Owner at Oasis Lakes/The Fountains

[bigkenny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigkenny]

Hi

I’m a week owner at `The Fountains` (was Oasis Lakes) in Orlando and have fell foul of not reserving my deeded week within the 6months rule before it was due. I’ve never had to do this before and to be honest always thought my room/week was written in stone and was mine (as paid for it). Anyway I’ve learned my lesson after some frantic phone calls I’ve managed to get a similar size Unit, same deeded week, so not a catastrophe as flights were all booked and could not changes those (flying from UK).

I was also told (news to me) that I’m a Flex owner (I bought my week in 2001) what is a Flex owner as not seen anything about it??

From now on I will reserve my deeded week in plenty of time. If for some reason after booking my week I did not use it what would happen. Would I just loose that week for that year nothing else??

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Once you confirm your reservation, if you find that you are unable to use it you would need to either bank the week with an exchange company- or try to rent the week to someone else....

If you did nothing, and the reservation passed and was unused- your usage for that year would be lost. If you are an Oasis Lakes owner (most likely since that was marketed in the UK heavily)- be careful about attending the owner updates. The resort sales people will try to get you to upgrade into bluegreen points, with the pitch that you can still book your week in Orlando if you still want to do so..

The main difference is that you'll be deeded into the Fountains rather than Oasis Lakes. The villas are a little smaller. Most of our UK clients who regularly visit the resort prefer to keep the original Oasis Lakes building.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Oasis Lakes has very favorable reseravation rules for owners. A Flex week owner is nothing more than a fixed week owner that can float their reservation to another unit or another week within the rules.

You can reserve the week you own up to 6 months prior to check in exclusively with no competition.

Here is what you probably don't know. You can float your ownership at any time. As long as the week you want to book is less than 12 months from the check in date of your week, you can book any available unit with the same check in day (Fri or Sat) and type (luxury vs. superior) that is 6 months or less from check in. At 5 months prior to check in, you can change days of the week. The only thing you can do is reserve a Superior unit if you own a luxury unit.

Just make sure you book a week BEFORE the check in date of your unit. Otherwise the rules are more restrictive in terms of what you can get.

[smithiekid Member Find all posts View Profile Close smithiekid]

Hi Bigkenny,

The reply from Jim is spot on (as always) and it has always been that way.
We bought into Oasis Lakes back in 1999 and transfered into BGVC in 2004.
We always used the flex option each year .
Yes if you do sell your week back to BG then if you want to go to back to The Fountains you will more than likely have one of the BG units.
Depending on your week it would be worth upto 16000 points ,you would have to buy some BG points to get into the club and Jim is the man to contact for that.
We found that by selling back to BG it opened up a complete new world and allowed us to downsize the unit we needed depending on how many of us went eg we had 19 days in a studio (with full kitchen etc) in Aruba at the end of July for just over 16000 points . That is around the same number of points for a week at The Fountains at the end of July, once you reach the stage where there are only 2 travelling then you just rattle around in those big 2 bed appartments at Oasis Lakes.
Jim is the person to talk to he will give you all the right info on what you can and cannot do .
All I can say is selling back to BG has worked for us, and if (or when ) you want to spread your wings it is well worth looking into

Phillip

[bigkenny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigkenny]

Once you confirm your reservation, if you find that you are unable to use it you would need to either bank the week with an exchange company- or try to rent the week to someone else....

If you did nothing, and the reservation passed and was unused- your usage for that year would be lost. If you are an Oasis Lakes owner (most likely since that was marketed in the UK heavily)- be careful about attending the owner updates. The resort sales people will try to get you to upgrade into bluegreen points, with the pitch that you can still book your week in Orlando if you still want to do so..

The main difference is that you'll be deeded into the Fountains rather than Oasis Lakes. The villas are a little smaller. Most of our UK clients who regularly visit the resort prefer to keep the original Oasis Lakes building.

Thanks for the info, I came out of RCI it seemed to not work for me when I wanted places/times to suit me. It was if I did not use my week for that year I just loose it full stop. As they tell me I have to reserve it 6months before. I wanted to know was there any come backs as if NOT (apart from loosing that week I might as well reserve it every year 12 months before no matter what.

