Interesting DVC rumor from Rumors Board

[jel0511]

This one is VERY interesting.... I'd buy points IMMEDIATELY if this one came to fruition.....

Link to Rumor Board

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The guy that posted that is a good source of info (I think he has connections). It would make sense, as The Contemporary is a deluxe with all the ifrastructure, and likely not selling out.
That being said, The Contemporary is not for me, regardless of how they try to re-invent the theme. But...to each their own. Variety is what makes DVC a great thing!

 

[Granny]

The way DVC keeps selling, at ever increasing prices....I'll bet Disney looks at every square inch of WDW trying to figure out where they can squeeze in a few more villas!

This would certainly one-up the VWL for access to MK!

 

[PKS44]

They really need to look at what has happened when they expand other successful projects: Disney Stores, WWTBAM, Resort Hotel Rooms, Parks...too much of a good thing is not usually a good thing--in building more DVC they may get money now but they are cannibalizing their own market for hotel rooms for the next 40 years. They may recoup investment in building DVC but lose money invested as they are forced to close down existing hotels that no longer fill up.


I realize it is much easier to ride the same horse over and over until it keels over, creative thinking is more difficult...like most worthwhile things.
Paul

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by PKS44
...in building more DVC they may get money now but they are cannibalizing their own market for hotel rooms for the next 40 years. They may recoup investment in building DVC but lose money invested as they are forced to close down existing hotels that no longer fill up.

I disagree. I believe that many DVC folks go more often now that they are members. They will also likely go EVERY year at least, where before it was not as often.

What WDW hotels have been closed down? I know CBR is down for refurb, and PS has yet to open, but what has closed due to lack of bookings?

 

[msdis]

No disrespect here, and as a fellow VWL owner I know you can appreciate this comment.........but the Contemporary will never be able to "one up" WL .........ever.

 

[Granny]

msdis....LOL....I thought that "one up" comment might draw some feedback!


And I think you know I agree completely. But I do think there would be a good DVC market for any location that could get "on the monorail".

 

[msdis]

Too bad they just wouldn't bring the monorail to VWL

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I disagree. I believe that many DVC folks go more often now that they are members. They will also likely go EVERY year at least, where before it was not as often.

What WDW hotels have been closed down? I know CBR is down for refurb, and PS has yet to open, but what has closed due to lack of bookings?

PO-FQ- closed for a while for lack of bookings and everyone knows that the CBR refurb is a convenient spin to put on in order to close down a huge resort that was not booking very well...and the delayed opening of PC (I assume that is what you meant by PS??) is a hotel they invested in building yet cannot fill...(though I suspect it is for a market different than that DVC is aimed at)

DVC people may go more often but DVC is not just GROWING the number of visitors -at the same time it is taking people OUT of WDW hotels...we had one of our non-scientific surveys a while back on this board and something like 75% to 80% said they would be staying in WDW hotels if not for DVC- true not as often and not for as long, but DVC definitely takes people who would otherwise be staying in hotels they already have built and staffed and puts them into new buildings...the growth of DVC is not ONLY a positive for the WDW resort...it is moving the money and the people around and there has to be a point at which it can be overbuilt....I suspect they will build one too many DVC's before they figure out where that breaking point is.

Paul

 

[PamOKW]

that the CBR refurb is a convenient spin to put on in order to close down a huge resort that was not booking very well...

The CBR is re-opening next month with a newly refurbished food court area.

 

[Doctor P]

Interesting rumour. It will be fascinating to see what ultimately happens.

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by PamOKW
The CBR is re-opening next month with a newly refurbished food court area.

No one disputed that the refurbishment was going on -just as it did for the PO-FQ while it was shut down before re-opening...but would they have shut down the whole resort if bookings had been like they were 5 years ago? Had they ever shut down to refurbish a resort before??? Saying that the refurbishment was the reason for shutting down the CBR was like when they said guests did not want EE and wanted Character Caravan instead...corporate spin...Bottom line is that DVC does not increase bookings at non-DVC resorts..it may be neutral, but it is much more likely that it has had some downward effect on hotel bookings.

