New NEWS!!!! $5.00 decrease per point....HH & VB

[disney junky]

Is this the first time that points have been priced separately in this manner? I'd also be curious what 13,000 points represents relative to total points available. I read a thread earlier that there were 9,000+ points available at BWV, but I would imagine that is a much smaller percentage of points at BWV than it would be at HH or VB.

 

[JimC]

My estimate, looking at the 2005 and 2006 detailed budgets, is that total points at the resorts were as follows:

OKW 7.7 million points
VB subsidized 3.1 million (2005)
VB unsubsidized 1.6 million (2005)
HH 1.4 million
BWV 4.9 million
VWL 2.0 million
BCV 3.0 million
SSR 7.1 miilion (resort still being sold)

Number of members by resort based on 3/05 POS:

OKW 26,700 members
VB 5,000 members
HH 4,900 members
BWV 19,400 members
VWL 7,700 members
BCV 10,800 members
SSR 22,600 members (resort still being sold)

 

[reesecup]

When we were looking at buing into DVC, I was really leaning more to HHI. But having not been there (at that time), we decided to go with BWV. We haven't regretted that decision, but would love to have some HHI points.

We have been to HH two times since buying our points last Feb. and are planning another trip Spring Break. We can't wait!!! My kids love it as much as Disney. They love the bike rides, pier, etc....And the staff is great!

We also don't mind that it is not on the ocean at all. We go for a week to a friend's condo in Wrightsville beach that is oceanfront. So the harbor is actually a nice change and we can go over to the beach and see it all day if we want. But to relax and walk around the harbor and walk over to Shelter Cove in the evening or early morning for entertainment, good food and shopping, just can't be beat.

We are big fans of HHI. And now that the points have dropped, we may very well add on there. Would love to have that 11 month window!!

 

[Doctor P]

I think most people would still prefer HH to be on the ocean or inside a plantation though I feel many rationalize the location.

I don't disagree. I like the resort and location, but I know many/most people would prefer a different location.

 

[snowbunny]

Personally, I think that 5 dollars per point is not much of an incentive to buy through Disney when the resale price is 20 or 30 dollars lower.

Absolutely true, but Disney dropping the prices will add to the pressure downward on resale as well.

IMO as soon as Disney adds another on-property resort with full contract length, the days of climbing prices at BCV and BWV are over as well. This next year may prove be the top of the market for those resort points.

 

[Doctor P]

IMO as soon as Disney adds another on-property resort with full contract length, the days of climbing prices at BCV and BWV are over as well. This next year may prove be the top of the market for those resort points.

I actually doubt this will be the case. First of all, the next resort (if there is one) will NOT have a full contract length (50 years). At best (and most likely, IMHO) it will have the same length as SSR. I think BCV prices will be the last to begin to fall due to its location and size. If the villas at Contemporary resort end up being built, my opinion is that one immediate effect will be a reduced demand for VWL. Though the resort is extremely nice, and uniquely themed, some people are buying VWL for easy access to MK (which currently only VWL provides). I think that VWL would see reduced demand as a result of any any monorail DVC activity. There basically is no way to compete with BCV (or BWV for that matter) for Epcot access unless one actually built a resort INSIDE the park. There is simply no place to build additional villas with better Epcot access than is currently provided by BCV, so I think that advantage will continue to be retained and valued. We'll see.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I am not a fan of beach properties. I don't prefer being stacked up in some mid-rise/high-rise condo with a 3x6' balcony. That type of vacation does not generate a relaxed feeling for me. It gives me a Daytona beach feeling. We purchased HH to have the laid-back type of vacation, it is a wonderful contrast to the frantic WDW trips, and extremely affordable. I didn't want our kids to only vacation where entertainment is 100% purchased and provided to them (WDW), I wanted them to vacation were our family would have to provide some of our own entertainment. HH and Vero (and other non-DVC trips) provide that opportunity for us. We really enjoy the rustic, more natural atmosphere of the DVC HH resort. It is quiet and gives a wonderful illusion of being far away from the hoarding masses. The staff at HH displays the ledgendary "Disney hospitality" as advertised in the DVC promo tapes.

