It's not DVC but.....

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Tue, 10/12/2010 - 01:59

chriskre

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It's not DVC but.....

Excited to be going for Christmas light viewing.

Just scored a nice exchange thru Interval Int'l to Marriott Grande Vista in a
3 bedroom for a week for the price of one night at a Disney deluxe. I'm happy.
Won't be onsite but hey I'm going to Disney for Christmas viewing and
that makes me happy. Just found out they have free wi-fi too.

Sharing just in case any of you own a timeshare or know someone who does.
They could book you a nice week offsite very reasonably in early December thru the timeshare exchange companies. You'd have to pay a guest fee but it's well worth it.

In the past I've scored rentals from the timeshare clubs for $79 a week.
If you don't own a timeshare this is a great time to buy one if you can afford the maintenance fees. It opens up a whole bunch of possibilities for travel especially in Orlando. You can buy them for $1 on ebay but do your homework before jumping on anything.

Once you own one you can get access to a few clubs that do rentals real cheap to their members.

And no.....I don't sell timeshares, just a happy timeshare owner who loves as much Disney time as I can get.

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Tue, 10/12/2010 - 02:12

cdub

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Chris, you seem like an expert on timeshares. Do you think they make as much sense for someone who doesn't have the time or interest level that you do to focus on it? It kind of reminds me of frequent flyer programs where if you have the interest, you can make a killing with them, but for those of us who are just kind of casual with it, it's not that good of a deal. Do you think that's a reasonable analogy?

Tue, 10/12/2010 - 02:36

chriskre

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I guess it could be true.

Timeshares definetely have a learning curve but for anyone who goes to Orlando alot, I think it might be worth learning.

Not all timeshares need to have yearly fees, some are biennial and triennial and get you the same benefits of joining the timeshare clubs where these good deals can be had.

I've helped many of my friends buy something that makes sense for them to own like a week at a favorite beach place maybe every other year and then they get access to the clubs for the great discounts.

On average with all the fees that I pay to own my timeshares and join the exchange clubs, I can vacation most times for around $300 a week in 2 bedroom units. Sure beats staying in Kissimmee in a dumpy motel. Been there done that and not going back.

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Tue, 10/19/2010 - 15:29

admin

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What in incredible win for you Chriskre!! Congratulations!

Tue, 10/19/2010 - 10:57

RobynPrincess

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if anyone wants to buy one, my parents want to sell theirs, they are struggling with money and need the money from it. Its for a week in orlando in September

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Tue, 10/19/2010 - 16:05

Brad

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What would be your number one piece of advice for someone looking at timeshares? Particularly in Orlando?

Tue, 10/19/2010 - 18:19

LifeIsForLiving

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If you're going to buy, buy resale.

Thu, 10/21/2010 - 05:10

bali

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LifeIsForLiving wrote:

If you're going to buy, buy resale.

What are the benefits?

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Thu, 10/21/2010 - 16:46

LifeIsForLiving

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bali wrote:

LifeIsForLiving wrote:
If you're going to buy, buy resale.

What are the benefits?

Primarily saving lots of money. With DVC, you won't save as much due to their Right of First Refusal but if you're willing to do some research and be patient you can still save a good deal of money buying resale DVC. With other vacation companies you can save tens of thousands of dollars. As Christine mentioned, you can find vacation ownership for $1 where people just don't want to or can't afford to pay the maintenance and other fees any more. It is important to exercise due diligence to make sure any online purchase is legitimate (and there are no nasty surprises lurking). You can also go through a timeshare resale company where you won't have to worry about any shenanigans and they will ensure you don't get saddled with the other person's past maintenance fees or other costly issues.

Thu, 10/21/2010 - 21:58

bali

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LifeIsForLiving wrote:

bali wrote:
LifeIsForLiving wrote:
If you're going to buy, buy resale.

What are the benefits?

Primarily saving lots of money. With DVC, you won't save as much due to their Right of First Refusal but if you're willing to do some research and be patient you can still save a good deal of money buying resale DVC. With other vacation companies you can save tens of thousands of dollars. As Christine mentioned, you can find vacation ownership for $1 where people just don't want to or can't afford to pay the maintenance and other fees any more. It is important to exercise due diligence to make sure any online purchase is legitimate (and there are no nasty surprises lurking). You can also go through a timeshare resale company where you won't have to worry about any shenanigans and they will ensure you don't get saddled with the other person's past maintenance fees or other costly issues.

