Welk / Hyatt / World of Hyatt Information

[Danielle1124]

[Deleted: not allowed in the discussion forums]

 

[someguy123]

Interested in Welks resale. Does someone have access to see availability of the studio at Northstar, by weekday or weekend?. Wondering how far ahead would have to book to get the studio? Are there many dates available for this year or are they gone and would have to book a one bedroom?

There is no 1 bedroom at Northstar. There are studios and then 2 bed, 2 bed w den, 3 bed, etc.

 

[seaside2022]

Are there any studio units at Northstar that can be booked for a friday or saturday night at this time? If so when are the first date available?

 

[NorcalDisFan]

changing schedule is allowed in Welk system, from a full week to short days? With/without fees? Thinking about buying resale points for stays at Northstar in ski season but a full week is too long for us.

 

[NorcalDisFan]

changing schedule is allowed in Welk system, from a full week to short days? With/without fees? Thinking about buying resale points for stays at Northstar in ski season but a full week is too long for us.

Self answering, found from a rule document. It's not possible:

Reservations cannot be canceled/changed to decrease days of a full Week reservation
when originally booked as a Week.

 

[NorcalDisFan]

Self answering again. I check hyatt hotel webpage and I can book Northstar lodge for a short stay for 2023 ski season. Except for a holiday week, the price is comparable to the annual maintenance fee for the required points for the stay. So, my conclusion is that buying welk points to stay at Northstar for a short stay is not a good idea.

 

[Mongoose]

Self answering again. I check hyatt hotel webpage and I can book Northstar lodge for a short stay for 2023 ski season. Except for a holiday week, the price is comparable to the annual maintenance fee for the required points for the stay. So, my conclusion is that buying welk points to stay at Northstar for a short stay is not a good idea.

Only concern would be availability. I’m not clear what the source of those nights are on Hyatt.com

 

[fishwithwater]

Are there any studio units at Northstar that can be booked for a friday or saturday night at this time? If so when are the first date available?

I am also curious about this. Thinking about buying Welk points to use primarily for Northstar studios, not sure how feasible is it.

I check hyatt hotel webpage and I can book Northstar lodge for a short stay for 2023 ski season. Except for a holiday week, the price is comparable to the annual maintenance fee for the required points for the stay. So, my conclusion is that buying welk points to stay at Northstar for a short stay is not a good idea.

I also checked Hyatt's website and found availability for studio and 2 bedrooms the entire month of March, not sure what the source of the inventory is. Maybe Hyatt has its own hotel inventory? One week pre-paid rate for a 2 bedroom is about $4000 after tax and fees, so that's still a little more expensive than the MF for the points equivalent .

 

[NorcalDisFan]

I am also curious about this. Thinking about buying Welk points to use primarily for Northstar studios, not sure how feasible is it.



I also checked Hyatt's website and found availability for studio and 2 bedrooms the entire month of March, not sure what the source of the inventory is. Maybe Hyatt has its own hotel inventory? One week pre-paid rate for a 2 bedroom is about $4000 after tax and fees, so that's still a little more expensive than the MF for the points equivalent .

Right. Too early to conclude. Still thinking.

 

[seaside2022]

Does anyone here have a Welks account and if so, can you determine if there are any studio units at Northstar that can be booked for a two or three night stay, arriving on thursday, friday or saturday. If so when is the first date available? Are there several available?

 

[RunCat]

Does anyone here have a Welks account and if so, can you determine if there are any studio units at Northstar that can be booked for a two or three night stay, arriving on thursday, friday or saturday. If so when is the first date available? Are there several available?

not finding any studios via a cursory review (Jan and Feb, Friday check-in) . This somewhat makes sense since many considering how few points are required for the studio compared to the 2-bed. (Note, normal points owners can book at week at 15-mo. Priority owners can book a week as early as 22 mos. Also, any weeks booked at 15-mos can be used as rentals.)

 

[GussieMae]

No mention of how the Hyatt Resorts merger effected all this? Or are these old posts?

 

[fishwithwater]

not finding any studios via a cursory review (Jan and Feb, Friday check-in) . This somewhat makes sense since many considering how few points are required for the studio compared to the 2-bed. (Note, normal points owners can book at week at 15-mo. Priority owners can book a week as early as 22 mos. Also, any weeks booked at 15-mos can be used as rentals.)

