Why do people buy timeshares?

[lwp2017]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo2 On the other hand, (said Captain Hook), there might be those, (Heaven forfend that I be considered among them ), who feel that anyone over the age of nine, (who isn't accompanying someone under the age of nine), visiting Disney is somewhat...ummm....eccentric.

I like the Capt Hook joke, I'm going to use that one on my daughters !

My wife absolutely loves WDW, it's in her DNA. She truly enjoys herself, so taking her to the Disney Festivals give me great joy. Plus the timeshare made financial sense.
Disney is a master at marketing to retiree age adults.

I've collected transferable machine guns for years (for investment purposes only, of course my dear ). People think I'm the eccentric one in the couple ! [emoji12]

[lwp2017]

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Originally Posted by HillCountry I understand some people like timeshare. It is different kind of experience. I only have one question, why not buy the aftermarket that you pay just a fraction?

That's what we did. Disney Vacation Club timeshare price for premium hotel was $175 / point. Secondary market purchase was $103 per point for a more desired hotel.

So 59% of the retail price. Plus our deal came with a year's worth of unused points and that year's maintenance fees were paid.

We only had to wait about three weeks to find a deal we liked, missed a few bidding too low but was satisfied with the transaction experience.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwp2017 I like the Capt Hook joke, I'm going to use that one on my daughters !

Feel free to use it...there's a franchise contract on its way to you at this very moment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwp2017 My wife absolutely loves WDW, it's in her DNA. She truly enjoys herself, so taking her to the Disney Festivals give me great joy. Plus the timeshare made financial sense. Disney is a master at marketing to retiree age adults.

As Gumby posted earlier:

Quote:

As the French say, à chacun son goût. I personally do not understand the attraction of Disney, but I'm glad it's there for people who do.

Go for it!

[akck]

I was thinking about asking about experiences with timeshares as we'll be going to a presentation within a year. My wife knowingly got hoodwinked into committing to one (I was there too, laughing at the process, not her ). So now, we're trying to decide where and when to go. Our only prior exposure to a presentation was in Mexico, where a salesman tried to get us to go to one. I think he sized us up quickly and didn't press too hard.

So now, we get to spend about 2 hours seeing what it's all about, knowing we won't be buying. I wonder how many times we'll have to say no. Hopefully the rest of the 4 night vacation will be worth the time.

[kitesurfer2]

I owned a timeshare for many years. I never stayed in my unit as I alwaysa traded it to a better place. I sold it at a loss. the maintenance fees grew too much.

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby There should be a special font or something.

You don't see them that often, but there are several.

[/sarcasm]
[/joke]
jk

And so on.

[TrvlBug]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Collar Guy Assuming you booked way in advance for the same rooms , what would the per night price be? You might be a timeshare salesperson in the making, you made me curious .

For a studio or 1 bedroom, renting from an owner (no cancellations, you need to buy travel ins. if you can't self insure), around $200/night. If renting from the resort (advantage = ability to cancel), around $350-400 night. For a 2 bedroom, renting from owner about $2.5K for the week, almost double that renting directly from the resort. We've been doing this for 13 years, so I know of what I speak. And this is during shoulder season...peak season costs are much higher.

As I stated in another post, timesharing is not for everyone and you need to own the right resort system and be willing to educate yourself. In other words, know how to play the timesharing game...it's w*rk .

[Blue Collar Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrvlBug For a studio or 1 bedroom, renting from an owner (no cancellations, you need to buy travel ins. if you can't self insure), around $200/night. If renting from the resort (advantage = ability to cancel), around $350-400 night. For a 2 bedroom, renting from owner about $2.5K for the week, almost double that renting directly from the resort. We've been doing this for 13 years, so I know of what I speak. And this is during shoulder season...peak season costs are much higher. As I stated in another post, timesharing is not for everyone and you need to own the right resort system and be willing to educate yourself. In other words, know how to play the timesharing game...it's w*rk .

This was, in my opinion, a good/great buy for you guys.

[zinger1457]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrvlBug As I stated in another post, timesharing is not for everyone and you need to own the right resort system and be willing to educate yourself. In other words, know how to play the timesharing game...it's w*rk .

I've been a TS owner for over 10 years and would agree, if you know what you're doing it can work very good for you, if not it could be very costly. Don't buy on emotion, never purchase directly from the resort (buy resale), and be flexible on the dates you can travel. I'm heading up to Phoenix/Palm Springs the next two weeks for some golfing. Picked up one bedroom getaways at the Marriott Desert Ridge Villas in Phoenix for $450/wk and at Westin Desert Willow Villas in Palm Springs for $300/wk. Both are very nice 4-5 star resorts.

[garyt]

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan Aren't they all "used?" You use it one week a year, someone else uses it the other 51 weeks a year.

