Experiences with Fairfield presentation (and ownership)?

[JLS]

We are recent DVC purchasers and we were in Las Vegas over the 4th weekend, and we got "accosted" by a Fairfield representative at Alamo rental car, looking for people to check out the new Fairfield Grand Desert, which is behind the Strip on the East side. I wasn't too keen attending a high pressure presentation, and they were only offering show tickets. We said no, and they upped the ante to 2-nights accommodations in Lake Tahoe and $50, so we agreed.... (I guess our time can be "bought" for the right price!).

We went to the presentation and there were a ton of people there. Our guide was OK and fortunately not high pressure - we told her right away that we bought DVC a couple of months ago so she realized that we were not likely buyers. However, on paper Fairfield looked pretty impressive. Of course the guide was emphasizing how much cheaper it is than DVC and the fact that it is deeded for life, and that there are 100 Fairfield properties vs. only 6 (soon 7) DVC. She said something like "I can't imagine why Disney is allowing Fairfield to build on its property [the new Bonnet Creek resort], how can they compete with our prices...."

I will admit that if we had not bought DVC, we may have considered Fairfield. It seems like you could get a lot of bang for your buck. But I am very curious if anyone else has experience with Fairfield, good or bad. I would love to hear about your sales presentation and/or decision to buy.

--Jenn

 

[betslinc]

We have a small amount of Farifield points we bought resale. I have never been to a sales presentation, but from what I've heard their sales tactics are very aggressive and not entirely truthful. The Fairfield system is much more complicated than DVC, and there are a lot more small fees for transactions. If you know how to use the system, and are into travel to areas which have an oversupply of timeshares (ie Orlando, Williamsburg, Canary Islands), you can get some awesome trades for miniscule prices. It is a fair amount of work, though. If interested you should really join the Yahoo Fairfield User Group(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fairfield_timeshare). If you don't mind being offsite, and are willing to have patience with Fairfield's complicated program, Fairfield could be for you. If you want onsite Disney Magic, DVC is for you. We have a small DVC contract and alternate contracts every other year. It stretches out our
Disney points a long way, and we can usually get two weeks vacation in 1-2 bedroom units for the equivalent of $270 maintanence fees and two $129 online RCI exchange fees. Every year. Do NOT buy directly from Fairfield, resales are about a third of the price.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We own 500 DVC points at OKW, VWL and BCV. About two weeks ago we sat in on a Hilton Grand Vacation Club presentation. Their big selling point was you can use your points (they borrowed DVC's point concept for HGVC) at Hilton and Hilton brand hotels. I just think since I want to use my DVC at Disney, why should I buy something else that doesn't give me the Disney benefits that DVC does. The new Fairfield timeshare may be close, but it's not on Disney property and it definitely won't be DVC. Just like the DTD hotels may be on Disney property, but they aren't Disney hotels.

 

[JLS]

I was told by 3 different Fairfield representatives that the new Fairfield resort being built in Orlando is actually ON Disney Property. The Resort is called Bonnet Creek and I was told specifically that it is "just inside the gates" of WDW. Curious if this was just a sales pitch? Our sales person was actually getting ready to move to Orlando to go sell Bonnet Creek units. She was gloating about how Disney is going to be sorry that they allowed Fairfield on the property because it would offer such a better deal to people looking to own at Disney than DVC.

I have done some research since our presentation and it seems that our guide was overstating the different in maintenance fees between Fairfield and DVC (surprise surprise).

Anyway, we enjoyed hearing about a different resort offer and felt really lucky that our sales rep was low pressure. She also had sold a membership that morning so wasn't as concerned. But she did say towards the end "you guys are lucky you have me - a lot of other sales reps are not this nice." Whatever that means! Salespeople seem to forget that it is your right NOT to buy. You don't owe it to them to buy just because you step in the door.

The only thing I really did not like about the presentation was while we were waiting for our guide to arrive, another sales representative was going around to every couple in the waiting room and giving them a clipboard and instructing them to fill out the information in order to be entered to "win" a cruise. It turns out that they wanted you to give the names, addresses and phone numbers of your friends and family so they could call them and make a pitch to come to a sales presentation. No way would I do that. We declined, and then the guy made us feel guilty, saying if we referred people he would get "extra credit."

 

[Caskbill]

Just to clarify, Yes, the Fairfield resort is INSIDE the Disney gate, but NO, it is not on Disney property. Basically it is surrounded on three sides by Disney property. The Fairfield resort's entrance will connect to Buena Vista Dr. right next to the overpass for the expressway that comes in/out of Disney World. As far as I know the only true non-Disney resorts on Disney itself are the Swan and Dolphin, and even there I think there's some kind of leasing agreement. (I'm not sure if Disney owns the buildings or not).