Thank you for checking, that's good to know, and I should keep my expectation low

 

[RunCat]

No mention of how the Hyatt Resorts merger effected all this? Or are these old posts?

As of now, there is no program merger, outside of discounted II exchanges, between the HRC and HVC (nee Welk). HVC is supposed to get access to hotel points in the Fall but details have not been made available. And, I have seen nothing regarding any type of program merger. From what I have heard from management, it is quite challenging due to the way the programs operate and the way that the resorts are owned. (eg. the discussion about HSH leaving HRC could not happen in HVC since the resorts are owned by a trust.)

 

[fishwithwater]

Do resale owner need to get their own II account or does it come with the MF?
Also if I get a biennial contract, can I deposit current year points in II and still get two years to use them for exchanges in II?
For point deposits in II, I saw in another thread that 120,000 points can get a 1 bedroom in high season and 2 bedroom in low season, but is there a choice for paid size upgrade? for example, if I only have 120,000 and can see 1 bedroom in high season, can I pay $99 for the size upgrade to a 2 bedroom if available?

 

[VillaHoliday_42]

• Platinum Point Valuation Schedule
• Experience Collection Schedule
• Experience Collection Reference Guide
• Timeshare Season Calendar

 

[Mongoose]

Thanks! I always wondered about the experiences collection. Seems to be an expensive use of MFs.

 

[djp]

Exploring the Hyatt platinum points program with a potential resale purchase in mind. Is the experiences collection easy to use? Anyone have experience getting high demand resorts (four seasons etc) in peak times….like Carlsbad summer or scottsdale winter, a year out? Biggest downside to buying resale other than not being able to covert to Hyatt hotel points (which I wouldn’t) is? Thanks for the help.

 

[Mongoose]

Exploring the Hyatt platinum points program with a potential resale purchase in mind. Is the experiences collection easy to use? Anyone have experience getting high demand resorts (four seasons etc) in peak times….like Carlsbad summer or scottsdale winter, a year out? Biggest downside to buying resale other than not being able to covert to Hyatt hotel points (which I wouldn’t) is? Thanks for the help.

It loots amazing on paper, but he points required are high and availability is very low.

 

[djp]

It loots amazing on paper, but he points required are high and availability is very low.

can you share more details about the availability issues you have experienced?

 

[TravelJoy]

What is the status of booking Disney resorts on Welk points via resale?

 

[Hindsite]

What is the status of booking Disney resorts on Welk points via resale?

Do you have an II account, if so thats where you'll need to do it?

 

[TravelJoy]

Do you have an II account, if so thats where you'll need to do it?

I was wondering if it's available internally as it used to be or is that association terminated so only ii option remains?

 

[Hindsite]

I was wondering if it's available internally as it used to be or is that association terminated so only ii option remains?

Not aware of the association you speak of. DVC is available via II, usually between 6 and 4 months in advance.

 

[allisonmupas]

So I hope this gets stickied as it it darn near all the information there is on Welk Resorts.
Desrciption from the Welk website:
"Whether you prefer relaxing with a glass of wine on your villa’s private patio or a round of afternoon golf, Welk Resorts offers something for every kind of traveler. Between world-class amenities and top-notch service, our team fine-tunes the vacation details to help you create unforgettable family memories. Pack your swimsuit and hit the beach in Cabo or bring your snowshoes along to trek through Tahoe. The Welk Experience awaits. "

Weeks or Points: Welk is almost entirely a points based system. They stopped selling set weeks nearly 10 years ago and have been buying set weeks from owners to convert them to points.
All Welk ownes have a 15 month full week booking window and a 9 month short stay/split week booking window. As tiered benefits go up, so does the booking window but less than 10% of owners are at a tiered level which starts at 420k points. San Diego and Branson two bedroom units are 240k points/week for a two bedroom and Breckenridge (newest resort) is 630k during prime season. Units range from studio to five bedroom in size. (five bedroom is Northstar only). As of 2020 maintenance fees on 240k annual points is $1500. Only Tahoe and Breckenridge have noteworthy seasons.

