Two interesting items from today's annual DVC board meetings

[wanna-b-Tink]

Thanks for the update!

Just having access to my point availability and loan balances will be great! I would say half of the times I contact MS it is to check on my loan (to see if it is to the point that I can pay it off yet) and to double check on how many points I have available at which resorts...

Online reservations will be nice at some point, but I can certainly wait if they get the other items up and running in 05.

 

[JimC]

Bill, Thank you for the update.

I suspect that online reservation capability also requires a complete rewrite of the entire reservation system so it is probably a significant undertaking. But at least they are making some progress.

I wonder if the AP discount is an indication of the DVC under Jim Lewis?

 

[Caskbill]

Interesting stuff! I think just having the availability online will make a big difference especially on weekends when MS is closed. Thanks for the info, Caskbill!

Just to clarify, checking availability will NOT be part of the Dec 2005 upgrade. It will be for checking your account status only. That includes all past reservations, banking, borrowing transactions, and your financial status. You will be able to bank but not actually make reservations, or even check availability. If you call MS and make a reservation, you will be able to go on line later and check that the reservation was indeed made.

To check availability, and book actual reservations will not be part of the upgrade until well after the Dec 2005 release. They did not give any specific dates or detail except that it was next after the account access upgrade takes place.

 

[Caskbill]

....I wonder if the AP discount is an indication of the DVC under Jim Lewis?

I asked Jim if we can credit him with getting us this great perk. He said no, it would be nice if he could, but that all the credit must go to his staff, as they were the ones who worked hard with the theme park people to get this for us. So thanks to all of the DVC folks behind the scenes.

Of course the fact that Jim totally credits his staff does indeed tell us something about him as well.

 

[ceejay13]

Thanks for the updates, Bill. I was wondering how things had gone. I will be thrilled just to see our account info if that comes through next year.

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks for sharing the meeting info with us, Bill.

Deb -- I had the same thoughts about the promises of on-line capabilities. Sounds like what we've heard before "but only the dates have been changed". But, who knows. The pass discount finally came through -- maybe on-line capability will too.

 

[DisneyAngel12]

Thanks Bill for the great update!
Charlotte

 

[MDonley]

I wonder though why a whole YEAR to get that info up on the website? Seems like an awfully long wait...

Let's see ... 90,000 members divided by 1 YEAR comes to about 250 members per day. Do you think they'll start with the newest members first?

Back on subject: I can understand the increase in taxes ... Someone's got to pay for all that cleanup from this past summer. After all, we use the airports, roads, etc. I guess I'm thankful that they don't have snow to plow.
Interesting that the thread was started by Caskbill ... someone who's occupation was associated with death talking about taxes. Death and taxes ... who'd a thunk it?

Thanks Caskbill

 

[JimC]

I asked Jim if we can credit him with getting us this great perk. He said no, it would be nice if he could, but that all the credit must go to his staff, as they were the ones who worked hard with the theme park people to get this for us. So thanks to all of the DVC folks behind the scenes.

Of course the fact that Jim totally credits his staff does indeed tell us something about him as well.

It certainly does!! Let's hope he stays in this rotation for a good long time. And I sceond the thanks to the DVC staff.

 

[goofy4tink]

I went to my first annual meeting yesterday, at BWV. Was that you Bill, sitting next to me, writing everything down?? I was thinking that this was probably a Dis'ing DVC'er who would post all the news for everyone who couldn't be there.

I have to say that I was also really impressed with Jim Lewis. While he might not have had the answers I wanted to hear, he made me feel pretty good about it. Now, that's a talent. Hope he stays for quite awhile.

So Bill, hope the weather is as nice for the rest of your trip as it was when we left yesterday. Thanks for posting.

 

[Doctor P]

The tax increase for 2004 would not have been related to the hurricanes (though the increase in estimated taxes for 2005 could include such a factor). Real estate taxes are generally "paid in arrears".

 

[DebbieB]

I went to my first annual meeting yesterday, at BWV. Was that you Bill, sitting next to me, writing everything down?? I was thinking that this was probably a Dis'ing DVC'er who would post all the news for everyone who couldn't be there.

Did they mention any changes they are planning for next year at BWV?

 

[senecabeach]

Bill.....

Many "Thanks" for taking the time to attend the meeting
and share the news !

 

[Caskbill]

(This is dvc_john using caskbill's sign-on)....

They did mention that the tax increase was based on a higher tax assessment of the properties, and that all timeshares in Orange County were affected.

Also, we were at the BCV meeting.

 

[goofy4tink]

Did they mention any changes they are planning for next year at BWV?

Let's see if I can remember...

new bedspreads
new armoirs in the 1 bdrm masters
new coffee tables...studio people want the 1 bdrm old ones!!
new carpeting in all units
new dining tables
new dishwashers
new shower doors
replacing the actual boardwalk...the part that's already done looks terrific!

 

[MaryJ]

On a side note, I had the opportunity to speak with Jim Lewis for awhile and must comment I think he is a great asset to DVC and is a good thing for our members. The fact that he graduated from Indiana State and did his Graduate work at Purdue is even better....(of course the fact that I live in Indiana has nothing to do with this opinion )

Got to say that I smile every time I read VM when Jim Lewis refers to Hammond and his Indiana home!

Thanks Bill for keeping us up to date!