Increased DVC inventory in II...

[yyzgurl]

When I first joined II, Disney was incredibly hard to trade into. However, I've noticed an increase in DVC units in II lately. I've been able to find studios, 1BR, and 2BR with little trouble. True, they are not PEAK season but they are not the lowest season either.

Mostly at OKW, but BWV and SSR has popped up now and then.

Does anyone want to speculate the reasoning behind this surge in DVC inventory?

 

[IndianaDVCMember]

OKW is the oldest DVC resort, empty nesters would have more of a desire to diversify their vacations. In addition, the three resorts you mentioned are the largest, so it would stand to reason that they have the most owners willing to trade.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I think that would mean more DVC members are trading out for other resorts.

 

[jnrrt]

Perhaps there's just more DVC members. It's grown so much - when there were not very many owners because there was only OKW, there would have been far fewer people to want to trade. Now there are a lot more.

 

[spiceycat]

kept in mind that it was just recently - the last couple of years - that II changed it policy.

you use to have to get a 1 or 2 bedroom in choice, dream or magic season - more people who rather pay 124 than 172 to 214 - choice 1-bedroom

144 than 196 to 252 - dream 1-bedroom
160 than 218 to 270 - magic 1-bedroom

so this is not a big surprise for me.

most DVC members don't realize that they would be better off renting their points and paying cash for these trips.

I didn't until I got notified here.

 

[Daitcher]

When I first joined II, Disney was incredibly hard to trade into. However, I've noticed an increase in DVC units in II lately. I've been able to find studios, 1BR, and 2BR with little trouble. True, they are not PEAK season but they are not the lowest season either.

Mostly at OKW, but BWV and SSR has popped up now and then.

Does anyone want to speculate the reasoning behind this surge in DVC inventory?

My opinion is this: 1) It is a numbers game. There are so many more members now and it continues to grow. I'd be willing to bet the percentage of rooms available in II has grown along with the members. 2) This may ruffle feathers but.... oh well. OKW is among the least desirable DVC Resorts. Granted it may have nice rooms but everything else lags behind the newer DVC properties IMHO. OKW has the lowest occupancy rates of any DVC Resort. This resort also has the lowest points needed to book rooms. This isn't an accident. It "costs" less because it is one of the least desirable options. This could be a reason for OKW roooms in II. Now all the OKW fanatics make everyone who reads these boards think it is the greatest, most popular resort. The fact remains that even though it has a loylal following it ranks way behing the other on site DVC Resorts from a popularity standpoint.
p.s. SSR is another OKW like experience for now unless it evolves. You may see lots of SSR rooms and plenty of vacancies at this Resort.

DAVE

 

[WDWNewbie]

Any ideas on how many DVC members there are now? Even if only a very small percentage exchanges through II that will create inventory.

Also, there are probably people who bought into DVC 5 to 10 years ago who had 'kids' at that time and now have 'grown kids'.

Lots of people may decide it's nice for a change of scenery and give their weeks to II for exchange. The longer they have been owners, the more likely this is to happen.

 

[spiceycat]

Dave - you are you kidding!!!

Okw is popular with outsiders, too!

go ask on the tug boards - they got a studio or a 1-bedroom at BWV and HATED it - they got a 1 or 2 bedroom at OKW and LOVED It.

OKW is more like the other timeshares - bigger rooms, more space to relax.

some people were very upset that their exchange was in a hotel...they were expecting a condo - not a hotel.

so it is a matter of taste.

the points for OKW has gone up once - long, long ago - I think that DVC might like to do that again - problem is they would have a ton of DVC members on their backs....Now they might - but the longer the points remain the same - the harder it would be to change.

their are new member (brought resale) that don't even realize (despite it begining in the contract) that DVC might change the points.

everyone is different - just because you like to be in the middle of stuff - don't think that everyone does. Many do not!!!

 

[Deep-Thots]

p.s. SSR is another OKW like experience for now unless it evolves. You may see lots of SSR rooms and plenty of vacancies at this Resort.

DAVE

I see them both as destination resorts -- SSR even moreso because of its location right next to DTD and its onsite Spa, which will be a big draw in the future (big enough, anyway, that Conde Nast saw fit to rank SSR as one of the top three [I think -- help me out here, somebody!!] WDW resorts).

I think there might be more trades available to SSR right now because people purchased add-ons for the incentives but, having recently vacationed at the World, might have decided to try to trade for elsewhere.

 

[gonzalj1]

Spiceycat,

I want to clarify that DVC can not increase the points required to stay at a resort. The total points available at the resort must remain the same. It can not go up or down.