I`ve been to the chats with Bluegreen it sounds all nice but I just don`t fancy going on points 2 reasons. Why should I pay to have what I have got now, why should I pay money when I paid for my unit 10 years ago cash! Its this thats is in my head and I cannot get round to pay for points.

Also Its set in stone that this unit is my unit (overlooks lake and swimming pool brill` view) I know and have seen the new stuff near that nice looking BUT COLD big pool they have built. But my unit is in a better place, and if it changed and I was downgraded to smaller rooms it would do my head in.

I`ve got 2 kids now (1 and 2) so will be getting more out of it every year from now on. I`ve been to 2 Bluegreen chats about going on points and took the freebies but I`m not bothering no more as they having nothing new on the table for me, I`ll stick to being an owner overlooking the lake and HEATED pool.

Thanks

[bigkenny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigkenny]

Oasis Lakes has very favorable reseravation rules for owners. A Flex week owner is nothing more than a fixed week owner that can float their reservation to another unit or another week within the rules.

You can reserve the week you own up to 6 months prior to check in exclusively with no competition.

Here is what you probably don't know. You can float your ownership at any time. As long as the week you want to book is less than 12 months from the check in date of your week, you can book any available unit with the same check in day (Fri or Sat) and type (luxury vs. superior) that is 6 months or less from check in. At 5 months prior to check in, you can change days of the week. The only thing you can do is reserve a Superior unit if you own a luxury unit.

Just make sure you book a week BEFORE the check in date of your unit. Otherwise the rules are more restrictive in terms of what you can get.

I`ve got to be honest I`ve had the place 10 years and if I was told all this its been forgotten even the wife cannot remember any of this. But I`ve printed it all out what you said and it will come in handy so might start using these flex weeks. I`m not going over to points I`m staying as it is,thanks

[bigkenny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigkenny]

Hi Bigkenny,

The reply from Jim is spot on (as always) and it has always been that way.
We bought into Oasis Lakes back in 1999 and transfered into BGVC in 2004.
We always used the flex option each year .

snip

snip

Phillip

I dont fancy the points just yet but after reading/hearing about the flex option I might use this more, thanks very much for all the info

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Kenny,

If you like your fixed week, then you should keep using it as a fixed week. There is nothing wrong with that ownership type. I used to own a bunch of Oasis Lakes week including several 3 bedroom units. We love that resort.

In addition, I would not recommend converting your week to points anyway. You can buy points that are already converted for much less money.

Hang around for a while. We love people to share their experiences about Bluegreen here.

Jim

[bigkenny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigkenny]

Kenny,

If you like your fixed week, then you should keep using it as a fixed week. There is nothing wrong with that ownership type. I used to own a bunch of Oasis Lakes week including several 3 bedroom units. We love that resort.

In addition, I would not recommend converting your week to points anyway. You can buy points that are already converted for much less money.

Hang around for a while. We love people to share their experiences about Bluegreen here.

Jim

Yes after much debate and thought I’m staying put and not converting to points. Maybe buying points as extra I might look into when funds allow.

One last question Maintenance fees the last time we spoke to one of the sales reps at Bluegreen (when they were trying to get me to change/convert to points) He said we would always pay more Maintenance fees weeks owners than points owners is this correct? Also he said it was bleak in that it was just go up and up as less week owners. Is this correct or just scare tactics. I notice when you get the sales pitch they never write anything down and give you so you can churn it over but I always remember this comment and my wife heard it to.

There are more people at my place now (The Fountains than when it was Oasis Lakes) I know they have invested heavily in the place but to be honest what they have built, new units and new (cold pool). I will never use so it means nothing to me. My room overlooks Lake Eve and the nice heated swimming pool so that will do me nicely. It’s just the Maintenance fees are really getting out of hand and it seems were forced to just pay with no redress.

Thanks

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Yes after much debate and thought I’m staying put and not converting to points. Maybe buying points as extra I might look into when funds allow.

One last question Maintenance fees the last time we spoke to one of the sales reps at Bluegreen (when they were trying to get me to change/convert to points) He said we would always pay more Maintenance fees weeks owners than points owners is this correct? Also he said it was bleak in that it was just go up and up as less week owners. Is this correct or just scare tactics. I notice when you get the sales pitch they never write anything down and give you so you can churn it over but I always remember this comment and my wife heard it to.

