all this GF talk. What about the new four seasons?

[MIALIAS]

I keep seeing photos of the GF. What is the latest with the four seasons?

Also any idea bout pricing there? I know its more than DVC but from what were guessing GF will be - it might be in the same ball park?

What are your thoughts?

 

[DebbieB]

I keep seeing photos of the GF. What is the latest with the four seasons?

Also any idea bout pricing there? I know its more than DVC but from what were guessing GF will be - it might be in the same ball park?

What are your thoughts?

I thought it was a regular hotel, not a timeshare.

This article mentions rooms at about $600.

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/blogs/packup/2011/09/worlds_largest_four_seasons_re.html

 

[MIALIAS]

No they will have private residences

And partial residences available

 

[tigger24601]

4 seasons will be a hotel. Just a normal hotel, 4 seasons quality though.

The private residences (disney golden oak) will be in the same general area. On disney property and having nothing to do with 4 seasons.

While I'm sure the 4 seasons will be amazing I'm also sure it will be way beyond our budget.

 

[MIALIAS]

no - they actually will have some timeshare opportunities.

Regardless, is there another 'timeshare' in Orlando that is of the quality of dvc?

 

[Dean]

The info I have suggests they included plans for up to 40 fractional ownerships. For Four Seasons, this can be anywhere from 2 weeks at a pop and up. The prices for AZ and CA were very expensive.

As for other timeshares as nice or nicer than DVC, it depends on your criteria. If you leave theming out of the equation, I'd list at least 11 that are at or above the level of DVC, some of them nicer overall IMO. There are several others very close. I'd include criteria like room size/quality, outdoor options like pools, common areas and activities. I'd also suggest that as a rule, all of those likely are more responsive and easier to deal with than is DVC, not that DVC is a problem per se.

 

[MIALIAS]

Dean - please give us your list of 11!

thanks!

 

[Granny]

I'm at WDW right now and have seen the Four Seasons construction quite often this trip. This is really a very tall hotel, and the top few floors should have a decent view of MK and other WDW venues. No pictures, but I was surprised at how big this hotel will be and how it towers over the top of the trees near Ft. Wilderness. It won't be as annoying as the Swan & Dolphin hotels ruining the World Showcase backdrop but it is definitely going to be a very nice hotel with great views from some of the rooms.

 

[Dean]

Dean - please give us your list of 11!

thanks!

Here's my list, there are a few resorts I dont know enough to place but based on other info, I wouldn't list any of them in to top group. There is one alternative lifestyle resort if that matters to anyone. Some are II, some RCI, some both.

Top Group.
4 top Marriott's (1 in RCI)
3 Hilton's
The Fountains (and Oasis Lakes)
Vistana Villages.
Wyndham Bonnet Creek & Reunions

The next group, worth staying or at least considering but definitely less would include the following. This is a broader grouping than the last time I gave this list. There are a few others that I didn't list that should be OK based on rating and awards.

Silver Lake (both ID's)
Vistana
Orange Lake (River Island best) (Now Holiday Inn)
Liki Tiki Maybe
Summer Bay, esp Houses at
Village at Parkway
Westgate Lakes
Other Marriott's (2 in RCI)
Some other Wyndham's

We are timeshare snobs, we expect a quality room and resort. Just clean and functional is not good enough for us. We were in Panama City Beach 2 weeks ago and stayed at one of the Bluegreen resorts (Ocean Towers) and have decided it is not good enough and we will not stay there again. We are back in PCB and checked in to the Wyndham resort here and it would be in my top group if it were in Orland and I would say the rooms are definitely nicer than DVC excluding theming. We are in a studio and it blows DVC studios away(and is better than top Marriott studios also) with a King bed, basically a full kitchen, soaking tub and the best minifridge I have seen. To be honest, I'm impressed. On a side note, I've used my wireless travel router 3 different times in the last 3 weeks for those who have stopped traveling with one.

 

[cseca]

Dean,
Can you say which ones of these properties you listed has the best most reliable transportation to WDW?

Or are they all pretty much rental car properties?

Thanks so much.

 

[Dean]

Dean,
Can you say which ones of these properties you listed has the best most reliable transportation to WDW?

Or are they all pretty much rental car properties?

Thanks so much.

I'm sorry, i don't have a feel for that situation. We live 4 hours away and would rent a car even if staying on property. many do though. You might look on TUG (timeshare users group) for that type info. others here may have some info.

 

[MIALIAS]

so Dean

which Marriotts/hilton/ windhams specifically?

or if you buy into one you get your choice?

