dvc vs other timeshares

[Brian Noble]

The first time I noticed the sign was early 2007---we had just bought our own Wyndham resale deed, and were driving around the resort to check it out. When we turned out of WBC to continue on our way, I just about drove my car off the road I was laughing so hard!

Our trip there this summer was a spur-of-the-moment thing. We normally go in Febraury, and it's never quite warm enough for us to hit the water parks. This year, my better half suggested we go down in the summer to check them out, and on the same day that Wyndham deposited a few July 2BRs to RCI. I used the internal preference to snag it with a generic white studio, and at that point, it was too good of a deal to pass up.

Of course, when you add the plane fare, plus eating out, plus more admission tickets, etc. etc. etc. I'm saving myself right into the poor house!

 

[littlestar]

Thanks for the links, Brian. Wow, Disney's SSR doesn't seem so big now at 828 units, plus 60 treehouses, when you read that Wyndham's Bonnet Creek will be 1594 units when completed.

I wonder how Wyndham's Bonnet Creek's dues stack up against DVC maintenance fees? Or how hard it is to get Bonnet Creek if you own Wyndham points somewhere else and are not an owner at Bonnet Creek - is it like DVC where you need to own at a particular resort to make sure you get a reservation for holidays? You would think when Bonnet Creek is completely built out at 1594 units that you could get a reservation for a holiday, but there may be a lot more Wyndham owners than DVC owners, so I don't know???

 

[Dean]

Bonnet Creek is a nice resort in a very good location. Some compromise on transportation but not much because we'd have a car regardless. However, I think BC left so much on the table in terms of hitting the mark. Plus I don't like the fact they short changed the smaller units where some fairly simple touches could have made them so much more upscale for relatively little cost. Basically corian or granite countertops would have made such a difference in the units there.

 

[primecap]

Actually, price is just a starting point. I am interested in looking into marriott or another timeshare to use as a more local summer vacation spot as hiking down to florida every time from chicago area is a bit of a trek. I do appreciate everybody's responses. I think I have a lot of learning to do regarding timeshares in general. I have heard good things however abou marriott.

Thanks again
Jim

 

[Lisa P.]

Brian, I laughed when I saw that sign too - the only 3D sign on property and it's aimed directly at the consumer of their competitor. So blatant. It's interesting that Wyndham/WorldMark has had a timeshare in Anaheim for years and DVC is finally opening their California location. Wyndham has had a resort in Alexandria VA and they're opening their National Harbor location soon and now Disney has announced their new property acquisition there, with plenty of DVC speculation. Marriott has had a resort in the very part of Hawaii for years, where DVC is currently building one. Marriott has had a timeshare near Paris, France next to that Disneyland park - wonder if DVC will ever add some units there. And a Manhattan DVC would make a LOT of sense to me, given all the Broadway shows related to Disney, though that's probably a longshot. Seems the Manhattan Club and Hilton will have to suffice for timeshares there.

 

[Dean]

Actually, price is just a starting point. I am interested in looking into marriott or another timeshare to use as a more local summer vacation spot as hiking down to florida every time from chicago area is a bit of a trek. I do appreciate everybody's responses. I think I have a lot of learning to do regarding timeshares in general. I have heard good things however abou marriott.

Thanks again
Jim

As noted, no one size fits all. For your location there is a Marriott in NJ, Branson and Williamburg as some of the closer ones. BG and Wyndham both have things in Wisconsin, Peppertree and a few others have resorts in the general area as well. Others can tell you how well Wyndham and others work for that area, BG is particularly easy to use for non traditional stays such as a few days here and there, long weekends and the like.

 

[Lisa P.]

It'll be nicer when Wyndham's hotel opens at the Bonnet Creek resort, adding restaurants, spa services, shops and more pools to the resort. Shuttle frequency has increased regularly while this resort has expanded and I'd expect it to continue to increase more by build-out, especially when the hotel opens. Also, when the new Waldorf=Astoria and the new Hilton open in October, their restaurants, golf course and spa services will be within walking distance inside the Bonnet Creek development. If they combine transportation contracts with Wyndham, there's definitely potential for buses to come as frequently to Bonnet Creek as to the DD Hotels - but that's speculative.