There are more people at my place now (The Fountains than when it was Oasis Lakes) I know they have invested heavily in the place but to be honest what they have built, new units and new (cold pool). I will never use so it means nothing to me. My room overlooks Lake Eve and the nice heated swimming pool so that will do me nicely. It’s just the Maintenance fees are really getting out of hand and it seems were forced to just pay with no redress.

Thanks

The sales rep is incorrect about maintenance fees. When a flex week owner converts their week to points, the Bluegreen Vacation Club pays the maintenance fees directly to Oasis Lakes to operate buildings 3 and 4. Oasis Lakes has it's own HOA and it's own budget.

For 16000 points at the Fountains for a high red week, the maintenance fees and taxes are $903.60. So, there is no advantage to points vs. weeks.

It's only advantage if you want to travel to other Bluegreen resorts.

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

For 16000 points at the Fountains for a high red week, the maintenance fees and taxes are $903.60. So, there is no advantage to points vs. weeks.

Since the BG Vacation Club pays the MF's for all of our points unit/weeks and then averages them and charges us a more or less weighted average plus administrative fees, it would appear to me that some members would pay a bit more than if they were a fixed/flex owner at some resorts, some members would pay a bit less than if they were a fixed/flex owner at other resorts, and some would pay about the same if they were a fixed/flex owner at still other resorts. However, we all should pay the same since we all have access to all of that inventory in 40 some different resorts. (Note that I am ignoring different Trust Funds.)

Charles

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Since the BG Vacation Club pays the MF's for all of our points unit/weeks and then averages them and charges us a more or less weighted average plus administrative fees, it would appear to me that some members would pay a bit more than if they were a fixed/flex owner at some resorts,

This was my thought as well, but OTOH Boca's comment might give bigkenny an idea what his maintenance fees would cost if he switched. Although I tend to think more in terms of yearly fees than maintenance fees, so I would add in the membership dues with Bluegreen, which are currently $129.

[smithiekid Member Find all posts View Profile Close smithiekid]

This was my thought as well, but OTOH Boca's comment might give bigkenny an idea what his maintenance fees would cost if he switched. Although I tend to think more in terms of yearly fees than maintenance fees, so I would add in the membership dues with Bluegreen, which are currently $129.

No need to add the club dues since Oasis lakes ownership no longer comes with RCI. It use to when it belonged to Airtours, but now bigkenny would have to to pay for RCI if he wanted to use it again and the cost of that works out to be about the same as the club fess (at todays exchange rate).
Last year due to the very good exchange rate the BG club dues were quite a bit less than RCI membership in the UK.

Phillip

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Since the BG Vacation Club pays the MF's for all of our points unit/weeks and then averages them and charges us a more or less weighted average plus administrative fees, it would appear to me that some members would pay a bit more than if they were a fixed/flex owner at some resorts, some members would pay a bit less than if they were a fixed/flex owner at other resorts, and some would pay about the same if they were a fixed/flex owner at still other resorts. However, we all should pay the same since we all have access to all of that inventory in 40 some different resorts. (Note that I am ignoring different Trust Funds.)

Charles

This is correct. The way I think of it is like owning an individual stock vs. a mutual fund. If you own an individual stock, there is much more risk of special assessment. That's like owning an individual resort.

If you are diversified across many resorts, the probability of getting hit with a big special assessment is much smaller. Part of the maintenance fees is set aside for a reserve fund. I think it's about 10% of maintenance fees in 2006.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

No need to add the club dues since Oasis lakes ownership no longer comes with RCI. It use to when it belonged to Airtours, but now bigkenny would have to to pay for RCI if he wanted to use it again and the cost of that works out to be about the same as the club fess (at todays exchange rate).
Last year due to the very good exchange rate the BG club dues were quite a bit less than RCI membership in the UK.

Phillip

In addition to the RCI membership fee which is included the annual dues, part of the housekeeping fees are offset in the $129 fee.

Remember, most timeshare resorts are set up one week at a time which means there is only 1 housekeeping service required per week of usage.

In the Club. The average stay is about 3 nights which means that there are at least 2 or 3 housekeeping fees per week as well.