Rumor mill...Kauai?

[dianeschlicht]

I am so hoping that rumor about the Kauai timeshare being bought by Disney is true. I'm also hoping it is the old "Coco Palms" resort! That would be SO cool!!

Anyway...IF DVC does open a Hawaii resort, what do you think????

1. Will we all be able to make even exchanges into it like we do all current DVC resorts?
2. Will the points be over $100 per?
3. Will they have the same contract end?
4. Will the point costs be so exhorbitant to make trading in difficult?

I just can NOT imagine how they would manage all of those things, and I'm not sure I can afford to do an add-on there!

 

[Chuck S]

Is Coco Palms currently operating as a timeshare? Was it a "forever deed" type timeshare? If so, wouldn't DVC have to honor those contracts, basically leaving nothing for them to sell to recoup the investment?

EDIT: Never mind, I did a google. Coco Palms was severly damaged by a hurricane in 1992 and closed.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No timeshare currently at CoCo Palms. It took a MAJOR hit in the hurricane, and the last two trips we have gone past it and nearly cried to see it standing there unkempt and empty. The grounds, however, have been taken care of, and our last trip, there was a rumor that someone was purchasing the property and would rehab it into a timeshare. That idea of it being DVC was just my wishful thinking! I would LOVE to see the CoCo Palms restored to its former glory, and having DVC do it would make it all the better!

 

[Chuck S]

I agree, that if DVC is seriously considering a Hawaii location, this closed resort, with kept grounds and utility infrastructure in place would make sense. I'm surprised no major hotel chain has snapped up the site by now, I wonder why? Are there strict state/federal use laws in place now that weren't when the resort was originally built, maybe new restrictive environmental laws?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Chuck, as I understand it, the large chains aren't interested because they can't get enough units. The reason is that Kauai has a limit to the hieght of buildings on the island. I believe they can't be over 3 or 4 stories. The idea is to keep it as natural and non-commercial looking as possible. Our last trip, we stayed up in Princeville, but the Kapaa area is more centrallly located for getting to the other parts of the island. The CoCo Palms was the most old Hawaiian place we have ever stayed.

 

[llp479]

There is also a former hotel next to MVC's Waiohai on Poipu Beach that has not been restored since the hurricane. That would be a great location!

I would love a HI resort. We've got a MVC on Oahu, so it would be nice to go two weeks back to back. Of course, that assumes finding decent airfare won't be an issue. Airfare for this summer is killing me!

Kauia has the "Palm Tree Rule". No new construction can be taller than the palm trees, to help keep the non-commercial feel to the island.

 

[gppnj]

Wow. I just did some reading about Coco Palms. It seems like that place is a diamond in the rough that would be a real asset to DVC.

I had never heard of this place. I was in Kaui in September. If I had known about it, I would have tried to go there and look around.

 

[LisaS]

Wow! DVC at the Coco Palms would be wonderful. DH and I spent our honeymoon at the Coco Palms and loved the "old Hawaii" feel of the place. If you've ever seen the Elvis movie "Blue Hawaii" the wedding scene was filmed at the Coco Palms.

The only downside to the place is that it is not right on the beach. There is a road that separates the hotel from the beach. But it sits on acres and acres of palm trees and feels very secluded.

I would love to see somebody restore the place. It's been sitting vacant for far too long.

 

[jekjones1558]

We also loved the CoCo Palms when we stayed there. The lighting ceremony at night was great and the rooms had old-Hawaii charm. If DVC would get this property, I hope that they keep that style.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Perhaps they will use a Lilo and Stitch theme

 

[dianeschlicht]

If any of you remember Fantasy Island, the opening sequences of that were also filmed there. True, it is not on the beach, but the boats that go to the fern grotto dock right there by the CoCo Palms, and there was beach access on the other side of the road, and they shuttled people accross, if I remember correctly. If wishing made it so, I would wish for DVC to take over the CoCo Palms!

 

[spiceycat]

hate to hurt any one dreams

but it looks like it has a buyer.

http://www.coco-palms.com/articles/condos.html

and since some of the condos are already sold - it couldn't be Disney.

 

[dianeschlicht]

DARN! It was a nice dream while it lasted!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Maybe someday we'll see a Hawaiian DVC. And when we do, I know for sure I'll be visiting it!

 

[byoung]

I will go.

 

[lisareniff]

I was trying to search and see what was said about Hawaii in the past and found this posted the end of Aug from this thread ....

Just got done talking with a DVC Guide (not mine, he's NEVER there) and this is what was shared as being "discussed/rumored" at the main office (some is old, some is new -- at least to me):

*DVC in CA -- All DVC agents are now being asked to get their CA real estate licenses

*Hawaii -- Disney recently acquired a large amount of property there and agents are also being asked to get their HI real estate licenses

*Potentially 3 new DVC resorts in FL w/in the next 5 years: They are more than meeting sales goals for SSR and after the fiscal year ends in September, will decide where to build next.

CR is being heavily considered, as is AKL. Guide says the reason DVC was built at WL and BC is because those were the onsite non-DVCs that members were using the most. Now AKL is being used the most, so they may move there next. Said AKL was "designed" so that a block of rooms could easily be converted to DVC. They are also still discussing Eagle Pines, so that may yet come to fruition.

So there ya go. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Anyone else have Hawaii info?