Why do the dues vary so much?

[MJ6987]

Why do the dues vary so much between DVC resorts? For example, why has BWV got the highest dues of the WDW resorts?

I thought it may be because of the age but isn't OKW older than BWV?

 

[crisi]

IF you stay standard view and look at dues per studio room night, BWV standard view dues are a bargain. Which is part of it - if a Boardwalk standard room is 10 points per night (all Adventure Season) and dues are $5.84, you have $58.40 in dues for the night. If you stay at the BWV preferred view, its 15 points, and your room is $87.60 a night. At the Beach Club, dues are 5.64 a night, but all studios are 15 points, so $84.60 a night for that studio. At BLT, studios are 14, 17, or 19 points - at $4.50 a point - or $63, $76.50 or $85.50 a night. Grand Floridian dues are $5.41 - and rooms are 17 and 20 points a night $91.97 and $108.20 a night.

Some if it is how much it costs to run the resorts, SSR and OKW are a little cheaper to run due to being condo style rather than hotel style. They are the real dues bargains - low dues PLUS low point costs. OKW is that same 10 points a night, with $5.34 in dues or $53.40 a night, SSR is 12 points and $4.81 - $57.72 a night.

(I'm looking at 2013 dues, just realized that - but you can do the same thing for 2014 and any season you want to travel - it isn't the dues per point, its the dues per room night that really matter - if you want a hotel style resort, its really hard to beat BWV dues - IF you stay Standard View.)

 

[Chuck S]

It also depends upon how many points are issued at the resort. So a resort like BLT, that takes more points per room will also likely have more points to spread the dues.

Certain costs are pretty well fixed for each resort, like front desk and so for. Smaller resorts with fewer points naturally have a higher cost per point for those fixed services. Larger resorts, like OKW and SSR, have more points to spread the cost as well.

 

[MJ6987]

I can imagine that BLT should be cheaper to maintain, being a tower as energy costs should be lower.

I wonder if the Community Hall adds costs to the Boardwalk as well, or do all DVC resorts have those?

 

[Chuck S]

I can imagine that BLT should be cheaper to maintain, being a tower as energy costs should be lower.

I wonder if the Community Hall adds costs to the Boardwalk as well, or do all DVC resorts have those?

OKW has a community Hall, and I think SSR as well. Not sure about the others.

 

[Dean]

Why do the dues vary so much between DVC resorts? For example, why has BWV got the highest dues of the WDW resorts?

I thought it may be because of the age but isn't OKW older than BWV?

It's based on actual costs to run the resort including common areas and transportation. The transportation, lower % of common area allotment and lower number of points per villa are some of the main reasons that BCV is lower than BWV. Expect AKV to be slightly more than BWV long term and VGF to be the highest total cost along with the Poly and possibly the highest per point.

 

[DebbieB]

It also depends upon how many points are issued at the resort. So a resort like BLT, that takes more points per room will also likely have more points to spread the dues.

Certain costs are pretty well fixed for each resort, like front desk and so for. Smaller resorts with fewer points naturally have a higher cost per point for those fixed services. Larger resorts, like OKW and SSR, have more points to spread the cost as well.

I think that is a big part of it. It's the total annual operating costs for the resort divided by the total available points. There are more available points per room at BLT because of the higher points per night. So when divided, the dues per point is lower. But it will take more points per night to stay there.

 

[disneynutz]

I can imagine that BLT should be cheaper to maintain, being a tower as energy costs should be lower.

I wonder if the Community Hall adds costs to the Boardwalk as well, or do all DVC resorts have those?

BLT has had a couple years of 6% plus dues increases. IMO the new resorts under prior management start off low and adjust as time goes on and the resorts sell out. BLT started at $3.67 and AKV at $4.62.

VGF which opened under new management started off at $5.41 per point.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I think that is a big part of it. It's the total annual operating costs for the resort divided by the total available points. There are more available points per room at BLT because of the higher points per night. So when divided, the dues per point is lower. But it will take more points per night to stay there.

A point that many made when BLT was in active sales was exactly that, though it would be more points and more dues total to stay there consistently, they could own the points that were cheaper and use them elsewhere for an additional savings. To a degree I think this was a valid point though the additional portion was they were buying retail to get that "savings". Had BLT dues stayed consistently less they would have been correct but predictably, they have increased faster and are getting close to SSR. I do think BLT will remain on the lower side per point but I do not believe it will be low enough long term to justify those that made a retail purchase thinking it would be just for that savings alone.