DVC Hawaii - Sales may start in Summer 2010

[kjd469]

Just got an email from my travel agent, that she received from Disney regarding the new Hawaii DVC. From the announcement - "We anticipate opening sales for the resort in summer 2010, and we are kicking off our trade education program concurrent with this naming announcement," stated Randy Garfield, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts' executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations.

Woo hoo!!

 

[TLPL]

travel agent? DVC sale??????

 

[RobDoc]

In this context, "sales" refers to TAs being able to make reservations at Aluani starting this summer. This information has nothing to do with DVC sales, only cash reservations - as that information would certainly NOT be provided to TAs (who have nothing to do with DVC sales) well before any DVC sales announcement.

Again, until the new resort has been declared as a component of DVC and "units" have been declared into member inventory, no DVC sales can begin.

 

[kjd469]

Take from it what you will. Why is it that whenever anyone shares anything that is at least a little bit informative, someone has to jump all over it and shoot it down. Personally, I take it from this that the Hawaii resort will be a DVC property...is it spelled out in "official documents" ?- no...but I just thought I'd share it with others who might be interested.

For those who are interested, here is the exact mailing:
Disney's $800 million resort on Oahu will be called the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii. The resort is scheduled to open next year.

Travel agents can now get updates and information about the Aulani at Disneytravelagents.com. The site details features of the resort that are still under development and includes conceptual renderings of the property, resort highlights. The site will display photos of the Aulani as it nears completion.

"We anticipate opening sales for the resort in summer 2010, and we are kicking off our trade education program concurrent with this naming announcement," stated Randy Garfield, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts' executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations.

Aulani means "the place that speaks for the great ones" or "the place that speaks with deep messages," said Joe Rohde, a senior vice president at Walt Disney Imagineering, the Disney division that designs resorts and parks.

Disney broke ground on the resort in Ko Olina (about 20 miles west of Waikiki) in early 2009. Aulani is Disney's first family resort outside of theme park developments.

The resort will consist of two 15-story towers that will house 350 hotel rooms as well as 481 timeshare villas set on 21 oceanfront acres fronting a manmade lagoon in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development.

The Aulani will include two restaurants; a Disney kids' club with planned activities and adventures; a lazy river where guests can weave their way through volcanic rockwork and a caldera; a saltwater lagoon for snorkeling; an 18,000-square-foot spa; and an 8,000-square-foot conference center.

 

[RobDoc]

Here is the announcement made to Travel Agents - it mentions nothing about DVC sales - only the ability of TAs to make reservations in summer, 2010:

"Every place tells a story. Aluani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai'i tells the story of Hawai`i through its inspired architecture, distinctive design and connection to its island home, creating a unique and remarkable sense of place that unites families in a shared experience of pure Hawai`i.

With sweeping ocean views and white sandy beaches, Ko Olina, on the secluded Wai‘anae coast of O`ahu, is treasured by islanders and waiting to be discovered by you.

Aluani, a Disney Resort & Spa
Ko Olina, Hawai`i
Scheduled to Open Fall 2011
Reservations Begin Summer 2010

Check back here for updates. "

In all likelyhood, Aluani will become the 11th DVC resort, but DVC is adamant about emphasizing that until it has "officially" been declared into inventory, it is not part of DVC. There is no question that the resort will become available for" sales" of reservations this summer, but the suggestion that DVC will begin sales at that time is very premature. The resort is comprised of both a hotel and timeshare and the two are definitley separate. The announcement to TAs has nothing to do with DVC.

Thanks for the information. Every piece of the puzzle is appreciated.

Stay tuned for announcements about DVC sales though!

 

[PrincessDuck]

Thank you for sharing your information. Please don't get defensive when other people just help to clarify the info. The Hawaii resort is going to be both a DVC resort and a huge hotel. So, any info that a travel agent would receive would pertain to the hotel side of things. They need info to be able to book their clients into the hotel.

It is exciting to see anything on the Hawaii resort. I would love to visit via DVC, but the hotel info will be just as exciting as we may do that on the first trip to check things out!!

Take from it what you will. Why is it that whenever anyone shares anything that is at least a little bit informative, someone has to jump all over it and shoot it down. Personally, I take it from this that the Hawaii resort will be a DVC property...is it spelled out in "official documents" ?- no...but I just thought I'd share it with others who might be interested.

For those who are interested, here is the exact mailing:
Disney's $800 million resort on Oahu will be called the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii. The resort is scheduled to open next year.

Travel agents can now get updates and information about the Aulani at Disneytravelagents.com. The site details features of the resort that are still under development and includes conceptual renderings of the property, resort highlights. The site will display photos of the Aulani as it nears completion.

"We anticipate opening sales for the resort in summer 2010, and we are kicking off our trade education program concurrent with this naming announcement," stated Randy Garfield, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts' executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations.

