Fees for DVC exchanges

[bnoble]

all time they are keeping you out of the parks which appears to be the real goal of the unnecessarily convoluted system.

At least for Magic Kingdom, this is true. Parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center, followed by the ferry or monorail ride, was designed to heighten anticipation, on purpose.

 

[cindi]

At least for Magic Kingdom, this is true. Parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center, followed by the ferry or monorail ride, was designed to heighten anticipation, on purpose.

And it works!

 

[KevGuy]

But back to the $95 exchange penalty. Thats all it is and it is a bogus as they come.

Ummm...I'm pretty sure it occurs on both sides of the fence ie:if I trade out of Disney to anywhere via II I also get charged a fee as a DVC member. It is a II fee, but I could be mistaken. Regardless of that fact keep in mind that Disney is the #1 resort destination in the world and more people go there every year than anywhere else including Universal. Seems to be a non-issue to me.

 

[vacationlover2]

KevGuy,

That $95 fee has nothing whatsoever to do with II, or they would accept payment for it. You pay the $95 to Disney at check in.

 

[barndweller]

There are plenty of places where an exchanger pays extra fees. Some timeshares in Europe charge for electricity. Many charge for daily parking. Some charge for internet access. Hawaii charges extra taxes. None of the ones I own charge extra for anything. All that stuff is built into my MF and I pay for them, not the exchanger that gets my week.

Ideally, all timeshares would be set up the same way. But they are not so if I chose to exchange to one of the "extra fee" places I get charged twice.

As for the Disney fee...I just figure it's cheaper than renting a car & paying for parking everyday, and easier than schlepping back & forth from offsite. I love being able to check my luggage at SFO and get pick-up at the airport in Orlando & have my luggage delivered to my room. Heck, the Disney boats & buses are at least a C-ticket ride as far as I'm concerned. It's worth $95 to me so I choose to exchange into DVC.

 

[KevGuy]

That $95 fee has nothing whatsoever to do with II, or they would accept payment for it. You pay the $95 to Disney at check in.

Then why would DVC people trading out pay it too? Any Mariott resort I trade to for instance via II isn't giving me transfers to or from the airport?? I still think it is an II fee on both sides of the fence, maybe they split the fee with Disney.

 

[timeos2]

Then why would DVC people trading out pay it too? Any Mariott resort I trade to for instance via II isn't giving me transfers to or from the airport?? I still think it is an II fee on both sides of the fence, maybe they split the fee with Disney.

DVC people trading out to other resorts don't pay it. They should as long as DVC is charging it but thats another story. II isn't getting one cent of the fee - it's all pure profit for Di$ney. Both "regular" II members and DVC members DO pay the II exchange fee - maybe thats whats confusing you. But only incoming exchanges pay the DVC penalty charge on top of the exchange fee (thanks II). It's not for power surcharge or transportation or grounds keeping or anything else they do at the resort. All of that is paid for buy the RTU buyers each year in their fees just as you pay yours at your home resort. The $95 is just Di$ney greed done because II let them get away with it. End of story. You get zero benefit for it. Therefore it's best to rent DVC time not exchange as that will often give you more control over the dates, unit size, resort, etc and save you the bogus fee and the II fee. Easy to do that vs the poor times and small units which are you can usually get for an II trade

 

[jrdc]

Ummm...I'm pretty sure it occurs on both sides of the fence ie:if I trade out of Disney to anywhere via II I also get charged a fee as a DVC member. It is a II fee, but I could be mistaken. Regardless of that fact keep in mind that Disney is the #1 resort destination in the world and more people go there every year than anywhere else including Universal. Seems to be a non-issue to me.

The fee that you pay when you trade out of Disney is just an exchange fee similar to what you would pay through II or RCI or any other exchange company when you confirm or initiate an exchange request.

It's a non-refundable $75, so from an absolute dollar perspective, it's less than exchanging through II as a regular member or RCI. That money does go to Disney's "exchange", the Buena Vista Trading Company, supposedly for administration of your trade, the deposit, the week that you receive, etc.

