RE: The "Transportation Fee @ Wyndham Bonnet Creek

[BocaBum99]

That IS the million dollar question and the whole point of this discussion. The HOA will be raking in million(s) more than it takes to operate the shuttle, so why do they need to charge those (Wyndham owners and RCI exchangers) who are just exchanging places with an owner who has paid the maintenance fee?

Charging true renters -- the hotel guests who have no ownership connection -- is more than enough to subsidize the shuttle system that is apparently not all that great of a benefit, anyway. Plus, most hotel guests do not stay for a whole week, so they are not locked into an $84 charge.

The extra money will go to the HOA which will be off income statement funds which will be used to spend on other pet projects at the resort and management fees. It won't go to the owners as reduced maintenance fees which is what should actually happen.

 

[ronparise]

I would think the Mega renters would still reserve the units and charge the same amount disclosing the check in fee. If the unit doesn't rent at the desired price it would be released 14 days or earlier if the owner needs the points to reserve elsewhere. Because of the use year re-alignment you may see less toward the end of the year.

Those of us that use our points for rentals, are not interested in making reservations, holding them for months and months only to cancel them at the 15 day mark.. I will only make reservations in advance if Im 100% sure I can get it rented (I wont say Im always right but I havet yet had to cancel anything.)

My point is that we reserve weeks that have a really good chance of renting at a good profit. we dont make reservations and hope. I know others are successful here, but Bonnet Creek has never been on my list because the points to reserve is too high, and the anticipated rent is too low to give me the profit I want. Even with a VIP discount there are too many other weeks at other resorts where I can do better. Another $84 per week in the costs column for Bonnet Creek makes it even less likely that I will make advance reservations to rent here...

 

[BocaBum99]

Those of us that use our points for rentals, are not interested in making reservations, holding them for months and months only to cancel them at the 15 day mark.. I will only make reservations in advance if Im 100% sure I can get it rented (I wont say Im always right but I havet yet had to cancel anything.)

My point is that we reserve weeks that have a really good chance of renting at a good profit. we dont make reservations and hope. I know others are successful here, but Bonnet Creek has never been on my list because the points to reserve is too high, and the anticipated rent is too low to give me the profit I want. Even with a VIP discount there are too many other weeks at other resorts where I can do better. Another $84 per week in the costs column for Bonnet Creek makes it even less likely that I will make advance reservations to rent here...

QED...............

 

[ronparise]

QED...............

QED indeed

4 years of Latin at a Jesuit High School and I know what you mean


...but how may others here have any idea

 

[lcml11]

This is the whole point. If HOA get to charge tax on non-owners that are allowed to trade within the system, what else will they be allowed to do? What if the HOA decides that owners are not getting the prime weeks (for argument let’s assume ARP is not a factor) and they if you a non-deeded owner, you must pay $50 a night to reserve in prime season or what if they just say non-deeded owners cannot reserve during prime time. What if they say that resale points can only be used after all retail owners get first pick? What it they say non-deeded owners can only reserve 4 months out so that the deed owners get the rooms they want? What if they say anyone coming in on a guest certificate must attend a sales meeting for them to honor the certificate? You get my point. This is why I think it is such a bad idea, not the cost but the concept of what could happen, if not today certainly tomorrow. To paraphase the Lion King, "in short our system is doomed"

If you are a Wyndham stock holder, the feeding on the system is GREAT !!!!!!!

 

[MFT]

I can see it now...

Wyndham Nashville: Opry Transportation: All guests will be charged $12 per day for transportation to and from the Grand Ole' Opry (BTW: The Opry only does shows on Sat, and half a year on Tues (the other half are at the Ryman)).

Wyndham Smoky Mtn: Dollywood Transportation: All guests will pay $12 per day blah blah blah....

Smugglers already charges "Guests" to use their waterpark. Wyndham owners currently don't have to pay, but I bet that changes to just Wyndham Smugglers owners, CWA, and VIP in the future.

If you can't raise the points per stay, go for the wallet another way.

 

[lcml11]

I can see it now...

Wyndham Nashville: Opry Transportation: All guests will be charged $12 per day for transportation to and from the Grand Ole' Opry (BTW: The Opry only does shows on Sat, and half a year on Tues (the other half are at the Ryman)).

Wyndham Smoky Mtn: Dollywood Transportation: All guests will pay $12 per day blah blah blah....

Smugglers already charges "Guests" to use their waterpark. Wyndham owners currently don't have to pay, but I bet that changes to just Wyndham Smugglers owners, CWA, and VIP in the future.

If you can't raise the points per stay, go for the wallet another way.

