Questions about the $95 RESORT FEE

I have a pending exchange to a Disney resort through RCI. Does the resort fee include transportation to and from the airport? If not, how much extra would they charge for such service?
Also, does anyone know the cost of different dining plans? Is there a website that I can find such info?

Thanks!

It's only the start of what you will spend

LisaH said:

I have a pending exchange to a Disney resort through RCI. Does the resort fee include transportation to and from the airport? If not, how much extra would they charge for such service?
Also, does anyone know the cost of different dining plans? Is there a website that I can find such info?

Thanks!

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It includes NOTHING you wouldn't get anyway if you were an owner or renter. It is already paid for by the owners but you as an exchange guest get charged for it again. You will pay for anything you want such as transportation to/from the resort (off site). Of course on site is free to anyone anyway so you are really being ripped off by this bogus fee. Your first "Welcome" to the wonderful world of money called corporate Disney. Enjoy.

Magical Express is available free from the airport for anyone staying on Disney Property.


Here is a link to the Disney Dining Plan
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29587642&postcount=3

Thanks! Is the return trip to airport free as well?

The Magical Express goes both ways, to and from the airport. Technically it's not free, you are paying the $95.00 resort fee.

What I like about staying on Disney property, you can purchase any items in the parks and have them sent directly back to your room! You don't have to carry stuff around all day. :whoopie:

bhrungo said:

The Magical Express goes both ways, to and from the airport. Technically it's not free, you are paying the $95.00 resort fee.
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Yes it is free both ways for everyone staying on property at any of the resorts.
It has nothing to do with the $95.00 fee.

Whoops. They don't charge for that. A first!

Eli Mairs said:

It has nothing to do with the $95.00 fee.

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Bingo! The $95 buys you zero. It is truly a penalty fee.

(Sorry, I didn't know that the Express service was included with ANY on site stay just like all on site transportation is included free to anyone with even an expired ticket or staying on site. On my first reply I wrongly assumed they charged for the express as they do for everything else. I would never put up again with any of the slow, unreliable tansport services where you feel like cattle - we just rent a car- so none of it has value to us. Using the trams, etc is really just an irritation designed to slow the arrival of crowds and waste your expensive park time.)

Lisa
We just got back from VWL yesterday. Note that the Magical Express leaves 3 hours early on your return flight. It was seamless, no lost luggage either way. They hang a doortag on your door the day before with the pick up time. We called WDW to book ME so they can mail the luggage tags to you once you have the flight info.

As a Disney resort guest the use of all the boats,buses and monorail and Magical Express is free as is the parking. Even if the $95 fee is not fair it was worth every penny to stay in a great resort on site. If you want to rent a bike,water sprite or pontoon boat to use hourly there is a fee.

We did not use the dining plan. Bought a few groceries and ate at inexpensive resorts. We ate at Boma at AKL which was nice and different from standard fare. $29 for adult buffet. The cooking smells were just wonderful and the AKL lobby was wonderful.

Kona Cafe at the Polynesian for breakfast for the 4 inch high Tonga Toast drenched in cinnamon sugar and stuffed with bananas was just delicious. Worth the hype I read. Cost is $10.95 Kona Pressed Pot Coffee for two was expensive $8 but DH, the coffee lover ,said it was excellent. The macadamia nut butter pineapple pancakes were good not fabulous but the hit for all 4 adults was the Tonga Toast.

Highly recommend the Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney that has hot and cold sandwiches and serves salads for $5.95. Incredible price and the food is good unlike the horrible burgers for $8.00 we ate in the parks.

Mousesavers is another good site for Disney info on the whole. However they stated Hertz was at SOG and for military only in the wording. Anyone can rent at Hertz at Shades of Green not just military and you can book it online. I don't recall if it's listed under Orlando or Lake Buena Vista. They pick you up at your resort and drop you off. It's cheaper than renting at the airport and we used our Hertz points only paying $20 tax for an entire week.

There is National and Alamo at other WDW locations.

LisaH said:

I have a pending exchange to a Disney resort through RCI. Does the resort fee include transportation to and from the airport? If not, how much extra would they charge for such service?
Also, does anyone know the cost of different dining plans? Is there a website that I can find such info?

Thanks!

