Why does BWV have highest dues in WDW?

[alldiz]

Hi,

With all the research I'm doing for my add-on I noticed the fees on
BWV were the highest....

I'm deciding where to add on.....I like AKV and BWV low point schedule
for value and standard rooms.

Anyone know why BWV has a higher due rate...is it because of the
lower point standard rooms?
thanks
Kerri

 

[Granny]

I don't know if there is a specific reason, other than it is nothing new. But I am quite sure it doesn't have anything to do with them having the Standard View rooms.

While the dues at BWV are higher than some others, it's not a huge difference in most cases. The 17 cents difference between that and VWL comes to about $26 a year for a 150 point contract. Even if you look at SSR, which has the lowest annual dues, you are talking about $125 a year difference for 150 points.

What does seem to be a common theme is that the on-site DVC's attached to regular resorts have higher dues than the stand-alone resorts (SSR & OKW). You'd think that they would be lower since many of the services are shared and therefore the costs would be split with the resort while the stand-alone resorts have to absorb all costs themselves.

I've often thought that Disney uses DVC to make their resorts (BWI/BC/WL/AKL) more profitable in addition to the members' revenues. Someone here who knows a lot more about this will probably give a good explanation for why the regular resort based DVCs have a higher cost structure.

 

[jekjones1558]

I have always wondered this as well. We have enough BWV points that it does make a difference over the long haul. I wouldn't for a minute want to change home resorts, but I would feel better knowing the reason for the discrepancy.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I believe the reason is because the WDW property as a whole resides in two counties - Orange and Osceola. I forget where the property is divided but that is the reason for different dues is because of the different tax rates. You will find this if you visit and pay cash depending on the resort you are at as some have different tax rates than others depending on its physical location of said property within WDW.

 

[mjy]

I think this was asked before and, if I remember correctly, one of the main reasons given was because of the size. The BWV have less owners than many of the other places because it has less rooms and the others have more rooms. More rooms and more owners mean more people sharing the costs of maintenance.

Less owners mean our dues are higher.

Oh well . . . I still like the place!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Because I own there....

 

[vandy]

I was curious as well so I asked our "senior" guide who has been there for years. His repy was that the higher dues are because of two things: The size of the resort and the utilities. The smaller, stand alone resorts tend to have a higher operating cost (as stated in previous posts) and part of that for BWV is the high utilities cost involved in running the resort. He stated that the electric bill alone was much, much higher at BWV. Higher bills, fewer owners mean higher dues. This was our guide's explanation and it does make sense.

 

[diznyfanatic]

Here is the answer I received from CarolMN when I asked the same question in a different thead and it makes sense to me.

BWV shares operating expenses with BWI. BCV shares with BC and YC.

I think that the BWV is a larger % of the total BWI/BWV resort than the BCV are of the total BC/YC BCV resort. So essentially, the BWV owners pick up more of the fixed costs than do BCV owners.

Hope this helps.

 

[alldiz]

Thanks everyone....this makes sense.
WL is pretty high also....

I'm not deterred by the extra cost.....just curious.

Can't decide where to add on.....part of me just wants add on to
WL so I can have all my points in 1 place....

The other part is wrestling with the lower points of BWV standard and
AKV value.
Decisions
Kerri

 

[Granny]

I was curious as well so I asked our "senior" guide who has been there for years. His repy was that the higher dues are because of two things: The size of the resort and the utilities. The smaller, stand alone resorts tend to have a higher operating cost (as stated in previous posts) and part of that for BWV is the high utilities cost involved in running the resort. He stated that the electric bill alone was much, much higher at BWV. Higher bills, fewer owners mean higher dues. This was our guide's explanation and it does make sense.

Not sure why BWV has so much higher electric bills? Must be the cost of air conditioning those L......O......N......G hallways!

Sorry, couldn't resist and I'm allowed to make fun of the hallways since I am a proud BWV owner!

alldiz....not sure of where you are in your life cycle (age, kids, etc) but if those extra years are something you think you'd probably take advantage of, I'd be leaning towards AKV.

