All the time share stuff

[HappyLawyer]

Ok i stayed at the summer bay villas and despite it being a little drive to everything it was great, first time rentng a car and i was amazed at how easy it was to get everywhere. Somehting else amazed me, i had no idea of all the time share companies tat try to lure you in, i was there for 10 days and everybody offered cash or tickets or free groceries something anything, i did end up buying into one and i won't say which because i am not here to promote any company but oh my there were so many of them. I will say i got my villa at sky auction.com for only 5 bucks total 215 for 7 nights-awesome. So make sure you have plenty of money so you are not lured into these presentations, they are like vultures.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i cannot believe there are no toughts or comments on this

 

[hercamore]

We were in Orlando at the same time thru Skyauction I was at the Cyrpress Pointe Grand Villas near dt disney a copule weeks ago.

Totally different experience. No one called me at all.

herc.

 

[disneysteve]

We stayed at Orbit One last month. They called the room a few times, but other than that I didn't get any solicitiations. Of course, that is probably because I know enough to steer clear of the ticket booths at the supermarket and other places.

 

[jdm]

When I'm in Orlando, I am approached a lot by the timeshare companies. I never do the tour. We own Worldmark so we trade often. Sitting through a couple hour speel just isn't worth the $100 cash or tickets they offer. We would only buy through resale.

Jenn

 

[bwvBound]

Amost "ditto" Jenn's comment!

We also own Worldmark and tend to avoid the presentations. However, through our timeshare we've been fortunate to stay at several lovely Orlando resorts either as exchanges or as "bonus vacations": Disney's Boardwalk Villas (twice), Wyndham Palms, Summer Bay Resort (twice), Westgate Towers, and Vistana.

 

[naominpaul]

We had a DISASTROUS and now (years later) comical experience with those dreaded timeshare offers. We stayed at Vistana and had trouble with our hot water on our 1st morning. We called to complain and the problem was fixed promptly. The next day someone called and asked "How has your stay been?" or something to that effect and my DH answered with "Great, except for the hot water....." Well, what we genuinely thought was a quality control call about the hot water was actually a timeshare agent setting us up with a "free breakfast" and hard line sale the next day. We showed up for what we believed to be a goodwill or makeup offering and ended up with a full fledged sales pitch. Well, the kicker was my 2yo was acting like a 2yo and we had a German guest with us who speaks very little english. My DH took my 2yo out so we could be polite, but our salesman actually had the nerve to say "if you are married you both must be present..." Oh that was the end of it, I insisted on a ride (they had picked us up on the golf cart thingies) back to our room and spoke directly with the sales manager. I also complained in person and in writing after this. I am sorry to say there was never anything done except a half hearted, "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding." We have avoided the Vistana since then, although I know their location is great and the prices are sometimes reasonable......BEWARE of the timeshare offers! They are TIME consuming and will only work for you if you have extra time and can say NO! From everything I have read, if you want to buy into a timeshare do it resale as stated by jdm!

 

[HappyLawyer]

that is the thing, no one called me, they had booths set up at the theme parks, next to resturants everywhere we went, no one called our villa, they offered at checkin and we declined, this was other places

 

[disneysteve]

that is the thing, no one called me, they had booths set up at the theme parks, next to resturants everywhere we went, no one called our villa, they offered at checkin and we declined, this was other places

Are you talking about the DVC booths in the Disney parks? I've certainly never found them to be a problem. In fact, I've gone up and traded pins with the CM's at the booths and they didn't even mention the time shares to me. I don't know about other area parks because we never go to any. As for offsite restaurants, there are definitely booths but we just walk right past them so I never found them to be bothersome.

 

[spiceycat]

I don't think you are talking about DVC.

if you are then great you have the BEST timehshare in Orlando.

if you aren't then you got 10 days from the time you signed the contract to back out.

if you didn't buy DVC - do it - do it now!!!

why - because there are so many Orlando timeshare they are very, very easy to trade into.

So unless you are happy traveling off season - or trading your 2-bedroom for a studio - I would cancel the contract.

Now DVC is only a good buy if you want to go to WDW every year and love staying onsite. If you can stay offsite or if you only plan to go to WDW every 3 years - then it is not a good buy.

Please immediately - go join
www.tug2.net -
it will cost you $15 and save you aton of money in the long run.

Right now - cancel your contract (no matter how good a deal you though you got - you can do better in resale).

