Upcomming announcement speculation thread

[corpcomp]

SO, I just spoke with our guide and she said..............Prices are going up on Sunday for sold out resorts, she specifically mentioned boardwalk and beach club. I believe she said up to $115 or $116 per point.

She also said they are on the "cusp of" getting close to selling out GC and she mentioned that in the past they typically announce some new incentives at this point to push the resort to a sell out. I'm new to this stuff so hopefully this all makes sense.

My guide just confirmed what your said. BCV going to $115 on Sunday.

I've been on the fence and have been looking for a small contract for over a year through TTS but never get my use year and never get the emails in time to buy. So just bought 30 more points at $106 Feb UY. DVC has plenty.

What they have been doing is buying lots of ROFRs and going to make extra money selling when the price goes up. Buy now if you are on the fence. in 2011 day rate for a 1BR at BCV is going to 37 points per day mid week from 34 points for April. Now have 270 (Yea! I'm in the 270 club) which gives me exactly 1 full week at Spring Break or two full weeks in a Studio.

And now I can unborrow the points from 2011 (at least for now Borrowitis is cured with Addonitis!!!!)

 

[tjkraz]

Well, I'm not so sure. Why would anyone purchase BWV/BCV direct over BLT?

Off the top of my head, because they aren't aware of resale...have been burned by ROFR...want the points right away, including current UY points...want to pick the exact number of points...need DVC's easy financing.

Some people are probably wary of the entire resale process or just don't want the hassle.

How often does a 25-pt contract at BCV hit the resale market? How about a 25-pt contract with a June Use Year? How about a 25-pt contract with a June UY and all 2009 points intact? You could get that contract from DVC today with a single phone call.

Why group them together price wise? If sales are still steady for BWV/BCV depsite BLT incentives, that tells you something. The motivation for purchasing BWV/BCV does not drop due to the price increase.

Well, I can't comment on how steady sales are but BLT sales FAR eclipse other destinations including BCV and BWV.

Motivation will vary from one member to another. People who are bound and determined to add at BCV or BWV will still do so. But there are others who first determine they they need 50 more points and THEN begin to evaluate which resort to add. With BLT costing the same as BCV and BWV plus having the extra years and lower dues, I think this new pricing will certainly cause some to reconsider BLT.

I think there must be real problems with BLT sales. DVC still wants to market it as a premier site. Could this be a set up for a two tier system?

Oh, I don't know about that. Just because BLT has only sold half of its 5.5+ million points after 16 months in a poor economy isn't exactly reason for doom and gloom. Today's pricing on BLT is MUCH higher than it was 12 months ago. This time last year the base price was lower and incentives were much better.

I suspect DVC is quite content selling points at a slower pace but a higher price. But if a minor tweak in BCV/BWV pricing helps to turn more customers to the more profitable BLT, why not do it?

DVC certainly does risk losing more BCV/BWV add-on sales to the resale market. But by raising the price they stand to earn a greater profit on points that they DO sell at those locations, plus they should get some members to reconsider BLT, VWL or AKV as an alternative.

 

[wbl2745]

In another thread Huskies90 said:

My guide has a 1 bedroom villa at Beach club on reserve for our August trip and I have to decide by March 7 as the new incentives and price increases go up by then... Of course what is making this harder is the imminent FREE DINING that should be released for my dates.

Does that add any fuel to the fire? Higher prices but free dining? Sounds like March 7 is the date.

 

[DVCGeek]

There are only a few points available at the soldout resorts, I think they feel they would rather try to get the high price on them, members who want to do small add-ons and don't want to deal with resale.

I wanted exactly 36 points @ VWL, so to get that number in my UY (and not pay closing costs) I bought straight from Disney @ $101pp... I know some would argue my crazy, but it met my goals and they were showing online in under 2 hours form my giving my guide the CC # for the deposit! To that end, an IMMEDIATE need for points could be another reason to buy straight from DVD.

 

[tjkraz]

Does that add any fuel to the fire? Higher prices but free dining? Sounds like March 7 is the date.

My take is that the poster in question is referring to booking a cash trip with a free dining promotion vs. buying into DVC.

If he/she buys DVC now it's at the $106 price point but the ability to secure "free dining" is gone. If he/she waits beyond 3/7 and "free dining" does not materialize (or terms are unfavorable), the villa being held is gone and the price on those points goes up to $115.

