Many New DVC Rumours Direct From a Guide

[abeyst]

Off-site in a tropical setting (for me, being from the midwest) is much better than a resort on the east coast.

Of course it would have to have amenities that equalled or surpassed other timeshares/resorts in the surrounding area, regardless of it's location.

 

[mello]

Yeah, it'll all even out in the long run.

But, what if the new choices are also so wonderful that there are even more desired reservations . . . I can hope

 

[dianeschlicht]

Still keeping my fingers crossed for a DVC/Hawaii!

 

[dwelty]

One thing is quite certain. Once a DVC is built in Hawaii, it will be alot easier to get into VB or HHI for this summer!

 

[spiceycat]

I know it was a long time ago, buy Disney had tough times selling HHI and VB. As everyone knows, VB was cut down in size dramatically. The main building was supposed to serve a huge number of villa buildings ala OKW.

I have always wondered about the revenue generation at HHI. There are no theme parks or restaurants. My bill is always very small. Even with our dues, I do not think it makes much money for Disney.

Would an off-site DVC complex be viable? I think it is a tough call.

We'll see!

my opinion - Disney made a bad call on both. Now if HHI was on the ocean - it would have sold out. one of the cm there told me Disney had the land to build on the ocean - but they decided not too. Or even on a golf course - a lot of golfers love HHI. they didn't do either.

with VB it was on the ocean - but DVC was by far the best thing around. So alot of locals would come by to use the pool. Disney did NOT discourage this - in fact gave swimming lessons to locals. I didn't like the area that Disney send you to get there. Know I hope this has improved greatly. Plus I don't like the Atlantic ocean.

I think they would have done much better building on the gulf coast.

 

[MichelleB]

We own at both HHI and VB and LOVE both. Matter of fact, VB is our absolute favorite. They're both so relaxing and have so many activities and so much to offer. I'm glad Disney has them for when we want to go somewhere besides the parks (and we do our share of the parks, let me tell you!). HHI is great to go over to the beach, rent bikes to go around the island, swim in the pool, or just let your kids have a great time in the kids' activities while mom/dad get to relax. And VB, go walking on the beach, swim in the pool, and again, let the kids have a great time in the activities. One of our favorite memories was when we took relatives and we all played in the soccer game across the road. We had a blast with the CM and we all still talk about that trip. There's loads to do at both places, but it's not the fast-paced vacation of the parks. It's more relaxing time with your family and just kicking back and enjoying it with the Disney quality we've all come to love. I always know that our beach trips will be enjoyable and up to our standards when going the Disney route. We love the parks but it's always so busy. We love those memories as well, but it's nice to have the quiet, relaxing memories for the kids to remember too.

 

[keishashadow]

Hilton Head is a bit too far of a drive for our tastes, added to the fact that if i'm @ the beach - i want an ocean view.

Our fav. atlantic resort is Myrtle Beach. While it still has run-down ma & pa motels; increasingly top-notch resorts (with the best pool scapes anywhere) are more the norm.

Marriot's vacation property @ north end of MB is a huge success & Hard Rock Hotel's mini-amusement park/resort inland @ old wacamaw complex is under construction too.

Wouldn't surprise me if DVC would go the HRH route (incorporating either an extensive indoor waterpark ala great wolf or indoor mini park) near ocean or more likely in the northern climes; utilizing an area with less expensive land; yet near highway/air transport.

VA missed the boat; would think Detroit or any dying industrial town up north would jump @ the chance to welcome Disney/grant concessions if only for employment opportunities to their citizens.

 

[CarolA]

Well we have proof that the "guides" are not infalliable.

"* No DVC on Castaway Cay due to:

a) timing issues (based on a land/sea type package it would be too restictive to rely on using DCL to drop off & pick up guests - they didn't think people would want to be limited to arriving & departing on sep. days)

b) passport restrictions as to flying out guests due to medical necessity"


What passport restriction would that be???? As of next year ALL Disney CRUISE passengers would be required to have a passport. It would take Disney that long to build something. I guess it could be because Castaway Key doesn't have a customs "department" but they get around that now so I don't think that is it....(Excuse A is very plausible)

As for Disney in Hawaii... Hey Jim, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. People go to Hawaii for Beach, don't do the "cheap land" grab you did at HH.....(They bought "swamp land" there! And while it's a nice resort it is NOT the best location on HH, Marriott bought that land quick!)

I have to say that IMHO DVC for anyplace but Disney isn't worth it. (And I would probably include DL in that) For HH, Hawaii etc I think I can do just as well renting direct then using points. The "Disney" priemium for me is worth it to stay at WDW, it doesn't translate well...

