Disney Resorts

[Judy]

Do exchangers to Disney Orlando resorts have to pay a resort and transportation fee? How much? Any other fees?

 

[klynn]

Do exchangers to Disney Orlando resorts have to pay a resort and transportation fee? How much? Any other fees?

The resort fee that Disney charges II exchangers is $95.00/week. There are no additional fees.

 

[Judy]

That would probably be a bargain for those who fly into Orlando and don't want to rent a car - just stay on Disney property the whole time and use their transportation system. But with a car, it's a better deal to stay off-property and pay the parking fees. For me, since I have an annual pass that includes parking, staying off-property is definitely the better deal.

Thanks klynn, for the information. Now I won't be tempted to grab a week at a Disney resort.

 

[bnoble]

Really, the $95 is pure extortion.

Technically, it buys you the right to speak directly with Members Services about your trip, to place requests, schedule airport transportation, book restaurants, etc. If you did a direct exchange with a member, you'd not have to pay the $95 to get the airport transportation, etc., but the member would have to make the phone call for you to set it up.

I just view it as: the exchange fee for Disney is $234. Everyone else? $139.

 

[laxmom]

We are at OKW right now and frankly, I don't mind the fee. We have used their transportation exclusively and it has worked out great. We are riding at least 4 times a day times 3 of us. I wouldn't hesitate to use ME or the buses. This is the first time that we have not rented a car on any vacation and we don't mind it one bit here. I knew about it going in and it is still cheaper than renting a car.

You will have to pay for internet access if you aren't a member of DVC, also. In this day and age, that one gets me, somehow.

 

[luv2vacation]

You will have to pay for internet access if you aren't a member of DVC, also. In this day and age, that one gets me, somehow.

laxmom - even though you own DVC, did you still have to pay since you are there on the exchange?

 

[bnoble]

Depends on how it gets coded. It's supposed to get coded as a non-member stay, so you are supposed to have to pay. Every once in a while, it will be coded incorrectly. If your KTTW says "DVC Member" on it, you won't be charged. If it doesn't you will. If you bring your blue member id, I'm guessing you can talk the front desk into waiving the charges, but don't quote me.

I have young kids of Mouse age, so I pay the fee willingly. But, as I said, other than calling Member Services, it doesn't get you access to anything you wouldn't have if you were there on a direct exchange with a member. Depending on what you are using to trade in, it's still a huge bargain compare to renting, even with the fee.

 

[Zac495]

I thought the busses that took one from Downtown Disney to the resorts was free - even if you weren't staying at Disney. We plan to tour some of the resorts. We'll have lunch at Polynesian (thanks for the tip, Elaine) and take the monorail around.

Another day we were going to eat at Downtown Disney (what's fun to do down there?) and then take the bus to Animal Kingdom just to have fun looking around.

We love going to hotels in vegas, so we thought this would be fun.

 

[rsackett]

I thought the busses that took one from Downtown Disney to the resorts was free - even if you weren't staying at Disney. We plan to tour some of the resorts. We'll have lunch at Polynesian (thanks for the tip, Elaine) and take the monorail around.

Another day we were going to eat at Downtown Disney (what's fun to do down there?) and then take the bus to Animal Kingdom just to have fun looking around.

We love going to hotels in vegas, so we thought this would be fun.

I have NEVER beed asked for ra Disney Resort key when using a bus from Downtown Disney. I am sure what you are going to do would not be a problem. There are no busses form Downtown Disney to the parks.

I have traded into Disney Properties 3 times and the $95 fee has never slowed me down. That said, I do think is is wrong to charge a fee for a service that the owner of the week would be able to transfer to a renter.

Do any of you know if this fee gets charged if you pick up a disney week through SFX? Is it possible to trade a Disney week through SFX, or another indy exchange company?

Ray

 

[Twinkstarr]

I have NEVER beed asked for ra Disney Resort key when using a bus from Downtown Disney. I am sure what you are going to do would not be a problem. There are no busses form Downtown Disney to the parks.

I have traded into Disney Properties 3 times and the $95 fee has never slowed me down. That said, I do think is is wrong to charge a fee for a service that the owner of the week would be able to transfer to a renter.

Do any of you know if this fee gets charged if you pick up a disney week through SFX? Is it possible to trade a Disney week through SFX, or another indy exchange company?

Ray

I'm pretty sure there is no way around the $95 fee, even through SFX(they send me emails about depositing my 09 DVC points).

If I want to use my points to stay at the GF/Poly/YC or any of the hotels, they charge members the $95 fee.

