Anyone plan on buying DVC-Hawaii or DVC-DC?

[Dean]

Alexandria is effectively sold out and has been for some time---I don't think they are in active sales there anymore. National Harbor, despite a lousy locaiton and not even being open yet (it opens in Feb 2010), was 40% sold this past summer, selling into the teeth of a nasty recession.

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/06/29/story5.html

That doesn't sound so bad to me. On the other hand:


This is a big problem for Disney. They just haven't translated well outside RCID's boundaries. They do keep trying though.

Edited to add: I suspect they are going to see how HI moves before making a final decision on the DC property. If HI does poorly, the DC space may be a conventional hotel.

You certainly are closer to Wyndham than am I but the info I've gathered over the last few years suggested that Alexandria underperformed expectations. Companies like Wyndham and BG are harder to compare because they tend to sell one or a small group of resorts from all of their sales sites. Still, DVC's passiveness in the sales area is their largest deterent. It should be fun to see how things go.

 

[dwelty]

Regarding VGC, The pricing is now not that much different than SSR. My understanding is that BLT is essentially carrying sales at WDW during this tough economy, which would explain why the price is going up soon. I am not so sure they want to sell VGC out so quickly and have nothing to sell in California until Hawaii comes on line.

I have been to WDW twice in the last year, and you cant find any information about VGC at any of the Kiosks, even at the SSR sales center there is no marketing material. If they were really desperate to "unload" VGC, I think they would take any opportunity they could to market it at every DVC location. It is being marketed exclusively at DLR. During the Grand Opening, it was stated that the property came in two months early and under budget. At the current pricepoints, they are certianly not loosing money.

As to the potential value of VGC, I think it is a heck of a deal if you look at the maintenance fees. They are the lowest in the company, and likely to stay that way due to the lack of transportation costs in California,and relatively low property tax, (Prop 13). Once DCA is finished with it's 1.2 billion makeover, It will be a park truly worthy of the Disney name. these units will be in high demand by locals and visitors alike.

 

[kikiq]

As to the potential value of VGC, I think it is a heck of a deal if you look at the maintenance fees. They are the lowest in the company, and likely to stay that way due to the lack of transportation costs in California,and relatively low property tax, (Prop 13). Once DCA is finished with it's 1.2 billion makeover, It will be a park truly worthy of the Disney name. these units will be in high demand by locals and visitors alike.

Which is why we still want to buy at VGC when finances are right. I mean, really, I so want to hear my grand daughter say that her grandparents are taking her to their "home" inside Disneyland/DCA. It might not be something understandably that many people back east care about but to many DLR faithful, what a rush. In fact, after we first saw the models, we said that if they were condos for sale, we would sell our house and move in. (We're empty nesters, a 2 bdrm would be perfect)

 

[Fellowship9798]

While I would love some VGC points, I have no interest in Hawaii or DC. I like to enjoy the Disney magic with a park nearby. I don't think I need to pay the "Disney premium" to stay at a hotel outside DL or WDW.

Kind of OT but related to the debate about VGC cost above, there certainly was value to me last week in being practically inside DCA when we stayed there. We entered DCA through the Grand Californian entrance but we forgot something back in the room. My DW took DD3 and DS4 to play in the Redwood Creek play area while I went back. When I got back to our 1BR unit, I looked out the window at DCA and was close enough to see them in the park climbing the nets and could wave hello (after calling DW on the phone to let he know to look up a bit). They were maybe 100' - 150' away.

The proximity to DCA and the view inside the park have value to me that is a premium over several of the WDW DVC resorts, but that's just me. Unfortunately I couldn't sell DW on the need to add on there.

 

[mgroshans]

Nope, we won't be buying at either. Maybe stay there, but definetely not buy.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I LOVE Hawaii, and when DVD announced they were building there, I was so excited, but I have to say, Oahu, and that side of Oahu are not at all what I would have asked for if they would have asked me!!

We went to that area last time we were there, and I just couldn't see staying there. I much prefer Kauai or the Big Island of Hawaii. Oh well, maybe we can use it as a few days at the beginning and end of a trip. We like to stay on Oahu a day at the start and a couple days at the end to reaclimate to real life again, so that's probably how we will use this place too. Too bad, because a nice Disney resort on one of the other islands would have been so special! Hopefully they'll expand that way some day.

As for DC, I'd probably visit, but I wouldn't own there. Disney is my "go to" place, and while Hawaii is my other "go to" place, I don't see us owning on Oahu even if it is Disney.

