Starting 1/08 any non DVC reservation will require a $95 transfer fee

[diznyfanatic]

In one sense I agree with you -- it makes no sense to charge an exchange fee for me to use my points at a Disney-owned, non-DVC property.

OTOH...how many times have we all counseled prospective buyers NOT to buy DVC for the frills, bells, whistles, and perks -- because they can change at any time? Remember all those threads?

Disney has just found a way to tap some pocketbooks for an extra $95...and some happy genius probably just made VP for coming up with the bright idea!

Jim - I agree with you, as I find myself doing most of the time. It is indeed good advice that no one should buy into DVC based upon the perks.

I don't have any clue what percentage of members actually use their points at the WDW non-DVC resorts, but it must have been enough that they felt they needed to start charging this fee.

Yes, they might be able to pocket the $95 for a percentage of the DVC population that might fork over that amount (in addition to the insanely high point requirements to use points at a non-DVC WDW property), but I think there might be people that they've just pushed offsite as well.

I suspect many people will now not even consider paying this fee to use their points at a WDW non-DVC resort and will pay cash. As such, they are probably more likely to explore ALL of their cash options now, which includes the offsite resorts.

I truly hope that $95 fee was worth upsetting a segment of the DVC membership (even those who probably would never exchange their points this way, but who at least liked having this as a viable option should the need ever arise) who might now be taking way more than $95 of their resort and dining dollars with them.

 

[Eeyore77]

OTOH...how many times have we all counseled prospective buyers NOT to buy DVC for the frills, bells, whistles, and perks -- because they can change at any time? Remember all those threads?

I agree but I guess I never saw not having to pay to stay at the WDW resorts as a perk or a frill. It was more of something I just thought was a thing that they had always done and that I could just use my points for. Oh well I guess that is what I get for assuming huh!!! I have only used the points for a WDW resort once and I guess after the 1st of January I won't be doing it again....

 

[LVSWL]

Well, I'm just ticked that we've got 4 nights booked at the Contemporary in June as a special treat with points. First time we have used our points to do that. Could have used that $95 towards our meal at the California Grill

 

[Enna]

I agree but I guess I never saw not having to pay to stay at the WDW resorts as a perk or a frill. It was more of something I just thought was a thing that they had always done and that I could just use my points for. Oh well I guess that is what I get for assuming huh!!! I have only used the points for a WDW resort once and I guess after the 1st of January I won't be doing it again....

I agree that it was not presented as a perk or a frill. It was part of the program, as that program was presented to me JUST LAST WEEK. I only came across the info because the new magazine happened to be included in our documents.

Here's a photo of the actual page, just for those who have doubts about my source, or those who are just eager to see the changes in print:

Really, when it comes right down to it, the DVC contracts essentially state that the buyer will pay X amount of dollars for Y percentage of interest in a specific unit, and EVERYTHING else is subject to change...including what the buyer must pay in MF. Makes me wonder why so many of us educated folks still sign on the dotted line. Must be that darned pixie dust.

 

[Enna]

Well, I'm just ticked that we've got 4 nights booked at the Contemporary in June as a special treat with points. First time we have used our points to do that. Could have used that $95 towards our meal at the California Grill

For your sake, I hope that the new rules means for BOOKINGS made after 1/2008, not trips which are already booked.

 

[JimC]

I would think if they waived that for Disneyland hotels, then they would also wave it for WDW hotels. I can see them doing it for anything else but to use them at other Disney resorts and still having to pay a fee is nuts.

Suspect the waiver is only until they open a DVC resort at DL. Then the waiver will go away.

 

[JimC]

In one sense I agree with you -- it makes no sense to charge an exchange fee for me to use my points at a Disney-owned, non-DVC property.

OTOH...how many times have we all counseled prospective buyers NOT to buy DVC for the frills, bells, whistles, and perks -- because they can change at any time? Remember all those threads?

Disney has just found a way to tap some pocketbooks for an extra $95...and some happy genius probably just made VP for coming up with the bright idea!

More likely someone saw all the money Marriott Vacation Club makes in annoying little nuisance fees and thought DVC should as well.

 

[LVSWL]

For your sake, I hope that the new rules means for BOOKINGS made after 1/2008, not trips which are already booked.

Thanks Enna, that's sweet, I am planning to check on that today.

 

[ransom]

Suspect the waiver is only until they open a DVC resort at DL. Then the waiver will go away.

My thought is that they saw that there are now enough DVC resorts on-site to give members plenty of choice, and so decided it was time to stop subsidizing members' usage of the non-DVC resorts (probably as a sales expense, since it undoubtedly helped them sell DVC in the early years).

In California, that's obviously not the case...and may never be.

 

[diznyfanatic]

<snip>I agree that it was not presented as a perk or a frill. It was part of the program, as that program was presented to me JUST LAST WEEK. I only came across the info because the new magazine happened to be included in our documents.<snip>

I agree. It was presented to us the same way...as part of the fundamental flexibility of the DVC program.

