DVC Hawaii Question

[Golden Rose]

We're likely to buy a HI timeshare in a few years, assuming an improvement in the VOG. (We used to have family that lived on the Big Island, but the VOG killed their protea plantation and made the air quality so bad that they eventually moved.) We are not likely to buy for at least two or three years, and possibly not for 5 or 6 years. (Flights to Hawaii from Texas are not fun with very small children.)

We are very likely to buy DVC there... enough points for a 2 bedroom ocean view every three years, however many points that turns out to be. The way we look at it, if we decide we don't want to go some year when our banked points would expire, we can easily use the points at WDW. It might not be the best value, but it won't be a terrible value.

I like the flexibility that banking and borrowing gives you. We aren't likely to want to go every year or even every other year (although there have certainly been times in my life that my family did just that.) We have considered other timeshares there, and will almost certainly eventually go that route if the DVC one falls through. We're not really interested in anything but ocean front, preferably with an ocean view, which limits our options somewhat. Oahu is not our favorite island, but it isn't our least favorite, either.

Obviously, we're waiting to see what happens with the resort, the economy, and in our lives, but I put us as reasonably likely purchasers.

 

[DVCGeek]

With United, if the fare goes down, they will let you rebook and get a credit good for 12 months.

Wow, that is really cool! I'll have to look at United and see if they have anything attractive for us. We usually go for direct flights out of CLE (Cleveland Hopkins [Ohio]) but also could do CAK. Continental has historically had good deals for us to MCO & LAX, but I like that credit deal!!!

That isn't just a HI or special membership program deal, is it?

 

[DisFlan]

Is anyone good at creating a poll? (I'm not.) I haven't seen the ground swell of interest in Hawaii that we saw for BLT or AKV - and I'd really be interested in the number of people who are interested in buying into the Hawaii DVC vs members who may try it once or go occasionally (say, every two or three years) - but not buy there. Or people who buy but don't plan on yearly trips. Or people with no interest at all. Or people who might be interested but are put off by the economy. etc etc.

Anyone else (with poll skills) interested in this?


DisFlan

 

[Dean]

Have we seen ANYONE post they want to own mostly at HI for a full package? What I've seen is people post they will visit once, or every few years or at most, buy to use every 3 years.

 

[phyllisnnj]

You can get low fares to Hawaii, but it takes a little effort.

Continental is having an unbelievable summer airfare sale right now.

Continental's Sale Fares to Hawaii
Escape to Hawaii for a break from the ordinary. Enjoy miles of pristine beaches and picture perfect weather. Travel to Honolulu starting at $149 each way*. Seats are limited so book now to take advantage of these great sale fares to the Aloha State.
Sale Rules:
Purchase your round-trip ticket by March 11, 2009.
Requires 14 day advance purchase and 3 night minimum stay.
Complete all travel by December 15, 2009.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/deals/offers/featured_fares_hnl.aspx

 

[Anal Annie]

Personally, I think we will be priced out of buying there and will have to be content with trying to get in at 7 months. I just don't see the price point & point charts being anything we'll be able to afford. IF (and that's a big IF) they were in line with AKV and IF they would have diff. views / unit types etc. and we could afford the points we might consider trying to go every 3 years with banking & borrowing... But right now I don't trust that we'd buy the right amount of points to start with for that banking & borrowing plan and then DVC would change the charts on us and then, well, you know how that story would go... As another poster mentioned, if you can't go every 3 years the points could always be used somewhere else. Then for us there's the fact that it's not going to be on our fav. island...so is it WORTH going more often? Hummm...dunno. Maui would be much more exciting to us.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Have we seen ANYONE post they want to own mostly at HI for a full package? What I've seen is people post they will visit once, or every few years or at most, buy to use every 3 years.

I am not convinced Disney's HI is going to happen. This economy is tanking right now....I know they have commitments that will cost them money if they break them. In the long run, though, this may be the best choice. Disney can't fill rooms at the parks, who's to say they will fill the rooms in Hawaii?

 

[DisFlan]

Have we seen ANYONE post they want to own mostly at HI for a full package? What I've seen is people post they will visit once, or every few years or at most, buy to use every 3 years.

Yup, that's pretty much what I was getting from posts, too. But I thought I might be wrong. I honestly thought we'd be seeing a bit more enthusiasm. It's early in the game - maybe the numbers will improve with time. And if the project continues.

DisFlan

 

[kerickson]

Although I love the idea of a HI Disney property, I think they should have planned another DLR DVC before launching HI. Then they'd be able to upsell HI members on their ability to trade into DLR at 7mo. Highly unlikely now with only the current 48 VGC units...