 

[dizfan]

I think there must be real problems with BLT sales.

When Disney increased the BLT base price to $120/pt (and decreased incentives for BLT), sales for BLT did slow to about half the pace. But they have been steady. Using records from Orange County Comptroller, first contracts showed up 10/30/2008. In 16 months, BLT has over 17200 contracts and 2.84 million points (approximately half of all points sold).

Probably not wanted Disney was hoping for, but I doubt they expected the economy would start crashing a couple months before sales at BLT started.

 

[letitsnow]

so is the big news just about the price increase for March 7th? or is there something else that they are going to announce?

 

[kt-scarlett]

I thought the "Do Not Call" lists did not pertain to businesses and organizations with whom you have an already existing relationship? Anybody else remember hearing or reading about this?

That's what I thought too. I just double checked at donotcall.gov and it turns out we were right. "Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls."

So it appears the Do Not Call list doesn't block guides from called their DVC members. You can't prove that by me though, I've been a member for over ten years and haven't received a call from my guide ever. I doubt she even still works there, lol. Isn't it weird how some stay in touch and other guides don't?

 

[RickinPA]

That's what I thought too. I just double checked at donotcall.gov and it turns out we were right. "Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls."

So it appears the Do Not Call list doesn't block guides from called their DVC members. You can't prove that by me though, I've been a member for over ten years and haven't received a call from my guide ever. I doubt she even still works there, lol. Isn't it weird how some stay in touch and other guides don't?

Either way, DVC will not allow guides to call if you are on the list. How else would my guide know I am on the list? In addition, he gave me a disney web page to register to recieve calls from DVC.

If I can find the web address, I'll post it.

Wrong or right, just trying to help.

 

[huskies90]

My take is that the poster in question is referring to booking a cash trip with a free dining promotion vs. buying into DVC.

If he/she buys DVC now it's at the $106 price point but the ability to secure "free dining" is gone. If he/she waits beyond 3/7 and "free dining" does not materialize (or terms are unfavorable), the villa being held is gone and the price on those points goes up to $115.

You got it exactly...Wait for Cash Free Dining vs. Buying into DVC now (WWYD?)

When I asked about what's coming on 3/7 my guide also said price increases for the sold out resorts. She told me during the last week of February that if I wanted the current promotion at the time which was 'double points' and $15 off per point at AK, I would have to buy by 2/28. When I talked to her this week, she said that promotion was extended to 3/6 because the marketing team did not get out the new March promotion in time.

So she said I could put a deposit down now and if the new promotion is better, I can switch but if it is not, I can keep the February one.

 

[letitsnow]

You got it exactly...Wait for Cash Free Dining vs. Buying into DVC now (WWYD?)

When I asked about what's coming on 3/7 my guide also said price increases for the sold out resorts. She told me during the last week of February that if I wanted the current promotion at the time which was 'double points' and $15 off per point at AK, I would have to buy by 2/28. When I talked to her this week, she said that promotion was extended to 3/6 because the marketing team did not get out the new March promotion in time.

So she said I could put a deposit down now and if the new promotion is better, I can switch but if it is not, I can keep the February one.

I was told the same thing...if a better deal comes arould my guide will rewrite the contract for me. Is that true if I sign and mail the contracts back? He also said that as the time passes the incentives get worse. The first time we came in we could have bought GCV at $104/pp and got a $3500 gift card...and then the next time it was the same price with 2 premium annual passes...now all I get is $15 off $112 and a blue binder that doesn't close and 2 red hats...no tote!

He did mention Aulani going to be released for sale but he believes it will be a higher price point...he seems to think if there will be new incentives it will be for Hawaii...

 

[Longhairbear]

I wanted exactly 36 points @ VWL, so to get that number in my UY (and not pay closing costs) I bought straight from Disney @ $101pp... I know some would argue my crazy, but it met my goals and they were showing online in under 2 hours form my giving my guide the CC # for the deposit! To that end, an IMMEDIATE need for points could be another reason to buy straight from DVD.

We bought at VWL before it sold out. We added on twice through Disney afterward, and paid the same price pp, and got the same use year. If the price for VWL goes up also, above the price for VGC then we are more inclined to buy a new contract there rather than add on to VWL. We've decided that any add on would be at VGC regardless of price or incentive mostly because we are using more of our points there, and less at WDW.