 

[chalee94]

so Dean which Marriotts/hilton/ windhams specifically?

or if you buy into one you get your choice?

he's just talking about quality timeshares in the orlando/disney area for stays, not ownership.

some are in II only (marriotts like lakeshore reserve) and some are RCI only (hiltons grand vacation club resorts), so buying one would not get you access to all of them. (fortunately dean has a portfolio of different ownerships, if i recall correctly.)

 

[cseca]

I'm sorry, i don't have a feel for that situation. We live 4 hours away and would rent a car even if staying on property. many do though. You might look on TUG (timeshare users group) for that type info. others here may have some info.

No problem and thank you.
I am just curious since we never travel with a rental but curious about other timeshares in the area

 

[dvc_john]

Just posting another opinion.

Top Group.
4 top Marriott's (1 in RCI)
3 Hilton's
The Fountains (and Oasis Lakes)
Vistana Villages.
Wyndham Bonnet Creek & Reunions

I mix up staying onsite for stays that are basically for WDW, and offsite resorts for stays that include Universal, Seaworld, or just relaxing.
I've stayed at all of the above mentioned resorts except for Bonnet Creek, and while I liked them all a lot, for stays based primarily for visiting WDW, I would choose any WDW DVC resort over any of the above. (I assume the 4 Marriotts are Grande Vista, Cypress Harbour, Harbour Lake, and Lakeshore Reserve, and the 3 Hiltons are Tuscany/I-drive, Parc Soleil, and Seaworld).

The next group.....

Silver Lake (both ID's)
Vistana
Orange Lake (River Island best) (Now Holiday Inn)
Liki Tiki Maybe
Summer Bay, esp Houses at
Village at Parkway
Westgate Lakes
Other Marriott's (2 in RCI)
Some other Wyndham's

I've only stayed at 4 of the above resorts. I liked the 2 Marriotts (which I assume are Sabal Palms and Royal Palms, I have not stayed at Imperial Palms) , and the other 2 I would not stay at again. The other's simply don't appeal to me. (some due to location, some for other reasons.)

 

[Dean]

dvc_john, your assumptions are correct other than there are 3 other Marriott's, only 2 of which are in RCI. I would presume that on property is a major criteria for you trumping most anything else, it isn't for many people.

MIALIAS, see dvc_Jon's list, I listed the 2 wyndham's directly. as for the second group of wyndham resorts, I haven't totally completed that list in my mind.

 

[lilpooh108]

The info I have suggests they included plans for up to 40 fractional ownerships. For Four Seasons, this can be anywhere from 2 weeks at a pop and up. The prices for AZ and CA were very expensive.

Is the CA one still a Four Seasons? I know the hotel portion is not. We stayed there on the hotel side when it was a Four Seasons (on a company retreat) and I'm glad they took the branding off. It was not up to par.

What happens to the residences when the hotel portion is sold to another company?

Are the timeshare residences still FS?

 

[Dean]

Is the CA one still a Four Seasons? I know the hotel portion is not. We stayed there on the hotel side when it was a Four Seasons (on a company retreat) and I'm glad they took the branding off. It was not up to par.

What happens to the residences when the hotel portion is sold to another company?

Are the timeshare residences still FS?

They are still listed under the FS ownership site. Normally what happens is the management contract is independent and the timeshare stays the same unless the entire system changes hands. This happened with the Hyatt in PR from what I understand, the hotel was actually closed for a time but I believe it's open again under a new name. But there are many possibilities when such changes take place. IMO Disney has this risk in HI.

 

[dvc_john]

Regarding the Hyatt in Puerto Rico....

Hacienda del Mar is the Hyatt timeshare (now called Hyatt Residence Club).
The Hyatt Dorado Beach hotel, maybe a mile down the road, was torn down, and a Ritz Carlton Reserve hotel was built there, and it just recently opened.
The Hyatt Regency Cerromar was the hotel adjacent to the timeshare. It closed about the same time as the other Hyatt, and has not reopened. Over the years there has been talk of converting it to timeshare, or even a Four Seasons hotel.
Now that the Ritz Carlton has opened, they are hoping for some movement on the Cerromar property.
(Info gathered at last owners meeting I attended at a Hyatt resort. The only time I stayed at Hacienda del Mar quite a few years ago both hotels were open.)

 

[RobDoc]

The plans call for a 444 room Four Seasons Resort, 40 "Residence Club" units and 90 "Private Residences". Four Seasons will retain 30% ownership in addition to managing the property once open. It is scheduled to open in 2014.

The Four Seasons Resort will be an "enclave located within the Golden Oak residential community, created and master-planned by Disney".

http://press.fourseasons.com/2011-n...walt-disney-world-resort-set-to-open-in-2014/

http://press.fourseasons.com/news-r...s-resort-orlando-at-walt-disney-world-resort/