Do you take Disney Vacation Club studios?

[jillchang Member Find all posts View Profile Close jillchang]

well Mark? haven't heard from you.

Actually, I just remember, the week I deposit was a full 2bdrm, not a 1 bdrm, so asking for a 2 bdrm isn't really an upgrade, is it?

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

Mark,

Thanks for info. You’ve given me a lot to thinking about.

160 DVC pts = 1 bedroom during high season at Interval International but with SFX platinum membership = 2 bedroom with a bonus week

For DVC, 160 points limits me to a one bedroom at two DVC resorts – Disney’s Old Key West for Jan, Sept & Dec 1-14 (which only includes the 1st week in Sept) and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort for Feb, March, Nov & Dec 18-31 (which only includes some SFX holidays).

My question - How does the trading power compare for the following three resorts?

1. one bedroom at Hilton Head Island Resort for Pres Week, Thanksgiving Week or XMAS week
2. one bedroom at Disney’s Old Key West for the first week in Sept
3. one bedroom at HGVC resort (which I also own) in Orlando for February through Easter, or June 15 through September 7

Thanks

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

Mark,

When I checked last year, SFX was only accepting studio for London, NYC and SF. Is Paris studio new?

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

Mark,

When I checked last year, SFX was only accepting studio for London, NYC and SF. Is Paris studio new?

Mary - thank you for your post.

As a general rule, we only accept studio's in major cities for a couple of main reasons.

1: Because of the extreme high cost of real estate in cities, about 90% of timeshare inventory are studio's.

2: In many cases a "city-experience" tends to be more appropriate to an adult /couples vacation rather than a family with children wholesome vacation experience.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Mark - You got it exactly right

Amy - thank you for your post. It really isn't a question of being short-sighted, it is more of a reflection and observation in what our Member's needs are. It is our Member's who reject studio units at resorts. We are simply abiding by their wishes in following this protocol.

A studio unit, which is for the most part a good sized hotel room, that sleeps up to four persons still only has a privacy for "two". There are those who find that acceptable. There are many that feel it compromises their family vacation experience having four persons crowded into such a small space, and would rather be only about a 10 minute drive to the parks and have the comfort of a much larger vacation home environment.

The long term renters of DVC properties have way too high an opinion of the value of the so called "perks" on site. Most of them are less than worthless with the exception of park hours. Most DVC resort units are already smaller and less equipped than a "regular" timeshare resort in Orlando. To then say you have to go to what DVC calls a syudio is a guarantee of an unhappy trader. Don't change that policy - it's right on. If they want a 1 or two bedroom they need to deposit a one or two bedroom like anyone else.

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

Mark, thank you very much for your replies here.

I am another person who would be interested in trading a high-end studio for another high-end studio. In addition to DVC owners (of which I am also one), I suspect that owners of some other high end properties would also be interested in this. For example, Marriott owners don't get ACs when depositing the studio portions of their lock-offs into II. This would be an incetive to trade with SFX instead.

I understand your claim that SFX members aren't interested in getting studios, but let me point out that those members are all depositing one-bedroom or larger units (or, in a few cases, expensive studios in urban areas.) It stand to reason that they wouldn't want to trade down to a studio. If they had the option of depositing a studio to obtain a studio, however, that might be a different story. I suspect that SFX is overlooking a potential market here.

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

The long term renters of DVC properties have way too high an opinion of the value of the so called "perks" on site. Most of them are less than worthless with the exception of park hours. Most DVC resort units are already smaller and less equipped than a "regular" timeshare resort in Orlando. To then say you have to go to what DVC calls a syudio is a guarantee of an unhappy trader. Don't change that policy - it's right on. If they want a 1 or two bedroom they need to deposit a one or two bedroom like anyone else.

John, hasn't it occured to you that, if those long-term renters of DVC keep going back, they must think it's worthwhile? The perks may not be valuable to you, but they are valuable to others.

I traded into a studio at Disney's Beach Club when there were plenty of two bedroom offsite units available, and I would gladly do so again.

And, the OP was asking for a studio in exchange for a studio, not a one or two-bedroom in exchange for a studio.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

SFX policy seem to try to keep most exchanges "like for like". GC, prime time for GC prime time. So if SFX took a studio at Disney, they would also have to take a studio elsewere, so there could be a "like for like" exchange. This would leed to them routinely taking studios which they don't want to do.

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

Mark, thank you very much for your replies here.

I am another person who would be interested in trading a high-end studio for another high-end studio. In addition to DVC owners (of which I am also one), I suspect that owners of some other high end properties would also be interested in this. For example, Marriott owners don't get ACs when depositing the studio portions of their lock-offs into II. This would be an incetive to trade with SFX instead.

