Price protection?

[tvwalsh]

In general the DVC does a poor job of explaining the price protection that its members have in future years when they stay at one of the DVC resorts. They also do a poor job of explaining the complete lack of any price protection (note the recent exchange increase from $75 to $95) when points are used outside of the DVC resorts.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Generally I agree with you. I wish I could pay the same amount for a room at the Polynesian that I paid 20 years ago. That is hopefully what I will be saying about DVC 20 years from now. DVC is also protection against room tax increases (until Florida figures out a way to tap into the timeshare market). That 11 or 12% is a real hit on the budget.

I also agree that the downside of point increases is glossed over. Just look at how much more a cruise costs in points today than it did just a few years ago.

HBC

 

[spiceycat]

for resorts or cruises outside the DVC - they are dealing with a different division - that doesn't care about the DVC members.

for years the WDW resorts were the same points - then someone in WDW resorts decide that they were a deal (and at the time they were)

the Polyn was 22 points a night - so they decided to up the points.

I don't think that DVC has any control on the outside contracts.

on the Polyn was just for a garden view - but they generally upgraded the DVC members to a lagoon view - it was a bargin.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
In general the DVC does a poor job of explaining the price protection that its members have in future years when they stay at one of the DVC resorts. They also do a poor job of explaining the complete lack of any price protection (note the recent exchange increase from $75 to $95) when points are used outside of the DVC resorts.

For the DVC Resorts, there is aboslute "price protection" explained in your POS. The total number of points cannot be changed. You will find a description of the point cost if every night were treated the same (no differences for weekends or seasons). That figure is an absolute and is governed by Timeshare Laws in FL and elsewhere. The fact that the current point system can change, by lowering some nights and raising others, is also explained in your documents.

As for changes in other programs, each one has the caveat- "Subject to Change". While few like changes, we all need to be aware that they are allowed under our agreements.

 

[Granny]

The point cost of trading out, or even the Disney Collection reservations, is clearly stated as subject to change, as Doc points out.

That's why you hear on this board very often, that DVC is a good vacation investment if you plan on going to WDW (or HH or VB) and staying at a DVC resort. Anything other than that is not price protected, or even guaranteed to be around, if I'm not mistaken. So you will often read here that DVC is not a very good investment if you're planning on trading out often.

Nothing wrong with using points for Disney cruises, the Polynesian, or trading out to other timeshares. It is just the opinion of many that it's not the optimum use of the DVC membership.


Even with DVC resorts, we are not price protected as the annual maintenance fees can fluctuate. But we are protected there in that they can only go up in response to actual costs rising.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
In general the DVC does a poor job of explaining the price protection that its members have in future years when they stay at one of the DVC resorts. They also do a poor job of explaining the complete lack of any price protection (note the recent exchange increase from $75 to $95) when points are used outside of the DVC resorts.

That has not been my experience. The guides are usually good at explaining these are not guaranteed programs and they could change drastically or stop tomorrow.