Good points. Just more reasons to buy the stronger resorts Wyndham Points and avoid the Wyndham resorts Wyndham Points that have no or little re-sale demand, you missed a few other great resorts. This very well be well underway, I cannot help but notice, for the resorts I follow on E-Bay, that the available supply for great prices are disappearing. A decent supply at any price appears to be going away to. The Wyndham point is a Wyndham point theory does not appear to have traction in the real world market place. I would let the $1 timeshares to the people that beleive in that theory and wish them well. I wounder if the true belivers in the theory will still be true believers when the special assesments start rolling in.

 

[Rent_Share]

How is this different than an outrageous parking fee at the Urban Resorts >

 

[timeos2]

QED indeed

4 years of Latin at a Jesuit High School and I know what you mean


...but how may others here have any idea

Translating from the Latin into English yields, "what was to be demonstrated".


Q.E.D. is sometimes jokingly claimed to abbreviate "quite easily done". Q.E.D. can also be used to ridicule the specious reasoning of another person by mockingly attaching it to the end of a poor argument, which was not in fact successfully demonstrated or presented.

 

[timeos2]

How is this different than an outrageous parking fee at the Urban Resorts >

They seldom charge it if you don't have a car! (effectively don't use the "service")

 

[Pietin]

How is this different than an outrageous parking fee at the Urban Resorts >

When my wife worked in the hotel industry, she worked in the Downtown area. The Hotels did not own the parking structures; they only rented a block of space. When she worked out in the suburbs, they had parking lots, and did not charge thier guest because they owned the lot. Similar principle.

 

[am1]

I think it will negatively impact rentals at the resort. That's because the tax will reduce the net amount available to the owner for a rental. That will reduce their willingness to offer the rental in the first place. Rental supply should go down. Non-VIP owners will be less likely to offer rentals in the future. Megarenters will have less profit at this resort and focus on other, higher profit opportunities.

I am going to find a way to profit from this.

 

[lcml11]

I am going to find a way to profit from this.

Invest in Corporate Wyndham stock?

 

[jjlovecub]

I am really upset by this. When I made my exchange there were other resorts available. I however chose this one. I have an annual pass and get parking free. Parking is $15 anyways so $12 a day (with very few going to Disney all 7 days) is a ripoff! I called RCI and there is nothing else available. I understand adding a fee but AFTER the fact and $84 both in my opinion are not reasonable.

 

[jjlovecub]

I called and asked for the Resort Manager's email. They refused to give it to me. They said I could send a general email and they would sort it. The response to me was "He sent out an email and we don't want people all emailing him about it." Oh that is just great. I can see where this is going to get me. So if anybody happens to have Mr. Scinta's email I would appreciate it. You can even PM me with it if you don't want to post it. I promise to be polite in my email. Thanks!

 

[csxjohn]

I am really upset by this. When I made my exchange there were other resorts available. I however chose this one. I have an annual pass and get parking free. Parking is $15 anyways so $12 a day (with very few going to Disney all 7 days) is a ripoff! I called RCI and there is nothing else available. I understand adding a fee but AFTER the fact and $84 both in my opinion are not reasonable.

If nothing else works I would make the payment with a credit, not debit, card then dispute the charge on the grounds that the fee was added after you got the confirmed reservation and they would not let you check in without paying it.

In other words the charge was added after the fact.

 

[csxjohn]

..."He sent out an email and we don't want people all emailing him about it."...

He should have thought about that before he sent it out.

 

[ronparise]

most Wyndham emails follow the format firstname.lastname@wyn.com

The op posted this

If you choose to contact her by phone: (407) 238-3541

If by FAX: (407) 238-3166

If by e-mail: carmen.morrow@wyn.com

 

[BocaBum99]

I am going to find a way to profit from this.

The way to profit would be to capitalize on the reduction of rentals from other owners and greater availability. Sure, there will be fewer renters willing to pay a high rate and the transportation fee, but if you promote the fact and get a lot of availability at 50% discount due to your platinum status, you can make money by increasing your market share. That assumes you don't have other resorts that have greater margin already in which case trying to profit from it is a waste of time.

 

[JimMIA]

Isn't BC the only Non Disney TIMESHARE property inside the complex.

Depends on how fine you want to split hairs.

Is it actually on Disney property? No.

Do you have to drive past the Disney gates to get there? Yes.

Is it closer to some Disney theme parks than some Disney resorts? Yes.

Does a WBC guest enjoy the "perks" of staying onsite (DDP, Disney transportation, DME, billing to the room, free parking at theme parks, etc, etc, etc.)? No.

The charge is slighlty less than what DVC charges their renters/exchangers

Again, depends on what you mean.

Disney charges renters (either directly from Disney, or from a DVC member)... ZERO.

Disney charges RCI exchangers $95 for a week. WBC is charging $12 per day. If you stay at WBC 8 days, it's $96 vs. $95. If you stay at WBC 3 days, DVC's charge is WAY more.

