Perhaps I am greedy but I want DVC growth to be based in the USA. The cost to travel abroad would not be feasible for many members. I would personally like to see more placed like HHI and I feel there is much growth potential in this area. But i do admit that the global potential is huge.
Personally I agree with you. I think there are a lot of great destinations that could have a great resort like Aulani, part DVC, part hotel - regardless of what other timeshare companies or resorts are around. However, people have to have the interest to buy there and go again and again. I would love it if the network were expanded further with more stand-alone resorts. We've enjoyed many nice destinations with my FIL using his multiple non-Disney timeshares through the years. I don't really want to trade out my DVC points for something non-Disney, we have options for that kind of travel, so I'd like more options within the Disney network. But that's just me and MHO. Others will disagree and that's okay. A lot is riding on Aulani. I get that.
For many within the primary DVC market to date, (or east of the Mississippi), flying to CA annually or bi-annually, or even tri-annually was a major point of contention for why they wouldn't purchase VGC. However once they go out there and see just how incredible
Disneyland actually is... and how absolutely beautiful VGC and the Grand Californian are... almost everyone comes back flabergasted, at least those that I've personally spoken or interacted with her on the DIS and elsewhere. Many wish they had points there. Still others others have acted upon that wish and added VGC points to their own point portfolios, and still more have debated the choice intensely. I have no figures to quantify this next statement, but from what I've read here on the DIS and elsewhere, it appears a vast majority of DVC's primary sales market have never actually even been to the place that started it all, which really is a shame. Sure WDW closer, but DL is the mecca for Disney fans. And the Grand Californian is, by many people's admissions, as well as my own personal opinion, the best DVC property to date, both in design and execution. However the model photos and concept art that I've seen for Aulani makes me think that that resort will soon move up to the top spot. We purchased VGC specifically since we are native Californians and still have family and other ties out there. We get out there annually as it is, so for us it was a no brainer. Others not so much.
The same argument (flying every 1, 2 or 3 years) has been coming up now with Aulani in active sales. However at least on these boards, I'm certainly seeing more and more people who are indicating they've purchased Aulani, that aren't all from the west coast. I've even seen numerous folks on here identified as eastern US residents. Likewise Aulani's sales are definitely being geared to the Japanese in a huge way as well. DVC certainly isn't only relying on the primary market they've depended up for the past 19 years any more to drive the sales for that resort. I would really like to purchase points at Aulani, as I know we'd enjoy getting back to Hawaii multiple times. Let me just admit that each new publication, mailer, etc, makes me want to purchase more and more. But, so did the very first marketing pieces put out way back in 1991 - and all of the ones I received thereafter. I wasn't able to buy in then, being a college student at the time. Then we looked at in person while on our honeymoon and wanted to, but couldn't then either. I took a long time before we were in a place to be able to do so. But, like VGC, there are ulterior motives as well.
My brother lives in Hawaii, on Oahu, and it would be a great place to stay and visit, without intruding on his space/providing us with the privacy, etc. and serving as a nice home base while there for another great vacation destination every couple of years. But so far my DW isn't quite in agreement because of the airfare expense. If it weren't for that, we'd buy in in a heartbeat. So with that in mind, I'd sure love some other options within the system that might be more easily obtained, transportation-wise. Personally, depending on the destination, I wouldn't mind having a small to medium sized set of points at places like Lake Tahoe, Aspen or Vail, Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Pacific Northwest, or even Long Island, Vermont or Maine. We absolutely LOVE going to WDW and DL... but having options of Disney resorts in other locations would be just great in MHO. And each of the destinations mentioned are places we've been to time and time again, so I know we'd return in the future, they aren't just places pulled out of a hat, even if just as a destination possibility such as HHI or VB are today for us, options to use our points at without the trade out fee or the "unbalanced" trade that many destinations outside of DVC come with. Our entire family was excited about the possibility of National Harbor... I know a lot of people aren't, but we were. A small 40-60 point purchase wouldn't amount to much without lots of other people doing the same or larger, but it would be nice to have the opportunity to consider it. The same holds true for any other location Disney might propose. I'm still wishing they had continued with their plans all those years ago for the Newport Beach, CA location they once were working on...
I think it is worth noting that the general consensus is that VGC is likely to be viewed as a disappointment, in terms of how long it took to close out sales of a *very* small resort. That's not that surprising. The "home court advantage" at Disneyland just isn't what it is at WDW. There are many great non-Disney hotel properties (and another timeshare or two) within walking distance of the esplanade.
Sure it might be a "disappointment" as you say, and sure as a vacation destination resort, WDW has a much larger home court advantage than DL does or ever will have - that's going to happen when you have about 45 times the acreage, and so many more amenities, resorts, parks, etc. But DL can and does stand on its' own quite well. It always has. And I will agree that it is surrounded within walking distance by a great many motels, hotels and resorts. Having lived and worked there, I know that quite well. And I'll point out that many travelers to So. Cal are looking for the bargain accomodations (hence the popularity of the HoJo) because they are going to see and do so much more than just DL that So. Cal offers. Those miles of beautiful beaches, Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, the original Universal Studios with the actual working Studio Tour, San Diego, and so much more. And since visitors aren't trapped on property at DL like they are at WDW, thanks to the ingenious introduction of DME a few years back, and throwing the
DDP at people...WDW maintains an extremely captive audience that DL will never replicate. Until they build a water park or a third gate, DL just won't capture the typical tourist for more than 3-4 days max. And even if they do eventually build that third gate or a water park, or even a second fabulous DVC property, people still won't view it as a week-long destination. WDW will always win in that sense.
Regarding VGC's sales, sure we all thought it would sell out faster than it did, but the economy certainly slowed it down. I certainly bought into that thinking right away, and had my guide sending me paperwork for it the first possible time I could once the Founding Member sales opened up to the general public because I "bought in" to the mentality that it would be sold out in 6-12 months and did't want to miss out. But even still, being down to just one UY left after a year and half of sales doesn't seem that bad to me, when you consider the economy and the general downsizing, or putting off major luxury purchases as so many have had to do. But I'm not an expert on timeshare sales or sales durations either. I certainly don't or haven't tracked how long any resort has taken to sell out. How long did the next smallest resort, VWL take to sell out? How many resorts were in active sales at the time VWL was being pushed? How many times in the past has DVC had 4 active resorts for sale at the same time? Now 5 with Aulani added to the mix. So many options for potential customers to choose from. With price increases once, or wait, was it twice, while the resort was in active sales? And of course, for all the hype of proximity and being the premiere resort, why hasn't BLT sold out yet? I realize it's a lot larger than VGC, but isn't that the primary resort being pushed at this time? I know I had to say no to my guide about 4 times before she realized we truly weren't interested in BLT and really wanted VGC. And even when we added on for more points at VGC, she still asked me first if I wanted BLT and I had to tell her no a 5th time.