 

[nuts]

As to all speculations on non-DVC sites...M&A is big on
Wall Wtreet right now. Don't be surprised if you hear that Disney 'partners' with an existing quality timeshare company.

 

[CarolA]

As to all speculations on non-DVC sites...M&A is big on
Wall Wtreet right now. Don't be surprised if you hear that Disney 'partners' with an existing quality timeshare company.

OMG!!! I can hear the screaming now!!!!!!

Those folks who thought letting the "slummers" from SSR into their resort was the end of the world will have a stroke......

 

[DisneyDVCdad]

I'm betting that a lot of people trade out just to go to Hawaii. I think a DVC resort there would not be out of the question! I'm sure disney has numbers on where people trade out to!

 

[dwelty]

I'm sure they know what they're doing, but I wonder how they will approach this strategically. DVC is a natural at WDW or DL, but not so natural without a theme park. Without a Disney theme park, DVC is just another player in a highly competitive market. It seems to me that DVCs at international Disney theme parks make more sense than non-theme park DVCs.

One possible strategy would be to expand DVC to existing destination resorts like Hawaii, Caribbean, etc...basically becoming another Marriott. With the Caribbean, they could work some tie-in with DCL. And, of course, they have a built-in audience of 100,000 current DVC owners who are potential customers both for sales and stays.

I think the main reason for adding a DVC in Hawaii or the Caribbean would be to enhance the appeal of DVC to more people. If you are a DVC sales rep and can show you perspective member beautiful pictures of a Hawaii DVC property, it makes the sale all that much easier (Even if the DVC you are selling is in Florida, California, or elsewhere)

 

[MrsNick]

I think the main reason for adding a DVC in Hawaii or the Caribbean would be to enhance the appeal of DVC to more people. If you are a DVC sales rep and can show you perspective member beautiful pictures of a Hawaii DVC property, it makes the sale all that much easier (Even if the DVC you are selling is in Florida, California, or elsewhere)

You took the words right out of my mouth. How many times on the disboards has someone posted that they were thinking of buying DVC, but were concerned if it would be difficult to trade out to other destinations because they didn't want to be limited to WDW 100% of the time. I think an off site DVC could be the equivalent of a loss leader. They might not make huge money on it (like HH), but it will help drive DVC sales overall, so that could very well be the appeal to the powers that be.

I know at least one PP mentioned that it isn't worth it to buy offsite DVC. I understand what you are saying, but there's a flip side to that. Look at the advantages this way:

1) You can trade into onsite WDW at 7 mos. out, and currently, in the vast majority of cases, you can get in when you want somewhere if you aren't picky. Trading in through II is iffy at best.

2) If you have kids, you know you are getting CM's with the Disney training who will be good with your kids. The activities at each DVC are very well done.

3) You pretty much know what you are getting. Honestly, most of the trips DH and I take are by ourselves or with other adults, not usually with children. I will tell you that Disney service and Disney CM's have a lot to do with the fact that we still choose Disney products. We really miss Disney CM's when we travel to other places.

4) There is the strength of Disney's reputation. People who may be afraid to buy into other timeshares for worry that it's a fly by night operation won't be afraid to buy into Disney. There's a confidence there, and thusfar all of the DVC's are on U.S. property, so people know that they are protected by U.S. law, vs. buying an overseas timeshare and your investment not necessarily being protected.

5) The existing infrastructure supports many people being able to travel to the DVC's without spending a fortune on transportation. Either you're close enough to drive, or you can get a very reasonable airfare to Orlando. If you buy a timeshare in Aruba or Mexico or Hawaii (and I love Hawaii), the airfare required to get to them becomes prohibitive. Ten years ago, this wasn't such an issue, but in this day and age with the price of oil continuing to rise, international airfare ain't cheap.

These points are JMO.

 

[jmtf2004]

I agree that DVC in locations like Hawaii or the Caribbean would broaden the appeal of DVC, and I suppose this could even make ownership more valuable.
When we purchased (in 2004) there was quite a bit of emphasis in the sales pitch about the flexibility and ability to use points elsewhere - we were not that interested, we knew we mainly wanted to visit WDW - but since we purchased, just about every experienced DVC member I've come in contact with advises that using your points to stay outside the DVC resorts is not cost effective. Some of those points charges for staying elsewhere are completely ridiculous! Even staying at a non DVC Disney resort can be a ridiculous number of points, especially for the weekends. It makes me wonder how many members actually use these 'opportunities'...it really can't be that many. Are there that many people with so many points they don't care that they are wasting them to stay somewhere? I doubt it.
If they set up a DVC at another non Disney location I hope the points charges will make it comparable/competitive to staying at other resorts in that location for cash.
IMHO the interest in staying at other non Disney locations is there but not when it comes at a ridiculously high points cost.