Next closest are the hotels all out by Downtown Disney.

Obviously the Fairfield will not have Disney bus transportation. Nor will it have room charging privileges for the Disney restaurants, shops, etc. It will be just like any other hotel in the Orlando area. But it will be about as close as you can get without actually being on Disney property. In fact you must go onto Disney property first to get to the resort.

Just for fun, and knowing better, if a sales rep told me that Fairfield was actually ON DISNEY's property, I would ask them to explain why in the world Disney would let someone else built a competitive resort on land actually owned by Disney. If they admit that Disney didn't own the land, then explain why you clearly state it is ON Disney property. Let them hem and haw. Then explain that if the rest of the presentation is going to be just as inaccurate, or full of lies or half-truths, then there's no sense in continuing. Let them do their spiel, nod your head once in awhile, then when they're done, collect your $50 bucks (or whatever other incentive), and leave.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

About five years ago we went to a Fairfield presentation in Kissimmee. Like many folks, we were all about getting three nights in a hotel free (in our case, the Doubletree) and passes to USF.

After our 90-minute sales pitch came close to the 2.5 hour mark, DW was ready to strangle me. The salesman went to great lengths up front to establish rapport, talking about family, stuff like that. He also asked two or three times if we'd looked at any other timeshare programs (and I basically refused to answer him, because I didn't want to lie and say "no", because we'd looked at DVC, and wanted him to give us his best shot.)

So, after small talk for a while, he got out a pile of brochures, a note pad, and began writing (upside down - is this a prerequisite for Fairfield employees), bombarding us with figures and facts. He presented us with some ungodly price, and of course we balked.

For the next - what? 45 minutes? - he whittled away at his cost. Then, abruptly, we got up and toured a couple of models which, frankly, were pretty nice. Then back to the table. When we were adament about not making a decision on the spot - I mean, Lord, I wouldn't walk on a car lot and purchase the first car I saw, if I were indeed "shopping around," he got angry, or at least feigned it. We held our ground.

He went and got a manager, who came across with some other "phenomenal" deal, and with her, we stuck to our guns. With a sigh, she said, OK, and brought a third person over to do an "exit survey," making sure we understood what we were turning down, that we were treated courteously, etc. This guy was REALLY scary - big ol' bulky dude, looked like a bouncer, draped in gold chains - you get the picture. He then made the final offer after his interview, which was basically a trial period before purchase for some miniscule amount. Then - and this was the coup - he asked, "Would you try our program free for X months?"

I had to fight the urge to scream and run. We got our passes and got the heck out of Dodge. Unpleasant? You betcha. For other's sake, I hope Fairfield has softened it's tactics, because a lot of the properties are quite attractive. Why not just state the fair price and let the buyer determine whether to buy or not?

I can't think of anyone I despise enough to wish this kind of afternoon on.

 

[spiceycat]

I think when this Fairfield opens - there are going to be alot of disappointed Fairfield owners - first of all it is not on WDW property - it is that area that Disney did not buy - over next to CBR and the new Pop Century - and they only have access to the main entrance - not the back roads - so I can see a fairfield owner trying to go in the MK the back roads and get turn around - this will probably made some owners mad - but hey if you buy with Fairfield instead of DVC that is to be expected.

as long as the best way to get back and forth to the parks is the back ways - and WDW only lets WDW guests and buses use them - I don't have a problem.

 

[JLS]

This is very interesting and great information. There is no question that at least some salespeople at Fairfield (and probably most) are aggressively selling their timeshares based on "on Disney property availability." They sat there and basically tried to suggest to us that the only difference between their new resort Bonnet Creek and DVC was that we paid more for it. ha!
The more I learn about other timeshares, the more happy I am we got DVC. You can rent a week at Fairfield on skyauction or Tug for bargain basement prices, or buy resale.

Fairfield seems to have some very nice properties, but I think I would be happier to rent them and do an add-on at DVC!

 

[ErinC]

Someone from Fairfield called me last night during dinner. They asked if I had recently stayed at a ramada inn in Chattanooga. I told her that about two years ago I had a reservation at a ramada inn in Chattanooga, we arrived mid afternoon , the place looked like a dump, the reservation was not guaranteed, so we went back downtown to find somewhere acceptable. I think that I booked that reservation online with ramada. Are Fairfield and Ramada somehow related? I hate phone calls like this. It's kind of Big Brotherish!! Anyway she offered us like 3 free nights somewhere, I was half listening , I told her I wasn't interested and hung up the phone.

