DVC at Grand Floridian update

[lockedoutlogic]

1) They desperately need the new high priced GF-DVC rooms.
2) They can't get rid of the other unsold DVC inventory.
3) They are just not selling.
4) And Disney admits in the article that sales are even getting slower.
. . . Saratoga Springs Resort (near Downtown Disney)
. . . Bay Lake Towers (at Contemporary)
. . . Aulani (in Hawaii) *


* Not expected to sell out until 2015, at least, due to DVD.

yep...

this should surprise no close observers of travel, wdw, or dvc in particular - and the reasons aren't exactly hard to decipher -

they can't provide what can be considered 5 star service because they tie everything to merchandising, pools, and amusement parks and won't pay for quality staff or implement high end policy - so they let four seasons buy their land and fill that niche

Now that beams are going up over there, they announce the disneyfication of their "flagship" location to add more units - more revenue. And it makes sense from the financial standpoint because the monorail units (including the next one...which i'll get to) sell easily, even in the bad times. And they squeeze more blood out of their existing employees and services at the GF...notably the 5 restaurants. Anybody wanting to go to 1900 park fare in 2014 might want to start thinking about booking soon. (joke...ok...not really)

we are in bad travel/ economic times and i'm sure that most everybody with an iq higher than 75 realizes that its not magically going away anytime soon. we're leveraged and there is no "bubble" to tap this time.

So now, after they schlep these off...they will "miraculously" find the space for the polynesian units...not too conveniently after they sell off their actual hawaii property.

Then perhaps the old "pad" sites around the seven seas from the 60's magically become new dvc sites...more high end, more monorail? don't think that's not on the drawing board (not blue sky by any means)


So that's the story, kids...at some point they will be able to rake it in just from the DVC sites around the lagoon for the halloween party, the christmas party, the easter party, the arbor day party, and the bastille day party....nothing but revenue.

And saratoga, animal kingdom, and the hawaii sites aren't selling?
gee...i'm shocked.

Wait...Ive been saying that for YEARS! those are built under the business model of bad credit/ funny money that has killed the economies around the world (save india, germany, and china) Look no further than saratoga...mass produced for those buying on master card and paying minimum payments...

shame on anyone who didn't see that coming.

In the case of hawaii...i'm sure its nice. but i bet they had the audacity to "recreate" the hawaii thats already outside the gates...and its not close enough for the core dvc clientele - the repeat offenders to orlando. again...predictable

 

[BrdWlkBride2005]

geee that just opened my eyes

 

[BrdWlkBride2005]

Doesn't stop all of us from going though! I'm one of those schleps that just bought 50 more points at BLT because I panicked that they were going to sell out and my OCD self only wants points at the same resort.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Doesn't stop all of us from going though! I'm one of those schleps that just bought 50 more points at BLT because I panicked that they were going to sell out and my OCD self only wants points at the same resort.

ohh...i completely understand your thinking

just remember, they repo points to all their locations on an almost daily basis. so if you want to get more points anywhere all you have to do is call them and ask if points are available...and if they're not, it would likely be a short wait on a list until they are.

So don't feel the need to "buy them now before they sell out/ go up"...that is their standard used car salesman line that they throw out every 15 minutes...i had a guy in beach club tell me that i had better buy BCL at 77 before they go up to 81 about 10 years ago...when i worked at disney and made squat.

he was technically right, the price goes up...but you can get them almost at will off resale sites at far less than what disney is selling them for anyway a couple of years down the road.

so don't believe the hype...i guess.

 

[nytimez]

I bet BLT really is relatively close to sold out (as in, will be sold out in less than a year -- not as in will be sold out tomorrow), at least 'officially'... I can't think of any other reason they'd admit this far in advance that they have villas planned for the GF.

But I'm sure they'll be selling AKV (where I own), SS and Aulani for years to come.

 

[nytimez]

double post.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Whats sad is that the bad sale conditions of the last four years or so is great for those who already bought DVC...like myself.

They are all in on the timeshare business...and since they aren't selling like hotcakes - they are forced to build more attractive units like the GF and further invest in others that might need more demand generated - such as the pool/ food addition to Saratoga.

...they don't have a choice - as they have to keep selling new units to keep their momentum going and they also have to try and keep the units they've already built filled to generate the revenues that are the whole point in the first place.

A rare catch 22 in the reality of TWDC that actually benefits the customer.

 

[OldsDr]

yep...

Then perhaps the old "pad" sites around the seven seas from the 60's magically become new dvc sites...more high end, more monorail? don't think that's not on the drawing board (not blue sky by any means)

Please forgive my ignorance, but I have been chewing on this and am having trouble understanding it. Can you please restate it (dumb it down) for me.

Thank you.

 

[nytimez]

Please forgive my ignorance, but I have been chewing on this and am having trouble understanding it. Can you please restate it (dumb it down) for me.

Thank you.

I suspect he's referring to the original MK resorts that were planned at the same time MK was planned -- before the park was actually built. They were going to be called the Venetian, Persian and Asian, I believe, and they would all be on the monorail (I think one was to be on the plot of land where the GF is today). Google them when you have some free time, interesting stories and there's even some concept art floating around out there from once-upon-a-time.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I suspect he's referring to the original MK resorts that were planned at the same time MK was planned -- before the park was actually built. They were going to be called the Venetian, Persian and Asian, I believe, and they would all be on the monorail (I think one was to be on the plot of land where the GF is today). Google them when you have some free time, interesting stories and there's even some concept art floating around out there from once-upon-a-time.

yeah...what he said

If i remember my disneytrivia....there were actually 7 sites for resorts that had preliminary groundwork done when they dredged bay lake and the channels and built the seven seas lagoon...

remember - the lagoon in front of the MK and the 3 existing resorts was built by Walt and Roy's boys in the 60's...and unlike todays weasel suit clowns - they planned for the future - including going overboard to make sure there were no screwups and to allow for expansion - in this case, sites that at the time were suitable for reclamation/further development to allow for more hotel construction...one notably sits out in the space immediately to the right of the TTC going toward the contemporary - the others are not exceptionally noticeable.

now disney specializing in spending huge amounts for shortsightedness and a lack of effective further development around its parks...or in them for that matter.

 

[nytimez]

remember - the lagoon in front of the MK and the 3 existing resorts was built by Walt and Roy's boys in the 60's...and unlike todays weasel suit clowns - they planned for the future

Yeah... the "future" today is always the next quarter, unfortunately.

 

[robertdangelo]

yeah...what he said

If i remember my disneytrivia....there were actually 7 sites for resorts that had preliminary groundwork done when they dredged bay lake and the channels and built the seven seas lagoon...

remember - the lagoon in front of the MK and the 3 existing resorts was built by Walt and Roy's boys in the 60's...and unlike todays weasel suit clowns - they planned for the future - including going overboard to make sure there were no screwups and to allow for expansion - in this case, sites that at the time were suitable for reclamation/further development to allow for more hotel construction...one notably sits out in the space immediately to the right of the TTC going toward the contemporary - the others are not exceptionally noticeable.

now disney specializing in spending huge amounts for shortsightedness and a lack of effective further development around its parks...or in them for that matter.

Don't forget... there was that concept art that went around not too long ago for a "California" themed WDW resort. There also is specualtion that the large CALIFORNIA letters that used to be at the Entrance of California Adventure are in storage and planned for this potential WDW resort.
DVC also has A River Country resort that plans were floating around the internet. I'm sure they have many things up their sleeves!