 

[Dean]

The "I'll probably visit once or twice but won't buy there" responses doesn't bode well for this property. Without the draw of on property at a park and without a more agressive sales approach they need a big internal response from current members buying a significant portion of the available points there. I am hoping the resort sells well and I'm wrong because if it doesn't, this is the last off property resort and possibly resort of any kind in all likelihood.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The "I'll probably visit once or twice but won't buy there" responses doesn't bode well for this property. Without the draw of on property at a park and without a more agressive sales approach they need a big internal response from current members buying a significant portion of the available points there. I am hoping the resort sells well and I'm wrong because if it doesn't, this is the last off property resort and possibly resort of any kind in all likelihood.

I agree, Dean. I do think they will probably market this beyond the Disney parks though. I suspect this one will be heavily marketed in the Orient.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I would much prefer to stay at a beach front or near beach front resort in Oahu rather than 1/2 hr. away in Ko-Olina. While in town is much more crowded, I think the amentities of location are worth it. Parking is very expensive, and Disney's resort will be no different. I haven't gotten there yet, so this is my "plan". I could be totally wrong.

 

[Brian Noble]

The "I'll probably visit once or twice but won't buy there" responses doesn't bode well for this property.

True. But, it would be interesting to ask the question on a more Disneyland-focused forum, like mouseplanet, laughingplace, etc. where more of the posters are left-coasters.

 

[Dean]

I agree, Dean. I do think they will probably market this beyond the Disney parks though. I suspect this one will be heavily marketed in the Orient.

Where it's marketed won't matter if they market it the way they have everything else. Look at HH and VB on site and in area marketing and sales. Pitiful both in terms of sales and method, IMO. The method of taking those on property for other reasons and hoping they sign up for a sales tour simply is a recipe for disaster. It only works at WDW due to the sheer volume of traffic but even then, those are in house sales to a degree.

Actually the location is not bad and is certainly up and coming, I don't think that's a deterent for most people. It really is a beach front location and about the best one available without going to the north shore which is even more remote.

Brian, I'm sure there will be those that buy DVC HI as the main option and then use it to visit DL and WDW occassionally. It wasn't my intent to say no one would buy or to imply that the demand would be the same across all venues. However, there was quite a bit of interest in GC on this board including those planning to purchase and you see where that is going currently.

As I said, it should be interesting.

 

[dcfromva]

We are just outside DC. I doubt we would buy at National Harbor (has DVC made an announcement?). If the location of the timeshare was between the Capitol and the White House I would buy... But, the National Harbor is too far off the beaten path for my interest...(unless there is an awesome deal offered. )
Hawaii--we'll just have to see how expensive it is. Afterall, if all you
guys are planning on staying there someone has to own some
points there. LOL

 

[dianeschlicht]

Where it's marketed won't matter if they market it the way they have everything else. Look at HH and VB on site and in area marketing and sales. Pitiful both in terms of sales and method, IMO. The method of taking those on property for other reasons and hoping they sign up for a sales tour simply is a recipe for disaster. It only works at WDW due to the sheer volume of traffic but even then, those are in house sales to a degree.

True, but have you seen the recent TV ads for DVC? They are heavily markteting the "travel beyond the parks" idea in the ones I have seen recently.

I do agree that the Ko'Olina area is an up and coming one, and certainly there IS a beach there with nice man made lagoons making it a good swimming beach. I just find that side of the island to always be very cloudy and almost dreary looking. I shun the heavy beaches like Waikiki anyway, and if I'm on Oahu, I prefer the north shore or staying right in the city to do the museums and art and history centers instead.

 

[podsnel]

We might consider DC- depends what they plan to do with it. I think it would be wonderful to have a place to get away to that is a 4 hour drive (rather than a 3 hour flight) and offers everything the Washington DC area does. It would be so nice to be within driving distance of some Disney magic... Have they announced when they hope to break ground/ open it? Even any ballpark estimates?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We might consider DC- depends what they plan to do with it. I think it would be wonderful to have a place to get away to that is a 4 hour drive (rather than a 3 hour flight) and offers everything the Washington DC area does. It would be so nice to be within driving distance of some Disney magic... Have they announced when they hope to break ground/ open it? Even any ballpark estimates?

I am very familiar with this area, I live in Maryland. Please PM me before you make any reservations!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Nope, not interested in the least.

 

[Dean]

True, but have you seen the recent TV ads for DVC? They are heavily markteting the "travel beyond the parks" idea in the ones I have seen recently.

I do agree that the Ko'Olina area is an up and coming one, and certainly there IS a beach there with nice man made lagoons making it a good swimming beach. I just find that side of the island to always be very cloudy and almost dreary looking. I shun the heavy beaches like Waikiki anyway, and if I'm on Oahu, I prefer the north shore or staying right in the city to do the museums and art and history centers instead.