 

[tashamen]

Therefore it's best to rent DVC time not exchange as that will often give you more control over the dates, unit size, resort, etc and save you the bogus fee and the II fee. Easy to do that vs the poor times and small units which are you can usually get for an II trade

Okay, show me where I can rent a 1BR at DSS (or any of the other DVC onsite resorts) for a whole week for the total $400-$500 that it cost me to exchange in through II (as detailed in my earlier post), and I'll gladly do it.

 

[timeos2]

Okay, show me where I can rent a 1BR at DSS (or any of the other DVC onsite resorts) for a whole week for the total $400-$500 that it cost me to exchange in through II (as detailed in my earlier post), and I'll gladly do it.

Dates? Unit size? Resort? Can't quote without those.

 

[tashamen]

Dates? Unit size? Resort? Can't quote without those.

Well, this particular exchange is for October 19th through 26th - 1BR Saratoga Springs. And this is exactly the week I needed because it's my fall break week. The going rate is supposedly $10 per point and I can see from the DVC point charts that this week would be 194 points.

So are you telling me I could reliably rent these points from a DVC owner for a lot less than $1,940?

 

[rhonda]

Dates? Unit size? Resort? Can't quote without those.

My upcoming exchange is:

• January 19-26, 2008
• 1BR
• BWV

My costs were ~$650/wk including MF, Exchange fee + $95 DVC fee. I'd accept Yacht Club hotel or a BWV unit. Will not accept Dolphin, Swan, or Beach Club during the time period.

 

[timeos2]

My upcoming exchange is:

• January 19-26, 2008
• 1BR
• BWV

My costs were ~$650/wk including MF, Exchange fee + $95 DVC fee. I'd accept Yacht Club hotel or a BWV unit. Will not accept Dolphin, Swan, or Beach Club during the time period.

January is the lowest time in Orlando. Easily available often on an A/C or low cost rental. One of three or four times each year that DVC deposits plenty of small units as demand is so low. It has been on the LMRB in the past for $700 or less. Renting you get total control over the resort - with trade you take what they have.

 

[Carl D]

Well, this particular exchange is for October 19th through 26th - 1BR Saratoga Springs. And this is exactly the week I needed because it's my fall break week. The going rate is supposedly $10 per point and I can see from the DVC point charts that this week would be 194 points.

So are you telling me I could reliably rent these points from a DVC owner for a lot less than $1,940?

Absolutely not.
IMO timeos2 has absolutely zero credibility when talking about most things Disney, particularly DVC. If you search his posts you will find continuous, hard core bashing of DVC. He even finds a way to bash DVC Members in his posts by reffering to them as "RTU renters" and the like.

Bottom line- If you want to stay at DVC, the least expensive way is to do exactly what you are doing.
For those that don't want to pay the $95, don't trade into DVC. Plain and simple.

 

[timeos2]

Well, this particular exchange is for October 19th through 26th - 1BR Saratoga Springs. And this is exactly the week I needed because it's my fall break week. The going rate is supposedly $10 per point and I can see from the DVC point charts that this week would be 194 points.

So are you telling me I could reliably rent these points from a DVC owner for a lot less than $1,940?

Most likely, yes. October, early November, early December and January are very slow times in Orlando (which, if you can use them, make them great times to visit to avoid crowds but the weather, especially in January & February can be iffy).

These are the periods that you see most often in II as DVC deposits them as the demand is so light. Usually if you see it in II it is not a high demand period meaning rental rates are very soft. They deposit very few higher demand times and larger units. Thats why trade in is not a good way to go if you want good dates, larger units or a specific resort.

 

[Carl D]

January is the lowest time in Orlando. Easily available often on an A/C or low cost rental. One of three or four times each year that DVC deposits plenty of small units as demand is so low. It has been on the LMRB in the past for $700 or less. Renting you get total control over the resort - with trade you take what they have.

