Vistana Villages - Amelia Section Tour Update, Best Developer Deal, Feedback Welcomed

[Courts]

To all who gave advice, thank you. and such sound advice!!!!!!!!!! I will recind tomorrow, even if I have to lose my Explorer refund. I will then do more research and possibly seek out an EOY at a Mandatory resort to requalify my Desert Oasis week. I may change my Desert Oasis ownership to include my daughter.

Thank You again - John

I recinded last year and did not lose my explorer pkg. They just wanted me to return all the documents in my possession.

I instead kept the explorer pkg and purchased a week I really wanted (close to home, a week I will use more often) along with qualifying a resale from a year earlier into SVO.

 

[duke]

I instead kept the explorer pkg and purchased a week I really wanted (close to home, a week I will use more often) along with qualifying a resale from a year earlier into SVO.

Please explain your requalifing experience and what documents you signed and the process?

 

[RoverJohn]

Earlier in this thread, I wrote that I had purchased an Amelia unit to requalify into SVN my already-owned unit. I was questioning the soundness of my purchase and wrote about possibly rescinding my purchase. After some time and thought, several sleep-disturbed nights, and some very helpful private messages, I rescinded. I learned a lot, and read even more. I certainly know now that “get it in writing” is always the appropriate approach. Someday, after I calm down and relax, I may write of my travails. It was truly an experience and certainly not a good one. Thanks to everyone who wrote me or posted advice.

John

 

[saluki]

RoverJohn-

I would love to hear the recap of your experience. I'm sure it would be enlightening for all of us.

(Glad your ordeal is over).

 

[Vinter101]

Thanks For The Vistana Information!

I considered myself somewhat of an experienced person when it comes to real estate investment. Timeshares - well that, I found out, is an area that I was totally ignorant in. However, these postings have been a real eye-opener!
My wife and I recently purchased a 2 bedroom unit in the Vistana Resort Orlando (Falls) from the original owners and got quite a good deal. Primo week (#25) and unit locked in. We recently visited the resort to check out our new purchase and agreed to attend the sales presentation to get the "discount" tickets to DisneyWorld, Epcot, etc. BTW - we found out on the last day we were there, when we visited the WalMart (located about 2 mi from the resort) that we could have received the same, if not better, discount prices than what we got by sitting through the presentation. Also check the Web for discount tickets.
When we informed our slick salesperson at the end of the 1.5 hour presentation that we were really not interested, we were then visited by the sales manager who proposed the following "deal" for the Amelia project - supposidly they are now selling for $27,000 but pre-construction price is $24,000 plus they would give us $7,500 for the unit (which is what the orig owners paid for it - NOT even close to what we paid - We got it for MUCH less). Sounded like a great deal. HOWEVER, a word to the wise (acutally a couple) - ASK about the recission period - they conveniently forget to mention this AND ask about what plan you are on (gold or platinum). DON'T let all the "points" offered go to your head either. Remember there is a difference between hotel points and resort points. II member ship for life sounds good but it is only good for this resort and dependent on what week Sheraton assigns you. After we got home I looked and saw that we were in the Gold plan which is limited to 17 weeks and if you have school age children or grandchildren, not at all conducive to their vacation times. Our supposed top salesperson did not explain the difference between gold and platinum seasons and did not expalin the difference between voluntary and mandatory resorts (thanks for the info on that!). When we got home we called the Sheraton Customer care line and received more pertinent information from them than during our 2+ hours with the salesperson. Bottim line - we are going to rescind and keep our 2 bedroom (not a lock-out, older, but clean and close to all attractions) unit that is locked in to Week 25 and I can deposit it with II or any other without hassle.
Thank all of you on the TUB BBS for your invaluable input and valuation.
We currently own a Marriott timeshare at Ko Olina (Oahu) and found that experience absolutely delightful. Anyone interested in finding out more let me know. Our rep was totally low key, knowledgeable and professional. Plus we have the Platinum season!
One last thing - we also recently received an "invitation" to visit the Princeville Resort on Kaua'i - the 5 night deal. Does anyone have any positive/negative thoughts on this? And, since we are rescinding on the Orlando deal will this disqualify us from taking advantage of this deal?
Thanks again to everyone!!

 

[BigDog4All]

Can anyone explain the meaining of this statement I found on a TS Ebay ad.

Floating Prime Red Weeks 1-52 or 81,000 StarOptions

Here is the link.......
link to Ebay sale
Does this TS sound like it's in the Mandatory section?

Thanks....

 

[DeniseM]

Can anyone explain the meaining of this statement I found on a TS Ebay ad.

Floating Prime Red Weeks 1-52 or 81,000 StarOptions

Here is the link.......
link to Ebay sale

Does this TS sound like it's in the Mandatory section?

Thanks....

Your link doesn't work, but remember that a lot of owners make mistakes in their Ads. The best thing to do is to ask them what their deeded unit is and then check back with Tuggers to see if it is mandatory.

 

[calgarygary]

I believe that BigDog4all was trying to post this link link to Ebay sale As DeniseM mentioned, contact the seller to find out the unit # that is being listed and then verify which part of VV the unit is in. As there are both mandatory and voluntary units at VV, take nothing for granted.

 

[Stefa]

I believe that BigDog4all was trying to post this link ebay link As DeniseM mentioned, contact the seller to find out the unit # that is being listed and then verify which part of VV the unit is in. As there are both mandatory and voluntary units at VV, take nothing for granted.

This seler does a lot of business on ebay. My understanding is he gets his inventory from one of the "postcard" comapnies. He doesn't know that much about many of the resorts he sells. My guess is this is one of the mandatory sections because it is highly unlikely someone who just bought Amelia would be so desperate to sell so soon, but definitely follow up by getting the unit#.

 

[Bill4728]

Can anyone explain the meaining of this statement I found on a TS Ebay ad.

Floating Prime Red Weeks 1-52 or 81,000 StarOptions

Here is the link.......
link to Ebay sale
Does this TS sound like it's in the Mandatory section?

Thanks....

Starwood has been selling in the voluntary amelia section for only a short time. So, it is very likely this is a TS in the Mandatory section of VV. But it is alway best to check.

There is something wrong with the statement 1-52 floating since all units in VV are subject to seasons. The point total would indicate it is a peak season week in a non lock off unit or off peak season in a 2 bed lockoff but no season at VV is 1-52. This doesn't mean you can't use the TS 1-52. During peak season 81K options gets you a 2 bed unit. During off peak season 81K options get you a 2 bd lock-off unit. ( the lockoff would let you split the unit into 2 seperate units and trade or rent them seperately.)

 

[grgs]

There is something wrong with the statement 1-52 floating since all units in VV are subject to seasons.

I would guess they copied this ad from another and forgot to change the 1-52 float statement. You could just ask them to double-check on whether this is prime or high season and which section it's in.

Gloiran