Anyone familiar with Bluegreen group

[mnlovesdisney]

I had posted several days ago about having bought Bluegreen and then having some doubts. We did recind but now, of course, Bluegreen is calling back trying to get us back. Specifically I am wondering if anyone with Bluegreen has tried to get into Big Cedar Lodge during the summer staying for less than a week. The way it is worded in the literature we got was that during the busy "red" and up times of the year in order to book 11 months out you have to book for a full week. If staying less than a week you only get a 5 month window. I would think this policy would make it impossible to stay there with Bluegreen points in the summer unless you stayed for a full week. We have school-aged kids so summer is all we have for travel and we would not necessary want to stay a full week (I have a brother living in Kansas City and a few days would be spent visiting there).

We have DVC and love it, but are just exploring other options for some more variety in travel choices. Bluegreen also has a resort in Wisconsin Dell, which is good for long weekends for us. Just not sure Bluegreen is best choice. What about others like Hilton, Fairfield, Marriott, etc. Thanks.

 

[JudyS]

I've heard of Bluegreen, but that's about all I know about it. I think you'll get more information asking on www.tug2.net You *don't* have to become a TUG member ($15 annually) to post on their forums, but membership is well worth it for anyone interested in non-DVC timeshares.

 

[OKWKirt]

I can't provide any info on trading into Big Cedar Wilderness Club at Big Cedar Lodge but I am a member and it is a fantastic place. We stayed there twice on DVC points before they started building the Wilderness Club there in 2001 when we bought in immediately. Bluegreen also has a great resort in Branson (Falls Village) that we have used our Bluegreen points for when we couldn't get into Big Cedar (it was when their first lodge under construction burned down). I am impressed with what Bluegreen has and how they keep expanding. They just added a resort in Hawaii and Cancun I think and now have almost 40 resorts in the club plus they trade through RCI. I would never give up my DVC or Bid Cedar but one of my other two I could part with. I don't have my guides with me so I can't look up the info on points usage. The club is so new and still have a lot to build so getting in during the summer could be a problem. I have never tried because we usually go down in the spring and fall when the Branson crowds are lighter.

 

[Diznut84]

Are they related to Blue Man Group?

Have you checked the points requirements for weekend stays at Peppertree?

 

[lightningcoach]

We stayed at their Orlando resort near the Belz Outlet malls. They were extremely large two bedrrom rooms with a full kitchen and living room. We could have slept 8 people very comfortably. It was a nice resort but the locale wasn't DVC.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by mnlovesdisney
...(snip)... but now, of course, Bluegreen is calling back trying to get us back. Specifically I am wondering if anyone with Bluegreen has tried to get into Big Cedar Lodge during the summer staying for less than a week. The way it is worded in the literature we got was that during the busy "red" and up times of the year in order to book 11 months out you have to book for a full week. If staying less than a week you only get a 5 month window. I would think this policy would make it impossible to stay there with Bluegreen points in the summer unless you stayed for a full week. ...(snip)........

Sounds a little dicey to me, too. My advice is to ask the BLuegreen sales rep some pointed questions:

How many people staying at Big Cedar Lodge this coming summer have a resevation for 5 days or less?

Or how many reservations for stays between June xx and August xx are made 5 months or less ahead of arrival?

Does Big Cedar have a waitlist process?

If the answers sound good to you, make the sales rep put it in writing. If not (or the rep hems and haws), you have your answer anyway!

Best wishes -

P.S. I'm sure you already know that the hardest time to book anything in the Dells is summer, too. If you really want to stay there, you'd probably be happiest with a specific summer week in a Dells location rather than a DVC-like point system. JMHO.

 

[Diznut84]

Here is an opportunity, although the seller will not disclose his reserve price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15897&item=2396606211&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[Melynny]

We just bought a timeshare with Bluegreen ( St. Augustine) last January. Since we live the midwest and have a couple of other timeshares in branson, I was also interested in the concept of doing partial weeks at Big Cedar ( which is wonderful, by the way). Well anyway, it appears that druing the winter months ( jan feb and the first part of March, I am assuing this means that there will be availability to use Big Cedar for partial weeks. I read that in Bluegreen's version of the Vacation magic that they were offering 2 for one specials during that time at Big Cedar. This leads me to believe that it is a slow time for the resort, BUT more importantly a slow time for Branson. There is not much to do there during that time, and boating and fishing are out of the question. I'll know more about it as I try to use (read that as squeeze the most use) out of my small number of points.

Also as a side note, Bluegreen points work very similar to DVC BUT with one huge difference weekend points are much much higher than weekdays: a little over 5 times for a friday and saturday. At the Orlando's Sunshine Resort a weeknight is 725, friday and Saturday are 3650 each! This makes me love DVC that much more!

 

[JudyS]

You should ask your question on www.TUG2.net You will find many more people there who know about Bluegreen

 

[mnlovesdisney]

In the process of researching this I did join the TUG group and did post a few questions about Bluegreen, but there has not been much response. I get the impression not many people there are that familiar with Bluegreen either. We did talk to reps again today and they answered some more questions for us and we are somewhat less leery, but we still have not given them a definite answer ... doing more internet looking this weekend. Thanks for all info so far, it has helped a lot.

 

[Disney50]

That's wierd. We just received a brochure from Bluegreen today stating that a friend of ours gave them our name and that we would be interested in hearing about their timeshare. This was the first time I had ever heard of Bluegreen.

I would "LOVE" to know who this "FRIEND" is. I sure would like to "THANK" them.

 

[lurontravel]

Can't exactly answer your question, but know someone who works in the accounting dept at their home office in Boca Raton. They just donated a three night stay at one of their resorts to my son's school auction. Was very popular. I believe that a lot of people were aware of Bluegreen, so I think it may be what area you are from, as to whether or not you've heard of them. That's all I know. If you want the # of the guy I know who works there, PM me and I'll give it to you, don't know if that will help you or not, but let me know.