 

[jcodespoti]

We sat for the Fairfiled presentation in Vegas. I went in w/an opened mind but left very disappointed. When I told the saleaman I owned at DVC he thought that I was dumb for buying it. He said that Fairfield was much better. I said how so? his reply was "all Disney knows how to build is cheap hotels". I thought that was interesting. When I asked about dues or common charges he said "don't worry about that". We left and haven't given a second thought about it.

Joe in CT

 

[Lisa P.]

We own with Fairfield Resorts (FF) and enjoy it very much! If anyone is considering it, the Yahoo Group mentioned above by betslinc is very useful. We sold our DVC for some of the very reasons that were cited by the sales reps. They (timeshare sales reps) are known to play with words, sometimes lie. Unfortunately, it's a widespread problem in that industry so, buyer beware!

Whether the new Bonnet Creek development (FF timeshare + 4 hotels + golf course) is "on" Disney property or "just inside the gates" really won't matter, IMHO, to guests staying there. Guests who stay at the Bonnet Creek FF Resort will enter by passing under the purple WDW archway signs onto Disney property. They'll travel down Buena Vista Blvd and into the resort development's driveway, just as guests would do to reach the adjacent Caribbean Beach Resort. Unlike the Swan or the DD area hotels, which are, btw, all on Disney property with long-term leases (and they offer shuttle buses, but no charge card privileges nor free parking), Bonnet Creek is not leased. But that detail will probably not matter to Bonnet Creek guests either! JMHO.

Whether the development will offer shuttle buses, like the DD hotels, or not, remains to be seen. Disney guests are permitted to use Disney's "back roads" in the same way as the general public - to visit resorts, restaurants, golf courses, etc. They are not permitted to travel in bus lanes. We've driven on the "back roads" between Fort Wilderness and OKW and been waved through the guarded gate many times, regardless of where we were staying, onsite or off. Same thing for the "back road" toward AKL, which also leads to a back road to offsite Kissimmee timeshares. These are just public roads. So I would think that a Bonnet Creek guest will have a similar driving experience as an OKW guest, other than paying a daily parking fee at the theme park parking lots.

I don't know what was said during your LV tour, regarding maint fees, which vary by home resort. Maint fees for enough points for a typical 2BR week during school breaks will cost about $900-$1,200 with DVC or about $500-$700 with FF. Add a couple of exchange fees ($139/week) and the same number of FF points could get you 2, 3 or more weeks in 2BRs by trading via RCI. This kind of splitting and trading up is not possible with DVC. So the value is definitely there with FF. Both programs allow you to save points by traveling during less popular times or skipping Fri/Sat nights or accepting smaller units.

The purchase price for those developer points would be about $25,000 DVC (300) vs. $22,000 FF (175,000). But with resales, the difference is far greater: $20,000 DVC vs. $6,000 FF.

There are about 90 timeshare resorts available for direct, nightly reservations through FF points. Then, of course, there are cruise options (almost all cruise lines) and external trading for full weeks via RCI. If someone bought from the developer after October 2001, they can also use points for car rentals, airfare, theme park tix, etc. But, like DVC, only the directly booked nightly or weekly timeshare reservations and exchanges are a good value for the points.

Hope this clears up a few things. I don't work for them, just enjoy them. If you want "Disney," all the time, then DVC is the way to go. But if you want to trade around to nice Gold Crown properties in a wide variety of destinations, there are other points programs that have good flexibility with far more resort options than DVC. For us, that's Fairfield.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Originally posted by betslinc
The Fairfield system is much more complicated than DVC, and there are a lot more small fees for transactions.

I have to say this is exactly why we bought DVC. We were probably more Fairfield or Marriott timeshare type prospective customers rather than DVC because frankly we will not be going to WDW every year. We will be going to HHI and possibly Vero quite a bit as well as doing exchanges. My DW is just not the Disney nut that I am (unfortunately, but we've been married 31 years so what are you going to do ). I looked into both Fairfield and Marriott and read thru all the message boards at TUG, etc. It just all seemed so complicated compared to DVC's simplicity. Maybe I'm just dense but having to worry about the different seasons and points and the like was just over my head. And just when I thought I understood it, I'd read something else that would totally confused me. With DVC it is all so different you get points at the beginning of your use year, you can bank and borrow which are both simple concepts and you can make ressies 11 months out at your home resort and 7 months out at all other resorts. It couldn't be any simpler.