First, DVC is rarely on the LMRB. Second, that's probably a pre-booked week, thus no more flexibilty than trading.
If the week wasn't booked yet, you can bet the Member would be renting individual points. I would also be suspicious of a 7 day rental on the LMRB. That sounds as though it may be an II exchange.

 

[jrdc]

...DVC has never provided any service that wasn't already paid for by the long term renters whose time you are using.

...Not so with DVC and now Manhattan Club where you trade in you pay.

It's not a problem - just don't go to those resorts. That only hurts the owners there as their trade value should be negatively impacted if enough people avoid them.

I agree that you're not getting any service that wouldn't already be included with a stay at the resort, but Disney can command that additional premium to "let" their property be used for exchange. If people weren't willing to pay it to stay there, then they wouldn't get it.

I can also clearly sense your disdain for the additional fees, but both DVC & Manhattan Club are in high enough demand that people wanting to stay at either of those places (or any other similarly high demand resorts) are willing to pay the resort fee to trade in.

Unfortunately, for Disney or anyone else, they have to "spin" the purpose of the fee. If you're going to Disney, you're already paying a premium for park admission & Disney food, so a room premium can't be unexpected.

In spite of getting nothing additional by trading into DVC, it's still well worthwhile even with the $95. There is no way to rent DVC points cheap enough for a 1BR anywhere on property regardless of season. Even distressed points at $5/point would cost you over $900 for a full week in a 1BR at SSR (the 5 cheapest days of the year would still cost $500 at that rate).

Personally, I prefer to drive everywhere on property if I'm staying anywhere but Boardwalk & Beach Club because the transportation system IS slow IMO, but at the same time I have no problem with the system itself. It works if you're willing to spend the time & don't want to rent a car. Magical Express is great for that reason also. Everyone's concept of vacation is different, so what works for you may not interest someone else.

 

[Carl D]

Think of it like an RCI points trade. Some properties command more points to trade into them, which indirectly costs more money. You don't get anything extra for that additional money, just a higher demand resort.

 

[rhonda]

January is the lowest time in Orlando. Easily available often on an A/C or low cost rental. One of three or four times each year that DVC deposits plenty of small units as demand is so low. It has been on the LMRB in the past for $700 or less. Renting you get total control over the resort - with trade you take what they have.

It may be low demand -- but I need to be there for a conference and I'm content with the price/value ratio. I do enjoy "total control" through the exchange process by employing "search first" with an exact request for my target resort, unit size and travel dates. Renting from an owner would introduce risk and increase costs. I did well.

 

[sandcastles]

Most likely, yes. October, early November, early December and January are very slow times in Orlando (which, if you can use them, make them great times to visit to avoid crowds but the weather, especially in January & February can be iffy).

These are the periods that you see most often in II as DVC deposits them as the demand is so light. Usually if you see it in II it is not a high demand period meaning rental rates are very soft. They deposit very few higher demand times and larger units. Thats why trade in is not a good way to go if you want good dates, larger units or a specific resort.

October through early Dec. are some of the busiest and most popular times with DVC. You have the Halloween party, Food and Wine fest, Christmas party, Christmas lights, Jersey week, etc. DVC has been sold out for most of these dates for quite a while. January is a slower time, that's why we like it.

 

[ngmaui]

Just Grabbed 1 Week at SSR with our AC

We just used a AC from our 1 Bedroom 2 Bath at Marriott Maui Ocean Club to grab a 1 Bedroom unit at Saratoga Springs for September 23-30. My Family is very excited to experience the Disney Magic for the less than $400 it will cost me with the AC fees, taxes and Disney Surcharge

 

[FLYNZ4]

I just exchanged WorldMark for a 2BR week at OKW Jan 12th - 19th. We were already planning to go and had booked two weeks using our DVC points.

We typically use DVC points to reserve at 11 months, and lock in our frequent flyer tickets at the same time. I also start an II exchange request, and if it comes through, then I bank my DVC points since they are a lot more expensive than my Worldmark points.

