Would you support a point "tax" for staying at other resorts?

[WDWLVR]

The reason we bought DVC vs. other time shares was the flexibility.

Completely agree! We bought where we are happing staying (BWV) but we also enjoy trying the other resorts. We have no problem planning 11 months out and for those times we tried shorter notices we were still able to get something.

For very popular times like early December we planned and booked as soon as it was available at our home resort.

So far we've stayed at every DVC resort except for AKV and SSR. I'm sure we'll get to those some day and no I wouldn't want to pay extra to do it.

 

[Y-ASK]

It really sounds like DVC is not for you. Maybe you need more of a guaranteed type resort. Maybe you need to find a resort that offers a dedicated fixed week each year. It's obvious that DVC is not working for you so feel free to sell...

Y-ASK

 

[Kathi OD]

A material selling point of the program is that all points are equal after the home resort booking advantage. I would not be in favor of changing that.

ITA!

When we bought, we knew that if we didn't book within the 11 month window there was a chance we wouldn't get a ressie at our home resort. Why should I be penalized for choosing to stay at another resort at the 7 month window because you chose not to book your home resort at the 11 month window?

That being said, we have never stayed at our home resort (and FTR, it's BWV, not SSR). We have never booked at the 11th month window and not staying at our home resort doesn't bother us. If it did, we'd make sure to be on the phone at the 11 month window.

 

[rascalmom]

I wouldn't be for a "tax", but I don't think it would help the OP in the way he is imagining anyway.

DVC properties are designed to operate at, or very near capacity year round. I think if a tax were imposed & it somehow discouraged members from booking at non-home resorts, the OP would still find him/herself competing with other BWV owners for last minute ressies. After all, they would be penalized for trying to try another resort, so they would be keeping BWV full and, to avoid the dredded tax, would be taking full advantage of their 11 month window.

The smaller resorts will always be the toughest to book - no way around that. There are fewer rooms to compete for, no matter WHO your competition is at 11, 7 or 2 months.

I own at the largest resort & with older kids, our schedule is somewhat unpredictable right now. A few weeks ago - I tried for a last minute ressie (peak time). Nothing was available for my dates - anywhere. It wasn't anyone else's fault other than my own for not planning sooner!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I I think that if the extra 4 months Home Resort priority isn't time for DVC owners to plan their trips, then maybe DVC was not a purchase they should have made.

I agree! No one says you have to be a DVC owner. The "C" is for CLUB! If you are not flexible, only want to stay at 1 resort and can only book last minute trips, a club is not for you.

That's what cash and CRO are for. They already got that covered

Just another way to bash SSR and its owners, it's old and tired and we all get the fact that some would rather stay home than stay there. SSR is not going anywhere, so it's time to accept it and move on. The system has simply outgrown you.

 

[Dodie]

No.

I bought into a club with the understanding that I needed to...

1. Buy where I wanted to stay.
2. Plan ahead and use the 11 month booking window to my advantage at my home resort (which is good because that's where I want to stay most of the time).
3. Try at 7 months to see what else is available if I want to branch out.
4. Expect if I try to book at the last minute that I may not get to stay exactly where I would prefer -or- that I may not get a reservation at all.

I think DVC is for planners, not last minute travelers.

 

[jfinke]

 

[Kathi OD]

No.

I bought into a club with the understanding that I needed to...

1. Buy where I wanted to stay.
2. Plan ahead and use the 11 month booking window to my advantage at my home resort (which is good because that's where I want to stay most of the time).
3. Try at 7 months to see what else is available if I want to branch out.
4. Expect if I try to book at the last minute that I may not get to stay exactly where I would prefer -or- that I may not get a reservation at all.

I think DVC is for planners, not last minute travelers.

Dodie, for the most part I agree with you...with the exception of #1. Those who bought DVC in the earlier years didn't have an option to "buy where they wanted to stay" unless they sold their original contract and bought somewhere else or added on. Depending on circumstances, neither may be attractive choices.

For those who purchased later on, definitely buying where you preferred to stay makes good sense. Another take would be not buying where you wouldn't want to end up.

 

[bwvBound]

Do other timeshare "families" like Marriott or Hilton charge in-system exchange fees?

Some do, some don't. Depends on how each are setup and governed.

 

[M & M]

Would you support a point "tax" for staying at other resorts?

NO,NO,NO & NO That being said we always stay at SSR but we purchased the flexibility, that is what makes DVC so great. As our family changes we would like to try other locations without being nickled and dimed to death.

 

[bgraham34]

The only way I would support that is if the following were to happen. If someone stays at my home resort and should get some extra points since they would be taxing you to stay at my resort. Therefore we as the home resort should receive the benefits from that. And I actually don't really support that.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

In simple terms it seems to make sense, but when you start to dig into it, it doesn't work, it would benefit virtually no one, and in the end, is outside of the heart of DVC.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just curious. Would you support a small tax of say a 10 percent surcharge to stay at a resort other than your home resort?