 

[Lisa P]

We are at OKW right now and frankly, I don't mind the fee.

I've wondered, and I don't mean to be inflammatory, just curious... Members pay annual dues which cover the whole budget, including all the services supposedly provided with this Resort Fee. Charging you or any exchanger is really double-dipping by Disney. As a DVC member exchanging in, you pay for these resort services both times, once in your dues and once on your exchange in. I know the exchange can still be a better deal than using your points for every trip but this fee (and you paying both ways) really doesn't bother you??? I guess it would irk me a bit. :annoyed:

 

[bnoble]

Lisa, you're absolutly right.

But, this is still a cheap way to get into that inventory---again, depending on what you are using to exchange in. It's especially cheap when you use ACs, which I do .

So, while I do find it irksome that DVC is subsidizing other things by charging fees on inbounds, (a) I'm still getting a good deal, and (b) I don't expect any differently from the Rat.

Gotta pay the piper if you want to dance.

 

[laxmom]

No, they didn't charge us for internet but we had to go to the desk and get it squared away; it didn't automatically recognize us as DVC members. Our KKTW cards did not say DVC member on them. The front desk tried to reprint them but it still didn't print; they said they have been having a problem. We were able to get our other discounts as well.

I don't know any other resort in II or RCI that offers the transportation options that Disney does. Yes, they get that back in mf's for the points we own, however, we are not staying on points. We exchanged in so Disney doesn't get that revenue from our dues on this week. That is why it doesn't bother me. We have easily used a tank of gas in the miles we have ridden on the bus this week and if that $95 helps cover that, then ok by me. It saved us $11 per day parking in the parks, gas, rental car and just the headaches of driving in Orlando.

 

[bnoble]

Yes, they get that back in mf's for the points we own, however, we are not staying on points. We exchanged in so Disney doesn't get that revenue from our dues on this week.

Two points.

First, they did get it back in MFs from the Member who relinquished those points for some other exchange---Disney doesn't do developer deposits for exchange---all of those units are paid for by points some Member exchanged to go somewhere else.

Second, the transportation pays for itself. Why? Because guests who rely only on Disney transportation can't leave the grips of the Mouse. They are a captive audience.

Again, had you done a direct exchange with a member for that week, rather than exchanged through II, you would have gotten all of the transportation perks, free parking, etc, but you would not have piad the $95.

 

[Colorado Belle]

First, the $95 fee is relatively new.less than a year. Usually it doesn't impact those who own DVC because most of us use our points rather than 'trading in'.
SEcond, why exchanging can be a saving's : because of the high amount of points needed to book weekend nights,most of us cheap DVC peeps never book on weekends! If we exchange a week at another timeshare that has cheap MFs (say $450) then adding the exchange and 'resort fee' we 'd still be under what we could rent out our points for...by half.

I may have been wrong but thought that the $95 fee was mostly set for when DVCers used their points to book non-DVC Disney resorts (llike the Poly or GF) because Member Services For DVC is a whole different company than the non-DVC resorts.

Anyhow....I might exchange oneof my other timeshares for a DVC week and will just remember to add the $95 to the other charges to determine if it is still a good deal.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Colorado Belle, the $95 fee for Disney exchangers into Disney resorts is a fee we pay every time we go to a Disney resort, and we have been going for two years now.

The fee is fair, in my opinion. It now costs $12 per day to park, and when you stay in a DVC resort as an exchanger, you get free parking. You also get free transportation, and the use of Magical Express, which is a wonderful service that our daughter is using the first time this September. It will be so much easier for her and hubby to take care of our grandbaby, because they won't have to get their luggage.

The one thing I wish they would include (we have annual passes and don't need the parking, and we rarely use the transportation, and we have never used Magical Express, either), free internet for those of us who must work while on vacation. That would make me happier about paying the $95 fee and not using the services that are included.

 

[laxmom]

We used ME on our last trip a couple of weeks ago for the first time. It really was wonderful to not deal with the bags. Worked like a dream! When we checked in for our departure, they printed our boarding passes and took our bags so we went straight to security and then to our gate. Amazing how just that much removes some of the stress of the trip!

 

[Lisa P]

I may have been wrong but thought that the $95 fee was mostly set for when DVCers used their points to book non-DVC Disney resorts (llike the Poly or GF) because Member Services For DVC is a whole different company than the non-DVC resorts.

There are two different $95 fees. One is paid by DVCers, for the reason you describe. The other is a "Resort Fee" paid by II exchangers into a DVC resort.

 

[Colorado Belle]

R&C:
Hoping to meet that precious grandbaby on our overlapping stays at BC this September. Hoping 'the kids' will enjoy showing her the World!

