requests are taking a week to get processed when before Potrock it took 2 days. He has taken away the sales referral program and added his pay to play membership magic program, which benefits Disney not the association according to his office.

You would think that these changes would reduce the dues, not increase them.

Bill

We just returned from BWV and our room had a broken heater the first night and a clog in every single drain. Everything got fixed within a day but still it's not a fun start to your vacation to check into your room and find these issues on day one. There was also incredibly loud drilling sounds coming from our ceiling during the day. Turns out they're remodeling the 5th floor rooms down to the flooring (thus, the drilling sounds), so hopefully these BWV issues will all be addressed once the remodel is complete. The resort is about twenty years old so is probably a little past due for a major facelift.

Bill what does pay to play membership magic mean?

 

[disneynutz]

We just returned from BWV and our room had a broken heater the first night and a clog in every single drain. Everything got fixed within a day but still it's not a fun start to your vacation to check into your room and find these issues on day one. There was also incredibly loud drilling sounds coming from our ceiling during the day. Turns out they're remodeling the 5th floor rooms down to the flooring (thus, the drilling sounds), so hopefully these BWV issues will all be addressed once the remodel is complete. The resort is about twenty years old so is probably a little past due for a major facelift.

Bill what does pay to play membership magic mean?

The new SVP Potrock has introduced Membership Magic DVC events like bowling, fishing, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. The cost to attend these events is often higher than if you arrange for similar activities yourself. The profit from these DVC events goes back to Disney, not to the association.

Bill

 

[loveglobe]

The new SVP Potrock has introduced Membership Magic DVC events like bowling, fishing, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. The cost to attend these events is often higher than if you arrange for similar activities yourself. The profit from these DVC events goes back to Disney, not to the association.

Bill

Ohhhh yes the infamous boma brunch I've heard so much about. ; )

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

OK. Sorry to hijack the thread, but what does DVD stand for? I searched for it on the acronym page and the only thing there is DVC. Is it Disney Vacation Destinations?!

Edit: Never mind. Just found it. Disney Vacation Development.

 

[supersnoop]

OK. Sorry to hijack the thread, but what does DVD stand for? I searched for it on the acronym page and the only thing there is DVC. Is it Disney Vacation Destinations?!

Edit: Never mind. Just found it. Disney Vacation Development.

Yep, DVC is the club; the organization that all resorts belong to. Each resort has their own condo association. All of them are managed by DVCMC (Disney Vacation Club Management Company). The Walt Disney Company owns the land and leases it to DVD for 50 years. DVD builds the resort and sells parts of it to you.

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

Thanks for explaining further! Got it now.

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree. If I had that kind of money I wouldn't be interested in purchasing points to stay in one of those bungalows. I would want something more exclusive and more luxurious.

My brother has that sort of money, and he has used some of it to make his home an absolute haven. Once their new place is finished they'll never want to leave. They've even put in a "casita" so relatives can stay as long as they like (though there will be a problem if more than one set of relatives come at the same time). They even put in a basement, which was nearly unheard of for their builder, to have a theater room, so they don't ever have to even think of going to a theater and deal with other people crunching popcorn or texting etc. That's the kind of thing people with fabulous money can do.

At $160/pt, I'll just send my daughter to Bora Bora.

Agreed. Or Fiji or Tuvalu or the Maldives.

Maybe a place where you might actually be able to go into the water you're over.

But I'm not into once-in-a-lifetime trips. If I don't think I can go back, I don't want to go. One of the reasons our honeymoon was an Alaska cruise, not Fiji.

 

[DVC Mike]

OK. Sorry to hijack the thread, but what does DVD stand for? I searched for it on the acronym page and the only thing there is DVC. Is it Disney Vacation Destinations?!

Disney Vacation Development is the subsidiary of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a unit of The Walt Disney Company, founded in 1991 that operates the Disney Vacation club.

 

[DebbieB]

For the heck of it, I looked at Disney's website for cash reservations. Any date I put in from 4/1 to the end of the year, they had a standard view studio, no water view studios and no bungalows even listed. They only declared 10 of the 20 bungalows so they should have them available for cash. So they are not pushing them for cash so far.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

Studio would be great. Cannot way that I could sleep at night knowing how many points were used for the 2Bedroom. If DVC can sell them, I say go ahead. I hope that the buyers are making an INFORMED decision though. Looks like really low inventory to me.