Debbie, maint fees at Wyndham Bonnet Creek are currently $3.95/thousand Wyn pts. Reservations are in increments of 3-, 4- or 7-nights during prime season (until 3 months out) and just a 2-night minimum the rest of the year.
A 1BR Deluxe week is 84,000-166,000 depending on season = $332-$656.
A 2BR Deluxe week is 112,000-224,000 = $443-$885.
A 3BR Deluxe week is 175,000-308,000 = $692-$1217.
Then there are the 1BR, 2BR, 3BR and 4BR Presidential units, all with lots more space, gourmet kitchens, upgraded furnishings, better patio furniture. Thanksgiving week and late-occurring Easter weeks are actually in value season. That's a steal!

We've never had trouble making reservations with our NC (Harbour) Wyn pts, at 6-10 months out. So, unless you want the 3BR or 4BR units or perhaps New Year's, you'd probably do fine with Wyndham points reservations.

 

[culli]

Thanks for the links, Brian. Wow, Disney's SSR doesn't seem so big now at 828 units, plus 60 treehouses, when you read that Wyndham's Bonnet Creek will be 1594 units when completed.

I wonder how Wyndham's Bonnet Creek's dues stack up against DVC maintenance fees? Or how hard it is to get Bonnet Creek if you own Wyndham points somewhere else and are not an owner at Bonnet Creek - is it like DVC where you need to own at a particular resort to make sure you get a reservation for holidays? You would think when Bonnet Creek is completely built out at 1594 units that you could get a reservation for a holiday, but there may be a lot more Wyndham owners than DVC owners, so I don't know???

Whenever I check availability at BC there seems to be plenty of availability. MF with Wyndham is tricky but if you can keep it below $5 per 1k you are doing pretty good. I just checked for christmas week and they have a 2br available for 224k pts so with MF that would cost you about $1000. The rooms are bigger than DVC. Wyndham pts are pretty much given away for closing costs and pts are pts at the 10 month mark like DVC is at 7months. You have to really watch MF and do your homework. Wyndham is not as simple as DVC and they do charge you for about everything you do. This is not that bad especially when you can get the pts for next to nothing. If you buy Wyndham resale I think it is one of the best deals around. However you have to do your homework, start with the Wyndham section on the Tug forums.

 

[culli]

A bit off topic, but Married to the Mouse is a fascinating book and is a worthwhile read.

.

Thanks just bought one on ebay for $6.50 including shipping, sounds interesting.

 

[gkrykewy]

Thanks just bought one on ebay for $6.50 including shipping, sounds interesting.

Well I paid $6.34, so there

Actually the place I ordered from has another copy, and it's even cheaper now (if anyone's interested): http://www.valorebooks.com/Search/ISBN/9780300087079

 

[culli]

Well I paid $6.34, so there

Actually the place I ordered from has another copy, and it's even cheaper now (if anyone's interested): http://www.valorebooks.com/Search/ISBN/9780300087079

Actually I rounded it was $6.30, hmmmmmmmmm what to do with that 4 cents I saved?????????????

 

[Starr W.]

The first time I noticed the sign was early 2007---we had just bought our own Wyndham resale deed, and were driving around the resort to check it out. When we turned out of WBC to continue on our way, I just about drove my car off the road I was laughing so hard!

Our trip there this summer was a spur-of-the-moment thing. We normally go in Febraury, and it's never quite warm enough for us to hit the water parks. This year, my better half suggested we go down in the summer to check them out, and on the same day that Wyndham deposited a few July 2BRs to RCI. I used the internal preference to snag it with a generic white studio, and at that point, it was too good of a deal to pass up.

Of course, when you add the plane fare, plus eating out, plus more admission tickets, etc. etc. etc. I'm saving myself right into the poor house!

Well that is a good deal with the RCI deposit.
Our next door neighbors are down there right now, first time visitors. The DH seems to be one of those "know it alls" , kind of passed up advice on park touring, he made the statement "it's just a park like Cedar Point, what do you have to plan." .

Am eagerly waiting their return.

 

[littlestar]

If I didn't already own the two offsite timeshares that I own, I had kicked around the idea of investigating some HGVC points. From what I'm hearing, even the small point packages of 3,400 at Seaworld and International Drive trade into DVC 1 bedroom through RCI. I don't know what the dues are, but I know the buy-in cost is way less than buying DVC. I was surprised, though, that another Orlando timeshare could trade into DVC. Must be because it's points???

I had also kicked around buying a platinum resale at Sheraton Desert Oasis or Sheraton's Broadway Plantation in Myrtle Beach since both of those Sheratons are dual affiliated with II and RCI. And trading platinum time with either of those in RCI would more than likely trade into DVC. Of course, if you use those to trade in II it would give you the Starwood preference before other brands had a crack at the Starwood inventory.

