Why didn't VB sell better?

[tvwalsh]

Disney still has 3 or 4 million dollars worth of unsold VB inventory. (Based on an estimate of 50,000 or 60,000 unsold points). Vero was offered in 1995. What is the problem?

Marriot can sell Oceanfront timeshares. Why can't Disney?

Will this resort be in greater demand after SS is built?

Is it the larger fees? What?

 

[floridafam]

A majority of the people I talk to have no idea Disney has a resort on the ocean.

I think a lot of people think of WDW as Orlando only and they go there and go back home.

Maybe VB only appeals to a certain segment of people-people who enjoy a beach vacation or something with a more relaxed atmosphere.

I don't have the answer why it didn't sell better because I don't know for sure. These are just my opinions.

We discovered VB on the internet when we were searching for hotels in VB years ago. We went there numerous times without setting foot in Orlando because we felt our kids were too young for the parks.

Also, VB isn't really advertised heavily on the Disney website. It really takes some searching to get to any details about it. Maybe it would have sold better if more people had known about it. When you book a vacation on the Disney website or with CRO maybe they could have said "How about spending a few days at the beach relaxing after your time in Orlando?" I know they have flyers about this but it's on the very back page.

VB is one of the finest oceanfront resorts in Florida. It truly is a gem, in my opinion. I don't think Disney could have made it any better-great facilities, dining, rooms, it's not a high rise, great activities, etc. You don't find a great combination of all of this in Florida on the ocean too much. Usually, other resorts are lacking in 1 or 2 of the above mentioned items.

I think Disney just missed the mark on how they marketed VB but maybe they did it for a reason. Who knows?

I heard VB is almost sold out, don't know if this is true or not.

 

[eva]

I think that one of the reasons may be the location. Vero Beach just isn't known as a big vacation spot mecca. I think that Disney picked it because of the more remote location. But that may be one of the biggest problems with sells there. Also, people usually are looking at DVC while on a trip at WDW. And most are buying because WDW is where they want to vacation.

 

[InstImpres]

Maybe people like me are part of the problem. My parents have been going down to that area about once a year and renting a condo. Funny, I look at the stuff from DVC all the time but never think of it when talking to them. Somehow I mention HH to people all the time but VB is out of sight, out mind

(and it's not just that I don't want to share my points, I;ve sent them OKW before!)

 

[Richyams]

Why would I have fun with this one?

VB is a beautiful resort, one of the finest that the planet has ever seen.

I think that DIsney was a bit arrogant getting into the timeshare market. The success of OKW led them to believe that anything with the Disney name would sell. VB is an expensive timeshare. Timeshares on the beach can be had for much, much less.

I think they were lucky to have as many salesman as they did who were willing to lie to sell Vero.

Its just too bad that the dismal performances of VB and HH made it so that we would never see another off site DVC again.

 

[pauld2]

Having just purchased into BCV, I like the fact that VB is there as a possible alternative. It was a definite plus in my overall purchase decision. The obvious downside to VB are the point values: I will need to be good and sick of WDW for a while before I get less for my BCV points to stay at VB.

 

[KelNottAt]

We'll be buying DVC later this year...just waiting for the right resale.

Since we are only moderate WDW vacationers (less than once a year), part of the DVC appeal is the ability to go to VB and HH without having to own there.

Yes, of course we could buy Marriott, etc, and have beautiful beach accomodations. But then we'd have to give up on-site WDW accomodations when we want them. And I refuse to stay off-site when visiting Disney. Period. (Spoiled, yes.)

Conversely, we could buy HH or VB and still get on-site at WDW. Believe me, we considered it...cheaper points. But, no thanks. Need the 11 month window for WDW.

Maybe other members have used the same logic.

 

[Jimbo]

I think competition has a lot to do with it. If you want to buy a WDW timeshare, DVC has the absolute prime locations. Everybody else has to find other ways to compete.

When it comes to VB, DVC has to compete with other resorts, timeshares and rent-by-owner condos all up and down both coasts. And a lot of the prime-est of the prime locations were long gone by the time Disney started to look for a spot to build. There's lots of better beaches in Florida, and more appealing towns, too.

They had the same problem at Hilton Head, and that's why your 10 minutes from the beach. Disney obviously would have preferred to be on the beach, but Marriott and all of the condo developments got there first.

So it's Disney that's at a location disadvantage offsite, and that has to find other ways to compete. They haven't been all that successful, IMHO. I like the resorts myself, and they're a good use of my points. But if I wasn't already a DVC owner and wanted a beach vacation, I wouldn't go to VB. And if I wanted to stay on HHI, I would probably rent one of the Palmetto Dunes condos on the beach.

 

[PamOKW]

The decision not to really get into the timeshare business outside of Disney is probably the biggest factor. They are basically only selling to people who enjoy going to Disney and who would like to go somewhere else. Those people then decide whether to buy Vero or Disney. I'm betting a big chunk of Vero sales are people who also own DVC at Disney and then added on.

If they had marketed this more widely, marketing to those who would never dream of setting foot in Disney for example, they would have had a much broader base to sell.

The decision not to put the resources necessary into full-scale expansion outside of Disney held back sales at Vero and HHI.

 

[Richyams]

The decision not to put the resources necessary into full-scale expansion outside of Disney held back sales at Vero and HHI.

Chicken and the egg....

I think that the poor performance of HH and VB forced the decision to not put any resources into full scale off site timeshare expansion.

