Timeshare Question

[Abbeysdaddy]

I recall awhile ago, someone mentioned the better timeshares to check out....anyone has suggestions?

 

[4greatboys]

A lot of us here are DVC owners and very happy with it. Go to the DVC board to check out some of the info over there, its really helpful and helped us make our big decision. Good luck!

 

[Silky]

DVC is an EXPENSIVE timeshare. It primarily makes sense if you wish to stay ON-SITE when you visit WDW. If you are looking for a timeshare to trade for properties across the globe, there are much cheaper alternatives.

Good Luck,

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Silky
DVC is an EXPENSIVE timeshare. It primarily makes sense if you wish to stay ON-SITE when you visit WDW. If you are looking for a timeshare to trade for properties across the globe, there are much cheaper alternatives.

Good Luck,

If you're looking to trade either buy DVC or somewhere other than Orlando. Orlando is so overbuilt with timeshare that you can rent a timeshare (skyauctiion $250 /week) for less than the fees if you owned. I've read that the trade value of an Orlando property is poor.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Silky
DVC is an EXPENSIVE timeshare. It primarily makes sense if you wish to stay ON-SITE when you visit WDW. If you are looking for a timeshare to trade for properties across the globe, there are much cheaper alternatives.

Good Luck,

Silky,
DVC members can trade across the globe and with very reasonable trade fees.

 

[JLS]

Does anyone here own Fairfield? We are DVC members, but we just went to a Fairfield presentation in Las Vegas over the holiday weekend. It definitely is less expensive than DVC, but I don't know what the "fine print" is or how happy the owners are. We are very happy with DVC. You are paying for location and really first rate accommodations that are highly sought after as trades. Like the prior poster, I also have heard horror stories from others who bought non-DVC Orlando timeshares and then had trouble trading. It is virtually impossible to trade into DVC from another Orlando timeshare, FYI. DVC is not for everyone's taste, but we thought it was a good deal because we want to go every year and stay onsite.

 

[dsanner106]

Yes I do own fairfield and any fairfield trades fairly well in my experience, including orlando. Many others do not though. Low pressure sales too, generally.

 

[BostonMouse]

Originally posted by Abbeysdaddy
I recall awhile ago, someone mentioned the better timeshares to check out....anyone has suggestions?

check out as in "buy" or check out as in "rent"?

 

[JeanGenie]

Here's my 2 cents on timeshare ownership:

We own a non-Disney timeshare that's located in Virginia. We can trade our timeshare for many places around the country and world. Each year that I've wanted to visit Disney, I am always able to find a timeshare in the Orlando area. Even if its not Disney, its a great way to be able to get to Disney - to spend the time in the parks and not spend a lot of money on hotels. And IMO, being at Disney is the best vacation ever. So even if I can't be on Disney property, I want to be in Disney.

This is my 3rd year in a row that I've traded my Virginia timeshare for a timeshare in Orlando, without any problem.

Timeshares are a great investment. If we hadn't purchased our timeshare so many years ago, I probably wouldn't be able to go to Disney as often as I have.

I'd be happy to answer any questions on timeshare ownership. Just ask or send me a pm.

Maybe someday we will trade up to DVC. I can keep dreaming!!!

 

[YesDear]

We have owned timeshare for about 15 yrs now. We own a week at Myrtle Beach, did own a week in St. Martin and also are DVC members.

We believe the DVC has given us the best value so far.

I have to tell you a quick story. In 1981 we came to Disney. Our travel agent arranged for us to stay at this new complex near Disney. There were only 4 buildings and a small pool standing. It was a new concept called a timeshare and this resort was called Vistana. Our two bedroom condo was very nice and we even went to the sales pitch for the free breakfast. We left laughing because we could not understand why ANYONE would plop down $2,500 for a so called red week!!! Needless to say we did not buy. Brilliant.

If given the chance we would probably sell the week in Myrtle Beach and spend the money on more points for DVC.

DVC fits us better than others at this time.

Everyone has their approach that works for them.

We have traded our week in MB for a week at Christmas at Orange Lake. We will be at OKW for Christmas and need extras space for more family.

 

[mickeyc]

There are some good non Disney timeshares in the Orlando area such as Mariott and Hilton. We are DVC owners and also own a Mariott.