 

[tomandrobin]

I personally would like to see additional DVC resorts, but I have a concern with the cost. Beside a few choice locations, the existing cost/point structure with the maintenance fees are not compatible with other timeshare competition and locations outside of a Disney Park.

DVC would have to build resorts that are spectacular (and expensive) to justify thier cost. Why buy a Disney location when you can buy XYZ non-Disney location for alot less per point and less maintence fees.

Hopefully if and when they do add more non-disney locations, it is balanced to fit into the DVC system, yet is cost comparable to its compitition so as not to fail with sales, like Vero Beach.

 

[mello]

One reason I can think of would be ROFR, which will keep the value up vs. other off-property resorts - but even that would only work if the property was comparable to others, and thus in some demand for resale. I should think it might be harder to "wow" audiences who are used to luxury accommodations in Hawaii or the Caribbean. We know they're than capable of doing great things - it's just a matter of whether they'll actually do it or not!

I personally would like to see additional DVC resorts, but I have a concern with the cost. Beside a few choice locations, the existing cost/point structure with the maintenance fees are not compatible with other timeshare competition and locations outside of a Disney Park.

DVC would have to build resorts that are spectacular (and expensive) to justify thier cost. Why buy a Disney location when you can buy XYZ non-Disney location for alot less per point and less maintence fees.

Hopefully if and when they do add more non-disney locations, it is balanced to fit into the DVC system, yet is cost comparable to its compitition so as not to fail with sales, like Vero Beach.

 

[keishashadow]

Well we have proof that the "guides" are not infalliable.

"* No DVC on Castaway Cay due to:

a) timing issues (based on a land/sea type package it would be too restictive to rely on using DCL to drop off & pick up guests - they didn't think people would want to be limited to arriving & departing on sep. days)

b) passport restrictions as to flying out guests due to medical necessity"


What passport restriction would that be???? As of next year ALL Disney CRUISE passengers would be required to have a passport. It would take Disney that long to build something. I guess it could be because Castaway Key doesn't have a customs "department" but they get around that now so I don't think that is it....(Excuse A is very plausible)

quote]

I thought the same thing. Know that the passport deadline was extended this year (when we booked our upcoming cruise last summer, the official word was that we would need the passports - then it was changed to air only arrivals) Wuldn't be surprised if deadline wasn't extended yet again to allow for the current delay in processing time. We applied early beginning of March (non-expedited) and they just recently arrived.

He indicated that he had applied for duty on DCL. Evidently, many of the guides are in the position of not having valid passports, etc. and new requirement of assignment is having one in hand. He seemed excited about the prospect of finally being accepted into what he termed a much-desired position.

 

[CarolA]

I'm betting that a lot of people trade out just to go to Hawaii. I think a DVC resort there would not be out of the question! I'm sure disney has numbers on where people trade out to!

I have been thinking about this.... I might trade out ONCE to go someplace, but that does not translate to "I want to own there" I am not sure this is a correlation.....

(Also, on the passports, while not required I can see why Disney wants thier team to have them. If for some horrible reason you have to fly home from one of the ports you need one now. The "relaxation" only covers certain condtions, certain ports etc..... . Plus they would want the guides to be able to work any cruise not just "selected" cruises. And if you think you might need a passport next year APPLY NOW!!!!!! It's a nightmare!!!!!)

 

[BCV23]

Is Castaway Cay American soil?

If DVC were to build on Hawaii, I don't know if we would buy points but I know we would stay there if the property was on a nice beach and not in Honolulu.

 

[nezy]

I have no doubt that DVCers would use points to do to the Carribbean or Hawaii-I would be one of them, however as Carol mentioned my concern would be if they DVC mgmt could sell out an entire off property resort in either of those locations.

Would they ever work w/ another hotel/timeshare group to have an exchange program where lets say a wing or one building of a certain resort is dedicated DVC. In exchange, DVC would recipricate w/ a designated inventory of on-site rooms an easier exchange option than through INTERVAL? Just throwing it out there!

For me, I definately would like the ease of simply calling MS and having them tell me -yes, a 2BR in Hawaii is available on such and such a date, or not it is not available, rather than whatever it is you have to do to book through II.