fardwarker said:
Does the
DVC model work if a new resort has a higher point cost to build, and say a much higher operating cost.
DVC is already a high-end timeshare, like those under the Marriott and Hyatt brands.
The high-end timeshare buisness model is to build a really nice resort, and to recover the contruction costs, marketing costs, the carrying cost of unsold inventory, to make a good profit by selling ownerships at a price well in excess of the construction cost. The up-front investment per unit can be far higher than for conventional deluxe hotel rooms because the investment can be recovered in a few years as ownerships (memberships) are sold. The actual "buy in" pricing has less to do with the underlying cost structure than with what the market is willing to pay.
But then the business model calls for keeping operating costs costs reasonably low because the owners (members) have to pay these cost directly. The annual fee represents that actual operating costs plus a small managemnt fee (profit). That's why most timeshares don't have daily housekeeping, fancy toiletries, or labor-intensive services.
Is Disney were to build a timeshare resort with twice the construction cost per square foot as SSR, chances are that Disney could not price it at anywhare near twice as much. And if the opearating costs resulted in annual dues that are close to the price of deluxe hotel rooms (after you do the math), then very few people would want to own such a timeshare.
Four Seasons is in the timeshare business on a higher tier than Disney. Ritz Carlton sells quarter shares to those who can afford the very deluxe fractional ownerships.
If Disney ever enters into higher timeshare tier than DVC, it will be with something that's very deluxe, not with "wandering bands of historical actors." It would probably be a different brand than DVC. And I really don't expect Disney to do this.
As far as Tom Morrow theme is concerned, you just might get your wish, although without the People Movers. If the rumor of the DVC Contemporary Villas turns out to be true, I would not be surpised to see some fun, "space age" design features, not merely an attempt to be contemporary.