Aulani means "the place that speaks for the great ones" or "the place that speaks with deep messages," said Joe Rohde, a senior vice president at Walt Disney Imagineering, the Disney division that designs resorts and parks.

Disney broke ground on the resort in Ko Olina (about 20 miles west of Waikiki) in early 2009. Aulani is Disney's first family resort outside of theme park developments.

The resort will consist of two 15-story towers that will house 350 hotel rooms as well as 481 timeshare villas set on 21 oceanfront acres fronting a manmade lagoon in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development.

The Aulani will include two restaurants; a Disney kids' club with planned activities and adventures; a lazy river where guests can weave their way through volcanic rockwork and a caldera; a saltwater lagoon for snorkeling; an 18,000-square-foot spa; and an 8,000-square-foot conference center.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The part about the timeshare villas is there is no real mention of DVC in that announcement. There is no guarantee that the DVC system as we know it will have access to that resort for booking as a non-home resort like we do at WDW.

 

[PrincessDuck]

oooooo I so am going to keep thinking positive about this. A point that I had not heard before. It will be interesting to see what happens.

The part about the timeshare villas is there is no real mention of DVC in that announcement. There is no guarantee that the DVC system as we know it will have access to that resort for booking as a non-home resort like we do at WDW.

 

[bookwormde]

I can assure you that with design and construcution this far along that the one building will be a timeshare building. Now Disney could separate it from DVC but I think that is unlikely. Does anyone here really that there is less than a 90% chance that it will be DVC. A summer or early fall 2010 sales date is possible if Hawaii has the structure complete standard that some states have. I am predicting a late spring 2011 completion date (or at least the first saleable phase), anyone else have a guess.

bookwormde

 

[PrincessDuck]

There is no doubt that part of it will be timeshare....every communication from disney mentions it. I really had not thought of it being separate from DVC...but I guess it could make sense for reasons that I am not aware of. I have many reasons why it should be part of DVC as we know it. I think that the sales dates for the timeshare portion are going to depend on the laws in Hawaii. If it is not available until 2011 they may not be able to sale it until then...I think that was the case with California.

Disclaimer: I am in no way a timeshare expert, so please don't depend on my info. I am just speculating......I so wish that we knew more!

I can assure you that with design and consecution this far along that the one building will be a timeshare building. Now Disney could separate it from DVC but I think that is unlikely. Does anyone here really that there is less than a 90% chance that it will be DVC. A summer or early fall 2010 sales date is possible if Hawaii has the structure complete standard that some states have. I am predicting a late spring 2011 completion date (or at least the first saleable phase), anyone else have a guess.

bookwormde

 

[dianeschlicht]

There is no doubt that part of it will be timeshare....every communication from disney mentions it. I really had not thought of it being separate from DVC...but I guess it could make sense for reasons that I am not aware of. I have many reasons why it should be part of DVC as we know it. I think that the sales dates for the timeshare portion are going to depend on the laws in Hawaii. If it is not available until 2011 they may not be able to sale it until then...I think that was the case with California.

Disclaimer: I am in no way a timeshare expert, so please don't depend on my info. I am just speculating......I so wish that we knew more!

Yes, and that's why I alluded to the fact that Hawaii timeshare laws may be driving this boat. Frankly, I think DVC folks are still thinking about whether or not it will be part of the current system. While I don't think it's likely, I would not be at all surprised to see it be a DVC stand alone system.

Let's face it...Hawaii is not going to draw the "Disney" crowd as much as it will folks who just like to vacaction in the islands. Now I'm a member of both of those groups, but Hawaii timeshare ownership has never really made a lot of sense for us, since we really don't want to go more often than about every 5 years. That would mean we'd have to rent out our Hawaii points more than we would use them, and I don't want that hassle.

 

[DenLo]

When we purchased our BLT contract in May 2009, there was a disclaimer that buying in to the DVC and at BLT would not guarantee us access to the Disney Hawaiian property/resort. I can't remember the exact wording and it would take me quite I awhile to read all that fine print again.

On an old thread this disclaimer was mentioned and several reported that Disney has used this disclaimer before. On AKV contracts regarding BLT; on BWV when selling BCV and I think for Vero and Hilton Hilton on several different contracts.

I think because of the past history people here on the DIS are assuming that Aulani will still be a DVC property. But dianeschlicht is correct that Disney has only mentioned timeshare villas and has not used DVC. However, my DH pointed that when announcements have been made like at D23 convention, DVC employees were on hand to talk about the timeshare villas and any details that were released regarding the timeshare.

So it appears until everything is on file with Hawaii and Disney opens the timeshare units for sell we won't know for sure if it will be a DVC property, a Disney Collection property or something new.

 

[tjkraz]

While I don't think it's likely, I would not be at all surprised to see it be a DVC stand alone system.

I would be very surprised to see it in a separate system.