(another words don't make the mistake that I did - mind was Westgate)

 

[naominpaul]

Yes, you are right, sorry I got off the subject. They are all over the place, and no I do not agree with their marketing ideas and find them annoying, but I'm afraid they will continue on as long as they offer those can't resist deals to come hear their pitch. I do agree with disneysteve in the DVC CMs are not pushy like the others. Orlando is not the only place you will find these companies. Gatlinburg is another big one! Just walking downtown you get pamphlets and offers waved at you.
Now I have to say, the timeshare stuff does work for some. I have some family members who were having a tough financial time and basically funded a whole trip on timeshare offers. Some may think that was wrong, but that worked for them.

So what are your thoughts happylawyer? Do they distract from the ambience of disney and Orlando? Should there be less of them? I would have to agree with most of that, but I'm not sure what we can do except not participate, buy resale if we're going to buy and say NO if we do get lured into one.

 

[jeff968]

Also, keep in mind, DVC units are not Deeded so in 40 years Disney gets them back for free. Most other timeshares, (Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton), you own them and your kids can have them after you.

 

[spiceycat]

to me that is an advantage I will be 92 in 2042 - so I don't think I will be going to WDW as much (if I am alive then).

the SSR is 2054.

to many folks staying on-site is worth this - and I agree - at times.

WDW does not give up their onsite property - the DD hotels have a 99 year lease - so does SOG.

besides the maintence fees in a 50 year timeshare has got to be higher.

Now I have found one that accepts pets!!!! so despite not wanting to buy in Orlando - I am tempted....

Orlando also has higher annual fees than other places - they are in direct competition and they know it - so most try to look their best.

 

[naominpaul]

I just reread your original post happylawyer, and I don't think you are talking about DVC, but I understand you don't want to mention the company. Those same relatives I mentioned earlier who funded an entire trip on offers now own. I believe they originally bought at a sales pitch like you then sold or cancelled and bought resale. They LOVE it! In fact our upcoming trip was a gift from them for one of their weeks.
Like I said earlier, I don't agree with their tactics, but they work for many.

 

[HappyLawyer]

no not at all, i mean as much as they promote the timesares, they promote free money, no obligation knowing they are going to try and sell you, the people taking the offers have no obligation, my trip to disney costs over 6k, so if i had to do 10 presentations at 80 bucks each them then hey i would, it is expensive to go there so if you can get the money back wy not, i went on a few of them for the cash, the breakfast was awful but it was free- so why not, i ended up buying one because i loved the property and what they had to offer, and they were not pushy

 

[spiceycat]

if you are happy with what you brought that is all that matters!!!

 

[ducklite]

Also, keep in mind, DVC units are not Deeded so in 40 years Disney gets them back for free. Most other timeshares, (Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton), you own them and your kids can have them after you.

Well, I'll be in my grave by then, and frankly I'm not sure how much value an old time share building will offer my kid. Even if it's still standing, the dues would have to be pretty outrageous to continue to maintain it.

Think about all those timeshares in the Pocono's that have been around for 25 years now--how much life do you really think they have left in them?

Anne

 

[jeff968]

Well, I'll be in my grave by then, and frankly I'm not sure how much value an old time share building will offer my kid. Even if it's still standing, the dues would have to be pretty outrageous to continue to maintain it.

Think about all those timeshares in the Pocono's that have been around for 25 years now--how much life do you really think they have left in them?

Anne

True, but your DVC unit will be just as old as a Marriott or Hilton unit and I suspect they'll keep their places up to date as much as Disney. There is just something that bothers me about handing over $15K to Disney plus $600+ annually and knowing that the unit still belongs to them. I think Disney is great but having stayed at both I think the name brand timeshares (Hilton, Marriott) are a better value and because they are offsite, much more competitive. My vacation dollar goes much further and you should see these places. They're great. Disney knows they have ALL of your money when you stay with them. However, I know that the 100% Disney experience is what some are after, just not me.

 

[spiceycat]

my last visit to Marriott Grande Vista was disappointing - this is a great resort - but their attitude was that they were working on a rehab and they were doing nothing with the 90's building until they go through rehab - the halls were dirty, the pool was dirty -

this was not a good stay in a Marriott.

Disney will always reinvest in its property and if you look at OKW (my home resort) - it looks as good as it did in 1992.

Now the Hilton is not old enough to judge. However they have an excellent reputation too. My DVC did not cost more than the pricing I got quoted from the Marriott - and they also have $750 annual fee.

 

[J&Adad]

i took in a timeshare presentation not at disney but in new hampshire and ended up buying but there was no pressure at all they ended up giving a 2 bedroom after all the paper work was done because while we were doing all the paperwork the 1 bedroom got given to someone else oh well to my advantage but when i go to florida i was going to take in a timeshare presentation or 2 are they really that pushy ill just put them on a stop watch and watch the time because im there for the free stuff!!