It's always raining on Oahu, all day about 3 months of the year and morning and evening the rest. And it's usually raining all the time at one spot or the other, usually where I am at it seems. When we lived there we lived on the Windward side of the island where it rains more, very pretty and the rain rarely interferes. Compared to DVC's other foray's into non park options, this seems to be a very good location compared to the possibilities, not like when the Hilton Hotel system build on the North shore. IMO, this is a much better location in the overall scheme of things than are the VB and HH resorts. I don't do Oahu without a car, if one were so inclined not to rent a car, that would definitely change things. For me, we have to drive all over anyway so the location doesn't make that much difference, esp now that H3 is open, wish they'd have finished it while were were there instead of letting it sit for a number of years.

As for marketing, it's going to take more than TV and print adds to get it done. It's going to take more aggression, period, to be successful.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We do not have any desire to buy in either Hawaii or the DC area. While we visit friends occasionally in the DC area (I went to University of MD and still have some old college friends down there), we just stay at a Marriott or a Hilton when we go. We wouldn't really have the need for a DVC resort down there. As for HI, it's a place that DH and I talk about going to once, when our kids are grown up, like for a 25th or 30th anniversary. Since next month will be our 8th anniversary, we have a LONG way to go!

We bought DVC so that we can have large and comfortable accommodations and travel to WDW every other year for a nice long vacation with the kids, making the trip more relaxing and less hectic. We do not plan to add on anywhere. Right now the only other places we consider are VGC when the kids are much older, and HI in the future some time like I mentioned. The only other resort I would consider at WDW is Bay Lake one time, just to have a view of the castle (that has to be awesome to wake up to every day). But, I don't think we would be able to get that 7 months out anyway, so I try to be realistic and BWV is where we will most likely always stay...and that's fine with us.

 

[MrsNick]

We would definitely like to stay at DVC HI, but doubt we'd buy there for the same reason I didn't buy into Marriott Aruba several years ago...I don't want to be locked into ownership at a resort that requires such a long flight.

I don't know what the future holds regarding the cost of air travel, and I was proved correct re: Aruba as the price of international travel certainly skyrocketed last year. Same could happen with flights to HI from the East Coast. Perhaps DVD is looking to expand its share by reaching into the West Coast and international markets.

As to a possible DC DVC, I'd have to know what types of on site amenities would be offered. Will there be on site entertainment, or indoor water park? What about characters and shows? If so, then I could definitely see us acquiring a modest add-on.

Having a resort with great amenities within driving distance to us would be wonderful for a four night getaway each year. The fact that we could use those points to trade into VB or SSR if we wanted to would just be gravy.

DH and I have been discussing just such a getaway this year since we have an infant and refuse to bring a newborn on an airplane with the flu season already underway. We are really not impressed with the price and quality of resorts nearby. We would have been pleased as punch had we been able to drive to a DVC resort in the Northeast this year (esp. since they are baby-friendly).

That's just us, though...We don't necessarily need to be near a theme park everytime we stay in a DVC resort (probably why we like VB and HHI so much). All we require is a nice resort with pleasant service, good theming and some activities available. We like being able to use our membership somewhere other than at the parks. We like a little bit of variety, so these additions to the DVC portfolio are quite welcome to us. As it turns out, even being near a theme park does not guarantee a quick sellout if the PP's are correct in their assessment of slow sales at GCV, so I don't necessarily believe that not being near a park will doom sales at off site resorts. Of course, only time will tell and I am far from an authority on specialty timeshares

 

[Anal Annie]

I would much prefer to stay at a beach front or near beach front resort in Oahu rather than 1/2 hr. away in Ko-Olina. While in town is much more crowded, I think the amentities of location are worth it. Parking is very expensive, and Disney's resort will be no different. I haven't gotten there yet, so this is my "plan". I could be totally wrong.

Oh I agree that it so easy to just walk just about anywhere in Waikiki. We never bother renting a car on Oahu. Since we only stay there for 2 or 3 nights we usually just stay at one of the Outrigger Properties which are convenient for walking just about anywhere. They're right on the beach and are close to the International Marketplace...many decent restaurants are within a 10 min. walk - especially from the Outrigger Waikiki over the Outrigger Reef. The Cheesecake Factory and Hula Grill are right downstairs. One will definitely have to rent a car for Ko'Olina. Just another cost factor to have to budget for. We usually fly into Honolulu and spend 2 or 3 nights there to acclimate. It's the cheapest island so it's good for getting over the jet lag. Then we move on to the Big Island and / or Maui for the remainder of our trip. I will be curious to hear more about the amenties at this property tho. I cannot imagine going all the way to Hawaii and not going to Maui!!!!