Xmas Weeks in Orlando at Preferred Resorts

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

Hi Mark,

My first post to you I just purchased some timeshares that SFX accepts per the online chart of acceptable weeks. I am trying to get a handle on how SFX operates and how it can fit into my timesharing plans.

I noticed that the chart doesn't state that SFX accepts Xmas holiday weeks - this surprised me but I figured it is what it is. Then today someone on TUG posted about giving away their Week 51 Orlando week and said that they deposited it with SFX.

So I am confused. Does SFX accept Orlando Weeks 51 and 52 at the listed resorts (ie: Cypress Point, VV @ Parkway, etc.) or not? And if so, will SFX accept the Week 51 when it's not a holiday week (when leap year changes things)?

I appreciate you clearing up my confusion.

Oh, and I read about SFX having an online exchange capability "soon". Any update on that? Thanks.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Hi Mark,

My first post to you I just purchased some timeshares that SFX accepts per the online chart of acceptable weeks. I am trying to get a handle on how SFX operates and how it can fit into my timesharing plans.

I noticed that the chart doesn't state that SFX accepts Xmas holiday weeks - this surprised me but I figured it is what it is. Then today someone on TUG posted about giving away their Week 51 Orlando week and said that they deposited it with SFX.

So I am confused. Does SFX accept Orlando Weeks 51 and 52 at the listed resorts (ie: Cypress Point, VV @ Parkway, etc.) or not? And if so, will SFX accept the Week 51 when it's not a holiday week (when leap year changes things)?

I appreciate you clearing up my confusion.

Oh, and I read about SFX having an online exchange capability "soon". Any update on that? Thanks.

Jlwquilter - Thank you for your post, we are glad to hear from you.

Although it does state we accept major Holiday weeks, we are glad that you brought this to our attention, as I agree it's not that clear and easy to miss. Here is a link to the Season Grid. Please note the text at the top, second paragraph: SFX Preferred Resorts - Season Grid (It needs to be clearer).

In the event that week 51 in Orlando is not a Holiday week, the trading power will drop significantly. Your post leads me to believe you maybe have a fixed week 51? If so, when we do hit a leap-year, I would suggest calling us first with regards to depositing. If we have any requests from member for that pre-Holiday week, we would accept the deposit.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

Thanks Mark. I do recall reading about major holidays but forgot that part almost immediately for Week 52. And I wasn't sure about Week 51 at all, especially when the leap year effect occurs. When trying to get an initial grasp on a new system it's too easy to overlook or forget pieces of vital information as it's a little overwhelming at first. Perhaps SFX could add a short mention of what they deem the Major Holidays to be at the top of the chart.

The Week 51 doesn't really effect me as I almost bought one then decided against it in the end, in part because I didn't think SFX would accept it. So when the TUG give-away was posted I was confused by the statement of SFX indeed accepting it.

I personally own a few float weeks (lock outs) in Orlando that can reserve any week, at preferred resorts. Would I be assigned higher trade power (or a gold star ) if I called SFX first and asked what week(s) they need to fill current request(s) as I can help effect a match almost immediately? Of course I would need to call my resort and reserve said week and the confirmation process would have to happen, but that would be easy enough to get done in a very timely matter. I mean, if I am going to deposit something, it may as well be something SFX is actively needing.

As a general question, how likely is it to get a 2BR unit in London during summer? Would a Xmas week or other major holiday week in Orlando be 'good enough' to get a unit? Would it be more likely to happen if I went the 1 BR for 1 BR route?

Thanks Mark.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Thanks Mark. I do recall reading about major holidays but forgot that part almost immediately for Week 52. And I wasn't sure about Week 51 at all, especially when the leap year effect occurs. When trying to get an initial grasp on a new system it's too easy to overlook or forget pieces of vital information as it's a little overwhelming at first. Perhaps SFX could add a short mention of what they deem the Major Holidays to be at the top of the chart.
The Week 51 doesn't really effect me as I almost bought one then decided against it in the end, in part because I didn't think SFX would accept it. So when the TUG give-away was posted I was confused by the statement of SFX indeed accepting it.
I personally own a few float weeks (lock outs) in Orlando that can reserve any week, at preferred resorts. Would I be assigned higher trade power (or a gold star ) if I called SFX first and asked what week(s) they need to fill current request(s) as I can help effect a match almost immediately? Of course I would need to call my resort and reserve said week and the confirmation process would have to happen, but that would be easy enough to get done in a very timely matter. I mean, if I am going to deposit something, it may as well be something SFX is actively needing.

As a general question, how likely is it to get a 2BR unit in London during summer? Would a Xmas week or other major holiday week in Orlando be 'good enough' to get a unit? Would it be more likely to happen if I went the 1 BR for 1 BR route?

Thanks Mark.

Hi jlwquilter... The Holiday weeks text does need to be clearer. I will inform our IT department.
Although it would be very kind of you to call us to see what specific weeks are needed, however, it wouldn't actually give you higher trading power. The computers are programmed to assign the trading power based on the Season your deposited week is in (in addition to other factors). If it is during the designated prime-time.... there is always demand for it and a member in queue.

......"As a general question, how likely is it to get a 2BR unit in London during summer?".......

As with all exchange companies, possible but highly unlikely... and we are very connected with London. Truth is, there are only a couple of tiny properties in London for the whole timeshare world. They have about a 85% Owner Occupancy, meaning on year round average maybe around 15% of the space becomes available for exchange.

When you drill down further.... about 60% of the inventory are studios. About 35% are one bedrooms.... and about 5% are two bedrooms. And drilling further down... the UK in a good year maybe has about 3-4 months of good weather June through September, and that's when about 90% of the Owners use their time.

You can see where I am going with this. And it's no different to any other major international city with regards to 2BR units. San Francisco.... NY, it's the same dynamic.

For London, you almost have to say I will go any time within a 3 to 12 month window, and not in the Summer to have a shot, as the Demand is drastically higher the Supply of space. Developer's just don't create timeshares in major cities as it is cost-prohibitive.

Sorry for the long dissertation... Just wanted to give the big-picture.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

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

I appreciate the thoroughness of your reply. I now have a better understanding of SFX and that was what I was seeking. I can now decide if depositing to SFX will likely fulfil my timesharing needs.

Thanks again Mark.