Whoosh!

[Blue Collar Guy]

Too many spreadsheets can lead to missing the sometimes excellent dry humor in here.

[gerntz]

Timeshares are a second home. We don't have a second home either.

[MarieIG]

Why? Because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieIG Why? Because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Yep, like a tattoo, it's hard to get rid of.

[iloveyoga]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieIG Why? Because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

LOL, agree, but we have had many, many fun vacations from ours. Not the best financial decision ever, buy I think there is a separate thread for that.

[capjak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philliefan33 It gets even better-- the numbers I quoted were the entry point for an efficiency suite. Purchase price and HOA fees went up for a one, two, or three bedroom unit. Roughly 25 floors with ~10'units per floor...it will add up quickly! Another set of numbers I remember from the beginning: (this was supposedly to assure us that Hilton gets most of its money from the hotel room "renters" vs vacation club "owners". The salesman drew a pie chart and wrote in that 85% of Hilton's annual profit comes from the 60 million renters (i.e. hotel rooms). Only 15% of the annual profit comes from the 300,000 owners. See? Only 15% of the profit comes from their owners. They really don't make much money off the vacation club owners�� I did some quick mental math and tucked those numbers away to use as ammo to get out of there if they turned up the pressure. Hilton has 200 times more renters than owners, yet makes less than six times the amount of profit from the renters. Tell me again which population is the cash cow?

I own 5 timeshares all bought resale. The key is that the $25,000 quoted for 3,400 can be purchased resale for $500 or sometimes people will pay you to take it. I own Hilton Grand Vacation in Vegas, Disney Beach Club & Disney SSR both can be sold for more than I paid and I currently rent them for 2X my maintenance fee. I own Westin Kaanapali ocean resort and can rent the studio side to pay 3/4 of MF so stay on 1 bedroom side for $100 night, own Marriott also. I can stay in Florida winter Marriott for $500 week through Interval International unlimited weeks.

[capjak]

Everytime this comes up I link to these retired folks: Expenses <$3,000 month travel the world.......
"We'll share with you how we retired and are traveling cheap, eating well, and living in beautiful resorts with a targeted budget of less than $3,000 per month.
We put our belongings in storage, rented out our house, loaded up our Toyota Prius, and we are traveling across the U.S., and eventually through Europe, timeshare to timeshare full time. At the resort get togethers we are asked, "Where are you from?" Edie says, "We're homeless." When we tell our story, they seem intensely interested and ask many questions. Some say they want to do it too. In this website we will disclose everything we are learning and discovering, how much we are spending, hits and misses, good and bad. Keep in mind we are learning as we go."
http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog – Mike and Edie's adventures travelling from time share to time share for 2 to 5 years

[ExFlyBoy5]

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Originally Posted by garyt To each his own of course, but I'm amazed by the number of adults I've run into who go to Disney World multiple times a year with no kids involved. Has to be at least 10 or more who admitted it in csual conversation. My inlaws had a yearly pass when they lived in Fla.

My Grandparents were huge WDW fans. They were frugal in all things in life, except when it came to Disney. In their retirement heydays, they were there about 15 weeks out of the year...they spent a significant amount of money and for the most part, it was just the two of them. They had yearly passes for about 10 years if I remember correctly.

But then again, they have (and granddad still has) a significant amount of Disney stock, so I suppose they were paying themselves.

[capjak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5 My Grandparents were huge WDW fans. They were frugal in all things in life, except when it came to Disney. In their retirement heydays, they were there about 15 weeks out of the year...they spent a significant amount of money and for the most part, it was just the two of them. They had yearly passes for about 10 years if I remember correctly. But then again, they have (and granddad still has) a significant amount of Disney stock, so I suppose they were paying themselves.

CAUTION DISNEY FOOD AND WINE IS NOT FOR KIDS.....

We go every year to Food and Wine Festival:

Epcot Food and Wine Festival World Showcase Booths

A record number 35 marketplace booths will be set up on the promenade around Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon — and they’ll once again stretch into Future World as well! We now have the names and menus of all the booths — check them out on our Food and Wine Festival Booth Index Page!

[IMATERP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclover Now you know one. I love my timeshare. Animal kingdom park WDW last month

I didn't mean to offend anyone. A timeshare has just never been attractive to me. I was single for the better part of 51 years, and travelled a lot for work - so a timeshare was never quite conducive too me.

Anyway, I think the marketing scheme turns me off, greatly. In fact, during the last presentation I attended, I just kept laughing at the salesman like he was a circus act. Then abruptly, he challenged me with a question - which surprisingly, I answered correctly. They were willing to escort my wife and I out of the presentation - along with dinner for two and a carriage ride in Savannah.

I really just never go to the same place and when I do - I book a room on the NC coast for $64 - $89 govt rate.

Michael