Thanks for the info! I just keep feeling like I'm missing out by purchasing resale DVC -- all those early years are gone

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Wed, 12/15/2010 - 19:19

chriskre

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admin wrote:

What in incredible win for you Chriskre!! Congratulations!

We had a beautiful room in this lovely resort.
I asked for a remodeled room and got it.
Golf course and lake view.
No Disney magic but still a beautiful stay.

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Wed, 12/15/2010 - 19:32

chriskre

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Posts: 260

bali wrote:

LifeIsForLiving wrote:
bali wrote:
LifeIsForLiving wrote:
If you're going to buy, buy resale.

What are the benefits?

As Christine mentioned, you can find vacation ownership for $1 where people just don't want to or can't afford to pay the maintenance and other fees any more. It is important to exercise due diligence to make sure any online purchase is legitimate (and there are no nasty surprises lurking). You can also go through a timeshare resale company where you won't have to worry about any shenanigans and they will ensure you don't get saddled with the other person's past maintenance fees or other costly issues.

Thanks for the info! I just keep feeling like I'm missing out by purchasing resale DVC -- all those early years are gone

Yeah, those $1 TS's can be a great bargain if you do your homework and know what you are getting yourself into. I learned pretty much most of what I know thru the school of hardknocks as well as being involved in the TUG (timeshare user group) community. They are very helpful in steering you in the right direction from those of us who've been there and already made the mistakes.

Anyway, think of all the future vacations, not the ones already past. If you are staying onsite already, you will probably come out ahead but buying DVC either resale or direct. I feel I've recouped alot of my initial investment already. Maybe not all of it yet but with all the years I've got left I know I'll have gotten my money's worth in 10 years of ownership but you gotta go to Disney alot to make it worth your while, which fortunately I do.

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Wed, 12/15/2010 - 19:40

chriskre

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Brad wrote:

What would be your number one piece of advice for someone looking at timeshares? Particularly in Orlando?

Don't buy an offseason week in a low quality resort.
I probably wouldn't even buy a weeks resort but would stick with points.

I actually wouldn't recommend buying in Orlando at all if you are planning to trade into Disney DVC unless you buy at Hilton. There is a regional block by Disney into DVC for Orlando owners unless you go thru a corporate RCI portal like Hilton's or Bluegreens.

And most important, don't buy until you have done your due diligence research on the timeshare system you are thinking of buying into. There is no rush to buy so take your time and be an informed buyer.

Lastly, don't be afraid of ebay. Most of the sellers on ebay are pros at selling timeshares. Their methods of acquisition are a little questionable in that they charge the sellers for the sale but as a buyer you can get some great deals.

So if you do decide to venture into the murky waters of timeshares just watch out for the sharks. The water can be fine if you avoid the sharks.

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Thu, 12/16/2010 - 20:02

bali

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chriskre wrote:

bali wrote:
LifeIsForLiving wrote:
bali wrote:
LifeIsForLiving wrote:
If you're going to buy, buy resale.

What are the benefits?

As Christine mentioned, you can find vacation ownership for $1 where people just don't want to or can't afford to pay the maintenance and other fees any more. It is important to exercise due diligence to make sure any online purchase is legitimate (and there are no nasty surprises lurking). You can also go through a timeshare resale company where you won't have to worry about any shenanigans and they will ensure you don't get saddled with the other person's past maintenance fees or other costly issues.

Thanks for the info! I just keep feeling like I'm missing out by purchasing resale DVC -- all those early years are gone

Yeah, those $1 TS's can be a great bargain if you do your homework and know what you are getting yourself into. I learned pretty much most of what I know thru the school of hardknocks as well as being involved in the TUG (timeshare user group) community. They are very helpful in steering you in the right direction from those of us who've been there and already made the mistakes.

Anyway, think of all the future vacations, not the ones already past. If you are staying onsite already, you will probably come out ahead but buying DVC either resale or direct. I feel I've recouped alot of my initial investment already. Maybe not all of it yet but with all the years I've got left I know I'll have gotten my money's worth in 10 years of ownership but you gotta go to Disney alot to make it worth your while, which fortunately I do.

Very good point. That's so great to know that there are communities of people who are willing to share their mistakes. I think there are a lot of potential mistakes when it comes to timeshares. Salespeople have honed the pitches so well that it's really hard to tell when you're being swindled.

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Sat, 12/18/2010 - 02:48

chriskre

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In buying a timeshare it is truly a necessity to be an educated consumer.

Once you've done your homework you can make a great decision on what system, if any, is right for your travel habits.

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