As you said, you have the lower point schedule there for the value and standard rooms. And with the longer life it will hold its resale value better if (heaven forbid) you ever want/need to sell.

But if you really want to stay at BWV a lot, especially at busy booking times, I'd buy there. Just too iffy to try and book Standard View or Boardwalk View rooms at the 7 month timeframe...at least in my book. Then again, I am willing to pay that premium to be sure to have the best chance of booking exactly what I want at the 11 month window.

 

[Donald is #1]

Not sure why BWV has so much higher electric bills? Must be the cost of air conditioning those L......O......N......G hallways!

Maybe its all of the lights on the Boardwalk.

 

[Dean]

My understanding is the main difference compared to BCV is the transportation and the way things are figured in that regard. Apparently Disney believes that the density (number per unit) is higher for DVC than for the regular hotel rooms. The other issue is that BWV and OKW are the only on property resorts that have reached the age where major updating needs to occur (10-12 years). If you look at BCV and VWL each at 10-12 years out, I think you'll see a similar trend. The inherent nature of OKW and SSR should make them cheaper to operate than the rest though SSR likely will hold that edge long term given the way it's put together. VB keeps climbing and staying around $1 per point more and HH has has increased significantly, it was the cheapest at one time. My guess is that it will be close to VB as time goes on.

 

[alldiz]

Not sure why BWV has so much higher electric bills? Must be the cost of air conditioning those L......O......N......G hallways!

Sorry, couldn't resist and I'm allowed to make fun of the hallways since I am a proud BWV owner!

alldiz....not sure of where you are in your life cycle (age, kids, etc) but if those extra years are something you think you'd probably take advantage of, I'd be leaning towards AKV.

As you said, you have the lower point schedule there for the value and standard rooms. And with the longer life it will hold its resale value better if (heaven forbid) you ever want/need to sell.

But if you really want to stay at BWV a lot, especially at busy booking times, I'd buy there. Just too iffy to try and book Standard View or Boardwalk View rooms at the 7 month timeframe...at least in my book. Then again, I am willing to pay that premium to be sure to have the best chance of booking exactly what I want at the 11 month window.

I'm 36....so the extra years are appealing....but not a deal breaker.
So hard to decide.....I like the fact of adding on to WL and keeping all my points together....very simple.

I also like the lower points of AKV and BWV....I'm just nervous with AKV
because it is similiar in design to WL and I would like a different "feel"
to my other "home".
Which is when I started looking at the BWV....I like the lower standard
points....and it's LOCATION....

BTW....are the hallways longer at BWV than BCV...I had the last room
at BCV....just when you think your at the end.....another twist in the
hallway

My understanding is the main difference compared to BCV is the transportation and the way things are figured in that regard. Apparently Disney believes that the density (number per unit) is higher for DVC than for the regular hotel rooms. The other issue is that BWV and OKW are the only on property resorts that have reached the age where major updating needs to occur (10-12 years). If you look at BCV and VWL each at 10-12 years out, I think you'll see a similar trend. The inherent nature of OKW and SSR should make them cheaper to operate than the rest though SSR likely will hold that edge long term given the way it's put together. VB keeps climbing and staying around $1 per point more and HH has has increased significantly, it was the cheapest at one time. My guess is that it will be close to VB as time goes on.

thanks Dean
this makes sense....I wonder if they will rehab OKW and BWV when kidani
village opens.....to handle the overflow
Thanks everyone
Kerri

 

[Granny]

I also like the lower points of AKV and BWV....I'm just nervous with AKV
because it is similiar in design to WL and I would like a different "feel"
to my other "home".
Which is when I started looking at the BWV....I like the lower standard
points....and it's LOCATION....

We own at VWL and BWV, and you are correct. They have a totally different feel and vacation experience. Since we will be going to WDW every year we wanted to be sure to have a little variety. We have "sampled" some of the other resorts but wanted to have the 11 month booking advantage at two resorts.

We own contracts at each with roughly the same number of points. So we bank one contract and borrow on the other to make the entire reservation at a home resort at 11 months. The following year we book the other resort at 11 months.