The performance was so poor that they sold at least one proprty that was acquired specifically for a DVC resort.....probably two properties, maybe even three.

They got slapped hard with reality by the poor sales at VB and HH.

 

[pauld2]

Former plans for off-site DVC ? Any thought as to what those were ? Personally, I would like to see on-site California and beachside California.

 

[kamgen]

We love VB! We discovered it when we added a few days onto the end of a WDW vacation and we added on! We are headed there next month and really looking forward to it. Disney needs to market it better...it is a beautiful place and a great vacation!

Kamy

 

[dougmatt]

The number 1 reason for the poor VB performance (Hilton Head too) is lack of advertising. I own a VB add-on and a HH add-on, but only because I visited the properties and decided I wanted them. There is a ton of proximity based advertising in the WDW area, but in order to sell timeshare on the beach, you have to advertise, give away, etc to get people to come by THAT property. Disney assumed that a traveler at WDW would be interested in VB sight unseen??? Come on!?! Most of the sales were add-on's from members who took a trip to VB and realized what a wonderful location it is which explains why Hilton Head sold 'slightly' better in that HH is easier to get to and slightly more popular than VB for those 'member' stays by the northern US crowd.

I love both resorts (why I added on) and expect that once they are completely sold there will be times (like summer in HH now) that you will be unable to book anything without 11 month pref... I tried twice to get HH for July 4th week ailed at 6.5 - months.... SO I bought a 50 point add on and every 2 -3 years we will spend that week (or another summer week) there.

Doug

 

[tvwalsh]

Originally posted by pauld2
Former plans for off-site DVC ? Any thought as to what those were ? Personally, I would like to see on-site California and beachside California.

With a beautiful ocean view and a short drive to Disneyland, the Newport Beach property seemed to be a perfect place for a planed DVC timeshare. After the HH and VB experience, Disney sold the property to Marriot which built that beautiful resort!

 

[colleen costello]

My real problem with Vero Beach may affect other families as well -- it's two hours more DRIVING! We already come 16 hours to get to Mickey. Adding 2 or so more is just not a great option right now. And upon leaving Vero, we'd be even farther away from home! A lot of people drive to Florida and Vero isn't exactly "on the way."

 

[BrianTime]

My viewpoint may be atypical; but being from Chicago, if I am going to Florida to vacation, I am going to Disney.

Perhaps when my children are a little older, I may welcome this kind of relaxing vacation...

 

[Dean]

There are many factors for why VB hasn't sold well. Some of them include the fact tht VB is not a major tourist area compared to HH, WDW, Palm Beach, Miami, HI, etc. Even then, it's out of VB and there is precious little close by. DVC had unrealistic expectations, their sell out plan should have been 8-10 years and not 3-4 as it seems it was. DVC is in general way too nice on selling and advertising. I'm sure Disney felt people would beat their door down because it's Disny Some of these issues are why many of use like DVC but it hurts them in this area. While there are exceptions, those that buy with plans to use VB, and HH to a certain extent, do so with VB as a secondary plan. Someone that plans on going 50/50 to VB and WDW are likely far better off owning at WDW than VB.

Much of the same logic applies to HH though there are variations. HH is more of an established area, HH in summer is impossible unless one owns there, dues are lower and the like.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by Richyams
VB is a beautiful resort, one of the finest that the planet has ever seen.

Yes it is.

My belief is that Vero contributes to the sales of other resorts when DVC members think that they may not do every vacation at WDW, but that thier primary interest is in vacationing onsite at WDW. If they desire a nice off site experience at a reasonable point value compared with a trade, it's available. We also think it's great for combination WDW and beach vacations. The majority of the booths and sales kiosks are at WDW, and I think people who vacation during a prime season like Christmas who want to be at WDW during those times are wise to choose an onsite resort over an offsite resort.

 

[ripleysmom]

I agree with colleen and brian. Most of the people that are interested in DVC don't want to go to Florida to go to the beach. They'd rather go to Orlando.

I would still like to see a DVC resort built in the NE. I think that it would do VERY well.

 

[brucec32]

Originally posted by Richyams
Why would I have fun with this one?

VB is a beautiful resort, one of the finest that the planet has ever seen.

I think that DIsney was a bit arrogant getting into the timeshare market. The success of OKW led them to believe that anything with the Disney name would sell. VB is an expensive timeshare. Timeshares on the beach can be had for much, much less.

I think they were lucky to have as many salesman as they did who were willing to lie to sell Vero.

Its just too bad that the dismal performances of VB and HH made it so that we would never see another off site DVC again.

Actually, a VB timeshare purchase is probably much less expensive than a non-Disney timeshare purchase. Why? RESALE VALUE. Many regular timeshares drop precipitously in value after purchase. Disney ones have held somewhat steady or even risen in value. They also are much more marketable since you can always "rent" your points out for others to stay at the other DVC resorts at WDW. People will pay cash for that. They won't even know about some timeshare on the beach in many cases.

Remember, total cost is calcualated long term, not solely on initial purchase price. I can buy a $15,000 Kia or a $15,000 used Mercedes. Which one will be worth more in 5 years?

So though VB wouldn't be my first choice for a DVC membership home resort, I think it's certainly better than the majority of timeshares out there in terms of value. A local consumer talk radio show here routinely gets calls from timeshare owners who CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY. The Disney name attached, combined with the flexibility of the points system, makes even the VB a good value. By a VB timeshare and you're really buying time at any Disney resort and hundreds of others too.