We also did the same thing this past summer (June 1st - June 15th). We originally reserved the entire period using DVC... but then traded Worldmark for the first of the 2 weeks.

/Jim

 

[Dean]

That $95 fee used to be called a "transportation fee" to use their bus/boat system between the resort and the parks.

Noone ever checked who was getting on/off the buses so it was actually a fee for a "free included services" and it was charged even if you had your own transportation.

I'm a little late as I've been away. Originally it was listed as a transportation/resort services fee, it has never been called simply a transportation fee.

Kinda of funny that RCI would not let DVC add a $95 fee, when Smugglers Notch adds a significant fee (I think it is over $200) and I also think I have read recently where Summer Bay charges a $50 housekeeping fee.

Actually I believe this is a rumor started on this board. I've never seen or heard any credible evidence to the contrary. The truth appears to be more that II offered DVC better choices including the ability to do a request first and to control which resorts members traded to for several reasons. They also gave DVC direct access to their internal exchange system by computer where DVC can actually act much like any other II rep including having access to the QRS and the ABC rating systems. Disney is all about having control. I have discussed this issue with a number of higher ups at II and DVC to formulate this opinion.

It is true that DVC essentially uses the fee to fund the exchange system including requests and dining reservation but it doesn't provide much you can't get otherwise. While I don't agree with it overall, it doesn't bother me either. I have traded in to DVC many times and even though I'm a member and getting nothing else in return, not even the minor benefits non members get, I still must pay the fee same as anyone else who trades in. Note, this is only for WDW resorts, not the two off site options.


KevGuy, it is true that this is an extra fee above and separate from the exchange fee. It's essentially a tax on those trading in to the WDW DVC resorts. As noted above, it's still a great deal in many cases. I am a DVC member but have been paring my holding down over the past few years with the intent of trading in almost all trips. I think I've had six exchanges and one points stay in the last 2 years. The only way DVC members would pay this or a similar fee would be if they trade in to DVC using a non DVC option OR if they trade into another resort that charges other fees. While I understand the illusion that all exchangers should be equal no matter where they exchange to or from, this has really never been the case. Every resort is different in some way. Some give members perks like dining discounts, free parking or waived extra fees, etc. As some will note, a well run points system will make some of the differences more transparent. I always think it’s funny and wonder what underlying problem generated the venom that some hold in this area.

 

[KevGuy]

Thanks Dean, I ddin't realize it was above the fee that was already paid for the transfer and thought it was the same.

We just used a AC from our 1 Bedroom 2 Bath at Marriott Maui Ocean Club to grab a 1 Bedroom unit at Saratoga Springs for September 23-30. My Family is very excited to experience the Disney Magic for the less than $400 it will cost me with the AC fees, taxes and Disney Surcharge

Nice ngmaui, I hope you wanna go back in '09 or '10 lol, I'm dying to go to that resort in Maui. Just gotta get my kids get a little older before the 11 hour flight ideas are entertained. Where is Mass are you? I'm from Charlestown in Boston originally "a townie" lol, now in Stoughton just south of Boston. Hope you enjoy Disney!! :whoopie:

 

[timeos2]

Kinda of funny that RCI would not let DVC add a $95 fee, when Smugglers Notch adds a significant fee (I think it is over $200) and I also think I have read recently where Summer Bay charges a $50 housekeeping fee.

I'm fairly sure that the RCI of today would let the fee pass - although they would certainly want some or all of it or add their own on top. But we're talking 1996 when the DVC penalty was the first time anyone had tried the scam. RCI blocked it - II embraced it to get the DVC name as they have also bent or broken the rules for many other mini-systems. It's one of the many reasons I have very little respect for II.

Of course once DVC got away with it there should be no surprise that others would try it too. It took longer than I would have expected but, as you say, now we have both II & RCI resorts that break the simple week for week rule. Another reason to avoid exchange and simply rent what you want. And if you do exchange remember to give any resort that pulls the mandatory fee BS very, very low marks and explain why. Maybe the owners will get tired of having low scores and make the practice stop.