Benefits not the same if purchase a resale...is this true?

[william1375]

Creative use of misinformation is what this seems like.

 

[JimMIA]

Creative use of misinformation is what this seems like.

Naw. The info the OP received was just plain old, garden-variety lies.

 

[Sammie]

I'm just glad to know someone else doesn't think it's a crazy far-fetched idea!

Sadly, lately I don't think anything with Disney/DVC is far-fetched if it involves making money.

I would hope before they charge the guests that are actually staying at a resort, they would charge the visitors that come to dine and shop, first. Many resorts do that in other locations.

 

[Dean]

This is a policy that supposedly just took affect this past Friday. If true, it would not have affected your past cruises on points.

I would think they would have a huge legal issue on their hands unless they were somehow able to exclude all resale purchases from these point options starting at a future date. All the thousands of previous resale purchases have been considered exactly the same as a direct purchase with no restrictions. For them to try to go back and retroactively exclude those contracts at this point would be a class-action lawyers dream come true.

My guess is this is just the exagerated ramblings of a unprofessional guide trying to close a sale.

First, it's common practice with many systems to make such misleading claims regarding resales. Marriott is a great example, while overall they are very close to DVC in sales professionalism, one common thread with them over the years is that many of their sales staff would make this type of claim. Can't use the II Marriott desk, no internal trading, etc. I can't imagine this is anything different. It seems DVC has been hiring more people of late that have timeshare sales backgrounds with other companies, this is not necessarily a good thing and I bet if you asked the person in question they would tell you they've worked in sales with other timeshares. Having said that, I think there's a reasonable possibility DVC will take this type of approach at some point. I'd say 50/50 but it's almost a certainty that they'd grandfather existing owners though not necessarily those in the process of a resale purchase.

 

[jeannebrown]

I called again, explained the issue, and asked to speak to someone other than the person that originally gave me the questionable information. I spoke with someone else and they told me the same exact thing....it was just announced to them that points from a non-Disney resale would only be used for their core 10 resorts (now 11 including Hawaii.) No cruise, no Adventures by Disney, no RCI...nothing! His explanation was that Disney is trying to ensure a positive experience (not to get scammed by people that haven't paid dues, or have borrowed from the next year without disclosure) and this new rule would discourage people from buying elsewhere and reduce negative experiences. Otherwise, there really isn't a reason to buy directly from Disney if you can get it cheaper through "The Timeshare Store" , which he explicity referenced multiple times. I'm still unsure. Anyone else have some information to add?

 

[cel_disney]

Well, I'm glad you spoke to someone else.

I am a relatively new owner - buying in after thinking about/researching it and traveling to Disney for 8 years - so not a total newbie though.

I am somewhat unclear about whether this will actually be allowed? I understand why they might want to get the business back but after skimming my documents, I dont think that there is anything in my documents that says that the new owners priveleges will be less if sold to them via resale? AND - if that is the case, will Disney be allowing owners to sell back to them instead so that the resale market really tanks as they are hoping??

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

His explanation was that Disney is trying to ensure a positive experience (not to get scammed by people that haven't paid dues, or have borrowed from the next year without disclosure) and this new rule would discourage people from buying elsewhere and reduce negative experiences. Otherwise, there really isn't a reason to buy directly from Disney if you can get it cheaper through "The Timeshare Store" , which he explicity referenced multiple times. I'm still unsure. Anyone else have some information to add?

Ah - enhancing our membership experience!! By getting us to pay more for DVC.

Sorry OP - I have no info for you but this wouldn't completely surprise me. It would sadden me greatly however. The part about negative experience etc. is just bull though. If it is true it is simply to earn more $$$'s for DVD/DVC. Of course, since the major mantra on this board is to only buy DVC to use at DVC it may help them less than they think (if you aren't just getting confused guides). And with the current unavailability of DCL thru most of 2011 it doesn't help a whole lot with their sales pitches although many people buy without investigating.

 

[cseca]

WOW!
If this is the case I don't think I will ever add more points because resale value outside of disney will decline and I don't want to ever get stuck with extra points I don't need in the future that I won't be able to sell for a reasonable price.
And I wonder how this will affect current owners with both types of points?
That'll be a pain to keep track of...

 

[godalejunior]

So....curious to know if this will be for new resales as of last Friday and forward or are they going back to those that bought resale from years ago?

We closed just over a month ago and I have to say if this goes into effect we will be selling.

 

[lark]

I think the only "negative experience" disney could be worried about is their negative experience of having competition for their points.