Maybe they have big plans for Hawaii cruise itineraries?

That said, our friends who turned us on to DVC are planning on buying. They were saving up for VGC and Hawaii, then when the 100pt min was announced for VGC they decided to move their $$ to the Hawaii fund...

 

[lapeter]

Applies to everybody.

Wow, that is really cool! I'll have to look at United and see if they have anything attractive for us. We usually go for direct flights out of CLE (Cleveland Hopkins [Ohio]) but also could do CAK. Continental has historically had good deals for us to MCO & LAX, but I like that credit deal!!!

That isn't just a HI or special membership program deal, is it?

 

[tjkraz]

Although I love the idea of a HI Disney property, I think they should have planned another DLR DVC before launching HI.

Who says they haven't?

 

[DVCGeek]

Who says they haven't?

Hmmmm. Are you seeing there might really be a 'Disney's Best Kept Secret" after all? I've read rumors about Paradise Pier going to DVC...

 

[phyllisnnj]

Originally Posted by Dean
Have we seen ANYONE post they want to own mostly at HI for a full package? What I've seen is people post they will visit once, or every few years or at most, buy to use every 3 years.

Originally Posted by DisFlan
Yup, that's pretty much what I was getting from posts, too. But I thought I might be wrong. I honestly thought we'd be seeing a bit more enthusiasm. It's early in the game - maybe the numbers will improve with time. And if the project continues.

I'm not surprised. There are only 52 posts. Also keep in mind that the Disboard only represents a small percent of DVC owners.

To me, it's just like asking this group if we were interested in a Disney Cruise Line or a Disney Tour Company then claiming it won't be successful since the DVC folks here didn't show a lot of interest. I'm sure DVC members represent a percentage of folks that have taken a Disney Cruise or a tour with Adventures by Disney because "Disney slapped it's name on it" (LOL, sorry I couldn't resist) but we're not the sole target market for these types of vacations.

And we are not sole target market for Hawaii. The target markets for Hawaii are folks that currently go to Hawaii on a regular basis or are interested in going to Hawaii on a regular basis. Just like the target market for Disney World are folks like us who want to visit Disney World on a regular basis. Some of us visit multiple times a year, once a year, every other year or every three years. I'm sure Hawaii will have the same mixture of interest.

I think Disney made a wise choice in selecting a beachfront property in a desirable area (same site as the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko'Olina and Marriott Vacation Club's Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club). I'm not saying that it will be easy for Disney to sell in Hawaii or that Disney will even be successful in selling in Hawaii. DVC will definitely have some competition. The other hotel based timeshares (Hilton, Marriott and Starwood) can offer their owners the chance to stay on more than one Hawaiian island within their internal network of resorts. But as I stated in my previous post, I think DVC does have some advantages. Also as we have seen with Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney, some folks are willing to pay a premium for Disney and won't bother looking at what the others have to offer. I guess time will tell.

I'm looking forward to seeing what DVC has to offer.

 

[kerickson]

Hmmmm. Are you seeing there might really be a 'Disney's Best Kept Secret" after all? I've read rumors about Paradise Pier going to DVC...

Secrets are pretty hard to keep now a days. Given the BLT experience, as soon as Disney hints at any type of change to the PPH, lots of DISers will be claiming 'they're changing it into a DVC property!!!' I personally can't wait. I've never had a desire to stay there. Would be nice to have another property with a special draw...

 

[Dean]

I'm not surprised. There are only 52 posts. Also keep in mind that the Disboard only represents a small percent of DVC owners.

To me, it's just like asking this group if we were interested in a Disney Cruise Line or a Disney Tour Company then claiming it won't be successful since the DVC folks here didn't show a lot of interest. I'm sure DVC members represent a percentage of folks that have taken a Disney Cruise or a tour with Adventures by Disney because "Disney slapped it's name on it" (LOL, sorry I couldn't resist) but we're not the sole target market for these types of vacations.

And we are not sole target market for Hawaii. The target markets for Hawaii are folks that currently go to Hawaii on a regular basis or are interested in going to Hawaii on a regular basis. Just like the target market for Disney World are folks like us who want to visit Disney World on a regular basis. Some of us visit multiple times a year, once a year, every other year or every three years. I'm sure Hawaii will have the same mixture of interest.

