Why is the rate of dues increase different for various resorts?

[dianeschlicht]

Lots of good opinions on this thread. I just wonder how much each resort's management team matters. As in other business, how a resort is managed can make a huge difference in cost efficiency.

 

[cheezNE1]

Will we ever see fees go down? If there were lay offs or surplus in funds...

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Will we ever see fees go down? If there were lay offs or surplus in funds...

They can, as mentioned before BWV had a refurbishment made that could have been paid out of capital improvement fund that is part of the dues, however it was deemed to be a defect and the contractor had to pay the costs. This resulted in the capital improvement fund being overfunded and a decrease in dues.

Additionally taxes are always an estimate, so if tax rates are different then forecast, they too can cause the dues to decrease.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Will we ever see fees go down? If there were lay offs or surplus in funds...

There was at least one year where OKW dues went down as well.

 

[spiceycat]

there was also a year when OKW did not change at all - might have been 2 years.

with BWV - hate to say it - but because too many owners are too good to take their trash to the bins and just put it outside. that requires BWV to have more help.

plus think BWV also bears the burden of the cost of that BW - now it shares with BWI - and maybe the restuarants - but kepting that thing is good shape is expensive. Also all those restuarants even when business is bad - someone has to pay for it. Since BWV has no restuarants of it own - they might be part of the general fund too.

VWL - it is small and the gym (while used by both VWL and WL) - think the whole cost goes to DVC. might be wrong - but really think it does. as part of the plan for building VWL in the first place.
it is also in a swamp so higher maintence costs. Plus it is the smaller - less members to help with the costs.

the one that I never understood was OKW. it costs went up and up - now the other (except SSR) have valet parking and room service - which is extra.

OKW does not. OKW started with 3 gardeners - when they retired - for some reason they hired a bunch. same for other things.

now if they were working and improving OKW then it would be fine. but when you have to call to get someone to cut the brushes.... well what was I paying for - so that is one reason sold OKW. Plus got told before I sold OKW that they have 12 managers that manage OKW and SSR. Since DVC was selling SSR (and still is) - guess who got the less of that deal. besides when have 12 people ever agreed on anything.

too many managers are too many.

besides in the early days DVC really listen to us. When we say would like - they did it. Now our suggestions and even complains are last on THEIR list.

which is why for me BLT is better. It has problems - but at least DVC is again listening to member complaints and trying to improve BLT.

still remember when they asked us if OKW members wanted a slide and we say no. Well they did it anyway and since then the maintence fees for OKW have gone up and up.

if the service had improved at oKW then as say this would not be a problem - but for me anyway the service went down.

sorry got carried away.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Pat, I agree with some of your observations about OKW. I too have always felt that OKW started to downturn when SSR came on board. I have always felt the sharing of staff was the reason.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Not to go , but which resorts do you think have guests typically staying longer than other resorts? Interesting notion.

I don't have an inkling as to how much affect is has, but I would imagine OKW has longer stays. Maybe even SSR when longer stays are harder to book (or find) in other resorts. Not included in the list is HHI and VB, which likely have longer stays since they are not in the world. I imagine BWV and BCV being a walking gateway to Epcot might attract more short stays.

That said, I would imagine the resorts with more short stays would have higher overhead. Just speculation on on my part.

Then again, the resorts with a hotel attached probably feel more pressure to keep things better maintained or refurbished. People compare them regularly.

It is just sooo convoluted... you really can't compare the DVC's needs for dues directly.

JMHO

 

[drusba]

As to BWV, no the members do not pay for the upkeep/refurb of restaurants. All the restaurants are self-sustaining units and have to pay for their own maintenance and upkeep. However, dues do go towards upkeep of the boardwalk itself.

If I were guessing, I would probably say OKW is the one with the average longest stay per member. I am basing that on the fact that in the early years the minumum point purchase was well into the 200s, enough points for a week in at least a 1BR (and it was even more than that) and thus many who bought there were buying to stay at least one week a year. It also has the lowest point structure, thus giving those from other resorts the ability to choose that resort if they want to stay longer than they usually do at home resort.

The dues increases at OKW are peculiar. Since 2002, it is the WDW resort that has had the highest increase in dues both in total dollars per pont and percentage.