 

[betslinc]

Lisa P really makes a great summary (as usual, she is the equivalent of Dean when it comes to the scope of her Fairfield knowledge). For someone who wants the "Disney Magic" every year, including the Magic Hour and e-ticket nights, DVC is the way to go. I can't imagine Bonnet Creek is going to offer these things no matter what any sales rep says. The Fairfield system is VERY complicated, and even the customer reps don't even give the same answers, you can often keep calling back until you find one that does what you want to do. And the sales tactics are atrocious. Hewever, if you take the time to learn the system you have a huge amount of flexiblity and can really stretch your points, a huge bang for the buck. For us, having two small contracts at both gives us gigantic, first class vacation experiences. They are completely different, but we find they complement each other really nicely.

 

[deerh]

By Lisa P: The purchase price for those developer points would be about $25,000 DVC (300) vs. $22,000 FF (175,000). But with resales, the difference is far greater: $20,000 DVC vs. $6,000 FF.

The above is not true for DVC, IF you get the magical beginnings and it is only $74/pt, DVC would be very close to the same price (developer) as FF: 300 pts x $74=$22200, the same as FF, I may agree on the resale, but look how DVC holds its value. So, you are telling me in the above statement if I bought DVC for $22200 it would be worth $20000, BUT if I bought FF for $22000, it would be worth $6000???? INTERESTING..........

A very nice post Lisa P, I did not look at FF initially, but looked at Marriott and DVC since my wife and I are equal Disney "nuts", but I enjoyed reading. You seem to know your FF! And I am glad FF works for you.

Enjoy
DeerH

"

 

[spiceycat]

Lisa P - lets get real here - if you are during work for WDW, Or a CM or a guest at disney WDW resort or have an annual pass - then the security guards will return you around at the security gate - come of I have seem them turn too many people around - they don't let other in - it would cost them their jobs - others have to paid the fee at the main gate. which is must further away than the back entrance.

 

[deerh]

By Spicycat: Lisa P - lets get real here - if you are during work for WDW, Or a CM or a guest at disney WDW resort or have an annual pass - then the security guards will return you around at the security gate - come of I have seem them turn too many people around - they don't let other in - it would cost them their jobs - others have to paid the fee at the main gate. which is must further away than the back entrance.

Lisa is correct. I have been at the security gate (next to Eagle Pines golf and Ft. Wilderness), and have never been turned away. I always drive my car to Poly for dinner, b'fast, or Cont. resort. I have just told the guy at the gate I have reservations and he waves me through. Don't know if they have changed the policy in 03, as of June 02, this was the case. Just FYI............

DeerH
I don't think this area is an area they charge cars for parking, we are not going to WDW, just to the resorts....

 

[spiceycat]

okay I am going to stay off-site this October and I am going to try this and see what happens - boy if I get turn around - I am going to come back here and get really mad!!!!! not at WDW they are during their jobs.

my cat likes the FW kennels. So I will definitely see for myself.

I don't like to lie - you know say I had a reservations when I don't - will this be a problem.

 

[deerh]

okay I am going to stay off-site this October and I am going to try this and see what happens - boy if I get turn around - I am going to come back here and get really mad!!!!! not at WDW they are during their jobs.

Again, I don't know the policy in 03, just know in 02 they did not check. When you go to Ft. Wild, how else do you get in, either by the (paying toll booth) and then take a right under the monorail, or Bonnett Creek road, as far as I know this is the ONLY way I know how to get to Ft. Wild.
I DO know that when coming into the MK, they will NOT let you turn right under the monorail and go towards Ft. Wild. They had that blocked off with cones, etc, don't know why?!

Ques? : Why staying OFF property? Once I became DVC, never again, except at Univ. Studios, and that is ON property, HRH, PBR, etc.
Off Property? NOPE, not me, been there, done that..........
DeerH

 

[spiceycat]

I really love Orlando - not just WDW but SW and US/IOA -too - so I brought an South Africia - 1-bedroom - a really cheap week ($350) that allows to trade to Orlando

I am staying at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club this October for mother's birthday and next year we are celebrating Thanksgiving at Sheraton Vistana Resort. both are 2-bedroom - so this is a great deal for me.

when I stay at WDW I have a tendency to go to WDW theme parks - I have annual passes for SW and US/IOA - I though this would get me to them more often than just my DVC.

but Spicey still needs a kennel - so I will be going to FW every day.

 

[jbthi]

Spiceycat,
We're going to be at HGVC in Oct. also. We will still just go to DW though. We'll be checking in at BWV on Nov. 9 but we just wanted to go early and we've used all our points plus borrowed all we can. Guess it's time to buy more Already been there 37 days this year, going back in Nov., then in Dec. and again in Jan. Have several other TS but love my DVC.