Depends on what you mean.

 

[CO skier]

... haven't seen an EBay auction used in this way before.

The seller seems a bit mixed-up -- maybe a Bonnnet Creek owner or maybe just a Club Wydham owner, but the seller is certainly riled-up about the new fee at BC.

If nothing else, here is your invitation to the BC HOA BOD meeting on May 14th.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290859171030#description


or maybe they will let only owners attend, so the HOA can explain that the fee does not apply to owners that stay at BC.


Edited to add: A few days ago, I made a reservation at a name brand hotel in Breckenridge. The valet parking service at the hotel used to be optional, now it is a $25/day mandatory charge (upon arrival, the manager and I will be discussing how mandatory this is). These kind of new fees for services that should be optional are spreading like a virus.

 

[Goofyhobbie]

The e-bay member who posted the aforementioned advertisement at E-Bay is innovative and definitely will get the attention of many who may be considering Wyndham Points.

I do not think he or she is mixed up.

They know exactly what they are doing.

Once the idea of hitting folks who can not do anything about the hit gets around, HOA's if not developers will bend over backwards to take advantage.

Time SHARING will change as a way of getting access simply because it will become more and more expensive to go somewhere other than where you personally own.

Ways to get this point across:

1) Go to the initial posting within this thread and note the various ways to contact the BOD of the HOA that has implemented the fee.

2) If you have a reservation at Bonnet Creek consider filling out the "Satisfaction Survey" which will give you the opportunity to grade the resort on a 1 to 10 scale. Consider grading with a "1."

3) If you have a reservation through RCI make sure you rate Wyndham Bonnet Creek with a "1." If someone calls or writes with questions as to why the low rating make your voice heard loud and clear.

4) Let Wyndham Corporate know how you feel about the action and tell them of your concerns about the "fee" idea spreading throughout the Timeshare industry.

5) Put the word out on every website you can and to everyone who is around you while staying at a Timeshare; especially at a Wyndham timeshare.

6) If you are at the resort now find a way to communicate the problem to others. Word of mouth makes a difference.

 

[Ron2]

Owner Maintenance Fees fund the Shuttle

I sent an email to Carmen Marrow at Bonnet Creek expressing my concerns about the fee for transportation to Disney and this was the reply I received today:

Thank you for your recent inquiry relating to the transportation fee that will be effective at Bonnet Creek.
As noted in the e-mail announcement you received, all guests who stay at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort will be subject to the transportation fee. As transportation from the resort to the local theme parks is a benefit provided by the Homeowner’s Association at the Bonnet Creek resort to all individuals staying at the resort, and those who own at Bonnet Creek or are members of CLUB WYNDHAM Access already pay for the transportation as part of their maintenance fees, the Bonnet Creek Homeowners Association Board, which is an owner controlled Board, decided that it was appropriate to apply this fee to all guests staying at the resort. If a person’s name is on the Bonnet Creek deed, then they will not be subject to the fee.
To assure owners and guests were made aware of the fee prior to arrival, notice of the fee was provided. If a guest with a reservation for an upcoming arrival does not wish to pay the transportation fee, they have the option of cancelling their reservation, without penalty, and receive their points back so they can make a reservation at a different resort location.
We hope the above clarifies your questions and look forward to assisting you in the future.
Carmen Morrow
Administrative Coordinator
Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort
Wyndham Vacation Resorts
9560 Via Encinas
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Even though providing transportation isn’t what I would consider appropriate use of maintenance fees, apparently the Board does.

 

[MFT]

Well, Extra Holidays by Wyndham has the parking fee posted on their website.
http://www.wyndhambonnetcreek.com/faq.html

How can Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort help me plan for my Disney vacation?
The resort offers scheduled transportation to the Disney Theme Parks for a mandatory fee of $12 per day per unit. Our on-site Disney Planning Center is staffed with Disney Cast Members who can assist you with a full array of Walt Disney World® Tickets, Disney Dining Reservations, and insider tips for visiting the parks.

On their amenities page:
• All guests will incur a mandatory $12 per unit/per day transportation fee that will be collected at check in. This includes shuttle to Walt Disney World ® Resort.

One thing that would concern me about this, is as stated above, are "others" using the transportation that are not even staying at the resort? It sort of seems that way if others were told by people waiting for the bus that they weren't guests, but just using the shuttle... The idea of the resort providing either wristbands or at least having them show their Wyndham key to get on board would be a good idea.

 

[massvacationer]

I own at three other Wyndham resorts that provide extensive amenities and don't charge owners from other Wyndham resorts any fees. Why should I need to pay $84 for a bus that I won't use. This is not big bucks but I think this violates the whole idea and concept of a mini system .