I understand your claim that SFX members aren't interested in getting studios, but let me point out that those members are all depositing one-bedroom or larger units (or, in a few cases, expensive studios in urban areas.) It stand to reason that they wouldn't want to trade down to a studio. If they had the option of depositing a studio to obtain a studio, however, that might be a different story. I suspect that SFX is overlooking a potential market here.

Judy - thank you for your post and feedback. It is always good to get different points of view. We as a company are always looking at ways of increasing market-share. Every company wants more customers.

However, this painful possibility of declining any business has to be carefully weighed against what is in the best interests of both the membership base and the company's business model.

There is of course a percentage of couples who would trade a studio from their resort for a studio at Disney. But one must ask "what is the Disney experience for those wishing to go there?", and that experience is a great family vacation. A studio lock-off for the most part is essentially a hotel room. Even if it sleeps 4, there is only privacy for 2. Our membership demands at least a one or two bedroom suite for the comfort and entitlement of their Vacation Ownership; and that really is the benchmark. They feel anything less compromises their vacation experience in this instance.

We want our members experience in resort environments to be that of a Vacation Home, which is the essence of the core model for Vacation Ownership. It really doesn't accomplish this if we are offering lock-off /hotel size units that are really meant for only two people, and not a family. Family experience.... Family size unit.

Once again, we do appreciate your feedback and hope one day you will deposit at least a one-bedroom suite sleep four with us.

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

Thanks for the quick reply, Mark. If SFX is really sure that its members only want larger units, I can see why you wouldn't want to add an option for studio to studio trades. Still, my point was that you may have many members who wouldn't mind trading a studio for another studio, but there is really no way for you to tell that now. If you ever survey your members, you might want to ask them if they are interested in trading one studio for another.

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

I thought of another question! Mark, since DVc members can use their points at all 7 DVC resorts and at all times of year, would it be possible to find out from SFX which resorts & times of year would have the highest trade value?

[blome Member Find all posts View Profile Close blome]

But one must ask "what is the Disney experience for those wishing to go there?", and that experience is a great family vacation. A studio lock-off for the most part is essentially a hotel room. Even if it sleeps 4, there is only privacy for 2. Our membership demands at least a one or two bedroom suite for the comfort and entitlement of their Vacation Ownership; and that really is the benchmark. They feel anything less compromises their vacation experience in this instance.

Then why are the studios always the first to be booked from the DVC inventory?

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

Thanks for the quick reply, Mark. If SFX is really sure that its members only want larger units, I can see why you wouldn't want to add an option for studio to studio trades. Still, my point was that you may have many members who wouldn't mind trading a studio for another studio, but there is really no way for you to tell that now. If you ever survey your members, you might want to ask them if they are interested in trading one studio for another.

".....Still, my point was that you may have many members who wouldn't mind trading a studio for another studio, but there is really no way for you to tell that now....."

Judy - respectfully no matter how nice a resort is, historically studio units are the least demanded unit size for an exchange and are considered unacceptable to most members regardless of which exchange company they use. (Except for City Shares). After doing this for nearly 15 years, we know from experience with our currently 75,000 membership base what their profile need dynamic is. Other than City Share members, the others own in one and two bedroom units. Those with two bedrooms that lock-off mostly will deposit the whole unit. A studio for studio exchange component would be extremely limited.

You own at a fine resort. But back to my previous post, the main point is.... the true Disney experience is a "Great Family Vacation". A studio unit is too small for a family vacation as it only privately sleeps two.

We appreciate your thoughts and thank you for your feedback.

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

Then why are the studios always the first to be booked from the DVC inventory?

Blome - thank you for your post.

Without having any detailed data about that statement, I cannot answer that question.

Some questions that could be asked......

Where did that data come from and is it factual?

Are these being booked by Disney Members who can leverage their points to maximize their use of Disney, or exchange guests going through another exchange company specifically "asking for a studio" instead of a one or two bedroom unit?

If you owned outside of Disney and you were a family of two adults and two children, and deposited a one or two bedroom unit from a premium resort for your exchange... what size unit would you insist on and accept for your exchange? A studio???......or maybe a one or two bedroom unit???

All I can tell you is out of our 75,000 members we know from experience a studio unit with a privacy for two is not a viable option for a family of four as a family resort experience. For many, it compromises their vacation ownership experience. For some that may work... but that is not the SFX business model and the experience we choose to service our Members with.

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

I thought of another question! Mark, since DVc members can use their points at all 7 DVC resorts and at all times of year, would it be possible to find out from SFX which resorts & times of year would have the highest trade value?

Judy - thanks for the post. I will do some research early next week and respond in detail. Have a great weekend.