Weeks Orange Lake fixed to Points

[Helen Lau]

I had been stuck with Orange Lake Orlando fixed week 25 timeshare since the 90's. I just found out that i can convert to points after talking to orange lake. they either offer me to deed it back to them for free or i can convert to point system to better utilize it. it costs $6000 to upgrade my 2 bed 2 bath golf villa to the HCV point system with an annual 174000/year. I'm so confused in this world of timeshare. Can somebody tell me if this is worth doing?

 

[Jan M.]

You can buy a resale week already in points for $1K if not less. In some instances there are benefits to buying developer like if you live in the area and would want to have day use of the facilities at the resort. However this isn't a beach property nor in a ski area so I don't see the appeal of day use. Sometimes there are other developer benefits like getting free use of other weeks. If they offer something like that you would have to decided if it is worth at least $5k to you.

Does your week 25 come with an RCI weeks account that you can deposit your week and receive Trading Power Units, TPU's, to go to other resorts that trade in RCI?

 

[Helen Lau]

To my understanding, I can “upgrade” my fixed week Orange Lake to points system With $6000 upgrade fee and almost $1K closing cost. Ill get 174000 points to use in the Orange Lake properties, IHG club properties, or RCI properties. However with the upgrade, my annual maintenance fee will increase by $260 from $1K we are already paying on our fixed 25. These fees wILL include RCI membership. But of course still need to pay exchange fees when trading. I really have no clue how much this 174000 points are worth in reality...

 

[Tank]

That will get you a week in most 2 bedrooms , most seasons, most locations.
Off seasons 2 maybe 3 weeks.

You already talked about being "stuck" are you sure you want to do this.

If Orlando is your main place to go you can rent a 2 bedroom cheaper than your MF's.

You will also have a yearly $136 membership fee, and $99 reservation fee including the $35 point saver for every reservation made.
It adds up fast

 

[Helen Lau]

Nope, definitely not sure if I want to do this. We are in California, and have only used the timeshare like 3 times since ‘91. Only going into points can maybe help us utilize it more. But yet, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to get ourselves even deeper into this or just walk out seeding this back to Orange Lake.

 

[tschwa2]

A lot of HICV owners complain about the lack of West Coast resorts. There is one in Scottsdale and they just took over a Welk resort sort of near Tahoe. Everything else is Texas and East I believe.

It is interesting that they offered the conversion for $6000. A few years back you could convert, I think up to 6 deeds for that single upgrade fee or new purchase. They said as recently as a year ago that they were going to require deeded owners to purchase an equal amount of points so if your week was worth 176,000 you would need to purchase 176,000 which would probably run you $40,000+

 

[Helen Lau]

Sales said they are discontinuing the conversion option because it’s not profitable. I have until the 17th to get this offer done or it’s forever gone.

 

[Jan M.]

If you only used the timeshare maybe 3 times since 1991, did you rent it out the other years? My sister and BIL have owned at Orange Lake, a fixed week not a points week, for over 30 years. They've traded their week at times over the years to go other places. Did you do this or even know it was an option? If you haven't been renting the week or trading it there really is no point in keeping it or spending the money to convert it to points.

 

[Jan M.]

Sales said they are discontinuing the conversion option because it’s not profitable. I have until the 17th to get this offer done or it’s forever gone.

I'm going to call that a lie, and a big fat lie at that. Sales people often tell lies to get sales and this is a sale for your salesperson. If it isn't in writing on paper with an official HIVC letterhead and signed by corporate, it's a lie.

 

[Helen Lau]

I tried RCI in the first few years then gave up. Was never able to get what we wanted and the fees add up. So after RCI, I rented it out via Orange Lake itself or via classifieds. Timesharevacationrentals worked for a few years, and I just found out the website now doesn’t even exist anymore. No wonder I haven’t been getting inquiries... so for the past few year I just rent it out via Orange Lake to save me some headache. But the difference between my maintenance fees and actual rent received is getting bigger and bigger. 2019 fees is now over $1K. This annual bill has kicked me to do something about this...