I think Disney made a wise choice in selecting a beachfront property in a desirable area (same site as the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko'Olina and Marriott Vacation Club's Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club). I'm not saying that it will be easy for Disney to sell in Hawaii or that Disney will even be successful in selling in Hawaii. DVC will definitely have some competition. The other hotel based timeshares (Hilton, Marriott and Starwood) can offer their owners the chance to stay on more than one Hawaiian island within their internal network of resorts. But as I stated in my previous post, I think DVC does have some advantages. Also as we have seen with Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney, some folks are willing to pay a premium for Disney and won't bother looking at what the others have to offer. I guess time will tell.

I'm looking forward to seeing what DVC has to offer.

Actually I'm not just referring to this thread but aggregate info since this became a rumor a few years ago. I'm sure there will be people that love it and will want to own there, it's possible I'll be one of them, I own at the Marriott there as well. And I'm sure there will be those in west coast or gateway cities that buy specifically for there every year or nearly so. My point was that for this to sell, DVC is going to have to find them, get them to tour and then to buy. I don't feel that they can sell this resort to existing members are a major part of the sales plan and their past approach (let them come to us) is not conducive to finding prospects and selling to them. I would really like to be wrong as I feel if I'm right, this will truly be the last off property type resort assuming it actually happens. DVD's experience with HH & VB cost members at least 3 other off property options.

 

[bethy]

I agree with a PP that it would be a much easier sell to a lot of people if the resort were on Maui or the Big Island. I've been to HI 6 times and have never been to Oahu. I'm sure it's a lovely island but many people dont' see to feel it is their first pick.

Anyway along those lines it also occured to me that there is no way I would consider buying there unless I could visit it first. I feel less strongly about properties at WDW. At WDW they have a pool of potential buyers there everyday. At Oahu I wonder if they will have to do what I've seen other timeshares do - send out enticing offers of lodging at incredible prices to lure the target audience in. Or in other words, ,like Dean said, employ more traditional TS sales strategies.

 

[kikiq]

That said, our friends who turned us on to DVC are planning on buying. They were saving up for VGC and Hawaii, then when the 100pt min was announced for VGC they decided to move their $$ to the Hawaii fund...

We also have several friends that own OKW/AKV/SSR, that do not DIS, did not buy at VGC and are saving their funds for Hawaii. We're not buying because our family owns a condo in Honolulu. Please remember that there are people who do not post on DIS, live in the western United States, find fares cheaper to Honolulu than Orlando and just might be "OMG" interested in buying the Hawaii DVC. Sorry, sometimes I just get a little tired of folks in the midwest and east thinking that "who would be interested" in something in the west. As if there aren't people in the west who have the interest and the funds to buy. (well, maybe not now with the economy tanking)

 

[CarolA]

At Oahu I wonder if they will have to do what I've seen other timeshares do - send out enticing offers of lodging at incredible prices to lure the target audience in. Or in other words, ,like Dean said, employ more traditional TS sales strategies.

Dear Disney,

If you send me the "enticing offer" I could probably come. (No, I am not buying but.... just in case you want to try to tempt me!)

 

[gtrain219]

Dear Disney,

If you send me the "enticing offer" I could probably come. (No, I am not buying but.... just in case you want to try to tempt me!)

I guess I'm to easy, I bought into BLT having never seen the property (I havn't been to WDW for 15 years) and am not planning on visiting until Nov 2010.

All they would have to do is send Tinkerbell to whisper "Hawaii" in my ear and I'd sign on the dotted line (or is that the palm tree?)

 

[phyllisnnj]

Actually I'm not just referring to this thread but aggregate info since this became a rumor a few years ago. I'm sure there will be people that love it and will want to own there, it's possible I'll be one of them, I own at the Marriott there as well. And I'm sure there will be those in west coast or gateway cities that buy specifically for there every year or nearly so. My point was that for this to sell, DVC is going to have to find them, get them to tour and then to buy. I don't feel that they can sell this resort to existing members are a major part of the sales plan and their past approach (let them come to us) is not conducive to finding prospects and selling to them. I would really like to be wrong as I feel if I'm right, this will truly be the last off property type resort assuming it actually happens. DVD's experience with HH & VB cost members at least 3 other off property options.

Thanks for the info.

Hopefully DVC has learned from their mistakes. With the current slow economy and four resorts to sell AKV, BLT, SSR THV, and GCV it would be in their best interest to start practicing now.

For those not familiar with the cancelled DVC projects take a look at these articles from Yesterland
Disney’s Newport Coast Villas - http://www.yesterland.com/ncv.html
Three Disney Vacations Clubs That Might Have Been - http://www.yesterland.com/dvcnever.html