One of the biggest complaints members have is not being able to book their home resort because it is booked up by visitors from other resorts. As the number of resorts grows this problem will get worse.

A small surcharge on staying away from home won't stop anyone, including me, from trying out other resorts. But it will tend to make people choose their home resort in case of a tie. And the revenue from the points received from a room tax can be used to lower member dues, which can help compensate members who are shut out of their home resort.

We all try to buy where we want to stay, and there is nothing more disappointing than to find out that our only option for a last minute trip is either to not go or to stay at a resort that doesn't appeal to us. It just seems that a small surcharge on staying away from "home" would make it more likely for all of us to find vacancies at the homes we've chosen, without having to resort to ever more meticulous planning.

Any thoughts?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

First of all, everyone has the opportunity to book at their home resort 4 months earlier than those who own elsewhere, so there really is no reason for anyone to be "shut out" of their home resort. If the complaint is making last minute trip reservations, then maybe THAT is what should have a surcharge attached to it. I figure if you can't plan and only want last minute traveling, you take what's left and run the risk of finding NOTHING anywhere, let alone your home resort.

 

[Mississippian]

I think the OP's "idea!" is quite self serving. Sounds like someone couldn't book BWV for an upcoming trip and doesn't like to stay anywhere else. Don't forget, there's always CRO with the DVC discount to fall back on.

I've stayed at other resorts, although I usually have a strong preference for my home resort. That's why I bought there. And I would have no problem with paying a slight extra fee to stay elsewhere. My next vacation isn't booked for BWV for what it's worth.

BUT, it cannot be denied that it is getting harder and harder for some people to book their home resorts. As it gets harder for them to book inside the seven month window they are reserving anything they can get between 7 and 11 months. It's making it hard to get reservations during this time as well. As more resorts are added this problem is going to get worse.

The mantra on this board is "Buy where you want to stay!" I don't see anything wrong with providing an incentive for people to stay where they buy.

 

[Y-ASK]

That incentive is the 4 month booking window! What part of that don't you understand? You obviously can't plan ahead so either sell and pay cash or buy somewhere else. Don't try to change the system for your own personal self-centered reasons...

Y-ASK

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

This isn't a personal comment directed at you, but as to the idea of a "tax",

YUCK, NO!!!!

 

[Kathi OD]

I've stayed at other resorts, although I usually have a strong preference for my home resort. That's why I bought there. And I would have no problem with paying a slight extra fee to stay elsewhere. My next vacation isn't booked for BWV for what it's worth.

BUT, it cannot be denied that it is getting harder and harder for some people to book their home resorts. As it gets harder for them to book inside the seven month window they are reserving anything they can get between 7 and 11 months. It's making it hard to get reservations during this time as well. As more resorts are added this problem is going to get worse.

The mantra on this board is "Buy where you want to stay!" I don't see anything wrong with providing an incentive for people to stay where they buy.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you could only book your home resort between 7 and 11 months out. If I understand that correctly, then how could people "reserve anything?" ... unless that anything is at their home resort.

 

[Mississippian]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you could only book your home resort between 7 and 11 months out. If I understand that correctly, then how could people "reserve anything?" ... unless that anything is at their home resort.

If it is easy for owners at BCV to book between four and seven months, then they might not be ultra-agressive in booking at 7 to 11 months. On the other hand, in the past couple of years it has been virtually impossible to book BCV inside the 7-month window. As a result members there are becoming hyper-agressive about booking during their early window, lest they lose their chance. As a result, it makes it harder to book even during the 7-11 month window.

Clearly nobody gets my point. I can live with it.

 

[CraftyMouse]

On the other hand, in the past couple of years it has been virtually impossible to book BCV inside the 7-month window. As a result members there are becoming hyper-agressive about booking during their early window, lest they lose their chance. As a result, it makes it harder to book even during the 7-11 month window.

Clearly nobody gets my point. I can live with it.

Not true. There are many members who have gotten BCV within the 7-month window, myself included. We actually had no problem getting the dates we wanted and this was 4-5 months in advance, not 7. Please don't state opinions as fact withhout making sure they are accurate.

The bottom line is, it is smart to book something at your home resort if you know you are going to WDW that far in advance. When the 7-month window opens up many members change to a different resort, freeing up those home-resort rooms for others. We own at OKW and always book a room there for our travel dates. Sometimes we switch at the 7-month mark and sometimes we don't, but by booking something at our home resort we know we will have a place to stay.

And I think almost everybody gets your point, we just don't agree with it.

 

[TDC Nala]

My point was that the effect is likely that some wouldn't make the trip at all if their home resort was full.

Therefore wouldn't you want to call right at the 11 month window to make sure you got in before your home resort filled up, because if you can't get a room there you would have to pay a premium to stay somewhere else.

Don't know how that helps to plan less meticulously.

I'm one of those BCV owners - if it fills up with actual BCV members before the 7 month window and I call at 6 months, you now want to charge me to stay somewhere else? How does that help me as a BCV owner? The members will just call sooner so they don't end up having to pay the point tax to stay at Boardwalk.