This does not mean that Disney can not reallocate points. Making it more expensive points wise to stay during a scertain season or day of the week. This would have to come with a corresponding decrease in another season or day of the week.

So, if it gets more expensive to stay at a resort during the winter then it's certain that spring or summer had to get less expensive.

 

[Daitcher]

Dave - you are you kidding!!!

Okw is popular with outsiders, too!

go ask on the tug boards - they got a studio or a 1-bedroom at BWV and HATED it - they got a 1 or 2 bedroom at OKW and LOVED It.

OKW is more like the other timeshares - bigger rooms, more space to relax.

some people were very upset that their exchange was in a hotel...they were expecting a condo - not a hotel.

so it is a matter of taste.

the points for OKW has gone up once - long, long ago - I think that DVC might like to do that again - problem is they would have a ton of DVC members on their backs....Now they might - but the longer the points remain the same - the harder it would be to change.

their are new member (brought resale) that don't even realize (despite it begining in the contract) that DVC might change the points.

everyone is different - just because you like to be in the middle of stuff - don't think that everyone does. Many do not!!!

Your points are certainly for the most part correct. OKW is a quiet, condo type resort. People looking for that certainly wouldn't be dissapointed there. The part about the points being raised isn't true. They may have adjusted the points but they can never be raised. For instance if a studio goes for 20 points on the weekend and 15 during the week, they could change that to say 22 weekend and 13 weekday. The totals can never be raised accross the board. If it changes in one spot it must be offset in another. Hope this convoluted explanation isn't too confusing. The fact remains that even though OKW has its fans it remains the least popular DVC Resort, at least from an ocupancy standpoint. It certainly not a bad place to stay at all, just not my cup of tea. I've seen others post about DVC raising points for resorts. My question is this : Why would anyone buy into a program where the points could be raised at a whim? We should all read our contracts. This CANNOT HAPPEN so don't worry about that.


DAVE

 

[spiceycat]

If DVC suddenly decide to put the food and wine plus Thanksgiving in another season they can. since they are moving and not taking away I don't know if they have to make another season less points or not.

now my problem last time was the point reallocation - they made the studio 8 points it was 6 points (adventure season) - where did those points go - weekends in the peak season - Easter and Christmas (Premier Season).... not even weekdays.

they did that alot!!!

they made Adventure Season more and Premier and Magic weekends less....

also kept in mind that DVC retains the right to make every day the same...

I need to look in my DVC (OKW) contract to find that number - but it is pretty big.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

If DVC suddenly decide to put the food and wine plus Thanksgiving in another season they can.

SC: I believe that Thanksgiving is one of the few things left that Disney does not control. (But I do know what you mean).

HBC

 

[JimC]

OKW has the lowest number of points because that was the first resort in the program. DVC did reallocate points at OKW, back in 1996. Total points must remain the same and did but there was a fair number of adjustments generally increasing Adventure season stays with an emphasis on Fri/Sat stays and lowering elsewhere. They did it to balance utilization after several years of experience.

I believe there are three reasons why the DVC inventory in II is increasing.

1. More members -- up to 90,000 or so now.
2. Older members -- having greater leisure time and a desire to broaden their vacation destinations
3. Early entry members -- bought in at beginning so their point costs make trading out less painful than for many of us in more recently, combined with the loss of those coveted free passes and just possibly some WDW saturation.

 

[Dean]

The increased availability is very easy to define. It happened primarily because of the change in trade setup. I'm sure that those that have owned longer are also somewhat more interested in trading at times. But from 2002 to 2003 (the latest year with data available) the exchange rate jumped from 2% to 2.8%, before that it had been slowly climbing.

OKW is more available because it has more units, lower occupancy and lower points costs. But a deposit is not automatically tied to the members home resort or even the unit size they get. But it's mostly Jan, early Feb, May, Sept and early Oct that's available. There is some for summer and for early Dec, but not much. And I've seen all resorts, VB is actually the most common I see but the seasons vary a little from WDW. Prior to the system change, II usually only got one or 2 units a year.

As for OKW, I can see how some would like it less. I personally prefer it but it doesn't hurt my feelings if other don't care for it. And I get amused when people see resort bashing when others don't like their resort or post things that many see as reality. Example "OKW is like a moderate", the truth it is IN SOME WAYS and not in others. Whether it's like a moderate to you depends on your situation and how you view the differences. i personally prefer that it's secluded but still on property, others like to be right in the thick of the action.