VB dues too high?

[nickglover]

What do you all think? Minimum dues are now $730 a year (based on 150 points).

Unless you stay during the highest point times, I am thinking it might be better to sell the DVC membership and just use cash.

I don't think the dues at VB are going to go DOWN next year!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by nickglover
What do you all think? Minimum dues are now $730 a year (based on 150 points).

Unless you stay during the highest point times, I am thinking it might be better to sell the DVC membership and just use cash.

I don't think the dues at VB are going to go DOWN next year!

I don't either. The dues do not reflect the "special assessment" mentioned in the recent info sent to VB owners and they also don't reflect any property insurance increases due to the hurricanes. Those increases are awaiting approval by the state of Florida. (Insurance rates are regulated by the states).

Best wishes -

P.S. You can click here for a link to the thread that mentioned the special assessment.

 

[floridafam]

You may have a point.

Great cash rates seem plentiful at the resort for FL residents, AP holders, people who buy the Birnbaum book, etc.

Do you know what the dues are for next year yet?

I haven't gotten anything in the mail.

 

[nickglover]

They come out to about $730 for 150 points, so it is about $4.86 per point.

Selling our membership won't keep us from enjoying the resort, though!

We usually go after Labor Day - the cash rates are more reasonable then.

 

[mydogdrew]

I would not even consider owning at VB or HHI. There are just too many steep discounts for cash reservations (eg recent $99 2 br at HHI). In the case of VB dues are out of sight and it's not hard to get in on the 7 month window anyway (I booked late March ocean view Inn room today). You can argue that beach cottages are hard to get. Never tried but those dues will kill you. At HHI, dues are not the issue but why not just buy OKW/SSR? Yes its hard to get HHI in the summer but those points per night are steep. For the cost of HHI you really should be on the beach anyway and if you're a golfer, you can often get package deals that basically give away accomodations at Sea Pines. These resorts are both nice but investing in an Orlando resort is a safer bet.

 

[nickglover]

I see we can sell through the Timeshare Store on this site's links, but does anyone how to sell through disney? Is it best to go with a company like the Timeshare Store? thanks

 

[nickglover]

floridafam - what is it about the birbaum book that helps with cash stays at VB? are you refering to strategies? coupons?

thanks

 

[floridafam]

There has been a coupon in the back of the Birnbaum guiide the past few years for 20% off at VB.

We have never had a problem staying on cash at Vero, even before we owned points there.

Example, we are staying one night around Christmas for $266.00 in an Inn Ocean View room. This is on a Friday night. I believe the pts required for that night are 44. It's almost cheaper just to use cash instead of paying for points and dues.

I have even been offered the Member Discount o the Beach Cottages.

Now that we are FL residents, we have that discount available, too.

I never had a problem with the dues at Vero but I think this could be the beginning of them getting out of hand.

Are you going to the annual meeting?

 

[pumpkinboy]

By my calculations (at $10 a point), it always makes sense to reserve weekends in cash at current prices, and for some rooms at some times, it can be cheaper to pay cash on some weeknights.

However, I am still in the market for a smallish (50-75) February UY contract, so we can be assured of VB availability for busy times like Presidents' Day weekend, or Easter, or Memorial Day. The maintenence fees are well worth it for us to be able to have home resort priority during those periods. But we wouldn't buy VB points to use in the off-season; there are too many better deals for those times (Disney Visa, Birnbaum's, even rack rate at some times). But for home resort priority for peak times, that's why you want to hold onto VB points, IMO.

 

[nickglover]

no - we won't make the meeting - back in Tampa now, and I have to drive to Destin and back soon, to perform my brother's wedding on the beach! (I'm a notary), so that will be enough florida travel for awhile - thanks for the birnbaum tip!

I also mentioned to my wife about the local coupon flyer you received with 20% of Shutters for M-W and your comment that maybe they could give DVC members that. We ate there every night M-W when we were there!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by nickglover
I see we can sell through the Timeshare Store on this site's links, but does anyone how to sell through disney? Is it best to go with a company like the Timeshare Store? thanks

You can't sell through Disney, they do not buyback memberships directly. They do have the right of first refusal after you have a buyer and a contract, they can at that point buy it back if the price is low enough.

 

[MDonley]

If you were to sell your points and just use cash, you couldn't get the DVC discount (not to mention the Vacation Magic magazine and the Member Clubhouse email 'cuz you'd no longer be a member).