Not selling Aulani? What's going on?

[nytimez]

Not to throw cold water on anyones plans but could whatever the problem is cause the current contracts to be invalidated? or delay the opening of the resort? Hopefully not, but if they were selling when they weren't authorized that could be a big mess.

No one knows. Or, rather, anyone who does know ain't saying. I suppose everything is on the table... but my guess is Disney would have to pay a fine rather than invalidate/refund all sales unless the problem turns out to be something worse than anticipated. There may also be an option to give people who bought in an "out" as a result of whatever the violation was.


It's in the state's interest to resolve this as well (and collect cash in the form of fines, rather than inconvenience money-wielding tourists and alienate a major investor), which is why I think it shouldn't have too big of an impact on anyone who bought in. Again, that's assuming the problem isn't something really big.

 

[TisBit]

People are reporting on other boards that they have been told they cannot buy Aulani at this time, including people ready to commit money for the purchase. If that's the case, this is neither simple nor would it compare on any level to any other screw up in the history of DVC. This is a cluster you-know-what in the grandest sense.

This isn't the first timeshare in the history of Hawaii, and it's not Disney first timeshare venture either. As complicated as it is, it's not unnavigable -- especially for a company with Disney's resources and experience.

We will continue to disagree, but basically I am saying no one has any idea what the problem is. Was it something in the POS that needed to be corrected? Was it a point calculation problem. A month delay in sales has not really cost DVC any money at this point (while yes it will affect the quarterly profit), but people that want to purchase Aulani are waiting to purchase it, this isn't a restaurant where revenue is instantly lost when the doors close. Aulani is not even open yet, so there still has not been any loss in MF's....so right now there has been no loss. On Monday they could be calling people on the waitlist and start processing contracts again (I highly doubt it) or as you have speculated this could be some huge legal issue where it will cost DVC lots of money and might stall sales for 6 months or more...potentially losing some customers.

If this is a paperwork hiccup, I will stay that BLT would end up being one of the bigger screw ups. Immediately after opening they had to renovate rooms due to member feedback (bathrooom locks, etc) they bridge flooring had to be redone and the constant complaints about the furniture (which is not durable enough to last long). Those are real dollar screw ups at this point....jury is still out on Aulani.

 

[TisBit]

No one knows. Or, rather, anyone who does know ain't saying. I suppose everything is on the table... but my guess is Disney would have to pay a fine rather than invalidate/refund all sales unless the problem turns out to be something worse than anticipated. There may also be an option to give people who bought in an "out" as a result of whatever the violation was.


It's in the state's interest to resolve this as well (and collect cash in the form of fines, rather than inconvenience money-wielding tourists and alienate a major investor), which is why I think it shouldn't have too big of an impact on anyone who bought in. Again, that's assuming the problem isn't something really big.

If you review the Hawaiin law posted above, if they were participating in prohibited sales practices, DVC would have to inform all purchasers and give them an option to rescind their contract. The state could also sue DVC for those violations and have fines assessed.

I venture to guess that if it is a problem with the POS, they would have to notify everyone of the changes and again give them an opportunity to walk away or agree to the new POS.

 

[Breyean]

If you review the Hawaiin law posted above, if they were participating in prohibited sales practices, DVC would have to inform all purchasers and give them an option to rescind their contract. The state could also sue DVC for those violations and have fines assessed.

I venture to guess that if it is a problem with the POS, they would have to notify everyone of the changes and again give them an opportunity to walk away or agree to the new POS.

How would this work with members who have already used the Aulani points they bought before sales were halted?

For example, I've not only used all my current UY Aulani points but also have borrowed a few from 2012.

 

[nytimez]

We will continue to disagree, but basically I am saying no one has any idea what the problem is. Was it something in the POS that needed to be corrected? Was it a point calculation problem. A month delay in sales has not really cost DVC any money at this point (while yes it will affect the quarterly profit), but people that want to purchase Aulani are waiting to purchase it, this isn't a restaurant where revenue is instantly lost when the doors close. Aulani is not even open yet, so there still has not been any loss in MF's....so right now there has been no loss. On Monday they could be calling people on the waitlist and start processing contracts again (I highly doubt it) or as you have speculated this could be some huge legal issue where it will cost DVC lots of money and might stall sales for 6 months or more...potentially losing some customers.

If this is a paperwork hiccup, I will stay that BLT would end up being one of the bigger screw ups. Immediately after opening they had to renovate rooms due to member feedback (bathrooom locks, etc) they bridge flooring had to be redone and the constant complaints about the furniture (which is not durable enough to last long). Those are real dollar screw ups at this point....jury is still out on Aulani.

I'm not claiming to know what it is any more than you are. Also, I did not speculate that it would stall sales for six months or any length of time, please don't put numbers into my post.

