Just attended Ko Olina presentation regarding points ("Encore Membership Agreement")

[brianfox]

Hey all, completely off the subject (but it is my thread after all). Is it worth it for me to go to the Disney KO Olina presentation? They have a little storefront in a mini-mall right outside the Marriott property. From what I hear, they show you a model room. Anyone hear anything else? I don't think they offer any freebies for attending.

 

[LAX Mom]

Hey all, completely off the subject (but it is my thread after all). Is it worth it for me to go to the Disney KO Olina presentation? They have a little storefront in a mini-mall right outside the Marriott property. From what I hear, they show you a model room. Anyone hear anything else? I don't think they offer any freebies for attending.

Brian,
I think it would be very interesting to hear what Disney is offering in comparison to the Marriott presentation. However, you need to enjoy your vacation and Ko'Olina. Go to the beach!

 

[windje2000]

Lisa, this cannot be lack of training. Do you really believe that?

It is simply blatant lies. In particular the lie about the package covering the enrollment fee is appaling. And this particular sales office keeps coming up on TUG with these types of issues over and over.

If they resort to these types of methods to sell their product, this just strengthens my belief that buying anything from Marriott is a ripoff. This includes enrolling in the points "enhancment"...

I was a happy owner mostly praising Marriott on the TUG boards prior to June 20... What happened to this company?

What happened? A $700 MM write down (on the timeshare business) in 2009. Can't believe Billy M was happy about that.

 

[5infam]

Hey all, completely off the subject (but it is my thread after all). Is it worth it for me to go to the Disney KO Olina presentation? They have a little storefront in a mini-mall right outside the Marriott property. From what I hear, they show you a model room. Anyone hear anything else? I don't think they offer any freebies for attending.

I own DVC, and can tell you that resort is expensive to purchase into. DVC has a great ROFR program that ensures resale values stay high, so you won't be picking up any cheap DVC Hawaii points on the resale market. However, if you want to learn about DVC, then they will be glad to show you. Hawaii is expensive to buy into. If you have kids and want to own DVC in Orlando, there are great resorts you can get for a lot cheaper on the resale market than buying Hawaii directly. You can use those points in Hawaii too, but you can only book at 7 months out, giving Hawaii owners a 4 month window to book first. So, you will probably get something in Hawaii, but not super prime time at 7 months out.

My opinion, it is a far superior points system to Marriott, but the resort locations themselves are a lot more limited than Marriott, so as the saying goes - buy where you want to stay. If it interests you, go check it out, I have never met a high pressure sales person at DVC, and every guide I have spoken to is very knowledgeable about the program. Good luck - and if you decide to go, let us know how you think they compare.

 

[gblotter]

Hey all, completely off the subject (but it is my thread after all). Is it worth it for me to go to the Disney KO Olina presentation? They have a little storefront in a mini-mall right outside the Marriott property. From what I hear, they show you a model room. Anyone hear anything else? I don't think they offer any freebies for attending.

I'm seriously interested in purchasing at the Disney Ko Olina (Aulani). I've already had several phone conversations with a DVC salesperson and received a big packet of information. My concerns are the smaller room size and also wondering if the heavy theme aspect of the resort might be a little "kitschy". No doubt it will be great for kids, but after the kids are raised, is the Aulani a place that adults will want for a vacation?

If you attend their presentation, please let us know what you think.

 

[pharmgirl]

I own DVC, and can tell you that resort is expensive to purchase into. DVC has a great ROFR program that ensures resale values stay high, so you won't be picking up any cheap DVC Hawaii points on the resale market. However, if you want to learn about DVC, then they will be glad to show you. Hawaii is expensive to buy into. If you have kids and want to own DVC in Orlando, there are great resorts you can get for a lot cheaper on the resale market than buying Hawaii directly. You can use those points in Hawaii too, but you can only book at 7 months out, giving Hawaii owners a 4 month window to book first. So, you will probably get something in Hawaii, but not super prime time at 7 months out.

Does DVC give anything for attending a preview? we would be interested wehn we visit Marriott KoOlina

 

[SueDonJ]

Here's a great thread about DVC's Aulani from Werner Weiss. (He's another of the DVC experts on TUG.)

 

[ldanna]

Dan,
I honestly think it's a combination of factors. I think these Marriott reps are very poorly trained and confused by this new points program. Maybe they are lying intentionally but I prefer to think they do not have an in-depth understanding of how this new program works. I would guess that most reps never get the questions we've been discussing here on TUG since June 20. Many prospective buyers don't have enough knowledge to adequately ask intelligent questions. Some of the provisions in the terms and conditions are very vague and it's difficult to understand exactly how they will be applied. At this point I'll give the Marriott reps the benefit of the doubt. I think it's lack of knowledge, training and understanding of the new points program. Maybe they're just lazy and haven't taken the time to read the information they've been given.