 

[tjkraz]

Nothing would surprise me either, I have even heard talk during our stay two weeks ago of charging to pay to park at the resort. Since they do this at CA, I really expect this to be the next surprise.

Members are already paying for parking. Our dues are charged all fees related to the operations and upkeep of the resort parking lots.

 

[JWG]

I call shenanigans...
This is something Disney would HAVE to disclose upfront. Otherwise people are purchasing under false pretense. I get it, not Disney's responsibility to ensure a person buying resale gets the truthful information... but Disney does have to inform us of rule changes.

Can they even do this within the current documentation?

 

[GrumpyPOTFH]

I agree with KAT4DISNEY, it is said here all the time if you purchase DVC with thought of doing other things it is not a good purchase. So the only negative thing about this if it is true, would be a lower resale value. Since I do not plan on selling ever and my sons will be getting it free so if they sold it all profit no matter what price they get. I figure I will break even in 7 to 8 years so if I sell after that it is a plus. Maybe this will make it better for the rest of us. Also I am a Disney stock holder and it will help with the stock price and I will gain there.

 

[carlbarry]

Ah - enhancing our membership experience!! By getting us to pay more for DVC.

Sorry OP - I have no info for you but this wouldn't completely surprise me. It would sadden me greatly however. The part about negative experience etc. is just bull though. If it is true it is simply to earn more $$$'s for DVD/DVC. Of course, since the major mantra on this board is to only buy DVC to use at DVC it may help them less than they think (if you aren't just getting confused guides). And with the current unavailability of DCL thru most of 2011 it doesn't help a whole lot with their sales pitches although many people buy without investigating.

Wyndham did something similar. Owners used to be able to rent points to each other. This was great not only as a low cost way to get needed extra points, but a way to assure that at the end of the year, none of your points went to waste. Well, Wyndham supposedly had a vote on this, and according to Wyndham, the owners voted overwhelmingly to eliminate this ability. Why? To stop scams, make the ownership experience more positive, and so on. Bottom line: timeshares are for the sponsor to make money, and they will do whatever necessary to maximize their profit.

 

[Dean]

I call shenanigans...
This is something Disney would HAVE to disclose upfront. Otherwise people are purchasing under false pretense. I get it, not Disney's responsibility to ensure a person buying resale gets the truthful information... but Disney does have to inform us of rule changes.

Can they even do this within the current documentation?

Not at all, they can choose to offer or not any non contractual items to any group they want at any point they want. None of the items in question are contractual, they could stop them all yesterday if they wanted. They could also set up a tiered VIP system where some members get more benefits in this group than others.

 

[tjkraz]

I call shenanigans...
This is something Disney would HAVE to disclose upfront. Otherwise people are purchasing under false pretense. I get it, not Disney's responsibility to ensure a person buying resale gets the truthful information... but Disney does have to inform us of rule changes.

Can they even do this within the current documentation?

I'm skeptical, too. But I'm not sure Disney would have anything to disclose. When buying a contract resale, Disney has no obligations to the buyer until he/she is actually in the system and is a deeded owner. DVD is not required to provide resale buyers with the POS nor are they under any obligation to answer sales-related inquiries.

It's similar to buying your primary home. If you buy from the builder, he/she must provide you with flood plain guarantees, property tax estimates and all of the other facts and figures.

But if you're buying that same house second-hand, it's the current owner who must provide all of those answers and disclosures. The builder no longer has any liability.

DVC is pretty much identical--when you buy direct they must provide all of the legal disclosures. But in a resale transaction that burden falls to the seller...although I doubt many buyers even bother to ask.

The POS essentially states that exchange programs are subject to change, are not guaranteed, etc. In theory, it seems like they might be able to alter those programs so that they are available to only a certain classification of owner--in this case, direct buyers. But I'm certainly not a lawyer. The only negative I can think of is that it might be considered discriminatory.

But other timeshare programs to have perks and features that are only available to direct buyers.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Jim Lewis.

Anything else need to be said?
MG

 

[CrazyDuck]

No RCI either? That would seriously put a dent in my plans if I didn't buy direct! Even still, if this turns out to be true, I can see this really affecting resale values! Also, if they are going to do something like this that de-values the points then they should atleast be willing to buy the points back at FMV (or 90-95% of what they plan to charge for addons or new sales of said points).... Just my 2c

 

[CrazyDuck]

Jim Lewis.

Anything else need to be said?
MG

Yea.... Who is that?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Yea.... Who is that?

The VP / man in charge of DVC.

MG