Nor did I say its costing lots of money -- I didn't quantify it in any way. But I disagree with you on two points:

1) It is costing them money. It is costing them money to redo whatever needs to be done. It is costing them money in lost sales. And it is costing them money in the base pay they're shelling out to salespeople for every day they can't make sales. It's probably costing them money in other ways I can't think of. Heck, it's even costing them money for Jim Lewis' severance package and the executive search to replace him if, as assumed, his firing is related to the Aulani screwup.

2) This is not a "hiccup." A "hiccup" doesn't lead to the suspension of all sales. Once sales are suspended, we're well beyond "hiccup" territory -- and it automatically becomes the biggest screwup in the history of DVC in my book, beyond shoddy furniture in BLT.

 

[Frikitiki]

So I asked at the Ala Moana kiosk and was told yes, they can sell points for Aulani. I go to the kiosk at the resort the next morning and ask about and if they can sell me points and I get "We can't comment on that". Wait...I ask if I can now buy Aulani points and you can't comment? So I guess even among the CMs they don't fully know what's happening.

 

[nytimez]

So I asked at the Ala Moana kiosk and was told yes, they can sell points for Aulani. I go to the kiosk at the resort the next morning and ask about and if they can sell me points and I get "We can't comment on that". Wait...I ask if I can now buy Aulani points and you can't comment? So I guess even among the CMs they don't fully know what's happening.

Just a guess here, but they probably tell everyone who asks they can sell points right now -- because most people who ask aren't going to whip out a checkbook on the spot and signup.

Most people will want more info, time, speak to their spouse, etc. -- and Disney is probably hoping that whatever problem they're having is resolved in that time.

So it's only when you're actually ready to buy points right at the moment that they'll tell you something's up... this way they have to tell the fewest number of people.

 

[Frikitiki]

Maybe true, but I asked "when will you be able to sell Aulani point again?" the response was now.

BTW, here are pictures from yesterday (8/14) http://www.flickr.com/photos/frikitiki/sets/72157627437269616/

 

[wdrl]

BTW, here are pictures from yesterday (8/14) http://www.flickr.com/photos/frikitiki/sets/72157627437269616/

Thanks for posting your photos!

 

[mkburme]

Thank You for the wonderful pictures!

 

[SanDeeKath]

Wow, those are great pictures. That lazy river looks awesome!!

Katherine

 

[Frikitiki]

Mahalo!

 

[Disneyfn420]

Maybe true, but I asked "when will you be able to sell Aulani point again?" the response was now.

BTW, here are pictures from yesterday (8/14) http://www.flickr.com/photos/frikitiki/sets/72157627437269616/

OMG those pics are amazing! I can't wait to go!!!

 

[Pig Pen]

See today's Orlando Sentinel article:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-...y-time-share-trouble-20110815,0,4646293.story

 

[CandyMandy]

See today's Orlando Sentinel article:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-...y-time-share-trouble-20110815,0,4646293.story

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,
It's out the door they go
The Lewis scheme
a nightmare dream

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,
Heany ex CFO
He cooked the books
for all three crooks

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho
Smith has lost his glow
From exec suite
to pink slip street

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,
Now Bilby runs the show
And what a mess
She must address

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho!

 

[DVCconvert]

.....Hi Ho, Hi Ho,.....

ah....don't lose your day job.

 

[DebbieB]

I just got back from D23 and they did a presentation on Aulani during the parks & resorts session. Not a word about DVC. The only time DVC was mentioned was at the beginning during a video list of which divisions are included under parks & resorts.

We did do a quick tour of the models at the preview center at DL. The rooms are beautiful! Looks like high quality materials, unlike the impression I got from touring the BLT model a couple of years ago. The guide was busy doing a formal tour, so we did not ask her about the current "situation".

 

[Brancaneve]

Has anyone out there received a call from their guide regarding starting up the process again of purchasing Aulani? Our contract was put on hold back in June and we are still waiting to hear word on the status.

 

[DisneyFan68]

Has anyone out there received a call from their guide regarding starting up the process again of purchasing Aulani? Our contract was put on hold back in June and we are still waiting to hear word on the status.

We've been waiting since July and haven't gotten a call from our guide yet either. I was hoping it would be settled before Aulani opened and definitely would've thought by now but still waiting... It's been 2 months already. Hopefully we'll hear something soon. I'm so curious what Disney is going to do and how much the MF are going to be. Kind of scared actually...

 

[Brancaneve]

Hi Disneyfan68! We called our guide and left a message. She called us back( we were not home) and left a message stating that sales have been "stalled" and that based on our add on date, we would get the same deal we had agreed to. We added on during our June 3rd cruise, before all these problems hit the fan. Will that, in fact be true, I'm not quite sure? I will believe it when I see it!