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Disney's Magical Express:

' http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/benefits/airport-service/ '

The service is reasonably fast, the baggage is not touched after you check it at your home airport until it is placed in your room. You check it at the resort going home and pick it up at your home airport. You get boarding passes at the resort. The service is free if you stay on property. We have used it twice and would use it again.

ralphd said:

Disney's Magical Express:

' http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/benefits/airport-service/ '

The service is reasonably fast, the baggage is not touched after you check it at your home airport until it is placed in your room. You check it at the resort going home and pick it up at your home airport. You get boarding passes at the resort. The service is free if you stay on property. We have used it twice and would use it again.

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We have also used it a few times and it worked well. The one thing I would say is that if you are coming in late taht a carry on with things you need for one night, and ask the Bell desk to hold your luggage till the next day.

Ray

bhrungo said:

What I like about staying on Disney property, you can purchase any items in the parks and have them sent directly back to your room! You don't have to carry stuff around all day. :whoopie:

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They don't deliver directly to your rooms--haven't done that for years. They will deliver it to the store on your resort. They don't ever call to let you know your packages have arrived any longer. But it does make life easier as you don't have to carry things around all day.

Thanks for all the wonderful info! We have never stayed at any Disney resorts so you guys are a big help.
The Tonga Toast sounds yummy. Will be sure to give it a try.

Eli Mairs said:

Yes it is free both ways for everyone staying on property at any of the resorts.
It has nothing to do with the $95.00 fee.

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Not sure why you are saying it is FREE?

According to my confirmation, the fee DOES cover the Magical Express. Here is what my paperwork confirmation says:

A US $95.00 Resort Fee per unit per stay will be billed upon check-in. The Fee includes shuttle service provided by Disney Magical Express, Extended Park Visitation hours on select days and transportation throughout Disney Resorts. Fee also covers other services including advance dining reservations, assistance with optional Disney Dining Plan, Tee times and delivery of any purchases made at Disney directly to your resort.

We haven't found any value yet

bhrungo said:

Not sure why you are saying it is FREE?

According to my confirmation, the fee DOES cover the Magical Express. Here is what my paperwork confirmation says:

A US $95.00 Resort Fee per unit per stay will be billed upon check-in. The Fee includes shuttle service provided by Disney Magical Express, Extended Park Visitation hours on select days and transportation throughout Disney Resorts. Fee also covers other services including advance dining reservations, assistance with optional Disney Dining Plan, Tee times and delivery of any purchases made at Disney directly to your resort.

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Because everyone gets those things - the fee being unfairly imposed does not impact the ability to get the services. All it effects is your wallet. All it buys you is a worthless receipt for things already paid for by others and included for anyone. Great deal, huh?

timeos2 said:

Because everyone gets those things - the fee being unfairly imposed does not impact the ability to get the services. All it effects is your wallet. All it buys you is a worthless receipt for things already paid for by others and included for anyone. Great deal, huh?

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:hysterical:

timeos2 said:

Because everyone gets those things - the fee being unfairly imposed does not impact the ability to get the services. All it effects is your wallet. All it buys you is a worthless receipt for things already paid for by others and included for anyone. Great deal, huh?

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Spoken like a true Westgate owner!

timeos2 said:

Because everyone gets those things - the fee being unfairly imposed does not impact the ability to get the services. All it effects is your wallet. All it buys you is a worthless receipt for things already paid for by others and included for anyone. Great deal, huh?

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I agree with John on some level. The owner of the DVC unit has already paid for those services. The $95 fee is not given back to the owner of the week as a refund of maint fees for services that they did not use. To the best of my knowledge, DVC owners at Hilton Head and Vero Beach do not need to pay the $95 fee when they use there non-Orlando point to reserve a unit in Orlando. It is just a way for Disney to make money off of exchanges.

That said, if I had the chance to exchange into DVC in Orlando would I let the $95 fee stop me, NO WAY! Other resorts charge traders for things that they do not charge owners for, I do not think that is right, but I do accept it when I trade into those resorts.

Ray

rsackett said:

I agree with John on some level. The owner of the DVC unit has already paid for those services. The $95 fee is not given back to the owner of the week as a refund of maint fees for services that they did not use. To the best of my knowledge, DVC owners at Hilton Head and Vero Beach do not need to pay the $95 fee when they use there non-Orlando point to reserve a unit in Orlando. It is just a way for Disney to make money off of exchanges.