I would suggest that you check out the tug ( timeshare user group) website. It contains a wealth of information and for a nominal fee you can access the ratings of timeshares you maybe interested in purchasing. You can purchase DVC and other timeshares resale and save thousands. The website is: WWW.TUG2.NET. If you visit a time share presentation I would resist buying on the spot. In many cases you will get a better deal via the resale route. Good luck!

 

[webprinter]

We own at both Fairfield and Worldmark (Trendwest) and are happy with both of them. We recently exchanged our Worldmark week for a week at DVC. It is difficult to do but not impossible if you are flexible. We prefer Worldmark over Fairfield. If you are interested in purchasing at Fairfield, you can join the Fairfield Yahoo group and learn a lot before making the final decision. As an earlier post stated: be sure to buy resale and save a lot of money!! If you want to email me privately, I would be happy to answer any specific questions you might have. Debby

 

[donnsuz]

We own a timeshare in Sedona (with Sunterra) and in Scottsdale, AZ (with Shell). I'm glad I have them but if I had it to do all over again I'd definately have done things differently. I absolutely would never buy from the company itself again. I'd buy directly from an owner trying to offload a property. Once you buy them timeshares are nearly impossible to sell. Also, if you do not travel alot it makes more financial sense to just rent a timeshare from an owner when you're ready to go. I've tried to trade for DVC properties both times I've been to WDW and they were full so I traded for other properties that I was very happy with. We stayed in a two bedroom unit at Vistana in 1994 and a three bedroom unit at Grand Beach (Embassy/Sunterra) this year and was very happy with both.

 

[yzma]

The wyndham palms timeshares are nice. They are owned by Wyndham hotel chain. They are close to Disney and give you Disney, Universal, or Sea world tickets after you listen to their presentation. Good Luck!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by JeanGenie
We own a non-Disney timeshare that's located in Virginia. We can trade our timeshare for many places around the country and world. Each year that I've wanted to visit Disney, I am always able to find a timeshare in the Orlando area. Even if its not Disney, its a great way to be able to get to Disney - to spend the time in the parks and not spend a lot of money on hotels. And IMO, being at Disney is the best vacation ever. So even if I can't be on Disney property, I want to be in Disney.

Timeshares are a great investment. If we hadn't purchased our timeshare so many years ago, I probably wouldn't be able to go to Disney as often as I have.

I'm curious - not counting your initial purchase price, what is the annual cost of owning your timeshare? Annual fee? Trading fee? It seems that every time I look into purchasing a timeshare, it always turns out to be cheaper to just rent a house or condo each year and not be locked into a particular location.

For example, I can get a 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo at Windsor Palms in November for less than $600/week. Some timeshare companies charge that much or more for the annual fee, plus a trade fee if you own elsewhere, and that's on top of the original purchase price.

I don't mean to knock timeshares. I've seriously looked into them several times over the years and I can never get the numbers to work out favorably.

Steve

 

[Lisa P.]

Abbeysdaddy, there are many, many great timeshares in the Orlando area. Are you trying to trade in via RCI or II? Or are you looking to eventually make a purchase (resale only, if it's Orlando, I hope!!!) and want to tour some of the better ones? Or are you looking to rent nightly or weekly?

Silky is correct that DVC is indeed an expensive timeshare. The trade fees may be reasonable, but the purchase and maintenance fees are high. A much less expensive ownership elsewhere could provide similar trade power at less cost. DVC is a nice program for using, not trading.

Steve, here's what can be done with Fairfield points. Typical cost of 154,000 points per year = $5,000 incl closing, then ~$500 in annual dues, including free annual, individual RCI membership. Here's what that can get us:

1. Use 42,000-56,000 points for 2-6 nights (depending on unit size and season) reservation somewhere within the Fairfield system, close to home.

2. Trade 28,000 points (low season studio week) to 42,000 points (mid-season studio) via RCI into a 2BR GC resort, like Vistana, Orange Lake, a Sunterra or a Fairfield in the Orlando area or another easy trade location or season (Orlando holiday weeks are easy due to the many timeshares there). Add $139 trade fee.

3. Trade 70,000 points (high season studio) to another destination for another 2BR GC resort. Add $139 trade fee.

Annual costs = $500 + $139 + $139 = $778 for 16+ nights. That's under $50 per night, including ALL fees, even for 2BR+ stays. Fairfield points work for us!

