The Million Dollar Question....

[cm8]

When will Disney officially open the DVC resorts? When we purchased DVC, we were always told, our stay would not be dependent upon the open and closure of the parks.
If that is in fact true,Why haven’t we (DVC Owners/Members) been given any information as to the status of our resorts?
I keep seeing all these post about them remaining closed until the parks are up and running, but how is this okay? If our ownership and stays are in fact directly related to the opening and closing of the parks, then I think some compensation is in order.

Anyone else pressed to think it has to be some other factors that are at play that we don’t know about? Even the Non Park resorts aren’t back up and running yet.

I’m not asking them to give us a definitive date, but an update as to why they have remained closed would be nice! And yes, I know that they were granted special powers but the National Emergency has been lifted /expired and therefore should not continue to be applied ( in my opinion).

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So, a few factors, some of which they'd never communicate:

1. The resorts have been closed now for nearly 8 weeks. You can't just turn around and reopen them. Among other issues, the pipes all need to be flushed, as Legionnaire's Disease is now a factor. Toilets that ain't been flushed for 8 weeks are also an issue. So there will need to be a lead up.

2. That lead up is going to be dependent on bringing staff back. They sent home all the DCP, so they're running from a smaller number to start. They only recently came to terms with the union on working conditions and protections, so that is the first step to getting staff back to start prepping per 1.

3. There will be a time gap between staff being back and the resort operating, in part because of 1, and in part because of implementing protections in 2, and also to start to prep for additional social distancing measures, like putting 3/4 of the pool loungers in a locked space somewhere hidden.

So I think you're looking at staff callback, then 2 weeks for the main resorts at WDW. HHI and VB may be able to be online faster. They will not stagger the on-property resorts.

VGC and AUL are out for a while. Hawaii and California are running an entirely different regulatory ruleset.

 

[cm8]

Thank you! For some reason, I thought someone was still doing light work around the resorts.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thank you! For some reason, I thought someone was still doing light work around the resorts.

Well, even light work is a little insufficient to the plumbing issues.

Several media outlets have been covering the issues with when plumbing is shut down for a while.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/health/coronavirus-legionnaires-offices.html

 

[ngl]

So, a few factors, some of which they'd never communicate:

1. The resorts have been closed now for nearly 8 weeks. You can't just turn around and reopen them. Among other issues, the pipes all need to be flushed, as Legionnaire's Disease is now a factor. Toilets that ain't been flushed for 8 weeks are also an issue. So there will need to be a lead up.

2. That lead up is going to be dependent on bringing staff back. They sent home all the DCP, so they're running from a smaller number to start. They only recently came to terms with the union on working conditions and protections, so that is the first step to getting back to start prepping per 1.

3. There will be a time gap between staff being back and the resort operating, in part because of 1, and in part because of implementing protections in 2, and also to start to prep for additional social distancing measures, like putting 3/4 of the pool loungers in a locked space somewhere hidden.

So I think you're looking at staff callback, then 2 weeks for the main resorts at WDW. HHI and VB may be able to be online faster. They will not stagger the on-property resorts.

VGC and AUL are out for a while. Hawaii and California are running an entirely different regulatory ruleset.

I have been saying the same and, therefore, agree that if they really are opening July 1, all of this would have to be happening now. They furloughed 100,000 employees, got rid of perishable food, etc- lots of basic logistics to get those back up to proper levels besides the major logistics of how to handle social distancing in a public venue. I believe they have been saying May 15, June 1, now July 1 to able to handle the cancellations in smaller buckets.

 

[Chuck S]

While it is true DVC is independent of the theme parks, would it really be economically feasible to open resorts without the theme parks? Would there be enough resort guests there without the parks to justify the operating expenses of all the DVC resorts, when you consider required housekeeping, maintenance, front desk staff and so forth. Never mind that Disney, who operates the stores and food locations, would like not want those open with only a handful of DVC resort guests, especially if the cash resort portions of blended resorts remain closed. It would definitely increase dues for all members, with little to show for it. DVC is between a rock and a hards place, while they need to get the resorts open, they also have a fiduciary responsibility to members to make fiscally sound decisions.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Personally I'm OK with the resort opening being tied to the park openings. Reason being, if the parks aren't open I'm cancelling. I really don't want them to open the resorts, then leave the park openings in limbo. That would put the onus on me to decide if I am cancelling my resort stay and face penalties etc. if I do. Besides, if I just want to go stay the night in a hotel, I don't need to fly to FL to do so.

 

[kristenrice]

Question...