 

[keishashadow]

Just chiming in with my guess. I think the announcement is going to be a new cruise incentive for the Dream. The new Disney Files has a four page spread with details about the ship.

Whatever it is, I hope they make the "big" announcement soon. Too much suspense!

quite possible, the regular rates for '11 on the the dream are almost 'reasonable' Despite the norm of lowest price tiers offered 1st, I'm thinking regular bookings are def off based upon the rate I booked.

Im lost re the discussion of 'cash free dining' vs buy into DVC now. Are we talking CRO FDP or possible special DVC buying incentive.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

we are waiting to hear back from disney on ROFR but we contacted our guide anyway to see what, if any, are the incentives in march to buying through disney. he said that we should wait until the weekend.

hmmmmmm???

if he told us to wait so the new higher fees could go through, i'd be really annoyed!

 

[gkrykewy]

we are waiting to hear back from disney on ROFR but we contacted our guide anyway to see what, if any, are the incentives in march to buying through disney. he said that we should wait until the weekend.

hmmmmmm???

if he told us to wait so the new higher fees could go through, i'd be really annoyed!

Exactly. Given how this all started (with people who'd already bought being told to hold off on signing), it's certain that there must be new *discounts* coming out of this, not just price increases.

 

[TisBit]

When Disney increased the BLT base price to $120/pt (and decreased incentives for BLT), sales for BLT did slow to about half the pace. But they have been steady. Using records from Orange County Comptroller, first contracts showed up 10/30/2008. In 16 months, BLT has over 17200 contracts and 2.84 million points (approximately half of all points sold).

Probably not wanted Disney was hoping for, but I doubt they expected the economy would start crashing a couple months before sales at BLT started.

I still say that Disney does NOT want BLT to sell out too quickly, it is a prime location that can get people in the door. Once they are there, they see that yes BLT is a great location, but a lot more expensive and those people will possibly buy remaining SSR or AKV points to save on the purchase price. Having inventory at BLT is a great advertiser to get people in the door.

 

[thepops]

Exactly. Given how this all started (with people who'd already bought being told to hold off on signing), it's certain that there must be new *discounts* coming out of this, not just price increases.

I agree... and the price increases seem to be for the already sold out resorts (which DVC doesn't push). The ones that most folks holding on to their packages waiting to hear on new incentives seem to be the currently selling resorts (I didn't do an actual count through the 190+ posts).

 

[dizfan]

"Disney Vacation Club is set to raise the price on three of its older resorts.

Effective Sunday March 7, 2010, the price for points at Disney's Beach Club Villas and Disney's BoardWalk Villas will increase from $106 per point to $115 per point. Additionally points at the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge will increase from $101 to $102 per point.

Although each of these properties as been "sold out" for many years, Disney Vacation Club does maintain a small inventory primarily for add-on sales to existing members. Until the price increase goes into effect points can still be purchased at these locations at the existing price point.

Ownership at each of these three DVC resorts is scheduled to end on January 31, 2042."

 

[hakepb]

I still say that Disney does NOT want BLT to sell out too quickly, it is a prime location that can get people in the door. Once they are there, they see that yes BLT is a great location, but a lot more expensive and those people will possibly buy remaining SSR or AKV points to save on the purchase price. Having inventory at BLT is a great advertiser to get people in the door.

I'd agree that the economy and change to Disney-financed mortgages forced DVC to be much more agressive with BLT sales, then they initially planned.

This was not the right economy to be opening a more profitable "premium location" at a potentially much, much higher price (based on early rumors of $150+, hen the 100 point minimum?) while also funding a Hawaii resort and selling a bunch of AKV inventory.... I think they wound up bowing to some pressure for greater cash flow now, But, on the other hand, a highly desireable location made sales more possible in this economy...

 

[hakepb]

..With "old resort" price increases, I wonder if DVC is attempting to move more into the resale-type market? If they do not have another internal WDW resort in the near future, I think they will need to be more actively selling the other resorts.

Wow, $115/point for the WDW resort with the highest MF's, BWV, and tied for the shortest term contract (2042)!

I'm guessing this lets DVC raise ROFR about $9 on those...