Re Internet: DVC members ALWAYS paid for internet service at their own units until May...I thought that sucked too. I don't even think it's wireless, you have to connect by cable. DVC is behind the times on lots of things and internet is a big one.

re $95 fee: aha! I dont' think DVCers paid that extra fee to exchange OUT before this year. But I understand that youa re saying that II always paid to exchange IN. I guess, like R & C said, it's for the 'extras' that aren't part of other trades like ME, theme park parking, early magic hour, late magic hour.
Do any exchanges elsewhere incur resort fees, cleaning fees or the like?

The reason I say it's still a good deal is that if I rented you a week's stay in a 2 bd on points @ $14 a point...you'd be paying a fortune for the ressie compared to the exchange plus resort fee rate. That's why I might exchange one of my non-DVC timeshare weeks into a DVC week ...but of course I'd have to join II first!!!

 

[DebBrown]

When we stayed at OKW last fall, different family members arrived at different times so I had the Magic Express service deliver them to us. I felt like I got my money's worth. It sure beat repeat trips to the airport.

Deb

 

[rickandcindy23]

Colorado Belle, are you saying you would rent your points and then exchange in? That is a good idea.

That $95 is worth it, and I don't mind paying it at all, to get the Disney experience. As a matter of fact, we did stay at Wilderness Lodge Villas last September for two weeks (one bedroom, just the two of us), and we did use the boat transportation to the MK, and Rick thought it was so relaxing, and it was just worth the fees for that boat ride.

Other resorts do charge additional fees. Not many have extra charges, but some charge fees for using the safe (weird), and they also charge for parking. Wyndham Waikiki Beach Walk charges $25 a day for parking. It's a valet service, but it was a lot for a week, just to park the car. Other resorts charge fees for parking, especially on the islands.

All Hawaii resorts charge an occupancy tax, Transient Accommodations Tax, and it is required for all resorts to charge it, even timeshares. It is nominal right now, about $6.00 a day, but I expect it to go up.

Manhattan Club in New York City charges a lot of money for housekeeping, I have noticed as I posted sightings.

 

[Lisa P]

Other resorts do charge additional fees... using the safe... fees for parking... All Hawaii resorts charge an occupancy tax, Transient Accommodations Tax... Manhattan Club in New York City charges a lot of money for housekeeping...

I think urban locations are the worst, for substantial fees. They often charge (like hotels do) for parking. This is true in NYC, San Francisco, Waikiki, etc.

In timeshares, the basic weekly (check-in/out) housekeeping service is included in your stay. Additional cleaning services will generally incur a fee, if you opt for them. This is true at Disney too, though they offer a "free" trash pick-up and towel exchange midweek.

At Disney, exchangers not only pay an extra Resort Fee but they pay for local phone calls, internet service and video rentals, while DVC members get these things for free or for a reduced rate. Westgate and Marriott have different fees/rates for owners vs. exchangers for some things too (golf comes to mind). Some other companies are starting to do it too.

 

[Sandy VDH]

You can't compare urban locations with resort locations.

Downtown Waikiki, NYC expecially have high rates, but look at real estate rates and room rates. Parking takes up space, it is not free. Therefore they must charge. Parking in NYC is something like $40 a day.

You also mentioned the TAT tax in Hawaii. Everyone pays it NOT just exchangers. It was HI way of taxation without representation.

I object to paying extra for what is already included in the owners MFs. That is my objection.

Your entrance to the park provides all the disney transportation, monorail, buses and boats included. They are just finding a way to make some more cash.

I stayed at Disney and paid it, but I think it is unfair.

My rule is if the owners pay it that I should pay it. But if it is included in the MF for the owner, then the exchanger should receive the same benefit. I begrudge being charged extra for what an owner has already paid for.

 

[bnoble]

In principle, I agree with that.

In practice, I pay the Disney extortion fee because, overall, it's still a good value to stay there, particularly considering what I'm using for exchange. My total costs (including amortization and all fees) are less than what an owner pays in MFs, so I don't begrudge the Rat getting an extra slice of cheese.

I notice that Smuggs is now charging something like $280 for RCI exchangers in summer season. I don't know if owners pay that or not (and I suspect not), but I thought that was unusually high.
http://www.smuggs.com/pages/winter/rci/summerBenefits.php

The Smuggs pass is optional, but it appears to be required for the pools.

 

[laxmom]

The Westgate in Gatlinburg charges exchangers to use their "waterpark". (I have read on the resort review page) The number I heard was $95. Someone correct me if this is incorrect.