The person who posted that they prefer WorldMark makes sense too. It's a less complex program and takes less time to learn to make the most of it. It's also got a LOT more resorts along the west coast, where that person lives. Being from NC, I love the many east coast resorts with Fairfield.

Usually, resale is the way to go, with almost any timeshare. Visit TUG to learn more about timeshares!

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by JeanGenie
Here's my 2 cents on timeshare ownership:

Timeshares are a great investment.

Just have to clarify....Timeshares, like automobiles, are lousy investments financially. If you view them as a means of pre-paying for vacation accomodations, then they can make financial sense if you do your homework correctly.

We're DVC owners and quite happy ones at that. Many "inexpensive" timeshare owners scoff at the premium we have paid but Disney must have done something right...DVC keeps selling out while there are tons of non-Disney timeshares in the Orlando region for sale and/or rent.

I had a brief debate with my uncle about timeshares...he's been retired for a number of years and has a number of weeks here and there. Timesharing is almost his job now. He couldn't see why I'd spend so much money on DVC. I couldn't see why he'd want to go to Orlando and not stay on property or why he'd want to fiddle with a points system that inflates points requirements into the thousands.


-Joe

 

[Lisa P.]

Disney must have done something right...DVC keeps selling out while there are tons of non-Disney timeshares in the Orlando region for sale and/or rent.

Disney has done a great job of selling their resorts. Like so many timeshare companies have done elsewhere, Disney has a massive marketing machine at WDW! Their resorts are gorgeous - lots of fun! And they're great for folks who buy DVC to use it. We sold our DVC because it really didn't work for us, for our needs, within our budget. I don't scoff at it. But it isn't for everyone either.

But many other resort companies are doing something right too. Or they wouldn't have sold so MANY large resorts throughout the Orlando area and the nation. Fairfield has over 450,000 owners. I'd say they've done something right too.

He couldn't see why I'd spend so much money on DVC.

Maybe the things that are special about Disney's resorts are not what is most important to him in an ownership.

I couldn't see... why he'd want to fiddle with a points system that inflates points requirements into the thousands.

This statement makes no sense to me... sounds like you don't really understand other points programs. Using a "currency" of points or credits that number in the thousands rather than the hundreds simply allows for a finer breakdown of the points, into smaller increments. It's the difference between U.S. $, Australian $, Canadian $, Euros, Yen, Drachmas, Pesos, etc.

Having "thousands" of points is useful when using them for theme park tix, golf and other resort activities, gift shop or logo merchandise purchases, airfare, cruises with any cruise company, car rentals and the myriad of other purchases offered through some of the other timeshare companies. With fewer points (150 vs. 154,000) and making smaller purchases, the company would always round up to the next full point and that would not be to my advantage.

 

[disneygals]

Steve,

We bought a Vistana floating week in 1996 and paid $5500 plus $500 closing costs. The yearly maintenance fee is approx $600.

We joined RCI and paid $80-90 a year. We traded twice..once for Smugglers Notch in Vermont which would have cost $3500 if we paid Smugglers to stay there. We traded again to Williamsburg (you also pay RCI a trading fee, $140, I think) for this past Easter. We probably could've gotten a rental for $600-800 for that week. SO, my point is, sometimes trading is worth it, sometimes not.

The most important rule that is said over and over at TUG, is to buy where you want to go the most! We have now cancelled RCI and will only use the Vistana, until the kids are older.

The other plus is that it truly FORCES you to go on vacation as it's use it or lose it.

I know you asked this info from someone else, but just telling you my story

Vivienne

 

[jbthi]

I think my TS has been a great investment in fun and not a bad financial investment. I own 7 TS and I bought them to use, not trade. Our first purchase did not work out; we bought preconstruction and it went bankrupt. They arranged for us to have another TS we didn't like so we trade it. Then we bought another from the HOA for $1000 at the same TS. Until the last few years we have been able to trade into Sanibel/Captiva in units renting for $1500 for that $1000 TS.

We will not trade our other timeshares inc. DVC.

Lisa, I think the points up in the hundreds of thousands are more confusing. AT DVC it is so easy to add up in your head in a split second just how many points you need. I used to belong to HGVC. It wasn't too bad, points were 7000 but still not as easy as DVC. Of course, maybe it's just that I'm not that good at multiplication.