Are there better locations on HH...no doubt, but none of them allow us to use left over HH points for a WDW DVC unit.

We are leaving for another HH vacation soon, and our kids are so excited that's all they are talking about. They love the family DVC trips HH/Vero/WDW, and I'm glad for that. They don't care which DVC resort we are at, they know they are in for a great time. I hope that contentment never changes for them.

 

[wilderness01]

I have heard the rumor mill for a few years of DVC building at CR. What are the odds that it will really happen? Or do you speculate they will build another DVC resort first and then do a DVC building at CR?

 

[boatboatboat]

To each their own.

We own at BWV, and have never stayed there. (going for 1st time this June).

We bought at BWV because we thought we would always be going there.

Well once we learned we couldn't use strorm along bay unless we stayed at the BCV, we always stayed there.

Anyhow...... about 5 years ago we stayed at HH, one night as a stop over point.

Fell in love with the place and have stayed there 8 times since. Best resort ever, FOR US.

Best location on the island. The evenings in shelter cove are wonderful. Walking along the boardwalk area, fireworks, Shannon Tanner, live bands, what a setting....

Want the ocean=no problem, 5 min tops, by a shuttle bus that is a push of a button away.

We will be buying enough pts at HH (via resale) to spend 2 mths a year there once we are retired.

 

[Dean]

Is this the first time that points have been priced separately in this manner? I'd also be curious what 13,000 points represents relative to total points available. I read a thread earlier that there were 9,000+ points available at BWV, but I would imagine that is a much smaller percentage of points at BWV than it would be at HH or VB.

Actually the price for HH and VB was $15 per point lower for quite some time prior to sell out, at least a couple of years for VB, maybe less for HH. Plus the price on exercising ROFR is quite different as well for these 2 properties. I'd put the difference still at about $15 per point but in part it depends on how many points one wants to add due to the closing costs and how badly you want to own there.

I don't disagree. I like the resort and location, but I know many/most people would prefer a different location.

No doubt both VB and HH are top notch properties overall. My remarks are comparative. IMO, HH DVC is about the 4th best timeshare on HH island if you ignore location but all 4 are pretty close and it really comes down to personal preference. Overall, people who stay at 2 choices with one being DVC, tend to be more likely to prefer one of the Marriott's, esp Grand Ocean. If you throw in location, it's still about 4th but separated from the top 3 with several others very close behind.

As far as 5 minutes to the beach, I'd put it like being 20 minutes off property at WDW compared to on property, but that's me. For both examples, it becomes an issue of whether you have to plan to go or not. If you are at the beach there's no driving, no problem if one wants to go to the pool, another to the beach and still a third just hang out on the balcony; for DVC HH you must either bike, drive or take the shuttle. To me, this means never go to the beach. Same for staying on property vs off at WDW. For off property you have to plan and either drive or take the shuttle usually as a group. For on property, the options are more varied. But some people also prefer or don't care if they are off property. I've always thought it ironic how one could argue for DVC being of value being on property and argue for DVC HH being where it is.

And for the record for anyone wondering, I don't dislike DVC HH I actually like it quite a bit. It's simply a question of looking at the variables and information and making an interpretation. Thinking there are better choices or that I think the location could be better is not an insult to owners there or those who prefer it.

 

[DebbieB]

I'd say they could raise prices by five or ten dollars and still sell through 600 Hawaiian units in less than 24 months.

I really doubt that. With no park nearby to draw people in, why would people buy DVC over other timeshares already there that cost less? I'm sure alot of members would like to stay there for an occasional trip, but I don't think they could quickly sell the points at DVC prices and dues. It would be interesting to find out what other high quality timeshares cost there (like Marriott).