I think it's a fair charge when trading out of a Disney property, but I never really considered it a "perk" that Disney DVC members were not being charged an additional fee to use their DVC points to stay at a Disney owned resort, particularly when the membership has grown to the extent that the DVC availability window is getting smaller.

 

[MichelleB]

I'd like to know who to contact via email if I'd like to do so. Anyone have an email for someone higher up in DVC? Please don't post it here...I'm guessing it's against guidelines. Just pm me. Thanks.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The other change that appears to have been made is that the window for booking at non-DVC resorts has also gotten smaller. In the past, you couldn't book and stay in the last 60 days of your UY at a WDW hotel. It now appears to be 4 months.

-- Suzanne

 

[MichelleB]

I don't understand this charge at all. They charge us high points to use them at these resorts anyway. Why the need to now charge "an exchange fee" also? It was never presented to us as a perk, it was the program so I disagree that it's a perk.

 

[diznyfanatic]

I'd like to know who to contact via email if I'd like to do so. Anyone have an email for someone higher up in DVC? Please don't post it here...I'm guessing it's against guidelines. Just pm me. Thanks.

I would also appreciate a PM with an address if it shouldn't be posted.

The other change that appears to have been made is that the window for booking at non-DVC resorts has also gotten smaller. In the past, you couldn't book and stay in the last 60 days of your UY at a WDW hotel. It now appears to be 4 months.

-- Suzanne

Suzanne - Wow. Where did you come by this information?

 

[Teyedoubleguhrrrr]

I agree that we need to express our displeasure with the change in the fee for WDW non-DVC resorts and with the new banking guidelines as it does adversely affect members without any way for them to fix the situation. I don't have an email address other than the generic one for member satisfaction - if you want it, let me know.

However, I also know that emails are easily ignored or answered with the usual "we'll keep it in mind" type of thing. I think that in addition to any email correspondance that we need to follow up with a hard letter via snail mail. For whatever reason - that tends to get more attention IMO and has a bigger impact. I guess it is the result of the "information/spam age" that allows us to do things less personally.

When I find an address, I'll let you know and will pass it along appropriately.

 

[Pooh&Minnie]

I don't understand this charge at all. They charge us high points to use them at these resorts anyway. Why the need to now charge "an exchange fee" also? It was never presented to us as a perk, it was the program so I disagree that it's a perk.

I agree. All of these changes are making me very nervous. DH & I just bought into SSR Aug 2. Now, I'm almost wondering if we made the right decision?? Our guide, like most everyone else's, raved about DVC's flexibility. These banking guidelines and the $95 fee for everything non-DVC doesn't sound very flexible to me. Don't get me wrong, we plan to stay in DVC accomodations most of the time, but now it almost feels like they have you backed in a corner...like "Ha Ha, we got your money...now we're going to make it a PITA to bank/use your precious points, and if you even THINK about staying anywhere non-DVC...cha-ching!" Geez, I almost wonder if we'd have been better off just using our AP discount on the deluxe resorts and not had to worry...this already seems like a headache and we haven't even been members for a month yet!

Sorry to sound so negative...it's just that I scoured these boards before our purchase, did other research on my own, and felt I "knew" what we were getting into...I guess I just feel a little duped at the moment To be fair though, I hope I'm just overreacting...

 

[curiouser]

I agree, the flexibility was one of the big selling points when SO's parents bought into DVC. We are only associates on his parent's contract, but we were along for the sales pitch and we asked many questions about using points at non-DVC resorts as well as other Disney parks around the world.

I think the reason this bothers me the most is due to the fact that we are using points to stay at POFQ this December because we couldn't get a studio anywhere for our dates. Yes, we booked "late" (5 1/2 months out! ) but when there's nothing available we shouldn't be penalized for wanting to stay at non-DVC resorts rather than miss a family vacation (the rest of the family is staying in a 2 bedroom).

 

[donaldsgal]

What is the US mail address for DVC?

 

[TTFN!]

What is the US mail address for DVC?

Donadlsgal, you have to call MemberServices and pay a $25.99 fee via Disney Visa to get the DVC's/DVD's mailing address.

This is part of the new simplification of our Memberships you may be hearing about.

Good Luck!

The snail mail addy is:

Disney Vacation Club
ATTN: Member Services
200 Celebration Place
Celebration, FL 34747

the email addy is:

members@disneyvacationclub.com

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Suzanne - Wow. Where did you come by this information?

This is from the page of Vacation Magic that Enna posted. It is under the heading "Keep It Simple." It is a little hard to read but it looks like a portion reads as follows:

"So just remember to book or bank by four before and you’ll be good to go. You can still travel, of course, at any time. The rule simply refers to your booking date. By giving you one simple rule to remember, we hope you’ll find it easier than ever to take advantage of those opportunities."

A paragraph follows on the new uniform $95 fee, then another few paragraphs on how DL resort is exempted from both the time limit and the fee.

-- Suzanne