Too many timeshares in Disney?

[doubletrouble_vb]

Not just here but in other sites...some financial I see indications that people feel Orlando is becoming "time share central". Disney in particular is taking the heat because they don't seem to be putting enough money back into the theme parks to keep them fresh.

What do you think? Is enough enough? Should Eagle Pines be built at all?

 

[Richyams]

Until they sit languishing unsold, there are not enough.

What percentage of WDW rooms are DVC???

Lets take bets, will Werner or Doc answer this first?

 

[Eeyore2U]

I think EP will have a different clientele being on/near a golf course. I think they should review membership/economy yadd yadda and see if there is a need to continue to develop DVC at that point.

 

[donald@home]

I am not sure how I feel. I enjoy the different DVC choices on property, but Disney has a habit of overdoing something until they kill it (Disney Stores, Millionaire, etc.). This makes me nervous, If I want to sell my interest 10 years from now, will the fact that there will be a dozen DVC resorts on WDW property make the program less effective and make selling difficult (me selling and 12 DVC resorts are just hypothetical).

 

[Werner Weiss]

This poll is missing the logical, reasonable choice: "Continue the controlled expansion of Disney Vacation Club capacity at WDW as long as there is a demand for new memberships."

The way the first item is worded ("Too much is never enough! Keep going after EP.") suggests a policy of expanding with no regard to whether anyone wants to buy what's being built.

Originally posted by Richyams
What percentage of WDW rooms are DVC???

Lets take bets, will Werner or Doc answer this first?

According to a GlobeSt.com article earlier this month:
<blockquote>The Saratoga project brings Disney's timeshare count to 2,350 units in seven locations versus 22,000 hotel rooms in 19 properties, according to previously published reports of the individual properties.</blockquote>

But I think GlobeSt.com is incorrect with their numbers. First, GlobeSt. com is counting the Saratoga Springs Resort as 484 units -- they're counting the 184 new units and the 300 refurbished units as DVC timeshare capacity. As Dean has pointed out, it's questionable whether those 300 rooms will be part of DVC. Also, GlobeSt.com's DVC numbers appear to include HH and VB, which really don't belong in a count of DVC capacity at WDW.

A WDWMagic page about the Pop Century project includes the following text quoted from an article or press release (I can't tell which), dated February 3, 2001:
<blockquote>Together with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, opening in spring 2001, Disney's Pop Century Resort when completed will bring the total number of guest rooms at Walt Disney World Resort to more than 33,000. A total of 19 resorts with more than 27,000 rooms will be Walt Disney World owned and operated. Currently, Disney owned and operated guest rooms total more than 20,000 in 17 resorts.</blockquote>
Take your pick, and do your own math.

You can come up with answers from about 5% to 10% depending on what numbers you use.

 

[jade1]

We think if you want this vacation "investment" to hold or increase its dollar net worth, you may want to vote to slow things down (who knows for sure). If you think you may need to sell down the road for some reason. But we voted to keep building because we are in it for the long haul, and have already stayed everywhere a couple of times (except BCV) and like to try new things, even if the values started down from saturation. Its still only $500 a year (for each 150 points) after your purchase for these beautiful resorts, there would just be more to chose from. Voting to stop just limits your options. Now BCV just fell in our lap, well lets stay there next time, heck were already dreaming of the following trip at DI, then EP, then, then, then.

 

[Lesley]

As long as they're selling they should probably keep builing them. It brings money in to Disney and gives us more options. Options are good.

But I do think they need to keep a careful eye on when things begin to drop off and know when to say when. They've definitely got a bad record going on that count. BCV is selling like hotcakes....and unless something changes it seems there are folks who will miss out on BCV and will want the next two resorts. But if DI doesn't sell....EP may not be the best idea.

Personally, I don't see this at all as an "investment". We're in until 2042, then its gone. We plan to enjoy it as much as we can until that time.

 

[mjs805]

I am all for building, as long as there is a demand.

