Timeshares lotsa questons

[beaudoin_n]

Hi,
I am in magic world right now.. typing from the tv iternet
it is notthat good (

Anyways yesterday was our first day and the concierge offeredus discounted passes if we visted the westgae... ok kinda nice and all.. and maybe a timeshare would be nice.. or is it ?

any hought on timeshares in general ? any thoughts on too many trips to Disney ? I don<t know it is our second time this year (and like th third time of all wevisit here) does it get boring after a few trips ? there are not that many chances with he mouse from onetime to the other... do you alternate parks.. one year universal, th oter magic world.. the next sea world ?

What about prices ? How can i kno what is fair ? Should iijust buy the deed from another owner ?

Ok i ll stop the questions now.. this keyboard is workig only half te time

 

[MRussell]

I hope you have a wonderful time at Disney!

We purchased our timeshare online from a resale company Holidaygroup.com We checked with the better business bureau beforehand and had wonderful service from them.

We own a deeded 2 BR floating week in the Red zone. (highest) and only paid $1500. Granted it is in Massachusetts but we can trade anywhere in the world for an exhange fee of $159. They do have many in Florida also for a fraction of the cost of buying from the resorts.

While we were in Florida last week we went to a timeshare presentation and they were selling for $25,000! I can trade a lot of weeks for $25,000. We were at the very same resort others were paying $25,000.

Just food for thought. Best of luck with your decision.

Have a wonderful time.

 

[Kay7979]

Only buy a timeshare resale, and its best to buy one that is not in Orlando. Orlando is flooded with timeshares, especially with Westgate timeshares. It is easy to rent one for cheaper than to buy there. In any case never buy one from the developer. You can buy for pennies on the dollar on eBay or from other timeshare resellers like Holiday group.

 

[spiceycat]

I have a couple.

won't buy another one unless it is nice timeshares (for trading) and cheap.

go visit

www.tug2.net

also before you buy one especially in Orlando - compare
www.skyauction.com or even www.condodirect.com to what the owners pay in maintence fees.

now definitely go to the timeshare presentation - but NEVER buy in Orlando unless you are buying DVC.

also definitely go look at the resale market.

 

[swilshire]

The TUG website is where you want to spend lots of time. Great bunch of folks there.

I love all six of mine (though I need to downsize by a couple). We've vacationed in timeshares for 11 years now and my kids think I'm nuts if I just book a hotel room. It's not for everybody, but great for families.

If you are a single or couple with no kids who like to travel in the off season, I wouldn't necessarily recommend going the timeshare route. Too many rentals are available.

Feel free to PM or email me any time, though I'll be in a timeshare New Years week in Orlando and may not take my computer.

Sheila

 

[swilshire]

any thoughts on too many trips to Disney ? I don<t know it is our second time this year (and like th third time of all wevisit here) does it get boring after a few trips ?

Well, the last time we had annual passes, we went for New Years, Spring Break, the 4th of July, Fall break and Christmas. I was ready to take a year off, but we were still having fun the fifth week we were there that year. Since we had paid for our passes and were using timeshares for lodging and cooking in the condos, the overall cost was dirt cheap.

Sheila

 

[grammynelliebelle]

I have a couple.

won't buy another one unless it is nice timeshares (for trading) and cheap.

go visit

www.tug2.net

also before you buy one especially in Orlando - compare
www.skyauction.com or even www.condodirect.com to what the owners pay in maintence fees.

now definitely go to the timeshare presentation - but NEVER buy in Orlando unless you are buying DVC.

also definitely go look at the resale market.

I just registered on the TUG as a guest, as I had read about a thread they have for rentals that are only 45 days out. My question is this. How do you know you are doing a reputable rent. I have done VRBO in the past and am very comfortable with talking with the owner, doing the county check etc, but dont know what to look for or ask for a timeshare rental. When its just dh and myself, a time share rental might make more sense in terms of price and space. Has anybody had good luck with the TUG rentals? TIA Grammy

 

[gjw007]

Like others on this list, I have timeshares. Unless you are getting a specific unit with a specific view which you will use every year, it is advisable to purchase resale. The reason being is that unless it is a unit that is used, you will be trading the unit and more likely than not, you will not be getting your unit. As such, why pay the developer price for something that you will not use.

In addition, since you probably be trading, you might want to consider a points-based system. In a weeks-based system, the owner must deposit first for a unit to be available (great if you use the unit every year as you don't have to do anything and the unit will be waiting for you) but in a points-based system, all units and weeks are available in a first-come, first-serve basis. An example of this would be Disney Vacation Club. One variation of the points-based system are weeks-based unit converted into points. The first-come, first serve still applies but the owner has an option, usually 13 months before their scheduled use, to declare that they are going to use their unit in which case it won't be available on the first-come, first-serve basis. AN example of this are RCI Points.

It is advisable to do some research before making a purchase. Dean, who is usually here in the DVC section and on Tug, advises 6 months of research. This is a reasonable approach.