Park Enhancements/Upgrades or New Resorts?

[yandbfan]

What do you think improves the value of a DVC investment:New Resorts or Park upgrades?
We are really excited about the planned changes to Magic Kingdom but I also hope someday to go to Hawaii when that resort is completed.

Also how do you feel about New Resorts that are developed away from the Parks?

Just curious?

 

[tjkraz]

I'm not sure that I would attach the word "investment" to DVC in any fashion. My contracts will be worth $0.00 at a pre-determined date, and that's not really a status you would associate with an investment.

But that issue aside, I don't particularly think that outside factors have much of an influence on any sort of DVC value. For instance, look at the resale values of SSR and AKV. The ending contract date is only 3 years apart for these two resorts yet there is a $10-15 price difference in what people are getting for their resales. The same holds true for OKW vs BWV / BCV. Despite identical ending dates OKW is getting quite a bit less via resale.

On that basis, I think each resort stands on its own. Adding new destinations (like Hawaii) may broaden the appeal of the entire program, but other factors will play a much greater role in pricing. Since BLT, VGC and even the Treehouse Villas opened--and Hawaii was announced--most resorts have lost value on the resale market. Factors like the ending date of the contract and general state of the economy seem to be having a much greater influence.

As for the theme parks, I doubt that plays much of a role either. For one thing, many people wouldn't name the Magic Kingdom as their favorite park. Also many who like the MK probably don't see a lot of benefit in the Fantasyland upgrades (older children, no kids, etc.)

I'm sure there are some who will gravitate more toward BLT due to the scheduled MK enhancements, but I'm not convince that the numbers are large enough to impact pricing.

 

[disneynutz]

Removing the word investment from your question, I will share my thoughts on what I prefer.

We bought into the DVC knowing that we would use it to stay at WDW. IMHO Disney is barking up the wrong tree building anywhere else. Hawaii, NY, DC, there are thousands of existing hotels and resorts there already that I could stay at if I had the interest.

Rather than having 15 resorts that are OK, I would rather see 10 resorts that are great.

Disney needs to refocus on it core businesses and work on improving the DVC and Disney Parks.

Bigger is not usually better.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

In my opinion the value of my DVC went down the day Disney closed the clubs on Pleasure Island, in particular my beloved Adventurers Club. Very probable the best themed attraction Disney ever did.

RIP, and KUNGALOOSH!
MG

 

[pearljim]

I like the term "investment" - we bought in as an investment in family fun and the dividends have been enormous for us !!

 

[littlestar]

I believe DVC needs to pay attention to their older properties and make sure they don't become so "tired" looking on the interiors that members start questioning staying there.

There's a lot of competition with other brands in Orlando - many have done complete refurbishments (hard and soft goods) at around 10 years. Old Key West, to my knowledge, has never had a hard refurbishment and it was built in the early 90's.

We stay all over Orlando even though we own DVC points, too. We vacation in Orlando around 3 times a year with one trip on property. There are some wonderful off-site properties that continue to raise the bar on amenities (lazy river pools, themed pools with slides, mini water parks, golf courses, etc.) and I don't think DVC can become complacent. Sure, DVC is on property and well themed. But the competition keeps raising the bar and some of them even run shuttles to the parks every half hour - Wyndham Bonnet Creek comes to mind

As far as new resorts away from the parks, I don't know. I hope they can pull it off. But again, they will be competing against some very nice brands in the industry without the advantage of the parks to fall back on. Vero and Hilton Head were slow to sell out from what I've heard. The new KoOlina resort will be competing against Marriott's vacation club there. I hope they get it right and don't skimp on useable square footage or bedding, etc.

 

[eliza61]

I think there should be a moratorium on building any thing new. There are just to many areas that disney needs to concentrate on before slapping up any new resorts.

Restaurants: Could use a serious injection of quality here. Not gonna blame it totally on free dining, ddp or any thing but imo the bottom line is TS menus (except for a few) are uninspiring, food is mediocre at best and expensive.

Parks: update old rides. Indiana Jones and BTRR are two that come to mind, even Test Track could use an upgrade.

Resorts: I've been lucky in that every trip I've take the cm's are great. They just seem so over worked. I way at the BCV's last May and the carpet in the main lobby was filthy.

These things are the "little" things that I notice, they are not enough for me to complain but they do make me sort of "shake" my head with sadness.