The market may be somewhat different for Hawaii, but I don't see how its inclusion in a program with HHI, Vero and 7 other destinations at Disneyland and WDW hurts marketability. Timeshare newbies aren't going to make the leap to question whether they would have difficulties securing reservations since thousands of others can book Aulani.

And the Hawaii resort can only help sales of DVC points even at the theme park locations. We already see the occasional post from people who buy into DVC and plan to use part of their ownership at RCI exchanges...without really understanding the complexities involved. Having a Hawaii resort native to DVC removes many of those hurdles.

 

[tjkraz]

I think because of the past history people here on the DIS are assuming that Aulani will still be a DVC property. But dianeschlicht is correct that Disney has only mentioned timeshare villas and has not used DVC.

They have specifically mentioned DVC. Here is a section from the Fact Sheet sent out earlier this week along with the press release touting the resort's naming:

Part of Aulani will be dedicated to Disney Vacation Club, a vacation-ownership program that helps families enjoy flexibility and savings on vacations for decades to come. By purchasing a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club resort, families enjoy flexible vacations at Disney destinations worldwide as well as hundreds of other popular Member Getaways vacation locations around the globe.​

Disney Vacation Club accommodations blend Disney's famed attention to storytelling detail with all the comforts of home. From well-appointed studios equipped with convenient kitchenettes to sprawling, multiroom villas complete with full-size kitchens, washers and dryers, whirlpool tubs and other homelike amenities, Disney Vacation Club resorts create flexible options to meet the needs of thousands of families from around the world.​

​

And from the press release itself:

The Resort is planned to have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas.​

 

[tidefan]

How about this:

http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=HawaiiResortLandingPage&sourcecode=HITSRBAN&CMP=ILC-RESFY10Q1HawaiitoDVCP

 

[RobDoc]

How about this:

http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=HawaiiResortLandingPage&sourcecode=HITSRBAN&CMP=ILC-RESFY10Q1HawaiitoDVCP

Sure ... and DVC has also made similar announcements for Newport Beach ( now a Marriott Resort) and Eagle Pines (now a Four Seasons project at WDW).

Until the resort has been declared into DVC inventory it is not officially part of DVC.

 

[tidefan]

Sure ... and DVC has also made similar announcements for Newport Beach ( now a Marriott Resort) and Eagle Pines (now a Four Seasons project at WDW).

Until the resort has been declared into DVC inventory it is not officially part of DVC.

Oh, I totally agree with that, I'm just responding to those who say that Disney has never even mentioned DVC with this project...

The part about the timeshare villas is there is no real mention of DVC in that announcement. There is no guarantee that the DVC system as we know it will have access to that resort for booking as a non-home resort like we do at WDW.

While it is true that nothing will be official until units are declared, I most certainly do think that DVC is marketing it.

 

[lugnut33]

Sure ... and DVC has also made similar announcements for Newport Beach ( now a Marriott Resort) and Eagle Pines (now a Four Seasons project at WDW).

Until the resort has been declared into DVC inventory it is not officially part of DVC.

Don't forget, DVC never confirmed BLT was a DVC resort until the very last minute. Sure, the whole world knew it was DVC, but I'm sure for legal reasons they have to wait.

 

[tjkraz]

Don't forget, DVC never confirmed BLT was a DVC resort until the very last minute. Sure, the whole world knew it was DVC, but I'm sure for legal reasons they have to wait.

I don't think that's true. As long as they have adequate disclaimers ("might not happen"), they could have started touting BLT years before it opened just as they have done recently with the Grand Californian and Hawaii. In the case of BLT, I suspect they were more worried about its impact on current sales at AKV and SSR.

As for Hawaii, I'm well aware of the other announced DVC projects that never became reality. But the Hawaii resort's progress is well beyond any of those prior jobs. Groundbreaking was over 14 months ago and they've been in active construction for nearly a year.

Disney isn't going to abandon the project and they aren't going to suddenly decide they would rather have 700+ cash rooms (400+ of which are two bedroom suites) rather than the announced hotel/timeshare split.

It would take an act of God to keep the resort from joining DVC at this point.

 

[arthur06]

I don't think that's true. As long as they have adequate disclaimers ("might not happen"), they could have started touting BLT years before it opened just as they have done recently with the Grand Californian and Hawaii. In the case of BLT, I suspect they were more worried about its impact on current sales at AKV and SSR.

Making an announcement doesnt really make sense so far in advance. If you announced BLT 2-3 years early, it could very well slow sales at current properties that were for sale...

Hawaii is slightly different as it is located off poroperty and is the only Disney property in Hawaii. It is very much destined to become a DVC property, but the logical move is to play it close to the vest in a situation where an unforseen circumstance arises.

The resort will open in "late 2011" regardless of DVC or non DVC, so Disney will take there time, they have a better understanding of DVC historical sales then any of us. Im sure there is a plan, and that is being followed.