Oh how fortunate we are...

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi all! We just got back from another fantastic trip that included stays at AKL, VB, and VWL.

My wife and I were curious to see some other local timeshare resorts, so we decided to take a couple hours and explore. Depending upon resort security, we either visited, drove through, or drove by several non-Disney timeshare resorts. Without getting into the hideous details, we were totally blown away with what we saw. The Marriott resorts were the only ones we would consider nice resorts.
I don’t want to reel off the shortcomings of other resorts, as that is not my intention. I will say we should consider ourselves very, very lucky to be DVC Members.

If anyone finds themselves with a few extra hours while at WDW, I highly recommend this eye opening experience.

MG

 

[lenshanem]

Hi! Glad you had a nice trip. I bet that was ~interesting~ touring the other timeshares. Did you happen to check out Bonnet Creek, too?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

MG:

Glad you had a great time. My eyes were opened in February 2003. We had a chance to take advantage of a free week at a local unnamed timeshare. We regretted every minute of it even at that price.

Even my car broke down while at the non DVC resort. I don't think it liked it there either.

HBC

 

[msdis]

We are still at BWV and BIL is at one of he Marriott's. We are in a studio and he is in a 2-br which is a lot bigger than DVC 2-br but from what we saw the quality and upkeep didn't look as good as DVC. AND THE LOCATION.....................DH says it's all about location We also drove by Orange Lake today. I know several people who own there. That place from the outside looked REALLY nice and kept up. Oh well, we're not trading ours either.

MG- I know how impartial you are to your VWL, and it's killing me not to go visit there this trip. We haven't stayed here(BWV) in 2 years as it's mostly been VWL but I still miss it. Glad you had a great trip.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Shan, we started to drive into the Bonnet Creek Resort, but chickened out when we read the signs about being arrested for trespassing!

HBC, after seeing the other resorts, I completely agree!

MG

 

[lenshanem]

MG, I wonder if Nick has a chicken smiley for ya then?

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
Shan, we started to drive into the Bonnet Creek Resort, but chickened out when we read the signs about being arrested for trespassing!

HBC, after seeing the other resorts, I completely agree!

MG

Hey your pals here would have posted bail -- if you had pictures.

Glad you had a great trip.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
Shan, we started to drive into the Bonnet Creek Resort, but chickened out when we read the signs about being arrested for trespassing!

............................

 

[tiggerguy2000]

Before buying my 2 dvc home resorts I bought the Hilton Grand Vaction at Sea World but I cancelled it within the 14 day grace period and bought my first DVC timeshare.I know others who got Marriot and they are nice with the big screen tv's and maid service but again you just have that pick a week BS and you have to drive.Nothing comes close to Disney.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by lenshanem
MG, I wonder if Nick has a chicken smiley for ya then?

Oh -- like he needs the encouragement!!

 

[NancyDVC]

We did the sales presentation at Orange Lake early in 1991, the year before we bought DVC. (DVC started selling late in 1991.)We had always stayed with my friend's folks who spent the winters in Clermont (northwest of WDW on Rte 27). As we went to and from WDW we passed the Orange Lake Country Club and always thought it was a lovely community. We did not realize that it was a timeshare until we were offered a tour when we visited the Belz mall. We took a tour and were disappointed. Yes the units were lovely. At that time they only had the one floor buildings, 2 bedroom, sleeping 6 or 8. The tours took up the entire morning, the paying guests and members could not use some of the facilities until late in the day because that was where part of the presentations took place.
And the sales pressure. The sales part ended up in one large room with many families at small tables and salesmen running back and forth to the 'supervisor' trying to get you the 'best deal'. We of course turned down their offers and as we left to pick up our 'gift' for sitting through the presentation the price kept dropping. By the time we picked up our gift we were laughing about all the nonsense. It was just too much.
On our last trip to WDW this March we drove past Orange Lake. Oh my what a difference! Large buildings with 3-4 stories, grouped very close together. The older units still appear to be very nice and cozy but the new ones look like a motel.
The following winter (early 1992) we took the DVC tour and bought on the spot! Now neither of us had nay intention of buying anything but the low key presentation, the Disney part and finally the "I'm sorry that we can't take you around the whole resort (which was just buildings 11-18) because we want to give our guests consideration". That sold me. Imagine a resort that considered the comfort of its guests?
And we have never regreted for one minute being DVC members! :thewave:

 

[Pa@okw95]

Price of where you stay is not always a measure of how things will be whether or not a time share. We paid $550 a night for a condo unit up in Maine this past fall and it was about par with a condo unit we paid $175 one time in Orlando. On the other hand the only bad room I ever had was at GF at WDW where we paid $650 per night, the room was renovated shortly after we stayed there, but it was real bad. I would say all things considered the units at OKW are at par with the best I have stayed at thus far in my life. You do not always get what you paid for, but as far as OKW is concerned the units measure up to the price unlike some other places. I never stayed at WLV, but I am sure the same applies to them as OKW. Service is another thing, I paid only $295 a night once at a resort that had rooms equal to OKW, but the service was way above what you see at OKW, it was off season there, normally they run higher than $295 a night. At any rate the point I am trying to insert here is price is not always a measure of resorts.

 

[JimC]

Glad you had a great trip.

We have been to three timeshare presentations. The first many many years ago was in the Flordia Keys and it certainly lived up to the disaster reputation the industry had back then.

The second was DVC which was great (only wish they had tried just a little to convince me that we could afford it then).

The third was a $179 four day, three night stay with tickets to US. I was not impressed with the people (high pressure and they did not listen well), the product was nice and the location was okay. The free stay was fair at best (they did not even put us up at their timeshare!).

We are staying at a Marriott timeshare (Marriott points) in Maui this September and are looking forward to the trip.

 

[Granny]

Maistre G....glad you had a good trip! And I can't argue with the comment that we should feel fortunate to be DVC owners. It's a luxury I never thought I'd be able to afford.

None of the other timeshares had gushing geysers, huh?

 

[akghutton]

Maistre Gracey,
Glad you had a wonderful trip!!! I am very curious to hear about the AKL, as we are staying there on points for 3 nights in October. What did you think of the resort?

 

[lenshanem]

I'm with akghutton, MG. What do you think of AKL?
Did you find it similar to WL?

They are my favorites for sure. That designer rocks! (I need the smiley band right here.)

Isn't the Grand Californian by the same guy?

 

[TwingleMum]

MG- I like reading your posts because they are always so positive. Thanks.