Atlantis through II

[MinnesotaChill]

I've done a search on dvc forums for Atlantis and nothing has come up. I am wondering if anyone has stayed at the timeshare portion of Atlantis. Were you happy? How far out did you put in your request? Is it possible to stay elsewhere while at the resort on points, or do you have to stay in the timeshare part?

We would really like to do this in 2009 and I've read that for good locations you should put in a request up to 24 months ahead. I am afraid that we would wish we were in the main resort, though, not across the bay. Not sure that I'd use the kitchen much, since it isn't my "home" like DVC. The suites look amazing, just worried about feeling out of the action.

Any feedback?

 

[Dean]

I've done a search on dvc forums for Atlantis and nothing has come up. I am wondering if anyone has stayed at the timeshare portion of Atlantis. Were you happy? How far out did you put in your request? Is it possible to stay elsewhere while at the resort on points, or do you have to stay in the timeshare part?

We would really like to do this in 2009 and I've read that for good locations you should put in a request up to 24 months ahead. I am afraid that we would wish we were in the main resort, though, not across the bay. Not sure that I'd use the kitchen much, since it isn't my "home" like DVC. The suites look amazing, just worried about feeling out of the action.

Any feedback?

I haven't stayed there. You may want to try the BBS at the Timeshare Users Group (tug2.net) for more info. As for the kitchen, given $20 plus hamburger meals, you may reconsider your plans and eat in or off island more than you think. I would definitely start your request 2 years out though it's unlikely you'll match until a few months out. I know there was a recent thread on harbourside, you might look further for that one.

 

[JodyTG]

Another vote for getting the kitchen. Someone my DH work with went to Atlantis a few years ago and he said he paid $57.00 for two plates of scrambled eggs and bacon for him and his wife.

 

[kcgirl]

I have put in a June 2008 request for Harborside (atlantis' timeshare) at 19mos. out but found out later from the dis boards that owners at Harborside cannot trade out until the 12mo. mark. So the best you could do before that is get on the waitlist and then it will be 1st come 1st served. When I called MS to start the search they just said there was nothing available. At first I thought everything was booked then I asked questions on the dis boards and found out the real deal. I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait!

 

[MinnesotaChill]

So, if I want to do a request now for 2009 and obviously won't have all points necessary available until I bank/borrow in 2009, will they still get me on the waitlist?

 

[Dean]

So, if I want to do a request now for 2009 and obviously won't have all points necessary available until I bank/borrow in 2009, will they still get me on the waitlist?

You can only request 2 years out but while you won't match until at least 12 months out for many location (not all), you want to be on the list so you'll be ahead of hopefully others who get on the list and you'll be searching if the right unit comes in. Just be aware this isn't a first come first served issue. Every time a person is added to the list for the same thing you are waiting for, the line is changed based on the location that person goes to. It's very possible the last person who got added to the list went to the first position and will get the next unit that comes available.

You can search as long as there is a reasonable expectation you'll have the points but you do not commit the points until they actually find and you accept the match. If the points are available at all, they will make it work.

 

[kdonnel]

I have stayed at Harbourside as a cash guest.

We were in one of the small one bedrooms. They have two different ones.

We did eat a few afternoon meals and most breakfasts in the room but it was still expensive. We ate every evening meal at one of the two buffets. They have one expensive buffet and one less expensive buffet. There were three in our party. My wife and I and our 5 year old daughter. The expensive buffet was $150 with a tip and the less expensive buffet was $120 with a tip.

They offered a shuttle service to a local grocery store for $10. It took you across the bridge to a grocery store that was just barely on the main island. Take the prices at the Goodings at the Crossroads shopping center and double or triple them. They are still cheaper then buying food at the mini mart that is walking distance to Harbourside.

It was only a minor inconvience being at Harbourside instead of staying at one of the towers. They have a free (amazing I know) shuttle that runs every 5 minutes or so between Harbourside and the three main towers. There is one driver who is always playing the "Only Meat" song. It is also a nice walk along the docks to the main Royal towers. We liked to walk along and pretend we owned one of the 200' yachts. They were in the process of opening a new outdoor shopping/dining mall during our visit. You can also walk that way now and get to the Royal towers.

Even if you are staying at the main resort there is a long, long, long walk to get to the ocean. There are acres of pools and ponds between the resort and ocean. Staying at the main resort does not shorten your walk at all.

I would have to rate London as the most expensive place I have been followed very closely by Atlantis. Disney is a very, very, distant third.

Except for money I would not hesitate to visit one of the three again!

 

[kdonnel]

They are building a new condo hotel there. I filled out the web form for information just to try and see prices.

They sent me a huge packet of information showing floor plans and prices. The cheapest condo option was $750,000 for a studio if you bought pre construction. It was going to be more expensive once they started.

You had to pay 30% at contract signing and they had a schedule that had you paying 20% more prior to closing. At closing you only had to worry about the final 50%.

I forget exactly how much the condo association fees were but I think it was somewhere around $800-$900 a month.

You could put your condo into the hotel program. They seemed confident that you would receive enough income to pay the association fees more. You would then be given a reduced rate if you wanted to stay in your own place.

 

[dumbo71]

You could put your condo into the hotel program. They seemed confident that you would receive enough income to pay the association fees more. You would then be given a reduced rate if you wanted to stay in your own place.

Buy in price sounds OK but the Assoc. fees of $$800- $900 per month. What exactly is that money going towards?

The last line of the quoted section here is confusing. You have to pay to stay at your own unit????

I've seen many management setups for proerty rentals and this one is new. The ones I've seen charge a percentage to rent your unit. You must place the unit into the rental pool for a inimum amount of time some have no minimums. You block out the times you want to use it of let F&F use it. They charge somehwere around 40 -45% fort this service. This also includes housekkeping at the end of the stay or daily and access to maintenenace. Additional fees would be charged to the woner if the maintenence was outside of routine.

Any explanations here weould be helpful.

Thank you.

As far as Atlantis it is highly overrated IMO. Oprah should be getting a kickback from them because after she promoted it the bookings shot up (as well as their prices). Go to trip advisor dot com and read the reviews of the place. Not highly reviewed at all.

 

[kdonnel]

I might be misremembering the exact details.

It might have been a pricing structure to stay in your unit beyond the number of days you were allowed.

Part of me remembers it as being a required housekeeping and Atlantis Amenity Usage fee.

I had just sold a condo in Myrtle Beach and was hoping to replace it with Atlantis. I was just $400,000 short.


Here is the development.

http://www.theresidencesatatlantis.com/main.php