Paul

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by PKS44
PO-FQ- closed for a while for lack of bookings and everyone knows that the CBR refurb is a convenient spin to put on in order to close down a huge resort that was not booking very well...and the delayed opening of PC (I assume that is what you meant by PS??) is a hotel they invested in building yet cannot fill...(though I suspect it is for a market different than that DVC is aimed at)

Yes, I meant PC. My tongue/fingers must have been working faster than my brain!
Anyway, now I am confused. Exactly why did POFQ close? Was it lack of bookings or refurb? I agree that more DVCs will reduce other resort bookings (I am proof of that), but I don't think it is on a 1 to 1 scale. I for one, go about 30% more often. I am sure there are other DVCers who would not likely go to WDW every year of their life, and now will.
I would hope that DVC management is looking at market studies and determining how many DVC rooms are needed. It seems that sales could help evaluate this also.
I would also expect that there are timeshare owners (not DVC) who would LOVE to trade into DVC, but can't. They would likely trade into one of the other Orlando timeshares instead of staying on-site. More DVCs may help to open this market also. I would think there would be some additional revenue from them because they are on-site.

 

[DeeP]

I would also expect that there are timeshare owners (not DVC) who would LOVE to trade into DVC, but can't. They would likely trade into one of the other Orlando timeshares instead of staying on-site. More DVCs may help to open this market also. I would think there would be some additional revenue from them because they are on-site

This could actually work against DVC. If it was easy to trade into a WDW DVC resort from an outside timeshare more people might just buy that timeshare vs DVC since the other timeshares tend to be much lower in price and you get more time/weeks/pts for your money than a DVC membership yields you. This could also result in our DVC memberships losing some of the value and clout they now have in the Orlando timeshare world.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Yes DeeP, I suppose that's true. I guess I am blindly putting my faith in Disney/DVC to do their homework, and figure this stuff out. It's fun to speculate though!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DeeP
This could actually work against DVC. If it was easy to trade into a WDW DVC resort from an outside timeshare more people might just buy that timeshare vs DVC since the other timeshares tend to be much lower in price and you get more time/weeks/pts for your money than a DVC membership yields you. This could also result in our DVC memberships losing some of the value and clout they now have in the Orlando timeshare world.

With less than 2% of member exchanging out last year (the highest amount ever), I don't think this will be much of a problem. Still, even if it did happen, it wouldn't hurt DVC much or at all. Disney already doesn't allow other Orlando timeshare to trade in and could easily separate from II and do just as well.

 

[DeeP]

I am confused about Disney not letting other Orlando timeshares trade into Disney. I have a friend that owns Orlando timeshares at Hyatt or Hilton (I always get the 2 mixed up) Vacation club and also Marriott and she has been able to trade twice into DVC. True, it was off season and she could only get OKW, but she was still able to trade into a DVC unit.

 

[COACHSTING]

Can someone help us?..... I can't seem to get the original "rumor" link which started all of this. Can someone post the gist of what the new rumor is...something to do with DVC and the Contemporary?..... Thanks.....

 

[BigTigger]

Disney did close a resort once - the Disney Inn. During the last recession it was mostly empty. They worked the deal with the Armed Forces group to convert it to Shades of Green shortly after it closed for the second extended period for "renovations".

The PO/DL closing was a 9/11 event. I don't remember Disney ever trying to put a different spin on it than that. PO had the highest booking percentage among moderate resorts in 98/99/00. It was more intimate than CBR and DL and more convenient than CS. It's smaller size made it easier to mothball than the 2000 room behemoths. The food court renovations didn't happen at PO until last June - long after it re-opened.

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by BigTigger
The food court renovations didn't happen at PO until last June - long after it re-opened.

Wrong information.

... from mouseplanet.com:

"Following the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, Disney made the decision to close the entire Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. Occupancy was down, with people canceling their trips, so Disney closed the resort. While closed, Disney refurbished the food court."

Can't comment on the accuracy of the rest of the post.