How will it work if they open some resorts but not others? I own at HHI so I can use HHI points to stay there. If an owner at, say, BWV wants to stay at HHI, then shouldn't BWV have to be open so that I could (in theory) trade in to BWV? If only some resorts open, won't that create an imbalance?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

While it is true DVC is independent of the theme parks, would it really be economically feasible to open resorts without the theme parks? Would there be enough resort guests there without the parks to justify the operating expenses of all the DVC resorts, when you consider required housekeeping, maintenance, front desk staff and so forth. Never mind that Disney, who operates the stores and food locations, would like not want those open with only a handful of DVC resort guests, especially if the cash resort portions of blended resorts remain closed. It would definitely increase dues for all members, with little to show for it. DVC is between a rock and a hards place, while they need to get the resorts open, they also have a fiduciary responsibility to members to make fiscally sound decisions.

Is "fiscally sound" part of the decision tree with DVC resorts? I don't think there's anything in the POS that states that. The thing with the timeshare is that we own it and we pay for it. Occupancy doesn't matter. Of course now there's the catch of having timeshares at shared resorts but I don't think that many or even any of the amenities are guaranteed. There would be modifications in operations to figure out but that's been what other businesses have been doing the entire time and continue to do.

For the point regarding that it takes work and time getting the resorts open - that's true but that is what they need to be working on and probably are already 2-3 weeks behind in starting. I'm starting to think that the resorts should be open now or they are getting close to being, or already are, in violation of our agreements.

 

[bluecruiser]

When we purchased DVC, we were always told, our stay would not be dependent upon the open and closure of the parks.

I don't remember ever hearing this before, during, or after my two DVC purchases. Did I miss something?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I don't remember ever hearing this before, during, or after my two DVC purchases. Did I miss something?

It's in every POS. The parks are not guaranteed. AKV doesn't guarantee the animals either.

 

[bluecruiser]

It's in every POS. The parks are not guaranteed. AKV doesn't guarantee the animals either.

Thanks for the info. Just goes to show how non-observant I am/was.

 

[bobbiwoz]

It's in every POS. The parks are not guaranteed. AKV doesn't guarantee the animals either.

This was almost a deal breaker for me, but in the end, I took a chance and have enjoyed our ownership there. Thankful for those many past memories, future unknown.

 

[tidefan]

While it is true DVC is independent of the theme parks, would it really be economically feasible to open resorts without the theme parks? Would there be enough resort guests there without the parks to justify the operating expenses of all the DVC resorts, when you consider required housekeeping, maintenance, front desk staff and so forth. Never mind that Disney, who operates the stores and food locations, would like not want those open with only a handful of DVC resort guests, especially if the cash resort portions of blended resorts remain closed. It would definitely increase dues for all members, with little to show for it. DVC is between a rock and a hards place, while they need to get the resorts open, they also have a fiduciary responsibility to members to make fiscally sound decisions.

But this wouldn't necessarily affect VB and HHI. I would imagine that both of those could open independently of whatever the parks do...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

But this wouldn't necessarily affect VB and HHI. I would imagine that both of those could open independently of whatever the parks do...

But their CMs are in the same union, so they do have to address the safety issues agreed upon last week.

 

[tidefan]

But their CMs are in the same union, so they do have to address the safety issues agreed upon last week.

But that would be a lot easier to implement in those locations. No transportation issues, no parks, etc. Also, probably a lot less housekeeping as it would only be done between guests. I suppose they could modify T&T days.

 

[disland7]

I can see positives and negatives to both sides. If they open then people who don’t mind using their points there whip parks are closed can and take some pressure off the extra points in the system. Those people would help us all out down the line. But if they open some people will have expiration issues and possibly be forced to take such a trip and be pretty upset about it (I would be if I were in that situation).

 

[Sandisw]

As long as there are government orders in place that allow DVCM to continue emergency powers to keep DVC resorts shut down, then they can do that,

However, I agree that the way things are headed in FL, that regardless of what they decide to do with the parks, now that the union and Disney have agreed to safety protocols...and Disney provides the workers to manage the DVC resorts, they should be opening them, IMO, by mid to late June, but no later than July 1st

Once we hear this week about the plan, if it’s not that timeframe, DVCM will be getting contacted again.

 

[Spridell]

Well whats everyone's opinion on this whole NBA thing? @Sandisw thoughts?

There is some speculation going around (especially on the other thread) that a good majority of World will NOT open up while NBA is playing there for the next couple of months.

So they are going to keep DVC closed because the NBA is there?

Wow that just screams major lawsuit if that happened.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Well whats everyone's opinion on this whole NBA thing? @Sandisw thoughts?

There is some speculation going around (especially on the other thread) that a good majority of World will NOT open up while NBA is playing there for the next couple of months.

So they are going to keep DVC closed because the NBA is there?

Wow that just screams major lawsuit if that happened.

NBA couldn't pay enough for that.. Also it's not like the NBA players are there to go into the parks.