No combination of factors, just lies. Lisa, been a good person as I think you are, it's dificult to understand this, and we all try to think that the sales rep is just poorly trained. After this:

... She told me that because of the misunderstanding, they were willing to "do me a special favor". If I kept the Encore week, they were "willing" to let me apply $695 toward the enrollment of the Legacy weeks I own. So, rather than me paying $1995 to enroll my two weeks, I could instead only pay $1300 (on top of my $1999 for my Encore week). ...

... they even have a plan B if you catch them lying. It's amazing!

Lisa, as a father I can tell you something that a mother as you are can understand: my 5yo boy will listen only what will be best for him when I try to "train" him; he will even say something like "... you told me I could watch TV", forgeting only to say "... after brushing my teeth" (just a small detail he doesn't need to pay any attention).

 

[SueDonJ]

You know what I can't figure out? Why Ko 'Olina? Why is it that the sales staff THERE is so consistently wrong and overly-aggressive and difficult to work with, etc? From all reports a sales presentation there is pretty much guaranteed to be a miserable experience.

We've been hearing bad things from that sales office for ages now, long before this points rollout. I don't think they're the most expensive property, are they? When Marco Island's sales office was up and running we didn't hear horror stories from there, and those weeks were priced off-the-chart compared to the other resorts. Does Marriott have more invested in Ko 'Olina than any of the other resorts? It sounds ridiculous but is the future of Marriott's timeshare business resting on Ko 'Olina's success? I just can't imagine why one sales office is allowed to operate in such a sketchy way.

We know Marriott is reading TUG these days because several people have taken their concerns about the points system to higher-ups who have admitted at least a familiarity with TUG, and in some cases have been shown actual TUG posts. Maybe one good side effect of this will be that the Ko 'Olina sales office practices will be reviewed and changed. Hopefully.

 

[foreverloves]

I happen to believe a little more of this. As I posted earlier, I don't believe Marriott is going to work with weeks owners and points owners forever. When this program gets off the ground, Marriott may exercise ROFR more often (when there are more points sold and more reason to do so) to "get rid" of weeks owners. I also truly do believe that there will be another push to resale owners - with a higher buy in, as suggested by this salesperson in KoOlina - because Marriott wants points, not weeks.

I have a friend who is a manager at a MCVI in Florida. He doesn't work in sales, but I wonder if it's time for me to shoot him an email and see what he thinks.

 

[hotcoffee]

I happen to believe a little more of this. As I posted earlier, I don't believe Marriott is going to work with weeks owners and points owners forever. When this program gets off the ground, Marriott may exercise ROFR more often (when there are more points sold and more reason to do so) to "get rid" of weeks owners. I also truly do believe that there will be another push to resale owners - with a higher buy in, as suggested by this salesperson in KoOlina - because Marriott wants points, not weeks.

I have a friend who is a manager at a MCVI in Florida. He doesn't work in sales, but I wonder if it's time for me to shoot him an email and see what he thinks.

I believe you have hit upon a huge reality. Marriott has bet their whole future on points. They have an awful lot to lose if the points program goes down in flames. In spite of what at least one TUG poster has suggested, Marriott is not going to allow a "new coke" scenerio happen to them. If they have to make adjustments along the way, they will make them. But, I cannot see them doing a 180 and going back to weeks. I agree with the peope who have suggested that their real goal is to aim much higher than the publicized 20% participation. It will take a long time, but I cannot imagine it being otherwise than their goal being to reduce the ratio of weeks owners to points owners (either through enrollments or direct points sales).

 

[5infam]

Does DVC give anything for attending a preview? we would be interested wehn we visit Marriott KoOlina

I have never received anything for attending a DVC presentation. I have no idea if they offer anything - my guess would be no - but if anyone knows different, then let us know.

 

[Fairwinds]

Why not enrole the Branson week with the others? The enrolement fee will stay the same with multiple resale week established rate and you retain all the original usage options. I do think additional study is required concerning the enrolement of weeks purchased after the reported June cut off .

 

[dioxide45]

Does DVC give anything for attending a preview? we would be interested wehn we visit Marriott KoOlina

I have never received anything for attending a DVC presentation. I have no idea if they offer anything - my guess would be no - but if anyone knows different, then let us know.

DVC does not offer any cash type incentives to attend a presentation. They have in the past and likely still offer a ultimate fast pass at their Orlando properties. Essentially giving back your time that you spent at the presentation.

Disney believes their product sells itself. They have been challenged to make this happen at their non WDW locations. I don't know if they have ever offered incentives at HHI or Vero Beach. It is possible that they may at HI, but I wouldn't count on it.