My concern is that as more resorts are built without direct access to the parks (ie. EP and DI), a high percentage of the people who buy there will actually want to stay in locations with park access (ie. BWV, BCV, WLV), thus making the competition to book at the 7 month mark much higher. I look forward to many trips to my home resort (BCV), but I also look forward to trying other resorts. I don't want to see booking at the 7 month window for BCV, VWL and BWV become as difficult as getting a PS for Cinderella's Royal Table.

On the other hand, maybe as long as there are new resorts for everyone to try, this won't be a problem.

Who knows? Just a concern of mine.

Mike

 

[vernon]

DVC brings in a really quick return on investment and is making Disney a lot of money, I don't buy the " if the money wasn't spent on DVC it would go into the parks" argument, it doesn't wash IMHO.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Richyams


Lets take bets, will Werner or Doc answer this first?

Werner wins!!!!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Controlled construction would be wonderful but when my eye wanders over to Pop Century ...and in view of the earlier publicity about Eagle Pines being next followed by a sudden decision to change DI into a DVC... I don't think this is an option Disney will take. Although I suppose its as much of a dream as Disney stopping after Disney Institute.

I voted for building elsewhere. California is crying out for a DVC...not necessarily in Anaheim. Paris and Tokyo would also be interesting. Build VWL sized resorts but key it into the DVC points system so that we could trade to over there.

 

[sandieb]

I would like to see Disney continue to expand both in and outside of WDW with additional DVC properties...I like having the HH and VB options using DVC points to get Disney quality. I can also see DVC associated with the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Poly (which would sell like hotcakes being on the monorail!).
Sandie B.

 

[Doctor P]

The value of a network increases geometrically or exponentially with each node that is added. My DVC membership is worth much more now than when we bought in (just two years ago) when there were only two on-site resorts rather than the current four (soon to be six!).

 

[BobH]

I think it is inevitable that the building will continue as long as Disney thinks it can bring in money from the sales. We can only hope that if total park attendance increases as a result of the building that Disney will be wise enogh to to create new parks and vacation option that will allow us to enjoy the Disney experience without standing on each other's shoulders. Hopefully they won't kill the golden goose....

 

[DemoBri1]

IMHO, DVD should have pursued EP first, before DI. I would think that building a DVC resort with a world-class golf course right on property would be a huge selling point for them.

My feeling is that while SS sounds very nice, it is essentially a revision of a piece of property that didn't work the first time around. I guess their idea is to get more DVCers closer to DD.

Personally, I might think of adding on to the points we already have, but I think I will wait until something breaks at EP.

 

[raidermatt]

Like Werner and others said, I'm fine with continued expansion as long as demand justifies it, and provided each new project lives up to Disney quality in all aspects. (The last part SHOULD be a "gimme"...)

I'm not in an informed enough position to make a solid judgement on whether this would be the right move or not, but on a personal note, I would LIKE to see a DVC built at DLR, and Tokyo and Paris for that matter.

Having those options for spending my points would most certainly result in our purchasing more...

 

[spiceycat]

As long as DVC sells - they will continue to build.

Does anyone else think that after OKW - the Polyn was on the minds of the DVC's leadership - look at the symbol - 3 or 2 volcanic islands - Old Key West is not a volcanic island but the Hawaii Islands are (Polynesian)?

Or was I making too much out of the symbol?

 

[labr]

In the past we always stayed at DI (soon to be SS). It is a wonderful property. The main reason we purchased DVC was to ensure that we would be able to stay at villa type resorts (kitchen, washer/dryer etc...). When we heard that DI was being converted to DVC that pretty much sold it for us. Our home resort is BCV but we are considering purchasing additional points when SS opens.

I think that Disney should continue to expand to the extent it makes sense for the demand. However, they need to consider the theme parks also. To expend to extensively in DVC without corresponding expansion/revision at the theme parks could result in trouble at WDW.

My DH heard that they are considering another theme park at WDW. That would be very exciting and probably allow for further expansion of DVC.