Number of Resorts: Welk has its name on 7 resorts in 7 locations and has just purchased an 8th. San Diego, Palm Springs CA, Lake Tahoe (North), Cabo San Lucas, Branson MO, Breckenridge CO, and Santa Fe (new acquisition of El Corazon de Santa Fe). Welk technically has two resorts in One Village Place on Lake Tahoe: One Village Place and Northstar Lodge. The main resort in San Diego has three sections: Lawrence Welk Resort Villas (original resort with only 2 bedroom units), Villas on the Greens with studio to 2 bedroom lockoff units and Mountain Villas which has studio to 3 bedroom units.
All Welk resort units contain at least a limited kitchen with apartment size fridge, two burner cooktop, dishwasher, and microwave as well as a private balcony/patio. 1BR units and bigger all have a full kitchen and average over 750sqft. All Branson and Cabo units face the same direction so there is no concern of owning a certain view. No Welk unit balcony faces only a parking lot.

Affiliated Resorts: Welk has 15 affiliated resorts that can be traded into for no fee. Affiliated resorts include: Arroyo Roble Resort in Sedona, The Cliffs at Princeville on Kuaai, Disney's Boardwalk Villas, Disney Saratoga Springs, Disney Aulani, Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond Oregon, Falcon Point in Avon CO, Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara in San Diego, Four Seasons Residence Club Troon North in Scottsdale, Pono Kai Resort on Kapa'a, Poste Montane Lodge in Beaver Creek, Red Wolf Lodge Lakeside at Lake Tahoe, Red Wolf Lodge at Squaw Valley, Stoneridge Resort in Blanchard Idaho, and Villas of Cave Creek near Phoenix. Ski area resorts have point variances per season but the rest do not. Disney, and hawaii resorts have no off season, nor do the Southwest region resorts.

Home resort: There truly is no home resort with Welk. You just buy points with a deeded interest. So if you buy 240k annual points in Branson, you can book at any Welk resort without limitation except what your points can get. As the resorts get newer, the points to book increase. 120k will get a large one bedroom in Branson, San Diego, and Palm Springs, but will only get you a studio in Cabo or Tahoe and only a studio in off-season in Breckenridge.

Exchange: Welk is dual affiliated with RCI and II but all owners, including resale owners get a Platinum RCI membership included in their maintenance/vacation ownership fees. Welk owners have to pay for II membership themselves but can still trade with II. Welk resorts trades better than almost any resort, evidenced by their priority access to Disney which all Welk Owners receive. (I've personally seen numerous two bedroom units at SSR and OKW, as well as units at Boulder Ridge and Animal Kingdom on RCI). When exchanging with RCI or II, owners receive a "bonus week" for exchanging. An accommodation certificate with II and a bonus week with RCI that has to be called in to claim/check availability of.

Price: Retail points start at $13k for 90K EEY points. 240k annual points go for around $50k. Resale Welk goes for around a penny a point plus transaction fees around $300.

Retail vs Resale: The only perk that retail owners have over resale owners is being able to book directly into the associated Disney resorts plus some very minor tiered benefits that start at 420k points. Benefits include discounts on golf, 18 month extended booking window vs 15 month which expands by one month per higher level, up to 35% points discount for bookings made inside 60 days, extended split week reservations by a month per level. There are 5 priority/tiered levels starting at 420k.

Tiered Ownership: Again, less than 10% of owners are at tier 5 and above. Tier 5 is 420K annual points, tier 4 is 720k annual points, tier 3 is 1,020,000 annual points, tier 4 is 1.5M annual points and tier 5 is 2M annual points.

Points accrual/rollover: This is Welk's biggest downfall. If you want to rollover/accrue points from one year (use year) to the next, those points have a limited booking window of 60 days unless you are a tiered owner. So DO NOT BUY WELK EEY RESALE BECAUSE IT SUCKS!!!

Extra costs: There are next to no extra costs with Welk aside from your MF/VOA. There are no parking fees, no short stay fees, not transfer fees to affiliated resorts, no housekeeping fees, no limit to how many times you can stay in a year except what your points allow. There is a $50 fee for a guest certificate if you let a friend stay under your name. Welk also has a rental program with a 75% success rate that will historically covers MF/VOA fees and then some.

Social Media: There is a "Welk Platinum Owners Group" Facebook page for any owners reading this who would like to share thoughts etc. If your'e not an owner, don't ask to join as I'm a moderator and there are screening questions. If you want to know more, just message me on here or find me on Facebook.

Links: The link below for tiered benefits is from the system that Welk stopped using in 2018. But the benefits are the same per level until you get to tier 1 at 2M points. Those benefits I don't know and definitely aren't worth it.

Any updates that you know of to these points you wrote out years ago??