 

[Helen Lau]

Any idea if my week 25 worth anything (2bed2bath West Golf villa) or I should just deed it back to OL if we decide to pass on the conversion offer.

 

[bnoble]

Nope, definitely not sure if I want to do this. We are in California, and have only used the timeshare like 3 times since ‘91. Only going into points can maybe help us utilize it more. But yet, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to get ourselves even deeper into this or just walk out seeding this back to Orange Lake.

I would deed it back. Rather than take this conversion offer, you'd be better off starting from zero and asking yourself what your vacation aspirations are, and whether or not any timeshare could help. With a budget of $7K (the $6K + closing they are talking about) you have a lot of potential options on the resale market.

Any idea if my week 25 worth anything (2bed2bath West Golf villa) or I should just deed it back to OL if we decide to pass on the conversion offer.

Probably not worth anything, but I don't know for sure. I would value the ease of just giving it back highly, but I'm strapped for time right now.

 

[Jan M.]

You could offer it in the Bargain Deals under the Buying, Selling Renting forum here on TUG asking that anyone who wants the week pay the closing costs and resort transfer fee. Many of us here on TUG have used LT Transfers to do the closings and are very pleased with their services. They charge around $215 and their phone number is: 706-219-2709. You would need to contract the resort to find out how much their transfer fee is.

 

[kirby3]

I don't think you need to spend $6000. You will regret it as it sounds to me like you don't use what you have. I have a fixed week at OL and I have go more 3 bedrooms over the years than all my relatives at OL (its a family affair)who have spent some of them more than 5 times that we have as they were talked into POINTS. Go through RCI,( bank them if you are not traveling that year )and than start looking for what you want 2 years in advance. We have gone to Myrtle Beach (2 units) but we mostly like to use them at OL as it is our favourite place and hate to miss it. We will rent when we go somewhere else. You have a good week. If it was a January week you wouldn't have much trading power. Learn to use what you got first and see if you like that. Than if it not for you, give it away or try to sell it for a minimal amount. It is a shame to give it back to OL so they can rip someone off for $30000!

 

[Tank]

It has become more of a hassle than its worth for you.
It's time to give it up, it has very little value.

Use the money and rent the exact vacation you want anywhere in the world.

You would be still unhappy if you switched. You didn't learn to maximize what you had and the point system is a whole new thing.

 

[eclipse_tint]

I had been stuck with Orange Lake Orlando fixed week 25 timeshare since the 90's. I just found out that i can convert to points after talking to orange lake. they either offer me to deed it back to them for free or i can convert to point system to better utilize it. it costs $6000 to upgrade my 2 bed 2 bath golf villa to the HCV point system with an annual 174000/year. I'm so confused in this world of timeshare. Can somebody tell me if this is worth doing?

I am interested in becoming a owner at orange lake so I can have access to their point system and would be interested in having you sign this deed over to me so I can pay the upgrade. If this is something you want to consider or explore I can give you my phone number. Thank you Robert B

 

[tschwa2]

I am interested in becoming a owner at orange lake so I can have access to their point system and would be interested in having you sign this deed over to me so I can pay the upgrade. If this is something you want to consider or explore I can give you my phone number. Thank you Robert B

If you get a deed at OL it won't be in points. You may be offered a deal like the OP to convert to points for $6000 or they may tell you that you need to purchase $20,000 or more in trust points in order to convert the deeded week to points. This is the first person in more than 2 years that I have heard has been offered a conversion at Orange Lake for less than $20,000. It was quite common at $6000-$8000 a few years back. It may be because the Original poster was the original owner and had purchased directly from Orange Lake. I would not count on that if you newly acquire a week at Orange Lake.

The only HICV resale purchase that remains in points when transferred to a non immediate family member are Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach and Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.

 

[silentg]

We own week 24 at Orange Lake it is a conversion resale, we bought from them, we upgraded from a fixed studio to a two bedroom villa. We live in the area and have day use too.
Mostly we put points in IHG and add a day or two to our timeshare vacations.
If I was in your position I would Deed the week back to Orange Lake. Eventually that is what we are going to do when we get too old to travel. Hopefully, many years from now.
Silentg