That said, if I had the chance to exchange into DVC in Orlando would I let the $95 fee stop me, NO WAY! Other resorts charge traders for things that they do not charge owners for, I do not think that is right, but I do accept it when I trade into those resorts.

Ray

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I agree, I am not letting the $95.00 stop me from staying at the resort. Can't wait!!!!

It's your money - use it as you please if you know the facts

bhrungo said:

I agree, I am not letting the $95.00 stop me from staying at the resort. Can't wait!!!!

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As long as you realize you are paying your first $95 to Disney coffers for absolutely nothing (don't worry, you'll pay plenty more while you're there!) and are OK with it, go for it! I have better ways to spend $95. You don't pay it if you rent your DVC time from an owner and also save the exchange fee. Usually at a discount below the annual fee besides. Much better way to go if you must visit DVC.

timeos2 said:

As long as you realize you are paying your first $95 to Disney coffers for absolutely nothing (don't worry, you'll pay plenty more while you're there!) and are OK with it, go for it! I have better ways to spend $95. You don't pay it if you rent your DVC time from an owner and also save the exchange fee. Usually at a discount below the annual fee besides. Much better way to go if you must visit DVC.

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Nope, don't want to rent from an Owner. Oh, and I am not worried, I know how much money I will be spending...a lot! LOL

I really don't think it would be a bargain to rent from an Owner (for us, anyway)....I just can't see renting a 2 bedroom at AKV Kidani to be less than what I pay for Worldmark Maint fees, plus exchange, plus the 95 bucks. We've already got a great deal going on! But, thank you for your advice! It might be helpful to others who are paying a lot more.

But please let me know if any DVC member is renting a 2 bedroom at AKV Kidani- Savanna View for less than $800/week.

While John is likely correct, we are still not 100% certain about it.
There is a chance that DVC does use the $95 fee to offset some of the transportation costs. The members pay the transportation costs through dues. It is just possible (but admittedly not likely) that the dues reflect only the time the member will be staying at DVC, thus the balance must be made up by charging exchangers... Kind of similar to member dues being offset by late fees and such.

So, to say it 100% absolutely, positively does not cover any services, may be incorrect.

It's also possible that Walt really is frozen in cryogenic suspension somehwere, but probably about as likely.

Here's what the $95 gets you that you would not get as a guest or rental client of an owner: the ability to call Member Services' 800 number to arrange for Magical Express, dining, etc. That's it.

Otherwise, it's charged simply because Disney can get away with it, and people willingly pay it. I view it this way: It costs me $95 more to get an exchange to a DVC property than it would to get an exchange anywhere offsite. For me, that's a fair price. Renting from an owner would be significantly more expensive that that for my particular exchange deposits.

Personally, I'm surprised that the inbound fee hasn't gone up in all these years. Everything else has.

Carl D said:

While John is likely correct, we are still not 100% certain about it.
There is a chance that DVC does use the $95 fee to offset some of the transportation costs. The members pay the transportation costs through dues. It is just possible (but admittedly not likely) that the dues reflect only the time the member will be staying at DVC, thus the balance must be made up by charging exchangers... Kind of similar to member dues being offset by late fees and such.

So, to say it 100% absolutely, positively does not cover any services, may be incorrect.

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No matter how Disney spends the money, it is unjustified. I can not see how a person on trade costs more that anybody else using the unit. It is an extra charge that Disney tacks on for no good reason, that some of us choose to pay anyway.

Ray

rsackett said:

No matter how Disney spends the money, it is unjustified. I can not see how a person on trade costs more that anybody else using the unit. It is an extra charge that Disney tacks on for no good reason, that some of us choose to pay anyway.

Ray

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You are missing my point..
I'm saying that the Member may be paying the same fee through dues, but ONLY to the extent they will be using DVC accommodations. DVC may not collect all that is needed for transportation because they know some Members will trade. Now since they can't collect the fee through dues from the exchanger, they will collect the balance in cash.

In other words, DVC Members are also paying the fee, but they are paying it internally through dues. There is actually a line item in the budget for this.

Still unjustified & already paid

Carl D said:

In other words, DVC Members are also paying the fee, but they are paying it internally through dues. There is actually a line item in the budget for this.

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Exactly. It is included in the dues & collecting it again is simple greed. There is no justfication for it except DVC wants more & some just pay it. Not worth it & an outrage to many others.