 

[CarolA]

If Disney makes the same error in Hawaii they did in HH, it will sell SLOWLY. HH would have sold MUCH faster ON the beach. Marriott sold thier units faster in HH. The units are comparable (actually having stayed at both some of the Marriott units are much nicer) The biggest difference is probably that old real estate statement "location, location, location"

I would think Disney has learned from HH and IF they bother to do someplace like Hawaii will get a primo location. But if they use the "people will buy it because it's Disney" method, plan on a slow sale!

I seem to recall that HHI was suppose to be much bigger, but Disney scrapped the rest of the plans and resold the land to someone else. Am I right there?

For an idea on Hawaii pricing http://www.tug1.org/tugads/0-2sposted1.html

I did just do some look around for HH just out of curiosity. The ONLY Marriott I could find for prime summer was going for $47,000. A comparable 2 bedroom DVC would be around 230 points which is going for $18000 or so on the Timeshare Store site. The other advantage Marriott has if you really like a place like HH is the GUARANTEE week. There are places where the Gurantee is worth it. If you KNOW (like my brother) that you want to spend the last week in July in HH every year then a guaranteed week is the only way to go.

 

[JimC]

...I seem to recall that HHI was suppose to be much bigger, but Disney scrapped the rest of the plans and resold the land to someone else. Am I right there?....

I believe you are thinking of VB.

 

[JimC]

I really doubt that. With no park nearby to draw people in, why would people buy DVC over other timeshares already there that cost less? I'm sure alot of members would like to stay there for an occasional trip, but I don't think they could quickly sell the points at DVC prices and dues. It would be interesting to find out what other high quality timeshares cost there (like Marriott).

Marriott Maui Ocean Club goes for about $37,000 to $117,000 depending on:

Unit size, Converted hotel or one of the two new purpose built towers, View, Floating or fixed week, Floating or fixed unit, Floor for fixed units

 

[vanstoj]

I feel I have to chime in about HH. I actually lived in Bluffton and worked on HHI for a year. When I left I said I would never buy property there and that I didn't know what was the big deal about HH. Flash forward, 8 years and my husband son and I visit in February to burn up some extra BC points that we couldn't use for the year. We came back and bought 80 HH points. We even sold out 50 point BC contract over our HH contract. We don't miss the ocean because we wake up with the marsh and a wonderful assortment of birds - pelicans, egrets, blue herons, ibis, woodpeckers, etc. The setting is so natural with the live oaks and the gorgeous trees. To me a sunrise over the marsh is a great as a sunrise over the beach. Of course, we have been known to go the beach house to watch the sun rise over the ocean as well. While HH is seasonal, surprisingly, given that we live in SC, we have been surprised at how mild it often is in February and December. THe other thing that cannot be beat about HH is the educational and fun programs. THis last February, my son made a wonderfully unique birdhouse on which he painted the live oaks and the marsh around the resort. My 3 year old daugther is still chanting "a boom chica boom" and saying that she liked the campfire and both my children are asking when are we going back to HH. I think they actually prefer it over WDW (we have a BC trip scheduled for July). If the resort can convert a HH hater to a HH lover, that'saying something.

 

[boatboatboat]

called my guide about adding points at HH. Wanted a June use year, no problem. learned I would get the 05 pts (no dues) and then the 06 pts, June 1st of coruse.

I wonder, will the price of HH go up April 1st?

 

[Mi3stooges]

I'm going to HH in July for 10 days on SSR pts (Supposed to be high season!!??) and had no trouble getting the ressies. (I was shocked!) Having never been there and based on everyone's opinion and experince, I think we'll have the best of all worlds. The beach IF we want it, the pool(s), relaxing or as many activities we plan on getting involved in!

 

[boatboatboat]

check out the Kingfisher for happy hour. 25cent oysters and dollar draft beer.

the kingfisher is just as you enter HH disney, you can't miss it.

you will have a WONDERFUL time at HH disney.

be sure to take in a Shannon Tanner show. The show is right across the marina from disney. (5 min walk).