But I really don't need anymore timeshares. I've got enough.

Thanks, Lisa, for posting the figures for Wyndham. It's interesting to see how the other systems stack up against DVC.

 

[Dean]

If I didn't already own the two offsite timeshares that I own, I had kicked around the idea of investigating some HGVC points. From what I'm hearing, even the small point packages of 3,400 at Seaworld and International Drive trade into DVC 1 bedroom through RCI. I don't know what the dues are, but I know the buy-in cost is way less than buying DVC. I was surprised, though, that another Orlando timeshare could trade into DVC. Must be because it's points???

I had also kicked around buying a platinum resale at Sheraton Desert Oasis or Sheraton's Broadway Plantation in Myrtle Beach since both of those Sheratons are dual affiliated with II and RCI. And trading platinum time with either of those in RCI would more than likely trade into DVC. Of course, if you use those to trade in II it would give you the Starwood preference before other brands had a crack at the Starwood inventory.

But I really don't need anymore timeshares. I've got enough.

Thanks, Lisa, for posting the figures for Wyndham. It's interesting to see how the other systems stack up against DVC.

There are some concerns about trading in to DVC using Orlando timeshare points so those are not likely a good choice. One of the point mandatory Westin options might be something to consider resale for many, though not to trade to DVC. Hilton just opened their 3rd Orlando resort last week I believe.

 

[Brian Noble]

I personally know someone who owns at HGVC Sea World, and traded into DVC. I don't know if the Orlando block hadn't been implemented yet, if HGVC works around it some way, or if they just got lucky.

 

[Dean]

I personally know someone who owns at HGVC Sea World, and traded into DVC. I don't know if the Orlando block hadn't been implemented yet, if HGVC works around it some way, or if they just got lucky.

It's been reported that someone who made an exchange online for 2 units was called and told they'd have to cancel. They were able to transfer the points to a friend and get the same units from what I was told. I'm sure it'll be hit or miss like everything else DVC. But I sure wouldn't buy in for Orland with the idea of trading to DVC given that risk and uncertainty.

 

[littlestar]

It's been reported that someone who made an exchange online for 2 units was called and told they'd have to cancel. They were able to transfer the points to a friend and get the same units from what I was told. I'm sure it'll be hit or miss like everything else DVC. But I sure wouldn't buy in for Orland with the idea of trading to DVC given that risk and uncertainty.

Hm. So maybe the Hilton (HGVC) Orlando owners fell through the cracks on those DVC trades to begin with, huh? I wondered about that as Interval (II) didn't let other Orlando resorts trade for DVC. I just thought maybe because Hilton is points that there was a way around the block since Hilton could deposit points from somewhere else besides Orlando. Kind of like the way Marriott Grande Vista owners did in the Florida Club - book another Marriott in Florida and skirt the regional trade block that way.

 

[Dean]

Hm. So maybe the Hilton (HGVC) Orlando owners fell through the cracks on those DVC trades to begin with, huh? I wondered about that as Interval (II) didn't let other Orlando resorts trade for DVC. I just thought maybe because Hilton is points that there was a way around the block since Hilton could deposit points from somewhere else besides Orlando. Kind of like the way Marriott Grande Vista owners did in the Florida Club - book another Marriott in Florida and skirt the regional trade block that way.

The instance I quoted was actually RCI points which should have been even safer. Hilton, Wyndham and similar could potentially get around it by depositing non Orlando weeks given the set up of their system. I suspect it depends on how those owners are listed with RCI and that's something I really don't know. My info suggests if their RCI membership is coded as having the Orlando resort in it, they are at risk for losing an exchange even after it has taken place. As you know, there's usually a work around for most problems and RCI is almost as inconsistent as DVC.

 

[phyllisnnj]

Just like DVC, HGVC controls the weeks deposited into RCI.

Also like DVC members, HGVC members just give up points for their RCI exchanges and do not have online access to RCI.

 

[Starr W.]

Just like DVC, HGVC controls the weeks deposited into RCI.

Also like DVC members, HGVC members just give up points for their RCI exchanges and do not have online access to RCI.

I've read the Hilton thread on TUG and it looks like members will be getting access to RCI to do their own searches. I think you will have to call in and have a deposit made.

Wyndham is supposed going the same route also, Brian Noble might have an update on that.