And I personally agree with your thoughts on AKV. I think it is a stunning resort but if I only had VWL I'd probably go with a resort that is a little more different than AKV. I know AKV has completely different theming and the animals, but the feel of the resort is similar in many ways to VWL...which is a good thing in my book!

BTW....are the hallways longer at BWV than BCV...I had the last room
at BCV....just when you think your at the end.....another twist in the
hallway

I'd say that the BWV hallways are significantly longer than BCV if you are at either end of the resort. Still, not a big deal at all to us.

 

[alldiz]

We own at VWL and BWV, and you are correct. They have a totally different feel and vacation experience. Since we will be going to WDW every year we wanted to be sure to have a little variety. We have "sampled" some of the other resorts but wanted to have the 11 month booking advantage at two resorts.

We own contracts at each with roughly the same number of points. So we bank one contract and borrow on the other to make the entire reservation at a home resort at 11 months. The following year we book the other resort at 11 months.

And I personally agree with your thoughts on AKV. I think it is a stunning resort but if I only had VWL I'd probably go with a resort that is a little more different than AKV. I know AKV has completely different theming and the animals, but the feel of the resort is similar in many ways to VWL...which is a good thing in my book!





I'd say that the BWV hallways are significantly longer than BCV if you are at either end of the resort. Still, not a big deal at all to us.

Thanks Granny

are the standard rooms at the end of the hall....just figured it's easier
knowing you'll be there.....and not wonder will I get it

I'm really liking BWV low points for F&W festival....
Funny I'm seriously thinking of buying there.....and I haven't even
stayed there
Although I haven't stayed anywhere at WDW that I didn't like....
especially DVC accomodations

I'm also thinking having a standard room ressie at BWV during
the F&W festival will be an easy trade to anywhere in WDW.....
or does it not work that way?
thanks
Kerri

 

[Disneyhappy]

The posts speculating that it is the utilities inflating the dues is in line with what my guide told me. He said the resorts with inside hallways have higher dues because of the expense to cool all that space as well as to maintain it. He said the common areas actually cost more to cool than the rooms because the air in the rooms are sensored to only go on when people are in the room while the air in the common areas is always maintained at a certain temp. He said he anticipates that OKW and SSR will always have the lower fees. Of course, this was told to me when we were looking into buying at SSR so we took it with a grain of salt but it does seem to have some logic.

 

[Dean]

thanks Dean
this makes sense....I wonder if they will rehab OKW and BWV when kidani
village opens.....to handle the overflow
Thanks everyone
Kerri

Unlike most timeshares, DVC does not have a set schedule. Most timeshares function on a timetable something like a redo of soft goods (couch, bedspreads, etc) every 5-7 years and a larger scale every 10-14 years with cabinets, counters, carpet, drapes, mattresses, etc. The better ones are normally 5/10. Unfortunately DVC doesn't have a firm schedule and tend to do the rooms as they see fit. A practice I think we'll all pay for in the long run in one way or another and likely related to many of the reports for rooms that are not up to standard. Also, for every new unit at AKV, there will be that many new owners. DVD doesn't give the extra units to DVC until they are actually selling them. They keep them and rent them out taking the cash themselves.

 

[PKS44]

It would be against the law to use DVC dues at BWV to pay for BWI---Florida law is pretty specific with regard to what timeshare dues have to be used for...so I suspect it is higher because it is a combo of extra utilities costs for those long air conditioned halls on every floor and all the extra lights on the Outside--as well as the fact that BWV is 53% of the Boardwalk resort while a place like BCV is a mere 19% of the Yacht/beach complex...

 

[DVC Mater]

so if the paying for utilites on an all indoor resort are more expensive, does that mean AKV will be the most expensive when Kidani comes on line because it looks like its all indoors and it is going to be huge...???

 

[PKS44]

AKV dues will be influenced by all of that + the added expense of the animals that will have to be shared by AKV owners-then again--they won't be paying for boat service like the other resorts...just buses.